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Celtic Fans Learned A Lot From That Scotland Performance …

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Have we ever had a major finals that went well? Even one that sort of went according to plan? That was a disaster today in every way.

There were a lot of lessons there for Celtic fans too.

It showed us why Stephen O’Donnell will never be a Celtic player, why Jack Hendry is probably better off staying in Belgium, why Ryan Christie is easily the footballer who went farthest backwards under Lennon and Kennedy … and David Marshall?

Good God man, what was he thinking about?

There was no footballing reason on Earth for him to be so far off his line that he was practically playing in the opposition half.

And if you listened to the Czech striker at full-time, he spotted Marshall doing it a couple of times in the first half … why in God’s name did nobody in the Scotland camp see that?

Most of all, I think we learned a little about Steve Clarke.

There has been talk for many years about Steve Clarke and what he would have offered Celtic.

Today he went with five at the back at home against the Czech Republic, and with a bizarre formation that only gave Scotland purchase down the left side of the pitch. I thought it was terrible.

Callum McGregor and Forrest started on the bench.

Whilst I mourn the over-use of Celtic players during internationals, especially when they could use a break, I thought that a woeful bit of decision making from Clarke.

Both would have enhanced the team … when they came on both did.

McGregor is certainly a better player than Armstrong.

Forrest would have given us down the right what Robertson gave us on the left; it would have meant dropping either McTominey, Christie or one of his defenders.

These would all have been viable options.

Is this what life under Steve Clarke would have looked like for Celtic?

Defensive football and players selected on the basis that they are personal favourites of his?

Would O’Donnell actually have been a Celtic player?

Would Lyndon Dykes?

Jesus wept.

I just thought that was awful today, from the team selection to the set up to the whole way the game flowed away from us. Postecoglou may or may not be the answer … but this is Steve Clarke finally managing on the big stage, with a lot of options available to him.

The ones he went with were much too timid.

We should have tried to be more aggressive.

I am actually surprised at how uninspiring that was.

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