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In 1994 we were riding high in the Premier Division with Tommy Coyne scoring goals for fun and even the press were beginning to treat us as THE serious contenders for the top spot. Twelve months on we a struggling along in the lower reaches of the table, Coyne has struggled to hit the target and we are in more danger of hitting rock bottom than number one. So the question is - WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED ? A point a game over the first quarter of the season has seen morale in the team and support drop to a recently unknown low. The blame is being laid at several different doors, as noted below :
a) Lack of signings - When the fans began their summer hols, the expectation was that a couple of big arrivals were on the cards. Instead only the lightly used John Hendry was brought in to strengthen the pool. In the club's defence, big money has already been laid out on, as yet, unseen men like Mitchell Van de Gaag, Shaun McSkimming, Eddie May (in midfield please) etc. There has been a fair shake up since Alex McLeish took over the reins and a further influx would be a massive addition. However as we stand, a new face in the midfield would surely pick things up greatly.
b) Lack of luck ! - An easy one to use, but when you consider that a couple of dodgy referee decisions and a soft goal denied us a Coca-Cola Cup semi-final slot, and league points have been dropped to inferior teams like Thistle (stole a point at home then a last minute sickener at theirs), Falkirk, Hearts and Raith Rovers, we haven't had Lady Luck smiling on us thus far. And I haven't even mentioned our injuries....!
c) Massive injury list - Oh yes ! As much as our team selection was settled last time round, so it has been disrupted so far this season. To be without Coyne, Arnott and Hendry for the recent Hearts game when we were already struggling to find the target typifies the chronic run of crocks we have endured already.
d) The manager - Always first to take the flak when the team are down, Alex has had all of the above to put up with during his first big-scale crisis of his managerial career. He has shown bravery in bringing in impressive youngsters like Stevie McMillan, Innes Ritchie, Greg Denham, Roy Essandoh and Miodrag Krivokapic when previous managers would have persisted with his injured 'stars' despite their obvious lack of playability (no names, no pack drill!!!) Many other people would have given up their principles and taken a route one method to short-term safety, but McLeish is determined to play our way out of this rut, and this will benefit both the team and the fare served up to the sometimes quick to criticise fans when the situation goes full circle.
There is no doubt that we going through a very disappointing and infuriating spell just now where NOTHING we try is going right. But if we can stay behind the team (which includes staying inside Fir Park for the full NINETY MINUTES!!??!) then it is only a matter of time until we start hitting the net again and we start climbing back towards the top half of the table. Keep the faith 'Well fans !!!
Christopher Hutton