The news that James Forrest has withdrawn from the Scotland squad is surprising only because it appears he is injured.
I recently wrote about Reo Hatate and the challenges faced by our two Japanese players in terms of their international prospects. However, what frustrates me more is what has happened to our winger and the state of the Scottish national team.
I’ve already shared my views on Steve Clarke, and I believe he should have been sacked after the Euros. One of his worst decisions during that tournament was playing a negative, cautious style of football when he should have gone on the offensive.
Particularly in that final game, he had the opportunity to push for a win, with players on the bench, like Forrest, who could have made a difference.
Yet, James Forrest didn’t play a single minute of competitive football during that competition. Despite being in the squad, he was never utilised, and Clarke continues to pick him without ever giving him game time. When I heard Forrest had pulled out of the team, I initially thought he was just fed up with this treatment.
I don’t understand Clarke’s blind spot when it comes to Forrest, but I know it’s holding Scotland back. Forrest’s absence over the last few years has contributed to the national side’s struggles.
I can’t comprehend why Clarke keeps selecting a player he has no intention of using.
If I were in Forrest’s shoes, with everything going on at Celtic and my career nearing its end, I would likely make a similar decision to Callum McGregor, who stepped back from international football to focus on his club.
James clearly wants to represent his country.
I fully understand and sympathise with that. He cares about Scotland and has served the team with distinction. He would never have turned down the chance to play in the Euros because he knew it might be his last opportunity to appear in a major tournament. He’s entitled to feel aggrieved that Clarke denied him that chance to make an impact.
While Forrest isn’t starting every game for Celtic at the moment, he still knows how to influence a match, and I would pick him for the Scotland team any day of the week—just not in this Scotland side with its bizarre tactics and lack of width.
Clarke’s rigid, uninspired football means Forrest’s chances of starting again for Scotland are slim as long as Clarke remains in charge. Until the SFA finally grows a backbone and makes a decision on Clarke, Forrest is stuck. He’ll be selected, but he won’t play.
At Celtic, Forrest is struggling to break into the team because Kuhn is in top form, and there’s no reason to drop him. In the national side, though, Forrest isn’t being left out because there’s someone better ahead of him—it’s because Clarke persists with a system that doesn’t utilise wide players, except in desperate circumstances.
Even when Clarke did use width during the Euros, he didn’t bring on the best winger in the country, opting instead for players like Lewis Morgan.
As I’ve mentioned in other pieces, I love seeing our players represent their national teams, and I’m almost always proud when they do.
Normally, I would never suggest a player should drop out of international duty. But if you’re James Forrest right now, you must be asking yourself, “What’s the point?” Where’s the value in sticking with it? What does he gain?
Callum McGregor quit the national team to focus fully on Celtic, and James is in an even more difficult position. He’s a couple of years older and is in the final year of his Celtic contract. I think most people would understand if he decided to step away from Scotland duty altogether.
Yet, even this situation with Clarke can’t drag on indefinitely.
Tonight’s game will likely be another tough affair, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends in yet another defeat, this time in front of the home crowd at Hampden. A loss would make it one win in 16 games—a truly appalling record. If that happens, the fans will surely voice their displeasure, and perhaps even the SFA will feel compelled to act.
If Clarke does get the sack, who knows?
Maybe Forrest will get another chance to represent his country. Perhaps a new manager will come in, someone with a plan that involves actually using the best players available. In that case, Forrest’s patience might pay off.
But if nothing changes, if the SFA decides to stick with Clarke and continue down this road, then Forrest might as well hang up his international boots. His chances of getting meaningful game time under Clarke will remain at zero.
I used to have a bit of respect for Steve Clarke, but Jamesy should tell Scotland to poke it.
Hope he does step away, doesn’t need being pissed about.
Tbh, he could prob be an asset tae this Scotland side, tho imo it’s a thankless job right now. Personally ah would much rather he just played domestically. He can still dae a job for us. Cannae emphasise enough, how important his contribution tae last seasons title was. However, one thing ahm definitely no happy about, is this still ongoin spec about KT returnin, just as your article focused on the other day. If the board think this would earn them some sort of credit from the support, ahm afraid ahm no one of them. Absolutely nae disrespect tae the guy himself, tho his time’s been and passed with us. As ah’ve mentioned before and we all know, this has all materialised since his long term injury list. If he was a fit player who wasn’t injury prone, does anybody think we’d even be discussin this ? No chance. He wouldn’t be leavin the EPL. We should be holdin the money and lookin elsewhere.
This has been one helluva long bloody week and a half…
All I can say is – Roll on tonight – And…
THANK FUCK THIS INTERNATIONAL PISH POT JERKER IS FINALLY OVER !
So The Baron aka Steve Forrest(aka 60s TV show) Connor gets called up to the squad to replace James Forrest,a kick in the teeth here will be should Baron get a game while all the time James Forrest showed up for Scotland but never got picked to play,then this will be a joke and show gumsie Clarke up for what he is.
27 May 2019: Glasgow Times: “New Scotland manager Steve Clarke admits he is relishing working with Celtic playmaker James Forrest during his time in charge of the national team.”
This was accompanied by quotes elaborating on that.
Strange.
Probably not that strange actually Big J…
Fuck knows what The Glasgow Times is but if it’s a football publication in Scotland it’ll be a pathological liar just like the fuckin rest of The Scummy Bastards !