Why Scotland Are So Good Now 

Hello everyone! Just seen all the comments about Callum McGregor and, totally agree, massive disservice to imply he's just an engine. Think the point I was trying to make was that he's not someone who you typically push on into the traditonally "dangerous" areas or someone who directly gets you lots of assits (think he's on 1 all season). Regardless though, he's equally as technical as McTominay, if not better, so apologies for skipping over that.

Scotland's long-term strategic problem was that they had no good central defenders, no good centre forwards, some pretty decent midfielders and two great left backs. What do you do with that? Clarke's predecessors all played two sitting midfielders to protect the centre halves and three attacking midfielders playing off a battering-ram forward like Steven Fletcher. None of them solved Robertson-Tierney, because Robertson can't start higher up the pitch, he needs the acceleration space. Clarke went the other way and played 3 centre halves, with Tierney being one and for a while McTominay also in there, and 2 forwards (Dykes and Adams), in a kind-of Moneyball approach, getting the goals scored and goals denied in the aggregate. And it simply worked. Quality midfielders sat on the bench watching St Mirren defenders and a guy that struggles to score for QPR, but the system was exactly right. He's moved away from two out-and-out forwards now, but only because John McGinn has a scoring rate almost exactly the same as Kenny Dalgleish. Not mentioned in the video is that both the LCD and the RCD have license to break forward, especially against weaker teams. Guys like Hendry can step into midfield quite comfortably, while Tierney and Robertson often create a truly horrifying overload of speed and surprise down the left. Clarke's record at Kilmarnock didn't resonate outside Scotland, but it was jaw-dropping - over his first 12 months in the job he pretty much matched the league record of Celtic and Rangers. This with a squad that were in relegation bother when he arrived, and returned to it as soon as he left. He is an excellent manager and exactly the right guy for a team at Scotland's level. Maybe we'll never have the players we had up to the 1990s again, but this Scotland team is sooooooo much fun to support.

1:32 I think your forgetting john mcginns got the most effective arse in world football

As a Scot I am used to us creating a flicker of optimism and then it being cruelly dashed. So I am not going to jynx things by saying anything optmistic. You can only bank what you have earned and we haven't qualified yet.

The belief Clarke instills in his players is unbelievable, a genuine belief that they can beat anyone and going a goal behind is a hurdle not an obstacle. Steve Clarke took 31 points from losing positions with Kilmarnock, including 17 when behind at HT. For Scotland he's won 20 points from losing positions, 9 from being behind at HT. Phenomenal determination.

Hickey emerged at Brentford this season. That is of course only if you are oblivious or wilfully ignorant to his 50+ starts for Bologna in Serie A in the previous two seasons. His nomination for the golden boy award whilst at Bologna and of course his man of the match performance aged 16 playing for Hearts in the Scottish Cup final in 2019.

There is a bit of a revolution going on down Scotland way , it's being overshadowed by England's Invincibles who are rolling over teams so easily. We may not have the talent of the bigger nations , but we have some really really good footballers who are regularly underestimated and often pass under the radar. Scotland's strength is the bond in the squad , a togetherness that I believe is key to our success to date . As a long suffering Scot I'm finding it hard to enjoy the success...as I keep waiting for the wheels to come off.

2 defeats since September 2021 in proper games. We are on fire

another really good bit of flexibility is having Tiernay at LCB and able to swap roles with robertson relatively easily

The heat in Norway on Saturday was taking the energy out of Scotland but they somehow dug deep and turned the game around was crazy never seen anything like it from a Scotland team before 🤯

Heavily heavily underrating McGregor by saying him and McTominay are workers and team players and in McTominay a good technical player, McGregor the far more technically gifted player

Nailed it mate... The engines on these dudes are kinda unreal tbh... and once Gilmour becomes more integral, We'll have the added through the middle option too

It's great to see Scotland football team being taken seriously again. As a rugby fan I'm used to seeing us beat England, it would be so great to see the football team do the same!!!

Nice, enjoyed that. Would say you're doing Calum McGregor a slight disservice by saying that Mctominay has the better technical attributes - and implying that he's merely got a good engine. Would say it's the other way round - McGregor's work often goes unnoticed but he barely ever loses the ball and always passes forward when he can with great precision. Also very good at playing out of tight spaces, arguably with more success than McTominay. Anyway, exciting teams for Scotland.

Man, as a Kilmarnock fan, I'm loving Sir Steve Clarke recreating what he did at Killie. Feeling like the game is never lost, is vital.

We remain hesitantly hopeful. That's it. Hesitantly hopeful. We've been here before, we've had our hearts broken before! Also, arguably our three best players are all left backs. Robertson, Tierney and Hickey. Clarke has done well to fit them all in.

Decent analysis. 1 error was bringing up McTominay as the ‘very technical’ CM instead of McGregor. Probably don’t watch McGregor a lot but as good as mctominay is McGregor is the better football player without any doubt

McGregor is both technical and creative. He's Celtic's best player and the fulcrum of everything we do.

I'm happy to eat my words about Clarke. Tomorrow is going to be a tricky match. We all know about these games that looked easy on paper but went pear-shaped over the years. Cracking analysis - long may the swinging defence continue. Excellent shirt as well.

One of the factors that has led to Scottish improvement is where the players are playing their club football. Ten years ago the players were mainly in Scotland or the Championship. Now many more of the team are playing in the Premiership with the addition of skills and high pressure situations and top coaching and training. The quality of players hise definitely improved as a result. Steve Clark is brilliant too.

Callum mxgregir is one of the most important and consistent players for Scotland

Rangers and Scotland fan here, and absolutely loving where Steve Clarke is taking Scotland. I think that the fact 8 of our first team players are playing in the English premiership is massive. The fact that they are playing in the best league in the world is paying off for us. That being said, The Championship is a very competitive league and Gunn, Dykes and Porteous are playing at a high level and Hendry playing in the Belgian top flight just shows the quality we have throughout the squad.

The other big shift from previous managers is the age of the squad. Only McGregor is 30+ on the starting XI. This group have got another 4 years together and some of the older ones have replacements ready too (Gilmour, Patterson, Ferguson, possibly Ramsay)

Greetings from Engerlandish. Scotland not looking bad at all right now . Hope they do something crazy like get past group stage or further. It's been a while 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Excellent video. Another big thing with this Scotland team is the strength in depth. We saw the impact from the bench on Saturday and that's something we have now. Guys like Gilmour, McLean, Armstrong and even Lewis Ferguson who struggles to even get off the bench, has had a terrific season at Bologna in Serie A. Then the guys who weren't available on Saturday like Adams, Patterson, Hanley, Gordon. We've got plenty of talent in the u21s as well and a few of those lads trained with the senior team last week, so Clarke is trying to integrate the young lads and show there's a pathway there. It's very exciting times and although I'm old enough to remember Scotland teams of the 1980s that you could argue had better players, this is definitely the best Scotland TEAM of my lifetime.

The football gods said 'right that's enough,we've gave them bad luck for far too long'

Better players. And the best manager in years. That is all

really cool video - easy to understand and like the swining defence analogy

Good analysis but mcgregor is technically superior to McTominay

mcgregor is class all round.. passing etc etc.. scott is a solid big cm.. they play to the ball to the front yes we can full backs who also do and 3 at the back helps .. if one goes up 1 stays

McGregor is a better player than McTominay. Always takes the ball under pressure, rarely makes a bad pass. Could play in any premiership team. Was surprised Rodger’s never took him to Leicester. Glad he didn’t.

Good video, proved right (McGregor notwithstanding) in the Georgia game, but Steve Clarke is a brilliant manager. Maybe not exciting, but he gets as near to 100% out of what’s available to him as just about any manager! He doesn’t do personality but he does performance. Brilliant at Killie, I hope he keeps it going for the national team. 😁👊💥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It's been brewing for a few years now that something was coming!

And he did exactly the same at Kilmarnock, taking them from bottom to 5th then 3rd and Europe in his second season with a record points total, making average players believe in themselves and have a proper structured set up, he’s taken that on into the national team and we can now see what he’s doing 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Mctominay is very technical ? I'm a rangers fan but even I'll say mcgrogor is 10x more technical than mctominay. Also that's not Clarkes preferred lineup he'd ideally have Che Adams & Nathan Patterson in but away against a good Norway team he chose the right line up. That's what's so impressive similar to mclean coming on and scoring, he has got the squad to buy in and fight and earn their places not just a few patriots like the old days but a full squad of men fighting for the shirt and believing in how good they are as a team

The head coach is the real reason we are becoming a nation to be proud of again on the football pitch...Good luck tonight lads...intae thum it's oor time 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

This is the first time I have been optimistic about Scotland winning games since the 1970s. That's how long it's been since we've had an inspiring team. I hope they continue their winning streak for the next few games, because they have a genuine chance at finishing this round of qualification matches at the top of the group.

Giving our secrets away here Adam! Good to see you still making quality content post What Culture

Last time I heard an Englishman say Scotland had a good team, we went on a wee trip to Argentina. We're doomed! 🤣😂🤣

Mcgregor is so technical and legitimately a brilliant player who can create tonnes of chances.

McGregor is probably our most technical player🤔 And I'm a staunch Rangers fan🤣

Brilliant analysis. Getting me excited on my way to Glasgow from Gloucestershire now!

With five minutes to go I was berating Clarke for keeping Dykes on the park when Shankland was ready to come on, and holding my head in my hands at Kenny McLean getting another cap. I guess that's why I'm not Scotland manager, haha.

Good video , always loved your style on trek culture . Scotland are only going to get better .

Rodri and Odegaard should watch watch this video, raging wee fannies 😂😂

This is an excellent summary, what Clarke has done is pick players to suit the drift defensive system. The introductions of both Porteous and especially Hickey have completely turned around the fortunes of the team. Now there's a known formula it's easier to slot in replacements such as Doig at Verona who'll become a fixture of the squad in the next couple of years.

The main for thing for me is the togetherness that we can see within the squad, yeah we’re well set up tactically but it’s the willingness from the boys to play for each other and play for us fans that does it for me, in my lifetime I’ve not really witnessed a Scotland team that are as in touch with the fans as this group for me it’s fucking great to see and I can’t wait to see us in Germany next year, if we get out the group in Germany my first born is being named Stephen Clarke O’Donnell

I think you are quite intuitive/ understanding of the teams system. I am a Scottish fan and I didn`t see what you pointed out about how they play. So, thank you for expanding my enjoyment of watching Scotland. There have only been a few moments in the past 50 years of real excitement but I now feel like there is a team capable of something not to be ignored (i.e. in europe at least, which is in my opinion, the hardest of all areas = just look at what is required for a european team to qualify for the world cup, there are so many good teams. No wonder Australia can qualify, there are hardly any teams the need to beat to get through!!!!!))

Been here before but hope we can keep it up, well done lads 👏✊👍

This was superb. So novel hearing a big channel like this praising Clarke's terrorball. Its undeniably effective and plays to the squads strengths. We'll take that all day at international level. Take what we can get frankly 😄

Incredibly inciteful stuff mate! Loved the video! Agree with everything you said. Another point to make is that in Clarke's early days, most fans and pundits were talking about how to set a system that includes Tierney and Robertson. The conventional wisdom was to throw one of them on the right just so we could cram both of them into the 11. But actually, playing Robertson as a kinda makeshift wing-back and Tierney tucked in more defensively has been brilliant. Already booked my flights to Germany from Australia. Only question is, who will we be playing in the final?

Steve Clarke has installed a league side mentality, we are due a decent run and I believe we can get better , we're really hard to beat nowadays, I think that as we are already guaranteed a playoff place the fear of losing isn't there , Clarke has us playing excellent stuff plus a lot of our squad plays at the highest level, I'll forever be a proud Scotsman no matter how we fair on the pitch

It's like having the uplifting belief the players from the Scotland Rugby team have, and it's been shifted over to the Football squad. I'm so proud of what they've all achieved and hope it continues.

Excellent analysis, the only thing I'd disagree with is the McLean comment. As an Aberdeen fan, I had the pleasure of watching him for a few years and whilst he took a few months to settle his workrate and range of passing are exceptional. He was all over the pitch for the ten or so minutes he got against Norway and got his reward. He's a soldier, and every team needs that.

And they’re still looking good! 🙂

The ironic part is that we lost a great keeper, Craig Gordon, due to injury, but our defence has been that solid, I don't think Gunn has had really that much to do since he's come in.

'Hickey's emerged a Brentford' this season, yeah if you don't know he was playing in Serie A the season before.

Think you need to show Callum MacGregor a bit more love to be honest

Great video ❤

Defo a disservice to McGregor. Honestly don't know how he's still playing in Scotland, he's that good. At age 30, he may now have missed his chance to play his club football at a higher level. It really is now or never if he fancies making that step up.

Great video, Adam.

Brilliant vid

So enlightening to have this level of analysis. We still need a truly world class creative player to keep us winning which we don't have and haven't had since Dalglish, Souness or Cooper. Separate, but related is how long we can keep hold of Clarke on this form?

was right there with you until the 'callum mcgregor is only an engine' shout

Great analysis

really good breakdown of the system

Fantastic analysis mate. Really.

love this team

I'm a Scotland fan but besides that. Watching this team has been some of the most exciting fitba I've ever seen. Nothing but fire and desire from these lads.

Very good analysis. Mc Gregor in the midfield with Scott Brown plays a very different game. Technically good and adaptable player

As a Scot, it’s about time that people took notice of Steve Clarke. I can’t believe how many folk wrote us off against Norway

Just to point out that Hickey showed up well in Serie A before he moved to the EPL.

I ike that. An eye opener in modern football. Shows you what can be done with intelligent players. Keep up the quality if that's possible.

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 so proud, even in the dark days

We don't just let them have the ball in the wide areas. We often press them there to get the ball back, as we did against Spain.

Agree with what you've said however I don't think you can ignore the difference in player quality and depth either. For most of the previous 20 years out best 11 came from maybe 4 or 5 low level epl players and the same with the championship with a couple of old firm thrown in. Now we have a squad which pretty much has EPL level experience and quality. From the team picked v Norway we can easily also play Cooper, Gilmour, Patterson, Jack, Adams, Ferguson, McKenna, Armstrong, Souttar or Doig and really not lose much quality from the starting 11. We still have weaker areas but that's a massive improvement from the Barry Bannan and Charlie Mulgrew era.

A great start nothing more all still to play for especially away from home as let’s be honest we pinched it from Norway in the last minutes but credit to the manager on the changes he’s been the real star since taking over.

Ano,cheers man ,living it

Cool breakdown, man.

Yes ! this has been a long time coming. Scotland in the 60s and 70s were to be reckoned with. There were many world class players domestically, but luck and consistency were a wee problem at world level. It's looking up and that's all I have to say.

It’s here to stay now. Really good players, excellent youngsters coming through

Great video

i think mcginn and calmac have been undersold technically here. mcginn is essentially entirely two footed, and can score with oniy a half chance. mcgreggor plays a level above most midfielders at an international level.

Came back here after Scotland just won against Cyprus away! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Many did not want Stevie Clarke as manager saying he was so defensive but guy has Scotland playing now to their strengths and he has turned out best Scotland maanger for a long long time ..I wanted him as Celtic manager when others did not because he is not irish ..But good he is Manager of the Scotland Int team and as said doing GREAT so well done to Stevie Clarke and his team .

The consistency in squad selection is an overlooked factor too.

The exciting thing for me is the players coming through, Doig, Ferguson etc are improving all the time, and the back-up players like Souttar, Nisbet, Shankland, Taylor, Ralston, Turnbull etc are all good players who can make a difference

Your alright buddy they didn’t get beat off Georgia!!!

Yeah man we done Georgia too,looking forward to the next great vid ,a look now

And we have Billy Gilmour..... the boys unreal.

That’s a snazzy jersey!!

Mate you're a genius......Georgia put to the sword......and now Cyprus......bring on Spain! ❤

You're far from stupid. A great assessment. I'm old enough to having watched Scotland teams outclass great England teams but be unable to be consistent game after game. It's great to see them play with confidence and not let a bad result which all teams experience dampen their belief in themselves.

I hope we end up going far this tournament like Japan in the World Cup kinda run

Me being a rangers fan has nothing to do with this but I’ll put it out there to show how much respect Callum mcgregor has. What a player he is and you’ve embarrassed yourself by pointing out mctominays technical ability and just saying mcgregor is an engine in midfield

It's a team full of leaders. There's about 6 potential captains in that starting line up.

Steve Clarke replicating the great job he did at my beloved Killie by creating hope and a belief that anything is possible if you work hard and do your job.

As an Englishman with ancestral roots in Scotland, it makes me super happy to see Scotland finally working their way towards becoming a good international side. As the game against England yesterday showed, they're still not up to the same level (but let's face it England are still one of the best teams in the world right now), but it's great to go into a game thinking "Maybe Scotland could actually win, or at least draw against us". I'm sure they'll be in the Euros, and I really REALLY want to see them in a world cup. They deserve it.

Great teams are mainly made out of these "solid" players who consistently "get the job done" sometimes with style, but mostly in a workmanlike way and Steve Clarke prefers that over flair and jinking play. That's how you play qualifying campaigns. If we stick to this formation and strategy, then we'll do well next summer, quarter finals are a possibility for once. And a finish there would put us in Pot 1 for World Cup qualifiers, which are a new format of 4 or 5 teams, with the team that tops the group qualifying and the second placed teams going through on Nations League performance or via playoffs. And we will be in Nations League A next year (September 2024 - March 2025) against the top UEFA teams: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France. Becoming a Pot 1 World Cup team is a good, realistic goal at this point. We were a Pot 3 team for so long and kept coming up against tough Pot 1 and 2 teams in qualifiers. Going into the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025 as a Euro 2024 quarter finalist and a Pot 1 team would be great, that's a realistic target.

To be honest, they still haven’t managed to get out of a group game, even though there were three places up for grabs out of four in the last euros. And they still haven’t been to the World Cup since 98.