Stirling Albion vs. Saints 26/12/07

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Well what a difference a good win , a pile of goals and no shortage of panache makes. Last week I was fed up and struggling to find the energy to get even slightly excited about the Livi game , and now I cannae wait to get back to the action.If there are no injuries I hope we go with the same team , the same formation and same tactics( and get the same result)We do still have to get better at the back though and cut out the silly mistakes that are costing us goals but if we can recapture the last performance we,ll come away with the points. Hopefully there will be a big travelling support to give the boys good vocal backing and plenty of encouragement.See you all there andSome go by buses, some go by train, singing our songs again and again, we'll drink all your whisky,your newcastle brown........The Saintees boys are in town..

[Radford 72]

I'd agree Jimbo, all of sudden the match looks an exciting prospect again, something that hasn't seemed the case in the league since the good run in October.

In saying that, I guess the fact is we've still only won once away from home in the league this season so shouldn't be going to Forthbank merely expecting that turning up will secure the points. Albion probably thought the win over Dunfermline would get them over that hurdle but they are on their worst run of the season at the moment and it has to be a worry that they've conceded 14 goals in 4 games.

We still don't look rock solid at the back but bar the game at NDP - where we actually played ok - we have been creating chances, finally taking some of them on Saturday. I can see another high scoring game on Wednesday but it'd be massive for us if we could take all the points and put ourselves clear in third again. It'd also mean we were only one point worse off than this time last season, which would be acceptable IMO.

Regards the team, I don't think McInnes can wander too much from the XI he put on the pitch on Saturday, especially when we aren't defending that well, although he was right to point out it was good to see us weather the early pressure from Livi in the second half.

The subs bench might get a little shake around if McLaren and Moon are available, although I'd expect Daal to retain his place ahead of John Stewart.

[Dave H]

football is a simple game, keep winning and the crowds will show face as you are providing entertainment. I want to see the best second half of the season ever! just hope the players can live up to my (and the start of season by all) expectations.

will be tough game for sure! i predict 3-1 saints (us being one down and turn it around)

one game at a time, but a boxing day win will take is into the Clyde game in good form.

[MUZZ]

will the terracing be open behind the goal?

[Radford 72]

will the terracing be open behind the goal?
Nope. They only open it for overspill from the stand, which I can't see us filling.

[slf]

Well what a difference a good win , a pile of goals and no shortage of panache makes. Last week I was fed up and struggling to find the energy to get even slightly excited about the Livi game , and now I cannae wait to get back to the action.If there are no injuries I hope we go with the same team , the same formation and same tactics( and get the same result)We do still have to get better at the back though and cut out the silly mistakes that are costing us goals but if we can recapture the last performance we,ll come away with the points. Hopefully there will be a big travelling support to give the boys good vocal backing and plenty of encouragement.See you all there andSome go by buses, some go by train, singing our songs again and again, we'll drink all your whisky,your newcastle brown........The Saintees boys are in town..

nice one but i would also like to point out there are no choo choos running to stirling on boxing day,see ye there merrydown oh merrydown.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

nice one but i would also like to point out there are no choo choos running to stirling on boxing day,see ye there merrydown oh merrydown.

You could give someone a backy on your moped:D

[slf]

You could give someone a backy on your moped:D


he he lets hope am no sitting in the back of a police car with you

[dan the saint]

4-1 win

[Scobby_SJFC]

Is it a 3pm Kick off??

[StDuncM]

Sure is!

http://www.stjohnstonefc.co.uk/fixtures.asp

[Scobby_SJFC]

buggar I cant go then, shame havent been to forthbank yet!!!

[ally bon]

If you make it to Stirling there is a free bus out to Morrisons(which is next to Forthbank), from the bus station, it'll save you the taxi fare..... and the price of an extra pint in O'Neils.

see u there.

[Jamie_Beatson]

Off to Stirling now.... to work!

Come 1:30 it will hopefully be pub lunch and football time though. Come on!

[templeofsaints]

Could be a slippery one this - I think if we get the first goal we'll win comfortably but I hope we don't have to chase the game much.

[Zimmerman]

Is there any chance this game could be off due to the frost? And does anyone have decent directions comming from Livingston side ( i.e opposite from perth) of the M9? I think i shall pop along!

[Jamie_Beatson]

Arrived in the office here in Stirling... wish i could say it is sunny. Weather report is ok though, it is overcast, but fairly mild and it isn't raining at the moment.

Sitting here alone in the office in my Saints top waiting for 3pm to roll around!

[SJC]

Jamie? Why the heck are you working on boxing day?!

I'm looking forward to this game, Boxing day/ New Years games always seem better.

Does anyone know the situation regarding parking around the ground? Before the season started there was talk of the local council banning cars from parking near the ground.

The blues are rolling into town and taking the 3 points back with them!

[Jamie_Beatson]

Opportunism. I knew I was going to be in Stirling today so decided to head through early, get some work done and hopefully capitalise on the fact that no-one else can be arsed working and make a bit of cash today. Then stroll off early for lunch, drinks and football.

Then take tomorrow off in lieu ;)

[SJC]

You should taken a few beers in with you ;)

[Jamie_Beatson]

I would, but I have to drive home later!

[Jamie_Beatson]

Weather update - it is a bit cloudier now and looks a wee bit threatening as I look out of the window across towards Forthbank. Rain is spitting as well.

[Scobby_SJFC]

Weather update - it is a bit cloudier now and looks a wee bit threatening as I look out of the window across towards Forthbank. Rain is spitting as well.

The new Michael Fish

[Dunfermline Saint]

Team news is that there are unsurprisingly no changes from last weeks squad;

Main, Irvine, Stanic, Craig, McManus, Anderson, MacDonald, Quinn, Jackson, Milne, Sheerin.
Subs: Lawrie, Rutkiewicz, Weatherston, Daal, Cuthbert

[Scobby_SJFC]

C'mon Saints!!!

[Dunfermline Saint]

Just noticed Alan Freeland is the referee! Expect a few card tricks in the game.

[Dunfermline Saint]

Derek Lyle sent off for Dundee :D

[Scobby_SJFC]

Looks like its just me and you DS!!!

[Dunfermline Saint]

Boxing day watching scorelines on the laptop, what more could you want! :D

[Dunfermline Saint]

Dunfermline beating Morton 1-0

[Dunfermline Saint]

Dundee 1-0 Queen of the South

[Scobby_SJFC]

Boxing day watching scorelines on the laptop, what more could you want! :D

Am the same with Soccer Special on!! boring day since my mum nicked the car.

We could do with QOTS doing us a favour!!

[Scobby_SJFC]

Burnley 1 down!!

[Dunfermline Saint]

1-1 now! 2 goals in 40 seconds at turf moor

[Dunfermline Saint]

Chris Miller not in the Morton squad today incidentally.

[Barty1884]

Looks like its just me and you DS!!!

I'll join you two aswell

[Scobby_SJFC]

more the merrier!!

[Scobby_SJFC]

Scotland scores 4-0 the swans

[Barty1884]

Brilliant - not even half time in most games and my coupon isn't looking very promising.

Got caley to beat falkirk, Hibs to beat Killie.

Ah well - Saints win will make up for it

[Dunfermline Saint]

QOS equalise! Paul Burns 43

[Dunfermline Saint]

Ht 0-0

[Barty1884]

HT - 0-0, wonder how we're doing performance-wise

[Scobby_SJFC]

0-0 ht

[Barty1884]

Well we're playing gash by all acounts i've heard

[Dunfermline Saint]

Would be good to see a clean sheet, but a 0-0 against the team bottom of the table is not the place i would like to see it!

[Dunfermline Saint]

Quinn off, Lawrie on......injury??

Edited - Just realised Weatherston is on the bench, so not too sure of the reason for the sub.

[Barty1884]

If we MUST draw again, least the defence may be getting it right & keeping a clean sheet, then again - bottom team of the league, probably not having a particularly busy afternoon

[Dunfermline Saint]

Sheerin booked

[Barty1884]

Quinn off, Lawrie on......injury??

Edited - Just realised Weatherston is on the bench, so not too sure of the reason for the sub.

Injury - Oh no
Lawrie on - Oh Bloody hell no!

Can Irvine not play in midfield aswell? sure i heard that somewhere, so maybe Lawries gone to RB & Irvine into midfield?

[Dunfermline Saint]

If Irvine can move forward then that would make sense. Seemed a bit of a strange time for a sub to be made which is what concerned me regarding a possible injury.

[Dunfermline Saint]

2-1 Qos! :D

[sideshowbob1974]

A draw is no use,we have to win this game,especially as Dundee are losing and Hamilton are drawing.Would be typical of Saints to blow it aswell

[Barty1884]

looks like Irvine has gone into midfield they think

[Dunfermline Saint]

Sheerin off Weatherston on 73 mins and a booking for McManus

[Scobby_SJFC]

Cmon Saints give us a goal!!!

[pezza70]

man for once the results are going for us

give us a goal lads

[Phil]

Typical that we would draw against them when dundee and hamilton are dropping points.

[Dunfermline Saint]

Get Daal on!! :D

[Barty1884]

C',mon Saints

[Scobby_SJFC]

please please please give us a goal!!

[pezza70]

Daal on for Savo on 88

[Dunfermline Saint]

Milne off Daal on 86 mins

[Scobby_SJFC]

striker for a striker?? hell no go for it, nothing to lose

[Dunfermline Saint]

FT - Chances of catching Dundee and Hamilton were already slim to say the least, but after having a chance today to make up a wee bit of ground whilst playing the bottom of the league team, I think I can safely say that it just isn't possible anymore.

[Scobby_SJFC]

0-0 ft poor result

[Barty1884]

There it is 0-0

[pezza70]

shit a brick

the buzz and feel good factor off a few days ago has evapourated very quickly

[Thomas_sjfc]

TYPICAL FKING SAINTS. The teams above us drop points and guess else what happens.......

[101 Saint]

Abysmal performance. 433 is crap. Too many long balls. One good 10 minute spell in first half was all we saw of Saints playing football. Poor stuff, Derek.

[andrew]

I wore oot the edge of ma seat!
What a lot of rubbish. Saints never looked like scoring. Albion, on the other hand, looked threatening second half.
Poor game. Poor conditions. Poor referee.
Too many long balls. Too many wayward passes.
Waste of time and money.
Entertainment value - nil.

[mainstand]

Abysmal performance. 433 is crap. Too many long balls. One good 10 minute spell in first half was all we saw of Saints playing football. Poor stuff, Derek.

It was poor stuff but what that misses out is how bad the pitch looked, how bad the weather was and the wind that was diagonally down teh pitch.

Not a great result but at least is not a defeat and we pcked up a point on Dundee.

Stand by for teh usual barage of that was crap Mcinness posts tonight.

[andrew]

I live in Stirling. Went to see Albion v Hamilton (2-4) a few weeks ago. Hamilton ground out the win and overcame Albion by sheer strength and determination. Albion had a brilliant last 30 minutes that day. Six goals, great entertainment.
Today Saints ground out another draw, and had no strength or determination. Lucky Albion didn't sneak it - their keeper had nothing to do all day except one save from a header.

[Radford 72]

A totally inept showing from Saints today and in truth we were probably lucky to leave with a point. No complaints about McInnes going with the same side but the lack of fight and urgency was there right from kick off when Albion nearly cut our defence open with a few unchallenged passes straight from the start.

Our midfielders weren't prepared to battle enough for the ball or take the hits, although that wasn't too unsurprising considering the lack of protection given from Freeland, who is a terrible referee. I guess we are lucky for once that he didn't cost us anything although I thought he denied Stirling a stonewall PK when Anderson bodychecked the lively McKenna.

About five minutes before half-time McInnes switched Jackson and MacDonald and for the first, and only, time we looked in control and dangerous. In the second half Alan Main was forced to make two excellent saves whilst we didn't really come close to scoring, we certainly didn't open up Stirling like we did Livi on Saturday.

Really I can only say Peter MacDonald got pass marks for us, everyone else was disappointing and it's really frustrating that we can neither take our home form into away games or string any sort of consistency together.

Being generous, the conditions didn't help and Albion adapted much better to them but their midfielders were prepared to take the ball down and capable of doing so. Like I said, ours weren't prepared to and even when they tried too often gifted possession away.

Not looking forward to the trip to Broadwood on Saturday now where we'll face another physically testing game and I doubt we'll be up to and I doubt our discipline will either

[SJC]

That was crap McInnes

It was a jammy draw as well, after Sheerin was subbed we had no midfield whatsoever, and Stirling completely outplayed us- the only thing that prevented a 3-0 loss for us was their unbelievable ineptitude in front of goal.

The weather was bad, but the same for both teams and the pitch wasn't that bad at all. We managed about two shots at goal, and were holding on at the end.

Absolute rubbish in front of a huge travelling support.

[Radford 72]

433 is crap.
We played 4-4-2 for most of the second half, with Jackson on the left wing.

[SJC]

At no point over the last few matches have we played 4-3-3 putting a striker out on the wing does not make it a 4-3-3 formation, most of the time we play 4-5-1 with Milne up front on his own, Jackson playing just behind him and Peaso out on the wing.

Neither of these formations work because the players on the pitch are fn awful.

[Radford 72]

Most of the time we play 4-5-1 with Milne up front on his own, Jackson playing just behind him and Peaso out on the wing.
So who was the right midfielder in the five then?

It's been 4-3-3, albeit with Peaso playing a lot wider than Jackson.

[SJC]

Rocco was playing on the right wing today, but recently we haven't been playing with a right midfielder, Irvine has been expected to play in both positions.

The players are running around changing positions so much that we're not playing to any set formation.

All I can say is that Main is the keeper, Anderson, McManus and Stanic are in the defence, Quinn, Sheerin are in the midfield, and Savo is up front. Irvine, Craig, Peaso and Jackson move around the pitch so much that they aren't playing in any set position.

No wonder we resort to punting the ball up the pitch as we have so many players constantly chasing the ball.

[101 Saint]

It was poor stuff but what that misses out is how bad the pitch looked, how bad the weather was and the wind that was diagonally down teh pitch.
The wind was strong so play the ball on the deck. The pitch was wet so pass and move. The weather? Come on. If you don't like it cold and wet, don't play football in Scotland. Stirling coped with the pitch, weather, etc.. As for Del... Where is Moon, why bring on Lawrie, why put Jackson on the left, why bring Daal on so late? No excuses, very poor stuff. On a side note Bobby Barr must be getting ready for the bench, following Rocco's injury.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Rank rotten pish today.Plenty mitigating factors like crap pitch , shit weather and another diddy referee who wants to be the star attraction and was ably assisted by the lanky usless streak of piss running the line on our side, BUT...

The tactics were so stupid you had to be there to believe them.Blowing a gale , they have some big guys at the back and we punt,punt panic,punt.No invention yet again. Rather than pick the lock ,we try to batter the fecking door down and it very rarely works.Most players well below par and compared to last week it was night and day. The midfield was pretty bad ,then Rocco went off( He was pretty poor up to then) and it disappeared.

Once again a great travelling support was left with feck all to cheer. On the plus side we're a point closer to Scumdee and have not lost any ground on Hamilton, but we MUST do better and it MUST be now. To be fair as has been stated we could, and probably should have got beaten.

The dream lives on for now but it's hanging by a thread again....

[Zimmerman]

We were terrible today all over the park. And I must say for the first time in a long while it had nothing to do with the manager. The players were just absoloutely not interested at all. Although two remarks for Deek. Although rocco was injured, irvine is not a central mid and start to play wetherston where he can hurt teams out wide as possible.

Saying that the problem today was our very slow midfield, not slow in pace this time, but slow in moving into space. Stirling wanted the game more and to be honest they should have beat us. Several times midfielders were shouting for the ball when the player had to pass through three players. All we needed was a bit of movement, I mean that has to be the smallest park in the league.

I think we have the basis of a good team, but when a few have an off day ( or rocco going off) we just simply don't have enough to grind out results. Hopefully james, hardie and this new lad from morton can make a difference.

Also on a final note, the defence is now becoming a farse. Anderson, mcmanus and stanic were embarassing today. Too many times they were cut open, caught sleeping or just wanted to hoof the ball up the park to small striker. The Hoofing mainly by mcmanus, who has a scandalus distribution.

And this annoys me because anderson played brilliant at times today then just gets repeatidly ripped by turning his back to a defender or backing off him. As for stanic, clearly a brilliant player, that at times looks like its a season too far.

All of which is my opinion, but the right one! ( Har Har )

[mainstand]

As for Del... Where is Moon, why bring on Lawrie, why put Jackson on the left, why bring Daal on so late? No excuses, very poor stuff. On a side note Bobby Barr must be getting ready for the bench, following Rocco's injury.

e obviously felt that pushing Irvine into midfirld was better than bringing moon on. What is this infactuation with moon?

I think you'll find that daal was not on as we had a problem with McManus which meant that they were possibly having to bring rusti on, that was why Rusti was stripped for ages.

I think you'll find Rocco's ot a sprain and that is it. I would hope that he will probably be fit for the weekend.

[slambrother]

Very dissapointing display today. I travelled to the game with a stirling fan and teased him about whether he would still give me a lift back after we won...how wrong can you be! Dire conditions to match the play and genuinely felt sorry for my work colleague who thought we looked very poor. I thought we really missed Rocco when he went off and when Sheerin was subbed our whole midfield collapsed it was just ridiculous. Perhaps the tannoy guy's announcement of Cuthbert as an outfield player wasn't such a bad idea. Didn't understand the logic in bringing Dahl on with so little time to go for him to take up defensive duties. As for the linesman, if I were him I would have just curled up in a ball somewhere and hope no one noticed me after that performance

For as bad a season as the pars have had they are now only 4 points behind us crap or what!

[slambrother]

oh and meant to say £10 for a childs admission to a first division team is just rediculous surely must be the dearest in the league

[MUZZ]

decent away support let down again.

[slf]

had a braw time pity about the score

[templeofsaints]

Temple reports up now - backs everything up here. Assuming Del doesn't want them doing this high ball crap, then he has to take responsibility and start dropping the players that persist in it.

Defensively we used up a season's worth of luck out there. Main was almost lobbed at least twice, Ando and McManus were all over the place and Stanic just looked slow - getting caught in possession again and again. I'm also worried about the lack of confidence the defence seem to have in Main - there were a few times when the ball could have been passed back to Main but the defender just stuck it out the park.

Sheerin in midfield was lucky his challenges didn't earn him a red - too many mistimed tackles on a wet pitch is asking for trouble. Rocco looked out of sorts playing wide but when we lost him a big chunk of creativity went. Thought Craig did well for the most part but again picked up a silly booking.

Up front Jacko and Savo did little most of the afternoon as time and time again the ball sailed over their heads. Peaso tried some tricks but Moore had obviously paid attention on Sat and simply put 2 men on him to close him down - sod all support from his teammates meant we lost the ball again and again.

If Dyer isn't going to get a start, I think we need to sign a left-back asap. We also need someone to command at the back and bang some heads together - I get the feeling Ando will be ok if he's told what to do but McManus to me is becoming more of a liability - he can't distribute the ball and too often the clearances are just hoofs up the park.

Not happy at all.

[Zimmerman]

Yep, so all round everyone thinks the defence needs to vastly improve or be dropped in certain areas or even a new defender. Will be interesting to see what happens.

[SJC]

The only decent thing today was the stewarding and the Stirling Polis. Heard some guys have a bit of banter with the cop at the end of the stand towards the training ground.

He was even laughing at the dogs abuse the linesman was getting, shame the Tayside Polis would throw people out for that kind of thing.

One positive from the game is that it was a good day out at least.

[StDuncM]

Perhaps the players had a few nippy sweeties and consumed too many mince pies last night.

[St Mikey]

Long ball all day. Crap weather. Playmaking defenders. Thick players. Couple shots on target. This season is braw. Halfway through the season and we cant hit a barn door. Pische

[ancientsaint]

Best laugh of the day was the assistant referee trying to give offside when craig headed it back to main !!

[froggybinos]

You lot were very poor today, unfortunatly we were not much better. Although we perhaps edged the game we by no means deserved to in it, and probabaly if things were fair both team would be given 0 points from todays game.

The Albion sat in, played a more defensive formation than we have played all season, partly down to us shipping goals, and partly down to injuries to key players. However, for you lot to play long ball all day was ridiculous (am not saying we were any better - just you have players capable of much better). The way Stirling played today was not the traditional Stirling way, but it looks like to do anything this season the aesthetically pleasing football will have to be put to the side, and thats what we got today. No width from either side, an appaling referee and both linesmen for both sides.

Great Saints support down, and good to see so many in the CC pre match. I hope you enjoyed yourselves in their.

[SJC]

The linesman was awful today, that moment when he put his flag up after our player headed it back wasn't his only awful mistake.

Jackson controlled the ball just inside the line and he gave Stirling a throw in, he did the same thing when the ball was in the corner at the far end of the pitch too- if he can't see whats 8 yards from him, he sure as hell can't see what's 80 yards away!

What was he doing when he was 'crab- walking' up the pitch too. Left Foot Right Foot Left Foot Right Foot!

He looked nervous as hell and it wasn't even an important game- what a gimp.

Was it Ross Forsyth who shouted 'Ooyah' and ouch a few times when he was hardly touched? He's a gimp tae the gimp.

[garydavidson]

I think we were very very lucky to get one point. I feel main saved us with two good stops. Their keeper made a great save from us near the end but if the wind had been going the other way that header would have gone flying in.

this season is more about survival and building a new team now. only 5 points off second bottom and the play offs.

[Cagey]

Typical Saints to let us down just when we get our hopes up. wasn`t sure if it was us that was god or Livi poor last week .It looks like the later.

How many times over the past few seasons have we failed to take advantage of the top teams dropping points.

We have to drop Main & McManus if we want to cut out the long & build a team that can keep posession & play football.

[Tranmere Saintee]

The only decent thing today was the stewarding and the Stirling Polis. Heard some guys have a bit of banter with the cop at the end of the stand towards the training ground.

He was even laughing at the dogs abuse the linesman was getting, shame the Tayside Polis would throw people out for that kind of thing.

One positive from the game is that it was a good day out at least.

The policewoman with the tinsel in her hair even turned round at the end of the game and said "We will need to give they officials a police escort after a shocking display like that"!!

[Saintkev]

Nobody seemed up for it yesterday... that's not acceptable... has to be much much better next game.

[Radford 72]

Nobody seemed up for it yesterday... that's not acceptable... has to be much much better next game.
Wrong to give the players Xmas Day off?

[Saintkev]

Wrong to give the players Xmas Day off?

I don't know... it would appear so, but we've all seen Saints play that badly on other occasions without the day off... I'd put it down more to not having a vocal leader on the park... Kev James is a massive loss and I hope all his critics on here are starting to see how much we miss and need him!?!?

[templeofsaints]

I don't know... it would appear so, but we've all seen Saints play that badly on other occasions without the day off... I'd put it down more to not having a vocal leader on the park... Kev James is a massive loss and I hope all his critics on here are starting to see how much we miss and need him!?!?

Not sure it's down to us missing James but we certainly need a shouter at the back (and Main isn't the answer). The same can be said throughout the team though - there is a real lack of a willingness to take any sort of responsibility.

McInnes has to start wielding the axe if he's adamant we shouldn't be playing the long ball game - if he doesn't and we have to put up with these sort of displays, then a lot of faith we have in him will be lost. Sturrock once apparently had a chat with Jim McLean about what to do when players wouldn't adjust to his style or formation. He asked Jum whether or not he should change the formation - the answer was nope, you change the players.

We all know that the team is more effective with the ball to feet, yet we still had to put up for 80 minutes or so yesterday with a constant stream of high punted balls aimed at Savo or Peaso and they didn't have a chance of getting them.

[Dave H]

No team deserved to win the game and a draw was fair result. would have been robbery if there was a winner.

Main saved us twice with two great stops (one on one, and point blank reflex) and Beanos keeper saved them a couple of times with good stops in second half from the neat freekick and the header. Apart from that I was bored! and confused at times by some of the decisions made by the assistant.

I didnt think the referee was that bad today tbh, we should have been down to 10 men early on in the first half (possibly their first attack) for a professional foul on their striker as he skipped by McManus. That in itself is a positive that outweighs any 50/50 challenges. I thought the Freeland actually kept the card in his pocket when so easily could have got it out. he tried to let the game flow, but when you get a game that must of been played 70% in the air, difficult to enjoy!

Draw was fair enough. We tried and we couldnt beat bottom of the league who have conceded 14 goals in their last 4 games previous to our game!!!!!!

[7-2]

Sturrock once apparently had a chat with Jim McLean about what to do when players wouldn't adjust to his style or formation. He asked Jum whether or not he should change the formation - the answer was nope, you change the players.
The boy McLean, he speak much sense.

[Morientes]

Bored and frozen pretty much summed it up for me yesterday.

Agree with the comments here, especially on this long ball pish.

Played some great stuff on the ground at the weekend in cold but calm conditions. It was blowing a gale yesterday and we decide to start humping it long to 2 smallish strikers.

Totally bemused at why, at certain times, we played a stupid pass instead of the ball out wide.

Gary Irvine was available for the ball most of the time he was at full back yet we ignored that half the time......he wasn't shouting for it mind you.

Also, in the 2nd half Jackson was playing out wide on the left.....he came short for the ball about 10 times and never got it once. Stanic seemed to prefer trying to cut inside or play some other crazy pass.

What an opportunity blown.....totally smacks of last season.
We get an opportunity to make up some ground and blow it completely.

Doubt we'll get as many chances to make up ground this season.

You get filled with a little bit of hope after the Livi performance only for it to be followed up with that crap.

[saintbear]

oh and meant to say £10 for a childs admission to a first division team is just rediculous surely must be the dearest in the league

have to agree took Shay to the football,,,A TENNER...hes only 5..AND PEOPLE DOG SAINTS..

[7-2]

What an opportunity blown.....totally smacks of last season.
When you have a Chairman who says you dont need to change much and he appoints a manager who says you dont need to change much I guess you shouldnt really expect much to change.

[pavel]

When you have a Chairman who says you dont need to change much and he appoints a manager who says you dont need to change much I guess you shouldnt really expect much to change.

But how wrong could they be?

If we can't beat the team thats 8 points, or whatever, adrift at the bottom of the league then alot needs to change.

If nothing changes then our performances and league position doesn't change or is that what the board want?

[blueheaven]

Apologies if I'm repeating stuff that's already been said in this post - I haven't had time to read the entire thread.

That was my first game since the Challenge Cup Final and, based on that, we're still rotten. Sure, the conditions were crap (although not really all that bad in the first half), and some people around me seemed perfectly content to blame the game's shortcomings on the ref and linesmen, but really, that was down there among the worst Saints performances I've seen. I think Stirling were the better team and deserved not just one point, but all three - and would have got them had their finishing not been crap.

I have no idea what formation we were attempting to play, but whatever it was it's a mess. I'm all for McInnes wanting to give a new formation time to work, but it's never going to work for as long as the entire team either look out of position or like they don't know where they're meant to be playing in the first place.

It makes me laugh that Rocco Quinn was in one of the papers on Monday bragging about how we play good football and everything about McInnes' training is set up for that, because I don't think I've ever seen a Saints team resort so often to punting the ball aimlessly up the park. Such complete lack of creativity, ideas and invention. Only Sheerin, for me, looked eager to get the ball down and actually try to find a teammate with a pass. The other midfielders were poor - Quinn was too hesitant, and Craig spent the entire game moaning.

I thought Jackson, Peaso and Milne were all okay individually, but never really looked like linking up together to create anything as a team. At the back, that was about as bad as I've seen McManus, and also the worst I've seen Irvine play on the few occasions I've seen him (although I appreciate he was moved out of position for much of the game).

Daal at least came on and offered something different, plus some genuine determination to get stuck in and make an impact - something sorely lacking from his team mates. He's very rough around the edges but I'd give him his chance to start against Clyde. At least then if the rest of the team insists on punting the ball high, there'll be someone in attack with a bit of physical presence.

Terrible performance, and the conditions shouldn't be blamed for our very obvious failings.

[dunblanemike]

according to this site our attendance was 863!
http://www.stirlingalbion.com/attendance_stats.html

[garydavidson]

Beanos keeper saved them a couple of times with good stops in second half from the neat freekick

This actually hit the post first beore bouncing off the keeper and out, could easily have gone off him and in but it was just that kind of day. i think the robbery would have been if we had taken all three points.

[monkfish]

No urgency at all yesterday. Daal stuck out because at least he came on and put himself about . Formation was a mess. Dunfy have been completely awful and we're only just above them, shows how good we are. Freeland was shite but was for both sides, McManus should have been off and Sitrling should have had a penalty, but he gave all the 50-50s to Stirling. No one moans about the ref when you win 3-0 though...

Plus side, big support for us! Looked like more Saints the Beanos there?

[Gods Favourite Angel]

crap game,crap tactics,crap score, crap weather, crap substitution,
the only good point we were lucky to get the draw!!! :mad:

:twisted:

[ancientsaint]

according to this site our attendance was 863!
http://www.stirlingalbion.com/attendance_stats.html


I thought we had about a thousand plus...but i guess the turnstile recording system says differently.

[garydavidson]

i dont know if the stand saints were in holds 1,000! i was in the stirling end with my mate who i went with since he is lucky enough to support him. he even said that penalty was never one it was clearer from the stirling side that it was not one.

[ancientsaint]

i dont know if the stand saints were in holds 1,000! i was in the stirling end with my mate who i went with since he is lucky enough to support him. he even said that penalty was never one it was clearer from the stirling side that it was not one.

according to the SA official site the stand that saints fans were in holds 1000 fans...dont think it was full so 863 sounds right

[jazzer]

Certainly didn't look like 700 Albion fans to me?

[7-2]

I see that extremely massive club from Jutesville that is soooooo much bigger than us proved what a sleeping giant they are by totally blasting us away with the size of travelling support they took compared to little old Saints.....a whopping 58 more. I-M-P-R-E-S-S-I-V-E or what!!!:***:

[Radford 72]

I see that extremely massive club from Jutesville that is soooooo much bigger than us proved what a sleeping giant they are by totally blasting us away with the size of travelling support they took compared to little old Saints.....a whopping 58 more. I-M-P-R-E-S-S-I-V-E or what!!!:***:
What's this mon ami?

[Broon]

Not much to add - as bad a performance as I can remember. I still can't decide if the defence bypasses (sp?) the midfield because they are not there or because McManus and Ando are terrible. Their distribution for a couple of professional footballers is shocking. Ando sometimes tries to head a ball to a fellow player but McManus just gets as much distance as he can onto every header, with no effort to head it to his own teamates.

As I say, this could be because they have nobody to pass to. Who knows - that's McInnes job to find out.

[7-2]

What's this mon ami?
http://www.stirlingalbion.com/attendance_stats.html
The away support numbers from DMs post, you multilinguist you!
We took 863 and the might Dundeh took an even more massiver 921 at the start of the season thus proving their overwhelming superiority over us.:)