Resilient Scotland got their Nations League off to a flyer as they soared past a hapless Armenian outfit.
But it’s still not enough to lift spirits on the Hotline after last week’s Ukraine result saw our World Cup dreams crash and burn.
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, was first up to say: “Watched the Scotland game. Typical that we beat a team that recently relegated Dundee would have taken care of. Out of another tournament but beat a poor team and we are on right road again? Aye right…”
George Wilson, West Sussex, added: “Scotland were gifted a home tie against a team in a country on their knees and ravaged by war and the potential of another tie within the British Isles. It couldn’t have been easier but they blew it.
“Now we have the usual boasts from players and management about what they are going to do in 2024 and 2026. It was about last week and they failed. Nobody really cares about The Nations League.”
That doesn’t ring true for everybody, as Neil Renton, Edinburgh, proved when he emailed in: “It might only have been against Armenia but that was a decent win for Scotland. Let’s put the disappointment of Qatar behind us and concentrate on the Nations Leauge.”
Opening scorer Tony Ralston has been nicknamed the Brickie by the Celtic support and Gordon Ashley, Ayr, reckons Steve Clarke’s side are built on solid foundations with the Hoops ace in the team.
He said: “Well done to Anthony Ralston who proved that he is just as effective an attacking weapon as Nathan Paterson or Stephen O’Donnell.
“What this boy has that both of them don’t is that he is more solid defensively and better in the air and would have prevented the second goal against the Ukraine. He is Scotland’s best right back.”
John Bruce emailed in: “Steve Clarke resorted to his old comfort blanket of using current and ex-Celtic players to fill out his team to try and get a result after a dreadful and demoralising display - this time against Ukraine.
“There's no doubt that the energy levels of the Scotland team were much better on Wednesday night, with John Souttar and Anthony Ralston catching the eye. But it should also be remembered that the game was at home against a truly awful Armenia side.”
Clarke had his tactics and team selection hammered by pundits Craig Levein and Willie Miller after last week’s Hampden heartache before popping back on the eve of Wednesday’s clash.
And the Scotland boss was backed by Tim Gibbens, who said: “Levein has a brass neck criticising Steve Clarke’s team selection and tactics against Ukraine.
“After all, this was the very man who invented the infamous 4-6-0 formation which failed so miserably in Prague. At least Clarke’s players didn’t all need to be fitted with their own GPS just to find where the opposition’s goal was!”
Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, added: “Well said Steve Clarke in his condemnation of those rent-a-mouth BBC pundits. Both Miller and Levien were rotten managers who were a failure at every club they touched.”
Dougie Lawrence, Shawlands, also said: “What the hell is Craig Levein doing criticising Steve Clarke? The guy can't even get a tune out of Brechin in the Highland league in his advisory capacity. Give us a break Craig and shut it.”
Turning to the new Saudi backed LIV tournament that has sent shockwaves through golf, Andrew Mathieson said: “This latest tour is outrageous and some of the reasons coming out for players joining are disgusting.
“The latest being Graeme McDowell telling us that golf is a force for the good in the world and be role models for kids. Try telling that to the kids in Saudi, particularly girls.
“The only reason these guys are joining this tour is to further increase their already over loaded bank accounts. I hope the respective authorities ban them from major tournaments. One word describes them - pariahs.”
