Early learning centres on the need for continuing player education

WATCHING the Scotland under-19s last week left me slightly concerned. We seem to go one way or the other in this country. Before the squad left for the European Championship finals in Poland, lots of interviews given by the players and coaches gave cause for great optimism. That was understandable.

But beyond the confidence from within the group, the consensus of opinion seemed to be that this was the best crop of youngsters since the Paul McStay era more than a quarter of a century ago. To see the boys then struggle so badly, and find themselves right out of their depth in losing 4-0 to Spain on Thursday, was disheartening.

Of course, I say that while acknowledging qualification to the semi-finals is still in Scotland's grasp. It is not a stretch to believe that this afternoon they could defeat Turkey while Spain beat Portugal - the results required to put them through to the last four. But maybe I had allowed my expectations to be built up too much in at least expecting them to compete with the Spaniards.

By all accounts they produced a more than decent performance to move into a 2-0 lead against the Portuguese in their group opener on Tuesday, and were only forced to settled for a 2-2 draw because fatigue set in and their concentration wilted in the heat. But, an area that needs to be addressed is that while these youngsters from Portugal will probably form the backbone of their senior national side down the line, far too few make that set-up in this country.

It is encouraging that Scotland are even at these championships. It shows we are making some progress, though the gulf between our lads and their Spanish counterparts shows just how far we have to go. We all know that these players are technically superior to those that we produce in this country. But what disturbed me was just how far ahead of Scotland they were when it came to pace and overall game knowledge. These are the two aspects of player development where we seriously lack.

I know the boys were up against players from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United, but the Spanish teenagers were no more physically powerful or experienced than their Scottish opponents. Calum Elliot, Richard Snodgrass, Scott Cuthbert and Gary Kenneth all have presence. It is in terms of movement and anticipation that there are shortcomings in how we rear players.

I know that both the clubs and the SFA employ sprint coaches and sports psychologists and put their players through educational programmes. I commend them for that. But we must ensure that players aren't simply taught but that they listen and learn, that they soak up information.

The youth development programme that the SFA now have in place has much to recommend it. The loss to Rangers of Jimmy Sinclair, who headed it up, means the association will have to decide if they follow along the same lines under a new man or restructure the scheme. I think with one or two tweaks they will be well served by building on the work that has been done.

What the SFA cannot change is that Scottish players, especially young ones, hate the classroom. They bore easily when it comes to watching videos and receiving instruction on positional play covering time on and off the ball. They just want to get out and play. But how far behind that approach is leaving us in these key areas was demonstrated by the fact that the Spanish players always seemed to know instinctively where to play passes to find a team-mate, or where to drop back to in order to provide cover. In contrast, our lads were constantly pulled out of position or left dallying on the ball because they had to think about how to best use it.

From the current U19s we may just get three or four players eventually breaking through to the senior side but only if they continue to develop and learn. We are improving in terms of the facilities and the schooling available and the numbers of young players that lack of finance had dictated are first-team regulars. But it is important that those building up their game knowledge aren't simply allowed to plateau while still teenagers. It would be a shame if an U19s European Championship finals proved the pinnacle for Scottish players who, whatever their shortcomings, have shown in Poland that they have the hunger and desire to represent their country.

Taken from the Scotsman