A number of Celtic fans have turned to social media to fume over Kieran Tierney being played in a centre back role rather than his natural left back position while on duty with Scotland.
The Hoops favourite, a mainstay in the starting XI for both club and country, found himself on the left side of three centre backs for the Scots’ clash against Israel on Thursday, with Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson chosen to start as the wing back on the left.
However, the decision from Alex McLeish had the Parkhead faithful up in arms on Twitter, blasting the move and insisting their man was better than the Reds’ star on the left.
This is Futbol has gathered a selection of the supporters’ tweets:
Waste of time having Robertson n tierney playing where they are. Haven’t seen either make a forward run. Bite the bullet pick 1 and go 4 at the back
— Scott McNally (@scodgemc) October 11, 2018
Andy Robertson is so overrated and it confuses me why he gets to play LB instead of Kieran Tierney…
— Erin McGinlay (@ErinMcginlay) October 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/90MinuteCynic/status/1050475387992637440
I'd go Tierney LB and just play Robbo LM.
— Craig C (@Prefab_Trout) October 11, 2018
@BBCSportsound keira Tierney Scotlands best player, and out shining Robertson for 3rd game running. No One talk about this though please.
— Cenzo (@vinnylad) October 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/Jamie67_/status/1050470480610770946
Seen it all before some players just can’t take club form into internationals.. plus he’s probably suited in the back 4 I don’t think Tierney plays as well for us when we play a 3 n he’s almost an out n out winger ?
— My Name is..??????? (@StevenK10901496) October 11, 2018
Keiran Tierney absolutely wasted at left centre back. astonishing that we don’t play one of Robertson or tierney left mid and the other left back! McLeish is a diddy….although right decision with mcgregor over Gordon.
— Andrew Maher (@andrewmaher85) October 11, 2018
Opinion
Scotland are blessed to have two top quality left backs at their disposal but trying to fit them both into the starting XI seems to be one of the biggest problems for McLeish. He can hardly warrant dropping one or the other, but the back five system struggles to bring the best out of either, and so it may be a case of back to the drawing board for the Scottish boss. Could it be that Tierney, who is probably the more attacking out of the pair, is given a stint further up the field in a left wingers role, while the defence reverts to a back four, where Robertson takes on his natural role on the left? It might be an experiment for the Scots but considering Tierney’s disappointing display at centre back it is hardly any more of a risk than they are currently taking. At least the Hoops know that when he returns to Parkhead Brendan Rodgers will put him back where he belongs and they can enjoy watching his performances, rather than being left tearing their hair out.