What has happened to the Scottish game?

Scotland this week once again made the exit from a major championship.

What has happened to a once proud footballing country?

This is the country that produced such stars as Archie Gemmill, Denis Law, John Robertson, Joe Jordan, Kenny Dalglish etc.

Scotland used to rival England for the Home International Championship and often had the upper hand.

This is the country that qualified for World Cup's that England failed to get to!

The downfall of the Scots has seemed to coincide with the influx of foreign stars into the English game. It's has also steadily gone downhill since the abolition of the Home International Championship. But, are they the real reasons that the game north of the border has sunk to an all time low.

I recall during the 70's and 80's the top sides featured many Scottish players. Derby, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest all relied on players such as Gemmill, O'Hare, McGovern, Robertson, Jordan, McQueen, Graham, Dalglish, Hansen, Souness etc. Manchester United had their Scottish stars such as Holton, Buchan, Law etc.

Nowadays there are very few in the top flight of English Football.

Scotland have historically fielded many English born goalkeepers such as Wilson, Harvey, Gould, Sullivan and go ram, but outfield players are now often playing for the country whilst being born in another. Commons, McEveley, Hutchison, Bardsley are but a few that have pulled on the blue shirt but were bown elsewhere.

Did the rot set in when Graeme Souness and his all conquering Rangers side of the 80's was made up almost entirely of imports?

In the 70's the Scottish League sides were 99% Scottish in make up. Today it's a different story.

Derby County currently field Craig Bryson, Paul Coutts and Craig Forsyth who are all Scottish. Good players that are a class act at Championship level, but how many Scots feature in today's Premier League? And by Scots I mean true Scots!

Prior to the home game with Bristol City, Roger Davies making his usual appearance in McFarland's bar, brought in Archie Gemmill who was attending the game. A legend in both Derby and Nottingham, Roger jokingly said 'Archie is still good enough to play for Scotland today'. Jokes aside, have they anyone who is anywhere near his class to play in their side today? Where are today's Archie Gemmill, Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish?

Surely the talent hasn't totally dried up! Or has it?

I would love to hear people opinions on this subject?