- Published
Sometimes, the solution to a problem can be hiding in plain sight.
asserted
solution → publish → sight
On 19 May, Steve Clarke assembled his collection of players to embark on a World Cup journey.
uncertain
Clarke → assemble → journey
Despite featuring and scoring for a Hellas Verona side heading for relegation from Serie A, and with a perennial problem of strikers not firing regularly for Scotland, Kieron Bowie was overlooked.
asserted
Bowie → feature → Scotland
Given the loyalty Clarke showed to those who had served him so well, it was not a huge surprise.
asserted
it → give → him
Neither was the impotence of the national team in the USA as they conjured up just one John McGinn goal.
asserted
they → conjure → goal
"I received a message from him saying that I'm not in the squad but these things happen and it's just about how you bounce back from it to be honest," said Bowie.
asserted
Bowie → receive → it
"I scored goals in a struggling Verona team and that was as much as I could do.
uncertain
I → score → team
I was happy with where I was at and I was happy with how I'd played.
asserted
I → play → where
"I just spent a lot of time at home with my family and then a little golf holiday to Portugal for a week and that was all I did."
asserted
I → spend → week
Bowie may have been cursing his luck again on Tuesday when his first international start was reduced to a mere 13 minutes following Jack Hendry's red card in the Hampden loss to Switzerland.
uncertain
start → curse → Switzerland
The landscape now looks very different.
asserted
landscape → look → ?
The former Raith Rovers and Hibernian forward was one of the main Scotland heroes in Skopje after sending a deliciously whipped finish into the net in the 2-0 win over North Macedonia.
Playing in a new 3-4-1-2, Bowie started the game up top with Oli McBurnie in an ultra-attacking line up set out by Sebastien Pocognoli.
asserted
Bowie → send → Pocognoli
Throughout the game, his stats stacked up.
asserted
stats → stack → game
"You play all your life to represent a country and to score a goal is just an unbelievable feeling," said the 24-year-old Fifer.
asserted
Fifer → play → goal
"This manager's come in and he's put a lot of trust in me.
asserted
he → come → me
"I think the style that he wants to play definitely plays into my strengths.
asserted
he → think → strengths
I think you've seen today a lot of times running them in behind and just showing strength against occupying defenders is one of the main things.
asserted
running → think → things
"It's a process but I think everyone's enjoying that process and it's a bit of a change."
asserted
it → think → change
The word "process" has been used so many times by the Scotland head coach and his players in recent days it's probably the new team motto.
asserted
it → use → days
Pocognoli is trying to implement a radically different system to his predecessor.
asserted
Pocognoli → try → predecessor
But the man on loan at Sassuolo believes things are clicking, and it's an opportunity for him to make his mark.
asserted
him → believe → mark
"It's a lot longer international break," he explained.
asserted
he → explain → ?
"We spend a lot more time together so it's good for him to get his message across and his ideas.
asserted
him → spend → message
Also, we play more games so we have to train a little bit less of course.
asserted
we → play → course
I think for me it's a fresh start with a new coach and different ideas.
asserted
it → think → coach
"He said to me 'you don't need to prove yourself, just go and do what I know you can do' and I feel like I'm just doing that."
asserted
I → say → that
Bowie, who made his Rovers debut at 16, added: "I think people, obviously Scottish fans, have the same idea of how I was when I was at Hibs and that's all they can remember.
asserted
they → make → Hibs
"But I feel like since I moved to Serie A, it's a different league, different challenge and I'm getting more experience at a higher level.
asserted
I → feel → level
"So, yeah, I feel like I've definitely kicked into another gear and I feel like I'm showing that."
asserted
I → feel → that
The Aporia
