One of the biggest surprises of this Scotland squad announcement was the exclusion of Anthony Ralston and the inclusion of Nathan Patterson.
With Ralston being on top form for Celtic and Patterson barely getting a sniff at any first team action so far this season, there was hope that the Hoops right back would be called into action for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
As it worked out, he wasn’t and with Patterson succumbing to COVID regulations last week, Steve Clarke found himself picking a makeshift first eleven for the crunch qualifier with Denmark.
One Scotland fans that certainly wasn’t happy with Clarke for the result against Denmark call Clyde 1 Superscoreboard and roasted the Scotland gaffer for his stubbornness for not selecting two clearly inform defenders at Celtic Park.
And considering his club team, the caller was a big fan of Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston, “I just couldn’t understand, is there another international manager on the planet who would have went into a World Cup qualifier with eighteen players, three of which where goalkeepers, leaving them fifteen outfield players?
“Right back was always going to be the problem with the amount of withdrawals, but surely God he could have pulled in the two Celtic boys.
“Now I’m a Rangers fan. He could have pulled in the two Celtic boys who have been playing well this season. Welsh and Ralston.
“But no. Stubborn Steve he decides to put square pegs in round holes by switching Robertson to right back and leaving Tierney at left back
“Now in the previous qualifiers that we’ve been playing in the Euros, Robertson and Tierney have been playing on the left flank, and have been really impressive. And I just wonder. It’s just once again it’s stubborn Steve.”
Many have argued that Ralston would not suit Clarke’s style of football and that is why he wasn’t selected but, and this is the key, he’s full of confidence, he’s a professional and he DOES know how to play more than one way.
Let’s hope Clarke see’s sense on the next squad announcement and starts to pick the in form players.