It has to be said that I jumped through no hoops when George Burley was appointed manager of Scotland. Now, some months after the event, I am even less ecstatic about Burley. Not once has he ever lighted the heather on fire, nor will he ever. Not as boss of Scotland anyway. A nation knows when a relationship is working. Scotland have had it previously with Walter Smith, look at Jack Charlton and The Republic, also England with Cappello. But Burley and Scotland – just feels like a shotgun marriage.

The friendly against Argentina last night, I saw no glimpse of a silver lining that Burley could lead us towards South Africa 2010. And while many may cry that : 1. This game was just a friendly and 2. Remember our record in friendlies! Are only making excuses for the man and allowing him to stay in a position that looks, at best, uncomfortable for all involved.

The Scotland vs Argentina game was a chance to prove that Burley, has the tactical nounce required by so many on the international management stage. Argentina started strongly in the first 10 minutes, got the goal they wanted, then sat back, intent on hitting Scotland on the counter-attack. They needn’t have bothered! “We’re playing football as if it were 100 years ago”, to coin Charlie Nicholas.

Yes, we were playing an Argentinian side who were made up from 95% European based players. They toyed with Scotland in the first 10 minutes, such was the nature of their intent, got their goal then switched off. Scotland, showed no penetration whatsoever. More intent in hitting lost balls forward to a laughable front line than rolling up the sleeves and actually passing through the midfield.

Scotland’s friendly hoodoo is one that needs laid to rest. For 12 years now at Hampden, our national team has failed in every way possible to rack up a home win in a friendly international game. To myself it is an embarrassment. To those in charge it is a reward of mis-management that stems from the very top and reaches to those involved at the lowest level. It could be simply swept under the carpet by setting ourselves up with lower opposition. To hell with the gate receipts and sponsor money. It is time to get this monkey off our backs.

Scotland now find themselves in an unwelcome scenario where players no longer wish to play for a manager whom they feel is inadequate for the job! A support who feel let down after the past few years of dragging ourselves out of the gutter and a manager in charge, whom to be honest, has no clue as to the way forward. Anyone know Bertie Vogts’ number? Well perhaps not Bertie’s more like The Samaritans if Burley is kept in charge much longer.