Scotland boss Gordon Strachan gets his loyalty bonus
Football management might be the only job where loyalty can be construed as a character flaw.
The last time Barry Bannan and Darren Fletcher started side by side in a Scotland midfield, the wheels came off in a 3-0 defeat in Trnava. Granting the pair a second chance against Slovakia was only one of a number of brave, unpopular decisions made by Gordon Strachan. The kind of calls which could have backfired badly but for Martin Skrtel’s last-minute calamity.
With an hour of Thursday’s match played, James Forrest trotted off to make way for Chris Martin, a striker more tolerated than appreciated. With the home side desperate for a goal, the introduction of James McArthur - a defensive midfielder - was met with murmurings from the stands. Last, but not least, came Ikechi Anya; the forgotten man of Scotland teams past.
Scotland boss Gordon Strachan admits he is quite loyal to some of his players
The last time Barry Bannan and Darren Fletcher started in midfield, they last 3-0
The night turned out fine in the end. It might just as easily have ended with fans camped outside Hampden wearing John McGinn and Callum McGregor masks, demanding the manager’s head on a plate.
Some cite Gordon Strachan’s dogged loyalty to certain players as evidence of a contrary, stubborn streak. Scotland’s manager thinks that does him a disservice.
‘I am quite loyal to players. But the loyalty is not blind,’ he said. ‘I understand that every manager wants players from their club to play, I’ve got that.
‘I understand that every supporter wants their boys to play. I’ve got that as well.
‘I’ve not got a problem with that. But what they don’t all do is the research that I do. I go round every game my players play, I see everything.
‘Again, even when we met up, I looked at players playing for their clubs in the last two weeks.
‘I looked at it and said: “Okay, pick from there.”’
When army generals show loyalty to their troops, they earn a military cross. Football managers are more likely to find themselves in front of a firing squad.
As a club manager, Strachan could pretty much buy the loyalty of players. He could offer a footballer £12,000 a week and demand his obedience until the end of his contract. The minute he became manager of Scotland’s national team, that door closed.
Strachan has no financial pull over players as Scotland boss, whereas he did as club manager
Pitching McGregor of Celtic or McGinn of Hibs into the starting line-up against Slovakia could have earned him some plaudits. Scotland might still have won.
But to Anglo-Scots like Bannan or Darren Fletcher, it would also have sent out the message that their time and effort in repeatedly turning up for international squads had been an unappreciated waste of time.
‘I think that happens with the Anglos more often,’ admitted Strachan, a former captain of Leeds United.
‘Even back in my day - there is actually more pressure on the Anglos to play better.
‘Because what happens with an Anglo is that, if he plays badly, he disappears for two months - you don’t see him.
‘A home Scot can play badly, score two goals the next Saturday and everything is good again. If you don’t play well it lingers for two or three months.
Pitching Celtic's Callum McGregor into the line up against Slovakia could have earned plaudits
Strachan admits it can be difficult playing for an English side and then turning out for Scotland
‘A home Scot can score two goals against Hamilton on a Friday night and be a world star again.’
The plight of the Anglo is nothing new. Throughout the seventies and eighties, Scots playing for some of England’s most successful club sides won European Cups and found themselves overlooked in favour of players from this side of the border.
Alan Hansen would probably get a game these days. But Chris Martin has had to work for his acceptance as a Scotland international.
The son of a Glaswegian, the Derby County forward was born and raised in Suffolk and sounds as Scottish as Rod Stewart.
With key contributions as a second-half substitute against Slovenia and Slovakia, however, the 28-year-old has edged his way past Steven Fletcher to become second striker in the pecking order. Hitting the bar with a whipped shot on Thursday night, Martin also teed up a glorious chance for James Morrison before forcing Skrtel into the game’s defining error.
Striker Chris Martin has had to work for his acceptance as a Scotland international
‘I think people now understand what he does,’ added Strachan. ‘He’s different from other players.
‘His chest on to James Morrison and his flicks on and ability to keep the ball were fantastic.
‘A lot of fans just go for pace and running about. He’s more than that.’
Against Slovakia, it was all about attack. Finding a way to break down a team hellbent on securing the point they needed after Robert Mak’s red card in the 23rd minute.
Slovenia present a different challenge on Sunday. Eliminated from the running by Harry Kane’s late goal at Wembley, the home team have nothing left to play for. It would suit Scotland fine if they turned up half-cocked with no motivation or energy. But the truth is this; if they did, it would be a first.
‘I can understand people hoping Slovenia are scunnered,’ said Strachan. ‘But I’ve also seen teams digging themselves out of holes.
‘We were one of them - coming from a scunnered position and then getting back up there again.’
Stubborn to break down in Glasgow in March, Srecko Katanec’s team have yet to lose a goal on home soil in the current campaign. Only England have taken so much as a point. Slovenia scored against Slovakia and Lithuania and are likely to pose a test to a Scotland central defence defying some low expectations.
Srecko Katanec’s Slovenia team have yet to lose a goal on home soil in the current campaign
Scotland defenders Christophe Berra and Charlie Mulgrew play for Hearts and Blackburn
‘One of our central defender (Christophe Berra) is, I don’t know, seventh in the Scottish Premiership (with Hearts),’ said Strachan.
‘The other (Charlie Mulgrew) is playing in the English League One. Nothing against Hearts, Christophe is with a fantastic club.
‘But it’s not where these guys from Slovakia are coming from, Skrtel and (Jan) Durica. They’re playing at the top level in Europe.
‘Charlie was fantastic.’
There are no complications to what Scotland have to do. The final composition of the eight play-off places will come down to permutations, but the task for Strachan’s team is clear. A draw is no use. They go to Slovenia needing a dogged display in defence and one goal at least. They have to win.
It sounds easy on paper. The reality is likely to prove a bit tougher.
‘I think football fans now all know how hard it’s going to be,’ added the Scotland boss.
‘They saw us only getting a late winner against them - and England got a late winner. Everybody knows how hard this section has been.’
Despite it all, Strachan’s loyalty to the lieutenants who serve him faithfully is close to paying off. On Thursday night, Scotland won the battle. Sunday they go to war.