O Flower of Scotland

Just lost my update due to timing out whilst writing it on this! So this was the next two results.

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More good progression being made.

@ScottT;

Aye, good couple of wins that makes it unbeaten in four with four clean sheets! Just need a striker

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After finding a striker that not only played well but actually scored during the last couple of games the curse struck again as Stevie May was ruled out of action for two months. Perhaps the timing wasn't too bad though as Oliver McBurnie is on the comeback trail and has been given the opportunity to feature despite not having yet done so for Sheffield United since returning from injury. Jason Cummings misses out through injury alongside Scott Bain and Callum McGreggor. David Bates misses out due to his lack of game time for HSV which means Hibs youngster Ryan Porteous has a chance to make his international debut. Zander Clark returns for Bain and Allan Campbell has his chance to shine as he replaces Callum McGreggor.

After a hugely successful Euro 2020 Scotland will be hoping for more of the same with the World Cup in 2022 and their chances were given a big boost when their group was announced. As the second highest placed team Scotland were in a great position to get a good draw and that they did. With Switzerland the top seeds of the group they managed to avoid any major nations. However, they will come up against Russia, yet again, and Norway who are both very competent sides but are perhaps performing a little below par currently. Minnows Armenia and Lichenstein complete the group.

Confirmation of recent speculation was had today after Scotland manager Christopher Burns accepted his second job in club management. He will, of course, continue as Scotland manager and he will co-manage both Scotland and Scunthorpe after taking the reins today. Scunthorpe are an English League One side currently sitting twenty-third in the league table. With the reputation Burns has garnered as Scotland manager in these past couple of years it is a shock to see him accept a job so low down in the leagues. He could surely have taken a more reputable job if he wanted to manage a club as well as his country though so it is a strange one. Unsurprisingly he has only signed a 6 month deal with the club and will no doubt leave upon it's expiration at the end of the season. With the club languishing in the relegation spots Burns will have his work cut out for him in order to guide them to safety. With the January transfer window about to burst into life we will expect to see a flurry of activity from The Iron.

Excellent group for getting us back to the world cup. Also the Scunthorpe job should be interesting

Very interesting to see Burns take the Scunthorpe job. But in terms of the national side, no complaints can be had with recent results. The good performances have been rewarded as well with that world ranking, in turn helping you with what you can only see as a group you should be qualifying from.

@Leckuno;

I was very happy with the draw but I might be underestimating it.. It's a nice little side challenge definitely.

@TheLFCFan;

He's always looking for a challenge is Burns Happy with the results for sure, hoping McBurnie can lead the line for us for a full campaign see I can see if we have a striker to get us anywhere!

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It has been a welcome change for me getting used to day to day management once again and the past month has flew by. I took charge of the team on the day of a game so that was an intense start to life here with Scunthorpe in itself. What a game it was too. We were 1-0 down and then 3-1 up with thirty five minutes to go in the game but it was only in the 90th when Southend decided to score and then they got another two minutes later, courtesy of a penalty, to spoil the result for me on my debut. A shocking way to throw away a lead but as I was to discover over the ensuing month it wasn't a 'me' problem it was a recurring one as we threw away the lead to Barnsley and MK Dons too. We dug out some real good wins though and had to really grind them out as the players began to show a bit of fight and determination. With that renewed will to win we managed to pull out of the relegation zone and up to mid to lower table mediocrity.

I actually inherited a fairly decent side here albeit the best players are all in on loan which is a bit stifling due to the max 5 loanees per match day squad. Our best right back Callum Connolly was on loan from Everton and despite our best efforts he wasn't willing to accept a modest wage to sign permanently and Everton wouldn't loan him back and so our loanee problem became less of one and we went out and signed James Bolton permanently. Marcel Lewis was another that was on loan and returned to his parent club in January but we were able to convince Chelsea to send him back and we actually went on to sign an affiliate agreement with them as the clubs looked to forge a relationship. Lewis is one of our star three attacking midfielders alongside fellow loanees Aaron Rowe and Yan Dhanda. Those three have great quality about them but were missing a forward who they could trust as Tom Elliot, Kevin Van Veen and Olufela Olomola flattered to deceive. So, we opened the check book for the second time and splashed the cash on Macauley Bonne who has gotten off to a fantastic start. Jack Barmby, Jacob Butterfield and Jason Holt were brought in to bolster a position seriously lacking when I joined as the central midfield was at the bare bones, particularly in star quality. Barmby is a guaranteed starter as our main attacking threat from midfield whilst Butterfield is most likely to star alongside him in a holding role with Holt acting as back up to the two. We actually had a really good goalkeeper in the squad in Rory Watson but when I heard that young Robby McRorie wasn't getting game time at Rangers it was a no-brainer to sign him as it will work out for all parties, including the national team.

In terms of the staff at the club I didn't inherit much in terms of core staff as it was just the goalkeeping coach, head of youth, a couple of physios, the head of sports science, the chief scout and the chief data analyst that were worth keeping around. I brought Darren Davies in from the cold(or warmth) down under to be my assistant manager then added the experience of Iain Brunskill and Paul Jenkins alongside Danny Elliot as my coaches. Former Liverpool fitness coach Gonzalo Rodriguez took a bit of convincing to join us but eventually he accepted an offer from us after weeks of negotiating. Former free kick specialist Ryan Taylor was next in the door as the ex Newcastle player accepted the role of Under 23 assistant manager and he was soon joined by former Manchester United star Patrice Evra who joined as an Under 23 coach. Some real quality additions and I believe all of these guys can help us this season as we try to push as high up the league as possible. It's likely that I will be on the move afterwards but all of these lads can secure a great future for themselves here.

A good start despite a disappointment in the first game. With 15 games still to go, you could still go on a push for the playoffs here! Some good signings in January as well, particularly Butterfield who I remember doing well for me in a Derby save a few years back and Yan Dhanda, who was a real prospect at one point!

Those string of victories have done wonders for your league position, but it's very tight at the moment. Just eight points separating ninth from the bottom four!

Bonne is a fantastic addition. Barmby was an interesting addition, but his goals alongside Dhanda and Rowe's have been very important. Hopefully this form can continue.

A lot of upheaval in the backroom and within the squad but you've hit the ground running here. Excellent!

With the January transfer window now closed and all players and staff now firmly in or out of the club it was time to focus on the day to day stuff again. Having picked up four wins out of six in January I was confident that we could go on and find a bit of form going in to this month. In the end up though, we were just completely inconsistent and it's left us only just ahead of the relegation zone. I was expecting Macaulay Bonne to come in and grab some goals for us up front but he hasn't been able to do that and in actual fact only Aaron Rowe managed to score for us outwith set pieces. It is something we'll have to work on to get Bonne scoring or give Tom Elliot his place back in the team, he is the top scorer but I didn't think he was the man to lead the attack due to scoring just eight goals in thirty-two games. Our main performer right now is probably loanee Robby McRorie as he's kept us in a few fair games and his kept a clean sheet in half of his matches so far. I'm definitely hoping that the praise lies with the forwards and not the goalkeeper next month though.

Just about doing enough to keep your head above the drop-zone. If you survive, this season can be viewed as a success, I'd say.

Scotland's rise has been incredible! The Scunthorpe job will be a major challenge but one I fancy you to do well in!