JOHN McGINLAY: Look out for more loans if Whites don't buck up

The pressure is on after the start we have had and for a lot of the players it could be down to how this next week goes as to whether they stay in the team.

I said last week that the buck stops with the manager but the players need to perform once they step over the white line and for me, too many haven’t been performing.

This could be the last chance for a few people in the team if they don’t take this opportunity.

The transfer window may be closed but loans are available and I fully expect Owen to use them if he has to, to improve the team.

You can’t go on keeping players in the team if they don’t grasp the opportunity and keep on letting you down.

I think with the next three games, it’s the time for the players to show their worth and a time for the manager to see if things need to change.

I have already backed the arrival of Jay Spearing and at Hull, despite the defeat, he showed what a good player he will be for Bolton Wanderers .

But I still think we are a midfielder short and need another centre-back, and possibly a left-back.

Owen has used the loan window well before and I’ve no doubt he will again.

First up this weekend is Watford and I expect them to be tougher than what they were last time out at Derby. They got spanked five there but the break has probably done them a favour.

They have had a lot of changes with new Italian owners and Gianfranco Zola coming in and it is early days for them to settle. The last two weeks will have helped them gel better as a team.

I will be interested to see how Zola does there. He was undoubtedly a great player, though I never played against him.

He seems like a nice guy as well but then nice guys don’t always make good managers when tough decisions need to be made.

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IT’S back to domestic action for the lads this weekend and I’m sure they can’t wait after the international break followed the defeat at Hull.

It is always awkward when you have that break and players are away. We had five this week and one of those was the goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.

It doesn’t help if you want to use the time on the training ground to work on things to put right when players are away. They can work as hard as they want but it’s always better when everyone is there.

Then there is the possibility of players coming back with knocks from the internationals. You hope everyone gets back okay today and Owen will be keeping his figures crossed all report back fit and healthy. The frustrating thing is it is out of his hands.

As a player, I was always keen to get back after internationals. Don’t get me wrong, I loved playing for my country but sometimes you went away when you didn’t want to.

It can be good to get into a different environment sometimes – a lot of it depends on the player. After the Hull defeat, some will have been determined to get back on the training ground and work to put things right whereas others may have been glad to get away.

Of course, it can have an effect when you go away positive and things don’t go well with the national team. Sam Ricketts only came on at half-time for Wales on Tuesday but they let in six and that won’t have been a nice experience. Bogdan’s Hungary also conceded four to Netherlands so will that alter his frame of mind?

I hope not because Adam has a lot of potential. He has had a shaky start to this season for me but impressed me last year. He has showed a bit of inexperience this year but he will only get that experience by playing games.

He is going to be a good keeper, undoubtedly. But it will help when he has a solid and steady back four in front of him and it’s a strong unit like it needs to be between goalkeeper and defence.

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I NOTICED Kevin Davies speaking about defending from the front and working hard on that in training this week and I couldn’t agree more.

You have to defend as a team and work together.

I think we’ve had a problem with pace in behind us this season so far and that could be stopped at the source earlier.

Whether you play with two up front or not, you start stopping the threat up there.

Like mine in my day, Kevin’s job isn’t just about scoring goals.
He can lead by example and others will follow the lead because hard work is infectious.

If you are a younger player and see the skipper putting a shift in, it will have an impact.

If the forwards can be a nuisance to the opposition when they have the ball it can make them think again and make it harder to just send early balls through behind our defence.

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AWAY from Wanderers and it’s been a disappointing few days for us Scots as far as the national side is concerned.

Two home draws against Serbia and Macedonia may not be the worst results but we still should be going for wins at home.

When I heard the manager, Craig Levein, say he was targeting four points from six, I was dismayed because you should be looking for six.

You should be aiming for wins in all home games and then look to pick up points away.

Some of the tactics have also been strange on home turf. We have been playing on the break as if we have been the away team. Sitting back at home isn’t for me.

I know the manager is paid to make tough decisions but the tactics have left me lost for words at times.

The fans obviously think the same judging by the reaction the team got at full-time on Tuesday after a 1-1 draw with Macedonia – rightly so, in my opinion.
I always believe fans will accept poor results if they see everyone has given their all and had a go.

I don’t think Scotland are lining up to have a good go at present and I think the manager has put himself under pressure with two points from six at Hampden.

Sometimes, nowadays, the biggest concern is not getting beat when it should be going for the win.