Paul Robinson: Leeds United captain Liam Cooper not used to Scotland system
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United…
Paul Robinson claims Leeds United captain Liam Cooper struggled for Scotland on Monday due to him not being familiar with the system used by Steve Clarke.
Scotland were unfortunate at one end of the pitch as they failed to break through the Czech Republic defence but at the other end, they were completely at sea at the back.
Patrik Schick scored twice for the Czech’s with his second goal coming from near the halfway line after a defensive horror show by Scotland and a poor piece of reading the game by the goalkeeper.
Robinson has slammed Scotland’s defensive unit but has gone lightly on Cooper because he doesn’t feel the Leeds defender is used to playing in a conventional back-three.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “Scotland struggled at the back.
“We talk about Patrik Schick’s goal possibly being the goal of the tournament – if it’s not then I can’t wait to see what beats it – but when you analyse it, from where I’m working now, the goalkeeper’s far too high up the field, the left wing-back’s pushed on, the right wing-back’s pushed on and the centre-halves are all over the left-hand side of the field.
“That goal shouldn’t have happened if the defence was in the shape it should have been in. Defensively, the organisation from Scotland wasn’t great.
“Cooper isn’t used to playing in a back-three.
“We know that [Marcelo] Bielsa sometimes adopts a back-three but that’s when a defensive midfielder drops into the middle.
“With the way Leeds play it, it’s not a stereotypical back-three. It’s the defensive midfielder who splits the centre-halves a bit wider rather than a typical back-three and Cooper isn’t used to playing in that.”
Cooper’s Scotland take on Kalvin Phillips’ England on Friday in their next European Championships game.
Defeat in that match is likely to mean Scotland’s Euro campaign is over but there’s no need most Leeds fans will be cheering against their club captain this week at Wembley.
In other Leeds United news, Ashley Cole slammed this Elland Road star after what he noticed him do in a Euro 2020 match.