Canada sigh a bad way to get ready for Scots
Steven Thompson reckons it was a bad idea for Scotland to take on the friendly against Canada – because it has put them on a bigger downer for tonight’s crunch clash with Slovenia.
Wednesday’s clash at Easter Road ended in a 1-1 draw and with boos ringing out from the sparse crowd.
Former Scotland striker Thommo wanted Gordon Strachan’s players to go into the Slovenia game in a positive frame of mind.
But the Canadian game only piled more pressure on Strachan after back-to-back 3- 0 defeats to Slovakia and England left our World Cup dream hanging by a thread.
Thompson said: “Gordon said the Canada match was a great exercise and that it was the correct decision to take the friendly on.
“I disagree. If anything, the feeling about the team is even worse now.
“It will be a very different starting XI against Slovenia but you just have to hope that our best players show our quality.
“We’re good enough to beat Slovenia but if we defend as poorly as we did against Canada we will lose more than one goal.
“I was at the Canada game and wasn’t surprised at the way it panned out.
“The game was flat and I don’t believe the players that were sent out there were playing for places today.
“Strachan has had f ive months to think about this tie – his team will have been picked a long time ago.
“No one put themselves in the frame. Tom Cairney did alright and Ikechi Anya was a threat in the first half.”
Thompson also said it was time the SFA reviewed its pricing policy.
A brief for the Canada match cost £ 22 but the former Rangers star insists charging £10 for adults and £ 5 for kids would have sufficed for a game against a team sitting 117th in the FIFA world rankings.
Thompson said: “The SFA don’t want to be running these games at a loss because you need to pay for police and stewards, etc.
“However, charging a fiver for kids and a tenner for adults would be the way to go – unless you’re playing a challenge match against the world champions or one of the major powers.
“The pricing for matches like the one on Wednesday should be looked at.”
Strachan is set to give Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths the nod up front for the crunch clash with Slovenia.
And Thompson will be pleased with that choice after admitting he thought Steven Fletcher would start.
He said: “Griffiths has the best movement. He can stretch defences, pu l l players wide and score goals.
“He is the better allround goal threat. Fletcher is tried and tested and that has been Gordon’s way. He doesn’t deviate much.
“It has always been the same type of squad.
“Fletcher is the best in terms of linking up.
“If you are expecting your midf ield players to be creative – I imagine James Forrest, Stuart Armstrong and Matt Ritchie will be involved – they need a forward who can bring them into the game.”