Pop quiz, hotshot. Two people are touted for a new job. One candidate is given the role temporarily. The second says, if he was offered it, he’d think about it but prefers to go elsewhere. Who do you make favourite to get the gig?
It’s the first one, right? Well, wrong. I thought the same but the layers have different opinions over Malky Mackay and David Moyes, both of whom are in line to be named as the next permanent Scotland manager. The job is vacant after Gordon Strachan fell on his sword following a failure to qualify for the World Cup, the second time he has not taken the Scots to a major final.
Moyes is the jolly at the moment and he is as short as -125 with Skybet. The best you can get is +200 with Unibet. Mackay, who was on Friday asked to take control of the team while the hunt is on for a new boss, is the second favourite at +300 with Ladbroke.
This despite Moyes, apparently, ruling himself out in the politest way possible so as not to offend his countrymen.
“I don’t think anyone ever turns down their national team opportunity, but I think it has to be at the right time,” Moyes said. “My first choice would be to go back into club management but if Scotland wants to talk somewhere along the line, I’d be happy to help or speak with them and see what they’ve got to say.”
The phrase ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ comes to mind with Moyes. Rightly or wrongly, he has hardly been in hot demand since his double failure at Real Sociedad and Manchester United. And those are hardly the words of a standout favourite in the market.
Mackay is the Scotland performance director so his appointment would make sense in terms of transition. He is highly regarded and did a superb job in difficult circumstances at Cardiff City.
If he gets a surprise win against the Netherlands, who are rock-bottom following their own shock failure to qualify for the World Cup, then the Scots FA board will find it very hard to look past him. Certainly, he should be ahead of Moyes in the betting given the ‘distance’ each candidate is to the role.
But if those odds don’t float your boat, a gamble on Paul Lambert at +1400 with Skybet could be the way to go. Lambert is a terrific coach and is well thought of in Scotland having won eight major trophies with Celtic.
His candidacy would be based on getting the best out of limited talent. This was how he made his name in management at Wycombe Wanders and Colchester United. At bigger clubs with bigger ego players, he struggled. But he won’t have that problem with the Scots.
Calculators
