Scot 100: Rangers TV commentator Tom Miller picks his greatest XI
The Away End are searching for the 100 greatest players to have graced Scottish football. Rangers TV commentator Tom Miller went through agony picking his side, but is confident his team would be unbeatable.
After three sleepless nights , I have picked, in my opinion, my team of top performers in the Scottish game.
However , let me confirm the bunch would need to be enormous for all the others I wanted to have in the side!
I have stuck with the principal that I needed to see them play. It's a pleasure to say I have seen all these guys. What a priviledge!
I have gone for a 4-3-2-1 formation that I think would bring a fluency and movement to the game that opponents would struggle to match.
I have stuck with the principal that I needed to see them play. It's a pleasure to say I have seen all these guys. What a priviledge!
I have gone for a 4-3-2-1 formation that I think would bring a fluency and movement to the game that opponents would struggle to match.
ANDY GORAM : Nothing more needs to be said about Goram. Should we remind ourselves of the words of the late Tommy Burns: “Goram broke my heart….”
He was a walking advert of how not to live your life but when the game was in play he was an astonishing professional.
DANNY McGRAIN : Overcame incredible health problems to be a Celtic and Scotland great. Switched to left back for his country and still delivered consistency beyond belief. A tiger in the tackle and a potent force going forward.
ALEX McLEISH : He and Willie Miller are a match of the equal to Fish & Chips or Mince & Tatties! They were the rock that Fergie built his amazing Aberdeen side on in the 80's.
Big Alex put his head in where people wouldn`t put a boot ! Brave, quick, commanding . A Centre Half of the traditional Scottish old school.
WILLIE MILLER : A converted striker not blessed with pace but when he wasn`t refereeing the game he read it like a book and instinctively knew what his opponent was about to try, often before he did.
A tremendous penalty box defender to a level that had he played in Italy in the “Libero“ role , he would have been hoisted to world class.
TOMMY GEMMELL : What a sight when driving at opposition defenders with a shot like an exocet. He took no prisoners when it got feisty too.
He`s on my pens too…………..took the leather off the ball !
RAY WILKINS : Not always appreciated for what he brought to the Scottish game but his ethos was simple…..keep the ball. And he did in style. You don`t play with the clubs Ray Wilkins did without being a top top player. A model professional who had the demeanour of a High School teacher but with the skills and vision that very few equalled.
GREAME SOUNESS : Need an enforcer? None better. Can you imagine if opponents tried to take liberties with your front three? Ouch ! “Sorted….Job Done “ was usually his shout to the technical area after publically displaying he was the boss. And goals from distance that would have keepers diving for cover.
JIM BAXTER : GENIUS ! `NUFF SAID !!!
My all time hero. Made the ball talk and was born to entertain. I spent my formative years getting his autograph almost every night of the week as he courted his then girlfriend Jean Ferguson in Coatbridge and I would be there most nights waiting on Slim Jim`s MG coming round the corner.
Gallus and knew he was The Man!
HENRIK LARSSON : Wim Jansen stole this man from Feyenoord. Took a couple of weeks to settle but he and Celtic were a marriage made in heaven. Could have done without that tongue on show as a goal celebration but a player who would thrive on the promptings from this particular engine room. Biggest memory is the chip over Klos in Celtic 6-2 win even I was out my seat as it left his boot (Honest!).
BRIAN LAUDRUP : Swivle hips , velchro feet and acceleration of a Ferrari! Despite all the competition for a place in this side in an attacking sense, like Larsson he had the best spell of his career in Glasgow. Perhaps summed up in the cup final that saw Gordon Durie score a hat trick but it`s known as “ The Laudrup Final ! “ Considered by many to be Rangers best ever foreigner.
TOMMY GEMMELL : What a sight when driving at opposition defenders with a shot like an exocet. He took no prisoners when it got feisty too.
He`s on my pens too…………..took the leather off the ball !
RAY WILKINS : Not always appreciated for what he brought to the Scottish game but his ethos was simple…..keep the ball. And he did in style. You don`t play with the clubs Ray Wilkins did without being a top top player. A model professional who had the demeanour of a High School teacher but with the skills and vision that very few equalled.
GREAME SOUNESS : Need an enforcer? None better. Can you imagine if opponents tried to take liberties with your front three? Ouch ! “Sorted….Job Done “ was usually his shout to the technical area after publically displaying he was the boss. And goals from distance that would have keepers diving for cover.
JIM BAXTER : GENIUS ! `NUFF SAID !!!
My all time hero. Made the ball talk and was born to entertain. I spent my formative years getting his autograph almost every night of the week as he courted his then girlfriend Jean Ferguson in Coatbridge and I would be there most nights waiting on Slim Jim`s MG coming round the corner.
Gallus and knew he was The Man!
HENRIK LARSSON : Wim Jansen stole this man from Feyenoord. Took a couple of weeks to settle but he and Celtic were a marriage made in heaven. Could have done without that tongue on show as a goal celebration but a player who would thrive on the promptings from this particular engine room. Biggest memory is the chip over Klos in Celtic 6-2 win even I was out my seat as it left his boot (Honest!).
BRIAN LAUDRUP : Swivle hips , velchro feet and acceleration of a Ferrari! Despite all the competition for a place in this side in an attacking sense, like Larsson he had the best spell of his career in Glasgow. Perhaps summed up in the cup final that saw Gordon Durie score a hat trick but it`s known as “ The Laudrup Final ! “ Considered by many to be Rangers best ever foreigner.
COLIN STEIN : First £100K transfer between two Scottish clubs and eight goals in his first three games for Rangers.
Four goals in one game for Scotland and still last player to score a hat trick for our country.
Strong as an Ox and scored all sorts of goals.
In the modern game he would command £20M in the transfer market minimum.
It`s been a pleasure trailing the memory banks to put this side together. It`s all about opinions as they say...my own opinion may even change tomorrow as make no mistake…..Scotlands` has had Talent !
If we could now just get these in one team for 90 minutes…………….the admission money could be anything , I would pay it !
ANDY GORAM
DANNY McGRAIN ALEX McLEISH WILLIE MILLER TOMMY GEMMELL
DANNY McGRAIN ALEX McLEISH WILLIE MILLER TOMMY GEMMELL
RAY WILKINS GRAEME SOUNESS JIM BAXTER
HENRIK LARSSON BRIAN LAUDRUP
HENRIK LARSSON BRIAN LAUDRUP
COLIN STEIN
Who would you vote for? Vote now at http://kwiksurveys.com?u=top100
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