Management thoughts on a big performance on a big day.

Posted on Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Mike says –

“To take the title from an excellent Jack Nicholson film, that was “As Good As It Gets”. Flocks was sound, the back four solid, the mid three all on top of their game, we were creative in wide areas and Cloudie had one of these days where his touch and link up play was almost perfect. Early on I think everything fed off the tremendous understanding and passing in central midfield where Robbie, Alex and Gavin passed and moved like the “red” team in North London. I talk to players about the standards they set themselves – well they raised those standards yesterday.

Don’t get me wrong – the players started enjoying the game too much after half and hour and I told them so at half-time. You only enjoy your football during a game if you’re 5-0 up with 5 minutes to go, not midway through the first half where we stood off the Uni a bit and let them get a foothold in the game. You have to concentrate and give it your best for 90 minutes. You’ll have plenty time to “enjoy” the game over a pint in the pub afterwards.  As I’ve said though it was our best performance of the season so far and one we’ll find hard to repeat.

Sammy is a winner and was a bit down after the game. We (him and I) had a set too nearing half-time as we urged our teams forward but he knows I have nothing but respect for his ability as a coach and admiration for the desire he has for his team to succeed. Enemies for 90 minutes and friends for life – that’s the way it has to be in football. It was no consolation for him and Neil Irvine that we were at our best but I’m sure in the cold light of day they’ll realise they caught us on a good day and that their exploits on University football duty during the week had taken something from the legs of his players. The Uni are and will remain one of the top sides in our division.

I can’t finish without a mention for Keith McLeod and Omar Kader. Cloudie has been a dream striker for Sam and myself and we know that if he hadn’t put his work before his sport he’d have plied his trade in the SFL for most of his career. 200 goals in 273 appearances says it all. Congratulations Keith and lets look forward to the next 100. Omar was one of the first players to be promoted from our under 19 team and completed 200 appearances yesterday. Archie was delighted to hand him the captains armband for the day and the way the team played under him he may get it on a more permanent basis in the future.

Right, back down to earth. Let’s get the Select game out the way then Sam and I will work on trying to get them to go someway of repeating that performance next Saturday – a big ask.”

Mike