Outplayed by an inspired Ukrainian team at Hampden and dismantled in Dublin by a makeshift Republic of Ireland side, Scotland endured a miserable end to a marathon season.
The three-at-the-back shape preferred by Steve Clarke is not providing the solidity it once did, and the manager’s reluctance to alter a malfunctioning system has been to the detriment of his team. His lack of in-game adjustments reflects his stubbornness, but he was without the services of his star pupil.
Kieran Tierney missed the June fixtures with a knee problem that ended his season prematurely. The 25-year-old brings calmness and assuredness to the backline, and he has been a colossus in a dark-blue shirt. It is perhaps easy to forget, but a factor behind the current formation was the requirement to find a system that would allow Andy Robertson and Tierney to prosper in the same team.
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It is somewhat typical that Scotland’s two best players play in the same position. There were some initial teething problems, but Robertson and Tierney have developed and formed a formidable partnership on the left side. Robertson provides the width, while Tierney causes mayhem with his modern - and unconventional - interpretation of the left centre-back role.
Tierney’s forward darts are his trademark, but his defensive nous was sorely lacking in the timid displays against Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland. Quite simply, Scotland lacks the quality to play three central defenders without the 25-year-old. Tierney is the heartbeat of the Scotland team, and his all-too-frequent absences should be recognised in the manager's thinking.
Tierney’s value to Scotland cannot be overstated, and his worth to his club is also considerable. In the glamour world of the English Premier League, where inflated egos are commonplace, the defender, known for being low maintenance, is a throwback to a simpler time.
Unsurprisingly, once Tierney earned a first-team chance at Celtic he seized his opportunity. The defender became the poster boy for the club he adores, and by the midway point of the 2017/18 season, he had played more often than any other outfield player in Europe.
By January 2018, the fullback had amassed 3,607 minutes of competitive action. His workload was considerable for a developing 20-year-old, and a lack of alternatives ensured he was rarely rotated during a 60-game season. The local favourite had an injury-hit campaign the following season, missing 24 matches, and physical issues have been a regular source of frustration ever since.
Arsenal’s willingness to spend £25 million on Tierney three years ago - a record transfer fee for a Scottish club - did raise curious glances in some quarters. The Gunners took a risk and signed a player recuperating from a double hernia operation, and it offered a glimpse of what was to come.
One of Arsenal’s most consistent performers has missed 48 games in three seasons. Tierney’s absence is always keenly felt, and his lack of availability in the closing months of the recent campaign contributed to the Gunners' failure to secure a Champions League berth.
Tierney is the obvious candidate to wear the captain’s armband at Arsenal. He is a conscientious and valued team member, yet there is reluctance from Mikel Arteta to give the defender added responsibility. The Spaniard no doubt recognises the leadership qualities of the Scot, but he is acutely aware that his on-pitch representative needs to be readily available.
Tierney has still averaged a respectable 29 appearances a season during his three years in north London. His talent and industry ensure he is worth persevering with, but Arsenal and Scotland need better contingency plans for when the 25-year-old is absent. Arteta and Clarke have expressed their admiration and appreciation for Tierney, yet neither can fully depend on him.
Tierney trains as he plays, with aggression and intensity, but he may have to curb his enthusiasm as he career progresses.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
