BANNED BROTHERS
Alcohol’s off limits for Clarke and Co but his backroom team have got our plans to reach Qatar down to a tea
STEVE CLARKE has saluted the unsung heroes who have kept Scotland on course for the World Cup.
The national coach is the main man. The overall leader of the entire group.
In his care are a host of top-class players who are at the centre of the spotlight and capture the headlines.
Clarke, though, has another key band of brothers in camp whom he acknowledges have been absolutely crucial in keeping the ship on course for Qatar.
Assistant manager John Carver has seen and done it all before and has acted as a vital influence since joining just over a year ago. New coaches Steven Naismith, Austin MacPhee and Chris Woods have also worked superbly to minimise the effects of major upheaval behind the scenes in this campaign alone.
The trio started their new jobs just prior to the August matches against Denmark, Moldova and Austria.
MacPhee didn’t even make those three games having been forced into dreaded Covid isolation.
But he was there beside the rest of the new backroom crew for the critical wins secured over Israel and the Faroe Islands.
Clarke says their assistance has been crucial to him and have ensured continuity.
He stated: “These are the people I trust and rely upon to give me the right information at the right times.
“To give me help and support when I need it and, trust me, there are times when I need it.
“They are the ones who help me and they help the players a lot. I think you can see that over the course of the time. John’s a good and experienced football coach. He says the right thing at the right time.
“He keeps me calm at the right time. He has his shout and his scream if he needs to from time to time, but he’s been a big, big help.
“When you think the backroom staff to start with. Alex Dyer, Steven Reid and Stevie Woods.
“They have all gone and it’s been a constant evolution behind the scenes.
“But because we have good people coming doing good jobs, we have all managed to stay on the same path of going forward. I’m glad that’s been noticed. It’s very important.”
Clarke got them all together for a chinwag at the start of last week, but there was no big party bonding session.
Asked if it was with a pot of tea or over a few beers, he smiled: “There’s not a lot of alcohol in the camps.
“We do dry camps, although, obviously, Serbia last year was a little bit different!
“We just had a little meet-up before we came into those last two games. Everyone is scattered around the country, so you just really come together for the camps.
“We don’t really get the time. Austin is working at Aston Villa, John is in the north-east of England, I’m down the south. We catch up
These are the people I rely on to give me the right information at the right times STEVE CLARKE HAILS HIS TRUSTY LIEUTENANTS
as and when we can. But it’s and experience. Keeper always nice to see them. I Craig Gordon was a hero in ANLEY: OUR SPIRIT
don’t know if they say the Torshavn with a stunning AN GET US POINTS same about me!” first-half stop at 0-0 and the
Between the management manager admits his allround team, they are squeezing show was vital. SEE PAGES 56&57 every inch out of their troops Clarke said: “We relied on and the dividends are there Craig to make one fantastic for all to see. save and his handling all night
Scotland did not play well was excellent. for a first half against Israel. “A big, big factor in us They did not play well over an getting a clean sheet was the entire game in the Faroe fact we had a goalkeeper who Islands on Tuesday. could calm it down.
Yet, despite those “His handling was great. He scenarios, they waltzed off didn’t spill one thing. from the matches with six “At times in the first half, points out of six. the defenders were nervy in
Youthful exuberance and front of him. daring has helped, but Clarke “So that was important for is quick to praise the older us and kudos to Craig. hands who bring composure “It’s up there. Reaction save – it was important we didn’t go behind.”
Asked how crucial experience is in the camp, Clarke added: “It’s really important around the place.
“Liam Cooper came on for the final minutes with that maturity and experience.
“When I got Coops on the pitch, I couldn’t see us conceding a goal after we got the 1-0.
“It took us a long time to get to 1-0, so I wanted to make sure we held it!
“I thought we played well second half. We weren’t good in the first half.
“The Faroes were better at doing what they did than us doing what we try to do.
“We played too safe at times and it allowed them to build a bit of tempo.
“Our job was to win. It wasn’t pretty, but we got it, so I was happy for myself, my players and my staff.”