Boab 73 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 By BARRY ANDERSON AFTER Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor, Lee McCulloch and Christian Dailly fled Cameron House on Sunday night, Kris Boyd could be left feeling guilty by association as the Scotland squad's lone Ranger. The Ibrox quartet and Celtic's Barry Robson were amongst a seven-strong party who submitted sick notes to George Burley, thereby throwing the new national team coach's plans for this evening's friendly with Croatia into disarray. Anyone would think there's an Old Firm game on the horizon. English-based James McFadden and Stephen Pearson were the other call-offs, although the substantial withdrawal of Rangers players, whilst hardly new, will irk many of the Tartan Army. Boyd remains in place, however, to embark on a personal crusade aimed at restoring his international fortunes. Of the five Ibrox charges enlisted by Burley, he is the least likely to start against Celtic this weekend as his quest to cement a place in Walter Smith's side continues. At international level, he finds himself embroiled in a similar battle. His potency, of course, cannot be questioned. He has bulged domestic nets 23 times this season and boasts seven goals from 13 international caps, a goals-to-games ratio better than any available to Burley. Yet starting slots are becoming more sparse than, well, Rangers players appearing in a friendly for Scotland. "If I do get the chance to play then hopefully I can show the new manager I am good enough to start games," said Boyd. "Obviously, a start would be good for me. I would get a few more minutes under my belt and I could try to add to my goalscoring tally. "There are a lot of options up front for the new manager. In the past, that perhaps wasn't the case. "All the strikers in the squad, too, have scored goals at international level as well. We believe we are good enough to be there. But only one or two can start the games. "Whoever gets the chance to start will have to show they are good enough. I go into every game looking to score. In some games it doesn't happen. But I know if I get into positions against Croatia we have good enough players in the Scotland team to create chances for me. All I can do is try to get into scoring positions. "This game will be difficult for us with the number of call-offs we have had this week. But nobody is going to make any excuses. "At the end of the day it is 11 against 11. We need to give it our best shot. "I think with the call-offs there will be players coming in who will be hungry to play and who will want to show they are good enough to play for their country. Having said that, the manager doesn't have a full squad to choose from. The preparation could have been better." Try telling that to Ferguson and Co. Dailly's exemption must be considered permissible due to his cracked toe, but many Scotland supporters will now take a vested interest in team news emerging from Ibrox on Saturday morning to see how many withdrawals make a miraculous recovery. His CIS Cup final exploits still a welcomely fresh memory, Boyd returns to Hampden tonight looking to keep up the momentum. And there is always a slightly more parochial agenda to look after. "I haven't played as much as I would have liked this season. "If I do get a start on tonight and get some more minutes under my belt then it could do my chances of playing in the Old Firm game at the weekend some good," he said. "To get my first medal was the most important thing for me. To come off the bench and do what I did, get the goals which helped the team along to the victory, was tremendous. "We made hard work of it, but we got there in the end. "This week has been different from what I am used to. It's been short and sharp but really enjoyable. "The strikers worked on their finishing while the defenders worked on their thing. Then we all came together. There have been a lot of changes in the national set-up since the last campaign. We're looking forward to the game and hopefully we can get a result which would set us up nicely for World Cup qualifying." Watching Glasgow come alive on Euro 2008 qualifying days was indeed a joy to behold for anyone with a passion for the national team. Boyd is pleased to report that the dejection from ultimately failing to make Austria and Switzerland has now subsided, although the feel-good factor still reverberates across the country. "The whole nation is back behind the team after our last qualifying campaign, but we need to push on from here and keep showing we are good enough to keep challenging the best football nations in Europe and, if we get to the World Cup, the world. "It isn't going to be an easy task, but if we go about it the way we did our last campaign then we have got a chance. "Croatia are a good, good team. I think most people saw what they did to England in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Okay, England were struggling at the time, but Croatia deserve credit for getting to the finals. I am sure they will be a threat in the summer. "I spoke to Dado (Prso] for quite a long time on Friday, but we didn't talk much about the game tonight. It was just general chit-chat. He is a gem of a guy. He's enjoying retirement, but he did say he would rather be playing. Unfortunately, there comes a time when your body just packs in. He was more interested in how Rangers have been getting on than Croatia. He still speaks to quite a few of the boys on a regular basis." Prso would have noted Smith's tendency to use Boyd sparingly during an arduous campaign both at home and abroad. "It hasn't made much difference to my confidence or self-belief. "I am confident going into most games that I can score. That will never change," contends the striker. "If I lose that I will be struggling. I just need to focus on what is good for me." Boyd obviously deemed it best to remain on the banks of Loch Lomond this week and prioritise Scotland over Rangers. Pity the same couldn't be said for others in the Ibrox dressing-room. The Scotsman. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbyst 570 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 aye he was goin on a bit too much about the call offs! ffs its only a friendly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff 245 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Rangers are more important than Scotland matches, especially friendlies, Rangers pay the wages! They pulled out because they were injured, Burley and the doctor even said this. Why are the mhedia so fukn thick and continually say stuff like this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueben_d 40 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 they were looked at by the SCOTLAND medical staff, this was neither the players or rangers decision. this guy can GTF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemeanie6 3 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 hes just saying what people want to hear, so they can sell tommorows shiterags Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotBear 144 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 These digs at the guys that have pulled out are pathetic. My view is that if we had a european tie or Old Firm game tonight, all of those guys would be playing. Similarly if the international was competitive, I think they would be playing. But it's a friendly. So even if you are capable of getting through a game, surely if you're carrying an injury you give it a miss. Would those guys play in a testimonial game tonight if Rangers were involved ? No chance. It's in the interest of Rangers AND Scotland fans that international players that are carrying niggling injuries are given sufficient time to rest, so that they are then fully fit and raring to go for the competitive games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterC 12,323 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 What else do you expect from the Hootsmon other than rubbish articles. No wonder its sales are falling fast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperRangers 2 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Another disgruntled member of the tartan army probably. Rangers come first always, no one really gives two fucks about this meaningless friendly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkiebear 1,013 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Yeah to be honest our players are disgraceful, imagine actually having the nerve to be injured lol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCLoyal9 53 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 As has been already said , Rangers come first. If the media wants to have a dig then let them - I can't see it breaking too many hearts down at Murray Park. In fact , the more it winds people up the better The only thing in all of this that surprises me is that some people are actually bothered about what the media and/or crowing Tims think. Yes , they pulled out of the Scotland squad and will play on Saturday , get it right up the lot of them Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueIsTheColour 35 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 FFS, he made his point that he didn't agree with the Rangers players pulling out the first time he stated so, there was no need to repeat this another 4 or 5 times in the article. The article was supposed to be about Kris Boyd yet the writer succeeded in turning it into yet another dig at Rangers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Right_To_Censor 1,951 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 these are the same media who go on about giving the youngsters a chance, to bleed them into the A squad, rangers haven't won major silverware in god knows how long (apart from last week ), if this was rangers doing, call it what you like, to me i call it a work of genius. wanna call us cheats, go right ahead wanna call us orange scum/h***, go right ahead wanna call us cowards, go right ahead no matter what they want to call us, we'll be one step in front. FUCK THE MEDIA, unless its ali douglas, i'll fuck her. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boab 73 Posted March 26, 2008 Author Share Posted March 26, 2008 FUCK THE MEDIA, unless its ali douglas, i'll fuck her. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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