When Steve Clarke stepped down as the manager of the Scotland national team, the supporters of the Tartan Army were eager for a fresh direction and a new identity. Behind the scenes, the change was nothing short of a revolution, while on the pitch the team began to show signs of evolution, sometimes in brief, striking flashes.
Sebastien Pocognoli, the newly‑appointed head coach, has delivered a brand of football that mirrors the promises he made during his appointment: proactive, attacking, and unrelenting. Yet the way he has implemented this philosophy diverges from the expectations many held when the 39‑year‑old, with a crisp, modern résumé, walked into Hampden Park as the emblem of a progressive Scottish side.
During his first training camp, we were given a clear view of the spectrum of results that have already unfolded under his stewardship: the encouraging draw against North Macedonia on foreign soil, the disappointing home defeat to Switzerland, and the chaotic, all‑encompassing loss to Slovenia on home turf. The Slovenian match, in particular, encapsulated the good, the bad and the ugly in a single performance, raising questions about tactical balance, player roles, and the broader strategic direction. Beyond the immediate impact on the Euro 2028 qualifying seedings – a topic that could become convoluted and potentially detrimental – three key observations emerge from Pocognoli’s first quartet of games. **1.
The Return of the Back‑Three** The three‑centre‑back system that served Steve Clarke so effectively in the early stages of his tenure has resurfaced under Pocognoli. This formation is familiar to the new coach, having employed it successfully at both Monaco and Union Saint‑Gilloise, so its reintroduction is unsurprising. The real discussion, however, centres on how the back‑three functions within the current squad. On paper, the system appears logical.
Scotland has lacked natural wingers for close to a decade, relying heavily on full‑backs to provide width. With the emergence of 20‑year‑old Ben Gannon‑Doak, alongside Josh McPake and Findlay Curtis, the coaching staff faced a dilemma: where to slot these creative wide players. Gannon‑Doak was deployed as a wing‑back in the final two matches, sharing the flank with captain Andy Robertson, who now operates as a centurion on the opposite side.
This asymmetrical setup – a natural winger on one wing and a full‑back on the other – should, theoretically, grant Scotland greater tactical elasticity. In practice, however, the lack of deep‑running forwards made the side appear more rigid than intended.
When Pocognoli switched to a traditional back‑four during the latter stages of the dismal loss to Slovenia, the impact was immediate: Curtis and McPake, playing as outright wingers, seemed more threatening than the wing‑backs they replaced. This suggests that while the back‑three offers defensive solidity, the team may still need a more conventional width to unlock opposition defenses. **2.
Adjustments in the Attacking Shape** Pocognoli’s only notable alteration to his starting formation concerned the attacking line‑up. In his first three fixtures, he favored a 3‑5‑2, positioning John McGinn in a deeper midfield role behind two traditional No 9 strikers. For the Slovenia encounter, he tweaked the setup to a 3‑4‑2‑1, allowing McGinn and Ryan Christie to operate just behind Oli McBurnie, effectively creating a dual No 10 partnership.
Throughout the camp, several forwards – McBurnie, Kieron Bowie, and Robbie Ure – displayed moments of promise. Nevertheless, it is likely that only one of them will cement a regular starting place in Scotland’s strongest XI moving forward. John McGinn, whose penalty against North Macedonia elevated him to joint‑fourth place on Scotland’s all‑time scoring list alongside legend Lawrie Reilly, is expected to partner returning stalwart Scott McTominay once the Napoli midfielder fully recovers from a minor heart operation. The McGinn‑McTominay duo has been a potent combination for nearly a decade, and their partnership will probably remain a cornerstone of the side, though the exact configuration may be tweaked to suit either the personnel available or the overarching tactical philosophy.
**3. The Evolving Role of Billy Gilmour** At the heart of Pocognoli’s press‑centric approach lies a re‑imagined Billy Gilmour.
The 25‑year‑old, who earned his 50th cap during the camp, has transitioned from a deep‑lying orchestrator to a more advanced, high‑pressing presence. Traditionally a deep‑lying playmaker with an exceptional ability to beat the press, Gilmour was pushed higher up the pitch to harness his energy for relentless pressing and to exploit his technical skill in breaking down compact defensive blocks. This tactical gamble carries inherent risks. By positioning Gilmour further forward, Scotland sometimes became vulnerable to swift counter‑attacks, exposing the relatively slow pace of the back‑three during transitional moments.
Moreover, as the primary conduit for building play, Gilmour is required to cover extensive ground, expending energy at both ends of the field. Despite these challenges, many Scottish fans still regard him as the standout performer of the camp. Whether Pocognoli ultimately settles Gilmour at a defensive‑midfield (six), a more advanced midfield (eight), or even a secondary striker role (ten) remains to be seen, but his importance to the new regime is undeniable.
In summary, Pocognoli’s inaugural camp has offered a mixed bag of insights: a revived back‑three that may need complementary width, a flexible attacking shape still searching for its optimal striker partnership, and a pivotal midfield figure in Gilmour whose role could define Scotland’s future playing style. As the team prepares for the next set of qualifiers, the balance between tactical experimentation and player comfort will be crucial. Fans will be watching closely to see how these early lessons translate into consistent performances on the road to Euro 2028. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
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