20-11-2014, 22:45
OC was Robertson's man to pick up. He was nowhere near him and the first thing Hanley (who should nonetheless have done better) did was ask Robertson where the hell he was. Robertson put in a couple of decent crosses but more often fell over or gave the ball away cheaply. Among other things at one point he let Rooney drift past him as if he was standing still, but going forward he's hardly lacking pace - he just has no interest in applying it in defence.
It was the same when I saw him playing for Queen's Park against Rangers in the third division. He's dangerous going forward but a weakness in the defence. He's basically a winger so he should be played there, not as a full back. The reason we do so well on the left in attack when he plays with Anya is because we're doubling up with 2 wingers, but without Mulgrew tucking in to cover at left back we're very exposed there.
And Anya's been good enough to shred the dances of Croatia and Germany among a few more since he came into the side so I don't think his ability at international level is in question, even though he did fade badly against England.
I partly agree on keepers, but where a few years ago I'd have laughed at suggestions Marshall was world class, I'm delighted to have him in goal now. Last year he was arguably the best keeper in the Premier League and he's brought that level of performance to the Scotland team. After that the likes of McGregor, Gilks and Gordon are decidedly second tier keepers at best, whatever level they were once capable of.
It was the same when I saw him playing for Queen's Park against Rangers in the third division. He's dangerous going forward but a weakness in the defence. He's basically a winger so he should be played there, not as a full back. The reason we do so well on the left in attack when he plays with Anya is because we're doubling up with 2 wingers, but without Mulgrew tucking in to cover at left back we're very exposed there.
And Anya's been good enough to shred the dances of Croatia and Germany among a few more since he came into the side so I don't think his ability at international level is in question, even though he did fade badly against England.
I partly agree on keepers, but where a few years ago I'd have laughed at suggestions Marshall was world class, I'm delighted to have him in goal now. Last year he was arguably the best keeper in the Premier League and he's brought that level of performance to the Scotland team. After that the likes of McGregor, Gilks and Gordon are decidedly second tier keepers at best, whatever level they were once capable of.