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McLeish pays the price for Celts' Cup win



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Published Date: 29 May 2007
CELTIC'S Tennent's Scottish Cup victory over Dunfermline at Hampden Park on Saturday came at a high cost to Scotland manager Alex McLeish.
McLeish's plans for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifier against the Faroe Islands on June 6 were thrown in to disarray when three Parkhead players pulled out of the trip to Austria for a preparatory friendly tomorrow.

Hoops striker Kenny Miller h
as a hamstring injury, Celtic defender Steven Pressley aggravated a back complaint and striker Craig Beattie, who was used as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 victory, picked up a knock.

All three are now unlikely to play any part in their country's forthcoming matches.

New Celtic signing Scott Brown and Aberdeen stopper Russell Anderson will also miss the trip to Vienna with niggles and will be assessed later in the week after extensive treatment.

McLeish has called in veteran utility player Christian Dailly.

Derby County pair Gary Teale and Jay McEveley were not expected to travel to Austria due to their Coca-Cola Championship play-off final win over West Brom at Wembley yesterday.

However, Teale did not play in the Rams' 1-0 victory and the SFA will ask the wide man to join up with the rest of the squad.

McLeish has already lost his current top scorer James McFadden as he struggles to overcome the broken metatarsal which ruled him out of the March qualifiers against Georgia and Italy, leaving Lokomotiv Moscow striker Garry O'Connor as an unlikely saviour.

O'Connor was brought in to the squad after McFadden pulled out but the loss of Miller and Beattie leaves McLeish with just three forwards, with O'Connor joining Kris Boyd and Shaun Maloney.



The full article contains 287 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Alasdair,

29/05/2007 11:28:52

Pressley and Beattie shouldn't be in the squad anyway. Miller was alright in that game, but has been rubbish this season.
Scott Brown and Russell Anderson are more serious losses, however.
I think Brown will get back in soon enough, but the danger with Anderson missing the friendly is that McManus will probably consolodate a place in the squad as a result.. and he's rubbish!

I'd like to see Brown, Anderson and Maloney all making regular starts very soon. Also, the sooner Webster is fit, and can take over from Weir, the better.

2

Jacomo,

29/05/2007 11:46:09

Maloney certainly needs to cement his place in the squad, and should see these next 2 matches as his ideal opportunity. It's a shame for Anderson and Brown to miss out but - hopefully - the Faroes can be taken care of without them.

I don't think there's a role for Pressley anymore, he's too old and too slow now.

www.welovefitba.blogspot.com

3

SammyTheTammy,

29/05/2007 11:48:38

#1 Rangers fan aye?

Those 3 strikers named in the artical are all good enough to score against the Faroes and i'd be happy to see any of them get there chance.
What is happening at the RB position? Surely Alexander and Hutton shouldn't be contesting an international place!! McNaughton, McNamara, Shields, Hart and Whittaker are all fit and so much better.

Hope Brown isfit in time for the Faroes because between him Fergie and Fletch they will be too much for the puffin touchers!

4

BillyBawBag,

mcmanus - rubbish??? Ciao nobby 29/05/2007 11:55:36

How can you possibly say Mc Manus is 'rubbish'? Ask the Italians and Man Utd players what they think of him. Such a nobby remark. Best you go back and think again. Perhaps ther are more players that are rubbish in the championship-winning side. Don't want you to miss out on another moan.

5

Alasdair,

29/05/2007 12:20:13

Dear me, don't get your knickers in a twist!
Alright - let's say he's dangerously inconsistent then. Will that do? If Kennedy regains half the form he had before injury, Pressley and McManus will have to watch their backs.

6

Alasdair,

29/05/2007 13:39:45

#5, SammyTheTammy - no, mate, not a Rangers fan! I realise I mainly picked out Celtic players for my moan there, but it wasn't intentional. I think they're below Celtic standard as well as below Scotland standard!
I'm a Dons fan, btw, and as such am glad to see Hart getting a bit of recognition in your post - he has played very well for us all season.

I also can't agree more with you on either Alexander or Hutton, neither should be near the Scotland squad!

I really do try as hard as possible to put team loyalties to the side when thinking about the national squad: I'd love Anderson to get starts for Scotland, but that's simply because I rate him as a better player than Pressley or McManus, not because I have anything against them because they play for Celtic.

Speaking of Celtic players, I'd rather Riorden in the squad than Beattie anyway.

7

SammyTheTammy,

29/05/2007 14:26:47

My appologies Alasdair a tad grumpy after the weekend!!

Hart is a million miles better than hutton as is Greg Shields. One thing in alexanders defence is that he has international experience but he certainly isn't good enough to be first pick in that position.

Totally agree with Anderson I think he is far too underated by the Scotland set up, I would however pair him with McManus because I like McManus's attitude - although they have been excellent servants Scotland should be looking beyond Dailly and Weir and looking at your Kennedys, websters, caldwell (except Steven!) and the two I mentioned above.

Middle to front looks good as well but teale shouldn't be selected ahead of Burke, Riordan, Jamie Smith and Driver.

8

Green_Ghirly1888,

UK 29/05/2007 14:51:28

How anyone can say McManus is rubbish is beyond me! He's turned out to be one of the best central defenders this season. He will be Celtic's captain next year.

He's solid and reliable. And i don't think he's been inconsistent either.

Of course, i'm not in the slightest bit biased...

9

Alasdair,

29/05/2007 15:03:22

Fair play, sammy and Green_Ghirly - I'll take what you guys have said on board and give McManus another shot. Perhaps it's unfair for me to judge him harshly, given that some of the games I thought he played badly in were ones where the whole Celtic team were in a slump following the Champions League exit.

I agree on Teale too, btw.
It will also be interesting to see how Pearson gets on in the Premiership next season. The Derby fans seem to think he's the bargain of the season, and if he plays well after the summer, he'll be expecting call-ups.

10

Green_Ghirly1888,

UK 29/05/2007 15:44:36

Something else as far as McManus is concerned.

He played ok against Georgia, especially since it was his first cap. So maybe he needs time to settle into the Scotland squad. There are players around him that have played far more games.

Anyway, we shall see.

11

kendo,

29/05/2007 16:57:34

Haven't seen Anderson play but have heard nothing but rave reviews of him. Hope to see him play soon. Is it possible we have a few very promising players coming through? Sounds like it. Wouldn't it be great to watch Scotland expecting a wee bit of flair as well as the head down battling your guts out stuff?

12

Tam O' Shanter,

29/05/2007 17:20:22

Pressley is ancient noo and a very dirty player tae boot.
Or is it him that does the bootin'?

Where's ma medicine?

13

We don't care!,

wo 30/05/2007 10:57:34

#9 Alisdair,

I'll say Pearson is the bargain of the season! He just earned Derby 60 million quid with the slip of a foot :-) Now that's the way to repay your transfer fee and some.


 

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