Billy Gilmour bagged his second senior goal for Napoli, a total beauty against Fiorentina that earned him Man of the Match honors. Talk about making a statement for Sebastien Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad, especially when the new gaffer’s luck seems to be holding strong, with zero players pulling out through injury from his extended 28-man selection since it was named. That’s a big win, considering Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland, and Che Adams are already sidelined. But even with midfield fire like Gilmour’s, Pocognoli’s staring down some serious questions as the Nations League openers loom.
Goalkeepers Stepping Up, Defense Still a Question
The goalkeeping situation, which was a real headache under the old regime, actually looks… dare I say, sorted? Angus Gunn has locked down a regular starting spot with San Jose Earthquakes after his summer move, which is exactly what you want from your first-choice guy. Scott Bain is balling out for Falkirk, and Jon McCracken’s helping Bradford City run League One. The only outlier is Liam Kelly, who isn’t even getting minutes for Rangers. But hey, three out of four ain’t bad, right? It’s a pleasant surprise! The flip side? Right-back is still a giant question mark. Nathan Patterson, since his loan to Torino from Everton, made only his second sub appearance this weekend. That’s not good, people. Aaron Hickey also came off the bench for Brentford. This position has been a problem, and it looks like it’s sticking around for Pocognoli.
Attackers Fighting For Minutes
Up front, the injuries to Shankland and Adams actually opened the door for some fresh faces, and we’re seeing some good stuff. Oli McBurnie’s a consistent starter for Hull City as they fight in the Premier League, and Robbie Ure got back into Sevilla’s starting lineup, even if they did drop one 3-1 to Barcelona. James Wilson? He’s cemented his spot back at Heart of Midlothian. That’s solid. But it’s not all sunshine and goals. Kieron Bowie, Findlay Curtis, and Ben Gannon-Doak all had to settle for substitute appearances for Sassuolo, Rangers, and Bournemouth respectively. Gannon-Doak, who’s only 20, is a key pace provider for Scotland, so his continued lack of club minutes is a real bummer. You want your impact guys getting regular action.
Midfield’s Embarrassment of Riches
Alright, but the midfield, oh man. That’s where Pocognoli has some serious decisions to make. All seven of his central midfield options started this past weekend! We’re talking about Lennon Miller for Udinese, Lewis Ferguson captaining Bologna and starting every game, and of course, Billy Gilmour doing his thing for Napoli. John McGinn even chipped in with an assist for Aston Villa. Even Ryan Christie, Gannon-Doak’s Bournemouth teammate, got only his second start of the season and played 75 minutes. The depth there is wild, and it’s going to be a fascinating watch to see who grabs those starting spots for the Nations League.
Pocognoli’s debut squad for the Nations League fixtures is shaping up to be a mix of strong individual performances, especially in midfield and goal, mixed with lingering concerns at right-back and some forwards fighting for club minutes. With no new injuries since the initial selection, he’s got his full chosen 28 to work with. How he balances that talent and addresses those problem areas will tell us everything about this new era.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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