Craig Levein To Face His Fate

by Dugald Skene

The SFA announced today that they are set to discuss the future of Scotland manager Craig Levein in the coming days following Scotland's 2-0 defeat to Belgium in Brussels on Tuesday night, the latest in a string of disappointing results for the national team. Keen not to make any knee jerk reactions, they released a statement including the following:

"It's important that we just reflect on the start to the campaign, sit down with the manager and with the board and actually look at what's happened over the last few matches and, in particular, what's happened in the last two games and then decide on our course of action.

"It's important that we actually sit down, look at the facts and then decide on the next steps."

Craig Levein's days as Scotland coach may be numbered

So what are the facts? 

Levein's record in competitive games is shocking, achieving only a 36.1% win rate (43.5% for all games), far poorer than the much maligned Berti Vogts (48.8%) and the short lived term of George Burley (42%). 

Whether the causes of this poor form can be blamed entirely on Levein is the subject of much debate, but he certainly has to accept that a lot of that blame does fall at his feet.  With a similar, if not more talented group of players available to him than in recent years, he has failed to find a preferred, consistent and successful starting XI. 

In this most recent campaign, his decision to play with one man (Kenny Miller) up front in the opening two games, both at Hampden, was an immediate sign of painful pragmatism that quickly backfired on Levein, achieving a disappointing 2 points from 2 games. 

Although an improvement on the crippling 4-6-0 formation fielded against the Czech Republic in the previous campaign for Euro 2012 qualification, this immediately forced him and the Scotland team on to the back foot in the group, in turn making the manager swallow his pride and invite the outcast and in form Sunderland striker Stephen Fletcher back into the squad. Other players who have been in form for their clubs but not recognised by Levein made it back into the fray, including Celtic playmaker Kris Commons. 

His decision to drop Paul Dixon at left back, one of Scotland's better players in the first 2 games for Southampton's Danny Fox only added to the growing list of odd decisions made throughout his tenure.

Levein also used the long awaited return from illness of midfielder and captain Darren Fletcher to mask over the inconsistencies of selection and strategy.

For me, Levein has had his chance. 3 years and 23 games has provided ample opportunity to cement an ethos, an ethic and a successful record. Never fully embraced by the tartan faithful, he has arguably always been facing an uphill struggle, but that shouldn't deter from the fact that he has not fulfilled his own ambition and the nations expectation to win football games when it matters.

Levein must go, and the SFA need to see this as a black and white issue. Whatever their deliberation, it needs to be quick and decisive. Should he go, the challenge of recruiting a new manager must be made quickly, but not rashly - the next round of qualifying matches doesn't come around until March. I highly doubt that Craig Levein will be at the helm come the spring.