Experience is fine, but it’s time we put emphasis on youth
SAYS DAVID HOPKIN
WHEN the absentee note from major tournaments covers decades rather than years, those preaching the creeds of patience and projects are advised to don their tin hats and take cover from the verbal brick-bats sure to be coming their way. For David Hopkin, however, any observer advocating short-term action simply to facilitate Scotland breaking a wretched run of ten successive qualification failures next time around are guilty of being part of the long-term problem rather than the solution. While Hopkin, a veteran of the squad which qualified for France 1998, believes some blend of youth and experience is still essential, he feels the time is nigh to put the emphasis on the former — even if that means more mixed results in the short term. ‘I’d love to see Scotland start from kids all the way through,’ said Hopkin. ‘Maybe have a spine of four or five experienced players and then just let’s go and put kids in. ‘We’ve got a lot of good players in Scotland and we do ourselves an injustice at times. ‘I look at England. I played and coached both down there and up here, I’ve watched them — and our players are just as good.
‘So you just need to say to somebody: “Here’s four or five years, go and build something”. ‘Whether that’s Gordon Strachan or someone else, we have got to get the (John) McGinns and the (Callum) McGregors in and let them go and play.’ There are no shortage of names who could be thrown into that mix. Anthony Ralston and Ross McCrorie. Scott McKenna and Lewis Morgan. All unquestionably big talents but currently lacking the club minutes international football normally demands. Irrespective of who is in charge of the national team next time out, it would take enormous courage and foresight to take such radical steps in the name of long-term benefit. ‘It’s difficult. Everybody criticises managers,’ added Hopkin. ‘Management is a game where you get two bad results and you’re out of a job. ‘We all want Scotland to do well but it needs to be a long-term plan. ‘I have seen improvements over 2017 but it’s time for everybody to take stock. It’s important whether Gordon wants to stay on — and if he moves on then it has to be a young, refreshing coach who comes in.’