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I remember thinking at the time that Dave Smith was very special - the sort of player that doesn't grace every generation. This is certainly an exercise that shakes the memory and reminds us how many really good players we've had.

Harold Davis was tougher than bullets, literally. He served with the Black Watch in Korea and took three rounds, two to the foot and leg, the other was abdominal. Two years of operations and recovery before being signed by Scot Symon at East Fife. Symon moved to Rangers and Harold follow followed for eight seasons. No nonsense on and off the field, including hanging his fellow Black Watch comrade, Jim Baxter from a dressing room hook. Davis was the, 'Iron Man'. Ian Ferguson and Stuart McCall were a central midfield pairing, they were both box to box bringing good energy by the truckload. Both had other excellent attributes but, an old Arthus Montford phrase best summed up the pairing, "tenacious tenacity". Hemdani glided across the surface in European games and was a must in Walter's UEFA Cup final appearing side. I thought the Scottish game exasperated him although he never gave up, best illustrated by his last kick of the ball equaliser against ra Sellik at Ibrox. He read the game extremely well. A player who read it better is current Bar'72 season ticket holder, the octogenarian Dave Smith. I included him as a possible centre back because he appeared as Sweeper in the ECWC winning side of 1972. Dave was a stroller, always had time. He was the definitive front sweeper when Matthias Sammer was being wheeled into kindergarten. At the end of season'72/73 he was deservedly awarded Scot's Player of the Year. A heads up, sweet left footed elegant baller, what's not to like? 755 appearances, 120 goals and, won three domestic Trebles are the statistics. Eighteen seasons as a Rangers player where Jock Stein's Celtic won nine in a row and both Hearts and Killie won the league too. John Greig achieved what he did because of force of personality. He imposed himself on both fellow and opposition players, the epitome of determination. He skippered the club and held it together through dark days on and off the pitch. Often in bigger games against top range Euro' opposition or ra Sellik, he was tasked with a man marking role, always carried out selflessly. He was as tough in the tackle as he was on himself. He played through injuries particularly in Barca'72 and securing the league at Easter Road'75. His presence on the park was a necessity for Rangers. Defensive midfielder, I vote for ham and egg.

I remember John Grieg as a left back. Would love to go for Harold Davis but never saw him play. Also don't have a clue what a half back is. We never really had a sitting midfielder during the 90's and much of the 00's. Can't think if one who deserves the accolade and therefore I've changed my mind and going for Harold Davis as he's one of the nicest ex-players I've had the honour to share a dinner table with.

UEFA has I think 55 member countries and 24 of them will be going to Germany for the euros finals next year. Almost half of the countries in UEFA. Why do they need so many qualification matches if half of them are going to qualify?

Yes a financial accountant who is close to the matter on Chelsea said exactly that. The sales are huge over the last 3 seasons and although they do not match the sums spent, when you add the commercial side, they very nearly do, within the FFP £105m loss over 3 years rule. There are some historical issues that have already been settled with UEFA as they have a 3 year claim or clear rule, so it would just be with the EPL and the new Chelsea owners have been up front about these, whereas Everton apparently gave faleshoods and were caught out (according to the news not me Compo) City however have 115 counts and are lawyering up, so who knows what will happen. I think Everton's reduction should be 6 points.

Nope - I'm sticking with what I had: 4-1-3-2.

Maybe we should just pick the team using xG..... 😀

It's John Greig of course, any other choice would be ridiculous. (except for the juveniles amongst us who never saw him play and wouldn't feel right voting for him 😉)

Haud on. We don’t need a piano player in the middle of the park.

It doesn't have to be a purely defensive choice, hence the half-back: I thought Davis should get a mention and he is a deep-lying playmaker.

Long list of candidates for this position defending in front of a back four. Ian McColl, maybe too right sided. Sammy Cox, maybe too left sided. Harry Davis, iron man with CH experience. Dave Smith could do it. So could Ian Ferguson. Hemdani might fit. @compo is right, of course. It’s John Greig the play anywhere, everywhere man. I like a defensive midfielder who careers forward and bangs in the goals.

There can be only one.

When he was introduced to those attending Ibrox for a league fixture against Hearts, he was referred to in the match programme as, 'William' and the PA announced him as, 'Billy'. This was the week after our catastrophic Scottish Cup dismissal at the hands of the mighty Berwick Rangers and Billy Jardine played right side of midfield. We won 5-1 and on his next start at the Stadium three weeks later against Ayr United, he scored. The programme notes contained the information he was known as, 'Sandy' and was a promising inside forward. He held his place in the 1967 ECWC final team against Bayern Munich. He was 18 and looked most comfortable in a game we dominated and unluckily lost 0-1 in extra time. Sandy played and won the ECWC in Barca' in '72 and, played in the first Euro super cup final against Ajax in '73. How many Scots have played in three Euro' finals? He established himself as Rangers right back in 1970, pairing up with Tommy McLean on the right flank. Sandy had genuine pace, competed in the Powderhall Sprints in all three events. He played for Rangers over 18 seasons and was rarely injured. Over a period of three and half seasons in the early 70s, he played 171 consecutive matches. I have witnessed other fine right backs at Rangers; Gary Stevens, Alan Hutton and, James Tavernier. However, Sandy Jardine is THE man.

Stuart McCall. Given fitness levels ,diets, style of play, and multiple other differences, it's very difficult to choose players from different era's . Bit like this..😀.

No option. You can’t change the remit half way through. Actually, you ca because we’re picking for the position, not the team. As for boring strikers, don’t assume I’m voting McCoist and Hateley, though I might, or maybe one of them or possibly neither after all.

Good, but I hope you can sleep tonight knowing either Ian Durrant of Gazza are not going to be in my picks 😀

I think I'm going to change our formation to a 4-3-3. The front-two vote will be quite boring, so we'll add a bit of difficulty.

Thank god that was the last international break of the year, what a total disruption it is. I mean, well done to Scotland for a good campaign and reaching Germany and I'll watch the tournament itself, but qualifiers are dire. They really should be pinned altogether in 1 or 2 breaks.

I just read this therefore options open up so I might switch to Tugay or even Barry Ferguson. This is getting more difficult than my Higher Accounts exam. Tugay was great and probably a better player but surely cant make an all-time team ahead of McCall or Ferguson again due to longevity and service plus success. Im sticking with McCall, he did all the dirty work to let Gascoigne and Laudrup do their magic.

John Greig. I know he played various positions throughout his career but I'd have him in this position as he could defend as well as surge forward and score goals. By selecting him here, it also frees up space for some legendary midfielders and forwards in the GOAT team.

Because its a defensive holding midfield Im leaning towards Stuart McCall. Tugay was immense but wasnt just a holding midfielder but I suppose could count in this position. This is tough but I'll stick with Stuart McCall.

I think this was raised but the Premier League cover their tracks on these issues as all members sign and agree to the conditions. Football behind the scenes seems to be in its worst ever state and I see Man City avoiding a major punishment, they could end up with a fine. I can even see this leading to eventual breakaway for the super league with Europes top clubs joining a Saudi organised league - especially if Man City and Chelsea were hit with a point deduction that would relegate them - at TBH if this is what Everton get for a 19m one time break of rule, what would City get for 115 breaches. The good thing for Everton is they will stay up as they will get out of the bottom 3 easily. Leicester are the team who feel hard done by stating this 10 points should have been done last year so they are after a heavy financial compensation package.

I wanted to bring in different types of midfielders. I considered just having one striker and bringing in another central-midfielder (4-2-3-1), but I thought most would want the front two.

Us young pups have the advantage of clear, pre-dementia thinking. 🙃

Going by this punishment to the toffee’s then City and Chelsea could if found in breach of rules be relegated it might mean a championship team wins the champions league next season.

A disgusting deduction of 10 points on the toffees absolutely disgusting Mon the toffees

I only properly recall Eck onwards so for me it's either Hutton or Tav... I think we downplay what James Tavernier has done with us tbh, any other era of Scottish football other than Rangers post 2012 and I'm convinced he would have been capped for England whilst with us. The trophy haul doesn't match his talent but he's playing 11 a side remember. Even if he can be infuriating. I'm voting Tav, I'll happily accept any fume coming my way.

I'd an irrational dislike for Gary Stevens. Don't ask me to explain it or justify it, I can't. I just didn't like him. It has to be Jardine. Many people think Danny McGrain was the best right back Scotland has produced, but he was played at left back for Scotland because Jardine was such a good right back, this at a time when Scotland had genuine world class players. When he left Rangers everyone assumed his career was over. He only went and won Scottish Player Of The Year at Hearts. Jardine 'managed' a charity side I played in at Ibrox once. He was faced with a dressing room full of guys who'd bid for a place in the team. We were mainly a motley mix of overweight, middle-aged men living a childhood dream. He took a look at us and said 'lads, it's a big pitch, let the ball do the running.' I should have listened, I could barely breathe after 10 minutes. My father would say Bobby Shearer should win this, and his record is really something.