Immediately following Scotland’s 3-0 loss to Greece on Sunday, divisions emerged within the team. Midfielder John McGinn acknowledged, “It’s an embarrassing evening for us.”
When asked soon after if he concurred with his player’s statement, Steve Clarke provided an unexpectedly different response. “No, based on my experience in the sport, it’s best to avoid using such terms,” stated the head coach.
This prompts us to wonder: what type of wording should McGinn have employed? Since the
Aston Villa
Skipper was accurate in his assessment.
There was nowhere to hide after what transpired on the Hampden pitch. Scotland had squandered a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
Nations League
play-offs, along with a shot at entering World Cup qualifying in strong form.
To suggest it was something more than ’embarrassing’ would be misleading at best.
Clarke acknowledged he would step back and reflect on his performance following the loss. Indeed, he should do just that.
Although the manager deserved commendation for reversing that poor streak last year, this recent performance has been a concerning step backward towards those difficult times.
It was Clarke showcasing his most restrained and wary side. His squad choice was lacking in impact and creativity—much to the delight of the Greek opponents.
Could Scotland manage to recover in time for the World Cup qualifiers? Absolutely.
Here, Mail Sport examines some of the concerns that Clarke might contemplate following such a disaster… and some of the alterations he could — or might choose not to — implement moving forward.
Right back to basics
Tony Ralston truly merits significant acclaim for managing his transition into becoming Scotland’s primary right-back. With Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson sidelined before last summer’s Euros, Ralston was appropriately chosen to step up and secure a spot in the defense for the competition.
He was the clear third option but had the advantage of having high-level experience in the Champions League with Celtic. Whether you agree with it or not, it was the appropriate decision given the situation.
However, the truth of the situation is crystal clear. Ralston is stepping in for Celtic and has certain limitations. Given that his club status remains unaltered, Clarke needed to explore alternative options since his primary choices continue to be out injured. In choosing Max Johnston from Sturm Graz, he made a straightforward decision.
Indeed, Johnston is still developing and hasn’t had ample exposure at the highest level, yet he has tremendously improved as an athlete since transitioning to playing overseas, staying patient, and capitalizing on opportunities whenever they arose.
After spending most of last season as a backup player, the ex-Motherwell youth product has emerged as a crucial member this year for the top team in the Austrian Bundesliga. He has been starting consistently and has participated in five out of their six Champions League matches. No longer considered a youngster, he continues to prove his worth.
We understand what Ralston is capable of—or incapable of—so now let’s find out what Johnston brings to the table. It would be challenging to imagine a top-tier international coach choosing the same way as Clarke did when presented with the option between selecting a player from Celtic’s reserves or picking someone who is always chosen for a team leading the league and competing at the highest levels in European football.
Baffling at the back
When discussing poor decisions, those made regarding the center defense stand out as particularly concerning. Let me tell you, Grant Hanley faces considerable criticism, much of which isn’t justified. He has represented his nation admirably and built a remarkable club record. Frequently overlooked, he plays a crucial role within vulnerable defenses, consistently absorbing pressure and rising to the challenge repeatedly.
However, he hasn’t stepped onto the field as a substitute in 27 instances this campaign for both Norwich and his recent team, Birmingham City. Since joining them in January, he has only managed to get into games for a cumulative duration of 42 minutes over eight matches with the Midlands-based team.
No matter how you calculate it, he was unprepared — and this is in England’s third division.
On the contrary, Scott McKenna is a consistent 90-minute player for Las Palmas in Spain’s top flight. Each week, he goes up against formidable opponents such as Kylian Mbappé, Julián Álvarez, Robert Lewandowski, Vinícius Júnior, and Antoine Griezmann.
Is consistent exposure to top-tier frontline players definitely better than sitting on the bench against teams like Wycombe Wanderers, Northampton, and Leyton Orient? Definitely?
However, it appears not in Clarke’s world. The primary reason we keep facing setbacks during crucial tests is the unwavering loyalty and inherent stubbornness exhibited by the national manager.
Midfield mix-up
There has been extensive discussion regarding the wealth of talent at Clarke’s disposal in midfield. Given the cards he holds, he likely inspires jealousy among numerous national team coaches he encounters. However, possessing a strong lineup is only part of the equation; the true test lies in effectively utilizing those players.
Many felt that the midfield was yet another aspect that ought to have secured victory against the Greeks. With Ryan Christie suspended from the initial match, Clarke chose to stick with Kenny McLean in Piraeus, which turned out well since Scotland managed to hold on tightly and secure a narrow 1-0 triumph.
Substituting the player from Bournemouth for the seasoned veteran from Norwich City would have seemed to most supporters like a significant improvement to the lineup compared to what was used in the first match.
Not many would have anticipated Lewis Ferguson as the one who might falter, let alone Christie finding himself in a role that feels progressively unfamiliar to him at the club level.
Once more, if we simplify this situation and take away all considerations of loyalty, would anyone in their right mind choose McLean over the Bologna captain, a player attracting interest from top clubs like Juventus and Inter Milan? Undoubtedly, McLean is reliable, yet he clearly lacks the exceptional talent possessed by virtually every other midfielder in the team.
Once more, it boils down to loyalty trumping reason. That same stubborn streak resurfaces as they insist on using Christie in a broader role even though he has been delivering the best performances of his career in exactly the position assigned to McLean over the last couple of seasons.
Maybe Clarke is hampered by concentrating all his main skills in just one part of the field. It could mean that difficult choices must continually be made to achieve the right equilibrium. However, with such an abundance of talented midfielders at Scotland’s disposal and still facing challenges in forming a cohesive unit, this raises serious concerns.
Flailing up front
If anything encapsulated the despair surrounding Scotland’s performance in crucial matches, it would be seeing Tommy Conway and youthful James Wilson brought onto the field alongside George Hirst in an attempt to salvage their position against Greece.
The term “desperate” sums it up perfectly. There’s no denying that Scotland lacks forwards capable of delivering when it matters most at the upper end of the field. Credit goes to Clarke for his efforts in seeking out new talent. However, finishing the game at Hampden with mostly inexperienced players struggling against their opponents highlighted just how dire the situation has gotten.
It appears this has consistently been Clarke’s approach throughout his tenure. During his inaugural match as manager of Scotland against Cyprus at Hampden Park in 2019, Eamonn Brophy was leading the attack, while Johnny Russell and Marc McNulty were reserves. The game was ultimately won by Oliver Burke with a dramatic late strike.
Steven Naismith, Oli McBurnie, and Lawrence Shankland all led the line at different points before Clarke found his rhythm with Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams, which proved effective. More recently, Kevin Nisbet and Jacob Brown had their chances too, but they sat this one out as the younger attacking trio secured victory over the Greek opponents.
Certainly, we cannot hold Clarke responsible for the absence of standout talent within the Scottish team. However, one would expect that after 65 matches under his leadership, there should be a more solid contingency strategy rather than merely handing out caps indiscriminately and expecting improvement.
Coaching team
Given that the team appears to be having difficulty showcasing their personal skills effectively and reproducing the form they display with their clubs, it’s quite normal to scrutinize the coaching staff and question whether it aligns well with the abilities of these particular athletes.
For the final time, Clarke partnered with his longtime assistant John Carver during the playoff defeat against the Greek team. Following this match, the Geordie manager had assumed leadership at the Polish club Lechia Gdansk and decided to end his association with the SFA to concentrate fully on his regular responsibilities.
This indicates that further alterations are likely as the current arrangement has remained far from stable during Clarke’s tenure. The position of ‘third man’ for the experienced pair has changed frequently, with roles being filled by Steven Reid, James Morrison, and Steven Naismith when they sat on the substitutes’ bench at Hampden Park. Additionally, Austin MacPhee, who served as the set-piece coach up until he stepped down from his post following what seemed like a dispute with Clarke around last year’s European Championship.
The newest addition to Clarke and Carver’s team is Alan Irvine, seemingly departing from the younger selections made earlier. Could this indicate that the coaching staff struggles to connect naturally with the players?
When Irvine joined the coaching staff, Carver commented, “He will focus specifically on our offensive strategies. A new face with innovative concepts.”
A player known for excelling as a winger during his peak years at Crystal Palace in the 1980s, one might doubt whether many members of today’s team remember him from those glory days. It raises questions about whether an athlete who competed at elite levels later in their career would be more effective in guiding younger players within the squad.
If Clarke plans to stay on and guide the squad through the World Cup qualification rounds later this year, let’s hope he sets aside any loyalty to past teammates and assembles a coaching staff capable of drawing out the full potential from the undeniably gifted roster of players under his charge. Given how poorly things have been going so far, change seems more necessary than ever.
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