Seven points from three games can ease our pain

AGAINST Ukraine, Scotland looked like a boxer who had tried to drop too much weight before a big fight. Steve Clarke’s side just could not get into the contest at Hampden. They looked off the pace, and ultimately they saw their World Cup dreams dealt a devastating knockout blow.

But now Scotland face three Nations League games in six days; against Armenia on Wednesday at Hampden and in Yerevan the following Tuesday after a trip to Dublin to face Ireland on Saturday.

And make no mistake, these games are just as important to Scotland as the play-off semi-final against Ukraine was on Wednesday.

The Nations League is absolutely vital because, as we saw in the last campaign, at the end of it there could be a play-off place for Euro 2024 and another chance to get to a major tournament.

Clarke has come out and said his job is on the line, that he might not get the chance to manage Scotland to the World Cup in 2026 if they don’t reach Euro 2024.

So he knows how important these games are and he will have work to do in getting his players ready to go again after such a big disappointment against Ukraine.

On the night, Scotland just didn’t have enough balance in the team.

Clarke was sticking to his guns when asked about his system but I’ve never been a huge fan of playing players out of position just to fit a formation.

There had been a lot of head-scratching over how to fit Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson into the same team down the left-hand side.

But when you lose one of them to injury, then that problem goes away and the head-scratching should stop.

You put Robertson at left-back in a back four. I’m not 100-per-cent convinced Liam Cooper can play in a back three but as a centre-half he is very strong, along with Grant Hanley, and I’d like to see Anthony Ralston or Stephen O’Donnell at right-back.

O’Donnell is a natural right-back who gives you width and he gives the midfield the option to play the ball right rather than everything coming back inside on the left.

Scott McTominay plays in midfield for Manchester United week in, week out. I think if you play him as a pivot in midfield for Scotland you have to play either Billy Gilmour or Callum McGregor alongside him if you want John McGinn in the No 10.

Gilmour’s had a tough season at Norwich following all the hype that came with his emergence for club and country.

He’s been linked with Everton but his agent will be telling him he needs to find a team next season that will dominate possession and bring out the true Billy Gilmour again. But he remains an outstanding player for Scotland.

So you pick one of Gilmour or McGregor to play with McTominay and you have Che Adams up front, with Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Christie both good options on the wings in a 4-2-3-1.

The system could be open to a bit of rotation in-game, so if you’re in control of the match with your full-backs pushing on and McTominay at No 4, you would have the option to push Gilmour or McGregor on as another No 10 on the left of McGinn.

In terms of the Nations League it’s a balancing act because, with a play-off on the line, you don’t want to see too many changes made for these games. But there are players I would like to see get some game time.

Armstrong is definitely one after a terrific season at Southampton. Likewise Christie, who will be on Cloud Nine after winning promotion to the Premier League with Bournemouth.

There are lads in the squad who are still surfing a wave from last season, with Scott McKenna getting promotion through the play-offs with Nottingham Forest and Ross Stewart going up with Sunderland.

There has been a bit of chat about Craig Gordon being replaced by either David Marshall or Zander Clark. But for me personally, Craig is a top performer and he was voted PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year.

I don’t think there is any need to change goalkeeper. Craig’s a role model.

There’s no drama about him off the park. He’s lean and fit, he lives his life well and he’s benefiting from a new lease of life in his career.

He was doing TV and media for about 18 months before he made his successful comeback from serious injury.

For him, this is extra-time at 39 and he will be wanting to keep it going as long as possible. I don’t see why Craig can’t keep going into his 40s.

I think Scotland should be looking to take seven points from these three Nations League games.

I know away games are always difficult at international level but if you had that kind of opposition in a World Cup or Euros qualification group, you would be looking to try and finish top of the section.

On their day, Scotland are more than capable of giving anyone a game.

And starting the Nations League campaign with seven points from three games would go some way to easing the hurt of the bid to reach the World Cup ending in such disappointing fashion.