December 14.
James Traynor confirms all that East of Scotland football fans feel
about Glasgow bias with his article on team selection for the coming
international with Greece (December 12).
If, as he claims, ''there is little logic in calling in Hibernian's
(Gordon) Hunter, who has no pedigree at international level'' for the
match, the responsibility for that unhappy situation lies at the door of
Craig Brown's predecessor, Andy Roxburgh.
Hunter has been one of the best defenders in the country for more
seasons than I care to remember and it must have been galling for the
player to see lesser lights capped in the past when he was excluded.
If anything defies logic, it is James Traynor's contention that
Richard Gough should return to the squad. If his own reports over the
years are to be believed, the breach between the Rangers player and the
Scotland manager is probably unbridgeable and the last thing the
national team needs going into such a vital international is a strained
atmosphere in the camp.
I know I am not alone in believing it has long been the case that
playing in a blue or green-and-white hooped jersey allows often mediocre
players to leapfrog their way to caps over more able footballers who
wear other colours.
Pat McGinlay put his finger on it shortly after his transfer from Hibs
to Celtic when he was pressured to accept a Scotland call-up while his
ancestry was being tracked by Ireland's Jack Charlton, commenting:
''No-one spoke about me playing for Scotland when I was scoring 15 goals
a season for Hibs.''
Craig Brown may have his critics, but credit to him for looking
outside the Old Firm.
Michael Delaney,
6 Meadowbank Crescent,
Edinburgh.
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