Airdrie
Airdrie get just rewards.
By Stomp Admin
January 25 2009
Airdrie beat Dundee in what was our fifth league game with out a loss and it's clear to see the performances have stepped up a gear since the turn of the year. Yesterday's 1-0 victory on very heavy ground didn't have the pace and excitment of last weeks game versus Dunfermline but I feel our players had to work harder for the victory.
The first half was pretty one sided after the first five minutes, Airdrie had seen very little of the ball since kicking of the game but Dundee's early control came to nothing, the remiaing forty minutes were all about Airdrie trying to break down the Dundee defence.
Paul Di Giacomo tested Rab Douglas after seven minutes with a low shot from Willie McLachlan's cutback and it became obvious why Dundee have been so stingy when it comes to letting in goals over the past few weeks.
Dundee tried to respond but Colin McMenamin dragged an effort wide after he being sent clear by Eddie Malone.
The first half become little more than a battle of our attack vs their defence. Cardle and and McDougall were once again rampant, at every opportunity they took the attack to Dundee frustrating the Dundee defence in to rash challenges. I have heard it said before but there is just not enough protection for players who want to play football and Dundee's three yellow cards could so easily have been so much more.
Airdrie came out of the blocks quickest in the second half and once again kept Dundee on the back foot.
McDougall put Lynch though early in the half only for the striker to be brought down, the Airdrie support claimed a free kick referee Winter said he stumbled. Cardle followed that up with a shot that rose over the bar.
Then Lynch rattled the face of the bar, his shot seemed to be rising over the bar but then seemed to dip to hit the cross bar.
On 68 minutes Paul Di-Giacomo scored the only goal of the match, Matthew Hazley's free-kick found its way to the back post where Di Giacomo volleyed his 10th goal of the season under Rab Douglas.
In the dying minutes of the match Dundee could have scored an equaliser after Roberston fumbled the ball in the muddy conditions, Dundee had two strikes at goal before the ball was finally collected by the Airdrie Keeper.
Airdrie ran out one nil winners in a very tough match.
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Discussion started by The Stomp (IP Logged), 25/01/2009 20:46
25/01/2009 20:46
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Morton and Queens dropping two points made our victory all that more important today. Great effort by the players today Lynch was different class.
A deserved 3 points. lets keep it going
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:24:17:44:24 by Shaun William Ryder.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:24:17:44:24 by Shaun William Ryder.
Enjoyed the game, and very pleased at the result. Good that the other results helped us close the gap, too.
I thought Willie McLachlan and Joe Cardle were superb, with a few others not too far behind them.
I thought Willie McLachlan and Joe Cardle were superb, with a few others not too far behind them.
Yep agree with that cardle and mclachlan were great thought mcdougall was decent at times too and mckenna played a important role. Dundee were poor
Another good performance. Smyth, McLachlan, McKenna, McDougall, DiG all played really well - again.
Keep this up and we have a good chance of survival.
Keep this up and we have a good chance of survival.
Willie is a class act, how long has the loan been extended for? are we unbeaten since he arrived?
Also since he arrived douglas performances have greatly improved as have cardles. I thought they were both pretty good today cardle especially. nice bit of skill at the end of the game to, tho how much were both the wingers kicked about today? was getting beyond a joke. at least they kept at it tho.
Boring first half today but thought we were excellent in the 2nd, hit the bar should have had a pen when Lynch was brought down. mckenna had a free header at a corner which douglas saved. Di gac took his goal well i thought was however a little bit scrappy. Dont think we should have took our foot off the gas after we scored because Dundee were awful and never looked like scoring. Hope we can keep these performances up now and go on a good run.
Also since he arrived douglas performances have greatly improved as have cardles. I thought they were both pretty good today cardle especially. nice bit of skill at the end of the game to, tho how much were both the wingers kicked about today? was getting beyond a joke. at least they kept at it tho.
Boring first half today but thought we were excellent in the 2nd, hit the bar should have had a pen when Lynch was brought down. mckenna had a free header at a corner which douglas saved. Di gac took his goal well i thought was however a little bit scrappy. Dont think we should have took our foot off the gas after we scored because Dundee were awful and never looked like scoring. Hope we can keep these performances up now and go on a good run.
Really good game today. No real failures apart from the ref, for not clamping down on the tackles Dundee were putting in.
McLachlan, McKenna and Lynch were stand-outs. Can't remember Lynch having a bad game all season, the guy is a class act.
Thought we played well and deserved to win, best I have seen us play in the second half. Need to take our chances though if we are going to stay up.
Always wondered why we are near the bottom we have a lot of good players in the side, in my opinion being dragged down by the idiots like Smyth Lovering and Mckenna (what was he thinking of having a go at Cardle) they are all liabilities likely to explode at any time.
Mckenna could have ended up getting sent off if it went further and then we would have struggled to hang on for the last half hour.
Get rid of the neds from football.
Always wondered why we are near the bottom we have a lot of good players in the side, in my opinion being dragged down by the idiots like Smyth Lovering and Mckenna (what was he thinking of having a go at Cardle) they are all liabilities likely to explode at any time.
Mckenna could have ended up getting sent off if it went further and then we would have struggled to hang on for the last half hour.
Get rid of the neds from football.
The goalie, back four, McKenna and the front two were superb. KMac again treading water, the two wingers are dynamite but their crossing is woeful. The one in the second half where Lynch was away on our right and Cardle had an easy centre for him was criminally poor. If those three players could add a bit more quality we'd be cruising. Thankfully they're young enough to learn.
McLachlan I can't praise enough. I thought he was really raw in his first games for us but the improvement is incredible in just a handful of games.
You could see the hearts sink out of Dundee team as the game wore on, Lynch and Di Guacamole were excellent, if Di Giac only had an extra burst of speed he'd be worth a fortune.
McLachlan I can't praise enough. I thought he was really raw in his first games for us but the improvement is incredible in just a handful of games.
You could see the hearts sink out of Dundee team as the game wore on, Lynch and Di Guacamole were excellent, if Di Giac only had an extra burst of speed he'd be worth a fortune.
Great result today against Jocky Scott's Den's Park Hackers.
Robbo hardly had a save to make - everrything he gathered was routine bread & butter stuff. The back four contained everything, and Bobby Donnelly and Marc Smyth were brilliant in central defence which allowe dboth Hazely and McLachlan to push up. McLachlan gets better every week - fantastic performance today.
The two wide players were also effective - interesting that Dundee hooked their right back at half time. Cardle was passing more today but one time he went on his own into the box when really should have squared it - but that is carping on anotherwise good game from oth wingers.
McKenna bossed the midfield - he really gets stuck in, wins the ball and often makes the simple short pass. The team have been missing that kind of grit in the middle of the park in too many games this season but McKenna seems to have found his role in there and it beginning to show. MacDonald also had one of his better games today - lots of good passes. Dundee were never in the hunt in midfield today.
I thought the front were excellent. Digiacomo was my Man of the match. he took his goal well but it was the way he tracked back, hassled and won the ball and the way he got the ball just ahead of midfield and then broke forward that made him a real standout today.
Lynch - as has been said already, another classy performance by a class player.
The subs did fine in their limited time on the park and it was an all round impressive performance and a valuable three points.
The league is really tight now. Ross County are 5th on 28 points, Airdrie still bottom on 23 pts.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:24:20:08:00 by Khyber_Diamond.
Robbo hardly had a save to make - everrything he gathered was routine bread & butter stuff. The back four contained everything, and Bobby Donnelly and Marc Smyth were brilliant in central defence which allowe dboth Hazely and McLachlan to push up. McLachlan gets better every week - fantastic performance today.
The two wide players were also effective - interesting that Dundee hooked their right back at half time. Cardle was passing more today but one time he went on his own into the box when really should have squared it - but that is carping on anotherwise good game from oth wingers.
McKenna bossed the midfield - he really gets stuck in, wins the ball and often makes the simple short pass. The team have been missing that kind of grit in the middle of the park in too many games this season but McKenna seems to have found his role in there and it beginning to show. MacDonald also had one of his better games today - lots of good passes. Dundee were never in the hunt in midfield today.
I thought the front were excellent. Digiacomo was my Man of the match. he took his goal well but it was the way he tracked back, hassled and won the ball and the way he got the ball just ahead of midfield and then broke forward that made him a real standout today.
Lynch - as has been said already, another classy performance by a class player.
The subs did fine in their limited time on the park and it was an all round impressive performance and a valuable three points.
The league is really tight now. Ross County are 5th on 28 points, Airdrie still bottom on 23 pts.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:24:20:08:00 by Khyber_Diamond.
Dundee didn't hook the right back, they took off the No 10 who was sitting in front of the backline and swapped the right back to there.
Quote:upthecelts
Thought we played well and deserved to win, best I have seen us play in the second half. Need to take our chances though if we are going to stay up.
Always wondered why we are near the bottom we have a lot of good players in the side, in my opinion being dragged down by the idiots like Smyth Lovering and Mckenna (what was he thinking of having a go at Cardle) they are all liabilities likely to explode at any time.
Mckenna could have ended up getting sent off if it went further and then we would have struggled to hang on for the last half hour.
Get rid of the neds from football.
(the idiots like Smyth Lovering and Mckenna) , leave the drugs till after the game , thought they where all great today well done guys
[ img]http://i30.tinypic.com/33tice0.jpg[/img]
[ img]http://i30.tinypic.com/33tice0.jpg[/img]
Agree with almost everything said here but have to take issue with 201820 again.He has a go at MacDonald every time. Today he was excellent and much improved.
We were good all over the park but the game was won in midfield. For once we ran the midfield. McKenna was the main man in midfield having learned to get over the half way line without suffering a nose bleed and MacDonald was not far behind him. I didn't hear him booed once today so he must have been good!
This dominance in midfield for once helped Lynch and DiGiac show how good they are. My only complaint is that we didn't score more goals.
We were good all over the park but the game was won in midfield. For once we ran the midfield. McKenna was the main man in midfield having learned to get over the half way line without suffering a nose bleed and MacDonald was not far behind him. I didn't hear him booed once today so he must have been good!
This dominance in midfield for once helped Lynch and DiGiac show how good they are. My only complaint is that we didn't score more goals.
I'm with Gordy on this. McDonald adds nothing to the team, except in flashes. If he put in half the effort McKenna, DIGiacamo and Lynch did, he would be much better. Looks totally uninterested at times for me. We need an end product from Cardle and McDougall as well, fair enough, they get past defenders ( sometimes ) but I can't understand why people rave about them. Although Dundee showed very little today, they still looked sharper than us up front I thought, but hey, that's just my opinion.
Ive never been more wrong about a player. First time I saw that boy McLachlin I thought he was no more than average. He has come on incredibly well. Cardle outstanding. I think McDonald and McKenna have changed roles and it s now McKenna who is supporting front two. As for his exchange with Cardle, we all know he overdoes it a bit and occasionally Joe needs reminded. McKenna was quite right.
I thought we were pretty good, except the balance in midfield isn't right. McKenna and McDonald played well individually, but they are too similar to play together I think. We need someone getting forward into the box now and then but neither of them do that. Can't have many complaints other than that though.
Don't agree, jailbait, I didn't think Dundee were sharper at the front, they didn't have any real threat on our goal (until the late "stramash"). I couldn't see them scoring, their forwards should have been rugby players with the number of balls that ended in Row Z.
Quote:Just Me
Agree with almost everything said here but have to take issue with 201820 again.He has a go at MacDonald every time. Today he was excellent and much improved.
oh bollox jm, even your manager says the same things in the advertiser now, he's just a few months behind the brain power on here. i pay my way, i can take your jibes. I'd been postive on kmac on here since he arrived but have grown weary of his poor spell, just like everyone else. Since KB's public 'calling out' of him, he's stepped up a bit, but not to the level you think. I'll praise him when he's playing to his potential which he can do and hopefully soon, I like him and think he could become a right proper player.
PS, we won today.
With you on that one, 201820, I've been a big KMac fan since his first loan spell and while I think he played well in spells today, he hasn't shown the same level of skill and commitment in the last couple of months. I don't think it's time to show him the door just yet but I do think he will have to up his game if he wants to continue.
Come on Geordie, do your stuff the way you can!!
Come on Geordie, do your stuff the way you can!!
I thought we were brilliant today and the only thing stopping us giving a team a real doing is the lack of qualty in our final ball. Would love to see us sign a midfielder who can put his foot on the ball and move it about but also think Kmac could do this if he returned to form. Very encouraging though and if we keep playing like this we will be safe.
In the game I was watching all wee Kev Mac did was put his foot on the ball.
Unlike the midfields of the last two teams we have played K-Mac does get the ball down and then plays to the feet of the players with pace and skill to drive forward.
Most teams I have seen tend to launch the ball from the edge of the box, whereas we have been trying to play football.
I thought he was excellent today and the citicism is simply churlish.
K-Mac missed a couple of passes...so what if he hit every pass every time he would be at Arsenal. Lynch ran the ball down the home stand touchline and ran it out of play..result...a round of applause and encouragement.
K-Mac tries to craft a wee ball over the top ( a pass he should have made without doubt) and it gets cut out...result...cue moans and groans and the stock "get up here MacDonald ma grannie could do better" and other such gems such as "you couldnae pass water"
Guff...the boy was all over that game yesterday and the ex-pro standing beside me agreed. The two games he has seen him in he has picked K-Mac out as the heart of the team. The two "sitting" midfielders are freeing up the two wide boys to reek havoc.
I'm liking it
Anyhoos....thought Di Giacamo was terrific...really works for the team and took his goal well. MOTM yesterday.
The most positive thing yesterday was the players getting clapped off the park...when was the last time nearly everyne held back to show apprciation for the teams efforts.
Now very soon we need to cuff a team and with the thistle attending next week is there a better time.
Unlike the midfields of the last two teams we have played K-Mac does get the ball down and then plays to the feet of the players with pace and skill to drive forward.
Most teams I have seen tend to launch the ball from the edge of the box, whereas we have been trying to play football.
I thought he was excellent today and the citicism is simply churlish.
K-Mac missed a couple of passes...so what if he hit every pass every time he would be at Arsenal. Lynch ran the ball down the home stand touchline and ran it out of play..result...a round of applause and encouragement.
K-Mac tries to craft a wee ball over the top ( a pass he should have made without doubt) and it gets cut out...result...cue moans and groans and the stock "get up here MacDonald ma grannie could do better" and other such gems such as "you couldnae pass water"
Guff...the boy was all over that game yesterday and the ex-pro standing beside me agreed. The two games he has seen him in he has picked K-Mac out as the heart of the team. The two "sitting" midfielders are freeing up the two wide boys to reek havoc.
I'm liking it
Anyhoos....thought Di Giacamo was terrific...really works for the team and took his goal well. MOTM yesterday.
The most positive thing yesterday was the players getting clapped off the park...when was the last time nearly everyne held back to show apprciation for the teams efforts.
Now very soon we need to cuff a team and with the thistle attending next week is there a better time.
sorry if I come across as "churlish" Dd, I just KNOW he's capable of more. He has improved again in the past few weeks but he's still not doing everything he's capable of. When he clicks into top gear he'll be some player. Thing is, criticism of him this year has been justified as he'd seriously underperformed for a long period, the league table is proof, that's not churlism? It's great that the world looks rosy after beating Dundee, but on that display INternaZiosWally would have had half a chance (that was definitely churlish), we've got to keep improving as a team and that means Kmac and the wingers continuing their good form.
Good to see Di Giac talking the wingers up today in the papers, that'll help their confidence.
Good to see Di Giac talking the wingers up today in the papers, that'll help their confidence.
Agreement here. Would dearly love to cuff thistle next week. I have absolutely no complaints with the team this week. I thought everyone of them put in a real shift, and kept going at Dundee right to the end. We deserved to win by more, and were very unlucky not to have added to our goal tally, which would have eased the nerves earlier.
Quote:Agreed, Willie has certainly come on leaps and bounds since his debut against St Johnstone. Hope we can keep him till the end of the season.Diamond Inca
Enjoyed the game, and very pleased at the result. Good that the other results helped us close the gap, too.
I thought Willie McLachlan and Joe Cardle were superb, with a few others not too far behind them.
Quote:201820
sorry if I come across as "churlish" Dd, I just KNOW he's capable of more. He has improved again in the past few weeks but he's still not doing everything he's capable of. When he clicks into top gear he'll be some player. Thing is, criticism of him this year has been justified as he'd seriously underperformed for a long period, the league table is proof, that's not churlism? It's great that the world looks rosy after beating Dundee, but on that display INternaZiosWally would have had half a chance (that was definitely churlish), we've got to keep improving as a team and that means Kmac and the wingers continuing their good form.
Good to see Di Giac talking the wingers up today in the papers, that'll help their confidence.
I just think the boy takes a whole heap of crao he does not deserve. Of course he has been justified criticism over some games but all he needs to to do is get caught once or misplace one pass and he is the worlds worst player.
In the main I think your critique of him is very well balanced as you talk up his game and offer the hope he will give more even when commenting on a poor game.
I think I just get annoyed at the shouts I hear around the stands and then somehow mix you up with them as you see fit to mention him a lot.
At least he is not hiding.
You better play a stormer next week K-Mac or I will look even stupider than I am.
I'm not sure I buy the Dundee and Pars on a bad day routine being trotted out...we were just considerably better.
I agree about the noises being made by Di Giac in the Mail and Lynch in the Advertiser.....nice to see two players taking some more responsibility for on field performances.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:25:14:56:00 by Diamante_Dave.
Everyone played well. Lets hope we can pick up another 3 points against Partick.
[quote Diamante_Dave]
K-Mac missed a couple of passes...so what if he hit every pass every time he would be at Arsenal. Lynch ran the ball down the home stand touchline and ran it out of play..result...a round of applause and encouragement.
K-Mac tries to craft a wee ball over the top ( a pass he should have made without doubt) and it gets cut out...result...cue moans and groans and the stock "get up here MacDonald ma grannie could do better" and other such gems such as "you couldnae pass water"
quote]
I agree 100%, if he get's it right silence, if he messes it up you would think he's the only one ever to miss a pass.
Anyways, well done all!
K-Mac missed a couple of passes...so what if he hit every pass every time he would be at Arsenal. Lynch ran the ball down the home stand touchline and ran it out of play..result...a round of applause and encouragement.
K-Mac tries to craft a wee ball over the top ( a pass he should have made without doubt) and it gets cut out...result...cue moans and groans and the stock "get up here MacDonald ma grannie could do better" and other such gems such as "you couldnae pass water"
quote]
I agree 100%, if he get's it right silence, if he messes it up you would think he's the only one ever to miss a pass.
Anyways, well done all!
Things are certainly looking up.
Confidence breeds success & the positive signs are all there to be seen.
Leaving aside the " McDonald factor" there isn't a weak link in this team of ours just now.
The link play between the full backs & wingers is outstanding and we are back to creating chances by the bundle - even KB has now resorted back to 442 & readily admits that draws are no use to us!
We dont fear any team in this league & are well capable of beating any of them. What we need now is a good run of results and consistency.
We have shown both against Dunfermline & Dundee just what it possible. Lets hope it stays that way!
Confidence breeds success & the positive signs are all there to be seen.
Leaving aside the " McDonald factor" there isn't a weak link in this team of ours just now.
The link play between the full backs & wingers is outstanding and we are back to creating chances by the bundle - even KB has now resorted back to 442 & readily admits that draws are no use to us!
We dont fear any team in this league & are well capable of beating any of them. What we need now is a good run of results and consistency.
We have shown both against Dunfermline & Dundee just what it possible. Lets hope it stays that way!
Thought we were excellent on Saturday all round. The big difference though was that the crowd got behind the team. We seen Lynch pulling the ball down first time when it had snow on it, McLachlin tackling like a demon and nutmegging their forwards and everyone else was fighting for the cause. That application and fighting spirit in turn got us all going in the stands for a change. Keep it going and we'll finish in the top half never mind relegation.
A few folk on Saturday commented on the support the players got and the reaction they got when walking off must give them a boost too.
Thought we played really well on Saturday. Our middle two of McKenna and McDonald were great and against three Dundee center mids never put a foot wrong all game.
Only bad point was some of the crossing from the wide two but they were both fantastic.
Here is hoping we can keep this run going and maybe even bag a few goals on Saturday.
Thought we played really well on Saturday. Our middle two of McKenna and McDonald were great and against three Dundee center mids never put a foot wrong all game.
Only bad point was some of the crossing from the wide two but they were both fantastic.
Here is hoping we can keep this run going and maybe even bag a few goals on Saturday.
I agree 201820, it seems to me that everyone jumps at the chance to have a go at KMac and personally I think he is a top player. We must remember he is still only 23 and has a bright future ahead of him. sign him up!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:26:23:18:48 by Diamond93.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:26:23:18:48 by Diamond93.
Quote:Diamond93
I agree 201820, it seems to me that everyone jumps at the chance to have a go at KMac and personally I think he is a top player. We must remember he is still only 23 and has a bright future ahead of him. sign him up!
I don't think I was quite as bullish about him, a few called me out for being a bit harsh on him this week as I only rated him as around our 9 or 11th best player. But he does have a bright future if he keeps the tempo upped a notch.
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