Gordon Strachan has not failed as Scotland manager. The players are still giving him 100% – you saw that at Wembley
SCOTLAND’S mostcapped player answers the questions the Tartan Army are asking after Friday’s night’s setback at Wembley.
DID GORDON STRACHAN GET HIS TEAM SELECTION AND TACTICS RIGHT AT WEMBLEY?
LISTEN, it’s hard to argue with his starting line-up. You could have asked the whole of the population of Scotland to choose a team and formation and it’s highly unlikely you would have got two the exact same.
As I wrote last week, Gordon would have assessed his own squad and the opposition, considered his options and taken it from there.
He chose a team he thought could win the game. Yes, Scotland may not have done enough to win the game – but 3-0 certainly flattered England.
So, you assess the chances we created and think back to Grant Hanley’s header from 10 yards out. Leigh Griffiths chose to shoot when he could have played in Robert Snodgrass. James Forrest screwed his shot wide from inside the box.
Those three incidents came when we were only 1-0 down.
If just one goes in, then we are level and who knows what might have happened.
WE ONLY HAVE FOUR POINTS FROM FOUR GAMES. DO WE HAVE ANY CHANCE OF QUALIFYING FOR RUSSIA IN 2018?
YES, we can still do it.
Obviously the main route to focus on is trying to get enough points to finish in the runners-up spot, and then get to Russia via a play-off.
It’s not looking good just now, but we have to keep believing.
To have only four points from four games is very disappointing, and nobody will be hurting more about that than the Wee Man (Strachan).
We need to take all three points from our next qualifier, which is at home to Slovenia. That’s definitely a must-win game.
HAS GORDON STRACHAN FAILED AS SCOTLAND MANAGER?
NO. My view is that a manager only fails when he doesn’t get the best out of his players.
You can’t tell me that, on the evidence of Friday night at Wembley, the Scotland players didn’t give their all for the manager.
Look, sometimes you just have to admit that the player opposite you on the field in a particular game is better than you. You try your very best, but it’s just not to be.
It’s the same when you sit an exam at school. You want to pass and get the highest mark available but not every person will achieve that.
Some will do better than others and that’s the way it is on a football field.
But we shouldn’t criticise the players for that. As a nation – fans, public and media – we can’t insult them and be disparaging. That is not helpful.
We need to encourage them. If we get behind the squad, it will give us a better chance of winning games.
It’s human nature. People in all walks of life respond better when they are given encouragement.
SHOULD GORDON NOW STAND DOWN?
NO. I hope he stays on and I hope the SFA stand by him.
When he took over things from Craig Levein, things weren’t too clever.
But, overall, the Wee Man has taken the country in the right direction and there has been an improvement.
IF HE DID GO, IS THERE AN OBVIOUS CANDIDATE TO REPLACE HIM?
GORDON is an excellent manager and he cares deeply about the job, the country and the players.
Take a step back, detach yourself from any hysteria and address the facts.
We are a small nation and we try our best. But we have to be realistic. There is nobody out there with a magic wand to take over.
This is not me being blinkered towards the Wee Man or having blind trust, I just think I’m being realistic.
WE HAVEN’T QUALIFIED FOR A MAJOR TOURNAMENT SINCE 1998 – WHAT’S GONE WRONG?
I WAS fortunate enough to have been to three World Cups with Scotland in 1974, 1978 and 1982. I also played a part in the 1986 qualification for Mexico.
We all want those days to return because it’s been far too long since we were part of major Finals. It’s now 18 years, and that’s not a pleasant statistic.
I have to say that I do think other nations, in terms of quality of player and organisation, are much better now than they were 40 years, or so, ago.
So there is a challenge there from every country and we need to rise to that challenge in every game.
HOW CAN WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND QUALIFY FOR MAJOR TOURNAMENTS, LIKE THE EUROS IN THE SUMMER, AND WE CAN’T?
THAT’S the kind of question that could be debated for days and days.
It’s not something that we can address and tackle in a few minutes.
Wales were brilliant during the 2016 Euros and they deserve enormous credit. But they do have a world-class player in Gareth Bale and an outstanding midfielder in Aaron Ramsay (pictured above left).
However, we need to aim for that level.
I hope we get there and we all unite to try and reach a major tournament again. The whole country is desperate for it.