I think the manager had a massive say for them. They don’t play particularly attractive football but have done the basics well, are physical, solid at the back, and have some dangerous forward players. Add to the mix the threat their from set pieces and you have a competitive team - similar to Arsenal this season (although shiter). They’ve also been able to mix it up going from 4-3-3 /4-4-2 to 3/5 at the back when needed.
I don’t think Jamestown has been as influential as made to believe. Most of their stand-outs this season played for them pre-Jamestown and understand the Scottish game. Kyziridis, Braga and Leonard the outliers.
Unfortunately for us we are a soft touch, lack physicality & height and often fail to do the basics right. Add to that our lack of plan B and I think it’s clear to see why it’s not worked. The manager is partially to blame, but I think the recruitment in the summer was quite poor (terrible options at right wing back, no wingers, no replacement for Myko or Triantis) and is ultimately what let us down. January looked more positive and we actually signed players to address the issues that were glaring in July rather than signing players for the sake of it.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our best performers have played in Scotland for at least a couple years (Hanley, Mulligan, O’Hora, McGrath, Boyle). I think we will find success with more Mulligan-esque signings. Calvin Miller, Stephen Walsh, Barney Stewart, Lewis Smith of Livi, Ben Stanway of Partick, to name a few, but we have probably missed the boat on a couple of them. If we have a strong core of these types of players who know the game, you don’t mind taking a few punts on players like Klidje etc, and it probably gives these types of signings a better chance of succeeding.
One thing we need to avoid is the Newell/Barlaser types. Slow, weak but technically good midfielders get ran over up here.
