SCOTLAND v SLOVENIA
GORDON STRACHAN reckons he’s facing the most difficult decision of his managerial career in choosing Scotland’s striker for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier with Slovenia. As far as I’m concerned it’s not that tough. You need a goal in a game you need to win so pick your most natural goalscorer – Leigh Griffiths. It’s typical the striker debate dominates conversation in the lead up to the Hampden clash. It has always been the case. Goals have been the biggest source of concern for the Scotland team for several years, although you could suggest that keeping them out has been just as much of a problem for Strachan. Of course the problems up front have been deepened by the fact none of the attackers available are playing regularly. Too many of them are missing out on minutes week to week so it leaves them rusty and slightly out of form. You could see that was the case with Chris Martin in midweek against Canada. Strachan likes the idea of the Fulham striker being a focal point to be hit with others playing off him. I understand that logic but there are two flaws in it at the moment. Firstly, if you are going to play that role your touch needs to be bang-on and you must be able to hold it in. Against Canada it was bouncing off Martin. He couldn’t get a hold of it and things were breaking down when he was picked out. Secondly, it is just too simplistic to say a striker can only bring others into play by standing centrally and laying the ball off. Pulling defenders wide into areas they don’t want to go and opening spaces for midfield and wide players is just as important. So is being able to run in behind. It creates room for the attacking midfielders to play. You can also come to the ball and if the centre-half follows you out there is space for a runner to get in behind from a wider area. Martin can’t do any of that. His lack of mobility at the top level gets shown up and he’s not the man for the job. Steven Fletcher has had his opportunities and he’s not the man for the role either. He’s a terrific footballer but doesn’t get in where it hurts often enough and doesn’t take enough chances when they come his way. In any case Jordan Rhodes gets chosen ahead of him at Sheffield Wednesday and Rhodes would be the better bet if Strachan does not want to go with Griffiths. Rhodes has been pigeon-holed in his career as just a finisher who can’t