Of Kris Boyd

I’ve kept silent on this topic or at least I haven’t posted on this topic here but for those that know me, the subject is one that has me long since boiling over.

If you are not familiar with the situation, this past week Kris Boyd had a falling out with Scotland’s manager George Burley and announced:

“I will not be playing for George Burley again, but I hope to be back in a Scotland jersey again one day.”

The situation occurred after young Mr. Boyd sat on the bench throughout the entire Norway match this past Saturday. After the match Mr. Burley gave an interview to BBC Scotland and defended his tactical decision’s noting:

“Kris has got to establish himself in the Rangers team, which he hasn’t done. Chris (Iwelumo) came on because he’s been playing regularly and has scored eight goals in six games for Wolves. You’re always looking for players to prove themselves, and Boyd is not any different from anyone else in the squad.”

Following Kris Boyd’s decision, George Burley issued the following statement:

“I’ve spoken with Kris and he told me that he was disappointed not to play on Saturday or in the last couple of matches. He said that he did not want to be considered for future Scotland squads so that he can concentrate on his club career. It is disappointing that he has chosen to do this at a crucial time in our World Cup campaign, but it is his decision to make and I will, of course, respect it.”

Per the BBC, chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, Gordon Smith commented:

“It’s very disappointing, you want to have all your players available and Kris Boyd has a good scoring record for Scotland. But it’s his decision and we must always respect a player when they make that decision. It’s a shame he’s not going to be available for us in the future, but it’s his decision and we have to go along with it. He didn’t play yesterday, he didn’t come on as a substitute, maybe he’s a bit upset. It might have been the kind of thing that if Kris had spent a bit of time thinking about it he might have changed his mind – it’s maybe a quick reaction to how he feels. He may change his mind, and hopefully he will, because he would be a very important player to have in our squad.”

In response George Burley comment that he wants players who are “totally committed”, Kris Boyd has added:

“I’ve shown before that I’ve got the passion needed to play for my country so I think that comment was a bit below the belt. It was a decision I took months ago but I kept going and said I would give myself another chance. But it came to a head and I couldn’t take any more. I was going to do it after the Northern Ireland game (in August) where I didn’t play and I didn’t think I was going to play in the future. I spoke to a few people and didn’t do it. The situation was the same after the Macedonia and Iceland games. I spoke to a few people after the match on Saturday and I felt it couldn’t go on any longer. I saw myself as fifth or sixth-choice striker. I’m not saying I should have been on the park or I should have done this, but with my track record I should at least have been given the chance to get my country out of the hole they were in. When I spoke to the SFA, I said I would be available for selection if the next manager, whoever that may be, wants to pick me. That’s all I can say on the matter. If he picks me, he picks me. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t.”

After all that is said and done, I am left to feel a sense of nausea about the affair. I’ve always appreciated Kris Boyd as a Footballer and his timely habit of scoring goals. However this entire situation has a stench of the changing face of the game, a “product of the times” where some, not all, players are more inclined to consider their goal scoring celebration than the crest they wear. Club Football, is long forgotten for the vast majority of the viewing public and a shadow of its former self. Few remember the days when a club represented the area and while the globalization of the game has many positives, nothing will replace a group of players who come up through the academy and play for the pride and honour of the crest.

Yet International Football or for that matter representing your homeland in any sport, is a dynamically different level of pride. If not before, it is a time to lay down ego and to go forward with representing your homeland. It is a matter of Honour.

This unfortunately is a misguided tale. Young Mr. Boyd, truly is “young.” His energy to produce for Scotland is noteworthy but his actions in handing his jersey back is not. I recognize he wanted the opportunity to play but that isn’t his decision and whether he understands it or not, he let ego get in the way. Yet the problem isn’t necessarily his, it is coaching sector. Somewhere along the line of developing a top shelf striker in a sport, they forgot to tell him what it means to represent your place of birth. While it shouldn’t be a surprise in a sport that takes citizenship with a mercenaries eye, where many players are conveniently granted the right to play for a country dependent upon playing ability, a change is in the offing.

Personally I don’t believe Mr. Boyd is a “bad person” but instead a young man who made an extremely bad decision and did not think things through. If there is blame to be cast, it is not at Mr. Boyd but a system that treats playing for your homeland so callously and does not constantly confirm that it is the greatest honour. For him, the honor and glory of representing Scotland is an extraordinary accomplishment, in my opinion greater than any goal or award he could ever win at the club level and one that he should have never walked away from.

Category: Team News

Tags: George Burley, Kris Boyd, Scotland, Team News

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