I recently wrote about the need for Scotland to adopt a sensible strategy for squad selection for 2018 and beyond. I thought I might as well deliver a follow-up to discuss the players who I’d like to see involved in the 2018 campaign and also the ones from the last campaign who should be tossed overboard.
In that article, I said that the manager should base his selections on two questions: 1) Is he likely to play? 2) Will his selection benefit us in the future? Those principles will be taken into account when talking through each position.
Goalkeepers
David Marshall (30), Craig Gordon (32) and Allan McGregor (33) are our three best goalkeepers and all three are still likely to be around for the next campaign and possibly beyond. However, there is no need to have three experienced goalkeepers in the squad vying for a single position. We need to look for our future number one and it seems obvious that it will be Scott Bain (23). Bain has been sensational for Dundee in the Premiership and before that he was an important part of an Alloa side which rose through the divisions. He was recently called up to the squad, but missed out through injury. He should take the third goalkeeper spot in the next campaign, with a view to possibly being first choice by the 2020 campaign. We know that Marshall is first choice and it seems as though Gordon is second choice, so McGregor should be left out if they are all available.
Aside from that there are no other obvious goalkeeping options for the future – the only other Scottish goalkeepers who are first choice at clubs in the Scottish Premiership or the top two tiers in England are Scott Fox (28), Jamie MacDonald (29) and Neil Alexander (37), all of whom are in a similar age bracket of the current keepers. That isn’t necessarily a huge problem at the moment, Marshall is likely to be available for another 5-6 years. Keepers tend to develop more slowly and you’d hope someone will come along in that time frame who can provide competition for Bain.
Right-back
Alan Hutton (30) may not be Mr Popular with Scotland fans but it’s hard to argue a genuine case for anyone; Steven Whittaker (31) aside being a better right back than him at this moment in time. However, Hutton has a maximum of one more campaign in him, so we really need to be hunting around to find his replacement. Callum Paterson (20) has always looked like a future Scotland player (aside from that bizarre spell where Gary Locke picked him up front) and has impressed on Hearts’ return to the top flight this season. His sheer physical presence is very important too, in what looks likely to be a team of midgets. Paterson remains incredibly raw but Hutton is ten years older and is still very rough around the edges.
I can envisage a situation where Hutton starts the campaign as first-choice but is supplanted by Paterson before the end. I’m a big fan of Steven Whittaker but at his age it’s difficult to know how much of an international future he has. He can still offer cover for both full-back positions in case of injury but I would probably leave him out of the core group of senior players.
Further down the line there are a handful of reasonable looking options who could come into contention. Paul McGinn (24) and Ziggy Gordon (22) both had very good debut seasons in the top flight last season and should perhaps be given a call at some stage. At the Terrace Podcast, we’re particularly big fans of Gordon and I can certainly see an international future for him. Down south, it’s fairly slim pickings. Liam Palmer (24) plays fairly regularly for Sheffield Wednesday, while Jack Grimmer (21) had a short spell in the Fulham team last season but has not featured this season.
Centre-back
Grant Hanley (23) already has 20 caps and is likely to be at the heart of our defence for a decade. He might be a little bit oafish at times but he has done reasonably well in a Scotland shirt and provides a crucial physical presence. He has captained Blackburn for 18 months and I think he might well be the next Scotland captain (or at least the one after that). Finding someone to partner him is perhaps the biggest challenge we face over the next few years. Russell Martin (29) will still be around for the World Cup qualifiers, but not much more than that. Gordon Greer (34) has done well when called upon, but has surely reached the end of the line after this campaign. Christophe Berra (30) is basically a “there’s nobody else” selection – he’s experienced and not terrible but he’s hardly the guy you’d want to help you qualify. Charlie Mulgrew (29) will be available for the next campaign but it’s not his strongest position.
One player who probably merits a further look is Liam Cooper (24), who is vice-captain of Leeds United. He was linked with a call-up last year, but it didn’t materialise. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him play but his track record suggests he’s worth a go. Reading his description does make me wonder if he’s too similar to Hanley but I’m not sure we’re in a position to be overly choosy. Ash Taylor (25) has bounced back from a ropey start at Aberdeen and if he’s keen to play for us then I’d get him on board too. That leaves us with Hanley, Martin, Cooper, Mulgrew and Taylor as our centre-back options in the next campaign, which is hardly promising, but they might just about get the job done.
Looking forward, there are a few players who could break their way in at some point. John Souttar (19) goes from the sublime to the ridiculous on a weekly basis at Dundee United. Souttar has all the raw materials necessary to become an excellent player – physical stature, technical ability, intelligence – but he is still struggling to put them together. It’s easy to forget that he’s still only 19 – he already has over 50 senior appearances under his belt at an age where most centre-backs have yet to make their debut. I have no doubt that, somewhere down the line, he’ll be a Scotland player, but this campaign is likely to come too soon. There’s still absolutely no harm in getting him involved at some stage.
Danny Wilson (23) probably didn’t do his short-term Scotland chances any favours by choosing to stay in the Championship with Rangers but in the long-term he may well find his way back into the set-up. Wilson made his Scotland debut five years ago but his move to Liverpool ended badly, and he was little more than average during his time in the Scottish top flight with Hearts. However, if he can hold down a place at Ibrox after Rangers get promoted, then it won’t be long until he gets to add to his five caps. Jordan McGhee (19) is another one to keep an eye on – he’s not currently a first choice at Hearts but he seems to be highly rated and may well get some opportunities in the Premiership this season.
Left-back
This one is easy. Andrew Robertson (21) and Graeme Shinnie (24) are our best two left-back options, and both have age on their side. As mentioned earlier, Steven Whittaker (31) can provide cover but probably doesn’t need to be included in the squad unless one of Robertson or Shinnie is injured. Charlie Mulgrew (29) can also provide cover here but it is probably the weakest of his many positions. Craig Forsyth (26) is another option but has never really impressed. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Lee Wallace (28) could work his way back in but he has spent a long time away from top level football and has not fared particularly well in recent meetings with top flight opposition. Barry Douglas (26) never impressed me a great deal in Scotland yet he seems to have carved out a good career for himself in Poland and might be worth a look at some stage in case he has improved dramatically in the last couple of years.
In terms of other future options, Stephen Kingsley (21) and Stephen Hendrie (20) are both attached to English Premier League clubs, though neither has broken into the first team yet. Of the two, I rate Kingsley much more highly from his time in Scotland although I haven’t tracked his career in England closely enough to know how he has progressed. Kieran Tierney (18) has recently broken into the Celtic squad and may also be one to keep an eye on; he should get plenty of opportunities this year if Emilio Izaguirre and Tyler Blackett continue their recent form.
Central midfield
This is a traditionally competitive part of the Scotland squad but Darren Fletcher (31), Scott Brown (30), James Morrison (29), Charlie Mulgrew (29) and James McArthur (28) may not have many more campaigns in them. This has been the most difficult position of the lot to decide on; I like all of those players, but we need to introduce fresh blood too. Fletcher’s last chance to play at a major tournament may just have gone but his influence on the squad is such that he shouldn’t be discarded yet. Brown still has something to offer on the park but his consistency levels have dropped massively this season and he may not last a great deal longer at this level. While Morrison divides opinion a little; I really like him, he keeps the ball very well and is the most creative of our central midfield options. McArthur is a neat and tidy player who always seems to play pretty well for Scotland but who has always suffered from not quite offering as much as the other three. If you told me I had to bin one of those four then it would probably be him.
Mulgrew tends to do a good job in midfield and probably has the best passing range of any Scottish player but given all the options available he can probably be left to concentrate on fighting for a spot at centre-back. Charlie Adam (29) has never really shone at international level, and should probably be written off now. And as much as I love Craig Bryson (28) it’s not worth him taking up a space in the squad when he’s unlikely to ever get picked.
Stuart Armstrong (23) should be an obvious addition to the squad in this position and I would actually quite like to see him starting, either in central midfield or further forward. Armstrong represents everything I’d like a Scotland midfielder to be. He’s technically gifted, brings a great deal of energy to the table and also has a tremendous attitude on and off the park. Introducing him is a no-brainer.
Another player I would like to see added to the fold is Ryan Jack (23), who I think might be the most underrated player in Scotland. His game has improved tremendously under Derek McInnes, something which saw him rewarded with the Aberdeen captaincy. Jack showed last season that he has the ability to control a midfield on his own, and I reckon he might well be the natural replacement for Darren Fletcher as a clutch big game player.
There are a number of other players who might also be worth a look. Tom Cairney (24) has been playing fairly regularly in the English Championship for the last five seasons or so and earned rave reviews from Blackburn fans before his time at Fulham. Kenny McLean (23) started the season in good form for Aberdeen, and could force his way into the reckoning. Ali Crawford (24) is getting better and better at Hamilton and could well earn a move to a bigger club within the next year or so. John McGinn (20) is another raw talent, who looks like he has what it takes to become and international player. Although he had a poor 2014/15, he has made a good start to his Hibs career and could still be back in the top flight next season.
Attacking midfield and wingers
This could potentially represent our strongest area on the pitch, and we should be looking to build a system which gets the best out of them. Ikechi Anya (27) was our best player in the early part of this campaign, and although his form tailed off towards the end, his pace still represents an important asset, especially against sides who play high up the park. I have been heavily critical of James Forrest (24) in the past but I think he has been very good for Celtic in Europe this season, and he was perhaps Scotland’s best player against Poland. His problem has always been consistency – it will be interesting to see whether he keeps it going. If he does, then he could be an important player in the next campaign. Matt Ritchie (26) has not performed particularly well since being called up but his goal against Poland and his club form suggest that he may well have something to offer going forward. His teammate Ryan Fraser (21) has yet to hold down a permanent spot at Bournemouth but his performances on loan at Ipswich and for Scotland U21s suggest he possesses something tangible to offer Scotland.
Robert Snodgrass (28) was probably Scotland’s best player in the latter half of the previous campaign and he would likely have been a first pick player throughout the last campaign but for his injury. Steven Naismith (29) often filled in that role instead, though he is perhaps stronger further forward. Naismith’s time as a regular starter may be about up but he still has plenty to offer to the squad. Shaun Maloney (32) performed well in the last campaign but he’d be 35 by the time the World Cup came around, so we should be looking to move on. James Morrison (29) was listed as a central midfielder but could also play further forward. His former West Brom teammate Graeme Dorrans (28) has been an infrequent squad member but despite his talent he has never really held down a place. It’s hard to see much of a future for him. Barry Bannan (25) has rarely let Scotland down when called upon, and while he probably shouldn’t be included in the core group of players, he is certainly another option to call upon. Johnny Russell (25) has been involved in a lot of squads without playing much. He’s another player with a lot of pace, but it’s hard to peg down exactly where his strongest position is.
Ryan Gauld (19) and Ryan Christie (20) represent Scotland’s future in the attacking positions. Gauld burst onto the scene as a precocious talent at Dundee United, earning his move to Sporting Lisbon. He has featured regularly for their B side in the Portuguese second tier and has made a handful of first team appearances. Gauld’s talent is unquestionable, and even if he doesn’t go on to make it in Portugal, he should still become a Scotland regular. Christie had a superb breakthrough season at Inverness last year, helping them to Scottish Cup success and third place in the Premiership. He has had no issues with second season syndrome and has actually taken his game up another level in this campaign. As long as his move to Celtic doesn’t stall his progression, he should be another player who is involved in Scotland squads going forward. Stuart Armstrong (23), was listed as a central midfielder, but could also play in this role.
There are a number of other younger players who could yet force their way into the reckoning ahead of the next campaign. Scott Allan (23) has not yet hit his stride in his Celtic career but I believe he has the ability to be a success in Glasgow if he gets a chance. If he does, then he’s worth considering for the squad. Jamie Walker (22) has made a tremendous start to Hearts’ Premiership campaign and is another player who could well be worth thinking about if he continues that form.
Gary Mackay-Steven (25) made a great start to his Celtic career but has struggled for game time this season. I’ve always been of the opinion that he’s a bit overrated, nonetheless he could potentially be an option at some stage in the next campaign, particularly if he recovers his form of the second half of last season. Michael O’Halloran (24) has taken his game up a notch this season for St Johnstone, adding consistency to his game and terrorising numerous full-backs. Few players can match him for pace, and that could be a vital asset if harnessed correctly. Matt Phillips (24) has played a couple of times for Scotland but hasn’t featured in the squad much recently. He’s another dynamic wide player, yet one who strikes me as being a bit inconsistent. Nonetheless, he might be worth another go at some stage.
Strikers
I am by no means a fan of Steven Fletcher (28) but I reckon he’s still the best of all the physical target man type strikers we have available. Chris Martin (26) has done very little to impress me, and while there might be some talent in there, I doubt I’d lose much sleep if he never played for Scotland again. Jordan Rhodes (25) has a tremendous goalscoring record in lower league English football but he has never convinced a Scotland manager of his ability to play up front on his own against decent opposition. He deserves another chance to do so, at least in a friendly – Blackburn fans have been impressed with his all round game so far this season.
Leigh Griffiths (25) is another player with an incredible goalscoring record but in the past the big games have had a tendency to pass him by. This season, though, he has already scored goals in big European matches for Celtic against Malmo and Fenerbahce at Celtic Park. He definitely deserves to be included in the squad and I am leaning towards starting him given the types of players who will be playing behind him. Steven Naismith (29) was listed as an attacking midfielder but he could also fulfil the centre forward role admirably, as he showed at the tail end of the last World Cup campaign. Ross McCormack (29) is another player with a good goalscoring record in England but he’s behind the others in the pecking order and at his age there’s not much to be gained from calling him up. He’d probably pull out of the squad anyway.
Stevie May (22) struggled at Sheffield Wednesday following his move from St Johnstone and has since been sold on to Preston. He hasn’t had a run of games yet at his new club but if he can get himself playing and scoring regularly then he may merit a recall. Jamie Murphy (26) was a good player at Motherwell without being a standout. However, he did reasonably well at Sheffield United, earning a big money move to Brighton, who currently top the Championship. It’s unlikely he’ll ever have much to offer Scotland but he should at least be monitored just in case. Tony Watt (21) may not have kicked on at Celtic after that famous goal against Barcelona but he is starting to carve out a career for himself in England with Charlton. He has confidence and talent and if he can get his head screwed on properly he could become a real asset for Scotland. Greg Stewart (25) has been a revelation for Dundee in the top flight and I’ve been particularly impressed by his movement and game intelligence. He always seems to find pockets of space in attacking areas and his left foot is deadly. I’d like to see him given some consideration at some stage.
Proposed squad: Scott Bain, Craig Gordon, David Marshall; Alan Hutton, Callum Paterson, Liam Cooper, Grant Hanley, Russell Martin, Charlie Mulgrew, Andrew Robertson, Graeme Shinnie; Stuart Armstrong, Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Jack, James Morrison; Ikechi Anya, Ryan Christie, James Forrest, Ryan Fraser, Ryan Gauld, Steven Naismith, Matt Ritchie, Robert Snodgrass; Steven Fletcher, Leigh Griffiths, Jordan Rhodes.
Written by Craig Anderson (@craig_killie)
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