It seems that BBC Scotland have treated the international break as Lawrence Shankland Appreciation week.
The state broadcaster appears to have only one thought in mind as they shamelessly promote the Hearts striker on every front.
During the 2019/20 season BBC Scotland produced the most pointless and uninformative ‘fly in the wall’ documentary as they followed Hearts on their journey to The Championship.
After his Jambos contract wasn’t renewed Craig Levein found himself promoted to the role of football expert at the BBC alongside big hitters like Tom English, Neil McCann, Rory Loy and Billy Dodds.
Following the defeat against Holland on Friday English came up with a pre-prepared tribute to Shankland that praised every move and touch that he made before being substituted for Che Adams.
Last night Scotland failed to win for the sixth match running with the north of Ireland following on the defeats inflicted on Steve Clarke’s side by England, Spain, France and Holland.
“I didn’t speak to him, I just picked the team”
Hear from Steve Clarke ahead of Scotland v Northern Ireland…. ????
Watch on @BBCScotland, listen on @BBCRadioScot or follow our live text now. #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/DKQDXFHdOF
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) March 26, 2024
It is clearly a worrying run with multiple problems in a squad that includes Nathan Patterson, Billy Gilmour and John Souttar.
Given the chance to question Clarke on those issues post-match Sheelagh McLaren opted for the Hearts line, the decision to put Shankland on the bench and start with Lyndon Dykes. Scotland barely created a chance worthy of the name.
Most of the BBC Scotland discussion in the build up to the European Championships will be focussed on Shankland wile Clarke tries to make the best of a defence likely to include Patterson, Ryan Porteous and Jack Hendry.
Scottish fan forced to read Tom English (2024, colorized) pic.twitter.com/0Iy3CLgitD
— Thistle Scottish Rugby Podcast (@thistlerugbypod) March 10, 2024
I watched the pundits with their half-time and full-time Shankland love-in and even allowing for one of them being his manager, you’d have thought it was Gerd Muller they were talking about. Shankland is an SPFL-level striker, too slow and too heavy to make any impression at international level. He fell on his face in Belgium and there aren’t too many “Shankland to top EPL side” stories doing the rounds, are there? There’s a reason for that.
To listen to those clowns last night you think he was some top-drawer player, cruelly overlooked by the manager as some sort of personal slight, rather than somebody with a whopping 2 goals from 9 internationals.
You know he’s gonna be at the huns next season by the way every pundit and the hun media is sooking his plums and backing him to the hilt on everything
The match was covered live by the BBC in Scawlin’ last night on TV and radio . On the TV there was wee Sutherland , Shelley Kerr and Naismith with James MC Fadden there as a ‘ token ‘ tim . Commentary from Liam MC Leod and MC Cann .On radio they had McIntyre , Thompson, Lamont Willie Millar MC Cann on pre commentary duties and maybe English ..I can’t be sure . Can you see a common thread there with the Scottish BBC ‘ s employment policy using our money to fulfill it’s codes and protocols ? Somebody with a ‘ name ‘ has to stand up and complain about this biased and unfair situation ! There will be tens of thousands in Germany in June for the Euro’s …how many will be BBC scoops and guests and commentators ? Now we know why the licence fee is being raised very soon !
Unfortunately Harold, If he rocks up at The Sevco Huns next season, I think that he could hurt Celtic and hurt Celtic big time sadly…
Smirky Jane is being carried on a tide of BBC acceptance, as she makes more assumptions on a subject I don’t think she has any formal training in and certainly no insight.
Just like the Chief Sports Writer, treading water in a career which will bring rich rewards, but will anyone want to remember anything that they said?