The midfielder’s retirement U-turn when a World Cup 2018 qualifier against England looms increases the pressure on his national managerThe intensely tribal nature of Scotland’s football scene means neutral analysis of Scott Brown is about as forthcoming as peace marches before an Old Firm fixture. The combination of Celtic captain and a confrontational playing style that is viewed as being favourably looked upon by referees means Brown is adored by one club’s supporters whereas rivals view the midfielder as an individual they love to hate. This is not a novel concept, as Barry Ferguson, Graeme Souness and Neil Lennon will confirm.On Friday Brown is expected to step back into the Scotland team after a brief absence that only intensified debate...
The caretaker manager could secure the job full-time with a World Cup qualifying win as well as end the reign of his opposite number, Gordon StrachanThere was a point when Gordon Strachan was hoping to persuade Andy Murray to deliver some words of inspiration before Scotland’s players walk out at Wembley on Friday. Not that Gareth Southgate seemed too concerned when it was brought up in his company before England’s final training session. “Unless he is playing at left-back he is not going to affect the game,” England’s caretaker manager pointed out. And that was the moment one of the Scottish journalists at the back of the room interrupted. “I wish he was,” came the response. Related: Wayne Rooney will...
How long will Gordon Strachan remain in charge of the Tartan Army after dire performances against Slovakia and Lithuania? Plus, new manager, same old problems for England; and previews of all the weekend’s games in the Premier League, including Liverpool v Manchester United Subscribe and review: iTunes, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, AcastOn today’s Football Weekly Extraaaaa, AC Jimbo is joined by James Horncastle, Gregg Bakowski and Michael Cox to wave goodbye to the international break, but not before riffing on the dross put on by England in Slovenia and – even worse – Scotland in Slovakia. Ewan Murray tells us why Gordon Strachan has to go, dagnammit. Continue reading...
One point from games against Lithuania and Slovakia threatens another campaign and could dissuade the likes of Michael O’Neill from the role in futureAs Scotland’s party shuffled away from the Stadion Antona Malatinskeho on Tuesday night, the fallout from another wounding loss still ringing in their ears, there was cause for optimism from Hanover. Had Northern Ireland claimed anything from their meeting with Germany, Michael O’Neill would have become even more unattainable to the Scottish FA than may already be the case.He is by far the outstanding candidate to replace Gordon Strachan when – and it is now when – the latter’s increasingly unsatisfactory to the point of untenable alliance with Scotland comes to an end. Related: Gordon Strachan says...