Steve Clarke was all smiles before the European Championships kicked off, suggesting that “negative Norman’s” should look on the brighter side of life.
Fast forward 10 days and it’s safe to say that the smile is no longer on the Scotland manager’s face with many of his problems being self-inflicted.
The biggest problem was Scotland’s shot shy forward line that saw Grant Hanley provide half of his country’s four shots on target across the three games, while Rangers-linked Lawrence Shankland sat on the bench looking on.
Lawrence Shankland shows quality that could benefit Rangers
Despite being on the pitch for barely half an hour, the Hearts number nine produced an expected threat contribution of 0.34.
For context, Scotland didn’t even manage to get above 1 across the three games in terms of expected goals.
What this means, is that Shankland was causing problems for Hungary and likely to score or create a chance for someone else.
With 31 goals last season and a similar number the season before, Clarke’s misuse of Shankland is similar to that of Andy Roxburgh’s of Ally McCoist.
Both are prolific goal scorers and treated by pragmatic managers as if they aren’t capable of holding the ball up and linking play purely because they aren’t built like Olympic athletes.
Rangers fans all know that McCoist was so much more than just a goal scorer and even played in midfield in his earlier Ibrox days.
Shankland, despite an entirely different physique is no different.
Against Hungary, he showed that he is more than just an accomplished finisher and if he had been trusted with more minutes, Scotland might not have drawn a blank.
He will be the first to accept that he isn’t going to out pace defenders in a foot race, however, his movement and football intelligence means that he can play at a higher level.
Shankland move makes sense as Clement builds new squad
With just a year left on his Hearts contract, now is the last chance for him to make the sort of move that gives him the chance to step up a tier.
Rangers have a clear player trading model when you look at the players signed in January and who have already arrived this summer.
There is also a need to bring in experience and Scottish players, two issues already addressed by Philippe Clement.
The players have returned to Auchenhowie for pre-season training with Cyriel Dessers currently the only fit number nine at the club as Danilo continues his rehabilitation, however, the big Nigerian international has been linked with a move to PAOK Salonika.
Hamza Igamane is expect to arrive in the coming days but, with Kemar Roofe no longer at the club, Rangers have room for an experienced goal scorer.
Not much has been spent by Nils Koppen either which makes an offer for Lawrence Shankland even more obvious.
