Disagree entirely. To set a team up to defend is one thing but this is usually done in recognition of the strengths of both the opposition and your own squad.
Starting with our opponents, the Czech Republic are the 37th ranked nation who at the beginning of a complete rebuild process after the end of a golden generation. Recent results, including a home defeat by Lithuania and a defeat at Hampden, did not fill me with fear and can in no way be used to justify playing a 4-6-0 formation. A coach who comes to this conclusion based on the information at hand must be at best completely niave or at worst tactically arrogant. Levein falls into the second tranche for me.
Looking at our own strengths (not many granted) it is impossible to come to the conclusion that we are able to field enough defensively aware, intelligent players to fit the managers preferred formation. No Paul Lamberts in this squad. Instead, Levein decides to play this formation and fit square pegs into round holes. For example, show me a game where a debutant international striker is deployed as a wide midfielder? When did Stephen Naismith become capable of playing the role given to him? Bottom line is Levein chose a system of play that we are not capable of playing and ignored systems/formations that players work with week in week out. Indefensible!
As for the shortbread and Irn Bru dig, lets just say that I am tired of Scottish national managers trawling the depths of English journeymen (some who are approached time after time and reject time after time) who are not capable of getting a game for their own nation. It is wrong on many levels but two in particular. Firstly, it devalues the honour (and it always should be!) of wearing a Scotland jersey as those selected have no affinity with the nation. It is not possible to turn on and off your national pride to suit the circumstances. Secondly it provides no incentive for young Scottish players in our game who watch continually as any Tom, Dick or Phil is selected ahead of them out of nowhere.
Imagine the scenario where a Ross Tokley for example, playing at his peak, watched a journeyman pro with no connection with Scotland jump gthe queue for a full back place following two or three call offs? It is wrong.
It woul be slightly more tolerable if they were any good but they're not!
People who chose to live, make their home and contribute to the Scottish society are different. I will be delighted to see the young Somalian born kid at Celtic (good player!) finally play for his country, Scotland. He sounds Scottish, he lives in Scotland, he is Scottish. He may not eat shortbread of drink Irn Bru but there is absolutely no doubt that this is his nation. Not something Phil Bardsley can say is it.....,.