| ALLEZ LES HOOPS |
| If you thought last week's performance at Elgin was bad, this was sadly even worse. Suicidal play, a non-existent midfield, and worse concentration than usual - is this the same team that beat Inverness? The truth is, no. The names may have stayed the same, but the play is a million times worse, completely lacking in any imagination. Players were lashing the ball at each other as if the ball was some sort of ticking bomb. You could land Concorde in the flanks of defence. It was simply not good enough. We barely got away with it last week at Elgin, but Gretna are a good team and this time it was obvious that we weren't going to be so fortunate. From the off, it was a harsh lesson in how to play football. Gretna were quick, exploitative, and knew where the goal was. Queen's chased shadows and relied on Derek Scrimgour too many times to keep themselves in the game. And I'm not sure anymore what formation the team is playing because I'll be damned if I saw a midfield yesterday. The play was conservative at best. Some players are clearly just too keen to get rid of the ball as soon as they see it. At least Paddy Gallagher and Danny Ferry, the only outfield players that passed with some degree of honour, tried to make runs, even if they knew that it would all be for nothing. Other than that, some of the midfield play was depressing. Steven Reilly didn't do much at all and Jonny Whelan was clearly only out there to be a defensive midfielder. Couple that with no runs down the left hand side and no attempt at playing the ball forward you've got a team desperately hanging on from the first whistle. And it's not young John Thomson's fault that he's being played as a wing-back when he's anything but. Kenny Brannigan clearly sees him as a good prospect, but he can't be played in that position. He doesn't know whether he's coming or going a lot of the time and as a consequence we are exposed at the back. The central defending wasn't too bad. Agostini and Sinclair did OK, but Fallon, despite being a rock, seemed too content with lashing the ball out for a throw than take his time and try to do something with it. The flanks were destroyed though, mainly by Baldacchino, who ran riot on both sides. The goal was coming. Don't let the 80 minute bracket next to Cameron's name fool you. 3-0 wouldn't have been harsh on Queen's yesterday. If it wasn't for Scrimgour, it could have been. So it's Cowdenbeath next week. More direction will be needed of the forward variety and a midfield appearance wouldn't go a miss either. Ratings: Scrimgour 7, Ferry 6, Thomson 6, Sinclair 6, Agostini 6, Fallon 6, Gallagher 7( Clark 6 ), Reilly 5, Graham 6, Whelan 6 (Kettlewell 6), McAuley 6 ( Carroll 6 ) Man of the Match: Derek Scrimgour Match Ratings: * |