Strachan ready to take chances

Gordon Strachan has declared he is ready to "gamble" as he begins his career as Scotland manager.

Last Updated: 01/02/13 at 08:38 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  World Cup Europe Qualifiers. Click here to bet.

Gordon Strachan: Keen to make an impact

Gordon Strachan: Keen to make an impact

Manager Specials

So who will replace David Moyes as manager of Everton after his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United? Wigan's Robert Martinez heads the betting. Check out the latest odds

Strachan kicks off his reign with a friendly against Estonia next Wednesday and is keen to get his point across to the players beforehand.

The Scots sit bottom of their World Cup qualifying group with two points from four games and must beat Wales and Serbia next month to have any hope of an unlikely turnaround.

And Strachan aims to come up with a system that gets his best players in position to hurt other teams.

Strachan, who recalled Lee Wallace, Chris Burke and Ross McCormack as he named his squad on Thursday, said: "In the next couple of months we need to gamble, whether it's gambling on the field or on the coaching field, because I'd like to put a lot of things in the players' minds and that will have to be on the coaching field.

"My gamble is then, before the Estonia game, do we do that much that they might be a wee bit tired for the game or do we do little and try to win the game?

"We have got to find a happy medium where I can put across a few things on the training field.

"The problem is we all come from different styles of football. We need to find one that suits the way we want to play.

"The way we want to play is to try to get the best players on the pitch and find a system that suits.

"I have got an idea of how I would like to play football in the future but that's a long way off."

Strachan used the example of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who has changed his system in recent weeks to allow Daniel Sturridge to play alongside Luis Suarez.

"He has said: 'I'm a clever manager, I'll get my two best players in'," Strachan said. "He has changed his system and the football they have played at Norwich and Arsenal was fantastic. You can't have your best players on the bench just to suit a system.

"The long term is (performance director) Mark Wotte's job, mine now is to deliver victories with a formation I know will work with the players I have got.

"It's hard just to have one because you might have two of your best players missing so then you have to have something else.

"And there's a difference at home and away.

"As I said, we will have to gamble."

Bet with SkyBet  World Cup Europe Qualifiers. Click here to bet.

TEAMtalk Facebook Fan Page

The TEAMtalk fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Champions League final: Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says side can bounce back

Jurgen Klopp is backing Borussia Dortmund to reach another Champions League final despite their defeat to Bayern Munich.

Champions League final: Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben relieved by Wembley win

Bayern Munich hero Arjen Robben admitted winning the UEFA Champions League buried his previous demons.

Champions League final: Mats Hummels salutes Bayern Munich after Wembley win

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels admitted Bayern Munich deserved to be crowned champions of Europe.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved