When Scotland exited the World Cup it was the third frustrating group-stage exit in a row under Clarke. A common theme in those has been a shortage of attacking threat.
Lots of people have diagnosed the problem as a lack of speed and athleticism across the pitch limiting Scotland's counter-attacking ability compared to other nations of a similar size.
A lack of the same in defence restricts a coach who might want to press more aggressively. It left Clarke with a dilemma about how exactly to play on the biggest stages.
Former winger Pat Nevin has covered plenty of games at the World Cup for the BBC and believes Scotland have "weaknesses" in developing enough players with the required physical ability to compete at major tournaments.
"We need to develop a group of young players coming through that are athletic," Nevin told the Scottish Football Podcast.
"The pace some of these players are going at, it does leave us a bit in the shade.
"I'm not just talking about France and watching them. I'm talking about the Colombians, the Mexicans and a lot of other teams.
"We look a wee bit sluggish and not quite as athletic as them. That's something that somehow over a period of time we need to work on."
But how? The SFA released a report in 2024 saying clubs were failing young players by not giving them enough first-team minutes early enough.
The introduction of co-operation agreements last season has opened up more opportunities for players to get game time in the lower leagues in Scotland at an earlier age.
But Nevin believes far bigger changes are required.
"Steve Clarke knew we didn't have that [athleticism] to the same level right throughout our group. That's a hard thing to change. That's cultural, it's a lot bigger than football," he said.
"We're a small country, everybody needs to be working together. That means clubs, all the organisations within. We can't be small minded.
"We need young Scottish players getting an opportunity early."
Mulholland's background is in player development, having led Rangers' academy and held a similar role at Nottingham Forest, so he will be conscious of these issues.
How Scottish football moves forward from here will be fascinating.