robertkay

4-4-2 can be a very attacking and progressive. It would make us very difficult to defend against if McKay (for example) was played on the left to drive in the pitch and create overlapping opportunities for Wallace? I'm happy enough with anything other than systems which involve a back 3 (too much asked of one wide player per side IMO and very vulnerable to counter attacks). 4-4-2 can be flipped to 4-3-3 quickly during a match anyway if needed

If we don't feel safe with someone like Walter Smith in charge then we might as well pack it all up now! All we keep hearing is "it can't be a random business man, they have to love the club" now its" they need to have the right experience, it doesn't matter if he loves the club". We can't have it all folks and surely if any chairman can make mistakes (and they all do), is it not better they are honest ones?

GK: Waterreus RB: Whitakker CB: Andrews CB: Amoruso LB: Ball RM: Kanchelskis CM: Buffel CM: Arteta (with us) LM: Lovenkrands ST: K. Miller ST: Naismith

For reference guys my opinion was based on what generally happens in professional youth football in Scotland is from my own experience. There are exceptional cases that deviate from that but I stand by the fact that the level he is playing at is lower than it would be if he was playing for Rangers, Celtic or any other performance level club. His current club have actually applied at least once to become "performance" (when Raith Rovers resigned last season) and Ayr United were accepted first. I hear also that when the elite tier comes in next season and teams are invited to move from initiative to performance that Airdrie are still falling short of the requirements and that Partick Thistle, Morton, Dumbarton, Clyde and Livingston are all in better positions to move up. The boy could be exceptional and there could be circumstances dictating where he plays at present. I've just seen it more often coming down to the standard of opposition limiting offers to progress at a higher level.

The parental influence aspect is a possibility but not entirely common. Although I don't see how changing club means you need to change school? Also there is no rule at Performance level that says you can't play for your school? Hardly think my point is invalid considering I said it was on a hunch and based on what generally happens?

And having an opinion makes me a "fud"? Plenty of players do take a step up at 15/16, but generally because of their development at that time. If you can't make a point without swearing or abusing people then it says more about you than it does about me. As I actually said in my original post that my comments were based on a general trend and that I was asking about the other age groups to get their opinions on him

Opinions from people who have seen him play as I don't remember him from when we played Airdrie when he was at U12s, if he was even there at that point. Airdrie also pushed my own team quite close last season, but there's a reason they are an Initiative team rather than performance. I can only speak from my experience of them but they are generally just bigger boys when my team play then and rarely play good football. At 14/15 years old if he was truly exceptional he would be playing performance football, in my opinion.

He is currently playing in the second tier of youth football yet gets a first team game. Suggests that Airdrie are poor rather than this lad is excellent, although I'm waiting on some info on him from some of the age groups that coaches I know have seen him at. Ill go out on a limb to suggest that if, at 14, he was that good he would be at a bigger club. He's not even old enough to be classed as a "late developer" which is the only reason I could think of to suggest why he is at Airdrie (which for those that dont know is slightly better than boys club)

£10m is a ridiculous amount to pay for a youth academy. Below are costs of other academies across Europe. I won't go as far to rate the return on investment, I think it speaks for itself: Ajax 6m Arsenal 3m Barcelona 10m Bayern Munich 3m Inter Milan 6m Lens 6m Sporting 5m Firstly, It just isn't the case that Auchenhowie costs that much per year to run in my own opinion. Secondly, if it is then downsizing it is the only possible way to move forward. We should be looking to be at the level of portuguese academies and stop looking at England for examples. Portugal suffer similar problems to us - big clubs in a small country, living next door to one of the best leagues in the world etc. I don't think there is too much wrong with the players we have until U17s. It's something that happens from then up that goes wrong.

I agree with all of the above. He has carried that out to a tee, but wait...what are we forgetting? He's a football manager, when are we allowed to judge him on that? Is winning the league enough? Ok, I'll rephrase, is winning the SFL3 enough with such a lack of style it smacks of amateurism? Delighted we have won the league but if people can't see that it is papering over the cracks then they are in for a thud when the walls come down!

Unfortunately, I couldn't agree more!

Totally agree. Ally's "time to step up" was at the beginning of this season - at the very latest!

The funny thing about this is that you're right...there are lots of managers who would still see this job as being desirable....don't kid yourself on that they wouldn't.

Spittal was with us up until the year before last and got released. A fantastic player, settled into the first team with ease really. For the record, someone mentioned his off field habits (drinking etc), the boy is not like that. A "pro" in every sense other than the fact he doesn't get paid. As for the others I think Anderson (CM) would be a great addition for next season and Roberson (LB) has also been great for QP and could be a good squad player for us. Really happy with the win, scored some good goals but think these are the kind of players to look at. Not foreigners or SPL players.

And then if it's not working do we waste another season? I really fear that this approach (which many seem to be surprisingly happy with) will see us in real bother in terms of how we play in the future.

Great that you are so passionate but the examples you make are also why I admire Ally as a person, but not as a manager. The reason nobody has been able to defend him as a manager (that I have seen) is because the evidence just doesn't exist. When we make room for sentiment we remove quality control in my opinion

I agree, when the manager has a project as such and there are signs of working towards it. The board should still be allowed to sack someone for not doing their job as well as they could be.

While i respect your opinion I just can't see how the players we have currently aren't the right type, rather they aren't being used properly and aren't playing to their potential. I don't think (for example) leaving no-one near the opposition half when defending corners has anything to do with the players we have available, it's a clear sign of Ally's "philosophy" on how we should be playing - which is nowhere near good enough. Maybe, and I mean maybe, against a Barcelona or defending a lead in a final but not every game as standard.

My original post did say it was a blend of manager AND players who are at fault. It's certainly not the fans fault that we see poor performances against poor opposition most weeks. How long do we give him? Short-term-ism is not something we can afford in this rebuilding process and if we aren't seeing anything to suggest deep rooted change in our method of football after 8 months (and more) then I suggest he has had more than long enough.

I agree. I do think we will win the league, and probably the first division (not with the current squad of course but with additions and progressions) but I think the three years up to the top flight (or however many it turns out to be) will come back to bite us when we get there if we don't change our ways.

No I'm not, you're now agreeing with my original point - That it's a combination of players AND manager. If my team don't press the way I want them to I let them know about it, and they fix it. My comments aren't based on yesterdays game they are based on a seasons worth of games (to date). To quote Mr Henderson from yesterday "it's not exactly a one off now is it". I consider the insight of those who know better than I to be backing up my thoughts when they agree with them? What would be more appropriate to back up my points? I've yet to hear anyone be able to describe our way of play in a positive manner. I'm not saying we should play like Barcelona but what would it look like if someone were to say play like Rangers? If it's anything other than what i've described i'd be surprised.