Further proof that we need a return to the 8 diddy’s rule. We’re 4th worst in the world with 63.2% of league players from outwith Scotland. What chance has the National team with limited chances to nurture and bring on youth players when our leagues are filled with competent journeymen?
by ewenmax
11 Comments
Linkety link.
[https://football-observatory.com/MonthlyReport89#:~:text=3.%20Expatriate%20players%20*%20Division%20(CYP)%2070.8%,League%20(UAE)%2040.3%%20*%20HNL%20(CRO)%2039.7%](https://football-observatory.com/MonthlyReport89#:~:text=3.%20Expatriate%20players%20*%20Division%20(CYP)%2070.8%,League%20(UAE)%2040.3%%20*%20HNL%20(CRO)%2039.7%)
What’s the 8 diddies rule, for the uninitiated?
Half the countries on that list have crap national teams (compared to population) and the other half are good. Not sure this list on its own tells a story.
The old firm need to win almost every game pushed them to never take a risk and they languish in B teams or on the bench. They also Hoover up a lot of talent though too so there is always going to be a drought for smaller teams who would be able to take more risks.
The problem is that we don’t play the younger players, not just home grown players in general.
Robbie McCrorie being a great example, wasted 5/6 years of his career waiting on a chance at rangers and now he’s getting a shot at 26. If he wasn’t tied down at rangers he would probably have played a couple hundred games by now and be in a better spot.
Based on the statement on the top of the list, this also includes English, Irish and Welsh players as expat so our percentage is slightly skewed. I would be curious to see the percentage of outside UK.
If we taught our weans to stay off the mad dog and ching long enough to turn up to training and make the most of their potential it might help
Its definitely complex but in the top flight there should be some commitment of minutes to be devoted to youth/Scottish players. Tougher for teams coming up but they should be given a grace period of sorts to enable them to do the same if not possible.
Scottish teams can’t keep good young players. The truly talented ones are taken early due to reach and scouting and a Diddy English team with mega finances will snap them up. A three foreigner rule would just mean worse Scottish teams all round, as half a season of being decent here gets you a move to a big team’s reserves. See Ben Doak, Nathan Patterson etc.
If you go to croatia or serbia with similar populations you see a clear difference. Pitches are full every day. Players are encouraged to be technical. Here we release players for being too small. Modric, kovacic etc would never be playing here. Of course weather and drug factors here play a difference
Surprised someone hasn’t bought a club in scotland and make it into a massive youth academy
There’s about 100 Scottish players playing in the lower leagues in England. Obviously those players are going to be replaced by English and Irish players.
We need to bring through more young Scottish academy players but if they are decent they will move down south.
We need to do more to play younger Scottish players.
Although, I’ve noticed something which may skew the stats. So many of our best youngsters seem to go down south at 16, which surely impacts the stats. I think we need to do more to convince these lads that they are best at breaking into first teams in Scotland, then move down south as a regular starter (more chance of making it down there).
Look at Hickey, Ferguson etc ply your trade up here first, establish yourself and a regular, then get an enticing move where you play in their first team on arrival. Rather than going down south at 16, never making an appearance, and ending up released at 20 having barely kicked a ball.