Yengi is injured and badly enough he'll miss the World Cup.
Scotland = bad is overstated. It depends on the situation and player. It's been good for many. It's also been progressing by the metrics it gets criticised for such as passing stats.
Agree - to an extent.
I think that Miller improved as a Socceroo international, from playing in Scotland.
I think Baccus has improved as well.
Sapsford's finishing has improved. Would it have anywhere else too?
Boyle was a huge asset when he first joined the Socceroos.
However, I find it difficult to see improvement in most other players after they leave Aus - if they've played senior AL football.
According to an article on Arzani in Football 360, DA claims it is very easy for Aussies to fit into the team culture in Scotland, with sense of humour the same, overt friendliness, and English being spoken, compared to Denmark?/Netherlands and Hungary, where players are more aloof.
Arzani sheds light on playing football in such cold conditions, compared to the warm/hot AL in summer, or ACL.
Apart from Celtic - a superb football playing team, when I've watched Scottish football - the movement of players off the ball to support the ball carrier, is rather poor.
The Scottish player on the ball, does not have enough players opening viable passing lanes, from proactive teammates opening enough viable passing options.
Hence, Scottish teams tend to turn the ball over more quickly.
A huge facet of football is winning the ball in Scotland. The ball is in the Transitions more, or Contested Ball Phase, like the AL in the early years.
From recently watching Italian club football, the good international teams, even the AL and ACL, more teammates support the ball carrier proactively in opening passing lanes. Hence teams keep the ball for longer for sustained periods
In some hot country ACL scenarios, and the AL in summer, of course the off the ball Pressing is less intense than Scotland, which makes it easier for teams to maintain the ball.
Apart from playing more games in Scotland, I don't see the improvement in;
first touch,
1v1 attacking skills,
faster handing speed ( ability to receive and pass the ball on quickly) in limited time and space,
game sense,
that one sees players develop from playing in Netherlands/Denmark, Championship, Belgium, Bundi, et al.
The Scottish aspirant Euroroos improve in;
heading skills ( the ball is in the air a lot),
1v1 ball winning,
physical strength and increased muscular bulk ( they might do a lot more Weight Training?).
The Scottish skill set differential from international football, is more pronounced.
en.wikipedia.org
