Barry Ferguson has launched a furious attack on Gareth Southgate after he snubbed England’s best goalkeeper.
Over the last month there has been a frenzy among the Scottish media to have Jack Butland included in the England squad for the friendlies against Belgium and Brazil.
It seems that a polite non-committal nod from Southgate about considering the former Crystal Palace reserve while at the draw for the Nations League grew arms and legs among the hard of thinking.
International managers will very rarely say no to any media suggestion of someone worth inclusion. They are entirely dependent on the supply from clubs, last season Fraser Forster was back in the England squad while getting a brief run of appearances for Spurs.
Rather than pour out his anger in his Daily Record column Fergie picked up the phone to Keith Jackson to let it all hang out:
I was watching the announcement and I couldn’t believe it – and I’m not just saying this because he’s the Rangers goalkeeper. I honestly don’t know what to say. The keepers that were picked in front of him, yes, they’re good keepers. But are they better than Jack Butland? I don’t think so.
It cracks me up. It’s a slap in the face for Scottish football. Why hasn’t he made that squad – because he’s playing up here?
Butland is better than the keepers they have picked and I’d go as far as to say he’s better than England’s current No.1. He must be thinking to himself, ‘What do I have to do here?’.
Perhaps the answer to Ferguson’s question is to stop getting beaten at Ibrox by Aberdeen and Motherwell or to keep out Connor Goldson’s headers in Lisbon.
If Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale join Nick Pope in the treatment room Butland might get a call up. While they are capable of tieing their laces and pulling on their gloves the Ibrox hero will be stuck at Murray Park playing fives with Tav, Todd and the other leftovers during international breaks.
Presumably then,
the Bold Bazza will be the first to congratulate Butland
in his own DR column – when the keeper decides to bugger off from ibrox
this summer, to improve his chances of an England call up?
🙂
Don’t worry bawwy maybe Southgate will get the sack ,surely then Warburton will replace him and good auld Jack will get the call
The media campaign to get him in the England squad and add millions to his value failed
and they aren’t taking it too well
Is he for real ? A guy nobody wanted last summer! Keeping clean sheets against the weak/non existent attacks of Ross County, Livingston, Dundee, etc every week and all of a sudden he’s got England call up potential? I’m closer to an England call up FFS..!!!!
I hope Ferguson’s wife gave him permission to talk to Inaction Jackson ? After all she is the main bread winner in that household … remember ?
For Fcuk sake – An England manager that came within a Penalty Kick of winning The European International Championship in 2020 (2021 delayed Covid) getting lectured by Barry Ferguson of The mighty Alloa Athletic managerial calibre….
Jeez – You couldn’t make it up, only you can now that Video Celts says that it’s in Daily Record (nuff’ said there then)…
That said Butland is a decent enough goalkeeper who has won them a good few points this season and sadly probably will again before the season ends…
Dunno about anyone else but I would’ve been perfectly content if he had rocked up at Parkhead and not Liebrox !