How does the current Scotland squad rate against previous ones?

[J-C]

For me the 78 squad was the best I've seen, Jordon, Dalglish, Gemmill, Hartford, Johnson, Macari, Souness, Buchan, Donachie, McQueen etc.

[truehibernian]

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Dalglish and Souness (who was a midfielder) could never be described as stodgy footballers, both were world class players whilst at the peak of their games.

The current squad is light years away from what we had in 74,78, 82 and 86. Perhaps better comparison could be made with squads that qualified for major tournaments in the 90's.

Believe it or not, I'm from the era where both those players were regularly criticised for not bringing their Liverpool form to the international team often enough - if you can believe that.

We'll not see another Kenny Dalglish in a Scotland jersey for years and years sadly - he was a 'one off' and simply one of the best footballers we have ever produced.

The problem with the current side, no international quality strikers and no international quality centre halves. Key positions that we have not had quality in for decades. And there are none on the immediate horizon at club level. We have good club players, but none that will take that step to the next elite club level (in those positions). That's a scouting and development issue that goes deep into the failings of youth football (for me).

[J-C]

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Believe it or not, I'm from the era where both those players were regularly criticised for not bringing their Liverpool form to the international team often enough - if you can believe that.

We'll not see another Kenny Dalglish in a Scotland jersey for years and years sadly - he was a 'one off' and simply one of the best footballers we have ever produced.

The problem with the current side, no international quality strikers and no international quality centre halves. Key positions that we have not had quality in for decades. And there are none on the immediate horizon at club level. We have good club players, but none that will take that step to the next elite club level (in those positions). That's a scouting and development issue that goes deep into the failings of youth football (for me).

Yep, top players in the middle and club players front and back, you'll win nothing with that. We have an international striker sitting watching the games because he has personal problems and fitness issues.

[ahibby]

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Dalglish and Souness (who was a midfielder) could never be described as stodgy footballers, both were world class players whilst at the peak of their games.

The current squad is light years away from what we had in 74,78, 82 and 86. Perhaps better comparison could be made with squads that qualified for major tournaments in the 90's.

Depends on interpretation of stodgy. Souness excelled in two footed tackles just ask Oleg Blokhin, I wouldnt get on the wrong side if Joe Jordan either, that was the point I was trying to make. I wouldnt have mentioned their names if they were nit top drawer players, maybe I didnt make that clear.

[ahibby]

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Believe it or not, I'm from the era where both those players were regularly criticised for not bringing their Liverpool form to the international team often enough - if you can believe that.

We'll not see another Kenny Dalglish in a Scotland jersey for years and years sadly - he was a 'one off' and simply one of the best footballers we have ever produced.

The problem with the current side, no international quality strikers and no international quality centre halves. Key positions that we have not had quality in for decades. And there are none on the immediate horizon at club level. We have good club players, but none that will take that step to the next elite club level (in those positions). That's a scouting and development issue that goes deep into the failings of youth football (for me).

Strange that about Liverpool players because Gerrard had the same treatment from some England fans. Maybe Alan Hansen was treated differently though.

[ancient hibee]

The press has always built up and run down players.

Daily Express headline on the morning of a midweek international LAW IS KING.

Daily Express headline next day LAW MUST GO.

[theonlywayisup]

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For me the 78 squad was the best I've seen, Jordon, Dalglish, Gemmill, Hartford, Johnson, Macari, Souness, Buchan, Donachie, McQueen etc.

Agree!

For me, we've never had centre backs and centre forwards in recent decades that can be compared favourably with those of the 70's and 80's. Same can be said about the wingers.

[Since90+2]

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Yep, top players in the middle and club players front and back, you'll win nothing with that. We have an international striker sitting watching the games because he has personal problems and fitness issues.

Even when Griffiths was at his best he wasn't a top drawer international standard player. He only managed 4 goals in 22 games.

IMO Che Adams is a better player than Griffiths.

[Since452]

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The press has always built up and run down players.

Daily Express headline on the morning of a midweek international LAW IS KING.

Daily Express headline next day LAW MUST GO.

Craig Brown didn't help matters by saying this team could go all the way at the Euros. Unless he was meaning all the way to London. We are now in very real and likely danger of not getting a single point and Clarke to absolutely hounded.

https://www.skysports.com/football/n...ss-craig-brown

I mean what was he, of all people thinking saying that?

[superfurryhibby]

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Depends on interpretation of stodgy. Souness excelled in two footed tackles just ask Oleg Blokhin, I wouldnt get on the wrong side if Joe Jordan either, that was the point I was trying to make. I wouldnt have mentioned their names if they were nit top drawer players, maybe I didnt make that clear.

Stodgy for me means bland and uninspiring, like how I eat porridge every morning for my breakfast from Nov-April.

I saw Souness play quite a few times in the flesh when he was at the Hun, so I remember what he was like. He was on the telly a lot with Liverpool too. He was a hard, ruthless player, but as you say, top drawer.

Jordan wasn't quite at the same level as a Dalglish or a Souness but he would piss all over any striker in the current squad. Lyndon Dykes, FFS. He has one good game, v Serbia ( I think) but he is the archetypal donkey.

[theonlywayisup]

To answer the OP's question, very few compare favourably with players in the teams of the 70's and 80's, with maybe the 90's being a better comparison.

Below is the Euro 96 squad. Most of the strikers would enhance the current squad. There's not much difference in quality between the midfields - i.e. McTominay would be comparable to McAllister, McGinn to Collins, McCall to McGregor etc. The 96 defence looks stronger physically, but no-one is as good as Robertson or Tierney.

Also below is the World Cup 1978 squad. Not many of the current squad would get into the 1978 squad, apart from a goalkeepers, Robbo and Tierney.

1996 Squad

Goalkeeper
12 Andy Goram
1 Jim Leighton
22 Nicky Walker
Defender
3 Tommy Boyd
4 Colin Calderwood
5 Colin Hendry
2 Stewart McKimmie
13 Tosh McKinlay
6 Derek Whyte
Midfielder
16 Craig Burley
11 John Collins
21 Scott Gemmill
10 Gary McAllister
8 Stuart McCall
17 Billy McKinlay
Forward
20 Scott Booth
14 Gordon Durie
18 Kevin Gallacher
19 Darren Jackson
15 Eoin Jess
9 Ally McCoist
7 John Spencer

1978 Squad

Goalkeeper
12 Jim Blyth
20 Bobby Clark
1 Alan Rough
Defender
4 Martin Buchan
22 Kenny Burns
3 Willie Donachie
14 Tom Forsyth
2 Sandy Jardine
13 Stuart Kennedy
5 Gordon McQueen
Midfielder
15 Archie Gemmill
21 Joe Harper
10 Asa Hartford
16 Lou Macari
7 Don Masson
6 Bruce Rioch
19 John Robertson
18 Graeme Souness
Forward
8 Kenny Dalglish
11 Willie Johnston
17 Derek Johnstone
9 Joe Jordan

[JeMeSouviens]

If the 74/78/82 squads were playing in today's world cup format they'd probably have got to the knockout rounds. It was much harder with 16 teams.

[JeMeSouviens]

Before my time, but it's a bit strange that we didn't do anything in the late 60s/early 70s time when all-Scottish teams were regularly playing deep into European comps and even winning them.

Before all our times, but had there been international tournaments 1880-1930 and/or we'd gone to the first 3 world cups (we thought they were beneath us ), we might have multiple wins under our belts.

[superfurryhibby]

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Before my time, but it's a bit strange that we didn't do anything in the late 60s/early 70s time when all-Scottish teams were regularly playing deep into European comps and even winning them.

Before all our times, but had there been international tournaments 1880-1930 and/or we'd gone to the first 3 world cups (we thought they were beneath us ), we might have multiple wins under our belts.

Look at our qualifying groups during the 60's. Up against Italy and West Germany for 66 and 70 respectively. Only the group winners only qualified. I suspect our amateurish approach to team management and selection hindered us too.

[CropleyWasGod]

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Look at our qualifying groups during the 60's. Up against Italy and West Germany for 66 and 70 respectively. Only the group winners only qualified. I suspect our amateurish approach to team management and selection hindered us too.

In 62 we went out after a play off against Czechoslovakia. They were beaten in the final.

[JeMeSouviens]

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Look at our qualifying groups during the 60's. Up against Italy and West Germany for 66 and 70 respectively. Only the group winners only qualified. I suspect our amateurish approach to team management and selection hindered us too.

Ouch.

[JeMeSouviens]

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In 62 we went out after a play off against Czechoslovakia. They were beaten in the final.

78 we eliminated reigning Euro Champs Czechoslovakia in qualifying and beat the runners-up, Netherlands, in the first group stage. If only we'd been able to take care of Iran.