[Jeremiah pickle pants]

qos_75, on 19 September 2011 - 19:12, said:

"Everyone wants to play for the country, and I DO want to play for Scotland but I feel like it's out of my hands. People say it's in my hands but I don't believe it is.

The simple way to resolve this other than to pick up the phone (either party, albeit that would take some commonsense) is to select him for the next group of games and see if he is true to his word.

Untill the next time he's feeling a bit down. Or maybe another player can think he is justified at pulling out of squads when he feels like. If every jounalist that spoke to him didn't kiss ass and instead just tole him "Make the call, you're in the team" Well then he'd be in the squad.

Levein is not asking for an appology, He's asking for respect and I really don't care who the manager of Scotland is, he should get full respect from the players because of his title regardless of his name or reputation

[nessies long lost ghost]

Good to see Fletcher scoring again today against Liverpool. It would be great if he could play for Scotland again.

[TartanArmani]

nessies long lost ghost, on 24 September 2011 - 18:04, said:

Good to see Fletcher scoring again today against Liverpool. It would be great if he could play for Scotland again.

Simple really - Sack Levien

[Gaz]

TartanArmani, on 25 September 2011 - 07:06, said:

Simple really - Sack Levien

Who?

[paddymcp]

Gaz, on 25 September 2011 - 09:02, said:

Who?

He'll get another campaign - no doubt about that.

S.Fletcher will be in the next squad IMO.

[RobbieD]

If he isn't, Levein can't be trusted on his word and it's going to a matter of time before he is done. Can't start lying to the people when the team isn't qualifying for tournaments.

[Savage Henry]

RobbieD, on 25 September 2011 - 19:54, said:

If he isn't, Levein can't be trusted on his word and it's going to a matter of time before he is done. Can't start lying to the people when the team isn't qualifying for tournaments.

Why? Seems to me Levein's been entirely consistent on this issue, whereas Fletcher's the one bleating away in the tabloids. There's no evidence to say Fletcher's told Levein he wants to be included, and the puff piece at the start of this thread is no evidence of anything.

[McKee]

We don't need Fletcher at all really. Miller and Mackail-Smith are better players and fit our system far better than Fletcher ever could. I'd throw Goodwillie in there as well actually, he looked to have adapted to the miller role very well.

[ss..schlecht]

Fletcher sounds like a silly wee boy who hasn't grown up. Don't conduct your business through the media. You can't go slagging your manager to the press, likewise you can't tell him you're available through the tabloid journalists. He should show a bit of maturity by picking up the phone and speaking to Levein. IMO he's looking like a "knob" by not being man enough to speak to people directly.

[RobbieD]

Savage Henry, on 26 September 2011 - 03:36, said:

Why? Seems to me Levein's been entirely consistent on this issue, whereas Fletcher's the one bleating away in the tabloids. There's no evidence to say Fletcher's told Levein he wants to be included, and the puff piece at the start of this thread is no evidence of anything.

Why? Because Levein said he would consider Fletcher when he says he is available in any form, including media. He never said he had to make direct contact, infact he stressed he didn't have to. Fletcher has now said he is ready to go. If he goes against his word, he is a liar. Simples.

[RobbieD]

ss..schlecht, on 27 September 2011 - 08:43, said:

Fletcher sounds like a silly wee boy who hasn't grown up. Don't conduct your business through the media. You can't go slagging your manager to the press, likewise you can't tell him you're available through the tabloid journalists. He should show a bit of maturity by picking up the phone and speaking to Levein. IMO he's looking like a "knob" by not being man enough to speak to people directly.

1 - When did he slag Levein in the press?

2 - You can tell anyone you like you are available, especially the tabloids when Levein stressed that is all he had to do.

3 - As much as Fletcher could ring Levein to have this all out, Levein could show maturity and pick up the phone to him. If I didn't go to work, my gaffter would be on the phone.

[Savage Henry]

RobbieD, on 27 September 2011 - 18:50, said:

1 - When did he slag Levein in the press?

2 - You can tell anyone you like you are available, especially the tabloids when Levein stressed that is all he had to do.

3 - As much as Fletcher could ring Levein to have this all out, Levein could show maturity and pick up the phone to him. If I didn't go to work, my gaffter would be on the phone.

2. Well no, Levein wants to hear directly that he's available. Fletcher's ego prevents him from doing so.

3. Yes, but if you tell your boss you weren't coming in today, and didn't come in tomorrow either, I wouldn't expect your boss to pick up the phone and ask if you fancied coming into work the day after tomorrow.

[BRAVELANEY]

For me its clearly up to Fletcher to get a set of balls, pick up the phone and tell Craig Levein he wants to play for his country, because if you really do and are desperate to get back in, thats all you can do.

How much respect will be lost for Levein if by taking this stance he then picks up the phone to Fletcher? would you see any other scottish manager do that? Smith? Alex Ferguson? Would you fcuk.

All this 'i do want to play, i'll play if he asks me, i dont think i've done anything wrong' reeks of when it took half an hour to ask out a bird in primary 6 'i do fancy him but unless he asks me theres nothing i can do', reporting back to each other via differnt people.

Did I take that too far?

[ss..schlecht]

RobbieD, on 27 September 2011 - 18:50, said:

1 - When did he slag Levein in the press?

2 - You can tell anyone you like you are available, especially the tabloids when Levein stressed that is all he had to do.

3 - As much as Fletcher could ring Levein to have this all out, Levein could show maturity and pick up the phone to him. If I didn't go to work, my gaffter would be on the phone.

2 and 3 have been answered, here's 1

Having a pop at Levein

"He said we played well. Maybe in his mind we did but I felt we should have gone out and attacked.

"The team was good enough to win the game but he tried to go defensively and it didn't work out."

[jamboscotty]

ss..schlecht, on 28 September 2011 - 19:34, said:

2 and 3 have been answered, here's 1

Having a pop at Levein

"He said we played well. Maybe in his mind we did but I felt we should have gone out and attacked.

"The team was good enough to win the game but he tried to go defensively and it didn't work out."

And we learn the Fletcher knows a little bout football and Levein is a loon.

I don't want Levein to be sacked but he is a stubborn tube, with tactical frailties.

[ss..schlecht]

jamboscotty, on 28 September 2011 - 19:59, said:

And we learn the Fletcher knows a little bout football and Levein is a loon.

I don't want Levein to be sacked but he is a stubborn tube, with tactical frailties.

I think Levein should go, I think he has been pretty woeful. However, if you wish to continue playing, you can't slag your manager off to the press and spit the dummy out.

[sergie's no1 fan]

Well i wonder why he isn't included in this squad?

Has Levein asked him and he knocked us back? Or did Levein ignore him?

[craigkillie]

I don't think Fletcher's desire to return extended beyond greeting to a national newspaper. He's obviously still more interested in not looking like a "knob" than playing for his country.

[sergie's no1 fan]

craigkillie, on 29 September 2011 - 10:21, said:

I don't think Fletcher's desire to return extended beyond greeting to a national newspaper. He's obviously still more interested in not looking like a "knob" than playing for his country.

Forgot to include that option.

This needs resolved as soon as but i cant see it happening.

[Frankie S]

Immaturity is par for the course for football players, but Levein really needs to be the bigger man here and swallow his pride in the interests of the national team. Levein said before the Czech Republic game that he would pick Fletcher if the player declared a desire to play for his country. He's done that. Doesn't matter if it's in the press or not, he's declared his availability and interest to play for the team. Levein is obviously as allergic to picking up the phone as Fletcher is (one simple phone call from either party could resolve this problem in 5 minutes). Both are stubborn, immature and need to grow up. You expect that from a footballer, but you don't expect it from the manager of the national team. Pathetic all round.

This post has been edited by Frankie S: 29 September 2011 - 11:28

[BTID]

As much as I resent Levein for playing the 4-6-0, If Fletcher has any ambition or pride to play for his country then he'll pick up the phone. He chose to be unavailable until further notice, it's his job to contact the manager directly and ask him to come back. The article is just another slap in the face of levein, I personally wouldn't bother even although I rate Fletcher as a player. Especially at a time when we aren't blessed with strikers.

[gordon the gopher]

Levein has responded today - this is beginning to get so petty

http://www.guardian....etcher-scotland

[qos_75]

gordon the gopher, on 16 October 2011 - 12:44, said:

Levein has responded today - this is beginning to get so petty

http://www.guardian....etcher-scotland

They both want to grow up instead of acting like kids. Levien is the manager and therefore should be proactive and call him to resolve that matter. If not, then name Fletcher in the next Scotland squad and if he fails to turn up then fine, we all move on.

[HibeeJibee]

Yes, either would be a solution.

A third would be Stewart Regan acting as go-between, and Fletcher being called-up come next squad, without any shenagins or loss-of-face on either's behalf.

Serious growing-up is required.

[Michael W]

The whole thing doesn't add up. Does Fletcher refusing a call up for that NI match really mean that he no longer wants to play for Scotland full stop? That's not the way I'd interpret it. He shouldn't have acted the way he did, but I'm not convinced refusing to play in a friendly match Celtic Cup match means he no longer wishes to be selected at all.

They are both acting like children. Fletcher has said he's willing to play for Scotland, Levein says he would be willing to select him. Annoyingly, Levein is a stubborn f**k, and it appears Fletcher is likewise. Hopefully someone calls an adult to mediate and this can all get sorted out.

I can see it now...

"He started it"

"Not until he apologises"

This post has been edited by Michael W: 16 October 2011 - 15:54