Scotland's 40 best footballers in 40 years of the Premier League: 20 to 11

And, come to think of it, why is Kenny Miller, the guy left out that night in Prague, not in our top 40?

Where the hell are Neil Simpson, Davie Robertson, Bobby Russell, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Phil O’Donnell, Andy Ritchie or Rafael Scheidt for that matter?

Why is so-and-so lower than that guy? And why do such lists get everyone so upset?

Coming up with the top 40 players to have graced these shores during the 40 years of the Premier League (once the SPL and now the Premiership) was an arduous task.

Scotland's 40 best footballers in 40 years of the Premier League: 30 to 21

Scotland's 40 best footballers in 40 years of the Premier League: 40 to 31

Coming up with a top ten has ended working relationships. There were men dining alone at the Christmas night out.

Such lists are subjective; although some colleagues did risk losing what tiny credibility they had by forgetting that football was played before 1992.

The criteria for inclusion are thus: we judged the player on his ability, obviously, how long he stayed for in Scotland, whether his best years were during this period and also what he won. More than one box had to be ticked.

So there are no one-season wonders. Nobody whose best times had come and gone well before shipping up here are included, such as Roy Keane and Frank de Boer.

Even Graeme Souness, arguably our best-ever midfielder, doesn’t make it because he hardly played after his first season as player/manager at Rangers.

Great players have been marked down because of the length of time (or rather, the lack of it) spent in the Premier League since 1975, although a player who was brilliant for three years would be voted higher than someone who was streaky for a decade.

We looked at their overall contribution. To be honest, compared to this chore taken up by the great minds who work in this newspaper group, Sophie’s choice was an absolute doddle.

There were many arguments, lots of disagreements remain and I am sure you, dear readers, will let us know where we have gone disastrously wrong.

Today we are giving you our verdict on Scotland's best footballers from 20 through to 11. 

20. BARRY FERGUSON (Rangers)

One of the best, if not the best, Scottish players of his generation, Ferguson achieved huge success at Ibrox but often courted controversy in a colourful and silverware laden career.

Handed his debut by Walter Smith as a teenager, it was under the guidance of Dick Advocaat that the wee brother of Derek rose to prominence and became a mainstay of the Rangers midfield. He led by example at home and abroad, captaining Rangers to a string of domestic successes before joining Blackburn Rovers in 2003.

On his return north of the border, one broken kneecap later, he added more medals to his collection and was part of the side that reached the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester.

A Rangers Hall of Fame member, Ferguson will always be remembered fondly at Ibrox. Not everyone 'got' how influential he was, however, almost everything seemed to flow through Ferguson during his best years at Rangers.

He would make 45 appearances for Scotland but his international career ended without an appearance at a major finals and in controversial circumstances in the infamous ‘Boozegate’ fiasco.

What he won: Five League titles, five Scottish Cups, five League Cups, UEFA Cup runner-up, two Player of the Year awards, one Young Player of the Year

Best moment: Ferguson’s career is littered with highlights and moments of magic but captaining Rangers to the Treble in 2003 is hard to beat.

 

19. Charlie Nicholas (Celtic, Aberdeen)

Whenever the career of Charlie Nicholas is discussed, the chat quickly moves onto unfulfilled potential.

Indeed, this even gets a mention in the film Trainspotting as Sick Boy lists people who “had it and then lost it.”

However, we are concentrating more on the good and his first few seasons at Celtic were sensational.

A broken leg kept him out of football for the best part of a season, which came after his breakthrough year when he scored 20 goals while still in his teens.

However, it was the 1982/83 season which made his name. At 21, it could be argued he was the best player in Britain. Celtic fans had not seen anything like him since Kenny Dalglish. He got over 50 goals, many of them out of this world.

It is a misconception that Nicholas did little after that. However, he was was loved at Arsenal, helped Aberdeen to trophies and during his second spell at Celtic did have some amazing moments, even if the club was in utter turmoil.

At his best, Nicholas was capable of winning matches on his own with an outrageous goal.

What he won: Two League titles, one Scottish Cup, two League Cups, two Player of the Year awards, one Young Player of the Year

Best moment: An individual goal at Ibrox on New Year’s Day 1983.

 

18. Paul Sturrock (Dundee United):

In a 15 season career as an old school one club man ‘Luggy’, as he was universally known, was the most consistent of the creative attacking threats in Jim McLean’s superb Dundee United side.

It was a team which ultimately won only three trophies but contended for far more through the eighties during which they also lost four Scottish Cup finals, two League Cup finals, a European Cup semi-final in 1984 and arguably most memorably of all three years later, a UEFA Cup final after having beaten Barcelona home and away in getting there.

His five goal haul against Morton in 1984 set a then SPL record and only Peter McKay has scored more than his 170 goals for the club, but creating many more.

The first Dundee United player ever to score for Scotland Sturrock is reported as having said: “From day one Jock Stein said ‘whenever Kenny Dalglish isn’t fit you’ll play,’ that was enough of an accolade for me,” and, for all that he made only 20 international appearances, he was a more than able deputy for the finest Scottish player of his generation and went to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

What he won: A League title and two League Cups, one Player of the Year award, UEFA Cup runner-up

Best moment: Two second half goals that put the 1980 League Cup final beyond Dundee in the only major cup final ever to feature both of the closest neighbours in senior British football

 

17. Alex McLeish (Aberdeen)

Big Eck will go down as one of the greatest defenders of his generation. Not just in Scotland but in European football.

The red haired Glaswegian could play a bit, his goal in the 1982 Scottish Cup Final was an absolute peach, but his biggest strength was that he could read a game and make sure that none shall pass.

His partnership with Willie Miller was as legendary as it was formidable. They complimented one another perfectly and was the base of which Aberdeen's greatest team was built.

McLeish was tough. In an era when referees allowed more than they do now, McLeish liked getting stuck in, as did most of the Aberdeen team of that time.

He had pace, could tackle and played almost 500 league games for the Dons who he captained after Miller's career came to an end.

McLeish is under-rated. That's a shame. However, Aberdeen would not have done so much if had not been for him.

He was also good at the other end of the park, scoring and setting up goals for team-mates.

His consistency was frightening and is well deserved of being high on any list of great Scottish footballers.

What he won: Three League titles, five Scottish Cups, two League Cups, one European Cup-Winners Cup, one European Super Cup

Best moment: His curling shot which got his team an equaliser against Rangers in the 1982 cup final

 

16. ANDY GORAM (Hibernian, Rangers, Motherwell)

A 23-year playing career saw Goram start out at Oldham, end up at Manchester United and finish up at Elgin but it was at Rangers where the made his name and became known as ‘The Goalie’.

One of the finest keepers Scotland has produced, Goram made 43 appearances for his country as he battled Aberdeen legend Jim Leighton for the national gloves.

At Ibrox, he became a hero to Gers fans and was the last line of defence, and an excellent one at that, during the nine-in-a-row years under Walter Smith. In a poll of supporters in 2001, Goram was named Rangers’ best ever keeper as he rightly took his place amongst the Light Blue legends in the Ibrox all-time XI.

He was the scourge of Celtic on Old Firm day, shone in European action and too good for Premier League strikers for years. Goram was simply one of the best.

It should not be forgotten that he was also a fine keeper for Hibs for many years and is still regarded as a hero there, despite once being attacked by a fan at Easter Road after he left.

He was always a bit overweight, looked dishevelled and his knees weren't great, and yet Goram was capable of pulling off saves nobody else could have dreamed of. He really did break Tommy Burns's heart.

What he won: Six League titles, three Scottish Cups, two League Cups, two Player of the Year awards

Best moment: The show reel of superb Goram saves is a long one, but his stunning block to deny Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk at Ibrox is arguably his most famous.

 

15. Davie Narey (Dundee United)

It was claimed in his heyday that this Rolls Royce of a centre back would, in sprint training, beat the slowest of his team-mates by a yard and the fastest of them by the same margin. Apocryphal or otherwise it stuck because the image fitted so well.

If there could be criticism of Narey it was that he did not always appear to do much more than necessary to help his team maintain the upper hand but the reality was that he always seemed to have that bit in reserve to deal with whatever was thrown at him in a club and international career in which he accrued more than 900 appearances.

Much of his 21-season United career was spent in partnership with the more prosaic of approach Paul Hegarty in the centre of a defence which was the rock upon which their half of the New Firm was built and contributing significantly to their often eccentric goal-keeper Hamish McAlpine’s immortalisation in song by fabled Dundee musician Michael Marra. Narey was the class act in the back four and in Dundee even many supporters of their city rivals believed that had he played in England or for one of the Old Firm, Alan Hansen would hardly have won a cap.

What he won: A League title and two League Cups with United and an Indian summer League Cup win with Raith Rovers

Best moment: We should not speak ill of the recently deceased but Jimmy Hill never got it more spectacularly wrong than when describing that goal against Brazil as “a toe-poke”.

 

14. Sandy Jardine (Rangers, Hearts)

When he left Rangers at the age of 33 to join Hearts, the team he supported as a boy, this was supposed to be the beginning of the end of Sandy Jardine.

In the Premier League era, he had helped Rangers to two Trebles and just as he had been as a teenager, was a model of consistency.

Jardine was a world class talent who simply got on with his job, which on a weekly basis he did brilliantly.

And then he moved to Tynecastle, played as a sweeper and helped Hearts to be a major force in Scottish football for the first time in a long time. Such was his influence that at 37 he was named Player of the Year.

Jardine in the minds of some may have played his best football before 1975 but that is simply not the case.

With both clubs he was a vital presence, was never injured and played almost 1000 games in his career.

Jardine sadly died from liver cancer in April 2014. Rangers named a stand after him, the only player to be granted such an honour.

What he won (during the Premier League era): Two League titles, four Scottish Cups, four League Cups, one Player of the Year award

Best moment: Not a league game, but he scored a brilliant goal against Celtic in the Drybrough cup final

 

13. Richard Gough (Dundee United, Rangers)

The most decorated player in the top 40, in terms of what he won in Scotland, Gough was world class at his best. Let nobody tell you otherwise.

When you look back on the nine in a row era at Rangers, the captain was the most influential player. He actually got better as he got older.

It all began for him at Tannadice under Jim McLean where he won the league title before moving to Tottenham. Graeme Souness signed him for the Ibrox club in 1987 and the rest was history.

Gough was incredibly brave. He always seemed to be bleeding or limping after yet another goal-saving tackle. It never bothered him. He just got on with it.

As a captain he was perfect. As a player, an absolute phenomenon. Walter Smith adored him and no wonder. With Gough in your team then you always had a chance.

He could pop up with the odd goal as well - he got 37 in light blue - but his forte was defending and there was more than one Old Firm game when it seemed to be he and Goram against Celtic. Rangers usually won.

What he won: Ten League titles, three Scottish Cups, six League Cups, two Player of the Year awards

Best moment: When in tears he lifted the league trophy which brought nine in a row

 

12. Lubo Moravcik (Celtic)

Dr Jozef Venglos convinced the board to part with the sum of £350,000 for the little Slovakian to bring him from Duisburg. Little did they know what they were letting themselves in for.

At 33, not much was expected from the unknown midfielder. The little magician would go on to prove all the doubters wrong as he played a key role in a highly successful Celtic side under Martin O’Neill.

He was one of the most naturally gifted players ever to grace a football pitch in this country. With the ball at his feet, the veteran central midfielder was in a class of his own and wowed all who watched him with his neat flicks, deft touches and sublime passing.

What he won: Two SPL titles, one Scottish Cup, two League Cups.

Best moment: A man-of-the-match performance in a 4-3 victory over Juventus.

 

11. John Greig (Rangers)

The greatest ever Rangers player, as voted for by the supporters, played only three seasons in the Premier League and there might be some who would suggest that should put him lower on the list.

However, he captained his team to two Trebles at the time in what was one of the finest Rangers teams ever.

The influence Grieg had as a player is almost impossible to describe. Even in his latter years, 14 seasons after he won his first clean sweep, he was one of the best players on the park every single week.

Yes, he was a hardman and, yes, he got away with a lot because of who he was, but this was a serious footballer who could dominate his opponent and inspire team-mates just by being on the park.

Greig did not know anything else but giving his best in every match. It his why he is so widely admired and so loved by the Rangers supporters. His nickname is The Legend; says it all.

Greig is a true great of Scottish football and the biggest compliment you could give was that he was as good at the end of his long career as he was at the end. He was some man.

What he won (in Premier League era): Two League titles, two Scottish Cups, two League Cups, one Player of the Year

Best moment: The 1975/76 season when he didn’t miss a game and won everything there was to win