AIRDRIE UTD

That's it for a match report on this one. For months I've been out on a limb trying to defend our performance and tactics as a temporary glitch that would be sorted out in the transfer window. Today's performance was the worst of the season and offers little hope for the rest of the season. Today against Arbroath we were a poor shadow of what we can be. I've no doubt that our players and manager are capable of so much better but too many things aren't happening. Sure, we had chances to win the game. In a two minute spell in the middle of the second half, the mad-dog warmed the goalie's hands from distance then flicked the resultant corner onto the post before Arbroath tore upfield to score, but there was too little and the response was too late.

There are numerous problems with our team and tactics. For starters we don't have a set formation. The favourite seemed to be a 343 but under pressure we've reverted to a 433. But the problem isn't so much with the formations, it's with the players. First of all, they seem to be pretty fit. It's credit to SS and KB on that count that they're usually well turned out. We have the same problems every week. Going through each department, we are weak at full back /wing back. Doc and McGowan blow hot and cold too often. We have experience in central defence but Sandy is looking weak and there is no obvious replacement. Christie we haven't seen, Scooby had fallen away. In midfield we are really toiling. Ronald is good for ten minutes near the end of a game. Marvyn can't pass and needs help urgently. Dosser barely gets by and should be up front. Dunn can play a bit but hasn't started in midfield since the last Morton game/debacle. Darren Miller had looked promising in a few brief performances and would seem to have the physique, drive and vitality but doesn't get a mention. Gardner hasn't been quoted all season and would seem spent. Up front we can't hold up the ball. Gow looks capable of being a world beater but when he's tepid, he's tepid. Coyle isn't getting service, and Roberts is simply awful. A good player is bursting to get out, but please, do we need to watch while he waits to get it together? Last season's hot strike force, Vareille and McKeown have been split up. McKeown seems to be the only one who can hold up the ball but is 'playing' midfield. Vareille has been dropped for failing to score enough earlier this season, but the team looks poorer without him. He gives us an outlet for long balls down the right channels. Young left winger Willie McLaren looks extremely special, but how much do you ask of an 18 year old?

No amount of spin can dispel the way the fans feel about this totally inadequate performance. The fans were appalled, not just today, but practically all season. The crowds are dwindling, the die-hards are staying longer in the pubs, they want change. I'm not calling for anyones heads, though plenty are, but there must be a change of fare. Football can be exciting. Fans want to see goals, effort, bravery and commitment. Today we had twenty minutes of Willie McLaren. I'm still with SS, probably out of blind loyalty to my favourite player from our 'glory' years, but only just. We can still easily get promotion, we didn't lose much ground today, but there won't be too many more lifelines. We need to solidify the defence, get the midfield working, and start creating chances for our strikers. We don't have long to sort it out and probably not too much money to dip into the transfer market. But from what I can see it's not just the players or their quality. We need to become a team again, and QUICK!!!!!