Attack the Games, Not the Manager

Too many of us look back on tournament football with the benefit of hindsight and wish we'd done things differently. Personally, I’d have liked to see Scotland go out and attack every game. Even if that meant a few defeats, at least there'd be no doubts about our intent. A point against Morocco would have slowed the doom-mongering, but that’s the problem with splitting hairs after the fact.

Why attacking is the braver call

To be fair, there’s a logic to sitting tight against stronger teams — you don’t want to invite pressure and make things worse. But football fans are sentimental creatures. We remember how a team played, not just what the scoreboard read. Go for it, take the game to them, and you either win or you go down having given everything. The shape, the tempo and the press tell you a lot about intent. If we’re choosing between a cautious point-chase and an honest attempt to win, I’d take the latter every time.

Clarke getting the rough end of the stick

What really winds me up is the way Clarke seems to catch more flak than others — not necessarily because of results, but because of supposed past allegiances. That Celtic-leaning slur pops up far too often and it cheapens proper critique. If you want to criticise tactics, selection or substitutions, fair enough. But to suggest someone’s decisions are rooted in tribal bias is lazy and a distraction from actual football discussion.

Enjoying the trip doesn’t mean celebrating losses

There’s a difference between savouring the tournament experience and cheering for defeats, and I don’t see the latter anywhere in proper coverage. I had a look around online and couldn’t find a single piece that was gleefully celebratory of poor performances. To enjoy Scotland’s presence at a tournament is to appreciate the ride — the highs, the lows and the memories — without applauding how we conceded or switched off. That’s something we should be able to discuss without the usual noise.

At the end of the day, I’d rather we were bold and honest on the pitch, and judged fairly off it. That’s not too much to ask.

Written by Angus1812: 14 July 2026