The ten things Craig Levein must do

Wednesday, 23 December 2009 06:39

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Craig Levein is on the verge of being named as the new Scotland manager. The Away End looks at the ten key decisions that will shape his success in the job.

By Andrew Southwick

For Scottish Football supremo Gordon Smith, the burden on his shoulders weighs more than Santa's sack. As per usual at this time of year, it is difficult to know what presents to give at Christmas. For most of us, tight budgets mean queues for the popular gifts are ignored in favour of a long trawl round town bargain hunting.

For Scottish football fans, the wish list this Christmas included a top name manager, able to lead Scotland to the European Championships in 2012, and have the Tartan Army singing into their mulled wine.

The SFA's less than extravagant budget meant Smith had to resort to the slightly less spectacular version. One that promises all the same mod cons, one careful owner and comes highly recommended. However, is it what the fans asked for in their letter to Santa?

Craig Levein looks set to be unwrapped as the new Scotland manager, a decision that has split the Scotland support.

Many feel he has exactly the right credentials to be a success in the Hampden hot-seat. He's intelligent, articulate, passionate, pulled the dark blue jersey on as a player, and although unspectacular in his success at Dundee United he can leave there with his head held high.

Certainly, not many United fans are happy to see him go.

On the other hand, many Scots feel like they've excitedly opened the biggest present under the tree, only to find its that dressing gown and slippers you had hinted strongly that you didn't want.

Levein led Hearts to two successive third place finishes, and while at Dundee United has been within penalty kicks of winning the League Cup. In addition, he has given Rangers and Celtic more than a few bloody noses, always ensuring his side was up for the fight. In Scottish Football terms, in a league dominated by the Old Firm, that is a okay record.

That's the worry though, that it is no better than okay.

It isn't a glorious track record. In the past two seasons the Tannadice club have been pipped to fourth place by an Aberdeen side who have recently sacked their manager Jimmy Calderwood for underachieving.

Levein will walk into the job with the best wishes from the country. He says he's worried about being bored in the job, but he may soon find 2010 to be one of the most stressful ones of his life. A country in love with its football who haven't been to a major championship since France 98 don't have the patience for another failed campaign. Trying to take on the Old Firm will feel like small fry should February 7th's Euro 2012 qualifying draw throw up another nightmare group; namely the one that gave them Italy, France and Ukraine the last time a place at the Euros was at stake.

The new manager, whether it is Levein or someone else, has some key decisions to make over the next two years as Scotland attempt to beat the qualifying hoodoo. Here, The Away End look at the ten things the new man must do...

1: Decide the international futures of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor. Both players were dropped from the Iceland game after “Booze-gate”, and then when caught on camera flicking V signs while sat on the bench they were promptly handed life bans from ever appearing for Scotland again. Since then, the SFA have back tracked and said it will be up to the new manager whether they are picked again or not.

Barry Ferguson has found a new lease of life since leaving Rangers and is currently earning praise for his performances at Birmingham City. Allan McGregor was Scotland's number two goalkeeper, but with Craig Gordon's injury problems, and David Marshall's poor record between the sticks, McGregor has a case for at least being in the squad if not the starting position.

Its likely to be one of the first questions Levein is asked should he be unveiled as the new manager.  After all the drama surrounding the two can he really call them both up to sit them on the bench? If he picks Ferguson, then does Darren Fletcher or Scott Brown make way? If McGregor is handed the gloves, what of Aberdeen's Jamie Langfield who's been in outstanding form and surely deserves a first cap?

2: Decide if Kris Boyd returns. The Rangers striker wrote to the SFA to ask not to be considered for selection while George Burley was manager. There may have been more to his decision, but it appears he was fed up being left on the bench; namely the 0-0 draw with Norway when Chris Iwelumno was brought on ahead of him, only to dramatically miss the one chance that came Scotland's way.

Again, the country is split. On one hand, you have a striker who has no equal in the Scottish Premier League when it comes to hitting the back of the net. On the other, you have to ask if a player can simply pick and choose when he wants to be selected and when not - while at the same time appearing to demand a place in the team otherwise he'll walk.

3: Find a working defensive partnership. For a small nation like Scotland, they can't expect to outplay and outscore the major sides. The two magical victories over France in the Euro 2008 qualifiers were born out of dogged defensive displays.

However, Scotland's defence under George Burley often turned to mush. Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus are the pairing for Scotland and Celtic, and it is a partnership that rarely works no matter the colour of shirt they're wearing.

Levein has Christophe Berra and Darren Barr in the squad, neither of whom were ever seriously used by George Burley. He also has Lee Wilkie who he trusts to anchor the defence at Dundee United, along with Andy Webster who's career had stalled before Levein gave him a chance at Tannadice. Zander Diamond will be fit again in time for the first friendly in March and provides another option. He has two friendlies to choose a partnership that can be relied upon for the duration of the qualifying campaign.

4: Sort Scotland's goalscoring problems. Too often in the last campaign Scotland could not score. Indeed, they have now only scored twice in their last five games, conceding a brutal ten in the process.

Kenny Miller has been a favourite for most Scotland managers, but while he is prolific for Rangers he rarely produces the goods in the dark blue. Perhaps if Ibrox strike parter Kris Boyd returns then a renewal of their partnership at international level will see the goals flow again.

Steven Fletcher is part of the high scoring Burnley side, Derek Riordan has found a new lease of life under John Hughes' title chasing Hibernian, Kevin Kyle is a reborn hit-man at Kilmarnock, while the currently injured Shaun Maloney and Birmingham striker Gary O'Connor are also other strong contenders. And then of course there is James MacFadden...

5: Find a place for James McFadden. The problem with Faddy is that you can't leave him out, but where exactly does he fit in? Is he a midfielder, a striker, a winger, or should he be given a free-role and allowed to hover about until the time is right to produce more of that magic which has made him a firm Tartan Army favourite?

Levein simply has to find a place for him because he is the one player who can unlock defences and lift the team to a new level. But played out of position, he can easily drift out of games and become ineffectual; effectively leaving the side a man down.

6: Decide if Andrew Driver is English or Scottish. In reality, that decision should be up to Driver himself, however he will only have that decision to make should Levein leave the door open for him.

The Hearts winger is now eligible through the new residency rule because he has lived and worked in Scotland for at least five years. Driver, already capped for England U21's, is a good enough player but is he Scottish enough – especially when he has already played in an England shirt?

Many feel it cheapens international football when residency or grandparent rules are used,  with Celtic's Danny Fox the latest non-Scot to be capped under Burley. However, others suggest that if other nations can use it to their advantage (Portugal and Deco anyone?) then Scotland disadvantage themselves by not using the rule.

7: Don't make the same fixture mistakes as the last campaign. George Burley will argue that the fixtures for the World Cup qualifiers were sorted before he was in office, however Levein will not have that excuse, and therefore he has the luxury of being there when discussions take place over when and where the games will be played.

Scotland lost their opening match in Macedonia when they played in stifling heat in Skopje; lost heavily in Norway when they played before the SPL season had started; then played their final two group games a month before all the other groups.

Levein should also be aware of the importance of a strong start to get the momentum going, but does he go for early home games against lesser opposition, or gamble and play the stronger sides away first leaving an easier run-in?

8: Choose the friendlies wisely. When Burley was given a second chance after the failed World Cup campaign, he would probably still have found himself in a job now had he picked two home games against minnows. Instead, he plumped for a nightmare trip to Japan with a squad of fringe players boarding the plane, and a doomed friendly in Wales.

Not that Levein should be picking the easiest games out there - and the Czech Republic are already booked in for a trip to Hampden in March - but with the need to experiment and find his best team ahead of the qualifiers, the rumoured visit to Valencia to face World Cup favourites Spain in May should be dismissed immediately.

9: Make Hampden a fortress. Considering the support that follows Scotland, they should be having considerably less problems than they are at winning the home games. Only two victories in their last eight games at Hampden is not good enough form if Scotland are to be at the Euro 2012 party.

Also, despite 31,000 members in Scotland's official supporters club, the price of football these days means Hampden will never be full for a friendly unless it is England that are paying a visit. Levein should not be shy in playing games at smaller venues round the country, playing to full houses, and giving his players a bit more confidence rather than to a ghostly atmosphere at the National Stadium.

10: Qualify! Poland and Ukraine may not finish first in most people's “would like to visit” lists, but for Scotsmen it'll be the destination they've been dreaming of ever since the heart breaking defeat to the Netherlands.

Scotland's tournament record may not be the envy of the world, but it has inspired generations of football fans. Whether that be becoming the first side to be undefeated at a World Cup but not take home the trophy in 1974, Archie Gemmil's iconic solo effort against Holland in 1978, David Narey stunning Brazil in 1982, Gordon Strachan's goal and comical celebration against Germany in 1986, fighting back from the brink of early elimination to beat Sweden at Italia 90, hammering the much fancied CIS at Euro 92, Ally McCoist's rocket against the Swiss at Euro 96 that almost pipped Holland to second place, or scaring the life out of World Champions Brazil at France 98.

A whole generation has missed the electricity of a major tournament. Craig Levein, or whoever the new man will be, Scotland's dreams rest in your hands.