Queen's travel to Gretna tomorrow on the back of stinging criticism from coach Kenny Brannigan in the local press. Brannigan referred to his belief that there are too many players at the club in a "comfort zone", and that the club requires harder-working performances from certain players. The comments contained a fair degree of contradiction, with Brannigan saying that his players "tried" against Morton, having accused them previously of a lack of effort: he also said that the team had not been good enough to create chances, and that the solution was more graft: surely, it should be an improved quality of football. I remain unconvinced about Brannigan's capabilities as a coach, but he is still basically a novice to the role, and it would also be foolish to read too much into newspaper reporting. As we are all aware, some kind of metamorphosis is apt to take place between reality and newsprint.
Some fans do appear to be concerned that Brannigan is keen to turn the team into a hard-tackling one, where physical strength and sheer determination are the keys to winning matches instead of skilful, passing football. The former attributes are almost synonymous with Brannigan the player: but I have yet to see any clear evidence that they reflect the ideas and ambitions of Brannigan the coach. From his public utterances, it does seem obvious that Kenny wants a greater battling ethic in the team, but is that necessarily a bad thing? Queen's have played reasonable football for some time now, and it has frankly achieved scant rewards. A little - and just a little - greater toughness in the team would surely not go amiss.
Brannigan has suggested that tomorrow's match will be a physical battle, which hints at the style he will ask his players to adopt for the game. Gretna have not been noted so far for their abrasiveness, but they are perhaps temperamentally unsound, having let likely victories slip from their grasp on too many occasions this season. In the last meeting of the clubs at Raydale Park, the opposite was closer to being correct as Gretna salvaged a draw courtesy of a softly awarded penalty which Mark Dobie converted. The veteran will again be a serious threat tomorrow if fit, but his fellow striker John Hore is also one to watch, while veteran defender Tommy Turner is a formidable obstacle even at the age of 39. I have also received glowing reports on Michael Galloway, a recent signing by manager Rowan Alexander from nearby Carlisle United. Apparently, he is a strong passer, and is one of the men Gretna will be hoping can boost their bid for promotion next season. This season, they have simply lacked the cutting edge and ruthlessness of the most successful sides, and since they beat Queen's Park 2-1 on 11 January, they have won just once in seven fixtures ( that a win at Firs Park ), drawing five of those. They sit eleven points clear of Queen's at present.
As far as team selection goes, Kenny Brannigan has his widest choice yet for tomorrow's game, missing only Steven Moffat and Tony Quinn through injury. The tirelessly marauding Willie Martin will surely start to fill a gap on the right side of the attack, having scored twice in the midweek Strollers win, and Stuart Kettlewell - Queen's best player last Saturday - will probably also be fit enough to play having needed to be brought off against Morton. Tony Mitchell's improved work last week will almost certainly not be enough for him to retain his place, with Mark Cairns back from what were apparently work commitments, not an untimely vacation. Agostini, Ferry, Whelan anc Clark are all now in the peak of fitness, the latter three having been fielded last time around when still a little under-the-weather. Damiano Agostini will fill the boots of the suspended Jamie White.
It may seem superfluous to retread the path of Queen's previous meetings with Gretna, as all of them happened this season, but in case any of you suffer from an impaired memory then here are the details:
6 Aug Queen's Park 2 ( Canning, Gemmell ) Gretna 1 ( Dobie ) { Bell's Cup }
31 Aug Queen's Park 1 ( Ferry ) Gretna 0
2 Nov Gretna 2 ( Eeles, Dobie penalty ) Queen's Park 2 ( Moffat penalty, Gallagher )
11 Jan Queen's Park 1 ( Whelan ) Gretna 2 ( Dobie 2 [ 1 penalty ] )
11 Mar Strollers crush Albion Rovers by seven
A Strollers side that featured several first team players defeated Albion Rovers by the astonishing margin of seven goals to nil in a Reserve League West game at Lesser last night. Willie Martin scored twice, Steven Canning got a couple, and Taggart, Fisher and Gallagher also found the net. Rovers finished the game a man short after a sending-off, but this result will still surely provide a significant fillip to the confidence of the players involved after a testing time recently, given a slip in form.
Meanwhile, Chris Lamb has been released and has signed for the Pollok Juniors juvenile team. The young goalkeeper had been on the bench for a few games after Colin Stewart returned to Kilmarnock.
More March 2003 news