I've never actually been what you would call a Scotland fanatic, but I have always proudly supported my country wherever or whenever they've played. I've been to several games, when I've had the opportunity, and quite fancied joining the travel club to take the trip to Germany in September, but that notion passed after hearing the latest Scotland squad being announced. The squad was as follows... 

Goalkeepers: Robert Douglas (Celtic), Paul Gallacher (Dundee Utd), Neil Sullivan (Spurs)
Defenders: Graham Alexander (Preston), Russell Anderson (Aberdeen), Steven Caldwell (Newcastle), Christian Dailly (West Ham), Robert Malcolm (Rangers),

Dominic Matteo (Leeds), Steven Pressley (Hearts), Maurice Ross (Rangers)
Midfielders: Colin Cameron (Wolves), Scot Gemmill (Everton), Jackie McNamara (Celtic), Paul Devlin (Birmingham), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Paul Lambert (Celtic), Gary Naysmith (Everton), Jamie Smith (Celtic)
Forwards: Stephen Crawford, (Dunfermline), Scott Dobie (West Brom), Don Hutchison (West Ham), Kevin Kyle (Sunderland), Neil McCann (Rangers), Kenny Miller (Wolves), Steven Thompson (Rangers).

Notice any glaring errors there? Like no Greg Shields or Stevie Fulton for a kick off? I suppose I shouldn't really be surprised going on past squads that the real form players in the our countries top league have been excluded. My god you only need to look at the Under 21 squad for further evidence of the same....

Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts) Derek Soutar (Dundee) Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Defenders: Gary Caldwell (Newcastle) Stephen Crainey (Celtic) Chris Doig (Nottingham Forest) Andrew Dowie (Rangers) Steven Hammell (Motherwell) John Kennedy (Celtic)
Midfielders: Peter Canero (Kilmarnock) Stuart Duff (Dundee Utd) Stephen Hughes (Rangers) Brian Kerr (Newcastle) Kevin McNaughton (Aberdeen) Ian Murray (Hibs) Stephen Pearson (Motherwell) Michael Stewart (Manchester Utd) Gareth Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Forwards: Kevin Kyle (Sunderland) Simon Lynch (Preston) Darren Mackie (Aberdeen) James McFadden (Motherwell) Tom McManus (Hibernian) Shaun Maloney (Celtic) Lee Miller (Falkirk) Garry O'Connor (Hibernian).

I cannot believe for the life of me how some of these guys can get into the squad before 9 goal (yes Berti, that's when they put the ball in the net, it's good when a striker can do that) Kris Boyd. Jeez, Lee Miller is in the firt division and Garry O'Connor has only played one game since coming back from injury, he'll be right at the top of his form eh! Then there's Sean Dillon who was the young player of the month last month, no mention for him either. Okay, so Peter Canero made it, but this guy is getting paid to scour the country, nay the planet, to find the best Scottish talent that is out there...and he can't see beyond the end of his bloody nose!

Only two players out of the teams that lie 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in the SPL have been selected, and Stevie Crawford hasn't scored in months. Mind you he deserves a place more than Kevin Kyle who is so highly thought of that he is named in both squads! Annoyed? Me? You better believe it. I was all for Berti's appointment because I thought that maybe a foreigner wouldn't pick his squad on the advice of the Daily Retard reporters...how wrong can you be. I'd like to see what kind of remit that a Scotland manager receives when he takes the job on...

1) You must, where possible, always pick Rangers and Celtic players for your squad, and if they don't have any Scottish players then either persuade them to sign some for their reserves or try and see if any of them have Scottish grannies or at least like haggis.

2) If you run out of Rangers and Celtic players the first thing to do is pick ex-Rangers and ex-Celtic players that have moved on because they are pish and can't make it into the first team because of the foreigners, you will normally find them kicking their heels on an English first division bench somewhere.

3) Have a quick check with both the Rangers and Celtic physiotherapists to see if there are any of their players ready to come back from any serious injuries, if they wont be fit for at least three weeks after the next Scotland fixture, select them anyway.

4) Before even considering a player from another team, please make sure that you double check if there are any players out there with even the remotest connection to the old firm, whether they are over the hill and playing in an amateur league or not. This will enable the meeja to utilise all their 'former Ger star' and 'former Tic star' banter, they would be lost without it and that just won't do.

5) Avoid picking any form players whatsoever, especially if they do not play out of Glasgow (or at a push Edinburgh) unless of course you are contacted by a reporter from The Sun or the Daily Record, in which case give them a token call up and maybe play them at the end of a meaningless friendly for a few minutes. Fell free to substitute them again at any point thereafter and never call them up again...unless of course the aforementioned newspapers demand it.

6) You've not been listening, go back to point one.

I'm beginning to feel more paranoid than a Celtic fan at an orange walk wearing a 'Larsson is Ghod' t-shirt! Or is it just me? From the reaction on our message boards I certainly get the feeling that I'm not the only punter that is a tad upset at our new national gaffer.
I can only assume that if Berti Vogts is not in any way biased or being swayed in his squad selection by his meeja chums then he is indeed a prize A diddy of the highest order...but I can't work out quite what is worse!