|
|
Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Sat 16 Nov 07:00
The frequent use of the term "must win" usually elicits a wry smile from this old geezer, especially when it`s applied to games before the halfway stage of the season. And yet, for a number of reasons, it`s a real crunch game today;
1. A win for the Pars puts us a massive 7 points ahead of Airdrie. Having only amassed 5 pts so far, such a gap would have a demoralising effect on everyone connected with the club
2. Conversely, a Pars win would ease the pressure on our players and manager and potentially lift us out of the relegation play off place. Psychologically, this would give everyone a massive boost and perhaps initiate a steady climb up the table.
3. The consequences of a defeat are unthinkable. Airdrie would find themselves within touching distance of the Pars and everyone connected with the club would be on a real downer. I don`t expect anything other than a really tense, tight game with perhaps just the one goal deciding it. I hope the manager sets up for us to get after Airdrie right from the kick off - not gung ho - but with enough intensity to pin them back in their own half and give us every chance to open the scoring. And if we do that, I want us to continue to push for a second goal, rather than drop deep to defend our lead and leave us all with no nails.
COYP
Not your average Sunday League player.
Post Edited (Sat 16 Nov 07:04)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: SeasonedPar
Date: Sat 16 Nov 07:53
A very tense game ahead GG. As always an early goal would be terrific.
I hope you’re right about the tactics and a narrow win for the Pars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: livipar2
Date: Sat 16 Nov 08:06
Another ‘must win’ game but this one is really crucial.
First goal will be so important as it is in so many games in this League.
Mon the Pars!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Indiapar
Date: Sat 16 Nov 08:40
I think there is still a long way to go in the league. For me, it`s like any other game where we should be going out to try and win the game. I never feel in this league one goal is enough and trying to hang on to a one goal lead is a risky strategy. A positive mental approach to the game rubs off in terms of confidence on the park. A bit more focus in front of goal will be needed today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Angus_W
Date: Sat 16 Nov 08:51
I see it as don’t lose.
“.........it ain’t over till the Pars score!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: RossF
Date: Sat 16 Nov 09:05
I think we should be looking to win all of our home games at this level and go away disappointed if we fail to perform. A draw isn’t good enough today. With the form Airdrie are in, not winning this game would be extremely demoralising for the players and I fear the atmosphere will be pretty toxic. Fingers crossed the players are up for this today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Berkey
Date: Sat 16 Nov 09:55
Not sure if we’ll win today but can’t see us losing. Airdrie already have the feel of a side that know it’s a struggle to stay up, they keep getting beat but haven’t changed the manager.
On paper this is our best chance for a win, as ever with us first goal feels vital if we are to win.
With news of possible American investment the club should be on a high but it might be more the fans that will be on a high rather than the current playing staff and coaches.
Do I think a win today will give us the springboard to climb the league? Not unless at least half our team can find some form off the back of it.
At least Kane is back, that will give everyone a lift, we’re as close to a 1 man team as you can get!
The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: kelty_par
Date: Sat 16 Nov 09:56
If we don`t win, then even a hamstrung board who don`t want to make decisions will have to act. Even if it means some senior players taking over until the takeover is complete.
I don`t think that will happen though. Airdrie are bottom for a reason and are missing several regular first team players. Don`t think it will be pretty, but think we`ll win today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: da_no_1
Date: Sat 16 Nov 10:21
Even without Kane we should be winning this.
2-0 Pars, it won`t be pretty
"Some days will stay a 1000 years, some pass like the flash of a spark"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: LEGEND85
Date: Sat 16 Nov 10:23
I think winning today would do nothing more than paper the cracks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: JTH123
Date: Sat 16 Nov 10:47
I`m not sure a lead of 7 points, should we win, could be described as "massive" GG. Can`t think of the right word as comfortable seems wrong too.
Airdrie will see this as a must not lose which would surely mean they will sit in. We struggle to create chances so the manager will need to be tactically creative.
They don`t seem to lose a lot of goals although the heavy home loss to Hamilton must have been a sore one. Maybe it could maybe be explained by them seeing it as a must win and leaving themselves exposed.
As someone said, it has the all the hallmarks of one that won`t be pretty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: cammypar 1995
Date: Sat 16 Nov 11:09
I`d take a 1-0 all day. No easy games in this league but if you want to go on a run you need to win your home games against teams below you in the table.
c'mon the pars
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: summeragent
Date: Sat 16 Nov 11:46
Seriously, if we cannot beat the bottom team at home who are we going to beat? We should be targeting to win our home games. This is a must win, if nothing less for our confidence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: dafc-chris1
Date: Sat 16 Nov 12:26
This is a must not lose game for me
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: wulliepar57
Date: Sat 16 Nov 12:45
I am in the Camp where this is a Must Win Game !! to give ourselves a bit of daylight away from Airdrie
This is aso a day where We need our Players to stand up and be counted and any chances we get we have to do better with them , we have been getting better at creating chances but woeful at hitting the target !
We also need to start Making our ground a fortress and a hard place to come for the opposition !
I am quietly confident of a win today, but we need that all important vital first Goal to make this possible
This is an Airdrie team with a few of their normal players out so we need to take advantage of this and kick on from here
Cmon Ye Pars
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Westies squint kicks
Date: Sat 16 Nov 12:48
Absolutely no excuses today- We`re at home, playing a team that have failed to score in their last 4 and have lost 8 of their last 9 league games.
Nothing but a win.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Sat 16 Nov 13:23
Quote:
JTH123, Sat 16 Nov 10:47
I`m not sure a lead of 7 points, should we win, could be described as "massive" GG. Can`t think of the right word as comfortable seems wrong too.
Airdrie will see this as a must not lose which would surely mean they will sit in. We struggle to create chances so the manager will need to be tactically creative.
They don`t seem to lose a lot of goals although the heavy home loss to Hamilton must have been a sore one. Maybe it could maybe be explained by them seeing it as a must win and leaving themselves exposed.
As someone said, it has the all the hallmarks of one that won`t be pretty.
My logic was that Airdrie have 5 pts from a possible 39. Lose today and they`ll be thinking 5 pts from 14 games, how many games will it take us to get another 7 and when they do, the Pars will surely have picked up at least as many.
Not your average Sunday League player.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Parsweep
Date: Sat 16 Nov 13:59
Don`t get this "must win" stuff . Sure, it would be good to get the win , but come on .
There are 22 games to go after today .
Bobvo
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: RMGpar
Date: Sat 16 Nov 14:04
We are averaging .69 points a game which means at current rate it’s 15 from next 22 giving up 24 points …
This is very much must win
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: neilholland999
Date: Sat 16 Nov 14:40
Quote:
Parsweep, Sat 16 Nov 13:59
Don`t get this "must win" stuff . Sure, it would be good to get the win , but come on .
There are 22 games to go after today .
Not a "must win" purely on a mathematical basis. However, a loss today could be a massive psychological blow (which will only make the next round of games even harder).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Paralex
Date: Sun 17 Nov 11:51
You got everything right GG, apart from the very unpredictable win for Morton at Starks Park. It would have been great to get out of the playoff spot but there may be a few battles ahead before we achieve that. I do still, very much want James McPake to succeed. So many on this forum had him sacked long ago but I would like to think better days are ahead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Berkey
Date: Sun 17 Nov 12:41
Paralex he was given more money to strengthen the squad after a very poor start and only 1 of the 4 players he signed started yesterday. Unclear if fogarty would have started but has already been dropped in previous games.
Genuinely how can he succeed when he isnt able to sign players who at least capable of holding down a 1st team place in the 2nd worst team in the division?
Tactics aside unless he can make existing players better (no evidence of this in last 2-3 years) then how does he actually improve us?
The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Paralex
Date: Sun 17 Nov 13:21
Keep the faith Berkey, it won`t be the first time a manager on the verge of the sack, spectacularly proved the doubters wrong. Alex Ferguson comes to mind, as does Unai Emery. It may just be that we are providing a good base to build on.
Some people can learn from their mistakes and go on to have great careers. James is a relatively young manager. Why sack him and let another team gain from the experience he has had with us.
Post Edited (Sun 17 Nov 13:26)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Buster_Brown
Date: Sun 17 Nov 13:29
Quote:
Paralex, Sun 17 Nov 13:21
Keep the faith Berkey, it won`t be the first time a manager on the verge of the sack, spectacularly proved the doubters wrong. Alex Ferguson comes to mind, as does Unai Emery. It may just be that we are providing a good base to build on.
Those are 2 very good examples, however, in my experience they are in the minority. Normally when a manager looses the supporters, they can never turn it around. They can buy themselves a bit more time but inevitably they are just kicking the can further down the road.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: Paralex
Date: Sun 17 Nov 13:47
He may have lost some of the supporters but certainly not all. In fact, I would suggest there is a silent majority who are still hopeful that things will improve significantly under James McPake. Our current aim is to move away from the bottom two and recent form, albeit not great to watch, is taking us in the right direction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Sun 17 Nov 13:58
On the match thread yesterday I mentioned that Allan Preston, who is a football agent, had told a Pars` fan on Radio Scotland that James McPake had not been able to sign some of his prime targets in the transfer window because of the long process involved in getting signings approved at EEP. No one responded to this, which surprised me. Is it because it doesn`t fit the consensus view on here that all that`s wrong on the park is the sole responsibility of the manager?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: DJAS
Date: Sun 17 Nov 14:12
Quote:
wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 13:58
On the match thread yesterday I mentioned that Allan Preston, who is a football agent, had told a Pars` fan on Radio Scotland that James McPake had not been able to sign some of his prime targets in the transfer window because of the long process involved in getting signings approved at EEP. No one responded to this, which surprised me. Is it because it doesn`t fit the consensus view on here that all that`s wrong on the park is the sole responsibility of the manager?
I think it has been quite clear that McPake hasn’t been solely blamed. There has been threads about the board, Meggle and Cook over the past year.
Predictor league winner 2012/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Sun 17 Nov 14:16
I think that even those fans who want to see McPake sacked would be happy to see him turn things around because that would mean the Pars were climbing up the table. I get that it`s nothing personal - they`ve just lost faith in his ability to change things.
I still think he might just confound the doubters. If reports are true, that he wasn`t given the funds to bring in the players he wanted at the beginning of the transfer window and funds were only made available much later, it`s not entirely down to him that we`ve made such a poor start. You don`t need to be an Einstein to work out that the best players had been signed up by then. It would be an extremely poor manager who couldn`t get better results from a squad containing more quality than the one we have. No disrespect intended to any of the current squad, none of whom can be faulted for lack of effort. I get that it`s the manager`s job to get the best out of the players at his disposal, and there are some fans who believe he has failed in that respect.
Not your average Sunday League player.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: DA-go Par Adonis
Date: Sun 17 Nov 14:19
Aye, I thought McPake got an easy time at the start of the season, given what was getting served up with the players available.
The narrative seemed to be that he had a thin squad, which was fair if you were looking ahead and we weren`t going to add anyone, but was irrelevant when judging his performance at the time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equal rights and justice in this time
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: cammypar 1995
Date: Sun 17 Nov 14:47
Quote:
wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 13:58
On the match thread yesterday I mentioned that Allan Preston, who is a football agent, had told a Pars` fan on Radio Scotland that James McPake had not been able to sign some of his prime targets in the transfer window because of the long process involved in getting signings approved at EEP. No one responded to this, which surprised me. Is it because it doesn`t fit the consensus view on here that all that`s wrong on the park is the sole responsibility of the manager?
The board has been blamed and probably why they are looking to sell their shares. Although mcpake needs to take his share of the blame he is the one who is setting them up in a certain way and he is the one working with them on the training field and unfortunately when you watch this side you don`t see what they have been doing in training.
c'mon the pars
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Sun 17 Nov 15:06
Most fans accept that the main determining factor of success at a football club is the quality of the players. That`s why Celtic and Rangers have dominated here, Barcelona and Real Madrid have dominated in Spain, Man City in England, etc. If a manager hasn`t been able to sign the players he wants he is likely to be restricted in what he can achieve. Eventually though, as far as the fans go, the buck stops with him and it`s easier and cheaper to sack him and his staff than a board of directors or a squad of players. He becomes the focus of criticism and every single decision he makes is questioned and claimed to be contributing to the lack of progress. After any defeat the `McFake out!` thread will be resurrected. It`s a lot more complicated than that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: cammypar 1995
Date: Sun 17 Nov 15:09
Quote:
wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 15:06
Most fans accept that the main determining factor of success at a football club is the quality of the players. That`s why Celtic and Rangers have dominated here, Barcelona and Real Madrid have dominated in Spain, Man City in England, etc. If a manager hasn`t been able to sign the players he wants he is likely to be restricted in what he can achieve. Eventually though, as far as the fans go, the buck stops with him and it`s easier and cheaper to sack him and his staff than a board of directors or a squad of players. He becomes the focus of criticism and every single decision he makes is questioned and claimed to be contributing to the lack of progress. After any defeat the `McFake out!` thread will be resurrected. It`s a lot more complicated than that.
Not really every manager will have their decisions questioned especially if their decisions don`t seem to make sense. Let`s not be blinkered if the board weren`t selling up he would have been gone by now.
c'mon the pars
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Sun 17 Nov 15:17
Quote:
DA-go Par Adonis, Sun 17 Nov 14:19
Aye, I thought McPake got an easy time at the start of the season, given what was getting served up with the players available.
The narrative seemed to be that he had a thin squad, which was fair if you were looking ahead and we weren`t going to add anyone, but was irrelevant when judging his performance at the time.
Ironically, the squad is probably too big now. The problem for the manager now is not with those players who are starting regularly, but those who are not getting a game, especially if results and performances are poor. It`s only natural for them to become unsettled and complain that they`re training all week and not getting a look in. It`s not easy in that situation to be all philosophical and say "Oh well, it`s the manager who picks the team - I just have to be patient. "
Not your average Sunday League player.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: NMCmassive
Date: Sun 17 Nov 17:36
Quote:
DJAS, Sun 17 Nov 14:12
Quote:
wee eck, Sun 17 Nov 13:58
On the match thread yesterday I mentioned that Allan Preston, who is a football agent, had told a Pars` fan on Radio Scotland that James McPake had not been able to sign some of his prime targets in the transfer window because of the long process involved in getting signings approved at EEP. No one responded to this, which surprised me. Is it because it doesn`t fit the consensus view on here that all that`s wrong on the park is the sole responsibility of the manager?
I think it has been quite clear that McPake hasn’t been solely blamed. There has been threads about the board, Meggle and Cook over the past year.
☝🏻 good point.
Pretty sure the forum was in part blamed for chasing GMBH out…
COYP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Originator: NMCmassive
Date: Sun 17 Nov 17:39
Quote:
GG Riva, Sun 17 Nov 15:17
Quote:
DA-go Par Adonis, Sun 17 Nov 14:19
Aye, I thought McPake got an easy time at the start of the season, given what was getting served up with the players available.
The narrative seemed to be that he had a thin squad, which was fair if you were looking ahead and we weren`t going to add anyone, but was irrelevant when judging his performance at the time.
Ironically, the squad is probably too big now. The problem for the manager now is not with those players who are starting regularly, but those who are not getting a game, especially if results and performances are poor. It`s only natural for them to become unsettled and complain that they`re training all week and not getting a look in. It`s not easy in that situation to be all philosophical and say "Oh well, it`s the manager who picks the team - I just have to be patient. "
Honestly I think the squad is about the right size for what’s required over a season. I think if we could exchange 4 players for those of higher quality then we’d be much better placed
COYP
|
|
|
|
|
|
