Marc Wotte has a desperate wish to put a stop to the negativity that swirls around Scottish football.
The SFA performance director used his blog on May 16 to state that wish as he discussed league reconstruction- a week later he was criticising Kris Commons for retiring from international football!
Following the announcement from the Celtic midfielder Wotte tweeted: “Retiring at 29 after only 10 caps honestly puzzles me. Meaning, where does pride, desire and ambitions come in this picture?”
While it’s welcome to see a fairly high profile figure at the SFA using twitter to engage with supporters Wotte should do so more responsibly.
His thoughts may be in line with those of a lot of supporters but as an SFA employee and someone that requires a strong relationship- and co-operation- with the country’s most successful club he has to choose his comments carefully.
While he might enjoy some internet or street cred for criticising Commons it won’t make his job, or Gordon Strachan’s, any easier.
Looking back a week the Dutchman would be well advised to follow his own suggestions to help develop a more positive approach throughout Scottish football.
Wotte blogged: “The league reconstruction debate is for the respective league bodies to agree on but whatever the format next season, it is my desperate wish that we put a stop to the negativity that swirls around Scottish football.
“We must place a positive emphasis on the new generation of players who will underpin the championship and be more complimentary towards the coaches who are brave enough to introduce them to their first-teams.
“If we can begin a new campaign with a new mindset, then it is possible that all of us – coaches, players, referees, supporters – can work together to produce a league set-up and national teams of all ages to be proud of.”
While Wotte questions Commons putting his family before international football the SFA will be calling on Liam Henderson and Calum Waters for Scotland’s u-20 squad in the Den Haag tournament, Stuart Findlay, John Herron and Jamie Lindsay with the u-19 squad in Belgium while Commons team-mates Scott Brown, James Forrest and Tony Watt are in Strachan’s squad for the World Cup qualifier with Croatia.
Kris Commons is a class act so I can understand the disappointment of the Scottish international set-up at his intention to retire.It is of course excellent news for Celtic.
I agree with Mark Wotte. I’m disappointed in Commons as well.
Maybe he does have good personal reasons for retiring from Scotland, but, going on face value, his decision looks a bit childish- don’t forget he was at loggerheads with NL not long ago.
Plus, I can’t see how not playing international football is going to make him a better Celtic player.
paranoidandroid
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Thankfully we still have some freedom of choice left this country, although it is diminishing rapidly.
Its no one’s business, not Mark Wotte’s, and certainly not yours, whether Commons decides to withdraw from international football, for good reason or indeed no reason at all.
I don’t think Mark Wotte or you would give a toss if other people didn’t like something you did and advised you to do something else.
You would dismiss them as interfering arseholes.
“Freedom of choice”? I don’t think my comments going to interfere with Common’s freedom of choice or even get him to reconsider his decision.
But it is my business, simply because I’m a fan- and I like to see him playing for Scotland as well as Celtic. He’s a public figure, so I’m allowed to comment.
I’m disappointed he’s not going to play for Scotland, but, believe it or not, I don’t intend to go round to his house to beg him to keep playing or to make a citizen’s arrest.
I think maybe him and his good lady losing a baby earlier this year could have made him think about how precious time with his young family is.
Just a thought.
These newspaper bampots do nothing but contradict themselves to suit their own agenda.
Instead of attacking Commons this guy could of well thanked him , wished him well and talked about which youngsters could step up into his place , and that its a challenge for them they should be relishing to prove themselves.
Instead we get a piece that wouldn’t have had te same tone if Commons was playin in the new blue half of glasgow
as a celtic season ticket holder i am delighted that kris has retired he will be playing with better players as scotland could not win a raffle
Kris has only 10 caps at the age of 29. He clearly hasn’t been considered essential to operations so what is Wotte getting excited about?
I’ve read too much garbage from Wotte already to show much interest. Anyone that asks for 8 years to show the benefits of his ideas is clearly wired to the moon. He will be another to jump ship long before anyone starts to question his success rate. Then will claim full credit for guys who have come through clubs’ own systems with minimal input from any Scotland coach.
Commons isn’t a player under his direction so why comment…personal choice end of.
kris says he wants to spend more time with his family and concentrate on his club football that should be it end of.marc wotte to now come out with the garbage about kris retiring with only 10 caps that is not his fault how many times was he ommited from scotland squads being told that the had plenty of cover in his position some of the players quoted are not good enough for international football championship or div 1 was their level others could not get a game for their team but were still picked ahead of kris commons.now if wotte wants to be constructive why not say far too many players in scotland squads are not up to international football that’s why the team is so bad
Maybe its time for Wotte to justify what he actually does. A typical tired pop at a Celtic player to try and ingratiate himself with the MSM and Sevconians.