McGhee fury at Cadden snub leads to SFA rift
“I don’t really understand his omission”
MARK McGHEE has sparked an internal rift within the Scottish FA after expressing his bitter disappointment over Chris Cadden’s omission from the Under-21 squad for two forthcoming European qualifiers.
McGhee, of course, is Gordon Strachan’s assistant with the full national team and he insists he is baffled why midfielder Cadden, a regular and consistent performer, has been overlooked by Ricky Sbragia.
Wearing his Motherwell manager’s hat, McGhee finds it hard to believe there are others playing better than his protégé and feels Cadden may well be a victim of playing his football at an unfashionable club.
Perhaps surprisingly, Strachan and McGhee decided to distance themselves from the Under-21 set-up when they took over three-and-a-half years ago, so Sbragia has a free hand to select whomever he wishes.
However, that has not stopped a vexed McGhee making his feelings known.
‘I am surprised Chris has been omitted and I’m really disappointed,’ he admitted. ‘He’s a boy who is now playing first-team football every week. In the 30 or so games he has played, in quite a few of them he’s been the man of the match.
‘In the others, he hasn’t let us down. In the one or two when he’s been poor, that’s usually when we have been poor as a team.
‘He’s still only 19 years old, so I don’t really understand it as there must be some really, really good players out there. If that’s the case, then we will accept that.’
McGhee knows there are managers and players who are unhappy over the senior squad selection for the World Cup qualifier with Malta on September 4, but he believes his surprise over Cadden is justified.
His argument has merit given Lewis Macleod is only just in the Brentford side after nearly a year out, Craig Storie does not feature for Aberdeen and Ryan Gauld, while very talented, has not seen much action in Portugal.
These three are set to face Macedonia at Tynecastle next Friday then travel to take on Ukraine the following Tuesday.
McGhee said: ‘We have announced a first-team squad and there will be managers, players and fans out there who ask why people are in it, and the players themselves wondering why they’re not in it.
‘We have a rationale as to why we have picked a squad and I’m sure Ricky has as well, but I’m not privy to that.
‘Gordon and I made a very conscious decision when we came into the job that we would deal with our squad and wouldn’t interfere.
‘It’s not a case of me making a big scene about it. I’m very disappointed as the Motherwell manager, as I think he’s good enough to be in the squad and he’s not, so I’m disappointed for him and disappointed for the club.
‘I’m quite entitled as Motherwell manager to voice my opinion; I’m not making any judgment or comment with my Scotland hat on as that’s not my bag.
‘I don’t see Ricky. We don’t really cross paths as I’m only at Hampden a few times a month to see Gordon.
‘I meet with Gordon at other places and we talk on the phone all the time, but I don’t really see Ricky from month to month, so there’s no real opportunity if I did want to get involved.
‘I take Gordon’s lead and I don’t get involved. It’s up to Ricky to pick his squad just as it’s up to us to pick our squad but, as Motherwell manager, I’m quite entitled to speak my mind.
‘We won the Youth Cup yet we have no players in the Scotland Under-19 squad.
‘I feel there are boys there as well who should be recognised. I don’t know why that is, I really don’t.
‘I have no explanation other than they don’t think they are good enough, which is something we don’t agree with, but they are entitled to their opinion.
‘Chris is desperate for that sort of recognition. He’d love the opportunity but he’s not dwelling on it. I have spoken to him and I believe it will make him more determined this time around, so it works for me.’
McGhee’s Motherwell squad is still stretched as Steven Hammell, Louis Moult and Carl McHugh are still missing — the latter on doctor’s orders as a result of delayed concussion from a serious head knock at Kilmarnock on August 6.
McGhee also confirmed that Motherwell do not have the financial resources to offer a deal to former Swansea midfielder Lee Lucas, who has been on trial.