"Whether it be tactically or otherwise Levein has become entrenched in a defensive mindset."
Back Under 2.5 goals @ 1.75/7 – if Miller starts
Jaymes Monte previews Scotland's second home qualifier in the space of four days and picks out his best bets...
International football managers are judged on two things and two things only; tactical decisions and team selection. Early in his career as Scotland manager Craig Levein angered fans when deploying what was essentially a 4-6-0 formation in a Euro 2012 qualifier game away to Czech Republic. Although he refused to publically admit it after the game he recognised the error of his ways and hasn't since deployed the same brutally defensive tactics. Now his decisions on personnel are being brought into question.
Against Serbia on Saturday Levein opted to start Kenny Miller, a player who recently took the decision to move to Vancouver Whitecaps and play in the MLS and has scored just one goal in seven matches in what can only be described as a second-rate league, over Jordan Rhodes, a player who has just been transferred for £8million and scored 40 goals last season. Okay, there is an argument to say that those goals came in League One, but is the MLS any better than English football's third tier? And even if you think it is, Miller is now 32 opting to play out his career in relative obscurity, while Rhodes is a 22-year-old high in confidence and traversing a steep upward trajectory in his career.
Whether it be tactically or otherwise Levein has become entrenched in a defensive mindset. On Saturday Miller was the failsafe, workmanlike option. Picking Rhodes would have been a signal of intent, a sign that Scotland wanted to go out and score goals, rather than hope to knick the three points with the only goal of the game.
It makes sense to wait until the teams are announced before betting on this game. If Miller is selected ahead of Rhodes again then a chunky bet on Under 2.5 goals is advised, at odds of 1.705/7. If Rhodes gets the nod then take that as a signal of intent and back the 1.855/6 being offered about a home win. This is a game that Scotland can and should win, if only the manager would share that same optimism.
Recommended Bets:
Back Under 2.5 goals @ 1.705/7 - if Miller starts
Back Scotland to win @ 1.855/6 - if Rhodes starts
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