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Let’s consider Quintin Jardine’s other comments. ‘Been without his inspirational captain’ and ‘another top midfielder has a chronic injury that is limiting his availability’ – presumably that is Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown. Levein has always managed to pick squads which contain at least nine midfielders – the absence of Fletcher and Brown has hardly been a major factor. Levein also managed to pick a squad last week where he originally had nine midfielders who were all better then Kris Commons who has been the best player this season in the SPL.
‘Our best striker has been in the huff’. Hmmm, that ‘huff’ seemed to be sparked by Levein’s revolutionary idea of playing a competitive match with no striker at all in Prague – his now legendary 4-6-0 formation – which failed! Personally I would have sacked Levein the minute he named that formation. I can completely understand why a striker might express some surprise or disappointment that a manager wants to play without any strikers at all.
Levein’s competitive record stretches back over two years. It is shockingly poor. He has managed Scotland in 11 competitive games. He has three wins, four draws and four defeats. His wins have come against those giants of international football from Liechtenstein (twice) and Lithuania. Their current FIFA rankings are 155 and 110.
The dismissal of Gordon Strachan as a possible replacement by Quintin Jardine is baffling. His suggestion that Owen Coyle should not be chosen because he is ‘Irish’ in football terms seems to raise other questions. Why should we not be managed by a competent ‘foreign’ coach?
We are not in a ‘very tough’ qualifying group. We avoided the real major powers of European football – Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, France and England. I am typing this before our match in Belgium. I do not expect us to win but will be delighted if we do. I expect tomorrow morning that Levein’s competitive record will be three wins from 12 games…and 13 points from 36. That is the sort of record which must lead to the end.
Jim Bauld
Quintin Jardine’s latest work is in line with the storytelling in his excellent books – a work of fiction. Sorry Quintin, but it’s time for Levein to go. We have tried the way of the Levein style of management and it hasn’t worked. We have tried in the past the guys who sat the players down and ‘explained’ what was needed. Where are the managers who will tell these players in a straightforward way to get out there and win or, as we say on this side of the Atlantic, ‘some cans of Whoop Ass’ will be opened. I hear calls for Strachan and even Souness, but we need a ‘hard man’ to deal with these footballing stars. My money is on Bob Skinner.
Dermot McQuarrie
California (not the one near Falkirk)
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