PROJECT BRAVE
MALKY MACKAY can lead our young foals to water. But he can’t make them drink from a shallow well of opportunity in Scottish football.
They have to do that by themselves – then become thirsty for even more.
That was the message from the SFA’s Performance Director after overseeing his first international week since taking on the job.
He experienced the high of Chris Martin’s late winner against Slovenia in the World Cup qualifiers.
Then the low of Scotland’s Under-19s failing miserably in the Czech Republic as they crashed out of the Euros.
He watched the promise of our U-16s who saw off Croatia, Austria and Iceland in a tournament at Oriam.
And last night he observed the U-21s against Estonia.
Ultimately, it’s the Scottish youngsters Mackay is most interested in.
Aside from feeling it lift the dwindling spirit of a nation, Martin’s 88th-minute strike didn’t impact upon the role he has been given – to ensure a brighter future for our national team in a decade’s time.
That’s why the displays of our 15 and 16-year-olds in Edinburgh would have pleased him most.
He’s convinced, at that level, we’re on a par with other big European countries.
The likes of Rangers midfielder Billy Gilmour and Celtic forward Karamoko Dembele excite the former Scotland centre-half.
But Mackay has warned the most talented youngsters in the country unless they want it so badly they’re willing to make tough sacrifices they won’t make the grade. He believes it’s too late to affect the attitude and behaviour of players aged 19-22 in Scotland. But he hopes our gifted 15 and 16-year-olds can grasp their chance to become top international players.
In a frank assessment of where our kids are and what they have to do to succeed, Mackay said: “I’ve spoken to our 15 and 16-year-old boys and asked them, ‘How are you going to become a professional footballer’?
“Because I want every one of them in a Scotland jersey.
“Firstly, their diet has to be right. Their body fat must be right. They must have athleticism. They have to be able to run and have shoulders like those Icelandic boys.
“Their waists have to be as slim as the Icelanders. They have to work on their bad foot.
“They have to work in the afternoons on their own. They have to cut their own clips and watch them back. These boys can’t leave their clubs at 2pm and go home.
“What we’re looking for is sacrifice from them.
“That’s what it takes to become a footballer. Because it’s so hard for that one per cent who make it. If they think it’s going to come easy it really isn’t.
“We have to get youngsters back to realising they must work harder than everyone they’re competing against.
“These 16-year-olds are a different group to the 21-year-olds we have. That culture of neediness and sensitivity isn’t there.
“You must be able to take constructive criticism. You can’t expect your dad to always say terrific things.
“I’ve told these boys to ask their dads what they could have done better, not what they did well.
“That’s the shift we have to