IRISH JOY MADE ME FEEL SICK
MARK McGhee admitted yesterday that the dawning realisation Scotland were to be the only ‘home’ nation missing out on Euro 2016 made him feel physically sick.
McGhee watched on this week as the Republic of Ireland, who edged third place in Group D despite taking just one point from six against the Scots, secured their place in the tournament in France with a play-off win over Bosnia.
He still passionately believes Gordon Strachan is the man to drag Scottish football from its malaise and the national team manager will unveil a blueprint for change before Christmas.
But that will do nothing to diminish the pain of another failed campaign.
‘Trust me, every day this week, particularly with the Republic qualifying, every time you see those four names (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland), you just feel dizzy,’ said McGhee.
‘I haven’t spoken to Gordon this week because I know how he will be feeling. I even feel a bit sick talking about it now.
‘It makes me feel, physically, a wee bit sick. I really mean that.
‘I can imagine the wee man being absolutely beside himself. Feeling like that and feeling the doubt and disappointment that brings, you can imagine he is maybe wondering why anyone would be interested in his opinion about other things.
‘I see it from inside and outside, though, and Gordon has done a terrific job. We have not qualified because the Republic took four points from Germany. Not because we didn’t beat Georgia. Who could foresee that?
‘We had a bit of misfortune but I think Gordon has generally brought an improvement. He is an intelligent man who cares passionately about the Scottish game as well as the national team. He is at Scottish games all the time. He cares about the Scottish league and has a relevant opinion.’
Strachan is currently working with SFA performance director Brian McClair on a raft of proposals to produce better quality young players at club level, to increase levels of participation. The expectation is of some radical, possibly drastic, measures.
Some have their doubts. Former manager Craig Brown and Willie Miller have questioned whether the national manager should focus solely on reaching a major finals. Others suspect the blueprint provides a protection mechanism for the failure to reach the Euros.
Insisting there is nothing cynical over Strachan’s desire to initiate a process of long-term change in a broken Scottish game, however, McGhee believes it would be foolish to ignore his opinions.
‘When Gordon and I came up, we said we were not here to revolutionise Scottish football,’ he said. ‘We are here to win games for the first team and that is what we have tried to do.
‘What happens is that other people come to Gordon, as the national manager, and ask him what he thinks. He has good ideas and is in a strong position.’
The Motherwell manager stands well placed to assist. Not only as Scotland’s assistant manager, but also by reversing a recent Fir Park recruitment policy geared towards plundering experienced players from England’s lower leagues.
‘I’m not going to put kids in the team just so I can say I’ve done it,’ he said. ‘They have to be ready and better than everyone else.
‘So I’ve got to make them better. I believe three or four of our lads have that potential, so maybe a couple of them will appear and another two towards the end of the season.
‘Hopefully, we can then get more local players from the Academy in the team. I’m prepared to put young players in the team ahead of going to England to make signings. I’ll be looking here first.’
Of the current Motherwell crop, Dominic Thomas has already provoked flashes of excitement. McGhee believes he is not alone.
‘We have a young lad here called Dylan Mackin, who has not really been mentioned for the first team,’ he said. ‘He is a strapping lad. An Andy Carroll. There are not that many of those about. There are a lot of exciting players at the club.’
There will be no throwing the baby out with the bath water. England has served the Steelmen well via signings such as Marvin Johnson and Louis Laing.
As a close friend and confidante of the national team manager, however, McGhee has also had a say on the contents of a blueprint.
‘We have put our heads together,’ he said. ‘I give Gordon and Brian counsel and we speak together. I know what they are thinking and I agree with their thinking.
‘They only have the interests of the game and young players at heart. There is no self-promotion in this for them. They just want things to be better at league level. They want it to be more competitive and more marketable.
‘They want more young players playing in Scotland that we can get into the Scottish national team.
‘I cannot be supporting Gordon in that message and not putting players in my team, so I will be working overtime to get any young boys we have good enough here in the team.
‘But the bottom line is that they have to be good enough.’
McGhee, meanwhile, says a four-day visit to Barbados to speak with Motherwell owner Les Hutchison was a positive experience.
‘I’m not quite ready to talk too much about what was discussed, but I found him someone who has the heart for the football club and the long-term future of Motherwell firmly in his thoughts,’ he said.
‘I’ve only been here a few weeks, so I’m still in a really positive frame of mind and excited about it. I’m pleased and optimistic about what I’ve found — and meeting Les and hearing what he had to say only fired that enthusiasm.’
Every time you see those four names, you feel dizzy Strachan has good ideas and he is in a strong position