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Topic Originator: OzPar
Date: Sun 24 Nov 01:44
... is the gilt-edged opportunity that is being lost here. For as long as I can remember, there hasn`t been a better opportunity than now for the Pars to gain promotion to the Premiership. Each time we have had a half-decent squad, we`ve had to compete with a Hibs or a Hearts, a Dundee, a Kilmarnock, a United or a Rangers, all supported with funds we could not match.
This time, the relegated club is Livingston, which is hardly a "big" team but is still cushioned by the SPFL parachute payment. They are far from the threat of those teams mentioned above, and for once, the Championship looks genuinely open to all comers.
But here we are in late November, second bottom with just two wins and six defeats in our last ten matches, and - worst of all - 23 points behind our greatest rivals, the freshly promoted Falkirk.
I need help determining the motivating factors for our soon-to-depart German club directors in the summer. If I had been in their shoes, I would have pulled out all the stops and encouraged my colleagues to spend big in the transfer market to create a league-winning squad. At the very least, it would increase the club`s value in a sale. Opportunities like these are scarce indeed. However, we all know what happened, and it is just so sad and disappointing.
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Topic Originator: king lad
Date: Sun 24 Nov 07:18
I think that`s what is more frustrating than anything else. We`re in a league full of bang average teams and somehow despite the backing this club has, the ownership has found a way to not only miss the opportunity but actually turn the club into a laughable relegation candidate, if Airdrie weren`t in freefall we`d be almost certain for that bottom spot. Falkirk are winning the league playing entertaining football with a bunch of players that have mostly been overlooked by clubs in the championship, that`s good management.
With all due respect, fans in general don`t have much time for prioritising a training pitch or an academy (especially for a club at our level, where it proves to be financially difficult to run) which they can`t see on a matchday. The manager has essentially lost the entirety of the fan support with his style of football and a complete failure to utilise the decent players he does have at his disposal.
Let`s hope new ownership can bring about a more competitive approach rather than blaming fans for their own shortcomings. No more excuses, just go and perform week in week out and give the fans a reason to get excited, unfortunately that won`t be accomplished until GmbH and McPake have left.
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Topic Originator: kelty_par
Date: Sun 24 Nov 07:19
Yep, and seeing Falkirk come up with momentum and riding high just compounds that. Could have Hibs down next season the way things are going! That`s if we even stay up.
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Topic Originator: SeasonedPar
Date: Sun 24 Nov 08:32
Watched Jambos v Celtic on tv last night.
Hearts bottom of the league, they had a go, a high press, played some decent stuff at pace and on the ground but utterly nothing in the final third. Their effort got the fans onside. Clapped and cheered off at half and full time.
Spot the difference?
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Topic Originator: SeasonedPar
Date: Sun 24 Nov 08:42
Quote:
OzPar, Sun 24 Nov 01:44
... is the gilt-edged opportunity that is being lost here. For as long as I can remember, there hasn`t been a better opportunity than now for the Pars to gain promotion to the Premiership. Each time we have had a half-decent squad, we`ve had to compete with a Hibs or a Hearts, a Dundee, a Kilmarnock, a United or a Rangers, all supported with funds we could not match.
This time, the relegated club is Livingston, which is hardly a "big" team but is still cushioned by the SPFL parachute payment. They are far from the threat of those teams mentioned above, and for once, the Championship looks genuinely open to all comers.
But here we are in late November, second bottom with just two wins and six defeats in our last ten matches, and - worst of all - 23 points behind our greatest rivals, the freshly promoted Falkirk.
I need help determining the motivating factors for our soon-to-depart German club directors in the summer. If I had been in their shoes, I would have pulled out all the stops and encouraged my colleagues to spend big in the transfer market to create a league-winning squad. At the very least, it would increase the club`s value in a sale. Opportunities like these are scarce indeed. However, we all know what happened, and it is just so sad and disappointing.
Agreed. The most open league for years, and our owners decide it’s time to consolidate, cut the budget and play youngster rather than sign players who can play at this level. Their priority was the training ground when it should’ve been the first team. Everything stems from the team playing well, you can forgive not winning every game, but success breeds success - hospitality, season tickets, walk ups, sponsorship, merchandise. Kids want to associate with an exciting team.
We’re so far away from any of it.
Post Edited (Sun 24 Nov 08:47)
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Topic Originator: Jeffery
Date: Sun 24 Nov 09:32
Agree. This season is a real opportunity lost, but I think fans of other teams will be thinking the same about their clubs.
All of our rivals or similar sized clubs are better than us right now and that`s down to McPake and the owners. People can argue who shoulders what % of that blame but both will hopefully be out asap. When that happens, everyone will start moving in the same direction again.
The people I do feel sorry for are the young players who haven`t really kicked on at this level, after looking promising in the easier league one. Some of that could be down to all the issues with the club and poor management, and some on the players themselves. If it`s the former then it`s not fair on them. It`s a very short career with not a lot of time to `peak`.
On Airdrie, they may not be in free fall for long. They are rotten this season but a large part of that is down to injuries. When we played them amongst their injuries were:-
Rhys McCabe
Mason Hancock
Dean McMaster
Liam McStravick
Aiden Wilson
All would likely play if McCabe could pick his best team.
We had a lot of injuries last season and didn`t improve much when players returned. All we can hope is that the same happens at Airdrie! It`s grim that I find myself looking down the table and not up...
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Topic Originator: the saline hill puma
Date: Sun 24 Nov 10:17
Quote:
SeasonedPar, Sun 24 Nov 08:32
Watched Jambos v Celtic on tv last night.
Hearts bottom of the league, they had a go, a high press, played some decent stuff at pace and on the ground but utterly nothing in the final third. Their effort got the fans onside. Clapped and cheered off at half and full time.
Spot the difference?
Agree with some of that, hearts played well first half, should have been ahead.
2nd half they got taken apart other than their goal.
Also most of the jambo ***** left well before full time, so to say they were cheered and clapped off is just fantasy stuff.
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Topic Originator: Buster_Brown
Date: Sun 24 Nov 10:25
Quote:
the saline hill puma, Sun 24 Nov 10:17
Quote:
SeasonedPar, Sun 24 Nov 08:32
Watched Jambos v Celtic on tv last night.
Hearts bottom of the league, they had a go, a high press, played some decent stuff at pace and on the ground but utterly nothing in the final third. Their effort got the fans onside. Clapped and cheered off at half and full time.
Spot the difference?
Also most of the jambo ***** left well before full time, so to say they were cheered and clapped off is just fantasy stuff.
Sitting watching Sportscene right now and their stands were empty at full time and there were definite boos picked up by the mics, so have to agree with this post regarding the Hearts reference.
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Topic Originator: LochgellyAlbert
Date: Sun 24 Nov 10:44
Hearts fans always leave early, been doing so for years, getting out to beat the traffic.
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Topic Originator: SeasonedPar
Date: Sun 24 Nov 12:29
Empty stands at full time, but those left rightly applauded the players. My main point was about how a team were set up to have a go, especially in the first half. Second half, Celtic stepped it up and no one in Scotland can live with them.
Fair play to Critchley for having a go. We prefer to sit in and try to sneak something.
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Topic Originator: mars par
Date: Sun 24 Nov 13:02
Feel exactly the same Oz, the football we play is terrible but what`s worse is how bad every other team look when we drop points against them. Falkirk had an off day against us in Grangemouth, putting that aside I`d say them and Patrick have been the only teams that looked half decent when we`ve played them. Everyone else looks rotten but that doesn`t make a difference if your own team can`t string 3 passes together let alone mount a half-decent attack
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