Jump to content

Waspie

Gold Members
  • Posts

    2,755
  • Joined

Reputation

2,651 Excellent

3 Followers

Contact Methods

  • Website URL
    http://
  • ICQ
    0

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • My Team
    Alloa Athletic

Recent Profile Visitors

12,658 profile views
  1. Agree 100%.While the results under Brian Rice were generally ok (decent for first season and a half, rubbish this season), the football was grim and we never really looked like a coherent team. Very frustrating given he inherited a capable squad and added good players to it. I found his reign a massive slog. Andy very quickly did the things lots of fans had often called for. Players in their most effective roles in a settled system and allowing partnerships to develop. No surprise players grow in confidence in that situation. The system he settled on was the best one as well. 4 at the back suits the defenders better than 3, and the 3 behind a striker or something similar suits our squad with so many good creative players. Having nailed this down so well I'm sure he could tweak things when required and still get good results. That's the way to run a team, not chopping and changing all the time and playing people out of position. But I'd be doing a big disservice to Andy to just say the turnaround is down to him sorting out the obvious issues with the way the team was set up. The leadership and communication he always showed as a player are clearly to the fore. People want to play for him and he has everyone pulling in the same direction. When things go wrong he speaks openly and honestly and sets out a way forward. Fans will accept defeats and bad days if they can see what a manager is trying to do and if it's clear things in general are going in the right direction. I don't expect Alloa to win every week but I do want to see a team set up properly and trying to make the best of what we have. Andy has been nailing that so far. Whatever happens the rest of the season - and obviously there are going be bad days and setbacks - there are real grounds for optimism. I also wasn't quite as effusive as some fans about Roberts earlier in the season. Work rate and drive clearly really impressive but undermined a bit by decision making. Has continued to improve though and absolutely nailed down his place now. Perhaps down to growing in confidence and perhaps again knowing exactly what his role is in the team and how it fits with those around him. Wouldn't begrudge him a ft move if he could get it but hopefully he'll stick around. Really good story to see a player kicking on in his late 20s and given what he puts in he deserves it.
  2. Just about enough time left to wish all Wasps a Happy St Patrick's Day...
  3. Strange one. Started well and were opening City up with some more great football, got the early goal and looked capable of adding to it and getting it finished early. Conceded from City's first attack though and thereafter fell out it. Lot of credit to City for that, worked so hard and got in our faces and didn't let us play. They deserved the half time lead which I didn't think I'd have been saying 15 mins in and at that point it was looking like yet another frustrating day against City. We came out looking more fired up and the early penalty settled the nerves - would like to see it again though! Lovely header then from Taggs then to go 3-2 up and this time we did press home the advantage. Could have had more than 5 in the end. We'll need to play better the next few weeks but can't complain with the result and the effort. Well done lads! Once again plenty to admire about that young City team. Ran out of gas - and leadership from someone like Fontaine - but there are some good players there. Hope the club can regroup in League Two (and find a proper ground as a long term home).
  4. Is Wales away today? Read somewhere that it's the two games after this he will miss. We have good options anyway in Sammon and Roy. Friend of mine who supports Killie always says Sammo was at his best for them with a creative influence like Eremenko just behind him, rather than when they were launching high balls towards him. Think we've seen that in his cameos the last few weeks, he fits in well with this system. But Roy is also very capable of doing a job and he has been unlucky not to have played more, plus he has continued to offer a threat coming off the bench late in games. Two really good options. Don't know what situation is with PJ but any kind of extended absence for him would be my biggest concern. Do worry that not getting cover there could be the one thing that comes back to haunt us. Big game anyway against a team who we have often struggled against. Mon the Wasps.
  5. Probably left perplexed by how a team with 1 striker could have such a potent attacking threat.
  6. Great win and in the end we got the goals the performance deserved. Could and should have been out of sight within the first half hour with some terrific football really carving Kelty up. The young team were great again and having LD starting in among them added to the fun, some great tricks. Only worrying thing was not putting Kelty away and they came into it a bit before half time and were competitive after the break too. I did fear we might come to regret not finishing them off earlier. The second goal - at a point when the game was more even - effectively killed it and we really should have got a few more after that. Defended well and Taggs and Sutherland were a constant threat going forward to. Kurtis never stopped, as always, and Scougall influential beside him (and grafting when required). Front four terrific with Steven so dangerous and Quinn having his best game in a while too. Subs also played their part - absolutely no failures. Fair play also to Big Phil on his clean sheet, albeit hopefully PJ will be OK to return ASAP. It was so frustrating earlier this season to look at the attacking talent in that squad and yet see such insipid, disjointed performances. Massive credit to Andy Graham for turning that around, it's been terrific to watch. Well done lads!
  7. Archibald Leitch was doing this a century ago with his double sided stand at Bradford Park Avenue for football and cricket. Fair to say the Portuguese one would fit in better at the Falkirk Stadium though
  8. Crowdfunder to secure Recreation Park as the official title? Either that or the Herve Ebanda Arena.
  9. For the avoidance of doubt, I didn't make any suggestion that Kev didn't deserve a red card, simply that it wasn't absolutely clear at the time what it was for. Not do I have any issue with you not attending the game! And while you don't need to be at a game to comment, it doesn't seem like a great idea when you're (wrongly) explaining to other posters an incident you didn't see. But each to their own. Great game anyway and I'm sure both teams will take lots out of it. I'd also like to see both Alloa and Montrose in the play-offs.
  10. It didn't happen like this at all. Maybe the masterplan for you is to watch games before commenting on them Not sure about us looking much weaker, we actually played better for spells today and created more chances than in some of the games we won recently. And while the defending was certainly dodgy at times, the biggest issue was failing to deal with set pieces into the box rather than lack of protection in front of them, albeit that might have helped at times. Don't think Scougall was in a holding role either, it's effectively the same role Flanny played so well beside Stevie Hetherington, deeper lying playmaker. Those two complemented each other perfectly. In the current squad Stevie and Roberts is the best combination. Roberts is a different player to Flanny and won't have the same composure, but his energy and drive has brought a lot in different ways. Stevie brings the defensive side but can also get on the ball, ping passes and also slow things down when required, something we've missed in his absence. Balance of the team is best with him and Roberts in the two (and Scougall in front). Miko is brilliant at the defensive side and can be a great option, but with him and Roberts you lack that foot on the ball. Robbo in his cameo last week actually looked like he might be the next best option beside Roberts while Stevie is out. But can see why the gaffer tried Scougall today. We're lucky to have these different options regardless and q few players making a claim. Agree about Kev, think he's looked off the pace of late. I'm sure he still has plenty to offer but maybe as a sub for next wee while. Thought Andy spoke brilliantly again after that game. Take the positives, address the negatives and aim to get on another run. Going to be a fascinating run in.
  11. Should never have lost that game, played some nice stuff and had loads of chances. Shot ourselves in the foot with conceding soft goals though - 2nd and 4th in particular - and the red card, whatever it was for. Encouraging thing was that the boys never stopped despite those setbacks. Looked the better team with 10 men and had a great chance to got 4-3 up then almost equalising again at the end. So I wouldn't be too down about it, I'm sure they'll bounce back. Most disappointing thing is that's 7 points for the Mo from the head to head and that in no way reflects the 3 games. But fair play to Montrose for keeping going in each of those matches, could well end up being crucial.
  12. Perhaps a wee bit OTT, I'm not sure an "absolute masterplan" is required to defeat the Wasps! Been saying this every week but while our run of wins has been excellent, we remain very much a work in progress. To be honest all of the five wins were close games, even Cove, and our performances weren't great in all of them either, something the manager acknowledged. But we're well organised now, making the most of what we have and the spirit is clearly really good. Traditionally our record against Montrose is good but that isn't the case this season. We chucked away a point at Links Park in one of the rare decent showings under Brian Rice, a game from which we deserved a point at least, then we chucked away two points at the Recs having done the hard work to get 2-0 up. Alloa will feel one point was a poor reflection on those two games and it clearly has a huge impact on the table when the sides are so close. Bound to be really encouraging for Montrose. Hopefully Scougall is back on Saturday, felt he was really missed at Hamilton.
  13. Really liked the look of those two together in the deeper midfield two. As Robbo settled into it he started providing the cool head we've been lacking there of late (however well Kurtis and Miko have been playing) and with that and Steven moving central we looked much better. A fit Robbo looks like he could once again be a really good option for us. A legend of a player!
  14. Five in a row It wasn't a great game and we really struggled to get on the ball again in midfield, a problem exacerbated by not having Scougall further up to bring some composure there. Kev worked hard but things weren't linking up really until Steven moved into that role late on. But the workrate and spirit was fantastic throughout and the team again stayed in the game and did their best with the ball we got. Terrific goal by Roberts who had a great game and it was really frustrating that we then conceded so soon. There was a spell then when it seemed sure Accies would score but we again hung in and started to find some space further up ourselves. It was fitting Robbo got the winner as he had really grown into the game as it went on. Looked like his old self! A draw would have been fair but maybe we deserved a break against Accies after the last two games. Have to say they are way less than the sum of their parts, so many very good players in that squad. Huge credit to everyone at Alloa on another great victory. Every player played their part and Andy played his hand beautifully. And there are more gears there if we get everyone fit.
  15. Better get this ready for Miko's first goal....
×
×
  • Create New...