THE captain of the Scotland men’s football team has urged the Media to back the team, widely quoted suggesting it has been too negative in the wake of their opening World Cup qualifying campaign fixtures.
And following his comments yesterday Gary Caldwell has found himself on the receiving end of some counter-punching from the Press.
On Saturday, Scotland drew 0-0 at home to Serbia, adding another draw, 1-1, against Macedonia, again at home, on Tuesday. They have been widely interpreted as disappointing results.
Some of today’s reporting lead with him defending the team’s manager, Craig Levein, and focussing on the performance of the players. But others give prominence to his comments about the Media.
He is quoted, as saying: “At times we, as players, haven’t been good enough and we’ll admit that. That’s down to us – it’s not the manager.
“The Media and what they write affects public opinion. You have to take responsibility for that. I don’t think his tactics are negative.”
But the Record, in particular, hits back. Writes Michael Gannon: “Caldwell reckons it’s the big, bad Media who have it in for the manager and it’s the outside negativity that is tearing the campaign apart.
“It’s the hacks to blame for the Tartan Army abandoning Hampden in their thousands in the space of just four days.
“It’s the Press who are making fans boo the boss when he appears on the big screen and chant for £8million hitman, Jordon Rhodes.”
