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Topic Originator: summeragent
Date: Sun 5 Jan 22:17
Thought Lewis McCann played a blinder yesterday. His first goal was immense and the way he turned the defender and with a pin pointed cross was superb. Well done to the lad and to the whole team.
He has taken a lot of criticism undeserved. When you see the constraints McPake had on the team and how much better the team is now we can see the true talent we have.
I only wish John McLaughlin could have a longer spell as caretaker to see how things pan out.
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Topic Originator: AndyBird
Date: Sun 5 Jan 23:12
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Topic Originator: thebear
Date: Mon 6 Jan 00:17
I am not his greatest fan, but today he was immense. Cracking first goal
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Topic Originator: NMCmassive
Date: Mon 6 Jan 04:42
That’s the Lewis McCann we’ve been waiting on. He’s pulled things off from time to time and he always works hard but he needs to add a huge dose of consistency. It’s a big season for him, I think he really needs to prove himself and I’m hoping he takes his opportunity the second half of the season.
COYP
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Topic Originator: Berkey
Date: Mon 6 Jan 09:14
Everyone knows I’m not a fan of his but he deserves the praise for his best performance in dare I say a good few seasons.
If he can be effective in more games than he’s not that would make a big difference in our bid to recover this season. Think he’s only got an option for next year so playing for a contract too.
Let’s see if he can do it for 2-3 games in row.
The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity!
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Topic Originator: Dandy Warhol
Date: Tue 7 Jan 13:35
I can`t help but feel McPake has been his problem, that was a damn fine performance against Partick.
I don`t wanna go down like disco.
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Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Tue 7 Jan 13:57
McPake was always very supportive of McCann, in common with every manager he has played under at the Pars. I suspect that there has been a frustration that he hasn`t really fulfilled his potential. Maybe he can kick on now. At the end of the day it`s down to the player. Look at Kevin Nisbet. He was a relatively late developer.
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Topic Originator: Dandy Warhol
Date: Tue 7 Jan 14:22
Quote:
wee eck, Tue 7 Jan 13:57
McPake was always very supportive of McCann, in common with every manager he has played under at the Pars. I suspect that there has been a frustration that he hasn`t really fulfilled his potential. Maybe he can kick on now. At the end of the day it`s down to the player. Look at Kevin Nisbet. He was a relatively late developer.
He was, I meant in the respect that his tactics and negative approach held the team back.
I don`t wanna go down like disco.
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Topic Originator: Kaiser
Date: Tue 7 Jan 15:43
To be fair - It was only Lee Ashcroft he turned inside out for the fourth goal :-)
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Topic Originator: Ahoy!Ahoy!
Date: Tue 7 Jan 18:25
Is it a coincidence he seems more confident playing as a pair up front?
Usually he’s been on the left or up top on his own.
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Topic Originator: Raymie the Legend
Date: Tue 7 Jan 18:33
He’s most certainly not a left winger.
It`s bloody tough being a legend
Ron Atkinson - 1983
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Topic Originator: Berkey
Date: Wed 8 Jan 10:40
Mcpake didn’t really work for any of our players rather than just McCann! Not a single player improved.
I think it’s fair to say Lewis has had a number of managers in his 6 years in the first team squad and he’s played a significant number of games. mcpake hasn’t been the only one who has struggled to get any regular performances out of him.
We’ve been so starved of good performances (including in league 1) that when we do give an excellent performance we tend to go big on the praise in what could be a one off performance (as we’ve seen twice this season already)
I just hope the team can go again on sat and at least show mid table form until the end of the season so it’s not a late scramble for points to avoid the playoffs.
The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity!
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Topic Originator: fcda
Date: Wed 8 Jan 10:53
Quote:
Berkey, Wed 8 Jan 10:40
Mcpake didn’t really work for any of our players rather than just McCann! Not a single player improved.
Not like you to make sweeping generalisations.
Off the top of my head: Josh Edwards and Matty Todd improved. The latter hasn`t been as effective so far this season, but he definitely improved.
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Topic Originator: Berkey
Date: Wed 8 Jan 17:42
Edwards was already a consistent performer was us but maybe you could say he has improved purely on where he’s gone now.
Hard to say on Todd, was one of our best performers at full back the season we went down, mcpake has put him in the middle since then so hard to tell if he’s improved as everyone did well in league 1 but being fair he has yet to convince that he’s a consistent championship player in the middle of the park.
The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity!
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Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Wed 8 Jan 17:55
If so many of our squad are no better than League 1 standard how did we manage to survive in the Championship last season? Most of our current squad were here last year and only Edwards has moved on to a higher standard so they must have made a significant contribution to our survival surely?
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Topic Originator: Dandy Warhol
Date: Wed 8 Jan 18:12
Quote:
wee eck, Wed 8 Jan 17:55
If so many of our squad are no better than League 1 standard how did we manage to survive in the Championship last season? Most of our current squad were here last year and only Edwards has moved on to a higher standard so they must have made a significant contribution to our survival surely?
We`re scraping survival in the championship, maybe suggests the majority are not far from that standard, we`ll see what the new manager can get out of them and find out I guess.
I don`t wanna go down like disco.
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Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Wed 8 Jan 18:32
So they`ve regressed since last season?
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Topic Originator: parathletic
Date: Wed 8 Jan 18:40
Quote:
wee eck, Wed 8 Jan 17:55
If so many of our squad are no better than League 1 standard how did we manage to survive in the Championship last season? Most of our current squad were here last year and only Edwards has moved on to a higher standard so they must have made a significant contribution to our survival surely?
We survived by 3 points!
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Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Wed 8 Jan 18:51
We`ve been along this road before. In a tight league like the Championship a 3-point margin is not to be sniffed up. Besides, quite a few posters on here think the current squad is under-performing and some even think we should be competing for the promotion play-offs. McPake`s sacking is seen as a result of his tactics and negative style of play rather than the inferior standard of the squad.
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Topic Originator: cammypar 1995
Date: Wed 8 Jan 19:06
Quote:
wee eck, Wed 8 Jan 17:55
If so many of our squad are no better than League 1 standard how did we manage to survive in the Championship last season? Most of our current squad were here last year and only Edwards has moved on to a higher standard so they must have made a significant contribution to our survival surely?
We haven`t really improved since last season we are still struggling near the bottom of the league. Is that down to mcpake or the overall quality in the squad remains to be seen. I don`t think we can say we have seen any significant contribution so far as the table shows.
c'mon the pars
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Topic Originator: fcda
Date: Wed 8 Jan 19:25
Berkey said, "not a single player improved [under James McPake]".
I could understand saying "no player had improved [I]significantly[/I]" but to imply no player improved at all is just rewriting history.
You seem to be trying to do that with Matty Todd, going on about him at full back in the championship. Correct me if I`m wrong, I thought he was always a midfielder and only played at full back because of injuries? He was decent there for a youngster but when he got a chance in midfield the following season he got better and better. Yes league one but still improvements. He also looked good last season after his injury, but has been less effective this season.
Were the improvements down to McPake? Who knows?
Would they have improved by the same or more under a different coach? Who knows?
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Topic Originator: Berkey
Date: Wed 8 Jan 21:34
I’d say we are about the same as last season, particularly the second half after we signed Kane. Which summer signing has made the most impact outside of Kane? Prob Cooper and he’s not really played that much.
Only difference this season that is making us think we might be better is that airdrie have completely chucked it.
For quite a few of our players there is no evidence they are underperforming, they are playing at the level they usually perform at or at a level they have never played at before. Certainly there’s no one who have overperformed this season.
The post below replying to me is by one of .nets finest champions of mediocrity!
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Topic Originator: McCaig`s Tower
Date: Wed 8 Jan 21:38
I agree that Lewis is yet to fulfil his potential. I thought he was going to kick on when he scored a couple of early goals a couple of years ago, but it hasn’t quite happened. But then not many reputations have been enhanced.
I’ve probably said before but several things haven’t been ideal.
One is that a lot of his appearances were racked up as a late substitute for game management purposes, so his goals per appearance ratio was artificially low. Inevitably this will create pressure to score.
Another is he played for a team that valued possession over goals. So while he may be doing exactly what is asked of him, he will get criticism over not scoring or creating enough.
It can be a vicious cycle – the team’s not playing well, so they fiddle about with the tactics and the formation. McCann isn’t playing well, so they try him in different positions, and fill his head with advice. Shoot first time. Take a touch. Pass. Be quicker. Look up. Keep the ball. Take your man on. Shoot more. Pass more. (Of course, it could be that the coaching is fine, and Lewis is just unreceptive, I don`t know).
Then you have the generally flat atmosphere engendered by the management team seemingly running out of ideas and enthusiasm. This will affect different players in different ways.
I suspect players perform better when it’s natural, and they don’t have to think about it. and when they are not under too much pressure. Two (related) ways of taking the pressure off are creating more chances, and having someone share the burden.
He’s scored some terrific goals this season. he needs to score more tap-ins.
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