Boss shouldn’t be a scapegoat
OVER AND OUT Skipper Fletcher insists Strach isn’t done yet .. and neither are our qualifying chances
Gordon Strachan will NOT be considering his position as Scotland manager – according to sidekick Mark McGhee.
After the 3-0 defeat to England at Wembley on Friday night Strachan has asked the SFA for 48 hours to gather his thoughts before having to justify himself to his Hampden bosses.
But his No.2 McGhee believes the display from the Scots in London will have given the gaffer enough encouragement to carry on.
He’s adamant that Strachan’s side can win ALL four of their home games at Hampden next year against Slovenia, England, Malta and Slovakia to push for second place in Group F.
McGhee said: “I’ve not discussed it with Gordon yet but I can’t imagine that he’ll be considering his position.
“He has to take encouragement from the performance at Wembley, the commitment from the boys all week and their determination to put his plan into place.
“They did all that. The only thing they didn’t do was score.
“I see no reason why Gordon can’t go forward into the next games.
“It was really important on Friday night that we showed people we were up for it and that we’re still capable of winning the next four games.
“We played well enough to say to people: ‘There’s more to come’.”
Strachan high press strategy worked to an extent but Scotland didn’t take their chances.
McGhee added: “We feel hard done by and, generally, we couldn’t fault the players.
“Our strategy worked until England’s second goal. The only difference was the finishing. We should have taken our chances.”
The captain was gutted after the 3- 0 defeat to England and felt a burning sense of injustice at a result he feels was ill-deserved.
Now Fletch wants revenge at Hampden in June.
And he insists he still wants Strachan in charge for that game as they attempt to salvage a World Cup campaign already teetering on the brink after just four games.
The West Brom skipper sighed: “Listen, it was never a 3- 0 game and that’s why it hurts even more.
“It was decided by them being more clinical with their chances.
“They virtually scored almost every chance they had. And scored at crucial points. We missed our chances at crucial points. That’s the game, really.
“The last 10 minutes are irrelevant when they’re passing the ball about and, at the same time, we’re making sure that they don’t score a fourth or fifth which would’ve been really hard to take.
“But I feel sorry for the manager because he’s given everything for the team. And the team have given everything for him. We are just not getting the rewards from that.
“And it’s not easy to talk when you feel like you’ve done well in games and you’ve lost 3- 0. People will think: What are you talking about? You’ve been beaten 3- 0, it’s a joke, it’s embarrassing’.
“And that’s the hardest thing to take. Yes, a 3- 0 defeat is terrible. We have to take it. We are the ones who’ll be criticised. It’s not nice, it’s not easy, it’s devastating but we’ve got to pick ourselves up.
“We have home games to come. If we can put in displays like that then we will pick up enough points.”
Fletcher has developed a close bond with Strachan during the manager’s three and a half years in charge.
And he insists the gaffer has the absolute backing of his dressing room.
He said: “I would be disappointed if Gordon decided to go. Not only for myself, but I know for a fact that I speak for the rest of the dressing room that we enjoy working with the manager.
“We feel like the results haven’t reflected how good a manager he is and how much we play for him.
“And I didn’t sense he was ready to go after the game. He spoke well. He was very positive.
“I don’t worry about the manager because he’s a good man. He enjoys working with the players, he’s passionate to do well for his country and I’ve so much respect and time for him. Let’s keep it going.”
Fletcher has been one of Strachan’s confidants – but the captain says he’ll only offer advice if he’s asked for it.
He said: “He’s the manager. We listen to him. If he asks for advice we give it but it’s his knowledge of football that is second to none. I’ve loved every minute working with him.
“You can tell he’s played at the highest level, his understanding of the game. I’ve learned so much in the period I’ve worked with him.
“We go out there and try 100 per cent and I give my best for him.
“Defend a little bit better when the time calls for it but, at the same time, that commitment and that performance and that way of playing I believe we will win more games and we’ll get more points and results.”
With four points from four games, Scotland are staring at a 10th successive qualifying failure.
Fletcher has played in eight of those, regularly expressing his desperation to lead his country back to a finals.
But he was defiant in his belief this one isn’t done yet. He said: “It’s a campaign where we’ve lost points we don’t deserve to lose. But we are in this position and it’s not a nice position to be in.
“But we are still alive. We will still be fighting. We’ve four home games which is massive in the context of the group.
“We will keep believing, keep fighting and keep trying to put in performances. I f we produce performances like that at home, we will get enough points.
“We could be in a real competitive position come the closing stages of the group.
“I just hope England go clear now and they beat every other team in the group. That’s definitely what we want, and then for us to get as many points as we can.
“We are four points off it, that looks an uphill task but I don’t think the teams are unbelievable. They are def initely winnable games. Even the England game at home in June, I think we can do well.”