Scotland's 40 best footballers in 40 years of the Premier League: 10 to 1

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: 20 to 11

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 10 through to 1. 

10. Kenny Dalglish

Not to have Scotland's greatest ever player on any list is ridiculous. Some would say to only have him at ten is an outrage.

His lower than usual position is owed to the fact he only played for two seasons in this era, although he was top scorer in one and captained Celtic to the double in his final season before heading to Liverpool and world-wide fame.

However, when you are as good in Dalglish,that is enough to meet the criteria.

As a Celtic player in his final years, he and his great friend Danny McGrain combined as well as any two in the history of the club. They had an almost telepathic understanding on the pitch.

Dalglish's goals came from everywhere and, it goes almost without saying, he had the quickest football brain the league has ever seen. He was arguably a more spectacular player at Celtic, he scored some goals which thankfully are on tape, turning away with a big smile every time as if stunned by his own genius.

There is one when he looks to curl a shot into the far away corner and instead dinks in via the near post. Nobody else could have come up with something like that, never mind execute it.

What he won (in Premier League era): One League title, one Scottish Cup

Best moment: Captaining Celtic do the Double

9. Paul McStay (Celtic)

And now the arguments can really begin.

For some, the man truly is the Maestro, a player blessed with world class skills who could have been anything had he not opted to stay at Celtic during the club’s long wilderness years.

For the rest, McStay is without question the most over-rated footballer in Scottish football history who bottled a big move and instead coasted the second-half of his career.

The weird thing about Celtic's former captain is that if he had left - a deal in 1992 was all-but done with Sampdoria - then he may have found himself higher up. But instead he was dragged down by his club, in more ways than one. In saying that, he carried a poor Celtic team for years. If it were not for him, they would have been a bottom of the table side at their worst.

McStay was superb at 17, the best player in the country at 23 and things didn't get better than that.

However, we are looking at the best and in Celtic's famous centenary season, McStay moved to a higher level. His pass to Chris Morris in the New Year Old Firm game is a piece of art.

But he should have gone to Italy.

What he won: Three Premier Leagues, four Scottish Cups, one League Cup, Young Player of the Year and the double Player of the Year

Best moment: A left foot volleyed goal at Ibrox on the way to the league title

8. Gordon Strachan (Dundee and Aberdeen)

Now here was a player you loved (or should that be lived) to hate were you not a fan of Aberdeen.

Strachan was a menace on the park, which made him a target of the terraces in a verbal and at times physical sense. However, he was a brilliantly, creative player who for a small man could terrorise the biggest defender, at home and in Europe.

Things happened when he got on the ball. In his Aberdeen days, he played out wide but he was a No10 at heart. He always seemed to be on the ball, taking on and beating defenders. Rarely did he have an off day.

Superb for all his clubs and country as well, he had two great World Cups, the current Scotland manager could transform a game with a dip of his shoulder, a dribble which ended in a goal. He was as good at 40 as he was at 25.

Strachan got on his manager’s nerves, but Fergie put up with him most of the time because Willie Miller aside, he was Aberdeen’s best player.

What he won: Two League titles, four Scottish Cups, the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, the Super Cup, named Player of the Year once

Best moment: His somersault after scoring against Rangers in a Scottish Cup final

7. Davie Cooper (Rangers and Motherwell)

It is unavoidable to become sentimental when talking about Davie Cooper who died so tragically and so young.

And perhaps those who were not around to see him might think his ability has been exaggerated. Not a bit of it. While a streaky player, as most wingers are, Cooper was as naturally gifted as anyone to come from Scotland. Ruud Gullit no less said he was one of the best he had ever played against.

Cooper was completely left footed, no fan of training, or tracking back or indeed working hard to get the ball back. However, when you were as good as him, you waited until someone lesser passed to you and then he lit up any stadium.

Cooper could have left Rangers many times during the bad years, however, he was a genuine fan and for a few seasons just about the only reason for going along to Ibrox.

It is also important to consider his impact at Motherwell, a club which he moved to when 32. Cooper was just as good and, indeed, has a stand named after him at Fir Park.

What he won: Three Premier League, Four Scottish Cup, Seven League Cups

Best moment: His goal against Celtic in the Drybrough Cup is just silly

6. Paul Gascoigne (Rangers)

If this list was judged on natural ability alone, he would be number one on this and most others.

What a player Paul Gascoigne was and Rangers saw the very best of him. For two-and-a-bit seasons, the Englishman came close to being unplayable. Forget the car crash that his life was to become and instead remember a loveable if far from perfect rogue blessed with genius who loved playing the game.

It was never going to be quiet when Gazza was around and so it proved, From his signing to his sale after annoying Walter Smith one time too many, the Geordie was THE story in Scottish football.

Once he got going and the referees more or less got off his case, you could watch him play all day. Many opponents did. They couldn’t get near those dancing feet. For a fat lad, he was quick, fit and even dainty.

He could find a team-mate with any pass, long and short, and there were times he was too quick for even those he played with. Gascoigne at his very best reminded you of why we all go to football in the first place.

Celtic would have won the league in the 1995/96 season but for Gascoigne who won games all on his own, with that daft smile on his face. A simply wonderful footballer.

What he won: Two Premier Leagues, One Scottish Cup, One League Cup

Best moment: Dancing past Aberdeen for his second goal of a hat-trick on the day Rangers won their eighth title in a row

5. Ally McCoist (Rangers and Kilmarnock)

There are some who will argue that the most prolific goalscorer on this list was merely a poacher, as if that is an easy thing to do.

Look back at the clips if you are of that mentality. There are headers, free-kicks, back-heels, over-head kicks, chips, shots from outside the box and even a dribble or two. The guy scored every goal imaginable and they tended to come against Celtic or in finals.

It is incredible now to look back at the start of his Rangers career and recall how quickly the fans turned on him. McCoist showed guts to win back their respect and then had to dig-in when Graeme Souness attempted to force him out of Ibrox.

The East Kilbride lad was a determined character. If he missed a chance, he would be back seconds later to have another go. He was greedy in the best sense of the word.

Rangers were by far the dominant team for over a decade but they did not romp to every win. There were plenty of 1-0s and it was McCoist who scored the winners. He was also a big game player. Perhaps the most natural finisher Scotland has ever produced and a hard worker.

What he won: Nine Premier Leagues, one Scottish Cup, nine League Cups, one Player of the Year

Best moment: When he saw off Souness and stayed to become a Rangers legend

4. Willie Miller (Aberdeen)

Perhaps the only player who could get into the greatest Sir Alex Ferguson XI that didn't play for Manchester United.

At his height, which seemed to go on for the entire 1980s, he was the best central defender in the British Isles, the main man in an Aberdeen side which became the best team in Europe.

The Glaswegian had a swagger about him. He would snuff the best strikers out the game and if any dared try to get past him, he was the king on the last-gasp tackle inside the penalty box. He was a ball-playing sweeper who allowed Alex McLeish to do the dirty work. He could go a whole season without an error.

So good was Miller that he would walk of the pitch with hardly a beat of sweat to be found, having read every tackle and header to perfection. Just ask the likes of Charlie Nicholas and Ally McCoist how dominating the Aberdeen captain was.

And he did all of this while at the same time assisting the referee. What a guy.

Opposition fans hated and respected him in equal measure and no wonder. These days he would have moved south at 21, however, he stayed at the one club and is far and away Aberdeen’s greatest ever player.

What he won: Premier League three times, Scottish Cup four times, League Cup three times, European Cup-Winners’ Cup once, Super Cup once

Best moment: His headed goal against Celtic at Pittodrie in 1985 which brought an equaliser that sealed the league.

3. Danny McGrain (Celtic)

There will be some who cannot believe this world class defender, the best right-back in football at his peak, is not number one on this list. His supporters have a strong case.

One of the best Celtic players of all time was an unbelievable talent. A defender who was as good in attack as defence - just don't ask him to shoot.

McGrain was blessed with speed, a touch, a football brain you could only marvel at and an ability to read the game way beyond everyone else. He was perfect.

A broken leg, cracked skull and diabetes would have hampered a lesser man. That was certainly not Daniel Fergus McGrain.

The beard meant he always looked older than his years, which is why some young uns would overlook the great man. However, those fortunate enough to see him know what they saw. As good a Scotland player as there ever was. He would have walked into the Lions team. He would walk into any team.

What he won (in Premier League era) Five League titles, three Scottish Cups, one League Cups, one Player of the year.

Best moment: The entire 1976/77 season. He didn't put a foot wrong.

2. Brian Laudrup (Rangers)

At his best, which was something to see, the great Dane simply glided across the pitch with ball at his feet. He didn't even need a trick per se, he just ran past defenders.

What a player and what a signing by Walter Smith. At the time, believe it or not, Laudrup was seen as something of a risk as his career had suffered a few barren years. Some risk!

However, on his debut, he beat almost half the Motherwell team to set up the winner, a taster of what was about to come.

Every time he got the ball, which his team-mates were intelligent enough to make sure that occurred a lot, something happened.

Defenders had no clue which way he was going to go, and for such a slight man, Laudrup was strong enough shrug off the meatiest of challenges.

Some of his goals were truly spectacular and none more important than the header at Tannadice on the night Nine in a Row was won. In a good Rangers team, he was head and shoulders above everyone else.

And he was a nice bloke and a handsome bugger as well.

What he won: Three League titles, One Scottish Cup, One League Cup once. Was named Player of the Year twice and Players Player

Best moment: The 1996 Scottish Cup Final. He scored two and set up three.

1. Henrik Larsson (Celtic)

A WORLD class striker, one of the very best on the planet for a good few years, played in Scottish football during the pomp of his career. When will see his like again?

The fee of £650,000 for Henrik Larsson must go down as the best piece of business every done by a British club. His record of 242 goals in 313 games for Celtic tells only part of the story of the King of Kings, as named by the fans.

Larsson was a team player, someone who, as Jimmy Johnstone no less said, “put in a right good shift.” He scored for fun domestically and when asked to step-up to face Europe’s best, was always comfortable and tended to get a goal or four.

For someone not huge, he was incredible in the air, so many headed goals, fast on the ground, scored every type of goal – but weirdly was a poor penalty taker.

He tops the list and deservedly so – almost everyone had him at number one or two at the lowest - because he does tick every box and then some. Celtic would not have been anywhere near as successful without him. You could argue that he was too good for the league.

What he won: Four league titles, two Scottish Cups, two League Cups, Uefa Cup runner-up, Twice Player and Players’ player of the year.

Best moment: That chip in the 6-2 win over Rangers showed he had recovered from his broken leg