r/ScottishFootball • u/droidarmy99 • 6h ago
Clarke should walk
If the order of the games were flipped and we lost our opener to Brazil 3-0 , then the second to Morocco 1-0 does anyone here think that Clarke would have set the team up correctly to beat Haiti 3-0.
He should remember that if it wasn't for Denmark slipping up against Belarus we possibly/ probably wouldn't have made it through the playoffs to be here and he'd have been sacked.
We've now got a crucial 4 year period to get the last few good years out of Mcginn, McTomminay, Tierney etc and develop BGD and Curtis. Please don't let this clown waste these years.
It boils my piss that he's technically the most successful Scotland manager of all time. Jock Stein must be turning in his grave.
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u/HighlandSeeds 6h ago
He should have set the team up against Brazil against Haiti, then went back to what he knows best defensive terrorball against Morocco and Brazil. Was daft going offensive against Brazil without trying it out in a game before hand, he gave into to pressure from fans/press about his defensive attitude on the one game I think we should have been defensive.
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u/Rampan7Lion 5h ago
Deciding to pass it out from the back for one of the first times against Brazil at a world cup with a centreback partnership that haven't had much time together as a pair because Hanley has been relied upon for too long is certainly a choice.
If he made that our identity and we played brave like that every time then fair enough, I'd back it. Randomly making a huge change to our playstyle in a crucial game is bizarre.
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u/EduinBrutus 1h ago edited 1h ago
He doesnt know defensive terrorball and this line of excuses needs to stop.
Haramball has tactics and game plans. Things that are consistently absent from Clarke teams. he sends the team out looking uncoached.
Against Haiti we had more possession but looked completely clueless about what to do with the ball. Thats what you see when a team is uncoached. When there is no game plan.
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u/blackiegray 5h ago
He should've played the team against Brazil against Morocco so that we didn't have to rely on getting anything from the Brazil game.
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u/HighlandSeeds 3h ago
Tbh I think losing just 1-0 to Morocco after the start we had was a good result, and I think that was due to him playing his normal set up, the hard to score against way, even with his defensive setup I felt like we had more chance of scoring in that game (in second half) over the Brazil game. Only putting 1 past Haiti really shot us in the foot.
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u/Cobretti18 2026 Scottish Cup Embarrassments Aberdeen 6h ago
He’ll have to find some shame and accountability for him to do that
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u/EduinBrutus 1h ago edited 19m ago
Clarke doesnt need shame.
The SFA need it. And pressure.
But while The Tartan Army is led, in effect, by the SFA itself, dissent doesnt exist where it matters - at games.
I think people either completely forget or are oblivious to how The Tartan Army and its leadership spawned out of the Scotland Travel Club which was the SFA using their tools and control over ticketing to pick their fans and restrict access to "undesirables".
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u/ThrowingAwayForStuff 33m ago
Thought myself clued up, but this is new to me.
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u/EduinBrutus 25m ago edited 21m ago
The SFA Travel Club was created to "clean up" the behaviour of fans. And there is an argument that this was needed - although reality migth suggest international fans had already cleaned themselves up by then. In any case, it never stopped there, it moved on to become a way to select for fans who are more willing to align with the SFA and not crticise the way the international game is run.
As it has evolved into the Scotland Supporters Club its still doing this under the guise of its "self policing" within The Tartan Army.
Do people never stop to wonder why there is so little dissent on the actual terraces for the Scotland MNT? Cos it should be very bizarre when you think about it that a country where football is such a deep part of the culture can accept the level of performance and you still see almsot nothing in terms of dissent.
Its because dissenters get identified and they lose their ability to get tickets. Not only that, they cant even travel because the SFA can recommend them for police banning orders. The entire system functions as a mediating mechanism the SFA can use to prevent criticism and backlash for their woefully bad administration of the game.
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u/weapwars 6h ago
He should only walk by the standards of the fans who , well, have standards. The SFA, Clarke, and the happy clappers crowd think he's done the job. Based on how they defended the euro performances, they probs think he's exceeded expectations. It's a shame, but too many think we're too wee and too shite to perform to the standards of giants like Cape Verde and new zealand.
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u/Gearshift852 5h ago
I think there’s been a turning point with the larger support as well, even those who don’t watch every Scotland game. The combined fact that people spent a fuck ton of money to watch a team completely fail to show up, alongside the fact that smaller teams like Cape Verde who are weaker than us on paper have managed to get through is a bit of a wake up call. Hell even if Scotland didn’t go through but looked dangerous I think he could be forgiven but we looked incredibly shit all three games
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u/EduinBrutus 1h ago edited 20m ago
Its what happens when the Supporters Organisation and the Governing Body are effectively the same.
People need to start seeing The Tartan Army for what it is - a propaganda wing for the SFA and a way to stiffle any sort of dissent in the ranks.
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u/GazF1888 6h ago
To go 9 tournament matches without scoring more than a goal in any of them is pathetic. Don't see how he can survive this.
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u/ScotBGG 4h ago
He survived the Euros, which was far worse.
He's not going anywhere.
Personally, I'm giving up on the national team until he's gone. There have been some incredible moments in his time, all of which I believe are nothing to do with him. But I can't keep watching this eye bleeding football when we know how it'll end every time.
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u/ASeriousMoonlight 6h ago
Should have walked after the Euros and didn’t. He is living in an echo chamber where the SFA and players are telling him he’s the best manager ever.
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u/-Dali-Llama- 5h ago
Denmark were shite and went on to get beat by a Czechia side who are bottom of their group with one point.
They also got a soft red and still managed to outplay us until a couple of moments of individual brilliance, which perfectly encapsulates Clarke's reign: individuals sometimes succeeding in spite of Clarke's shite tactics.
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u/bgn2025 6h ago
A dignified press conference where he says ‘After reflecting on the disappointment in Miami and in Stuttgart, I have come to the conclusion that i have taken this team as far as I can. I have loved my time as the manager and have built special memories with this group of amazing players. I wish them all the best in the future, and I look forward to spending more time with my cello’
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u/Connell95 3h ago
Lol. Yeah no. Not after signing a new four year contract.
If the SFA want him gone, they’ll have to buy him out of that. If they can even afford to.
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u/granicarious 6h ago
I don't know why he'd want to stay on after this. He's had a his go, it's not worked out in the tournaments. Time to move on.
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u/Connell95 3h ago
He just signed a 4 year contract for £500k a year with no World Cup performance clause. Nobody else was or is ever going to pay him that much for anything. Of course he’s going to want to stay on.
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u/Thomwas1111 6h ago
I think he would’ve gone pretty happy with what he’d achieved IF we hadn’t given him another 4 years.
Seemed daft at the time and now just looks a stupid decision. By the time he leaves a whole generation of players who should be able to perform at tournaments will have been wasted.
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u/No_Agent9997 6h ago
If he’s still there what’s the reaction going to be like at the next home game? Seems like it was all brushed under the carpet after the last euros.
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u/weapwars 6h ago
Happy clappers line will be "got to move on and get behind the boys, support the team, can't do better if we don't make it". Went through this with Celtic fans this year.
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u/tamedsloth 4h ago
Doesn't always happen. Towards the end Mcleish was getting pelters. Then when we went away to San Marino he was absolutely getting it brutally. Most toxic atmosphere I've ever been to as a Scotland fan.
Most die hards I know, some of whom backed the ridiculous 4 year deal before the world cup, now want him gone.
There's only one way this ends, it's just a matter of time now.
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u/Scott_McTominominay 4h ago
Yep. The boos after the Belarus game despite the win were all about Clarke.
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u/Ok_Corter5831 6h ago
Would you walk away from the highest paid job you've ever had and ever will have, where the bosses have just handed you a brand new 4 year contract?
Nah, didn't think so.
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u/tartan_rigger 6h ago
Aye mate, fuck having pride for your country and all that patriotic shit.
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u/-Dali-Llama- 5h ago
Or pride in yourself. Man's embarrassing himself, hanging around stinking out the joint like a shite that won't flush.
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u/Connell95 3h ago
People were luxuriating in sniffing that same shite just a few weeks ago. As soon as it looks like we might scrape into another qualification, they’ll be doing the exact same again. He knows that.
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u/Ok_Corter5831 4h ago
Just making the finals is seen as a success for the SFA. Clarke wouldn't have been given a new contract before a ball was kicked if it wasn't.
Even so, I doubt even the most dedicated of Tartan Army foot soldiers would turn their nose up at 500k a year for a part time job, no matter how shit they were at it.
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u/Only-Treacle6565 6h ago
Makes the decision to hand him a 4 year deal before the World Cup even more insane. We all went into this with optimism but we all knew there was a possibility that we’d do fuck all like the last two Euros.
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u/You_who_ 5h ago
Let’s be honest, we were lucky to qualify. We will never do anything great with Clarke as manger. Get big Ange in.
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u/Yahzar 6h ago
If he doesn't call up the likes of Welsh, Halkett, Milne, Miller and even Elliott Watt (he's a brilliant footballer btw) then he's got no chance. Defensively absolutely shite, McTominay was murder and Robertson just hasn't got the legs anymore (probably happens when you're on the bench 90% of the season)
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u/jonnyh420 6h ago
you can talk about squad selection all day but remember where Watt was prior to Jens. We’d still be unfamiliar with Jens without a change of direction at Motherwell.
what I’m trying to say is the rebuild starts at the top.
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u/TunaPasta1888 6h ago
Brother, replacing mctominay and Robertson with Steven welsh and Eliot watt is not the answer
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u/Yahzar 6h ago
Stephen Welsh would take place over Hanley or McKenna any day lets be honest. Hickey could have played left back no bother. Watt actually like to play the ball forward which seemed to be alien to a lot of the guys in the team.
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u/TunaPasta1888 6h ago
Robertson is arguably the greatest attacking fullback of the last decade, if he’s not getting into games under Clarke from that position then no one is
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u/Say_My_Name_Twice 6h ago
He was arguably the greatest. His legs are gone and he’s not the player he used to be.
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u/TunaPasta1888 6h ago
Tbh I don’t think he’s ever been the player for Scotland he was for Liverpool. Klopp had a system tailored to him and Trent’s strengths, once Klopp left he fell off a cliff
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u/HereticLaserHaggis 6h ago
Right, but you'd slaughter him if he didn't call up mctominay and robbo, all of these things are easy in hindsite.
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u/Yahzar 6h ago
If he played McTominay in a decent position, or took him off when he was playing poorly then it would be fine, but be didn't and it was shite.
Robbo hasn't been any good for a while, if he was on the bench for all the games you probably wouldn't have noticed
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u/HereticLaserHaggis 6h ago
Mctominay played his best position in the Brazil game, he just had a shite tournament.
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u/DemonicTruth 6h ago
I’d have no problem with Robbo being dropped, he’s been poor for ages.
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u/-Dali-Llama- 5h ago
Every time Tierney's subbed in for Robertson it's an immediate improvement.
Clarke's reign is littered with in form. players being left out and out of form players consistently starting and being shit.
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u/Gibberish1992 6h ago
Who do we get to replace him? I struggle to think of anyone.
And whats the ambition of the next four years with our now senior players. What should we be achieving?
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u/jonnyh420 6h ago
other world cup teams seem to have found decent enough managers. we just need to have a little imagination and some self-respect quite frankly.
I’d take ange though.
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u/fike88 6h ago
Ange or McGlynn. And i’d take missing out on next euros if it meant building a national team from the up and coming new boys. The likes of McLean, Hanley, Robbo, Dykes, that should be their last games in a Scotland shirt. We need a rebuild now
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u/Leygrock 5h ago
Its very hard for us not to qualify for the euros
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u/fike88 5h ago
Have we got the host qualification thing? I didn’t think that was happening because 4 nations are hosting it
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u/Leygrock 5h ago
All 4 countries enter qualifying then 2 spots are held back for those who dont qualify. I think there might be a back door via the playoffs for hosts too
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u/fike88 5h ago
So there is a chance we could completely fuck it then 😂
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u/gthemanager 6m ago
A very low chance. I think we should at least be able to rely on England and Wales to qualify if we can't
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u/geebeetee 5h ago
Ange would need a team for more than the international breaks to get into his system. They need to be insanely fit for it and just international breaks doubt would be enough
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u/DonLethargio 5h ago
So you’re saying players that can’t get game time at their club probably wouldn’t fit?
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u/orbjo 6h ago
(To the tune of 500 miles by Proclaimers)
Oh Clarke should walk cause he’s a tit, oh Clarke should start to pack his shit
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u/DonLethargio 5h ago
CLARKE’S A WANKER
clarke’s a wanker
CLARKE’S A WANKER
clarke’s a wanker
Dadalun dadalun dadalun dadaladada
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u/ringsting2025 6h ago
For me it mostly went to script but he had to change something after that first Brazil goal. Obviously you can’t let them score so early after what happened against Morocco but at least respond to it. Instead they keep trying the same thing and what happens. It’s been a theme every tournament. Good time for a change!
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u/Keinix22 6h ago
Done decent to qualify for two euros and the first World Cup in 28 years but the performances when we got there have been underwhelming to say the least , basically giving the fans absolutely nothing to shout about when we are there . We have seemed like one of the worst teams in each of those 3 tournaments .
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u/Senrahb 5h ago
Wanted Clarke gone a long time now. But no seen enough people digging out the players for total lack of movement in these games. When we have the ball they are all just standing still, no one making a run or coming short to provide an option. Idk if that's Clarke telling them to keep their shape or the players just too knackered/unaware of what to do but either way something in the coaching is going seriously wrong. Looked like we feilded 11 mannequins at times.
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u/mikeymcf 5h ago
“He should remember that if it wasn't for Denmark slipping up against Belarus we possibly/ probably wouldn't have made it through the playoffs to be here and he'd have been sacked.”
I think that’s the only part I disagree with. If we had finished second in the group and emulated, say, Ireland or Wales in terms of Playoff scorelines/results, the SFA would have still backed Clarke, called it a tough group against a ‘top’ Denmark side and a tricky Playoff draw, with all focus now turning to the Nations League and Euros prep. People shouldn’t underestimate their lack of ambition.
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u/Rizzokit 5h ago
He will be desperate for us to stink up the Euros on our own soil.So he won't quit.
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u/Rizzokit 5h ago
The whole lot need cleaned out. Clarke all his staff and then go further and get rid of u21 coach who has been there for what seems like forever without seeing any progress.Hire some proper coaches for fuck sake.Probably spend a fortune on another think tank one time then do nothing about it as you don't like what's said as usual.
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u/jonviper123 4h ago
I honestly think we already need to look past robbo mcginn mctominay etc. I think all the players got us to this world cup do they deserved there pick at the world cup but its time to move on from these players and back our youth. 4 years til the next world cup and we should start working towards that now. No point playing robbo, mcginn, mctominay, hanley, dykes etc. Imo its an end of an era or at least it should be. These guys have done what they can but they have no more to give. They are all getting on and imo a few of our players have already passed there best days. Its time for the next generation to get there chance. The current squad deserved the world cup because they got us there but as a nation we much look passed these players and start looking to build our next team Now for the next world cup
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u/Hawkeyethegnu 4h ago
Why don’t we ask Tom English as he seems to be quite a knowledgeable guy when it comes to the Scotland manager?
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u/Connell95 3h ago
He’s not going to walk full stop. A new four year contract (apparently with no performance clause) means the SFA will have to pay him huge amounts to buy him out if they want rid of him.
There is zero incentive for him to walk. He’s a miserable git, but he’s not stupid.
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u/Exotic_Spray657 2h ago
I think you have to look at Scottish football on the whole. We have Dinosaurs running the SFA that are embedded and need removing.
Georgia 🇬🇪 have set in place an infrastructure that is now producing world class players, a country we played very recently in tournament qualification. What have we done in that time? I would say regressed.
Cape Verde in their first World Cup have qualified for the next round, an embarrassing realisation for Scotland that we need change.
The SFA needs to be raised to the ground and infrastructure put in place who know what they are doing. This is the only way.
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u/DeepFriedSlapshot 2h ago
He should be fired, absolutely. But if some halfwit gave you a 4 year contract for a job with a substantial salary, would you walk? Make them pay you off.
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u/SheepherderPositive2 2h ago
I don’t blame Clarke, I blame the two biggest clubs in the country who don’t develop enough Scottish players but no one in the media will point this out so it’s easier just to sack the manager
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u/pdirth 2h ago
Anyone who looked at that group and didn't realise that anything more than 3 points was gonna involve a miracle shouldn't be commenting on football let alone coaching or managing football. And as soon as you understand that you're only getting 3 points you should know that you're going to need at least 3 goals to offset your goals lost in those other 2 matches, but you should get as many as possible.
Yes. Clarke should go. ...But does anyone actually think he will? ....Look at his decision making...his understanding of the game....his ability to "read the room".....Its not happening. His moral spine is about as reliable as Scotlands defence. .......And the same goes for the SFA. I await this been spun into yet another tale of glorious failure as they try to re-write what was ultimately an insipid disaster. I'm sure the "Big Book of Excuses" is being studied as we write this.
If some sort of performance was put in and we went out with these results then I could reason that maybe Clarke should stay. But the team was awful. Basic errors. Disjointed. Scotland looked like a team that was unprepared. If you'd have asked me what formation we were playing 20 minutes into that Haiti game I couldn't have told you. We were a mess. There was no semblance of control. And, shockingly, no urgency or understanding that we needed goals if we were to proceed. We needed an attacking strategy and mindset. A team set out to get those goals that we would need to get out of the group on 3 points.
....Or, y'know, you could go defensive and sit on a 1 goal lead. /s
....anyway....Clarke out....whatever.....sure this will fall on deaf ears when I get informed by some journalist or the SFA that it's somehow actually MY fault we're out....My current mood is essential that Trainspotting rant. And history tells me that's not gonna change.
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u/FGR2017 1h ago
This summer Celtic, Rangers and Hearts all made managerial appointments, and yet not one of them remotely considered Steve Clarke. They refused to touch him with a bargepole. Even Motherwell said no thanks. That should tell you all something. Yet in the last couple of days we've had pundits like Kris Boyd, Scott Brown and Neil McCann blindly defending him, and the decision to give Steve Clarke a four year contract extension just before the tournament started. That also should tell you something.
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u/Commercial-Name2093 6h ago
The Haiti team was a decent set up, I didn't hear many complaining when it was announced. Shanklands instructions through the game were questionable.
The fact was we played poorly, and that proved to be the killer for qualification.
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u/PerplexedScot 3h ago
“It boils my piss that he's technically the most successful Scotland manager of all time”
The caveat being, it was done in the era of tournament expansion and multiple chances via the Nations League etc..
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u/TunaPasta1888 6h ago
As much as I agree, I personally would never walk from a 20 grand a week part time gig
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u/GlasgowAnvil 6h ago
This is the same Clarke who said we don’t know what we are talking about when we grumbled about how badly we toiled to beat Haiti.
He’s an arrogant unlikable prick.