ECK’S LONG IN THE YOUTH
McLeish takes a punt on the kids as he blows out Strachan’s old guard and ushers in new generation
THIS was one in the eye for the mumpers and moaners.
A Scotland squad designed to defy all those who complained at the time of his appointment that Alex McLeish was a dinosaur of the dugout who would do not much more than pick up where Gordon Strachan left off.
A 27-strong group rammed with new names and fresh faces. One with an average age of just over 25 and that’s in spite of a return for 36-year-old keeper Allan McGregor.
And one devoid of some of the most trusted and well used stalwarts of Strachan’s four years in charge.
For every Barry Bannan or Robert Snodgrass, now a Dylan McGeouch or Jamie Murphy. For Scott Brown or Darren Fletcher, there’s a Scott McTominay or a Kevin McDonald. Where once there was Chris Martin or Steven Fletcher now there’s Jason Cummings or Oli McBurnie.
In other words Big Eck has ripped up his old pal’s rulebook on day one on the job as he attempts to succeed where Strachan could not.
Given that Strachan went out on the back of a near miss in the last campaign for Russia 2018, this was not the safe-handed approach predicted by many when McLeish was squeezed back into his old Scotland tracksuit.
But while he may have won some new friends with his selection he was also taking quite a considerable punt in deviating so far from the path Strachan had set out.
This vast overhaul, McLeish admitted later, is something of a risky old business.
He said: “Yes, there is an element of risk because Gordon’s squad was very close knit and that’s why, when we meet them, we will be making waves to accentuate that philosophy.
“We want the guys to get as close as they can as quick as they can with the staff we have. The staff that were here before us are also integral to that. We will working a lot on the mentality of the dressing room.”
McLeish’s first game in charge comes this month at home to Costa Rica before he takes this fresh-faced bunch on tour to face Hungary in Budapest.
The manager clearly believes in the plan but admits he will require the fans’ patience along the way.
McLeish said: “I worked with Genk in Belgium a couple of years ago and we introduced a lot of young players because of the club’s financial situation.
“So picking a lot of the younger players feels like second nature and now they have to prove they can play for Scotland.
“The bottom line is we have to win matches. All the work I’ve done in the last few weeks means nothing unless we win but there will have to be a bit of patience for people to accept young players trying to find their feet in international football.
“It’s an unforgiving arena. You’re not supposed to make mistakes at international level and a lot of the guys are untested.”
McLeish has spoken individually to many of those senior players who have not made the cut and the manager insists his door has not been slammed shut on any of them.
When asked if he would have experimented so liberally if this was a squad for competitive matches he said: “I think it would be pretty close to my squad. I’ve got to be honest. I believe those guys are playing to a pretty good level.”
McLeish appreciates the need for some experienced heads. But even these possible reinforcements look set to be used sparingly.
He said: “Of course you do. You need the nous and the experience of what those guys can do. Look at
Scott Brown’s performance yesterday for Celtic. I introduced Scott to international football and he was a very tenacious midfielder, playing inside or in the wider area.
“Look at the player he’s turned into. We’ll miss that but it’s up to somebody else to take that mantle.”
McLeish believes he may have found one emerging candidate for this role in Manchester United rookie Scott McTominay.
But, perhaps notably, he also namechecked Fulham duo Kevin McDonald and Tom Cairney when asked if any of these players might be ready to fill Brown’s boots.
Also, McLeish unveiled a backroom team made up of former Celtic linchpin Peter Grant, current Celtic goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods and Tartan Army hero James McFadden.
The hope here is McFadden’s presence inside a Scottish dressing room will be enough to help inspire the new batch.
McLeish said: “James also has great knowledge of the game, great common sense, a great affiliation with the players – he speaks their language – and he’s got a great dynamic with the fans. In fact, it’s a wonder he’s not got my job!
“James and I have worked together before at Birmingham and we had a great time there. It was a shame in the last year I never had him for an entire season.” The hope will be that McFadden’s return to the fold – along with McLeish’s of course – may also help add to the appeal of a Friday night friendly against Costa Rica where the Scotland fans are concerned. McLeish said: “I hope the fans come out in force. And I hope they’re enlightened by the squad and seeing a lot of their favourites in there.”