AIRDRIE UTD

I’m not really going to bother too much with a match report as such for this game. Only one chance decent chance was created in the first half, Willie McLaren raced clear on goal but wasn’t ruthless enough with his chance as Colin Scott smothered the weak shot. McLaren had another similar chance in the second half but the finish was similar. McLaren had a good run down to the bye-line early in the second half but his subdued attempt to cut the ball back for Coyle looked the result of fatigue at that early stage of the game. Queens scored early in the second half through Gunther Bowey, Airdrie again failing to clear their lines. Young Hollis wasn’t to blame for the goal, and he pulled off some good saves after that. There after the action in the stand was more interesting that the fare on the pitch. Several fans were involved in heated exchanges as frustrations got out of hand.

Airdrie were pathetic, no ifs or buts. Sandy Stewart’s tactics aren’t apparent. Whether this is his fault or the players, things need to change urgently. The front six are the same players who’ve started most of the last 7 or 8 games and it just isn’t working. For the umpteenth game McKeown and Coyle simply aren’t getting any chances teed up for them. As strikers they’re starved of ammunition. Both players have to drop into midfield to get on the ball and its painful to watch. The fact that neither player is blessed with good aerial ability or pace makes them difficult to watch. Thankfully Coyle is good for a goal or twenty a season.

There is nothing coming from the wings. McLaren usually makes good runs inside the full back but that tactic has been sussed out, and when he does get played in, he’s failing to convert. Both McLaren and Barkey aren’t supplying any quality crosses. McLaren tends to hit the first defender, whilst Barkey looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights when he’s in possession. He’s been in need of a break for at least the last three or four games and is going backward quickly. And the least said about Hardie and Marvyn’s passing the better. Again, they have their good points and are good solid competitiors but when we need a pass to play in the strikers they’re found wanting.

Defensively we’re a mess. Docherty is an attacking midfielder at best. At full back he’s very inconsistent, one minute making superb tackles and headers, the next he’s been split like a kipper, completely out of position. Christie’s mobility is usually enough to make a Sherman tank look like a mini cooper and quite honestly I’ve had a kidney stone that’s passed better. The big man is good in the air though against lanky strikers like Armand One, but against Queens wee fat striker he’s getting pulled all over the place. McManus is just as bad in every way. He’s not so good in the air but is slightly more mobile. His distribution has been awful too. At left sided centre back he’s unable to play down that wing. McGowan and Lovering have been playing well at times, but have been haunted by stupid mistakes. Yesterday Lovering was dropped, presumably due to his howler last week. That’s been a recurring theme this season. Make a mistake and you’re dropped. Last season our title success was based on a back four of Christie, McManus, McGowan and Lovering. So far this season they’ve probably only started one game together. This scapegoat culture needs to stop, its done us no favours. Pick the best back four and get them doing the right things. If we make a mistake, turn the page Sandy, get on with it, stop shouting at them like they’re dogs, and work at getting it right again. You wanted to have experience guys in there, treat them like men and they’ll come good for you.

After this abysmal defeat Sandy Stewart surely has to change things. Without Alan Gow we look a pathetic team and we don’t have that many reliable options to change things up front. For starters though we need to get the defence working. We need to get the back four from last season playing together again. In midfield we need to rest Barkey who’s simply not producing. We could play either Varielle or Docherty on that right wing. I’m not a great fan of him, but I think Docherty can be a John Wark-ish type of midfielder, the kind who likes to burst forward and get on the end of things, a goal scoring threat from midfield. He could also work back to support Christie defensively. Because of his aerial ability he’s also a good outlet down the right. Could David Dunn be an option on the left too? His passing and playmaking ability has been missed this season but his lack of defensive prowess is a killer. He’s completely out in the cold just now and may be completely out of favour, but in recent weeks it’s been obvious that we are a poor passing side. That would also allow us to move McLaren farther forward where we’ve been lacking the kind of pace he possesses in abundance. Without Gow we look relegation material. Gow doesn’t look like he’ll be an every week player for a long time due to this niggling thigh injury. McLaren may be the only player we have who could provide a real forward threat till then. Roberts, Varielle and McKeown have all struggled this season.

Good luck Sandy Stewart whatever you do. You’re stuck with a rather poor looking squad. You could and should have made some changes during the summer but you were either too loyal to what you had, or you were restricted in what you could do. I’ve not been amongst those calling for your head on a platter but you’re surely in make or break territory now. I for one have faith that you can pull through this barren spell. There’s 7 weeks till the winter window opens again. Get some good results behind you quickly for your own sake and get us out of this relegation dogfight, then start looking at getting in the kind of players that can make us a good side.