Choices for Levein

While the great and good of International battle for the World Cup in South Africa this summer the lesser talented nations will look on green with envy.

Unfortunately, yet again Scotland have failed to reach the pinnacle of International football, the recent qualification campaign was a mixed bag of disaster, farce, ineptitude and depression. Eventually, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) realized that George Burley was not the man to lead us to greener pastures and he was summarily executed (figuratively speaking). However where before deep depression reigned, optimism has taken its place in the form of new boss Craig Levein.

The recent 1-0 triumph against the Czech Republic only served to strengthen the ebullient mood around Hampden Park.

A change was needed within the dressing room to turn the team into battling warriors again.

Firstly, Levein re-included the Ibrox miscreants who had seemingly turned their back on the national team or acted with such stupidity as to earn a life-time ban from selection.

Messrs McGregor, Ferguson (Boozegate duo), McCulloch and Boyd where welcomed back into the fold (only Boyd managed to join the team due to injury and more off field shenanigans from playboy McGregor) and all was forgiven.
Next, Levien had to stamp his identity upon the new team which was attained to a small degree with the inclusion of the Dundee United defenders Gary Kenneth and Andy Webster (Levein was previously in charge of United).

However the manager does not a lot to work with in regards to players and maybe never before has a Scottish national manager had such a poor pool of talent to choose from. In previous decades the national coach could look to the English first division and call upon the likes of Law, Bremner, Jordan, Souness and Dalglish now options are very limited.

The one exception to this is current captain and Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher who is enjoying is his finest season to date for the table topping red devils. Fletcher has been the best midfielder at Old Trafford this with performances full of grit, industry and no little aggression filling the void left by one Roy Keane. However, in recent games Fletcher has failed to replicate this form for his country, Levein must hope this can change.

Accompanying the captain in midfield will be Old Firm players in Rangers Kevin Thomson, whose progress has been limited by injury and Scott Brown who has been unable to progress since his move to Celtic Park. Both are undoubtedly talented players but since both moving from Hibernian that have not reached anywhere near their full potential.
The rest of the midfield options hail mainly from the English Championship.

Current best 11 FOR Scottish National team;
Probable 1st team in red

Gordon(Sunderland)/Alexander(Rangers) /McGregor(Rangers)

Hutton (Sunderland)/Whittaker(Rangers) Caldwell (Middlesborough) Webster (Dundee United) Berra(Wolves)/Wallace(Hearts)
Hartley (Brighton)/Ferguson (Birmingham City)
McFadden (Birmingham City) Brown (Celtic) Fletcher(Manchester United) Thomson(Rangers) Robson(Middlesborough) Adam(Blackpool) Dorrans(West Bromwich) Kris Commons (Derby)
Fletcher (Burnley)/Miller (Rangers)/Boyd(Rangers)

Possible squad members ; Iwelumo (Wolves), McManus (Middlesborough), Fleck (Rangers),
Wilson (Rangers),