MUCH has changed since the last time Alex McLeish was Scotland manager.

The calibre and experience of player he has to work with are certainly not the same.

And the fallout to defeat is, due to the explosion in popularity of social media in recent years, different too.

If the national team lost or drew a game before they could expect to be subjected to a few choice words from supporters in the stands at the final whistle and some less-than-complimentary write-ups in newspapers.

Now, though, the online vitriol that is aimed in their direction can be highly-personal and in some cases downright vile.

McLeish, like the vast majority of top level coaches, has no interest in exposing himself to the bile that is posted in cyberspace.

But he is still aware of the negative reaction to the Israel and Portugal defeats.

He is in no doubt the pressure on him is mounting.

He also acknowledges the Nations League meetings with Albania away in Shkoder and at home to Israel in Glasgow next month are vital to both his future and that of his team.

“There is no hiding place,” he said.

Despite his acceptance of the predicament that he finds himself in eight months into his second spell in charge of his country, McLeish admitted he had been affected by the reaction to the poor performance against Israel and, to a lesser extent, the loss to Portugal.

“It’s not a world I really want to get into, but I know that the social media network is rampant,” he said.

“I see all the little cartoons and stuff. I don’t really read it. But I have been told about some vitriolic things that have been said. If you look at the social media network, I think it’s a place for that, a window for that.

“Of course you feel it. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t. That weekend was pretty horrible. You feel as if the world is going to cave in on you. You get a half-decent sleep - with a sleeping pill! - and then you’ve got to go again. As Fergie said, it can be ‘football – bloody hell’.”

“Bloody hell!” would be the reaction of many Scotland fans if McLeish were to field a three man backline in the Loro Borici Stadium once again on Saturday, November 17.

Playing John Souttar, Charlie Mulgrew and Kieran Tierney as centre backs with Stephen O’Donnell and Andy Robertson outside them as wing backs worked well against Christian Panucci’s men last month. They eased to a deserved 2-0 win.

However, reverting to a more conventional back four is favoured by many members of the Tartan Army going forward after the debacle in Haifa last week.

McLeish went with a 4-2-3-1 formation in the Portugal game and will spend the coming weeks reflecting on which rearguard works best with the players that he has at his disposal.

“It was a good shape,” he said. “We were very compact. We controlled the first-half. The movement of their wide players and full-backs was marshalled well by our full-backs and wide players.

“There was good discipline there. I’m not blind or daft. We persevered with the three and it didn’t work the other night, but I don’t think that was strictly the main problem.

“But we’ll have a look at whether the system on Sunday night was better than the one we used against Israel and Albania. The target in the next game is to make it all better.

“At the moment we don’t have a lot of choice. Guys like Ryan Fraser can play a part and we have good competition in these type of areas. In one or two areas we need to toughen up.”

McLeish, who has fielded youngsters like Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna and John Souttar since being appointed back in February, remains convinced his side can top League C Group 1 and land a Euro 2020 qualifying place. His team can lose to Albania and still go through.

He takes heart from the difficult experiences endured by Michael O’Neill with Northern Ireland and Stanislav Cherchesov at Russia and the success the subsequently enjoyed and is adamant he can do the same.

“I’m still ambitious,” he said. “I take inspiration off managers who have gone through similar times. That’s why I feel there’s a future for us.”

McLeish has, given the success that he enjoyed in the dugout in the past at, most memorably, Hibernian, Rangers and Birmingham City, nothing left to prove in management.

But the former Aberdeen and Scotland centre half remains as hungry for success now as at any stage in his career as a player or coach and is confident his players share his desire to improve and achieve results.

“We always say in our team-talks that you have to prove yourself in every game you have to prove yourself,” he said.

“Never ever think you’re the finished article. You need to look to be at your top level for every game.

“I know it doesn’t happen sometimes, but at international level we’re trying to find consistency that has eluded us so far.”