As Rangers fans once again butt heads with Scotland manager Steve Clarke, only one party came out looking foolish this week.
Tartan Army gaffer Clarke sounded a frustrated figure when asked questions regarding full-back Stephen O’Donnell who – even by the kindest interpretation – didn’t set the heather alight in the 2-0 defeat against the Czechs.
It’s had many Rangers fans – and Scotland supporters too – demanding Nathan Patterson gets a run out against the English with the Scots having nothing to lose at Wembley.
Well, except for their Euro 2020 status.
Here’s Clarke’s gripe – it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who he is talking to with these comments:
“Analyse the game and tell me what Stephen did wrong?” said Clarke [Glasgow Times].
“How many chances came off that side? Jakub Jankto, one of their most dangerous players, had a quiet game.
“Their left-back, a really good attacking left-back, Jan Boril, didn’t create a chance in the game.
“So analyse the game before we start killing players, just because who they are and where they play. Analyse his games when he plays for us.
“Look at his performances objectively. Just look at the games. Stephen’s first job is to be a defender. So analyse the games. That’s all I’ll say on that one.”
There’s no doubt Clarke deserves kudos for getting Scotland to the tournament but there’s something to be said of the route we took to get there.
Teams of yesterday – much better and bigger in stature than the current incarnation – would’ve surely enjoyed qualification to an expanded tournament and via the Nations League playoff.
But whilst getting there is an achievement, just showing up is clearly not enough to pacify a Scotland support who sat on in envy as a bullish Wales side all but earned a spot in the next round.
Scotland fans want to see a youthful side with ambition, tenacity and desire – not a team set-up to nick one goal with sinews of sentiment who go out and lose anyway.
This is precisely what happened on Monday and it has everyone chewing their fingernails heading into a tough clash with England at Wembley.
But it’s not about Rangers or Nathan Patterson or even Stephen O’Donnell – it’s about Steve Clarke.
Against the Czechs was an opportunity to go for it against a side who on Scotland’s day they are more than a match for.
The damage limitation approach has not gone down well amongst fans.
But given the coach’s comments in the press – and his attitude to life in the role – Clarke’s stubbornness might not only cost Scotland a place in the Euros.
It could cost him his job come the end of the tournament.
Rangers fans were predictably unhappy with the comments of Clarke and let him know what they thought via the medium of Twitter.
