DIEGO Maradona might be excused for having had eyes only for his own players, but, invited to offer his thoughts on Scotland, the fledgling Argentina manager at least attempted to be polite in the aftermath of Wednesday night's friendly match. The fact is, however, that there were few players who caught the attention in a dark blue shirt, save, perhaps, for winger Kris Commons.
DIEGO Maradona might be excused for having had eyes only for his own players, but, invited to offer his thoughts on Scotland, the fledgling Argentina manager at least attempted to be polite in the aftermath of Wednesday night's friendly match. The f
act is, however, that there were few players who caught the attention in a dark blue shirt, save, perhaps, for winger Kris Commons.
Maradona pointed out that Scotland were technically inferior to his own side, though he hoped they could raise their game in order to make a re-match possible at the next World Cup, with his own side still having much work to do to qualify. "Technically we were very different," he pointed out, and few could argue, although in Commons Scotland at least appear to have found the kind of old-fashioned winger for whom the ball is his friend.
Too many of his team-mates seemed cowed by the thought of keeping possession, and looked to move the ball on as quickly as possible. Commons, however, had a hint of devilry about him, something more usually associated with his fellow Championship performer, James McFadden.
The Derby County player impressed for Scotland, and had perhaps most reason to be content at the end of the 1-0 defeat. While hardly exhibiting the easy-touch of the South Americans, he was the closest Scotland had to an outlet as Argentina swarmed at the home team in the opening 20 minutes of the first-half. He helped set-up Scotland's best chance, for McFadden, and then switched sides to accommodate Shaun Maloney after the interval. Against a lesser side, he would surely have been able to reap even more reward than he did from the scraps of possession which were his on Wednesday.
Burley hailed him as Scotland's best player on the night, and expressed delight that Commons' performance recalled the days when the Scottish side were able to boast wide men of the calibre of John Robertson, the manager's old international team-mate. That Commons was one of only five players to last the entire game told its own story, and suggested Burley was conscious of the hints offered by the player that he might be the one to hurt Argentina. He has also shown up well against Iceland and Macedonia in recent qualifiers, and, assuming he maintains his current good form with Derby, Commons might be a contender to provide the width against the Netherlands in March, in a game which will likely see Burley operate with a lone front-man.
It has been a dizzying elevation for Commons, who qualifies for Scotland due to a Dundonian grandparent. Just two years ago Steve Claridge, in one of his scouting reports for the Guardian newspaper, noted that while the raw materials were there, his obvious talented needed to be refined. "There are aspects which need improving if he is to flourish at a higher level than League One, though his natural ability is not in doubt," wrote Claridge. "He is excellent on the ball, with an impeccable first touch. His team-mates trust him to retain possession and create, and his delivery from dead-balls is superb."
Paul Jewell, his current manager at Derby, has since labelled him a "match-winner," one who possesses the "X factor". From the evidence of his four appearances for Scotland thus far, it seems he has matured into a player who can hold his own in international football, and at a stage – he turned 25 in August – most would regard as critical for a player with ambition.
The faith Burley has shown in him is also significant. The Scotland manager is in need of someone on which he can hang his hat after recent troubles with Kris Boyd and Lee McCulloch, and with Chris Iwelumo, his other rather left-field recruit, still to totally convince. In Commons, he may just have found him.
