This is an excerpt from this week's McGarry on Motherwell, a free Motherwell newsletter written by Graeme McGarry that goes out every Thursday at 6pm. To sign up, click here.
It was somewhat ironic this week to hear Scotland assistant manager John Carver admonishing Lennon Miller for misspeaking in the media, given that he, by the simple act of commenting on his interview negatively, was succeeding only in making a mountain out of a molehill.
Carver is an amiable sort and wouldn’t have meant any harm, but by saying Miller had ‘made a mistake’ and ‘he’ll learn’ from it after the Motherwell youngster had committed the heinous crime of stating his ambition to be the best player in the Scotland squad, he himself made the whole thing a bigger issue than it ever needed to be.
It was quite clear that Miller misspoke when he blurted out that he could achieve that target ‘in a couple of months’, but even if he hadn’t, who cares?
There’s nothing wrong with young players showing a bit of self-assurance, and at a time when the way players are developed in this country is under the microscope, he came across like a dinosaur throwback slapping down an uppity, cocky kid. A mischaracterisation of Miller, if ever there was one.
The SFA study into the 'transition phase' last year found that getting kids into first teams at an earlier age was a crucial step in their development, and a major reason why Scotland was struggling to produce players was a reluctance for managers to put their trust in their prospects.
Motherwell – and we must give former manager Stuart Kettlewell some credit for this, despite his tumultuous departure from the club - have been at the top of the standings in the Premiership this season in terms of giving minutes to under-21 players, with Miller and Ewan Wilson getting plenty of game time.
Miller may only be 18, but he already has 68 senior appearances under his belt, and I have no doubt he would be able to handle stepping into the Scotland midfield, if not over this double header with Greece, then soon.
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Thankfully, Steve Clarke handled the situation much better when he was questioned on Miller’s comments and Carver’s reaction to them later in the week. And we also have to give credit to Clarke for shaking off his own image of being reluctant to give younger players opportunities.
He too received something of a backlash for comments in the past attempting to dampen down excitement over Ben Doak, and he has possibly learnt from that.
Unfortunately, the winger is injured for these matches, but his success has possibly been the spark for Clarke to open his mind a little and give this chance to Miller and Hearts striker James Wilson.
It would be great for the nation to see these two getting some time on the pitch over the next few days, and from a purely selfish Motherwell point of view, it wouldn’t hurt to bump up the asking price for Miller when he inevitably moves on from Fir Park this summer.
It is a shame that while Motherwell fans have got to enjoy Miller’s progress, they probably won’t see the best of him in claret and amber, as I have no doubt he will go on and develop further into a top-class player and be plying his trade at the highest level.
He might not be as exciting as a James McFadden or as eye-catching as a David Turnbull, but for pure ability, he could well go on to eclipse the achievements of any player that has come through the club’s academy.
Motherwell deserve huge kudos for the way that they have nurtured Miller, but another thing they have proven themselves to be adept at is talking their players up. With the greatest of respect to James Scott, fine young player as he was, getting the fee they did for him was a masterclass in maximising the profile of your assets.
So, from Miller’s point of view, and in the interests of Motherwell getting the best fee they possibly can for him, the last thing any of us need to be hearing is the likes of Carver clipping his wings or talking him down.
Heaven forbid that fans get excited about a young player, eh? Get him in the Scotland team, and show Motherwell the money.
AND ANOTHER THING…
You would have got long odds a few years back on the middle section of the Phil O’Donnell Stand becoming the Fir Park hotspot for trouble, but having seemingly chased Stuart Kettlewell out of the door, the erstwhile sweetie-paper rustlers were at it again last week, drawing the ire of former Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson.
Comments about St Mirren player Caolan Boyd-Munce as he lay on the park with a neck brace on were of course out of order, but it seems that in general, the Statler and Waldorfs of Motherwell are getting under the skin of those in the dugouts. On either side.
Let’s hope Michael Wimmer doesn’t pick up too much comprehension of the Lanarkshire twang should things go awry over the next few weeks. It’s almost an extra incentive to make the top six to see Barry Ferguson prowling the technical area in front of them.
