Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
Quote
Here is a balanced opinion from a Scottish football writer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26463457
Extract:
It feels wrong to get overly buoyant about what is clearly an upturn in performance and, more importantly, results.
But equally, for too long the nation's football writers have had to deal in doom and gloom. The desire to wax lyrical about the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Scotland could qualify for a major tournament is difficult to contain.
Looking at it coldly, the past two victories have come in friendlies, won by a solitary goal when the overall team performance was less than scintillating.
Certainly the second half against Poland was better from the Scots but, by Gordon Strachan's own admission, there has been too little for the opposing defence and goalkeeper to do.
That's despite the players admitting that under Strachan they have been given more opportunity to get forward and try to put the opposition under pressure rather than concentrating on not losing.
Old habits die hard, perhaps, but we should accentuate the positive while we can.
Not only do these players look like they are learning the ability to grind out results, they look infinitely more comfortable in possession than they did this time a year ago.
Think back, even to Strachan's first competitive game in charge at home to Wales.
Scotland players couldn't get rid of the ball quickly enough, and they didn't seem overly concerned about where they passed it. Too often possession was turned over to the opposition, immediately putting the Scots on the defensive.
Impressive results aside, if this guy is right the team is making progress on several fronts but there is some way to go before it's evidence that it's sufficient progress.
That said, it'd be nice to see the same sort of progress in our game. We can see it in parts I suppose.
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