|
Post by Boony on Nov 17, 2006 9:24:03 GMT
10 more points to avoid relegation, s1ut. Reckon you'll manage it?
It seems you're struggling, but on the right side - drawing and winning is much better than drawing and losing. Keep poking them with sticks and the points will keep on coming.
KUTGW!
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 18, 2006 17:11:36 GMT
February 2008February starts with a clash of the top two, as we head off to Brechin, on some the back of shocking form that isn't reflected in our results, to be honest. That's sorted here though, as Brechin bang in two goals in the first fifteen minutes and then cruise through for a 2-0 win. The only action we add to the game is when midfielder Matthew Coad is sent off for kicking a Brechin midfielder. Something I wouldn't mind doing myself. After the game, I'm a bit pissed off and end up feeling worse when Coad doesn't accept the fine for violent behaviour. I fine Coad a second week's wage out of pique and drop him to the reservers. Still annoyed I then call up the press and have a moan about forwards Ollie Ryan and Lee Wilson, saying each is having a run of very disappointing form. Ryan respond positively to this, saying he needs to sort himself out, but Wilson feels I've been too harsh, so I drop him and send him to the reserves too. Yes, that would be last year's top scorer, play of the season and fans player of the season in the reserves. Continue on the "who's with me?!" path, I tell the press we're going to beat Stirling this weekend and then go look to see who's responded positively to my confidence and who's sphincter is all a quiver. Turns out that our best defender, Criag Higgins, is not too confident about the game, so he's dropped too. Douglie Hill comes in for Higgins and John Bruce is up from the reserves in place of Wilson. Higgins makes the bench, Wilson is gone from the squad. It's fair to say that the squad shuffle worked, as we smash in 11 shots on target, but an outstanding day from the Stirling keeper means we only win one-nil, as Bruce hits the byeline and cuts back a nicely angled pass for Ollie Ryan to head in for his first goal since the late 1950s. The next week it's another 0-0, as we host Hamilton and do enough to win, but also could have thrown it away as Martin Riley bangs an 88th mintue shot off our crossbar. Luckily Brechin draw 0-0, so don't run away from us. By the time the next week comes around for the final game of February, Wilson isn't in a strop any more, so he's back in the squad, but Bruce and Ryan continue up front together. This proves to be a good idea as Bruce slots home a peach from 18 yards thanks to a headed pass from Ryan. Bruce gets himself booked in the first half and then shoves someone in the first minute of the second half and so is immediately withdrawn. Moany Wilson comes on and he gets a goal on a plate thanks to Ryan too, as the big former Lincoln striker holds the ball, then slides it through for Wilson to knock home from 10 yards. It's the first time we've scored more than one goal for seven games. So, having a bit of a shout and seeing who's up for it and who isn't seems to have worked a bit. We're top again, with eight games to go.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 18, 2006 17:19:27 GMT
10 more points to avoid relegation, s1ut. Reckon you'll manage it? It seems you're struggling, but on the right side - drawing and winning is much better than drawing and losing. Keep poking them with sticks and the points will keep on coming. KUTGW! We can now finish no lower than eighth, which means we're safe from relegation and have acheived better than the board request, already. Media prediction had us own for tenth too, so ha! In your face paper types!
|
|
|
Post by Moo on Nov 19, 2006 14:49:57 GMT
Nice work on the non-relegation, s1ut. I can confirm that I have already paid for the First Division pay-per-view season ticket, so I can watch Montrose play.
No pressure.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 19, 2006 17:23:35 GMT
If I don't make it I'll give you the fiver back myself.
|
|
|
Post by coffers on Nov 19, 2006 17:48:32 GMT
Another good month, even without high scoring games. Keep plugging away, Brechin obviously don't want to be promoted. KUTGW!
|
|
|
Post by Sonic on Nov 19, 2006 23:19:58 GMT
Neither does Stu's team :checkit:
I'm thinking about putting an outside fiver on Dowdenbeath.
KUTLW Leading :thumb:
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 22, 2006 8:26:02 GMT
March 2008The fact that I walk away with the March Manager of the Month award is down more to the inconsistant form of the teams around us, rather than our blinding form, as Brechin in particular and the previously white-hot Cowdenbeath both struggle through madness month. Our first game of March shows there's something in the water, as we host Alloa and go 2-1 up inside 20 minutes, as John "The" Bruce continues his good form with a neat opener, then lays on the second for Ollie Ryan after Alloa equalise. At the start of the second half, Barry Donachie, who's only in the side thanks to an injury to regular right back Stuart Cumming, scores a stormer, bending the ball around the keeper from 20 yards. Sadly, it's our own keeper, and that'll be 2-2. I have my finger poised over the Brian-Laws-Plate-of-Chicken-Wings team talk button for Donachie, when he's saved a fractured face by substitute Lee Wilson, who steals the ball off an Alloa defender and seals a 3-2 win! Brechin win 3-0, while Cowdenbeath are held 0-0 at home by a dire Rath side. Our formation against Alloa had been very narrow through circumstance, as left midfielders Greig Henslee and Ronayne Benjamin were both out with injury. I'd trawled the freebie list and found a decent Dundee cast off AML called Karl Duguid and was happy when he'd signed in time for the Alloa game, only to find out that he had a one game suspension hanging over him. We jaunt off to Berwick the following week and our defence allows Tweed forward Ben Watson to grab his first goal for 11 hours. Which is generous of us. We do finally equalise, when a storming shot from the returning Greig Henslee is somewhat harshly credited as an own goal, as it banks into the left corner off Cincinnati Bengals' Quarterback Anthony Wright. The shot appeared destined for the right side of the goal and was already past the keeper. We'll take the 1-1 though. Especially as our Keeper, John Farquhar is voted man of the match - that should tell you who was in charge here. Forward John Bruce, who has done so well since my Delia Smith-style "Let's be 'avin' you!" tirade breaks an ankle against Berwick and will probably miss the rest of the season. Cowdenbeath and Brechin both win, 1-0 and 2-1 respectively. The win at home to Peterhead the following week is anything but a routine one, as we have to rely on Chris McLeod's first career goal to give us a 1-0 win with our only shot of the game. The visitors manage nine on target, earning John Farquhar a second-straight man of the match award. Brechin lose 1-0, while the Cows win 4-3. So now it's crunch time. At home to Cowdenbeath, with a three point lead at the top of the table to defend. If we lose here and Brechin win too, then all three teams will be on the same points tally. Right from the kick off Cowdenbeath just look the better side. Markus Paatelainen has always been a problem for us and it's the same here. He's set to tight marking, closing down and hard tackling, but he's just too talented and always finds the space he needs, even with us playing a narrow, defensive formation. Surprisingly, it's not Markus who opens the scoring, as Ian Armstrong swings in a low, near-post cross, which is hammered home by Captain Liam Buchanan in just the sixth minute. We last till half time, but we've had one very wayward shot on goal, while the Cows have peppered Farquhar in our net and thankfully, as his halftime rating of 9/10 shows, he's been up to the task. At the start of the second half, Cowdenbeath win four corners, back to back and when the last lands at the feet of Paatelainen, just four yards out, it has to be a goal... But here's Greig Henslee, throwing himself across the goal line to kick away Paatelainen's shot! The ball bounces out Kris Brash, who shows good composure, holding the ball, then he sees Henslee is up and sprinting, so he bends a pass down the left sideline, Hero Henslee runs onto it, swings in a cross and Ollie Ryan rises to belt home a gorgeous header and we're level! This seems to disturb the Cows and we pour forward. I switch to a much more attacking formation and mentality and we really push for the winner, until I realise that, if we draw here then the gap doesn't get any smaller. Three points above the Cows will do me, really. So I make the cowardly mature decision to revert to defensive. Cowdenbeath are thankful and take the chance to catch their breath, then suddenly realise they're out of time. 1-1. Brechin draw 0-0 and it's as you were. Farquhar wins his third straight MoM award and gets a press comment from me that he's playing really well. This makes him very happy. Which is nice. Next saturday we're away to Ayr, who are garbage but always give us trouble if they don't have two men sent off. Calum Watson scores his regular once-half-yearly goal with a rocket from 20 yards that suggests he should get many more goals a year, but we can't hold the lead for 60 minutes and Ayr grab a late equaliser. It's an ugly game and the only plus is the play of Under 19 defender Darryn Kelly who's given his chance to replace the suspended Chris McLeod. Cowdenbeath take out their anger on Peterhead with a 4-0, but Brechin lose again, at home to Raith of all people. Hamilton beat Alloa 3-0 and that means that the playoff positions are all set, with only the championship and playoff order to decide. Our remaining fixtures : Stirling (H) Hamilton (A) Brechin (H)
|
|
|
Post by Moo on Nov 22, 2006 9:13:28 GMT
A win and two draws against the playoff sides and you're safe. Nothing can go wrong!
|
|
|
Post by coffers on Nov 22, 2006 10:23:20 GMT
Whatever happens, it's been a fine season. but fingers crossed that the Promtion is automatic.
KUTGW! :thumb:
|
|
|
Post by Sonic on Nov 23, 2006 1:25:38 GMT
What they said.
:thumb:
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 30, 2006 12:12:12 GMT
April 2008
With just three games to go, including two against other playoff teams, it's really important that we get off to a good start at home to Stirling.
Things look slightly promising as we turn total first half dominance into a 1-0 lead at the break, thanks to a Calum Watson effort that rebounded in off a defender, but disaster strikes in the 73rd minute, when Stirling equalise, then immediately go into the turtle formation, 4-1-4-1 and defend for the remaining 20 minutes.
A 1-1 draw at home isn't going to help us, really, especially when Stirling were held to just one shot all game. It's an ugly time for GLitFOS to appear.
Worse follows, as we drop a 1-0 away to Hamilton in our penultimate game and winger Greig Henslee is injured, ruling him out of the rest of the season.
Cowdenbeath somehow manage to lose to Stirling, which means that if we beat leaders Brechin in our final game, we're champions.
Instead of beating Brechin, what we get is an insipid effort from players with poor morale who have long ago cracked under the strain of actually acheiving something. The only players who show any fight or heart are goalie John Farquhar, who has now spent two entire seasons playing above his talent and defensive midfielder John Adam.
So it's appropriate that after allowing an early goal, Farquhar saves a penalty and then Adam scores in the 93rd minute to seal a 1-1. We needed a win for glory, but, to be honest, we did well to come away with anything.
For the second straight season, we'll be in the playoffs. This time, on the back of very middling form, instead of excellent form and against Cowdenbeath.
Brechin go up, Ayr go down, Alloa will be in the relegation playoffs. Fourth placed team Hamilton will play first division side Airdrie in the other playoff semi.
PLAYOFFS
Our playoff campaign for promotion to Division One lasts nineteen minutes. That's how long it takes Cowdenbeath to open up a three goal lead, adding a fourth before halftime.
Our form has so depressed me that I can't even be bothered stripping the pain off the walls with a shouty session and instead don't even go and see the players, leaving them to stew in their performance.
Ollie Ryan grabs a consolation effort in the second half, but this means we have to beat Cowdenbeath 3-0 in the return to go through.
After the game, our fans have a bit of a shout for the first time, (which is a bit rich considering I'm about 18 places higher than their garbage team should be), whining "why-o-why doesn't Bandersley drop the 4-4-2 formation."
So I do just that for the return, going 3-5-2 for the first time ever. We lose 1-0, for a 5-1 aggregate defeat and the fans then whine "why-o-why doesn't Bandersley drop the 3-5-2 formation."
I make a note to ignore the fans in perpetuity.
So, a bit of a let down in the end, really, although I can polish the turd and say I was predicted ninth in division three last season and tenth in division two this season and finished second both times.
The team clearly has serious problems though, if only with self belief.
I'm made to feel slightly better when Cowdenbeath win the final 4-1 on aggregate against first division opposition.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 30, 2006 12:14:39 GMT
That's supposed to say "stripping the paint", but I like the accidental version, so I'm leaving it.
|
|
|
Post by coffers on Nov 30, 2006 12:25:08 GMT
I like the accidental version too, I thought you might have meant it to be that way. Anyhow, despite the depressing end to the season, it was still a fine achievement to get as far as you did. Hopefully you'll get some money to spend and an improved reputation in order to get some players in that actually deserve to play for the club. KUTGW!
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 30, 2006 12:27:20 GMT
The story of our 2007/08 season can be seen in the following :
WWWWWWDWDLWWWLDDDWWDDDDWLWDWWDWDDDLD
Only four defeats - fewer than anyone else in the division - but a whopping fifteen draws. A good section of the draws came against teams I felt we should be beating, but it could be that I just had too high expectations, because Montrose were picked to finish dead last.
The draws came about because our front line just stopped working after the early months. Ollie Ryan finished as top scorer with 14 league goals, but nine of those came in the first 12 games. Lee Wilson slumped just as hard, starting with four goals in five games and finishing with ten across 28(5) appearances.
Wilson's problem is with self belief, but Ryan seemed to be "figured out" by the opposition and was just cancelled out after early success. It's possible the service into him wasn't good enough, but our midfield was a strength, so that doesn't seem right.
The problems could have come from our team operating in two ranks, with the defence given individual instructions that meant they all remembered they were defenders first, but perhaps didn't add enough, if anything, to our attack. Our 24 goals allowed was the best in the league, but our 43 scored was 16 less than Cowdenbeath and better than only three teams.
I still don't feel I can be more expansive at the back though, as our talent level isn't there. Something we will have to improve over the off-season.
I'll run through the squad shortly.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 30, 2006 12:30:26 GMT
In the middle of the season there we have a ten game unbeaten streak, that netted just 16 points.
|
|
|
Post by Moo on Nov 30, 2006 12:49:20 GMT
Ah, the old "I messed up badly so I'll bring out the GLITFOS excuse and no-one will notice" routine. Nice work!
To be fair though, you did say throughout you were punching above your weight, and a playoff place is a damned fine effort.
I'll let others comment on a "Stu" and "weight" joke.
KUTGW! :thumb:
|
|
|
Post by Moo on Nov 30, 2006 12:51:09 GMT
Oh and hang on.... with three games to go and four points to catch up, Brechin won the division? :sheesh:
|
|
|
Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Nov 30, 2006 13:19:50 GMT
KEEPERSThere can be only one! And that one is John Farquhar who has a silly name, but balls the size of a Wildcat Pizza. Consistently plays above his stats and when I say "I expect a performance from you!" he nearly always gives one. Had a four game spell in mid-season where he scored 8-8-9-9, which is the best any of our players have ever done. I have no idea what our other keepers are like, because nobody but Farquhar got a look in, in the league. GK : Farquhar - App: 38 Avg: 7.08 MoM: 5 DEFENDERSSomething of a revelation in 2007/08 as early defensive wobbles forced me to call up Craig Higgins from the reserves and only a couple of late struggles stopped him from being our highest ranked player this season. Alongside him Chris McLeod was steady. I remember thinking McLeod was utter garbage after the first year's pre-season friendlies, but he's come on and even scored his first career goal this year. Fullback is a little more shaky, as Stuart Cumming is solid at right back, but Kris Brash is unreliable on the left. Cumming gets a few 6s but doesn't add many 8's either, while Brash will chip in an 8 here or there, but is the first to fall apart if things go wrong. DC : Higgins - App: 35(1) Avg: 7.11 Ass: 1 MoM: 2 DC : McLeod - App: 36(1) Avg: 6.97 Gls: 1 MoM: 1 DL : Brash - App: 42 Avg: 6.86 Ass: 1 MoM: 1 DR : Cumming - App: 36(1) Avg: 6.76 Ass: 3 MIDFIELDERSOur man most reliable is defensive midfielder John Adam who's used in a holding role to allow our other guys to roam a bit, although he is proving useful enough with the ball that I may have to take the shackles off of him soon. Despite Adam's abilities, the focus most often shifts to Greig Henslee, our right footed left winger, who finished as our highest rated player this year. Henslee doesn't really score enough, but he always looks like he's doing something with the ball. On the other side, Calum Watson is another who gets far fewer goals than his play suggests, but he's usually reliable. Matt Brazier plays the middle in a four man midfield that hasn't changed from last season. He's 31 now though, so I'd like to find a replacement for him somewhere. In the mix in the midfield are Robert Smith who's useful enough to always be on the fringe of the squad and freebie pick up Matthew Coad who has promise, but isn't threatening the starters. Ronayne Benjamin looks good, but doesn't really do much, which makes him similar to Jermaine Brown. DM : Adam - App: 43 Avg: 7.09 Gls: 2 Ass: 6 MoM: 3 MC : Brazier - App: 28 Avg: 7 Gls: 1 Ass: 1 ML : Henslee - App: 31(1) Avg: 7.17 Gls: 1 Ass: 6 MoM: 3 MR : Watson - App: 35(4) Avg: 6.87 Gls: 3 Ass: 3 MoM: 1 FORWARDSThe place where it all went wrong. Sort of. As already mentioned up there ^ both Ollie Ryan and Lee Wilson started fast, but then died, possibly because our gung-ho tactis of last year only worked for part of this season against higher opposition. Certainly after mid-season I was having to do a hell of a lot more work, managing tactics and massaging egos. It perhaps didn't help that Ryan responded best to a kick up the pantfish, while Wilson needed directly opposite treatment. Lurking in the wings is Andrew Mangan, who has an opinion of his own abilities that, shall we say, is somewhat in excess of my own and John Bruce who looked great, then disappointed, but then was a real threat when he was restored to the first team, before picking up an injury. We have lots and lots of forwards, including the promising Martin Nicholl in the under 19s, but I've allowed a lot of contracts to lapse, in the hopes of cutting the wage bill and paring the squad back. I need a few more hungry first-team-ready players in their late 20s, perhaps and a few less on-the-bubble youths. ST : Lee Wilson - App: 30(8) Avg: 6.87 Gls: 12 Ass: 5 MoM: 4 ST : Oliver Ryan - App: 34(7) Avg : 6.80 Gls: 16 Ass: 4 MoM: 2 FC : Jermaine Brown - App: 6(15) Avg: 6.52 Gls: 4 Ass: 2 MoM: 1 ST : John Bruce - App: 9(11) Avg: 6.65 Gls: 3 Ass: 2 MoM: 1 = Team of the Year.
So, I need to move on a lot of the fringe players who were brought in on the hope that they'd be useful and cut away a bunch of the reserve side, through allowing contracts to expire. I have £30k to spend on transfers this year, but again most of the action will be in free agents, as we're not a big enough to entice anyone worth actual money. The £6.5k for wages will be much more useful. On the staff side of things, we really need full time coaches, but can't do this on the £15pw allowed for individual staff. The board are also blocking the appointment of any more coaches. With Farquhar, Higgins, Adam and Henslee with have a solid spine to the team, but it's noticeable that that core up the middle is blunt, because it doesn't have a forward on the tip. Some higher quality defenders that can be allowed more of a free reign are a target this off-season, along with the perpetual search for a 20-goals-a-season forward.
|
|
|
Post by coffers on Nov 30, 2006 13:37:44 GMT
Nice run down Stu. :thumb:
|
|
|
Post by Moo on Nov 30, 2006 16:19:48 GMT
Agree with the old fella on this one.
And the stars are pretty.
|
|
|
Post by Sonic on Dec 1, 2006 4:07:52 GMT
Shame about hte finish of the season, as a win instead of a draw(as you stated) was all you needed. Still, you've done remarkalby well for such a stuttering team. Play-offs aside of course Nice wrap-up there too :thumb:
|
|