Robertson criticism and tactical concerns deepen scrutiny of Pocognoli’s Scotland start

During this Nations League window Scotland’s start under manager Sébastien Pocognoli has come under scrutiny after a poor run of results capped by Slovenia being played off the Hampden Park pitch and captain Andy Robertson questioning the attitude of his teammates.

Scotland face the prospect of finishing third in Group B1 of the Nations League, which the article says will have repercussions for their seeding in Euro 2028 qualifying, and there has been no evident new-manager bounce across Pocognoli’s first four games. Those matches included a dismal first half in Slovenia followed by a scoreless recovery, a 3-0 loss to Switzerland after an early sending-off in which Scotland failed to register a shot on target, a 2-0 win over North Macedonia described as unconvincing, and the final disappointing home showing against Slovenia at Hampden Park.

Tactically, Pocognoli has routinely set up with a three-man backline, an emphasis on high pressing and wing-backs central to attacking phases, a configuration the article argues leaves the team exposed when opponents increase central numbers. Scotland are said to lack an obvious two-man central defensive pairing, repeatedly leaving space in behind and allowing counterattacks to bypass the midfield, leaving them vulnerable in transition.

The selection and use of Ben Gannon-Doak has been singled out: at 20 he is described as lightly raced at club level and, in the article’s words, "at this point, looks unlikely to make a first-team impact at Bournemouth." He is characterised as possessing pace and directness but poor decision-making, and the piece states he cannot operate effectively as a right wing-back against credible opposition while his deployment there also denies a start to Aaron Hickey, who the article calls one of Scotland’s best players.

Pocognoli was appointed on a two-year contract and hired in August, a decision the article labels odd given the level of expectation placed on him by the Scottish Football Association. The SFA’s recruitment is described as a data-led search that resulted in a coach with no prior international management experience, and the organisation has also made staffing changes including naming Craig Mulholland as chief football officer and Graeme Mathie as head of strategy, operations and performance; the article notes Mathie was plucked from the Scottish second tier and Mulholland was present in the dressing room during the Nations League fixtures.

Youth and continuity issues are highlighted alongside age in the starting XI: six starters against Slovenia were 30 or older while the article reiterates that Scotland have nevertheless qualified for three of the last four major tournaments. The piece also notes Tony Docherty has been appointed Scotland under-21 manager and is fielding teams in the same formation as Pocognoli; it adds Docherty last took charge of a plummeting Ross County.

Tactical inconsistency is illustrated by a late switch to a defensive four in the Slovenia match that the article says left players generally confused, and Pocognoli is quoted insisting he is "flexible" in a tactical sense while disputing having a touchline row with Robertson. The article adds Scott McTominay’s return for the next set of fixtures would provide an iota of hope, were it obvious where the Napoli man fits in.

The article concludes that the alarming nature of the performance against Slovenia places a huge emphasis on November’s fixtures, notes public support has yet to materialise with 34,000 at Hampden for the Slovenia visit — almost 20,000 short of capacity — and warns that if matters collapse there will be significant questions about the chosen direction of travel.