The state of Scottish football

[dylanisabaddog 6,149]

Naismith and Martin included in latest Scotland squad.........

[TCCANARY 263]

I expect Apples will be along to give us the ''north of the border'' (and I don''t mean Lincolnshire) view.

[Mr Apples 1,407]

I think the fact that Whittaker has gained a call-up playing for Hibs says it all.Apples

[nutty nigel 7,902]

Is Martin called up as a centre half or full back? Oh and will either be captain?

[Mr Apples 1,407]

He''s included as a vastly experienced scapegoat.Apples

[nutty nigel 7,902]

I think Scotland only play one of them. So Naismith will be on the bench?

[Mr Apples 1,407]

I think Strachan may controversially plump for a maximum scapegoat line-up and play them both, with Whittaker and Martin providing support in the ex-scapegoat role.Dorrans is on the reserve list.Apples

[nutty nigel 7,902]

I think that formation will only happen when Alex Neil takes the reigns 😉

[Move Klose 303]

If I''m a national side and calling up Steven Naismith then my hopes and expectations aren''t going to be very high.

[hogesar 10,767]

[quote user="Move Klose"]If I''m a national side and calling up Steven Naismith then my hopes and expectations aren''t going to be very high.[/quote]

I think he spends the majority of his time on the bench to be fair.

[Mr Apples 1,407]

Quite right too, he''s no Kyle Lafferty at international level.Apples

[Yellow Wal 315]

To show the real state of Scottish football.

They are currently 58th in the world standings. That''s 35 places lower than Northern Ireland, one place above Saudi Arabia but one place below Jamaica.

What has happened?

Where have all their players gone?

[KiwiScot 1,684]

I was going to argue that it doesn''t need to be as good as the English league, but then I decided to look at other European leagues and found thishttps://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/Its fine for what it is. A local league, but the glory days are long gone and any player with talent will move abroad.