While England were playing some of their most progressive football for over 16 years, Gareth Bale was adding to his season’s collection of wonder goals, and Wes Hoolahan was making a mockery of Giovanni Trapattoni’s exclusion of him from so many previous Republic of Ireland gatherings, Gordon Strachan was quietly beginning his reign as Scotland manager.
A low key friendly at Strachan’s spiritual home, Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium, was the perfect stage for the Scots to begin a new era after a dismal near three years under Craig Levein. The former Hearts defender’s time in charge was characterised by a series of negative performances, serving only to stifle the undoubted strength of the Scottish side – their attacking prowess.
Most infamously, Levein opted to take on a relatively weak Czech Republic team in a crucial European Championship qualifier without selecting a centre-forward. This was no grand-plan to play a fluid system, full of rotation and movement, a la Spain and Barcelona’s employment of a ‘false 9’. Scotland fielded a 4-6-0 formation, only throwing Chris Iwelumo and Kenny Miller into the fray in a vain chase for an equaliser.
A rousing, but ultimately unrewarding display against Spain followed. Levein’s stock however, was already at rock bottom among the Tartan Army, the dire fayre in Prague coming soon after a 97th minute strike was required to see off Liechtenstein at Hampden Park – that having earlier fallen behind.
Stuck in a vicious circle, whereby their lowly FIFA ranking and recent struggles place them in the fourth pot of seeds for qualifying competitions, the Scots are ensured a fiendishly difficult draw in each of their attempts to return to a major finals for the first time since Craig Brown led the country to the 1998 World Cup.
In those circumstances, and with supporter backing all but absent, Levein could not afford a start to this World Cup campaign which comprised consecutive Hampden Park draws against Serbia and Macedonia, two more displays which drew opprobrium for their cautious nature.
Levein’s setting aside of a remarkably costly and stubborn 20-month feud, which resulted in him excluding one of his greatest assets Steven Fletcher from Scotland squads, came too late. A much improved showing in Wales ended with an unfortunate defeat, a blow which would have not been so severe had the Scots won even one of their first two fixtures. The game in Cardiff did exhibit the attacking capability within the current Scotland ranks. When, after the excellent Besiktas goalkeeper Allan McGregor kept the score down to 2-0 in Belgium the Scottish F.A. decided a change of manager was necessary, Strachan was, by a considerable distance, the standout candidate.
The initial signs are positive. Similarly to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa, Strachan will enjoy the goodwill of fans for an extended period simply by virtue of not being the most recent incumbent. Additionally, the 55 year-old set his charges up to play on the front foot in his debut game. Of course, excitement will be tempered by the oppositions’ limitations, but every single triumph is essential.
Taking a pragmatic view, beating a side ranked at 83 – fourteen places below the Scots – in the present FIFA rankings is a boost so far as trying to secure a more friendly future competition seeding. On a human level, winning matches can only be a boon for a group which hasn’t experienced that feeling often enough – 2012 brought only friendly victories against Australia and Luxembourg.
Already stymied by the poor start under Levein, Strachan’s best hope during the remaining six competitive matches of the current campaign is to establish a settled and confident side, all while re-capturing the unequivocal backing of his country’s fanatical army of followers. Any success in extremely demanding encounters against Croatia (twice), Belgium, and Serbia, as well as in the return clashes with Wales and Macedonia will have a favourable effect on that crucial FIFA coefficient.
What should excite Scots, wearied not only by Levein’s reign, but a desultory year under George Burley, near misses in the charge of Walter Smith and Alex McLeish, both of whom couldn’t resist a return to club management, and a woeful period between March 2002 and November 2004 overseen by the unique stewardship of the German Bertie Vogts, is that the playing options available to Strachan are genuinely strong.
A concern is the lop-sided nature of Scotland’s more talented individuals, skilled midfielders and attackers far outweighing defensive strength. Nevertheless, after such a barren spell this is not the time to lament weakness. Strachan is an enduringly positive man, and that attribute should be replicated by those who wish his team well.
The eleven which started in the North-East of Scotland last night, and a number who joined the action from the bench, are high class performers, operating weekly at the highest level.
Fletcher is happily cemented back as the Scot’s premier striker. A player for whom Sunderland paid £12m in the summer, the 25 year-old has scored at a ratio of nearly once every two matches for the Black Cats. Furthermore, the ex-Wolves man possesses many qualities beyond his goal output. Fletcher can expertly hold the ball, is forceful in the air, and blessed with a fine touch.
Strachan’s Scotland will resist the temptation to adopt a one-dimensional approach of hitting their target-man’s head from deep. The side contains – as all good Scotland units should – tricky wide players capable of undoing any defence and supplying a killer final ball. Added to that, there is no shortage of artistry behind the forward.