Friday 4 September 2015 23:44, UK
Neil McCann rued Scotland's "toothless" display against Georgia and believes Leigh Griffiths might have been a better striking option.
Sunderland forward Steven Fletcher led the line in Tbilisi and missed his team's best chance when he poked an Andy Robertson cross wide in the first half from close range.
Although it was an opportunity which would have been best finished right-footed, Fletcher tried to convert with his preferred left instead.
McCann – a left-footed player himself – understood why he made that decision, even if it proved to be the wrong one.
But in general he feels Celtic's Griffiths – a scorer of 23 goals in his last 35 club outings against Fletcher's two in 31 games for his employers – may have been a wiser choice up front.
The Parkhead player did eventually come on but only with 15 minutes remaining when Scotland were chasing the game. Fletcher played the full 90.
Sky Sports pundit McCann, capped 26 times for Scotland between 1999 and 2005, said of Fletcher's missed chance: "It's a terrific ball from Andy Robertson, a brilliant ball in.
"If he lets it come across his body on to his right foot, you buy an extra half-yard, an extra half-second that would allow you to get a bit closer and possibly knock it in the net.
"As a left-footer, I've got full sympathy because I'd have gone with my left foot there. I know that and you sometimes find left footers will try to get their left foot around anything.
"Would Leigh Griffiths have scored that? This is the argument about him being different from Steven Fletcher.
"At times Fletcher came off the game and there was one time the ball got slid inside the full-back for [Ikechi] Anya but Fletcher couldn't make the ground up.
"I'm not saying Griffiths would have but I think he is quicker and when someone is so compact against you, you need precise little one-twos, a give and go.
"If it goes to Griffiths, I think he's just got the ability to get a half turn and rocket one. I don't think Fletcher had that tonight but lots of things went wrong."
McCann was at a loss as to why Scotland – who had been in a promising position in their group – performed to poorly in Tbilisi.
They were flat for much of the game and lacked the edge they have often displayed in their other European Qualifiers.
McCann added: "There was a lack of thrust and drive from the front four players and I think there was a lack of crispness throughout the team in terms of their passing.
"Georgia, take nothing away from them, worked ever so hard. They got into a really good shape, they sat in and when they needed to they became compact.
"That's when you need passes to be crisp, precise and for there to be lots of movement and lots of options. We didn't see it enough tonight.
"I don't know if it's complacency. I don't know the reason they were flat and I'm sure Gordon Strachan will be having a little bit of an inquest.
"Something has gone wrong. That is possibly the first time I've seen a Scotland team under Gordon look a little bit toothless.
"Most of our best chances came from set pieces and under Gordon – and in particular the four forward players allied to the full-backs getting forward – have created lots of chances.
"We've scored goals but something has gone wrong. We need to get it quickly back and address it on Monday night against Germany."
