McLeish backing oldmate Strachan
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next September and Euro 2020 qualifiers in March 2019. Stark knows the next generation of talent better than most having worked with the majority of the players the nation are now pinning their hopes on. Veteran Darren Fletcher is considering his international future after hitting the 80-cap mark and Scott Brown is another who might quit, although he is set to stay on if boss Strachan does likewise. So Record Sport invited Stark to run the rule over those who could soon step up and end 22 years of hurt. The 60-year-old said: “It’s difficult because it’s still raw but no one would be losing credibility by painting a positive picture going forward. “The natural fallout from a qualifying campaign where we don’t quite get there is for some of the older ones to think about whether they will carry on or not. “The likes of Fletcher and maybe Brown, the way he felt retiring helped his club career before he came back, could leave a couple of slots to be filled. There’s boys who have not quite had a chance but I’m sure will – McGregor and McGinn are the obvious ones.
“There was a clamour to play them in the last two vital games but I was with Gordon on that one. It was too big a risk. People will shoot you down and say you’ve got to take a risk but younger ones will naturally get a chance in a friendly or two.
“You can’t just throw it out. We had a bit of momentum and while we ultimately fell short you can’t dismiss that.
“But if you’re starting a new campaign it offers a chance to play youngsters. Whether you have retirements or not, some deserve a chance.
“If Gordon stays on or if someone comes in, they have to manage that sensibly. We’ve got momentum and have introduced some of the younger ones who tangibly made a difference.
“You need the experienced players to supplement that but there’s enough to be positive about, not least the Euros are easier to qualify for.
“An international manager needs to have a trust and Gordon has shown that by sticking with those he trusts temperament-wise because he’ll get a performance out of them. But it’s at a stage where you have to freshen it up.
“Look at the freshness Stuart Armstrong brought – Gordon described it as the best debut ever against Slovenia – but not everyone will make that impact.
“There’s time to give those boys a start in friendly games and be confident when the qualifiers come around.
“McGinn is strong with a good temperament and he’s improved over the last few years. I always felt he had the tools but his decision-making has improved immeasurably and he’s also adding goals.
“Armstrong is getting to a really good age but isn’t an old one and Tom Cairney has performed well for Fulham.
“There was negativity aroundthefriendlydrawwith Canada but Cairney did well for his debut. Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson are already there so that’s a fair nucleus and Leigh Griffiths is another at a good age.
“Leigh hasn’t half proved himself at international level and it’s a real bonus to have a set-piece specialist, not just free-kicks but also his ability to create goals from corners.”
Strachan spoke about the need for physicality as he highlighted his team’s height disadvantage. Stark believes Callum Paterson, who’s been out with a knee injury, offers that along with £13million man Oliver Burke who burst into the first team before dropping down to the U-21s.
But the heart of defence remains an issue and Stark said: “The centre of defence has been a problem for a long time. Christophe Berra has never let us down and Charlie Mulgrew converted to a centre-back and looked good.
“But we’re short of a depth of talent there and that’s a wee worry. You look at who is coming through and Ross McCrorie handled the Old Firm game tremendously.
“I helped Scot Gemmill in Mexico, the Under-16 tournament, where Ross was our best player.
“Tierney has been playing on the wrong side but Paterson has been injured. Gordon was talking about a need for explosiveness, physicality, power and pace and Paterson is in that category.
“Burke is another and he’s the most expensive Scottish player of all time, you can’t discount that.” McGINN McGREGOR TIERNEY ROBERTSON ARMSTRONG GRIFFITHS BURKE Subs (from): Jordan Archer, Allan McGregor, Tom Cairney, Ryan Barry Christie, Kenny Bannan, Chris Cadden, Chris McLean, Matt Martin, John Phillips, Souttar, Ryan Fraser FORMER Scotland manager Alex McLeish claims there is no need to replace Gordon Strachan as national boss.
The SFA board will discuss the 60-year-old’s position today after the agonising World Cup exit at the weekend.
Strachan could walk away after two failed qualifying campaigns but McLeish insists his former Aberdeen team-mate is still the right man for the job.
He said: “I don’t think there is anything to be gained by shuffling the managerial pack.
“The second half against Slovenia will always haunt him and I’m sure Gordon had some sleepless nights after it. Now everyone is after him because of the last result but the damage was done earlier.
“We failed in games we were expected to win.”
Scotland finished just two points adrift of a place at Euro 2008 under McLeish in a qualifying group that included World Cup holders Italy, France and Ukraine.
The ex-Rangers boss now expects Celtic’s Callum McGregor and John McGinn of Hibs to become first-pick players in the campaign for Euro 2020.
McLeish said: “It’s time to get young guys like McGinn and McGregor in.” SLOVAKIA boss Jan Kozak reckons Serbian ref Milorad Mazic cost them a World Cup play-off place.
The whistler sent Robert Mak off in the 1-0 loss at Hampden and Kozak said: “Giving that game to a ref we’ve already had problems with made a big difference.
“It cost us qualification. If we’d played with 11 men for 90 minutes we’d have won.” DBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD... GOODBYE
quite had a chance but I’m sure will HOW REVAMPED TEAM SCOTLAND COULD LOOK