Wales 3 - 0 Scotland: Enough is enough for Tartan Army

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 20:57

THAT'S six friendlies without victory and, as far as the Tartan Army are concerned, enough is finally enough.

So much for the shoots of recovery George Burley insists were evident in the final World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Holland. This was a capitulation devoid of any positives and the Scotland fans made their feelings known as they booed the team, heckled the SFA hierarchy and unambiguously demanded that the manager vacate his role.

Neither side will be involved in the World Cup in South Africa next summer, Wales finishing even further down their qualifying group than Scotland. But this was where the rebuilding process was supposed to get under way.

John Toshack has made much of the youth of his squad, which has an average age of 22, but what they lack in years they can buffer with experience, with even 18-year-old playmaker Aaron Ramsey into double figures in terms of international appearances. Scotland, though, started with one debutant (Danny Fox), two players earning their second cap and one with three.

George Burley had insisted that this was not a case of starting from scratch, dispensing as he had with players such as David Weir, Paul Hartley and Graham Alexander and opting for fresher options.

Sweeping changes they may have been, but they did not brush Burley's woes under the carpet. This was a shearing of the Scotland side and the Tartan Army's hopes of any kind of revival. In the build-up, Burley had waxed long and lyrical about the passion, spirit and togetherness in this squad.

Darren Fletcher had praised his gaffer's desire to see his side play a more expansive game, although, he stressed, the priority was ensuring they remained hard to beat. By the 35th minute at the Cardiff City Stadium yesterday, that seemed like wishful thinking. By then, Scotland were three goals down and vulnerable to the attacking whims of Wales.

They should have heeded the early indication of the Wales players' determination to break through the defence and get a result in their first match at the ground they plan to adopt as their home venue. It was a matter of seconds before David Marshall had to leap to palm a cross/shot over the bar. But even after that, the home side looked wary and it was Scotland who tried to find the opener. They almost found the net with a trademark piece of James McFadden enterprise, Fox whipping in a ball from the left flank, which McFadden tried to flick beyond Wayne Hennessey. The keeper kept it out with his foot and Steven Naismith sent the follow-up wide.

Kenny Miller then dug another one wide and with that their sense of endeavour seemed to wane, while Wales grew in confidence. Given that there are apparently no easy matches in international football, the Welsh must have thanked their lucky stars for this one. For the rest of the first half it was about as easy as they are ever going to get.

As for Scottish spirits, the only ones that can numb the ignominy of this kind of display come in a bottle. Even after they had slumped to a three-goal deficit, there was a pedestrian feel to the Scottish approach. No sense of urgency, no obvious desire for any kind of consolatory comeback. Just the background of booing from the Tartan Army and repeated derogatory songs which should have left Burley in no doubt as to where they want him to go.

The first goal came in the 16th minute and it was Arsenal starlet Ramsey who carved it out, losing Naismith and delivering a ball in from the right which picked out David Edwards and the Wolves player showed great technique inside the box to volley it home.

If the problem was evident on that flank, it was not addressed and in the 31st minute Stephen McManus was culpable as a ball was played into the area. Again Ramsey was involved, playing an exquisitely disguised pass to Joe Ledley who in turned crossed for Simon Church to finish. A decent finish but the deficiencies in the Scotland rearguard were certainly a contributing force.

In contrast to their opposite numbers, who were unrattled throughout the match, the Scotland backline rarely looked comfortable. Before the match Burley had insisted that he was unperturbed by the bedeviled form of McManus and his Celtic centre-half partner Gary Caldwell and said he was confident they had the better understanding of all his centre-back options. If so, given the fact Wales are ranked 32 places below Scotland, heaven help us when we meet up with the kind of quality that will emerge from February's draw for the European Championship qualifiers.

The third goal came in the 34th minute and was again a mix of Scottish blundering and Welsh bravado and guile. A misplaced pass from Fox was latched onto by Ramsey, who showed the verve that is inherent in Arsene Wenger's players as he burst into the Scotland box, skipping round McManus, then evading Fletcher and playing an angled drive into the net before it could be halted by the lunging leg of Caldwell.

The ease of it was what infuriated and shamed in equal measure and provoked the boos which rung out as Scotland trudged off at half-time. The second half should have been an opportunity to claw back some pride but while they failed to concede any more, the introduction of Robbie Earnshaw offset by the removal of Ramsey, they offered very little in attack themselves and were lucky not to lose Marshall in the 47th minute when McManus sclaffed a passback and the keeper had to scurry out his area, handling to prevent substitute Sam Vokes going through on goal. A very lenient referee satisfied himself with a yellow card instead of a red.

Late on, substitutes Derek Riordan and Kevin Kyle both tested Hennessey but even those efforts sparked little positivity. As the final whistle sounded the home fans left happy. The away fans made it clear they want a major overhaul, starting at the very top of the SFA.

MAN OF THE MATCH

On the pitch for just 57 of the 90 minutes, Aaron Ramsey was still the guy who destroyed Scotland. Involved in all three goals, he showed why he is considered the next Welsh wonder boy.

QUICK FACT

George Burley made his international debut in a 3-0 defeat in Cardiff. Wales boss John Toshack also played that day and netted a hat-trick.

TALKING POINT

That's now six friendlies under George Burley and he's failed to win any of them. Judging by their song choices yesterday, the Tartan Army are not keen to have him hang around for the competitive action next year.

HOW THE SCOTLAND PLAYERS RATED IN CARDIFF

DAVID MARSHALL 4/10

Could do little about the goals. Did not command his area, however. Ref was wrong not to send him off for handling outside the box.

ALAN HUTTON 4/10

Tried to attack, but was wayward with passes. Though not as bad as the rest in defence, he was nevertheless nowhere near his best.

STEPHEN McMANUS 3/10

Dreadful first half. Charlotte Church could have beaten him to the ball for the first goal, and Ramsey completely twisted him in knots for his counter.

GARY CALDWELL 4/10

Slightly better than his partner in central defence crime. But not much. It's not just boxers whose nerves get shot, and this man needs a confidence transfusion.

DANNY FOX 4/10

Looked to be making a good debut with some fine early attacks but defence went to pot. Substituted after 55 minutes.

GRAHAM DORRANS 4/10

A bit of effort, but no real threat going forward and got away with that stonewall penalty tackle on Church. Poor display all round.

DARREN FLETCHER 5/10

Started well but got caught up in the mediocrity. Bad error led to third goal. At least he tried to get things going now and again, but had no Rooney or Berbatov ahead of him.

DON COWIE 5/10

Another one who tried but got nowhere. Will want to forget his debut, though it wasn't his fault that the whole team was insipid.

STEVEN NAISMITH 4/10

Hardly made an impression and at fault for first goal. Could not even say that he showed glimpses of potential, and there was little of his trademark fieriness.

JAMES McFADDEN 4/10

Not his fault that the manager insists on playing him in the wrong position. What was he doing out on the left for much of the game?

KENNY MILLER 4/10

Couldn't have hit the target with a laser-guided missile. He is not the front man Burley erroneously thinks he is.

SUBSTITUTES

Lee Wallace 5/10

Stiffened defence in replacing Fox. A player who is worth persevering with.

Steven Fletcher 5/10

Couldn't save the lost cause, but should have been on from the start.

Kevin Kyle 5/10

Bustled them up and came close with late header.

Ross McCormack 5/10

Improved things after he came on, and at least forced the Welsh goalkeeper into action.

Barry Robson 5/10

Did enough in his 15 minutes to show that Burley got it wrong (again) not to start him.

Derek Riordan 5/10

What is the point in giving a striker just 11 minutes of a game? A final piece of nonsense on a bad day for George Burley.

MARTIN HANNAN