Scottish Football Podcast - Does Pocognoli need to change already? - BBC Sounds

Radio Scotland , · 07 Oct 2026 , · 23 mins

What should we make of Scotland's slump to defeat against Slovenia at Hampden? Four games into Pocognoli's time in charge, how clear is his project, and is the back three the right fit for the players he has? With second place in the Nations League group now looking a long way off, is it time to go back to the drawing board? Martin Dowden, Steven McGowan and Cammy Bell look at a flat night at Hampden. Scotland took the lead but deserved to lose. The panel looks at a press that never worked as one unit, a high line that kept getting broken by a single ball over the top, and centre-backs Stephen Welsh, Jack Hendry and Binks being left exposed one-on-one. They also discuss three formation changes in one game, Andy Robertson asking the touchline what to do, and whether Slovenia had studied Scotland's last few games. Plus, is a 4-2-3-1 the answer, and is Steve Clarke now looking a little better in hindsight? Plus, should Kieran Bowie have started after scoring against North Macedonia? Has Ollie McBurnie's run without a goal gone on too long? How can Scotland get the best out of Ben Gannon-Doak while he isn't playing at Bournemouth? Is the criticism of Angus Gunn fair, or does the trouble start well before the ball reaches him? Do Josh McPake, James Wilson and the under-21s give Scotland real depth? And with Martin O'Neill committing to stay as Celtic manager, can he get through Motherwell, Benfica, Hearts and Celta Vigo with his critics quiet?