You are the Scotland boss - what would you do?

Nairavoice | 1h ago 113 0 4 min read
You are the Scotland boss - what would you do?
468f03660f43715790129794c47c704b You are the Scotland boss - what would you do?

Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli takes charge of his first game at Hampden on Tuesday against Switzerland, live on the BBC, after an encouraging draw in his opening game away to Slovenia.

The Belgian chose eight uncapped players in his first squad with two of them – Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh – making the starting XI in Ljubljana.

Ben Gannon-Doak and Kieron Bowie were the only substitutes used as Scotland dominated the second half but could not find a way to break the deadlock.

The Swiss represent a big step up in opposition, so will Pocognoli be tempted to tweak his team selection in Glasgow?

Same again at the back?

Scotland used three centre-backs on Saturday as Jack Hendry and Welsh flanked Scott McKenna.

Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey were used as wing-backs, tasked with whipping crosses in for the attacking duo of Oli McBurnie and Ure.

There were some worrying signs in the opening 45 minutes in Slovenia as the hosts routinely stole in behind Scotland’s high line.

However, it is unlikely the new boss will move away from his defensive strategy so early in his reign.

“We had a lot of good movement through the side, through the lines and we should have scored to be honest,” he said after the goalless game.

“But the counter-press was good, the high [line] of the defence was good, just because the position of the players was better [in the second half].

“Clean sheet, that’s also positive, but we want to win.”

Uncapped pair Luis Binks and Luke Graham are the other centre-halves in the squad, so there’s a good chance we see the same trio starting.

Gannon-Doak in from the off?

At the weekend, Gannon-Doak was introduced with just over 10 minutes and added menace to Scotland’s attack.

Although he replaced Hickey, the Bournemouth winger is not an obvious fit at wing-back.

Might Pocognoli be tempted to use his searing pace up top rather than go with two strikers?

With four Nations League matches across 11 days in this window, utilising the squad will be key.

Hearts winger Josh McPake could also add a different dimension to the front line, after a bright start to the season for Hearts.

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John McGinn started as a number 10 in Slovenia and was rather subdued but his experience, running power and goal threat make him such a key player for Scotland.

Billy Gilmour was Scotland’s stand-out performer on Pocognoli’s debut and really took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half.

He was part of a double pivot with Serie A pal Lewis Ferguson but took up a more advanced role after the break, popping up regularly around the edge of the penalty box.

Ryan Christie offers relentless energy and can fit in just about anywhere in midfield. Under Steve Clarke he did not get many chances in the middle of the park where he has done so well for Bournemouth.

Is two up top the way to go?

Kieron Bowie, Robbie Ure and Oli McBurnie are the striker options, and all three are in good form and confident.

Ure and McBurnie are yet to score for their clubs this term, but both showed, in flashes, why they were given the starting nods by Pocognoli.

McBurnie, who dropped a little deeper after half-time, is the oldest and comfortably the most experienced of the trio but has yet to score after racking up 17 caps.

He should have done better with a chance against the imposing Jan Oblak, who pinched the ball off his feet.

Ure was described as “elegant” and showing “effortless” movement by pundit Pat Nevin during the game. He contested 18 duels in his time on the park – the most of any Scotland player.

He was determined to make an impact on his debut and went close to scoring with a strike that crashed off the post on the stroke of half time.

Off the bench with roughly 20 minutes to go, Bowie was a smart addition too, although the Sassuolo forward should have put Scotland ahead when he pulled an effort wide of the post.

The big question for the boss is do two of the three start against the Swiss, who were comfortable 3-0 winners in North Macedonia, or is there a need for speed or an extra man in midfield?

Pick your Scotland XI

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Nairavoice

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