What questions face Pocognoli after Scotland defeat?

Captain Andy Robertson suggested Scotland had been "outfought" while Pocognoli referenced not being strong enough in duels.But was it as simple as that when fighting spirit is the least you expect from a footballer playing proudly for the national jersey?For BBC Radio Scotland's pundits, it was more a case of Scotland simply being outplayed.Former Heart of Midlothian and Rangers midfielder Halliday thought Slovenia were "really compact, really organised. Off the ball, on the ball, so energetic, so industrious, willing to run forward, willing to play forward".Everything Scotland were not on the night.Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton added: "Slovenia effectively critiqued and analysed Scotland from last week and have played them off the park."For former Scotland defender Willie Miller, there was an element of both."In many departments, they were bullied, they were schooled in certain moments," he told Sportsound.So was the defeat down to the system? Pocognoli has been sticking to what is believed to be his preferred formation - three central defenders with two wing-backs playing high up the park.Initially, it appeared to have teething problems in the first half of the goalless draw in Slovenia last month before an improved second half had many enthusing at the way they pressed forward and played on the front foot.Judgement was suspended after the 3-0 home defeat by Switzerland given the circumstances of Jack Hendry's early red card, but the plaudits returned following a convincing 2-0 win in North Macedonia.Now the concerns are back.Neither Halliday nor Crichton are big fans of a back three and the Rangers Women head coach's main concern is how open it leaves Pocognoli's side out of possession, with Slovenia having again exposed the spaces behind the wing-backs.Halliday, though, thinks "Sebastien Pocognoli's version of a back three out of possession is fairly positive"."A lot of the time it is actually a back four when you see the wing-back essentially jumping as a winger and the other wing-back tucking in as a full-back," he said."My issue is more in possession, with the lack of penetration and runs in behind. If you play that box midfield and the amount of players Scotland play centrally then you have to be able to play through the centre of the pitch."Miller wondered whether the defenders at Scotland's disposal are comfortable playing as a back three."You are asking the two wing-backs to be absolutely way up the park," he said."For me, the three centre-backs are exposed and don't know how to play the system."He's had time to work with the system, but it was just all over the place. It was unbelievably poor."Central midfield has been Scotland's main area of strength for a number of years, but the latest showing featuring Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn and Ryan Christie left Halliday "so deflated"."In terms of the shape, we have nine players centrally and got so dominated in the middle of the pitch for 90 minutes," he lamented. "I can't make sense of it."And that's down to Slovenia's movement, creating spaces for each other, but also how disjointed we were in terms of are we going to press, are we going to sit in our shape, are we going to try shadow passes into the midfielders?"At no point did I think we were dialled into what we were trying to do."Off the ball, I do think in spells we've looked good under Pocognoli, but on the ball I'm still kind of struggling to see what we're meant to be."Are we a team that builds through the thirds? Are we a team that plays into the space? Are we a team that loads the wider areas and crosses into the box and floods the box?"Crichton believes "about 50% of the team is capable of dominating the opposition" but suggests "if you don't have certain profiles" in other positions, the system breaks down."If you are not clinical up front and not ruthlessly defending your box, you are always going to be in a dogfight," she said."That's where Scotland find themselves more often than not."Miller agreed, suggesting: "We were full of enthusiasm - front-foot football. But you've got to revisit it."