"Really I shouldn't be here," said an evidently frustrated George Burley earlier today at Hampden Park. The Scotland manager had been called in to explain to the media why he had not elected to use Kris Boyd during Scotland's 0-0 draw with Norway on Saturday. Whatever next? Arsene Wenger up before the press to explain why training went anti-clockwise round the cones, not clockwise? Sir Alex Ferguson in front of the TV cameras to justify his switch of personnel at right-back?
The only reason Burley was there was because Boyd, 25, made a public statement on Sunday that he would never play for Scotland again under Burley. He did it in such a way as to cause as much embarrassment to Burley as possible, at what was already a difficult time.
Boyd is used to gesture politics. He engaged in it when Paul Le Guen was the Rangers manager and came out on the winning side when the French manager got the boot. He might well end up outlasting Burley too. Probably will in fact. No national manager stays around that long these days. But that doesn't make him right.
Kris Boyd is the big player on the little occasion.
His bare statistics look mightily impressive. Seven goals in 14 games for Scotland, 54 in 82 for Rangers, and 63 in 153 for Kilmarnock before that.
And let's not fail to credit him with some big moments on big stages: two equalisers in last season's CIS Cup final then the decisive penalty in the shootout; two goals in the 3-2 Scottish Cup final win over Queen of the South; and competitive Scotland goals in Euro 2008 qualifying wins over Georgia (one goal in a 2-1 home win) and Lithuania (one in a 3-1 win).
There is definitely something about the Boyd. Something that makes him a cult hero. Something that makes a large number of sensible, rational people, feel with absolute certainly that he would have scored if he had played against Norway. But the evidence really does not stack up.
For all his 130-plus goals in what is still a relatively young career, the big game highlights are few and far between. On a recent note, he has scored just twice in open play for his club, Rangers, in the league in more than eight months. Two of his three SPL goals this season have been penalties.
How many goals did he score last season against Celtic? None. Hibernian? None? In Europe? None. And not because he was never picked, although his chances were limited in big games because Walter Smith, like a succession of bosses, simply does not trust him on the big occasion.
A look at precisely when his goals have come perhaps shows why. He scores against little teams. He scores late when the game is already in the bag. He snaffles penalties.
His SPL record last season (14 goals in 28 games, 17 as a starter) was typical of the games he thrives in and the types of goals he scores.
Here they are in full, in order:
One v Falkirk (in a 7-2 win); one v Gretna (4-0); one v Aberdeen, the third goal in a 3-0 win; one v Motherwell (a penalty) in a 1-1 draw; one v Caley in a 2-0 win; one v Falkirk, the third goal in a 3-1 win; one v Motherwell, the third goal in a 3-1 win; one v St Mirren in a 4-0 win; one v Falkirk in a 2-0 win; one v Killie in a 2-0 win (pen); one v Gretna in a 4-2 win; one v Aberdeen, the third in a 3-1 win; one v DU in a 3-3 draw; one v St Mirren in a 3-0 win.
He saves his "multiples", his two-goal hauls and hat-tricks, for East Fife, East Stirling, Queen of the South, for the CIS and the Scottish Cup.
As for his seven Scotland goals: two in 5-1 friendly win over Bulgaria; two in a 6-0 thumping of the Faroes; those competitive goals against Lithuanian and Georgia mentioned above, and a friendly goal against South Africa.
For everyone who truly believes that Supersub Kris would have come on and bagged the kind of goal that Chris Iwelumo missed, what about the game against Japan, as a sub, when he failed to find the net?
Or the game in Lithuania, when he got 47 minutes as a sub and did not score in a 2-1 win?
Or the 17 minutes and no goals he got in a 2-0 defeat in Ukraine?
Or the goals he did not score, also as a sub, away to Italy, in Georgia, at home to Italy, and at home to Croatia.
And what about the goals he did not score as a starter in Austria?
And as a starter in the Faroes?
It's easy to count the goals he HAS scored. And easy to overlook all those he hasn't.
Burley didn't overlook them.
You are clearly trying degrade a player who has indeed played for the big occasion and has been left out due to a lack of mobility. Walter smith played him during Lyon both times, Boyd was even played against Barcelona. Bottom line is boyd has scored in europe, against celtic, and for scotland end of. Dont try to ruin statistics by taking away penalties and goals when his team are already ahead. Boyd isn't the best scottish player but he deserved playing time that he wasnt receiving.
Posted by: Your full of it | 13 October 2008 at 08:10 PM
"Really I shouldn't be here," said an evidently frustrated George Burley earlier today at Hampden Park.
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Did he have to be? The situation of a player Burley clearly doesn't rate is a sideshow, a distraction - and one Burley presumably chose to participate in today. The main event is the poor progress of the World Cup qualifying campaign using the players Burley does rate (and it would be interesting to see the stats for some of those).
Posted by: Ian | 13 October 2008 at 08:42 PM
It has been apparent for some while that his petulance and arrogance have caused his development to plateau. He didn't 'deserve' to play for that reason.
No player, pundit or fan was happy with the performance however we didn't phone the manager in a huff and take our ball home.
Thankfully we have younger strikers coming through who are infinitely more professional than Boyd, who seems to represent an outdated era.
Walter Smith has been very quiet on the issue hasn't he? Very interesting.
Posted by: D Brewster | 14 October 2008 at 01:04 PM
Yes you can dress statistics how ever you like and Lazy Journo Nick Harris has done just that.
After his failures to score v Celtic and in Europe he makes up the threesome with his stats v 6th placed Hibernian?
Of course it would have worked out better to use 3rd placed Motherwell, 4th placed Aberdeen or 5th placed Dundee united but unfortunately these teams had to feature in the paragraph about the “typical games he thrives in”. Motherwell in 1-1 draw and a 3-1 win. Aberdeen in a 3-0 win and a 3-1 win. Dundee Utd in a 3-3 draw. Statistics not looking so impressive now!
Does the same go for Wayne Rooney at International level? Can only bang them in against Kazakhstan?
Boyd was more than adequate for a game v Norway (especially if Nick Harris’s theory is right) and as Homer Simpson famously said - 95% of all statistics mean nothing.
Posted by: Hibs Radge | 14 October 2008 at 04:37 PM
Kris Boyd - Wayne Rooney, get a grip. At the end of the day he hasn't been playing regularly at club level, therefore has no right to demand a place in the squad never mind the starting 11. Why hasn't he refused to play under Walter Smith who time and time again ignores him when the big games come along?
Posted by: East End Irish | 14 October 2008 at 07:46 PM
This whole petted lip act from Boyd is typical of the swaggering ned he so brilliantly portrays on a weekly basis.
Boyd is famous for his lack of effort both in training and in games, indeed he was described by his International Captain Darren Fletcher during an interview with Sky's Soccer AM as being the worst trainer in the squad. Mr Fletcher described his attendance at training sessions as being devoid of any enthusiasm whatsoever and punctuated with an apparent inabilty to run.
Mr Boyd has done his nation a favour and assuming he follows through with his threat he'll be able to continue his quest for inactivity in the comfort of his own home during future International weeks.
Posted by: BIGAL1967 | 14 October 2008 at 08:51 PM
But he'd have scored from two yards when Iwolumo failed to do so.
If Burley had no intention of playing him, why pick him?
Let's not forget - Burley got his tactics TOTALLY wrong on Saturday and Boyd or none, he has two games at most to save his neck
Posted by: Wee Wullie | 14 October 2008 at 09:40 PM
East End Irish misses the point of the Kris Boyd - Wayne Rooney comparison and his opinions obviously stem from his allegiances to Celtic. What a joy it was to see Kenny Miller score a double against Celtic. Walter Smith sure doesn’t ignore him.
As Wee Wullie says, Boyd would have put that Iwolumo chance away with his eyes closed, and would probably have stayed on-side in the process. That was the moment that defined what we are all talking about now and that is what highlighted Burley’s decision as being incompetent.
Lets see if all the players Burley picks in future are getting games for their club teams..............
Posted by: Hibs Radge | 15 October 2008 at 11:29 AM
FYI Boyd did not play against Japan at all!
FYI Boyd's stats show that he is the best finisher in the scottish game.
FYI Boyd might not be the most active player, but he scores goals. You mention that Boyd only scores against little teams, in meaningless games. Whether this is the case or not, he still has to be there to take the chance, he still has to convert a penalty from 12 yards, and more importantly
if it wasn't for his goals at important times, then there would never have been a title race last season end of!!!
Posted by: George Burns | 29 October 2008 at 07:55 PM
FYI. Mince.
Posted by: Nick Harris | 29 October 2008 at 08:06 PM
To be more precise, 'George Burns', your own comment was factually inaccurate, ie: mince.
Kris Boyd DID in fact play against Japan, for more than half an hour as a substitute.
Get YOUR facts straight, and you might be taken a little more seriously. Thanks for reading though.
PS: I think Boyd could really be a v special player actually. If he worked harder and got fitter. If Walter Smith is to be believed, and Walter is normally quite a straight talker, KB is indeed doing a lot more things right this season. All good for Rangers, surely.
Posted by: Nick Harris | 29 October 2008 at 08:18 PM
What a lot of balls.
Kris Boyd has scored doubles and hatricks in plent of games where he has been the only scorer, he has also had two fine euro away performances away to livorno (who were 5th in serie a at the time) and auxerre. Countless doubles and hat tricks against hibs(easter road when he first arrived), hearts, aberdeen hat trick, 5 goals at TANNADICE... clearly overlooked, and for what? the chance for a cheap dig? taking out the frustration of Burleys stupid reasoning on boyd?
Posted by: Alex | 18 November 2008 at 02:31 AM
Flippin’ eck, Alex,
I have to wonder whether you’re:
a) innumerate
b) just a bit slow
c) too blue and biased to see straight (quite a common complaint)
Your post is so riddled with factual errors it makes it hard to take seriously, but let’s address it point by point anyway, for the hard of thinking.
1: You claim KB has scored “doubles and hatricks [sic] in plent [sic] of games where he has been the only scorer.” In fact, in his entire career for both Rangers and Kilmarnock, he has scored just two hat-tricks in games in which he was the only scorer. Both were in the 2006-07 season (some two years ago), respectively against Aberdeen and Kilmarnock. More commonly, his albeit commendable trebles have come in games like a 5-0 win this season (versus a laughably inept ICT), and in easy cup romps like 6-0 v East Stirling last season and 5-0 v Peterhead in 2005-06.
2: In the whole of last season, he scored one hat-trick (that one against ES in the 6-0) and three doubles, two of which were in games were others also scored. All four “multiple” games were cup games, and against lesser opponents. His “best” double was the LC final and that was properly credited in the original post as being a big occasion when he did – rarely – do the business.
3: Fine away performances against Livorno and Auxerre. Are you serious? Really? Sure he did okay but if this is all you can dredge up to champion KB as a Euro colossus . . . ho hum.
4: “Countless doubles and hat tricks against Hibs”.
Errr. He has NEVER scored a hat-trick against Hibs.
He did score twice in one game for them once for Rangers, as he did, once, for Killie.
But your exaggeration does you and your case no favours.
Ironically, KB really does seem to getting his all-round act together at long last, which, as I’ve said more than once now, is good for him, Rangers, and hopefully even for Scotland in the future.
Thanks for your post.
Posted by: Nick Harris | 18 November 2008 at 12:15 PM
re the kris boyd saga. arguments about whether a player should be in a team or not are down to opinion which makes football the great game it is. the point i would like to raise is surely the position of national coach requires a quite high level of man management skills? i can,t read the mind of kris boyd but don,t think that he made his decision lightly. my point is that mr burley has faild in this area of his job. i think that it is quite rare that a player makes the decision not to play for a national coach. i think player and coach have failed their national team.
Posted by: douglas menzies. | 20 November 2008 at 10:48 PM
@ Nick
You are nit picking, I said he has scored plenty of doubles and hat tricks, and in BRACKETS I put easter road as that was an example of a double against hibs, this is the so called big games he never scores in...
http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,5~32468,00.html
2 goals at easter road, thank you
He scored 2 goals v hearts at ibrox in a 2-0 win
3 goals v aberdeen at ibrox in a 3-0 win
Therefore backing up my original claims there
All his other hat tricks and doubles have come were there have been other scores, that is correct, such as 3 goals at tannadice in a 4-1 win
http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,5~31225,00.html
---
Fine away performances against Livorno and Auxerre. Are you serious? Really? Sure he did okay
Okay, so you agree, why the need to carry on berating him?
Again, your 4th point quoting is a little bit off, missing out the brackets eh?
So in the end, you blame me for being infactual when you have to incorrectly put across my views as something they are not to try and prove that you are right, when you are wrong... and in the case of me being too blue or biased, maybe its just because I am a Rangers fan that I KNOW what he has done for my club... ever take that into consideration?
Miller and Boyd have continued their great partnership again today, they compliment each other well, whilst it wont strike fear into european teams eyes, One is a fast hard worker and the other is a (fairly) strong great goal scorer, it is as close as we (and maybe scotland) will ever get to a "complete" striker.
Posted by: Alex | 06 December 2008 at 10:33 PM
kris Boyd will become one of the spl all time greatest scorers (imo)he will outscore Henriks record too.
Posted by: David Lindsay | 07 December 2008 at 06:31 PM
the guy next to me at the norway game turned to me and said " boyd would have farted that in" enough said
Posted by: alibee | 19 December 2008 at 10:41 PM
Well he wasn't up to much against Celtic on 27 December!!! In fact he was the reason Rangers lost. Had he taken just one of his opportunities Rangers would probably have humped Celtic. McDonald is by far a better craftsman when it comes to the finishing touch around goal. AND I'm a Gers supporter!!!!
Posted by: j.brown | 28 December 2008 at 11:21 PM
"How many goals did he score last season against Celtic? None. Hibernian? None? In Europe? None. And not because he was never picked, although his chances were limited in big games because Walter Smith, like a succession of bosses, simply does not trust him on the big occasion."
Well, the reason he didn't score against Celtic and Hibs last season is really a lot more simple than you think.
How many minutes did he play against Hibs and Celtic out of a possible 900? I'll answer; in 4 games (all against Hibs) he played 113 minutes, one of those a start in a 0-1 loss at Ibrox (widely considered as Rangers' worst performance by far in the entirety of their 68 game season) where he played 77 minutes, and the other 3 coming as substitute appearances totalling 36 minutes.
As for his performances in Europe, his crimes against football in the Champions League and UEFA cup last season include not scoring in the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in a 90 minute appearance, not scoring in a 4 minute appearance in the UEFA cup final and not scoring in a 6 minute appearance against Lyon.
The reason Boyd didn't play in games against better opposition wasn't (and still isn't) because of the deficiencies in Boyd's game. Granted, he won't run about the pitch like Kenny Miller feeding other players, but give him the ball and he will score. Unfortunately Rangers aren't good enough to give him the ball against tougher opposition and as a result he doesn't score, but neither would players like Luca Toni and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
It's for that reason however that I also agree he shouldn't play for Scotland against good teams. The rest of the team just flat out isn't good enough to create the chances that Boyd can put away in his sleep, and until it is, he should be limited to games against teams like Norway, which are around the same level as Scotland.
Posted by: graeme munn | 04 January 2009 at 09:40 PM
What a stupid and pointless article. If its so easy to score against all the 'smaller' teams then why has no-one in the past 10 years (apart from Henrik Larsson) been able to score goals on as regular a basis as him before? No player even comes close to matching this guys record.
Posted by: Russell Hunter | 08 January 2009 at 10:35 AM
I just have quick comment for Russell "ruskie" Hunter.
I think that maybe you, and not the article, are stupid and pointless.
Engage brain before beginning debate.
And alibee (19 Dec): are you really so thick? Really? The level of your argument is stupendously low.
As a neutral on this matter (Dundonian), while I don't agree with everything in the original post, it did largely deal in cold hard fact; and Boyd has done nothing since it was first published to challenge the central premise of big player on the little occasion.
Nothing. WHEN and IF he starts banging in big goals in Old Firm games - as opposed to bottling sitters - then you can challenge that idea with actual evidence.
Posted by: A Garfunkel | 08 January 2009 at 01:13 PM
K Boyd still doing the same against so called big teams (3rd bottom German league)missing sitters.
Posted by: Rab | 27 November 2009 at 10:52 AM