When it comes to Steve Clarke and his imminent Scotland squad announcement, Leigh Griffiths is saying the right things.
Celtic’s hat-trick hero in yesterday’s 5-0 win over St Mirren at Celtic Park is peaking at just the right time. Griff says he’s ready for it, though if it doesn’t happen he’ll get his head down and keep on performing. The telling comment last week was when he said if ‘Mr Clarke’ picks him he’s on form and ready to go.
“If I’m in the Scotland squad, great. If not, I’ll get my head down and keep working hard,” the Celtic striker said to the Media, as reported by Glasgow Times.
“If I wasn’t at any kind of level, I wouldn’t be playing for the [Celtic] first team. I think that shows that I’m ready to go.
“But it’s not up to my gaffer here, it’s up to Mr Clarke if he wants to select me.
“It’s exciting times for Scotland. Two massive games coming up to create history. It’s going to be tough. Israel are no mugs and Norway and Serbia have some great players.”
A very respectful response from Griffiths, no shrug of the shoulders on this occasion, no misgivings about it this time around. It’s an honour to play for your Country, though the choice lies with Mr Clarke and Leigh Griffiths will respect that decision. A very deferential approach.
There’s a lot of respect around football and football people for Steve Clarke. He was the unanimous choice to pick up the baton from the failed Alex McLeish debacle. Tactically he is thought of as pragmatic and astute and despite what appears a dour demeanour at times, the players seem drawn to him and want to perform for him.
I wonder if that same respect would afforded to Alex McLeish. Would Big Eck have been called Mr McLeish? I doubt that very much but that’s consigned to history, thankfully for all of us.
Scotland haven’t qualified for a major tournament since 1998. These Nations League play offs leave Scotland only two games away from playing in a first major finals for 22 years. If you ask any Scotland fan of any (well almost) club persuasion who they’d want leading the line against Israel followed by either Norway or Serbia, they’ll want a goalscorer and this wee nation only has one of those. He’s also brimming with confidence and bang on form.
We have guys who play up front, some link play, some show youthful exuberance, there may even be the odd one around the place who’ve bagged a few at lower levels but only one is a goalscorer to whom it comes entirely naturally and has been proven at the top level. Leigh Griffiths.
Scotland has two weak areas. Defending and goalscoring. In midfield we could list as many as 15 midfielders who could perform adequately at international level. The issues are a porous backline and no frontmen of late to hang your hat on hat on. What’s the point of winning bruising defensive midfield battles or threading the ball through the eye of a needle when up front there is no trust that there is a suitably qualified executioner ready to slot those chances away?
That’s why Steve Clarke can and must not only include Leigh Griffiths in his squad but also hand him the starting shirt.
Clarke can’t fix that defence overnight. With Hearts Souttar out injured and McKenna’s form since injury falling off a cliff, then the defence will more than likely consist of Captain Andy Robertson and assorted has beens and as yet, never have beens. He can however address the striking threat immediately and have confidence in his choice.
To have any chance of progression we can’t afford to shut up shop and hit on the break, we need to play to our strengths. We can trust our midfield to match anyone so let’s give those boys a target to aim for to compensate for the lack of protection behind them.
The time has come for Leigh Griffiths to return to the fold. Over to you Mr Clarke.
Niall J
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— The Celtic Star Editor (@CelticStarMag) March 8, 2020
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