THE people of Malta were awarded the George Cross by King George VI during the Second World War for their heroism and bravery in withstanding a siege from the German and Italian air forces and navies which lasted well over two years.
But the sustained bombardment they were subjected to will seem mild should Scotland fail to win their opening Russia 2018 qualifier on the Mediterranean island this Sunday evening. The flak that will fly in the direction of Gordon Strachan and his players if the national team draw or, heaven forbid, lose their opening Group F game in the Ta’Qali Stadium will be severe.
It will, with another nine games still remaining, by no means be the end to Scottish hopes of making it through to the next World Cup. But it will certainly be a serious setback. It will hardly engender optimism. What hope will they have against England, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania if they can’t overcome the bottom seeds? For some it will be proof that change is required.
Read more: Robert Snodgrass and Leigh Griffiths hopeful of being on Malta trip
The reaction to Strachan’s squad selection among the Scotland support last Monday was lukewarm to say the least. It was certainly encouraging to see Oliver Burke, Jack Hamilton, John McGinn, Barrie McKay, Callum Paterson and Kieran Tierney included once again. They have the ability and physical attributes required to represent their country for many years if they apply themselves and continue to progress.
But the presence of the likes of Christophe Berra, Gordon Greer, Alan Hutton and Russell Martin, to name just four, was rather less inspiring. All are honest professionals who have served their country well over a number of years. But at international level they have repeatedly been shown to be limited. They are, too, hardly exactly exciting prospects for the future. Their combined age is 127.
There is a section of the Tartan Army who would like to see Strachan accept that Russia 2018 qualification is beyond his team, have a clear out of the older members of his squad and put his faith in our emerging talents with a view to making it through to the Euro 2020 finals. It would be a controversial move which would be met with widespread derision and calls for his sacking when the crushing defeats which would inevitably follow started.
Anyway, who would he field? Where exactly are these 11 superstars of tomorrow who he can form an exciting new team around? Who would he turn to in defence in particular?
Sorry, but there just aren’t enough players of a sufficient standard coming through. The bloated and dysfunctional youth set-up which Strachan has, along with former SFA performance director Brian McClair, examined and attempted to overhaul is flawed. It is not his fault that the system has failed so badly.
John Souttar of Hearts has won many admirers with his performances for the Tynecastle club this season and for Dundee United before that. But he is still just 19 and is far from the finished article. To suggest that Scotland could turn to him at this early stage in his development is madness.
Strachan has spoken of the dangers inherent in blooding kids at international level on many occasions. He believes it can be damaging to their confidence to ask too much of them too soon. Sensibly, he prefers to ease them into the side gradually. McKay, for example, got on towards the end of the friendly against France in Metz back in June.
Andy Watson, who has replaced Stuart McCall in the Scotland coaching team, is the perfect example of what can happen when excessive demands are made of a youngster. Watson enjoyed a decent career. But Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted his handling of the talented midfielder at Aberdeen early in his playing days possibly prevented him from fulfilling his full potential.
Strachan will, in all likelihood, give game time to the younger members of his squad against Malta. One or two of them, like Paterson or Tierney, may even start. But he is right to put his faith in more experienced personnel for all their shortcomings. To attempt more radical surgery at this stage would be disastrous and could undo the progress which has been made during his tenure.
It is always worth thinking back to the disarray Scotland were in before he took over. There were petty and pointless feuds between players and managers. There were mass call-offs for training get-togethers and friendly matches. The team often looked uncomfortable with the formation they were playing in and confused by the tactics they were asked to execute. Humiliating losses were suffered. Do we really want to risk going back to all that?
Strachan certainly made mistakes during a Euro 2016 qualifying campaign that ended with Scotland failing to even finish third in their section and secure a play-off spot. But he remains the best man to attempt to lead his country through to Russia 2018. In Gord we trust.
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