CowdenPhil Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 On 20/08/2022 at 22:28, Francesc Fabregas said: It's not looking good for Stephen Swift. Three consecutive defeats from has left us in a precarious position, even at this early stage, and we might need to recalibrate our expectations already. I think this was the first season since 2005/06 that I thought we could mount a title challenge but that's looking increasingly unlikely on the evidence we've seen so far this season. I've said it before in numerous posts but our defenders are being asked to do things they're uncomfortable with, our midfield is unbalanced and lacks creativity, and our forward line lacks presence. We've only performed well in short spells, most notably the games against Annan Athletic and Dumbarton, most notably when we were already two goals down. Given the obvious outlay on the playing staff, it's not really good enough. Last season was undoubtedly a disappointment but Swift could perhaps be given the benefit of the doubt after having to assemble a virtually brand new group of players (and even then, it's still a bit of a stretch given the number of opportunities we had to overtake Edinburgh City in the final play-off place). This time around, he retained the core of last term's squad and apparently added quality, including a former Scotland international and someone who'd scored 41 goals in his previous campaign; on paper, we had done the best business in the division. For the first time in three years there was no monied, obvious favourites for the title, and we looked the most promising out of an uninspiring bunch. There really were no excuses. While Swift has been able to attract good players, squad building seems to be a perennial problem, with too much of some things and not enough of others. This means our team lacks balance and we're compromising in certain areas to accommodate players. I thought he might have learned after last year's struggle but this time around we have too many players who liked to operate through the middle, and we haven't brought in a specialist right-winger. And, just like last season, as the manager tries to find a successful combination, personnel and systems are being chopped and changed on a week-by-week basis in the hope that something might work. We've already used three different players at right-back in four matches! I don't think he knows what his best starting XI is - but then, who does? What's our best formation? It's hard to believe that, 12 months on, little has changed and we're all still scratching our heads at how we can make this work. And Neilly's right, some (most?) of the players require a period of introspection after the kind of performances they've turned in over the past month. In today's post-match interview, Swift said the players are lacking in confidence, but these are largely experienced SPFL campaigners who have enjoyed varying degrees of success elsewhere. Just what is going on? As bad as some of them have been, however, the buck stops with the manager - he's the one who brought them together, he's the one who's encouraging them to play the ball out from the back, he's the one who signed Ross Forbes on a two-year contract and still hasn't figured out how best to use him, and he's the one who deploys Tam Orr as a back-to-goal striker, despite him having a chaotic first touch. Iain McMenamy's tweet early tonight is ominous but Swift will know this current run is nowhere near acceptable and that his position is under threat. I don't know what the tipping point will be - I suspect we'll see a fringe side fielded in the SPFL Trust Trophy against Elgin City on Tuesday night, with the outcome being pretty inconsequential, but a loss and another poor performance against Forfar Athletic might finish him. I hope this isn't the case and we can use today's defeat as a turning point. I just want to enjoy watching my football team! Could be worse, you could be a Cowdenbeath FC fan. I'm sure Stenny will turn it around. You have a good team, just need a bit of luck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cardle is Magic Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Those goals are brutal and the highlight package would be 10 times better without commentary. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hard Graft Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 7 hours ago, Old Fashioned Stramash said: Looking back on Saturday, would it be so bad to just get back to the basics and start from there? The more I think about it as well, the more I'd like to see the captaincy removed from Crighton. I'd like to see him play without the 'pressures' of the arm band. I'm interested to see if our unforced errors would go down and if our passing percentages would increase, when Crighton isn't playing. He is very frustrating and invites so much pressure onto himself and the rest of the back 4, then looks to blame the midfield or forwards for not remedying his errors. As FF said previously, this season just parallels last season and we don't seem to have learnt from any outcomes. Cantley will probably be getting some more minutes soon enough; not like he's been a safe pair of hands either, and I can hear the circus music whenever Brennan comes near the ball just as I did with Marshall. I'm expecting howler after howler from Brennan. This may be unfair, since the season has barely started but those two goals on Saturday were two of the worst goals I've ever seen us concede and he should be dropped. Brennan doesn't have much of a presence or command of his own box but loves a theatrical diving save, something Marshall detested. The tidy possession based strategy, with constant little short passes moving the ball from one side of the pitch to other, then back again, focussing on exploiting the oppositions shape and fitness. We don't move the ball quick enough and we aren't Arsenal. I'm not a coach but I think everyone can see that we need a more direct approach and use our players strengths. O'Reilly, Sewell, Yates and even Joesph all like running with the ball or exploiting space. Hunt the ball down and maintain the press. Let those key players play to their abilities and let Orr patrol the box, he's no link-up or target man striker that likes bringing others into play, he wants to score goals and that's it. No wonder Buchanan and Carswell bossed him with balls being played high up to him or straight into his feet. He wants to move off the defenders shoulder and in behind, how many of those probing passes did we see on Saturday? Ironically, we have a player that is good at doing that. His name is Ross Forbes and he is probably our best player at making those intricate and probing passes yet has the work rate and motivation of a depressed slug. Swift does have good ideas. You can tell he is properly into his coaching and loves his football. He needs more time but find myself, like others, worrying about our season already. Agree with most of your post apart from Forbes - he rarely shows in a game and has been an expensive mistake. You cannot keep playing him in the hope that he may do it. As for Swift how much more time do you want to give him.? He has had a full season and 8 competitive games and still does not know what his best team is nor what tactics suit the squad. Lose on Saturday and he should be gone. Nice guy but I do not fancy watching the Lowland League next season. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Fashioned Stramash Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 He managed to turn the team around last season after a poor start, so I have a bit faith in that he's capable of doing it. I don't think after 4 league games, you can justify a sacking either. However, I did expect us to start this season well and to have built on the previous seasons mistakes. To know and play to our strengths and have a bit of an identity on the park. We clearly haven't and it's frustrating as hell. If it hasn't turned round by November and our playoff chances are already looking gloom, I'd make a decision then. I agree with your Forbes comments but I don't think we're going to bin him, so may as well try to utilise him some way. What if!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Days Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 1 hour ago, Old Fashioned Stramash said: He managed to turn the team around last season after a poor start, so I have a bit faith in that he's capable of doing it. I don't think after 4 league games, you can justify a sacking either. He did turn the team round after 1 win in 9 games but also blew it in the last few games with draws to Edinburgh City and Cowdenbeath and the loss to Stranraer. I can see the arguments both you and Hard Graft are putting up and it is a hard one to call. If we wait to November then we are basically saying it is going to be another nothing season. An early change may or may not result in us challenging for promotion. Difficult to call but at least the board are sending out a warning. Time for him to stop worrying about the opposition and really go for them. On Saturday when we were 2 goals down the game was lost, I would rather see him saying lets go all out attack, if we lose a few more goals so be it but let's try and give the crowd something to get excited about. Problem with that is our play is so slow and ponderous and when in the last season have we put team under prolonged pressure. I would also like to know who is recommending our goalkeepers and what they see in them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilly Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 (edited) If you look at the league from the last quarter of last season and so far this season in those 13 games - 3 wins, 7 defeats and 3 draws. That is absolutely brutal. Two wins against Albion Rovers (one which was robbery) and one win against Elgin. So essentially only wins against teams at the lower end of the league. Coming into the season we were delighted to get a lot of the guys signed again and back on board as a collective fanbase but, taking the manager out of the equation, when you break it down, how good are these players individually and collectively? As the weeks pass I really question this more and more. A group of players who failed time and time again last season to get us 4th place that was being offered on a plate most weeks and now we start the season in this manner. Can we only play in 15 minute bursts a game because, actually, we aren't very good? Who could actually go up a level and play? O'Reilly and Yates for me are the only two certainties whilst others who had decent season's last season have not turned up yet. There's certainly a lot more questions than answers just now when it comes to the management and this squad of players. Edited August 22, 2022 by Neilly 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophe Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 I see the Darvel manager, Mick Kennedy, like the chairman's tweet on Saturday night, which seems a bit odd for an incumbent Scottish manager. Don't know if he's mates with the chairman or has previous with Swift but it stood out as a funny thing to like for me, wouldn't have thought that'd be the done thing 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moonster Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 1 hour ago, Christophe said: I see the Darvel manager, Mick Kennedy, like the chairman's tweet on Saturday night, which seems a bit odd for an incumbent Scottish manager. Don't know if he's mates with the chairman or has previous with Swift but it stood out as a funny thing to like for me, wouldn't have thought that'd be the done thing I think you're missing out one vitally important point; Mick Kennedy is a walloper. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Fashioned Stramash Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 BBC has Jamieson down at playing left back tonight? On a booking, there's a surprise. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Blackwell Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Scott Walker is left back. We have actually attacked and arguably have been the better team, but more maddening defending has cost us. Dan Higgins isn’t looking like Swift’s most inspired signing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Am Featha Taigh Nan Clach Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Pay up the wages of Cantlay, Forbes, Higgins and Joseph and sack Swift immediately. I doubt there is a single fan who wants him to stay. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Blackwell Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Bit harsh on Cantley, but can we swap him out for Craig Bryson? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goethe Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 After the significant summer investment that’s a really poor result. Naively, I hoped there might have been a bit of a reaction tonight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francesc Fabregas Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 (edited) I know we described tonight's SPFL Trust Trophy match with Elgin City as a kickabout and that its result was largely inconsequential but that was another underwhelming performance, replete with another series of comedy goals. The first saw the home side spring an apparent offside trap, with Dan Higgins standing with his hand in the air as Kane Hester strolled through and scored after his first effort was block. Jake Dolzanski doubled Elgin's lead shortly afterwards with a looping header at the back post, and Russell Dingwall completed the rout when Hester robbed a dawdling Craig Bryson and slipped him in to finish superbly. Every goal was preventable, especially the first and third. If you want to be charitable, you might say Elgin opened the scoring against the run of play, but we were hardly dominating the proceedings or putting them under any real duress. And yeah, we did create some chances as things petered out, and Tam Orr did score a neat consolation, but it doesn't really count if you only start playing well when the game is beyond you. In his pre-match interview on the Stenhousemuir website, Stephen Swift said that tonight's fixture was the perfect opportunity to bounce back from the weekend's loss to Dumbarton and that our fringe players had the chance to stake a claim for a starting spot; to me, this evening has shown that Higgins and Niyah Joseph are not good enough and cannot be trusted, Bryson isn't offering us anything, and Swift is one step closer to the exit door. Matty Yates looked the part when he was introduced, as he always tends to do, but this is a team who are going through the motions and, at worse, don't look as though they're playing for the manager anymore. That's now four consecutive defeats. Looking at Swift's time in charge of Stenhousemuir, from the tail end of the miserable 2020/21 campaign to now, there's only been two periods where we've looked the part (the five-game winning run between October and November last year; the six-game unbeaten streak from the end of January to the start of March). We've been poor for large spells, passed up numerous opportunities to get into the play-offs, and started new season in terrible form. I had high hopes coming into this campaign and believed we had the tools to win the title. It looks like I've overestimated how good a team we have and I've overestimated the manager's ability to build a squad and learn from his mistakes. I can't see things turning around, I'm sorry to say. I don't things have ever been facing the right way under Swift, come to think of it. A change might be in everyone's best interests. Edited August 23, 2022 by Francesc Fabregas 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilly Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I'll say it again. This can't go on. We are an absolute mess under this management and with this squad of players. Both are clearly not up to the task as a collective so there can only be one outcome. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Am Featha Taigh Nan Clach Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I hope the board act quickly. I've no ill feeling towards Swift but if he doesn't go ASAP he'll just get hounded until he does which is fairly undignified. Looking forward to booing them on to the park at Forfar! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NELLY 1 Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Shocked stenny ain't doing better with some individuals you have in your team. O reilly and tam orr are proper players. I assume your issues lie in defence? As you have on "paper" good mix and blend of midfielders. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darvel legend Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 On 22/08/2022 at 19:00, The Moonster said: I think you're missing out one vitally important point; Mick Kennedy is a walloper. He would win that league by 10 points in a canter and probably the next league , his connections are brilliant, will be amazed if no one takes a chance on him Very soon -7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moonster Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Just now, Darvel legend said: He would win that league by 10 points in a canter and probably the next league , his connections are brilliant, will be amazed if no one takes a chance on him Very soon Easy enough when you're throwing silly money around. It also doesn't mean he isn't a walloper. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hard Graft Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Game over for Swift. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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