Get Real Everyone knows that the transfer window is silly season in football, with clubs overvaluing their players, agents hawking out their stars to all and sundry, and the tabloid newspapers sticking a pin in a map and guessing which players are going left, right and centre. The People newspaper has excelled itself this morning, [.

1000 days. Or thereabouts.
After a rather dull game of Westminster-Holyrood constitutional ping pong, Alex Salmond has named his (rough) date.
The destiny of a nation, as dictated by the constitutional will of the Scottish people, will be decided in the autumn of 2014.
What a year to pick.

Is that a tangerine in your stocking or are you just pleased to see me? Through the great SPL Advent calendar window today: Dundee United.
Consistency, as Motherwell's progress this season has shown, can work wonders in the SPL.
But it eludes three quarters of the league.

Is that a tangerine in your stocking or are you just pleased to see me? Through the great SPL Advent calendar window today: Dundee United.
Consistency, as Motherwell's progress this season has shown, can work wonders in the SPL.
But it eludes three quarters of the league.

At some point in the not too distant future the seemingly never ending round of discussions on the ifs, buts and polls are going to turn into the real thing.
The SNP government in Scotland will unleash the referendum campaign proper.
The Scottish Football Blog has its own views on Scottish independence.

OK folks.
The end is getting closer. The floor is open from now for suggestions from the denizens of Twitter and Facebook.
Be gentle.
And be generous!
But first Gary Linton (@Linton1388) tells us why Scotland will qualify for the 2014 World Cup. And I'm compelled to tell you why they won't.

Occurs to me that anyone chancing across the blog might wonder what the Nora Batty is going on.
Well, I'm rambling on about football and a few mates are joining me here and there. But we're doing it to help out Alzheimer Scotland and the Homeless World Cup. If you can help please do. The links to do just that are all over this page.

The back of this blogathon is broken now, right. Has to be? Surely tae goodness.
We're moving through the night with a run of guest debaters. So welcome, please, Ross McCafferty known to the Twitter world as @holyroodpatter
Given the somewhat combative nature of this very good cause, I thought that I would change the rules ever so slightly and disagree with a former post of Tom's (in the knowledge he is mandated to come back and disagree again!

Manager Craig Levein has revealed Scotland missed the opportunity to persuade Sebastian Coates to play for their national side – but are determined not to miss out on Liverpool FC player Jonjo Shelvey.
Levein says Scottish Football Association officials have already been in contact with Jonjo Shelvey about him changing football allegiance from England.

Scots fancy Jonjo but no Coates

Scotland boss Craig Levein hopes to persuade Jonjo Shelvey to switch international allegiances after missing out on fellow Liverpool youngster Sebastian Coates.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-11-15 09:15:30 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Ah. The nerves are a-jangling.
Scotland on the road again. At stake a place in Euro 2012, a boozed up tour of Poland and Ukraine with all the fun and futile expectation that goes with a major championship.
And then we wake up.
Scotland aren't in the play offs.

Jordan Rhodes in Scotland squad to face Cyprus

Scotland manager Craig Levein has recalled Russell Martin and Jamie Mackie for this month's friendly against Cyprus. Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes earns his first call-up.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-01 13:29:39 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

We all understand that agents, and indeed all middle people, are leeches on the sport of football, grabbing their inflated percentages while skirting between the black and grey markets, bribing and threatening people and corrupting the game.
They force players to adhere to certain match data as basic sabermetrics measures the obvious, they enter into third party arrangements and other forms of disguised dual ownership of players to confuse both the footballing authorities and the tax regime, they control aspects of the media sometimes psychopathically so, and many persuade players to underperform so that insider gambles may be achieved on what the fan thinks is an authentic football match.

That was that then.
A blessing, perhaps, that our agony wasn't prolonged. As Spain attempted to pass Scotland to death in Alicante, Czech Republic had already gone ahead in Lithuania.
When David Silva scored Spain's opener inside six minutes the game was up.
Not the agony of past failures when Scotland have teased us into believing before tripping over their own inadequacies at the final hurdle.

A brace by David Silva and a neat finish by David Villa gave Spain a comfortable 3-1 win over Scotland to finally end Scottish hopes of qualifying for Euro 2012 Scotland needed to match or better the result of Group I runners-up rivals The Czech Republic or else face qualification heartache yet again.

David said moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.
And, by jove, the Lord was with David.
Unfortunately Goliaths have got a bit more sophisticated in the 400 years since King James authorised his version of the bible.

Talking tactics When Craig Levein isn't managing Scotland, he's currently starring as weirdo Howard in new Channel 4 yoof comedy Fresh Meat. You can see a recent Levein press conference below and then compare that to Howard giving out some tactical advice of his own here.

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam targeting improvement in form for Scotland

The 25-year-old is likely to be involved against Spain as Craig Levein's side aim to hold off the Czech Republic in the battle for a play-off place in qualifying for Euro 2012

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-09 22:20:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Breaking with his normal routine of announcing his team the day before the game, Craig Levein has just announced the Scotland team for this evening's match.
Given that we knew Kenny Miller was out and that Darren Fletcher looked likely to play, you get absolutely no prize if you had already guessed this starting XI:
McGregor, Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Bardsley, Fletcher, Bannan, Morrison, Adam, Naismith, Mackail-Smith
4-5-1?

Another day, a familiar feeling of foreboding.
Or seize the day, the promised land will be delivered.
Mathematically, Scotland still cling to the chance of winning a play off spot for the chance to win a spot in Euro 2014.
Mathematically, I could probably measure the height of the trees outside my window using trigonometry.

Darren Fletcher has flown out to Liechtenstein after making a remarkable recovery from a bout of tonsillitis.

The midfielder, who is also in the latest Man United football bowling video, had been expected to miss his country's crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers after being taken ill and had been left out of the original squad.

Building up to this week's final round of group qualifying fixtures for the 2012 European Championships, BBC Radio Scotland has produced short audio pastiches daily on their Sportsound programme featuring new interviews with former Scottish national team players along with rebroadcasting some audio caught in the moment after some big matches.

Wilson to Fight for Club & Country

Liverpool's Danny Wilson has admitted his disappointment at falling out of favour in the Scotland senior squad, but insists the rejection will motivate himself to do better for club and country. Wilson is not currently a part of Kenny Dalglish's plans at Liverpool, which has led to his exclusion from Scotland's upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers with Liechtenstein and Spain.

Liverpool youngster Danny Wilson insists being dropped from Scotland's senior squad has only fuelled his desire to re-establish himself for both club and country.
After failing to win a first-team place at Anfield this season, Wilson has been left out of Scotland's crunch Euro 2012 qualifiers with Liechtenstein and Spain.

Will Craig Levein name Garry O'Connor in his Scotland squad this week?
Apparently not.
Is that the right decision?
Yes.
Why?
O'Connor's form has been exceptional since he came back to the SPL. He's excelled in a struggling side. Hibs aren't a one man team but they've been pretty close to it at times.

Kenny Dalglish has revealed he has no fresh injury worries ahead of Liverpool's trip to Stoke City this weekend as he confirmed Steven Gerrard continues to make good progress in his recovery.
The boss expects to have Charlie Adam available for selection at the Britannia Stadium after the midfielder was ruled out of Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifier with Lithuania.

Another Scotland game, more howls of anguish.
"We were robbed/cheated/denied natural footballing justice."
Scotland v Czech Republic followed that old familiar pattern and we all felt rank rotten at the end.
Football's an emotional game and Scotland can tease emotions like few other teams.

Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam has pulled out of Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Lithuania due to a hip injury, the Scottish Football Association has announced.
Adam picked up the knock during Saturday's 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic at Hampden Park and was forced off the pitch in the 79th minute.

Injured Charlie Adam ruled out of Scotland game

Liverpool midfielder the latest casualty in Craig Levein's depleted squad

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-09-05 08:18:01 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool's Charlie Adam ruled out of Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifier against Lithuania with hip injury

The former Blackpool midfielder, who joined the Reds in the summer, has been added to Craig Levein's long injury list ahead of Tuesday's crucial Group I meeting at Hampden Park

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-09-04 23:07:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

By Alan Duffy

Ronald Koeman lookalike Kevin Blom would be well advised not to book any future holidays in Scotland after the Dutch referee all but ended Scotland's hopes of making it to the Euro 2012 finals.

With just seconds of injury time remaining and Craig Levein's men headed for a 2-1 victory courtesy of strikes from Kenny Miller and Darren Fletcher, Jan Rezak's dodgy dive was deemed worthy of a spot-kick by Blom.

What madness is this?
Do I detect a hint of confidence creeping around this Scotland squad?
I feel I do.
So let us pause a while and pay some small tribute to the still oft maligned Craig Levein.
The disaster of the 4-6-0 formation in the away tie against Czech Republic.

Apparently Alex Salmond's Scottish Government have rushed through emergency legislation declaring that every football article written must include reference to Scottish football's darkest hour.
So be it.
Scotland manager Craig Levein assured us yesterday that the Scottish game would bounce back from the trials of Thursday night.

Danny Wilson admits he may be forced to consider a loan move away from Liverpool this season in a bid to boost his international career. The 19-year-old made just eight appearances last term following his switch to Anfield from Rangers a year ago. The young defender partnered Gary Caldwell in Scotland's 2-1 win over Denmark on Wednesday night but knows he will need more game time at club level if he hopes to retain a place in boss Craig Levein's plans.

Liverpool's Danny Wilson seeks loan to help protect Scotland prospects

• Former Rangers man wants temporary move this month • Liverpool willing to let him go to gain experience Danny Wilson, the Liverpool reserve defender, has spoken of his desire to leave Anfield on loan, partly to help retain his place in the Scotland team.

Liverpool's Charlie Adam can inspire Scotland players, insists Craig Levein

Craig Levein has described Charlie Adam's glamour move from Blackpool to Liverpool as like something out of a movie script and an inspiration for Scottish footballers.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-08-09 23:03:54 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Players to watch in Scotland 2011-12 is a post from: Just Football

Here's a few players plying their trade in Scottish football who, for one reason or another, are worth keeping an eye out for this season:

Shaun Hutchinson (Motherwell)

The 20 year-old central defender was brought to Fir Park by Jim Gannon but was frozen out during Craig Brown's time in charge.

Players to watch in Scotland 2011-12 is a post from: Just Football

Here's a few players plying their trade in Scottish football who, for one reason or another, are worth keeping an eye out for this season:

Shaun Hutchinson (Motherwell)

The 20 year-old central defender was brought to Fir Park by Jim Gannon but was frozen out during Craig Brown's time in charge.

Dunfermline and St Mirren brought the first round of games in the new Scottish Premier League season to an end on Monday with fans already witnessing some early season drama over the weekend.

Jim Jefferies' Hearts managed to pull off a surprise in Saturday's early morning kick off by holding champions Rangers to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox.

The second of today's two opening Sunday fixtures and look at what's going on with Dundee United and Kilmarnock.
The GameLet's quickly gloss over any jokes about how much the early start to the SPL helped Dundee United's European campaign.
After starting with a flurry on Thursday they eventually slipped out of the competition by the narrowest of margins.