Yoda8 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 At halfway point and with exception of the leaders it's the usual tight league. Even DH at Livi has been getting it tight despite a 7 point lead!, so what chance has the rest got? Who's exceeding expectations (Bomber at Stenny , Gus) and who's jacket is on a shoogly peg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIVIFOREVER Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Hopkin is exceeding my expectation, didn't think we'd be anywhere near the top of the table after seeing him in charge last season. He's made some bad choices in games but he's been a lot better this season and has tried different things, and not stuck to something when it didn't work. Gus has impressed me the most from opposition teams we've played, he's had QP set out well and has got them well organized. Considering the amount of goals we've scored this season he's kept us down to scoring just one goal against them in two games, which is pretty impressive in itself, but has also beaten us twice.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Fifer Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 I'd say so far so good for Barry Smith at Bayview and with the window about toOpen IExpect he will strengthen the squad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mon_The_Fife Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Barry Smith has a 100% win record. Manager of the season beckons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
east fife for life Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 3 games, 3 wins and 3 clean sheets for Barry Smith! Not too shabby considering the injuries to our small part time squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francesc Fabregas Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 I think Brown Ferguson has been absolutely okay as Stenhousemuir manager over the course of the season. He's done very well in making a mediocre team competitive and it's credit to him, his coaching staff and his players that they've moved off the foot of the table for the first time in months. Bomber's got a lot going for him - everyone respected him as a player, he comes across as thoughtful and intelligent whenever he's interviewed, he's not Scott Booth - and I'd say he's popular amongst the Stenhousemuir support. Everyone was sympathetic to the difficult job he had on his hands at the start of the season but even so, there's been some questionable moments - persisting with Colin McCabe for so long (although he's looked pretty decent over the last fortnight or so), the lack of firepower in the squad, the ability to make game-changing decisions mid-match. On the whole, I'm really pleased for Bomber and I want him to be as successful as he possibly can. I'm happy someone like him is the manager of my football club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bold Rover Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 B plus for Darren Young. Decent signings and, recent defeats notwithstanding, keeps the Rovers punching above their weight. None of the managers in our division should feel that their outdoor apparel hangs on a loose wall attachment. It's a good wee division with all teams looking competitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francesc Fabregas Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 2 minutes ago, Bold Rover said: B plus for Darren Young. Decent signings and, recent defeats notwithstanding, keeps the Rovers punching above their weight. None of the managers in our division should feel that their outdoor apparel hangs on a loose wall attachment. It's a good wee division with all teams looking competitive. I'd reckon Jim McInally and Brian Reid might be feeling a little anxious if their respective situations don't improve over the coming weeks. At the start of the season I would never have thought Stranraer would be jobbing at the bottom of the table by the midpoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bold Rover Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 19 minutes ago, Francesc Fabregas said: I'd reckon Jim McInally and Brian Reid might be feeling a little anxious if their respective situations don't improve over the coming weeks. At the start of the season I would never have thought Stranraer would be jobbing at the bottom of the table by the midpoint. Actually, I thought Stranraer's good run was likely to peter out. I can't think that punting Reid mid-season would be a good strategy, though. Peterhead would be foolish to jettison McInally, IMO. Mid-table, ultimately, I would think, and I'd say that should be satisfactory given what's above them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaver1 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Considering the situation we were in at the start of the season, Ferguson has done a great job. He will have to do some wheeling and dealing in January but at least he is doing it from a position of relative strength. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoriginalhedge Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Darren Dods is once again showing his resiliance through adversity. Last year he pulled us back from the brink when all around thought we were doomed. This year we were flying until our horrendous injury problems . A wee wobble but he has managed to steady the ship again and keep us in the play off hunt. Knows how to get the best out of players (Caldwell is work in progress ) and create a real team spirit. Top of the class material here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewBlue Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 1 hour ago, Bold Rover said: Peterhead would be foolish to jettison McInally, IMO. Mid-table, ultimately, I would think, and I'd say that should be satisfactory given what's above them. It is a tough one for us, we have shown that we can beat any team on the right day but we have had no consistencey for going on 10 months now. Jim also seems to be fairly stuck in his ways and only 2 of the 6 or 7 players brought in during the summer have really broken into the squad and made a contribution. I think most of the fans knew the squad had not been improved massively so in a way we aren't really underachieving but at the same time the confidence seems to have drained from the squad and we seem to be getting poorer every week at the moment. If Jim gets it right in January then there is no reason for him to go, but I think he must be under some pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hampden Diehard Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 No surprise that I'd think that Gus has been exceptional. We weren't a particularly good side last year, but Gus got us up with tactics that hit every button at the end of the season. We've exceeded all expectations, but now look as if we can beat anyone in this division....although we still need to put in a good display against Airdrie. Two deserved wins against runaways leaders Livi says it all. Stenie absolutely crucified us a couple of months ago at Hampden and Gus changed things round, bringing back McKernan in place of the huffy Miller and we've not looked back. The defence is playing out of its skin every week and we've stopped leaking daft goals from set pieces. Ten out of ten so far....but it's early yet. I'd still see eighth as a real success, but we're looking like we could tuck in comfortably in mid table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick1867 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 McKernan would have been back in the team no matter the situation with Miller. He was a regular in the team every week last season before his injury. Can't praise Gus enough right now for what he is achieving with this team but I will still take 8th. I've seen us collapse in the 2nd half of the season before and get relegated under Cowboy and Speirs when we looked like we were comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam2304 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 B plus for Darren Young. Decent signings and, recent defeats notwithstanding, keeps the Rovers punching above their weight. None of the managers in our division should feel that their outdoor apparel hangs on a loose wall attachment. It's a good wee division with all teams looking competitive. Have to agree with this, up until the last few weeks we were doing excellent. I'm sure normal service will be resumed. We've had a poor January for the past few years though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airdrie♢Diamond Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 As for us I have to say I'm liking how things are going under Mark Wilson, but still think it was a bit harsh on McBride. We had a 6 game winning streak, something not seen for a good long while. I think the benefits of going full time are already starting to show. Only real thorn in our side at the moment are Livingston, so Wilson's real test will be how he'll crack that tough nut. He'll have to think of something because the prospect of playing in the Championship means we'd be facing tougher tests than Livi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slangs Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Just a wee scenario. If you've got more money than anyone in whatever league your in does that make a huge difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andylivi1 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 Hopkin could have us 20 points clear and there would still be some in our fan base that would want him sacked, just haven't taken too him and didn't help him the way last season ended. Fwiw I called for a change at the end of last season as well, but I'm happy with how things are going just now. He's built a fairly solid side for this division and although a long way to go we are well on track for an immediate return to the championship, I've heard the argument that this side would come straight back down, maybe so but his job isn't to think about that right now, his job is to get us promoted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andylivi1 Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 16 minutes ago, slangs said: Just a wee scenario. If you've got more money than anyone in whatever league your in does that make a huge difference? Ofcourse it does, Not in one off games, anybody can beat anybody but over the course of a season it should tell. Bigger budget means bigger squads with slightly more quality, so when injuries and suspensions hit the teams with lower budgets they may end up struggling to fill a bench or end up playing kids that aren't ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda8 Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share Posted December 28, 2016 4 hours ago, andylivi1 said: Ofcourse it does, Not in one off games, anybody can beat anybody but over the course of a season it should tell. Bigger budget means bigger squads with slightly more quality, so when injuries and suspensions hit the teams with lower budgets they may end up struggling to fill a bench or end up playing kids that aren't ready. Would like to know the actual budgets of teams in this league. Dont think there will be as much of a difference as people believe. Tho Gus still showing most up with a starting 11 wage of £11 per week.....plus expenses of course, although that doesn't mean to say their not amateurs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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