By Diamondblogger August 25 2008
We seem to be a talking point in some circles now with our lack of goals scored in the league so far. But is any criticism fair? Are Airdrie too negative, are we just crap, have we had it tough to start with? I'm going to have a brief look at our start to the season and see what factors are at work.
Personally I blame Jim Thomson. If the Queen of the South centre back hadn't brought Simon Lynch down, then both Lynch would have opened his account but we'd not be having to hear the Airdrie United Nil jokes.
So why are we firing blanks?
Are we too negative?
How can we be negative with MacDougall, Cardle, Di Giacomo, Lynch and Hazely in the side? Are Man Utd negative with Nani, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Evra in theirs? Of course we're not, but then again, we're no Man Utd either. There's a world of difference in terms of quality. We haven't been supplying too many good goal scoring chances. Our midfield haven't been getting forward quickly and often enough. And when our wingers have beat three men we need a ball delivered in. Our side is young and inexperienced, when the penny drops...
Are we crap?
We're just a bit green. We have two centre halves in their early 20's and only a few dozen games between them. Our two centre midfielders are no more than 22 or 23. The two wingers are no more than 20/21 too. We do lack experience but as mentioned above, when it clicks, we could be hard to handle.
Have we had a tough start?
It certainly hasn't been an easy start. First game it's the beaten cup finalists and it took a professional foul to halt us. Second game we lose a stupid goal against a Thistle side who are setting a decent early pace. Dundee and Dunfermline in the next two games were two of the favourites to go up and both have bags more proven quality and experience, never mind hot strikers in McMenamin, Antoine Courier and Andy Kirk between them. I don't think we've done to badly considering.
Where do we go then? I think we'll see a few changes soon. I'm not sure we can carry the two wingers from the start. I think we'll find Brown and/or McLaughlin starting soon in place of one or both of them and relying on the young guns to provide and impact off the bench.
We may even see Di Giacomo drop wider bring in Noble too at some point.
But essentially we may not be doing so badly at all. Have we had our four toughest opponents in the league already? Would we have drawn blanks against St. Johnstone, Clyde, Ross County and Livingston? Well, we did get two against Ross County already so maybe I've just answered my own question. Morton have not started the season at all well, so maybe some or all of our questions will be at least partially answered before too long.
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Did anyone watch the Portsmouth v Man Utd last night? Pompey had an alright game but just couldn't maintain possession making Man Utd look good. Dunfermline did the same to us they basically marked us out of the game pressuring us in to making mistakes, we never got a chance to hold on to the ball for any length of time.
Man marking vs zonal marking
Man Marking gets players on top of you doesn't give the other team time to play, zonal (the tactic I think we use) lets the other team play and you make last ditch tackles. Why do I think we play the second, because we don't have the experience or players whocan make a tackle in the middle ofthe park.
In closing I still think we are ahead of where I thought we would be the team are showing much more fight and endeavour and long may that continue, the next four games are where this league will decide whether we are worthy to be in this league or not.
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Morton (9th with 0 wins, 2 draws, conceded 5)
Livingston (3rd with only 1 loss, conceded 4)
Clyde (8th with 0 wins, conceded 6)
Ross County (10th with 0 wins, 1 draw, conceded 6)
So with the exception of Livi, that is a much easier 4 games coming up than our first 4. Don't forget we scored 3 against Ross County and although our scoring record in the league hasn't been great, we have scored 8 goals in 3 games in the cup competitions. We have been creating chances and it really is just a matter of time. After 4 games last year we had lost 2 games. I have no doubt that the goals will come soon - we have a good swuad that is capable. It will be worth the wait.
[www.johnnymartinswilly.com]
morton, clyde, livingston, county, and by the looks of things, St.Johnstone are the teams we're looking to take all 3 points from. if we keep it tight at the back, we'll get confidence from that. goals will come with a swagger, and i reckon its coming this weekend. one victory against morton and we'll be right in the top half of the league.
We havent scored any goals in the league but 8 in the cup, so their are goals thier, so i dont feel anything really to worry about
I'm not panicking just yet, I'm sure the league goals will come and in the not too distant future. The players we have signed have the ability, it's only a matter of time.
"Onwards and Upwards"
I think Noble adn Di G are similar adn Lynch offers an alterntive of taking the ball in to feet. However the first to score a league goal has my vote.
Next gave v. Livingtston will be very interesting.
Quote:Zdb
goals will come with a swagger, and i reckon its coming this weekend. one victory against morton and we'll be right in the top half of the league.
Mystic Zdb!!!!
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