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I see your point Jim, but imo opinion, there is the other option of Ferguson making himself available should the need arise.
If the squad is depleted for any reason, then surely he would be a more than welcome reserve to fill in any gap in midfield.
This option wouldn't and shouldn't place to much burden on his obligations to Birmingham either.
He is too valuable a player to just be disregarded because of past issues.

Best for all concerned?

It might be best for Barry, as he is likely to get stick from Aberdeen/Celtic supporters.

But how is it best for Scotland? Barry is playing better than I have seen him for years, he's scoring goals in the premiership and is (apart from Fletcher) our best midfielder.

How could the national team benefit in anyway from his non-involvement?

Good blog Jim, and nicely free of the usual hyperbole, whether positive or negative, that surrounds Ferguson in respect of Scotland.

I'm undecided. It still rankles with me that Ferguson carried on the way he did, but I can appreciate that, like most countries our size, we're not overly blessed with players and need the best ones we have to be available.

Even if what has gone before hadn't happened, he'd still be coming to the end of his international career in the next year or two anyway (you would think), so he's not one for the future, but in most games, and I'm thinking the Spanish matches especially, he's the one player you would want in your team, because he knows how to control the tempo of a game.

It was obvious to most observers that Rangers problems in Europe this season were almost exclusively down to their inability to retain the ball, and it was with this that the absence of Ferguson was most apparent. For all the 'SpongeBaz SquareBaw' and 'Barry the Crab' taunts, it was his ability to take the sting out of opponents that saw Rangers reach the UEFA cup final not so long ago.

Given the sort of football that Spain play, and presumably the fact that we'll be under the cosh from them for almost the entire game, who else would you want in the Midfield but Ferguson?

Incidentally, while I'm worried for the short term, the long term picture is good. Our Midfield looks like being potentially one of the strongest in Europe in a couple of years.

I think it's time to move on.. he is doing well down there and thats mostly due to the fact he is out of the goldfish bowl.. There would be too many waiting for him to slip up and jump on him.

He and McGregor made a mistake.. put their hands up and were punished (harshly) by the SFA.. he should continue his new found success down south and play out the last of his career in peace..

Jim Spence has set out the situation quite well but I find his conclusion that there is "too much baggage" associated with Ferguson absurd. Ferguson behaved badly but he has served a more than adequate sentence for what was foolish misbehaviour, not some serious crime. Levein is right to try to get the best players in the squad and Ferguson, who is playing very well in maybe the best league in the world, certainly falls into that category. I'm sure Ferguson would like to get his 50th cap but if he decides that international duty is too much for him at this stage in his career on top of his club career then so be it, we'll move on.

As for the point raised about Rangers in Europe, Ferguson might have done a job in terms of ball retention etc but I've also seen Pedro Mendes doing a similar job extremely well for Portugal and I felt his injury was a serious blow to Rangers in the European arena.

I can see where Ferguson is coming from. His first stint in the Premiership wasn;t the greatest with Blackburn but he is doing well at the moment. Why jepordise that?

I personally hope he does come back because I think he is still the best Centre Midfielder we have to play along side Fletcher.

Either with or without him it will be a challange for the euros. We'll get second, a point ahead of the Czechs.

Barry Ferguson has got to put Barry ferguson first and if that means that he forgoes international football then so be it. He will want to play at the highest level for as long as he can and why not. Just look at former England and Ireland captains Roy Keane and Alan Shearer

I agree with the conclusion even if I don't necessarily agree with the sentiment that Ferguson should be offered a second chance.

Neither Ferguson or McGregor should be considered for selection again without at the very least a proper public apology.

I think that Craig Levein should realise that these two players didn't just let themselves, George Burley and the SFA down, they let the whole country down and it shouldn't be simply Craig Levein's decision to forgive them on behalf of the whole country.

There is hardly a depth of good players that Scotland have at their disposal and Ferguson is one of the good players and therfore should be considered. It is his decision though whether he wants to put wrongs right again after his last antics or whether he takes the examples of Giggs and Scholes, who retired at about the same age and have managed to prolong their careers at the highest level. I think he will opt for the latter as he has found a resurgance of form at Birmingham.

I'm undecided as to whether Feguson should return or not but it seems to me that the press in the UK continue to make things more difficult for the national teams than is neccessary. Ferguson and McGregor were clearly making their 'signs' at the press - not the fans! (maybe its time to stop using these pictures JIM?!)

At least the English press seem just as determined to try and mess up England's best chance of getting past the quarter finals of the World Cup in years with their John Terry story. (although England unlike Scotland have four or five players for each position!)

Let's look at the facts ere ey lads. I'm an englishmun, and Ihave to say that the behaviour of Ferguson and McGregor was downright atrocious, not only were they putting two fingers up to the FA they were putting two fingers up to all the fans that spend a lot of hard earned cash that make them so rich.

Imagine your dream is to play for your country and then a player who has not been selected for breaching discipline code gives you the V sign. Horrendous

I look at Boyd a a necessity, get him in there, I agree with his motives, he didn't say no to Scotland, he said no to Burley. Everybody could see Burley was not upto the job and his treatment of Boyd is testament to this.

Boyd will be Scotlands talisman if he is included. Forget Ferguson...in comes Scott Brown to partner Fletcher. Look at the energy and aggression you have there, not many international midfields would fancy coming up against that.

Don't blame Iwelumo, the poor guy should never have been near an international squad, put a poor player in a pressure situation...they gonna fail my friend.

Get a solid base of a team that plays week in week out and add to that your one or two quality players (Fletcher, Hutton, Boyd) and you have a recipe for success.

Wrong! BF is the best scottish midfielder we have. Our team is weaker without him so why leave him out? Agree with the point that it might not be in the best interests of ferguson, but it definitely is in the best interests of the Scotland team. We are not that good that we can afford to leave out our better players.

Its pretty bizarre that arguably three of the most talented Scottish-born players in Boyd, Ferguson and McGeady for various reasons don't play for Scotland. Going back a while here but didn't Duncan Ferguson fall out with some people and refuse to play for Scotland too?

As a non-Scot it does seem the Scottish national team and its players are their own worst ememies at times.

13. At 2:23pm on 12 Feb 2010, BognorRock wrote:
Its pretty bizarre that arguably three of the most talented Scottish-born players in Boyd, Ferguson and McGeady for various reasons don't play for Scotland. Going back a while here but didn't Duncan Ferguson fall out with some people and refuse to play for Scotland too?

As a non-Scot it does seem the Scottish national team and its players are their own worst ememies at times.
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You fool,McGeady is a Republic of Ireland International

Ferguson didn't fall out with anyone, he quite rightly refused to play for the scottish FA. When he was imprisoned the scottish FA also decided that they were going to impose something like an 8 game ban on playing for Scotland too. Where they got that from is beyond me?? Yes son you've been to jail and served your time, we are now going to ban you too

How stupid of a ridiculous FA. Big Dunc in 1998 had probably his most productive and injury free time as a player...he could have dragged Scotland through France '98 but no, of course Darren Jackson was a better option

This FA also failed to support Gary McAllister when he was being booed by his own fans

RE: tomefccam:

I'm aware McGeady plays for Ireland, but he is Scottish born. My point was that it's bizzare how many very good Scottish-born players don't play for Scotland for one reason or another. If I was a Scotland fan this would annoy me quite a bit

completely agree with the first post. no need to burn bridges but maybe juggling both would be too much. keep him available to return if required but otherwise work with whats available and leave him aside.

ds10 ...... are you for real? Public apology ..... sorry did I miss something? Did they commit some serious crime against humanity ......

Fair enough they were stupid, but they have been punished, so if Mr Levein wants them to return to help us qualify for a tournament and they agree all the better for Scotland ...... It's not like we have an abundance of players with his experience to choose from.

BognorRock - one name Ryan Giggs. Why did he choose Wales? Probably for the same reason McGeady chose ROI.

Have to agree with Jim here. It is all very well saying that they were "stupid" and have served their punishment but have they really?

You could argue that McGregor was just following the lead of his captain and senior player when he did it and as the junior player, not in such a position of responsibility, a slap on the wrist and non-selection is probably appropriate. Call it a written warning if you like, however, were Ferguson to show such disregard and lack of professionalism while working for any organisation in the private sector he would almost definitely have been immediately fired.

His actions during the game, after being disciplined for the almost inexcusable offence of late night drinking and alleged "raucous" behaviour in front of people not with the Scottish set up in a public place while on duty, in my opinion demonstrate a complete disregard for his peers, superiors and most importantly the people who pay good money to keep him employed.

Scottish football sees many players who show promise at an early age but who end up not fulfilling their potential due to a lack of application and falling foul of the temptations which abound in our society. To even appear to condone this runs the risk of setting an example which will lead to the continued failure of Scotland as a footballing nation.

Oh and just for kingkenny, Ryan Giggs is Welsh; born in Wales to Welsh parents and was never eligible to play for England. He played for England schoolboys (which anyone who attends a school in England can do regardless of their international eligibility).

Give me a break. I get paid to blah blah blah, too much baggage twaddle.

We don't pick the team. We should trust Craig Levein, after all we did ask him to be the Scotland manager so we should respect that it is his decision and if he wants Barry Ferguson, and he's willing to return, we should be supporting him just like any of the other crisp poke chasers that flood our team.

Have a nice day ;)

Totally agree with post #18.

If the captain had just gone on his late-night bender between two important games and abused a member of the management team, and then apologised properly, fair enough.

And if he had just acted like a spoilt child while sitting in the stand and then apologised properly for that, fair enough.

But to do the latter while he was supposed to be showing contrition for the former, shows - and I know this sounds like a cliche, but in this case I reckon it's justified - a complete lack of respect for the Scottish international football team, which he was supposed to be the captain of! An incredible honour for most, but apparently an inconvenience for Ferguson, if it gets in the way of his drinking, or if the set-up dare to ask him to behave himself in the days after the drinking session.

He is a good player, of the quality we need, but even taking this into account I think - pragmatically - that the Scotland set-up is better off without his negative influence.

Bedlam-Boy - the point was, Ryan Giggs was eligible to play for England but chose Wales, Mcgeady was eligble to play for Scotland but chose ROI ..... all down to family, nothing to do with a "problem with Scottish football: which post 13 eluded too.

Surely JT has committed a far worse crime than our two idiots did .... did the English FA impose the same punishment? No ......

Do you actually want Scotland to qualify for a major tournament or are you too wound up in making sure 1 ex 1 current Rangers players are kept out the Scotland set up?

to be honest i'm on the fence with this one, i agree that Barry is having a fantastic season with Birmingham however there is no guarantee that Barry could replicate this for his country.

Also don't you think a more burning question would be: Darren Fletcher 'world class' for Man Utd but just doesn't turn up for Scotland ever, any ideas?!

As captain of Scotland they way Ferguson acted was disgraceful. He may not have committed any crime but if he had any hint of respect for the honour of being made captain of his national side or the slightest amount of personal dignity he wouldn't have acted in that fashion.

The fact that can act with complete disregard of the responsibilty of his position as captain of Scotland is an insult to Scotland fans and the Scottish nation. Hence the need for a public apology. It suggests that Ferguson simply does not care about the national team and for that reason does not merit selection.

I am certainly not happy with the thought that I am being represented by Barry Ferguson. And although I have been a Scotland supporter all my life if Craig Levein chooses to recall Ferguson, Scotland will lose at least one fan.

And Ferguson will have the chance to make a mockery of the international team once again.....

well said ds10, i never really liked the way Ferguson conducted himself whilst in the SPL anyway. Barking at referees, trying to get opponents sent off yet he never got even a ticking off because he was 'king Barry'. Yet on the international scene he didn't dare do it because your Collina's etc wouldn't stand for it yet he walked all over Freeland, Thomson, Brines etc. Quite gutted Driver isn't eligible for Scotland missing the deadline by 2months, he's the natural left winger we're crying out for

As a previous poster stated I think I'll put my trust in Levein when it comes to picking the Scotland Squad. Hopefully the players will respond to him better than they did with Burley.

On the other subject with regards to Ferguson and McGregor, they were stupid aye, but personally I think they wer hung out to dry a little bit after the drinking thing-other players who took part in the same bevvy session took part in the game whilst they were benched-i too would have been peeved that I had been dropped whilst my co-conspiritors got off free.

Craig Levein's pragmatism is infectious. He is sensible enough to understand that if he wins (or doesn't lose) football matches he will likely keep his job longer, and stands a better chance of getting us into second place.

To do that the chances are immediately improved if there are no limitations on picking his best players. This is the kind of sense that should be more pervasive at the SFA.

I am also hopeful that Levein is an international manager that will not tolerate any drinking binges after an almost irreversibly damaging 3-0 loss to Holland or prior to any game still to be played for that matter.

The issue is with the players behaviour. The Cameron House Two might not have been the only guilty ones of a drinking binge, but their lack of remorse both with the V signs and Ferguson's subsequent rant about the SFA indicates that they still don't "get" it.

I would worry about how a full Hampden reacts to Barry Ferguson in the the starting line up and what kind of potential effect this may have on the side. In fact, the same is true of McGregor, McCulloch and Boyd. I think the precedent these four have set is despicable and is also deeply questionable.

However if Levein feels all of this is not an issue, he should be able to pick whoever he sees fit to. We need all the help we can get.

Kingkenny, I think you will find that Giggs wasn't eligible to play for England at all and has always stated that he was Welsh (indeed born there of Welsh parents). There was a rumour that he could play for a South American team due to a grandparent. He played for junior level Wales teams as well as English schoolboy football.

As for JT's crime being "worse," at least he seems to have demonstrated some contrition to his wife. Where was Ferguson's mind when he was giving the finger? Pondering his crime and punishment or back in the playground?

Theres something wrong with club coming before country and that has happened throughout Chav-tain Backpass' career. Wednesday and an international "aw naw i've hurt ma leg and a canna play today" the next saturday "it wiz great to get playin for ma team after ma 'injury'".
He was always a terrible example, a terrible player who should never have been near a Scotland squad and was only ever in the Rangers squad cos of his family.
His big brother will be round my house doing a Dappy because "no-one is allowed to criticise wee Barry cos he is an angel and Burley had him in the dentist chair and McGregor tried to stop him".