Scotland players in top form again.. back at their clubs
SCOTT McTOMINAY brilliant for Manchester United. Kenny McLean a star as Norwich beat Manchester City. Andy Robertson man of the match as Liverpool stretched their lead in the league.
Back at their clubs straight after a harrowing international break, back in tip-top form.
Technique has long been pinpointed as the recent failing for Scotland. Performance schools are designed to have the youngsters work hard on their ability from an early age, grafting on their skills and touch. It’s valuable, of course.
Yes, our boys aren’t as gifted as the cream of Europe with the ball at their feet. Yet the more the Scotland team fails, the more you wonder if it’s as much about their mentality as it is their ability.
It’s like players shrink when they join up with our national team. Feel like they can’t mix it with the best. Feel like they are destined to fail.
You hear it from them after games. Following the Russia loss a couple of weeks ago, they spoke collectively about getting scared. Having the fear when they went 1-0 in front. As if they couldn’t cope with doing something special.
If Steve Clarke turned on Match of the Day or Sportscene last weekend, his head would have burst. One by one, the lads who went into their shells for Scotland returned to being magic at their clubs.
McTominay had a great game for United as they took care of Leicester. McLean scored and was magnificent for the Canaries as the same Kevin De Bruyne who ran all over him at Hampden was a beaten sub for Man City.
Robertson was at his rampaging best as Liverpool defeated Newcastle United, although in truth he didn’t enjoy the best of games against Napoli a few days later.
James Forrest and Ryan Fraser barely got a kick between them against the Russians a week past Friday and there they were scoring and being match-winners straight away again for Celtic and Bournemouth respectively.
Stephen O’Donnell, caned in some quarters for his Scots shows, was being solid defensively and making goals for Kilmarnock.
Even the much-maligned Oli McBurnie struck home a goal for Sheffield United that would have counted had VAR not got involved and controversially ruled it out in their game against Southampton.
And Liam Cooper bossed the backline as Leeds beat Barnsley and went top of the Championship.
Of course, the quality of opposition in some cases are not the same as at international level, especially for the boys playing in the Premiership and the lower leagues south of the border.
Nonetheless, there’s something fishy about this. Lads going from being unsure and nervy with Scotland returning to being the star men back at their own ranches.
Back in the day, Scottish players were renowned for their gallus streak. There was ability in there but also an inner cheek. A notion that, the bigger the opponent and the higher his stature, the more the little guy got his chest out to bring them down.
Now? Scots teams look as though we don’t believe. Like we don’t belong on the same pitch at times. It seems like years of failure at international level from various past squads has become ingrained in their psyche.
For all Clarke is a top tactician and knows systems inside-out, it might be he needs to become a psychologist.
On the evidence of the last fortnight, it’s not what’s in their feet that’s the problem, it’s what creeps in between the ears as boys who shine week in and week out return to pull on the dark blue.
It’s as if years of failure by various squads has become ingrained in their psyche