National Team: Was the Impressive Performance More Damaging than the Final Result?

[Frankie 8,200]

Some very valid points made by S_A regarding the performance and its long term affect on the national team:

 

http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=828&Itemid=1

 

We as Rangers fans are perhaps more aware than most that performances can almost be as or more important than the result itself. How else do you explain the fact that a manager who has had us competing in the final or to the last day of every competition we have entered since his return (last year�s European run aside) still having his doubters and detractors?

 

Walter Smith in his second spell, I need not remind you, has won 2 Scottish Cups, 1 SPL trophy, 1 League Cup. In his two full seasons back we have won 4 of a possible 8 trophies available, finishing runner up in 3 with the other tournament being last year�s Champions League. Add that to his previous tenure and NIAR and you wonder how some are still not convinced.

 

The major criticism appears to be in the manner in which this fantastic run of success has been achieved. Team, work, organisation and defensive solidity are favoured ahead of skill and flair (though we may see a change in that this season). So can it be that the performance is more important the result?

 

Scotland�s Wednesday night defeat by the Dutch lends support to that way of thinking. In the context of a one off match a 1-0 defeat to the third ranked side in the world is not a terrible result. In the context of our disastrous World Cup campaign it was the result which condemned us to at least 14 years without an appearance on the International stage.

 

Going into the recent double header, George Burley was a stick on for the sack. A minimum of 6 points was required just to give us hope of a play off place. In truth 3 points against Bert Van Marwijk�s side, who had collected maximum points in every game so far was highly improbable. Most Scottish football fans, whilst resigned to another unsuccessful qualifying campaign, were looking forward to seeing the back of bungling Burley and hopefully a return for some of our star players most notably Kris Boyd.

 

In a qualification group were we scored only 6 times in 8 matches and with Chris Iwelumo�s howling miss still fresh in the memory it would be a particularly stubborn fan who would not admit that Scotland cannot do without such a prolific talent.

 

Yet are Kris Boyd and indeed some of his fellow exiles any closer to a return to Dark Blue? In spite of another bad result ending our World Cup aspirations for another four years, because we turned in one of our few good performances of the campaign, suddenly all talk of Burley�s successor is less certain. Whilst most expected him to fall on his sword after the inevitable occurred against the Oranje, Burley is still here. The SFA have made no telling statements. And what is more worrying, rather than the typical press conference called for the following morning, the SFA will not review this unsuccessful campaign until next week. Perhaps an indication that the manager will be given a stay of execution?

 

The performance against Holland was in stark contrast to the rest of the campaign. We had fight, we had spirit and we had an equal measure of quality. All we missed was a decisive finish, or perhaps a slice of luck. Miller struck the bar and Zorm pulled off a wonder save from the ever-willing front man when the keeper spilled a long range Naismith effort. Miller had another snap shot spilled just round the post when even the Dutch Goalie feared it was rolling in.

 

Scott Brown nudged past the post when the goal gaped at the back stick and Naismith had the ball in the back of the net only for the linesman to wrongly flag offside. And of course, as we chased the game, the Dutch struck the killer blow.

 

This performance was night and day from anything else we had produced. But how much credit should the manager get for that? Weir only returned to the side because Barry and Paul Chuckle had been ruled out through suspension and injury respectively. And whilst some may try to lump the blame on the veteran defender, two key points should be remembered. 1: Our qualification hopes were wrecked long before the do or die game with one of the best sides in the world. And 2: In the four games Weir has played under Burley we have gained 3 clean sheets with only this solitary goal conceded to World Class opposition.

 

For the 4-3-3 formation and the quick, agile and tricky attackers employed Burley does take credit. Miller was highly unfortunate not to score at least one. Naismith, but for a marginal linesman error, would have given us a priceless lead and produced a performance that belied his relative inexperience at this level. Maloney was somewhat less impressive but the right blend of abilities was found in the attacking trio.

 

However, should one good performance that ultimately ended in more glorious failure atone for a calamitous campaign? Terrible results home and away to Norway and in Macedonia. Poor man management. Poor tactics and team selections. Burleyââ?¬â?¢s deficiencies in all areas of management at the very top level were laid bare time and again. Booze-gate. The Iwelumo/Fletcher ââ?¬â?? Boyd fiasco. ââ?¬Å?Limited abilityââ?¬Â. Perhaps it is Burley and not Kirk Broadfoot who should know his place and his limitations and not dream to strive beyond his own capabilities. The list of errors is endless and is another article in itself.

 

Should another night of glorious failure trump all that? Should we forget what went before it and pretend that this was a qualifying campaign on par with the Smith/McLeish led European Championships campaign that was so cruelly ended against the reigning World Champions after home and away victories over the vanquished foes of that same World Cup final. Let�s not diminish the work of Walter Smith and Alex McLeish any more than Burley already has by pretending they are in anyway similar.

 

It is a worrying sign that the manner of this latest failure may yet see George Burley keep his job and in so doing, the impressive performance of Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker and their team mates may in fact turn out to prove more damaging than the 1-0 defeat that ultimately ended our World Cup ambitions for South Africa 2010.

 

[alexscottislegend 2,122]

Your last paragraph is certainly food for thought. I see Walter is being touted by some in the media for areturn to Scotland. If it came down to a choice between Burley staying or being replaced by WS I'm afraid I would opt for Burley remaining, despite my desire to see Boyd restored. My reasoning? I think Rangers would struggle to find a suitable replacement. Then again, WS is unlikely to take the Scots job till the end of the season. If I be allowed to dream a little, maybe we could eventually tempt wee Dick back? After all, he's said that Rangers are like part of his family or words to that effect. All in all a depressing state of affairs this morning. One crumb, though; the performances of Whittaker and Naismith bode well for our CL prospects.

[Super_Ally 0]

I'm not sure where the Smith rumour came from.

 

With his unusual contract situation is it a case of putting 2 + 2 together and getting 25?

 

I would be highly surprised if the SFA turned to him again and with the ridiculous furore stoked up by some of the Rangers haters in the TA it would be unlikely.

[Super_Ally 0]

Boyd's played a grand total of 28 minutes for Burley.

 

18 minutes v Macedonia, 10 minutes v Croatia.

 

Unused sub against Northern Ireland, Norway and Iceland.

 

Meanwhile Scotland have failed to score in SEVEN of Burley's TWELVE games in charge.

 

Scotland scored 6 in 8 games

 

Scotland failed to score in at least 4 of those games

 

Scotland have 1 predator striker in Kris Boyd

 

Kris Boyd was 5th+ choice for Scotland

 

Some interesting stats i've just read. Now i'm not saying that Boyd would be the difference v the Dutch for example (not many of our players would be). But how can the bungling alky justify having Boyd as about 5th or 6th striker at best?

 

Clown of a manager i'm afraid.

[stewarty 1,896]

Frankie's piece pretty much sums up my thoughts perfectly. I've been shouting for Burley to go since the first game of the campaign. Clown of a manager.

[Super_Ally 0]

Frankie's piece pretty much sums up my thoughts perfectly. I've been shouting for Burley to go since the first game of the campaign. Clown of a manager.

 

Frankie makes some good points.

[Gribz 743]

I totally cant see WS returning to Scotland manager, even after he ends this spell as Gers boss.

 

The article has some decent points but you can tell its from SA with the pro Boyd comments about him being the star player

 

I think we should put Chris Iwelumo�s howler to bed. Lots of players have missed sitters over the years, so we shouldnt dwell on these things and instead we should just look forward. Dont get me wrong I agree that Boyd should have been brought on ahead of 2 uncapped players in this game. To try out uncapped players in an important game (Norway at home was probably the most important game to get 3 points) was crazy as these players should be tried in friendlies.

 

But I think Burley is going to get backed by the SFA else he would probably have been sacked by now. This is a major boob by the SFA. I cant see how Burley and Butcher can turn things around for the next campaign and that means yet another tournament we have to miss out on.

 

Why cant the SFA just be simple and go get the right available man for the job - in this case it has to be Strachan. He is out of work and will be fresh and ready to take over.

[Super_Ally 0]

"A star player". Not the star player. And considering our squad and the boys that are missing, I think it's a fair point.

 

Agree it looks more likely he'll stay now and that was the main reason behind writing this.