Plus points get lost in the storm

THIS HAS become the rhythm of George Burley's life: long spells of inertia, a slowly building sense of pressure, an unstoppable period when all hell breaks loose...and then back to inertia. "I spoke to Glenn Hoddle last year and he said international management is like a volcano," said Burley. "It's quiet, quiet and then all of a sudden it comes to an eruption."

When some molten views erupted out of Hoddle's mouth in a 1999 newspaper interview - he suggested disabled people were "paying for the sins of a former life" - there was a furore which cost him his job as England manager. Burley is never likely to talk his way into trouble like that (his comments are far too bland to whip up any scandal) but that cannot protect him against the sort of eruptions which can engulf a man in charge of his country. Last week the heat was on him with the intensity of a blow torch. In some still moment at Hampden in the days or weeks ahead he might be forgiven if he takes a moment to ask himself "did all that really happen last week?"

Well, it all did. Through all his media engagements Burley tried manfully to focus on the 2-1 win over Iceland only to be hit by the tidal wave of questions about Barry Ferguson and drinking (few bothered to mention Allan McGregor). He was on a lost cause when it came to restricting the conversation to football, but he couldn't be blamed for trying. His team had put in a bright, solid and encouraging performance against Iceland and it barely got a mention.

Last Wednesday was the best Scotland have played under Burley. That's not saying much, admittedly, but if the performance was twitchy and flawed against weak opposition it was also brisk, inventive and full of energy. Scotland looked young and eager and the collective confidence will be greater for the next qualifying game against Norway in August. That solitary, single-goal victory will sustain Burley for four-and-a-half months. The booze was one thing, but the football brightened the landscape.

When everyone is available to him Burley is three-quarters of the way towards that precious stage where a team picks itself: Craig Gordon in goal behind a back four of Alan Hutton, Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus and Gary Naysmith. Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown are automatic selections in central midfield. That's seven certain starters. The remaining four places? Ross McCormack and James Morrison have leapt up the queue for the wide areas and Kris Commons, Shaun Maloney and Paul Hartley are in the midfield mix too. Up front, Kenny Miller and Steven Fletcher started in midweek but despite the latter's winning goal neither were convincing. There is an alternative: push McCormack up front and prepare a standing ovation for the return from injury of James McFadden.

Even Burley was taken aback by the verve and assurance McCormack showed against both Holland and Iceland. "You look at your squad, you pick your squad and you hope that someone comes out of the pack and surprises you. I think Ross has done that."

McCormack is quick and intelligent with the ball and can hold possession better than Miller or Steven Fletcher. "I thought that was one area where we could maybe have done a better against Iceland," said Burley. "When he moved into an attacking role he gave us better ball retention, which is so important. There are elements of the game you want to get right and that is what you look for from your strikers, to hold the ball and keep you playing."

What else did Burley learn from last week's double-header? The team can play to a quicker tempo without Ferguson. Graham Alexander can be thanked for his services and put out to pasture. Exposing the 37-year-old to Arjen Robben's pace was a disaster waiting to happen. Instead there is Hutton, whose value to Scotland is immense. "When Alan is right and motivated I don't think you would find many better attacking full-backs in Europe," said Burley. "In training, you watch Hutton and he's got different gears that others haven't got."

He is English Premier League class, as are Morrison, Gordon and Darren Fletcher. The latter is often more impressive for Manchester United than for his country, a consequence of the narrower, more clearly-defined water-carrier role he occupies at Old Trafford. For Scotland his performances often suffer for trying to take on too much. Burley spoke to him about that before taking on Iceland. "I had a little chat with him before the game. What I think Darren does well are the simple things. Sometimes with Scotland he tries too hard, he's so motivated for his country. At Man United he has great players around him and he will give it to a Wayne Rooney or give it to a Carlos Tevez, whatever. I think sometimes with Scotland he tries too many of the difficult things."

The group is reaching its conclusion. All that remains is Norway away (August 12), and then the home double-header against Macedonia (September 5) and Holland (9th). Norway face difficult trips to Macedonia and Holland before hosting Burley's team. A draw in Oslo and Hampden wins over Macedonia and Holland (in the final game, by which time the Dutch surely will have qualified) could secure second place. Will that be enough to claim one of the eight play-off spots available to the nine group runners-up? It is too early to say. "I think it will go down to the last game," said Burley. He must be getting addicted to drama.

Taken from the Sunday Herald