The
McKinnon v McNeill debate
Even today it is often discussed, sometimes hotly disputed, as to who was the better centre half during that period.
Here is my take on it.
Billy McNeill was a very good Centre Half, commanding in the air, an inspired Captain, a good leader, and he chipped in with a few important goals over the years.
As a defender, he had his weaknesses though, he was often destroyed by the sheer power, strength and guile of Jimmy Millar,
he was taken to the cleaners a few times, by a speedy two footed teenager called Jim Forrest.
As much as Stein saw the leadership qualities in McNeill, he was smart enough to see his weaknesses as well, and set about playing the unheralded, but vitally important, John Clark behind him, as a sweeper.
Even with all his experience and aerial command, McNeill (along with Jim Craig), could not prevent a 16 year old from out-jumping them both, to head the winner in the 1970 League Cup Final
Ronnie McKinnon was an excellent Centre Half, a cool, composed, determined, intelligent player. He tackled fairly and often, he had great pace, and also knew when to kick the ball clean out of touch, to yon folk up there in the seats.
In spite of being a couple inches short of 6ft, McKinnon was very good in the air. He read the game very well, and did his job with precision, rarely exposed, he would collect that ball, feed it to Greig, Baxter, Dave Smith, and let them do the rest.
It was Jock Stein (Whilst manager of both Celtic and Scotland) who gave Ronnie McKinnon his International debut, at the expense of McNeill.....and this was no meaningless Friendly, to bring in the untried,
this was a must win World Cup Qualifier at home to Italy.
The previous match had seen Stein go with McNeill in the World Cup Qualifier v Poland at Hampden.
McNeill with 19 Caps had now fashioned Scotland's Centre Half berth as his own, having been selected in all of the last six internationals.
Indeed it was McNeill who opened the scoring, after only 5 mins to give Scotland the lead and well on our way to England 66'.
Unfortunately, two errors in the last 5 mins, gave Poland a surprising, and devastating 2-1 win.
Scotland's next match was a must win, and Stein opted to drop his Captain, and introduce Ronnie McKinnon of Rangers, to International football.
McKinnon did not disappoint, as he and his fellow team mates Greig, and Provan restricted the Italians to zero.
It was John Greig who scored that famous winner in the 88th minute.
Despite the competition around at the time, Billy McNeill, Jackie McGrory, Ron Yeats, Ian Ure, Frank McLintock etc.
Ronnie McKinnon was above all of them, and would get the nod in 17 of the next 19 Internationals that Scotland played between that World Cup qualifier v Italy in Nov 65' until the WCQ v West Germany in April 69'.
And lest we forget, He was very much a part of that fantastic Half Back Line of Greig, McKinnon, Baxter, that annihilated the World Champions 3-2 in their own backyard at Wembley 67'.
Despite McNeill picking up all the trophies, and accolades during that period, there was simply no contest, as to who was the better Centre Half.
After missing out on the Home Internationals in May 69', McKinnon returned to national service in Sept , and would start in all the next 9 Games for Scotland, between Sept 69' and April 71'.
Once again he would miss out on the Home Internationals in May 71', as Frank McLintock, who had led Arsenal to a historic Double, for only the second time it had been achieved so far, that Century, was brought in.
Scotland failed miserably, drawing 0-0 with Wales, losing 0-1 to Northern Ireland at Hampden, and losing 1-3 to the English at Wembley.
McKinnon was back in the Scotland team for the European Qualifier v Denmark in June 71', and for the friendly v Russia.
On November 3rd 1971, Ronnie McKinnon suffered a double fracture of the right leg, in a European Cup Winners Cup tie.
His career was abruptly ended!
During the time that both Billy McNeill, and Ronnie McKinnon were vying for that Centre Half spot for Scotland, the much less decorated McKinnon, won four times as many Caps for Scotland.
Ronnie McKinnon collected 28 Caps, between 1965 and 1971 whilst McNeill won 7 Caps during that well decorated span of his career.
Of McNeill's other 22 Caps, 19 came before McKinnon had played for Scotland, and 3 more came in the 72' Home Internationals after McKinnon was finished.
Billy McNeill got 29 Scotland Caps, in an 11 year International career, from the time he made his debut in that 3-9 Loss to England in 61', until a much more respectful 0-1 loss to England in 72'
Ronnie McKinnon got 28 Scotland Caps, in half that time, between Nov 65' and June 71'.
They were both good, but McKinnon was better, far better!
