Football in the Highlands (FM13)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

A few days ago, something happened to my Rosport (Luxembourg) game on Football Manager 13, and I couldn't get it to load properly anymore. That really frustrated me, because I had been enjoying playing it and writing about it very much.

At first, I was hesitant to try something else with FM13 until/unless I can figure out if the program is messed up; I don't want another game to crash just as I'm getting into it. I'm also not sure if my going-on-three-years-old laptop has enough muscle to run Football Manager 14, so I haven't purchased it yet.

I started a new career on Football Manager 12, but after spending an evening trying to create a training program I liked, I began to really miss the streamlined training routine that had been developed for FM13.

So, I gave FM13 another try...and it's working like a charm. :)

I'm using a database that creates a fun pyramid system for Scottish football and I've taken over a team in the Scottish Football Premier League, the third of eleven levels in this database. I discovered that if you go too far down the pyramid, many--in some cases all--of the players you begin with are "grey ghosts" at the beginning of the game. Unless you sign them to contracts, you can't find out much about these lads at all.

I have a good feeling about the club I'd chosen to use on FM12, so I'm going to give it another go.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/Strathspey_Thistle_FC_zps9fd3ca22.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/Strathspey_Thistle_FC_zps9fd3ca22.jpg.html)

Strathspey Thistle FC play in the Highlands town of Grantown-on-Spey. They are a semi-professional club, founded in 1993. Strathie's home ground, Seafield Park, holds 1500.

Strathie will be competing with 17 other club in the SFPL. The top two clubs earn automatic promotion to Scottish Premier League Two, and the next four in the table take part in a promotion playoff. The bottom three are relegated to the Scottish Football League Premier Division.

The board's goal for the year was simply to avoid relegation. With the lads they had on board, that was a pretty fair assessment of the situation.

I'll be back as soon as I've played the 2012-2013 season as far as early August. I'm hopefully going to be bringing in some new players, so the squad won't have a chance to settle itself out before then. At that point, I'll introduce you to the club's players and briefly update you on how the first weeks of the season have been going. I hope we'll all enjoy the story.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

5 August 2012

We played six pre-season friendlies; we won three, drew two, and lost one. In the process, we scored 14 goals and conceded six.

The match we lost, 1-2 to Buckie Rovers at home, was actually one of our better performances by every measure, except for the scoreline. We did a better job of maintaining possession than we did in all but one of the matches we won.

Most importantly, we are basically healthy and match fit as our first League match of the season approaches.

We've been playing 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 most often so far, and we've also been working on a 4-1-2-1-2.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

I think our roster is pretty well set for now, so it's time to start meeting the players.

Goalkeepers
Not to be confused with the governor of New Jersey, our Chris Christie (age 22) is our first-choice keeper. He's very athletic, and his eccentric style will be exciting (and possibly nerve-wracking) to watch. His backup will be Ian McDonald (19), whose potential will earn him some playing time.

Defenders
Paul Duncan (26) will start at left back, but he would be one of our two best center backs or central midfielders, too. Stevie Bell (19) and Willie Campbell (20) are two of our most promising young players; like a lot of young players, they'll suffer some growing pains, but they're both tough, determined, and fast. Right now, our best bet at right back is either Jamie Bannon (24) or Mark Brown (22). Neither one is an ideal fit, and I'd like to have Bannon on the bench, because he can play everywhere on the pitch except striker or goalkeeper.

Jamie McKinlay, Aleksejs Ulanovs, George Mackintosh, and Richie Park are the reserves.

Defensive Midfielders
We'll use a DMC quite often, because we have a promising one in William Jess (16), who will get better.

Christie is a very solid goalkeeper, and Bell looks like he'll be a good player in this league. I'd like to find a better option at right back, but I haven't located him yet.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Here are our midfielders and attackers:

Midfielders
Stephen Brady (age 21) can play M(L) or AM(L) equally well. Attribute-wise, he's the best player in the side, with very good technique for a player his age. On the right side we have Calum O'Neil (22), who can also play in the middle of the pitch or in an advanced position. He's fast and good with the ball. Christian Bowles (17) and Mark Brown (22) are our best bets at central midfielder. Bowles is a young man with old man skills--very good technically, but below-average athletically. Brown would be better at DMC, and his ability to play on the back line would make him a valuable reserve. Bowles plays AMC when we use one.
Kenny Allan (24) can fill in at AM(L) or AM(R), and we have several teenagers with promise there, too.

Strikers
When we use a single striker, Stevie Murray (21) is the man. He is very strong, very athletic, and a deadly finisher. Our next-best striker, Craig Gordon (21), has many of the same qualities, and they'd both be better off with a partner who was a better distributor. I'll be looking for someone to play that role in the days to come.

I like to use the 4-4-2, but it doesn't work terribly well with our current cast of characters. We don't have the necessary boss in the middle of the park.

[bbgunn]

Ah, sad to see that the Luxembourg dynasty is over, but I'll be following this as well.

I have FM14 on my going-on-five-years-old-and-running-Vista laptop, and it is sluggish when I'm playing in the so-called "full fat mode" (that still sounds to me like something you order at a steakhouse). But I play FM Classic nowadays, and FM14 Classic runs well. Anyway, you probably made a good choice.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Ah, sad to see that the Luxembourg dynasty is over, but I'll be following this as well.

I have FM14 on my going-on-five-years-old-and-running-Vista laptop, and it is sluggish when I'm playing in the so-called "full fat mode" (that still sounds to me like something you order at a steakhouse). But I play FM Classic nowadays, and FM14 Classic runs well. Anyway, you probably made a good choice.

Thanks, bbgunn. I was enjoying Luxembourg, and I was looking forward to seeing how Rosport would do in the National Division. I liked the side I had put together there very much.

I've never really gotten a handle on the training aspect of FM12. I like the way it works in FM13 much, much better.

That's why I gave FM13 another try, and I'll manage the Speysiders in FM13, too. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

8 August 2012

Strathspey Thistle 2-2 Fraserburgh

4-4-2 Diamond
GK: Chris Christie
D: Paul Duncan, Stevie Bell, Willie Campbell, Jamie Bannon
DMC: William Jess
M: Stephen Brady, Calum O'Neil
AMC: Craig Gordon
ST: Stevie Murray, Craig Gardner

Goals: Bell (41), Murray (59)

The pundits gave us very little chance in this one, even though we were at home. We are, after all, 2000-1 long shots to achieve promotion, so nobody is expecting very much from us.

Bell's goal came off a perfectly-placed corner by Duncan. That, and his solid play on defense, earned him Man of the Match (8.2).

We allowed one frightful goal, when two defenders came out to challenge the man with the ball and left another attacker completely unmarked. There was nothing Christie could do at that point.

You may have noticed the new name on our team sheet. Yesterday, I agreed to contract terms with striker Craig Gardner, a 37-year-old veteran who was looking for a club. He's a very well-rounded player with the strength and presence to make him an effective target man. We don't need Gardner to dazzle the crowd; if he can hold up play and make simple passes to guys like Gordon and Murray, he's earning his paycheck.

I decided to see what would happen if I played Gordon out of position, simply to get him onto the pitch. He can play AM(L) and AM(R), but he doesn't have experience in the middle. Craig unleashed a variety of long shots, none of which challenged the keeper.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

11 August 2013
Scottish Football League Cup, Round One

Stonehaven 1-4 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, George Mackintosh, Allan Park, Kevin Hughes
M: Brady, Christian Bowles, Mark Brown, Allan Mackay
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Park (32), Murray (38, 44, 45+1)

We drew Stonehaven, a smaller club, away in the first round of the Scottish Football League Cup. A hat trick by Stevie Murray, accomplished in the span of six minutes, gave us a comfortable passage through to the next round.

The goal of the game was Park's. Duncan delivered another very good corner, which Mackintosh headed over to Park. Allan knocked it into an almost open net.

Park both scored a goal and cost us one. He trucked a Stonehaven forward in the area, and they converted the spot-kick.

There are a number of unfamiliar names in that starting eleven, aren't there? Get used to seeing a lot of squad rotation for a while. Strathspey Thistle are eligible for three cups. In order of their prestige, they are the Scottish Cup, the League Cup, and the Scottish Football League Cup. We have matches in all three of these tournaments between now and the end of September, in addition to our SPL fixtures.

It was fun to see Stonehaven, because I managed them in my first-ever Football Manager game. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

15 August 2012

I was looking at the Strathie roster, trying to figure out what formations might be best suited for the team and which players to use in spots where there's no clear first team talent.

Right now, there doesn't seem to be anyone available who is good enough to make a significant difference at the positions where we are weakest: left and right back and central midfielder. At least, there's nobody we can sign; there are players I'd love to have, but they want twice as much money as we can pay them.

So, I've decided to give some of our most promising teenagers a chance to see what they can do.

We have several players whom our staff project as three, four, even five-star talents one day. I wonder what will happen if, instead of sending them out to play for the reserves or the U19 side, I give them a chance with the first team?

Strathie aren't expected to win the league. We wouldn't be the favorite even if Rangers (!) weren't in our division. Therefore, I won't be running a promotion-calibre outfit into the ground if I give a couple of kids a shot.

It will be interesting to see if they develop more quickly, or more reliably, if they play regularly for the senior team. If they struggle, and if their struggles seem to hurt their morale, I can always replace them with one of the pedestrian twenty-somethings I had on the roster when I arrived.

Here are some of the players who will be getting an opportunity to show what they can do over the next several matches:

Richie Park (17): D(R), 0.5 silver stars, with 4.5 star potential. His athleticism and fitness are solid, and he's developed some skill at tackling already.

Zander McLeish (17): AM(L,R,C), 1 star, with 5.0 star potential. McLeish plays a position where we're already solid, but with the fixture congestion we're encountering, he'll get an opportunity to play.

George Mackintosh (17): D(C). 1.5 silver stars, with 3.5 star potential. Mack played against Stonehaven and did well, with a 7.1 rating. We're training him to play D(L), and I'll try to get him some playing time there, too.

William Jess (17): DMC/M(C). 5.0 silver stars, with 5.0 star potential. He's already our #1 DMC, but I want to give him some time at central midfielder, too.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

18 August 2013

Edinburgh City 1-5 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, Richie Park
M: Brady, Jess, Bowles, O'Neil
ST: Murray, Gardner

Goals: Murray (6, 28), Gardner (31, 56), Bowles (pen 45+1)

We weren't favored to win this one, either, and we pulled off our second surprise in a row.

Stevie Murray has six goals in three appearances now, and it was great to see Craig Gardner get a brace, too. Craig and Stevie both rated at 9.1, and Craig was Man of the Match. Christian Bowles netted a penalty and assisted on two goals.

It was a rough game--City finished the match with ten men, after Michael Boyack drew his second yellow of the day.

Richie Park (7.5) had a fine game on his debut, and 15-year-old Lee Leiper came on as a substitute midfielder.

We moved up to sixth place with our victory.

This sure was great to see!
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/TeamoftheWeek_zps0b47de77.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/TeamoftheWeek_zps0b47de77.jpg.html)

The green and white shirt is Buckie Thistle, and the red and white is Clyde. The goalkeeper is from Montrose.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

25 August 2012

Strathspey Thistle 1-4 Elgin City

4-3-3 Disastrous Experiment
GK: Ian MacDonald
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, R. Park
M: Bannon, Bowles, O'Neil
AM: Brady, McLeish
ST: Murray

Goal: Bowles (10)

This is what I get for trying to be clever!

I decided to see what I could do to get most of my most talented players on the pitch, and the result was a 4-3-3 with attacking midfielders playing wide. Then, because O'Neil, my M(R) is also good, I wanted to use him as well. To balance the field, I used an M(L), too.

As a result, I had very little presence in the middle of the pitch, and I paid for it. Elgin City had way too much room to operate in the midfield, and by the time I went back to a good, solid 4-4-2, I was already way behind.

Ian MacDonald, our backup keeper, took the brunt of the punishment, but this wasn't his fault. Sorry, Ian.

I could see exactly what went wrong when I looked at the post-match analysis. That's an excellent tool that I'm only now learning to use to its fullest advantage.

Lesson learned.

On a more positive note, Richie Park had the highest rating among our defenders, with a 6.6. Until further notice, he's our first choice right back.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 September 2013

Today is Transfer Deadline Day for Scottish football. I was invited to join in the media coverage, so before and after our match away to Clachnacuddin, I'll be taking questions from the press.

I have an "indifferent" relationship with Sean Nicol from the Grantown-on-Spey Football Free Press, and Sean's personality is described as "boring." In our pre-match presser this week, he asked me if I was interested in making an offer for Ronnie Thomson, a central midfielder with Huntly, one division down from us. I'd never heard of Ronnie Thomson, so I dodged the question as best I could and, after I was done, I had our staff scout him.

It turns out that Thomson's a good player. He's 30, and he can play anywhere in the middle of the park, from center back to striker. He's fast and in excellent condition, and his determination, work rate, and teamwork are all very high.

Thomson is available on a free, so first thing this morning I put in an offer for him. Huntly quickly accepted, so I began negotiations with Thomson. We negotiated a little bit and eventually he found the terms acceptable.

Meanwhile, Buckie Thistle, who are already a very strong side, signed a good goalkeeper, Jock McCabe. He's Chris Christie, without the entertaining forays from his area.

Now Nicol is telling me there's strong interest in Kevin Hughes, a promising young defender. This is news to me. I want to hold on to him, and I tell Nicol so. Hughes wants to stay, so that makes him happy.

At 9:15, we learn that Ronnie Thomson is on his way to Seafield Park. We'll pay him £325 a month, which we can easily afford to do--we're about £2400 a week under our salary budget. Ronnie will play alongside Christian Bowles in our central midfield, and since he's best in a holding role, he's a good partner for Bowles, who likes to push forward. I'm going to buy Sean Nicol a pint. If Thomson turns out to be a star, I'll buy Sean a few more pints.

A little later, I told Sean that Zander McLeish would be "in and around the first team squad," since there was apparently some hope I would be loaning him out.

Several hours passed before I heard from Sean again. When he returned, around 14:30, he mentioned that "recent reports have linked [me] with a move for Formartine Utd defender Brian Shields." I had just looked at our list of likely prospects, and I hadn't seen Shields. I would have noticed him.

Shields is on loan from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, a Premier League club. In other words, he's probably out of our league, in a literal sense. I quickly put our scouts to work on getting a report on him, although I doubt I need an convincing from them. I tell Sean "there's definitely some interest from our side." For some reason, this news confuses backup goalkeeper Ian MacDonald.

Then, it was time for the match.

Clachnacuddin 1-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, R. Park
M: Brady, Ronnie Thomson, Bowles, O'Neil
ST: Murray, Gardner

Goal: Murray (84)

Our new addition, Thomson, made his Strathie debut, wearing the number 7 shirt. I really liked this lineup, but I only got to enjoy it for 19 minutes before Willie Campbell was forced off with an injury. He'll be fine, but Stephen Brady won't. On 32 minutes, Brady broke his toe, and he'll be out for about three months.

The match was scoreless until 81', when the Lilywhites finally beat Christie, who made several outstanding saves. Fortunately, Stevie Murray had the last word, equalizing four minutes later. We'll return home with one point, lying 11th in the table.

Stevie Bell (7.3) was Man of the Match, but it could have just as easily been Christie or Murray.

By 17:00, we were off the pitch and back to the business of Deadline Day. We rejected transfer bids for Zander McLeish from East End and Sunnybank.

Less than two hours remained when we heard back from scouts Sean Gallagher and Graeme Davidson. They agreed that Brian Shields would be a leading star for a side like ours, but doubted he'd want to join us. I made an offer to Inverness Caledonian, and waited to see what would happen next.

They accepted, and now it was in Brian's hands. At 23:00, he told us he wasn't interested in negotiating a contract with us. Just for kicks, we tried again, with the same response.

Maybe acquiring Shields was never in the cards, but it was worth a try. And I think we signed a very talented player in Ronnie Thomson. We're a better side than we were this morning.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

5 September 2012

Stirling Albion 3-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-5-1
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Mackintosh, Bell, Mark Brown
DM: Jess
M: Thomson, Bowles
AM: O'Neil, Gordon
ST: Murray

Goal: Murray (40)

Tonight we discovered how one of the better sides in our league plays the game. Stirling were sharper, quicker, more polished than we are, and the scoreline reflected their advantages. Granted, we didn't have Stephen Brady, and we started George Mackintosh at center back to let Willie Campbell rest, but it wouldn't have made much of a difference in the result.

Mark Brown, a journeyman whose most valuable skill is his versatility, played right back, and he wasn't bad. He's a perfect example of the kind of player who was on the roster when I arrived: decent, but drawing a bigger paycheck than his talent ought to command. Mark is a useful player, but not quite worth £220 a week. I'd happily sign him for next year at half that much.

Their striker, Sean Brown, is very similar to our Stevie Murray. His supporting cast is better right now, however, and they set him up for a hat trick. We were level going into halftime, with Murray scoring on 40', but Sean Brown fixed that in a hurry.

Now we've dropped to 14th, two spots above the relegation zone, but four points clear. It's still early, though, so it's easy to move up...or down...the table.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

8 September 2012
Scottish Cup, Second Round

Brechin Victoria 0-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, R. Park
M: McLeish, Brown, Lee Leiper, O'Neil
ST: Murray, Gardner

Goals: Murray (16, 34)

The Scottish Cup is contested by every football club in Scotland, from Premier League powerhouses like Celtic to Scotia League Two sides like Nairn St. Ninian. We drew a bye to the Second Round, went away to Brechin Victoria, and came back with the result we anticipated. We're in the third level of Scottish football, and Brechin Vics are a Scotia League One club, nine levels below us.

The good news:

Stevie Murray scored two more goals. One was a beautiful finish off an equally beautiful through ball by Craig Gardner.
Lee Leiper, a lad of 15, started at center midfielder and played well. We needed him, because the fixtures are coming fast and furious now. Leiper is a very good passer, and he has more composure than some of his teammates who are almost twice his age. Keep an eye on him.
Mark Brown gave us another solid game, this time at M(C). Again, his presence meant we could give Bowles and Thomson the day off.
Chris Christie kept a clean sheet, and because our back line did their job, it was an easy day at the office for him.
By advancing to the Third Round, we've exceeded our board's expectation for the Scottish Cup.


The bad news:

Someone other than "Stevie Wonder" needs to score a goal now and then.
Richie Park twisted his knee, and he'll be out 4-5 weeks. Mark Brown will probably get the call at right back while Park heals.
Seven of our players--Campbell, Thomson, Bell, Gordon, Duncan, O'Neil, and Murray--will draw the league's automatic one-game ban if they are booked. That list looks a lot like our starting XI, doesn't it? Our league imposes a penalty on the SECOND yellow card. Be careful, lads.


We had more good news during the week, too. I signed a new coach, Andy Robertson. He has several qualities our staff needed; he's a good fitness coach, he's much more of a tactician, and he's way better at evaluating players than anyone in our back room. It's interesting to see how Andy's report differs from those of his fellow coaches. For example, he is much more impressed with Richie Park, and much less impressed with Craig Gardner.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

15 September 2012

Strathspey Thistle 2-1 Wick Academy

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Brown
M: O'Neil, Thomson, Bowles, Bannon
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Thomson (14), Bowles (56)

We were considered the favorite today, probably because we were playing at Seafield Park. It might have been the first time all year we were favored to win a league match.

The commentator described the contest as a "massive relegation six-pointer," which made me smile. Wick Academy stood 11th going in, so I suppose he was right.
I promised attractive football in my pre-match presser, and I fielded the strongest possible side I could, given the injuries to Brady and Park. I wanted to defend our grounds and put some distance between us and the relegation zone.

Ronnie Thomson got his first Strathie goal, a 25 yard strike from Craig Gordon's pass, off the frame of the goal. Gordon was Man of the Match (7.6).

We got lucky when Christie seemed to get his legs tangled up and fell down, and they missed a wide open net. The Great Football Deity set things straight less than a minute later, when they abused Mark Brown and scored a highlight film-worthy goal.

I got the defenders fired up at halftime, and it seemed to work. At first, I wondered if it would matter. At 53', Duncan held Andrew Irvine's shirt in area, and the ref gave them a penalty. Christie turned it past the post to keep things level.

I switched from Control to Counter. We seem to play well with that strategy. It paid off again, as O'Neil made a nice run and laid on Bowles for the deciding goal.

Those three points help us quite a bit:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpsba2a7ab2.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpsba2a7ab2.jpg.html)

Rangers have scored 22 goals and conceded 2. They drew with Annan, 1-1, to spoil their otherwise perfect record.

Rangers, along with arch-rival Celtic, are one of Scotland's most legendary clubs. If you're wondering why they're in our league, here's the story. The first paragraph sums it up very succinctly.

Wikipedia's account of Rangers' administration and liquidation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administration_and_liquidation_of_The_Rangers_Football_Club_Plc)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

19 September 2012
Scottish Football League Cup, Second Round

Beith 0-0 Strathspey Thistle

4-5-1
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Hughes, Bell, Brown
DM: Jess
M: Leiper, Bowles
AM: McLeish, O'Neill
ST: Murray

We were back in our accustomed role as underdog as we went away to Beith for the Second Round of the SFL Cup.

According to the scouting report, Beith has problems playing against a 4-5-1, so that's how I decided we would line up.

I had no idea at the time, but Chris Christie and Kevin Hughes saved the match for us on 19'. Christie parried a hard shot, and when Beith recovered and attacked again, Hughes headed off the line.

At the end of full time, it was still a scoreless draw...so on to extra time we went. It wasn't what I would want to happen--not when we're playing two matches a week--but it was better than losing in 90 minutes.

Stevie Murray barely missed twice in extra time. He put a diving header inches wide, and hit the right post with a laser shot. Had either one gone in, it would have been a tremendous goal.

We did great work in the penalty shootout. Murray, William Jess, Stevie Bell, and Ronnie Thomson (in for Bowles) all scored, and Christie made two fantastic saves.

Naughty list: Calum O'Neill and Stevie Bell drew yellow cards, and both will be suspended from our League Cup tie against Dumbarton. Bell was Man of the Match, despite his booking.

Beith, incidentally, was the home of John Witherspoon, president of Princeton and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

22 Setpember 2012
Scottish League Cup, Second Round

Dumbarton 1-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, A. Park, Bannon
M: Murray, Thomson, Bowles, Kenny Allan
ST: Gordon, Gardner

Goals: Gardner (88, 90+5)

MirrorFootball.co.uk called it "a mild autumnal afternoon at Dumbarton Park." It turned out to be a wonderful day for an upset, too.

Granted, Dumbarton are currently in 15th place, in the relegation zone, but they're still in the highest level of Scottish football. Playing on their own grounds, they had to be considered the favorites.

I let my new coach, David Robertson, choose our lineup today. The U19s had a match yesterday, so the kids were tired...that's why we had reserves filling in all over the place. Yes, that's Stevie Murray on the left wing. He isn't rated to play there, but he gave us a good half of football there before we subbed him out and let him rest.

The game was a scoreless draw at halftime, and the crowd voiced its displeasure with the home side. Honestly, they were lucky it was still a draw. On 34 minutes, Kenny Allan missed a good chance, putting it just wide.

I'd had us playing a defensive strategy, and about fifteen minutes from full time went to good ol' Counter. It worked like a charm! We picked up a loose ball and turned up the pitch. Craig Morrison, a reserve forward, put Craig Gardner through, and he buried the equalizer.

The last thing we needed was another match going into extra time. Gardner took care of that. With everyone on the Dumbarton sideline screaming at the ref to call time, Gardner made a beautiful move on a defender to open up space and scored again.

So, it's on to the next round in this competition, too. We earned £2000 for advancing.

In TEAMtalk.com: "Strathspey Thistle have delighted their fans by firing a mighty twenty goals past their opposition in just ten matches, notching up six wins in the process." Four of those have come in knockout cups; if we could only capture that form in the league, too.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

23 September 2012

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/cupshocker2_zps35fad33c.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/cupshocker2_zps35fad33c.jpg.html)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/cupshocker1_zps130ff4db.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/cupshocker1_zps130ff4db.jpg.html)

I'm not sure why they call the win over Beith a shocker, unless it's because we beat them away.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/lookwhoweplay_zpsdbf9eb9c.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/lookwhoweplay_zpsdbf9eb9c.jpg.html)

Welcome to the big time, Strathie. :)

[Rawhide]

I imagine the whole town will close down and head to Celtic Park!

[Greyfriars Bobby]

I imagine the whole town will close down and head to Celtic Park!

I imagine you're right. Every man, woman, and child from almost thirty towns the size of Grantown-on-Spey would be able to find seats in Celtic Park.

Celtic have a Champions Cup match against Schalke 04 three days before they host us. I'm wondering if we'll actually play their U19 lads that afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by!

[Greyfriars Bobby]

26 September 2012

Strathspey Thistle 0-3 Buckie Thistle

4-5-1
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Brown
DM: Jess
M: Thomson, Bowles
AM: O'Neill, McLeish
ST: Murray

Move along, people. There's nothing to see here.

Buckie Thistle were 1-2 favorites tonight, so this result wasn't terribly unexpected. There's a definite gap between the quality of the best sides in our league and the next tier, and another gap between those and the bottom-dwellers. Right now, I would say we are the very model of a middle-of-the-table side.

Naughty list: Yellow cards were shown to Paul Duncan and Ronnie Thomson, so they'll miss the match against Clyde in three days. They might have had to miss it due to fatigue, anyway.
NINE of our players face one-game suspensions if they get another yellow card. Only one club in our league--Edinburgh City, bottom of the table--has more players in danger of disciplinary suspension.

I've got to do something about that. I'm going to make sure our marking style is set to zonal, and pay close attention to the personality of the referee we have for each match. If we get a fellow who likes to pull cards, we'll be extra-cautious.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

29 September 2012

Clyde 0-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: McKinlay, Campbell, Bell, Cammy McKimmie
M: Jacek Wawrzyniak, Bannon, Brown, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Gordon (65, 69)

Going into this game, Craig Gordon was still looking for his first Strathspey Thistle goal. He left the pitch in Clyde today with two of the biggest goals of the season under his belt.

Again, we came into the match as big underdogs, but the players refused to let the hype affect their play.

Two more debutants today: 16-year-old right back Cammy McKimmie, a "grey guy" I signed to a contract after his attributes caught my eye, and veteran Polish journeyman Jacek Wawrzyniak, who is on the reserve side for just this reason--to fill in when we need a player.

McKimmie was outstanding; he would have been Man of the Match with his 8.2 rating had Gordon not had a brace.

Gordon's goals came in rapid succession, just past the hour mark. The first one was set up by Stevie Murray, who nodded the ball down to Gordon for a left-footed volley past the diving keeper.

Murray banged one off woodwork a minute later, but it wasn't long before Wawrzyniak laid on Gordon with a perfect pass.

I totally parked the bus after Craig's second goal, pulling Murray for an extra defender and going into contain mode. It worked this time. In stoppage time, Christie made a brilliant save and a Clyde dude hit the upright; if those shots had each been one foot to the right, the game would have been a draw.

Naughty list: The zonal marking and cautious tackling worked well--Christie kept a clean sheet. Unfortunately, Stevie Bell was booked, so he'll sit out against Mid Annandale on 6 October.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

6 October 2012

Mid Annandale 1-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2

GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Hughes, Bannon
M: O'Neill, Thomson, Brown, Bowles
ST: Gordon, Murray

Goals: Gordon (65), Campbell (90)

The pundits don't like us. Even when the bookmakers call us the favorite, an "expert" always seems to say that we don't have much of a chance, etc. Tonight, we were 1-3 favorites away, facing winless Mid Annandale, who have two points in eight matches. The mediot still expressed his surprise that we came away with a result.

I wish I could say it was easy. We spotted them an early goal, when Kevin Hughes got turned the wrong way and let one of their guys have just enough room to head one past Christie from inside the six yard box.

I'm never sure about how to approach a game when we are favored to win away. Should I be defensive-minded, like usual when we are away, or more aggressive, since we're the better side? And, if we fall behind, how much does that change the equation? I probably didn't help matters much by changing our approach from Counter to Standard to Control.

Anyway, it was past the hour mark when our "new" scoring threat, Craig Gordon, equalized from a very good pass from our new set-up man, Stevie Murray (four key passes and a key cross, including that assist).

It looked like we were going to come away with a draw, until a goal from an unexpected source--center back Willie Campbell, who pounced on an error from their defender and pushed it into the goal. It wasn't pretty--nothing about the game was pretty--but we'll take it.

We missed Stevie Bell on our back line, but Richie Park has almost completely recovered from his twisted knee, and he came on as a sub tonight.

It's now been almost a month since Murray scored a goal. Our opponents seem to follow him wherever he goes, and that opens up space for Gordon or Gardner, whoever his partner is that game. Still, it would be nice to see Stevie back on the scoresheet.

Naughty list: None! I think the zonal marking/easy tackling is working well.

Strathie's SFPL record: 4-2-3, 10th place
16 goals, 16 conceded

A sad note: The attendance at this match was 15. Each side had more men in uniform than that tonight.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

In Scotland, a strath is a wide, shallow river valley. Strathspey, then, refers to the valley of the River Spey, which is the second longest river in Scotland.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/River_Spey_zpsbec08af8.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/River_Spey_zpsbec08af8.jpg.html)

The Spey flows fast, and it's a very good river for fishing and canoeing. Strathspey is also a center of the whisky industry. There's a Malt Whisky Trail that connects seven Speyside distilleries.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 October 2012

Strathspey Thistle 2-0 East Stirlingshire

4-4-2
GK: MacDonald
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, R. Park
M: O'Neill, Thomson, Brown, Bowles
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Murray (29), Gordon (64)

Again, the pundit says East Stirlingshire have enough talent to send us off on our own grounds, while the bookies offer 1-2 odds on a Strathie victory. The bookies were right.

The fans have begun griping about Calum O'Neill having a place in the first team. His form is a little down, but everyone agrees how talented he is, so he's staying put.

Maybe this should be obvious, but I'm noticing that when I'm watching a match, good strikers shoot visibly harder in the game. The guys on poor sides can't put any zip on the ball. Stevie Murray, on the other hand, strikes the ball hard. He demonstrated that ability on his goal, his first in quite some time. Stevie set up Gordon perfectly for the other goal, so he's Man of the Match with an 8.8 rating.

Ian MacDonald got a start in goal. I owed him one, after sending him out to take that four-goal drubbing from Elgin City. He kept a nice clean sheet, with help from Willie Campbell, who saved one off the line just before the half.

Mr Finnie, our referee, has a penchant for displaying yellow cards. He pulled one for Willie Naismith, their most dangerous scorer, for diving, and now Naismith will be sitting a match out.

He also booked Paul Duncan, so Paul will be sidelined again, too.

On 83' I had just made my last substitution to relieve a tired Campbell when Park got a knock. We had to finish the match with 10 men. We survived unscathed, but Park twisted his knee again. He'll be out another 4-5 weeks. :banghead:

Still, we got a win, and climbed a little higher up the table.

In the biggest match of the day, 1 and 2 played at Buckie Thistle, where Rangers won 1-0.

Strathie's SPFL record: 5-2-3, 7th place
18 scored, 16 conceded

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 October 2012

Here's one of the best stories of the year to date.

Last week, I was looking at the profiles of the players in our club, and I was very pleased to see that several of the lads have me listed as "favourite personnel." One of them, Paul Duncan, also has a very good relationship with an amateur player for Tain Thistle named Felix Nilsson...who is also Duncan's younger brother.

Paul Duncan is a Scot, born in Tain. He speaks one language, which is, of course, English.

Felix Nilsson is a Swede. He was born in Linköping, Sweden. He speaks Swedish, French and Italian well, and has a basic knowledge of English and Dutch. Felix is eligible for two nations, but neither of them is Scotland. He has somehow managed to add the Democratic Republic of Congo to his footballing itinerary. Because Felix has been in the UK for almost 2400 days now, he could gain UK nationality, but he apparently sees no benefit in doing so.

Felix is also a pretty good attacking midfielder who can play striker or central midfielder. He's five years younger than his big brother, which makes him 21. He anticipates the flow of play well for our level, he has good technique, he's a good passer, and he's got fairly good pace. Even if he weren't Paul's lil' bro, I'd probably offer him a contract. The brother thing sealed the deal.

We learned today that Felix will be joining us on 1 January, when the transfer window opens again. He won't have any teammates to speak Swedish with, but he's better off than poor Aleksejs Uljanovs. Aleksejs only speaks Latvian and Russian.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

13 October 2012
Scottish Cup, Third Round

Kirkcaldy YMCA 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-5-1
GK: Christie
D: McKinlay, Campbell, Bell, Hughes
DM: Jess
M: Brown, Bannon
AM: McLeish, O'Neill
ST: Murray

Goal: McLeish (45)

The Scottish Cup is contested by clubs from all levels of Scottish football. You could draw a powerhouse, like Celtic (whom we drew in the League Cup). Or you could end up playing a doughty group of lads from the Scotia Championship, eight levels below us. That's a good description of Kirkcaldy YMCA, who gave us all we could handle at Denfield Park this afternoon.

We didn't send our third or fourth team out there, either. With Richie Park and Stephen Brady injured and Paul Duncan banned, that's as good a side as we could field today.

The deciding goal came on a nice combination by wingers Calum O'Neill nad Zander McLeish. O'Neill jinked a Kircaldy full back and launched a cross from right to left. Clarke Moncrieff, who is one big hombre (6'4") leaped to head it, but it eluded him. Z-Man took the ball on the bounce and fired in his first Strathie goal.

Moncrieff later broke up a very good scoring chance, demonstrating impressive awareness and cutting off a pass to an incredibly wide open Stevie Murray, facing a goalkeeper who was sprawled on the ground at the other side of his goal. If Stevie gets that ball, put it on the scoreboard. I'm having our staff take a look at Mr. Moncrieff, who is a lad of 17.

So, we proceed in the Scottish Cup, banking another £5000. The downside is, of course, the fact that we'll be playing every three or four days throughout the month of November.

Bye, bye: Bobby Bennett, a defender whom you've never read about, asked for a mutual termination of his contract. I kinda hated to do it, because Bennett is a local guy from Grantown-on-Spey, and he's a supporter of the club. He wasn't getting any first team football, though, because he's neither very talented nor very versatile. He was pulling in £130 a month to do nothing, so for £500, we bought him out. Good luck, Bobby. No hard feelings, mate.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

20 October 2012

Rangers 5-1 Strathspey Thistle
Attendance: 47,096

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Brown
M: O'Neill, Thomson, Jess, Bowles
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goal: Gardner (87)

Rangers are one of the two most prestigious clubs in Scotland. Their trophy case contains 54 Premier League championships, the 1972 European Cup, and almost 100 pieces of hardware from various domestic competitions.

Their financial problems have tarnished their reputation, but Rangers remain a formidable side. They demonstrated that fact to us today at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, before a crowd of over 47,000.

There are all kinds of ways to measure the relative strength of the two sides. I'll offer one: The average Rangers player makes more per week than our entire salary budget.

Nevertheless, we came to Glasgow to play a football match, and we didn't back down. We got beat, but we didn't back down. We were outshot 24-4, but we didn't back down.

Glasgow captain and Scotland international David Allan scored a hat trick, and he could easily have had five goals. Chris Christie saved against him from point-blank range in the first half, and after Willie Campbell fouled him in the penalty area, Christie punched away his try from the spot.

One day, Craig Gardner will tell his grandkids that he scored against Rangers in Ibrox Stadium. It was a pretty goal, too. Zander McLeish intercepted a pass and played it ahead to William Jess, who knocked it on to Gardner. He made a move around a defender and fired a left-footed strike past Chris McKimmie, who has made four appearances in goal for Scotland.

Gardner was our highest-rated player, with a 7.3 Ronnie Thomson (6.9) and William Jess (6.8) also played good, solid football.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/IbroxStadiumOne_zps9ad558f1.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/IbroxStadiumOne_zps9ad558f1.jpg.html)
Strathspey Thistle aren't used to playing in front of crowds like this. You can see the section where Strathie's supporters are sitting, behind the corner flag.

Today, Hibs (Hibernian) beat Hearts (Heart of Midlothian), 3-1, in an Edinburgh derby match, and Aberdeen saw off Dundee United, 3-1, in a New Firm derby.

Strathie's SPFL record: 5-2-4, 10th place
19 scored, 21 conceded

[bbgunn]

Wow, what a crowd!

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Wow, what a crowd!

I'm going to sound like a gawking tourist from the sticks, but I'd never seen anything like it (in Football Manager). I've always managed lower-level clubs, so this was the first time I've managed a team in a big stadium.

Usually FM is, therefore, a fairly quiet game. There's occasionally a whistle, which catches our dog's attention, or some soft crowd noise. I can be playing FM in the room where our kids are, and nobody will notice at all.

The crowd noise from Ibrox was a very different story. Our seven-year-old daughter heard it and said "Daddy's game just got really loud!" She giggled, because she's the one who is usually told to quiet down. Of course that got my ten-year-old son interested. He's intrigued by FM anyway, and he's watched me play before.

"Whoa...you got a team with a big stadium now! You must be a beast."

I had to tell him that I wasn't that big a beast, and why Rangers were playing in a league with teams like Strathspey Thistle.

"Man, that stinks. That's like Aberdeen (in this case, the short-season Class A Orioles farm team we've watched) having to play in a league with the Red Sox."

My wife, who is a very good sport about my sports simulation hobby, caught the end of my conversation with my son.

"So you're not managing a big club? Sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to a much bigger virtual house and wardrobe."

"Honey, you're already there. I was capped 58 times by Scotland." ;)

Thanks for checking in.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

27 October 2012

Strathspey Thistle 7-1 Vale of Leithen

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Mackintosh, Bell, Bannon
M: McLeish, Thompson, Brown, Kenny Allan
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Murray (6, 13, 47, 90+1), Gordon (27), McLeish (45), O'Neill (84)

Poor Vale of Leithen. They were 17th in the 18-team SFPL going into today's match, with three goals scored and 25 conceded in 11 matches, so for once we were favored to win. The idiot pundit who presents his opinion in the match preview still thought Vale of Leithen would have enough to see us off.

I didn't try to pour it on. I came out with an Attacking mentality, but I dialed it back at halftime. If goal differential didn't matter, I would have done that sooner, but as you'll see, we're in a battle for position with several other clubs. Even with a Defensive mentality, we kept scoring goals. We outshot them 21-6, a little like what Rangers did to us.

Stevie's hat trick plus? double brace? gave him 10 league goals, one fewer than the leaders (Sean Brown of Stirling and Gary Findlay of Buckie Thistle) and tied with Rangers' David Allan. Murray had a 9.9 rating, the first I think I've ever seen one of my players earn.

Kenny Allan (no relation) is a decent player who is in the unfortunate position of (1) playing the same positions as several of our best players and (2) not being quite as good, or (3) quite as young as they are. He is 24, plays striker and all three AM slots and is even convincing as an M(R). He's also under contract through 2014, so finding ways to use him would probably pay off. He played M(R) today and, like everyone on a side that wins by six goals, rated very well.

Here's a look at the SPFL Team of the Week:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/TeamoftheWeek_zps7402f852.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/TeamoftheWeek_zps7402f852.jpg.html)

Vale of Leithen play Rangers on 17 November. I wonder if Rangers will play the kids, and even if they do, what might happen?

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpsf6c1337f.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpsf6c1337f.jpg.html)

Here's what I mean about every goal counting right now. The teams in the middle of the table are so closely matched. We're very close to a place in the promotion playoff, but would I really want to be going up to the next level with Rangers? I might want them to have a one-year head start. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 November 2012

My monthly update from the board went very well. My job status has been upgraded to Very Secure (74%) :) . I'm comfortably under the wage budget, and we're in the middle of the table with a squad the board thought would struggle to avoid relegation.

The fans are finally off my back about giving playing time to Mark Brown. I was getting tired of looking at that complaint, because Brown is OK in my book. When I took over at Seafield Park, Brown was one of the squad's key players. I changed his status to Rotation, and a day or so later he asked to speak to me. I told him that we apparently differed in our opinions about his value to the club, and he took it like a man...no pouting, threatening to take his talents elsewhere, etc. I liked that. He was proud enough to talk to his new boss after the boss downgrades his status, and grown up enough to handle the news with class. I got the same response from Jamie McKinlay, so as far as I'm concerned, if Jamie and Mark don't make excessive salary demands, they've got a Strathie shirt for as long as they want one.

At our level, a player who's valued at £1000 or more is usually going to be good enough to help us, so I look out for those kind of players in our scouting reports. I spotted one who was transfer listed, so I decided to investigate.

Calum Noble is listed as an M(L)/AM(L), but he's apparently played everywhere but sweeper and goal in his 22 years on the planet. He's with a club called Camelon, who are two levels below us but who have some very talented players.

Noble is very responsible defensively, the equal of any of our midfielders in that regard. He's sure in the tackle (9), has good physical attributes, and I like his 11 Determination. And, in a league that starts handing out suspensions on a player's second yellow card, having players who can literally fill in anywhere is very handy.

At first I didn't think I was going to be able to sign him, though. I offered him Rotation status, and a salary of £130/month. That's as much as our board will allow us to pay for that status, and a £20 raise over what Calum makes at Camelon. He came back with a request for £150. When I tried bumping his player status up to First Team, he asked for a salary befitting that status--again, more than the board will allow us to offer him. Points to Noble for not being a pushover.

Almost out of frustration, I offered him the original deal again--and this time he took it! The next day, he announced he'll be at Seafield Park on 1 January.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

3 November 2012

Montrose 3-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2 Diamond
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Bannon
DM: Jess
M: O'Neill, Bowles
AM: McLeish
ST: Murray, Gardner

Goal: O'Neill (87)

A further illustration of the difference in quality between the clubs at the top of the SFPL Premier table and the ones in the middle.

Montrose had wrecked teams who played a flat 4-4-2 against them, so we tried the 4-4-2 Diamond. Montrose wrecked us anyway. We were outshot 20-10, conceded 10 corners and didn't take a single one, and had possession only 42% of the time. I hate to go into a defensive shell every time we play against a decent side away from Seafield Park, but I'm thinking I might have to swallow my pride and give that a try.

Stevie Murray played Calum O'Neill through for our goal, which came very late and didn't do much except make the match seem closer than it was.

In four days, we're away to Brora for a cup tie, and in a week, away to Celtic for another. Busy times.

Strathie's SPFL record: 6-2-5, 10th place
27 goals, 25 conceded

[bbgunn]

I'm going to sound like a gawking tourist from the sticks, but I'd never seen anything like it (in Football Manager). I've always managed lower-level clubs, so this was the first time I've managed a team in a big stadium.

Usually FM is, therefore, a fairly quiet game. There's occasionally a whistle, which catches our dog's attention, or some soft crowd noise. I can be playing FM in the room where our kids are, and nobody will notice at all.

The crowd noise from Ibrox was a very different story. Our seven-year-old daughter heard it and said "Daddy's game just got really loud!" She giggled, because she's the one who is usually told to quiet down. Of course that got my ten-year-old son interested. He's intrigued by FM anyway, and he's watched me play before.

"Whoa...you got a team with a big stadium now! You must be a beast."

I had to tell him that I wasn't that big a beast, and why Rangers were playing in a league with teams like Strathspey Thistle.

"Man, that stinks. That's like Aberdeen (in this case, the short-season Class A Orioles farm team we've watched) having to play in a league with the Red Sox."

My wife, who is a very good sport about my sports simulation hobby, caught the end of my conversation with my son.

"So you're not managing a big club? Sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to a much bigger virtual house and wardrobe."

"Honey, you're already there. I was capped 58 times by Scotland." ;)

Thanks for checking in.
That is an awesome story! I wish my wife was as good a sport about FM. Well, she is... she's glad I'm having fun with my game, but she doesn't care one iota about it. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

That is an awesome story! I wish my wife was as good a sport about FM. Well, she is... she's glad I'm having fun with my game, but she doesn't care one iota about it. :)

Thanks. I definitely married well. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 November 2012

Two cup ties for one here. Neither one was pretty, so I'll hit the (low)lights and move on quickly.

7 October 2012
Scottish Football League Cup, Third Round

Brora Rangers 3-0 Strathspey Thistle

Brora are top of the table in the Scottish Football League First Division, one level below us. They look like they are a better side than many of the clubs in our level.

We gave Bill Hendrie, a hard-working 17-year-old M(L), his first team debut tonight, and he did well.


10 November 2012
League Cup, Third Round

Celtic 7-0 Strathspey Thistle

Attendance: 23,095

I'm now officially over the experience of getting curbstomped by the giants of Scottish football. We've played both members of The Old Firm, and we've lost 12-1, on aggregate.

Fun fact: On Celtic's roster are players who have won full caps for 13 different nations. Their captain, Stephen Rioch, has also skippered Scotland.

Incidentally, I'm not using players' real names, but I've discovered it's pretty easy to figure out who a lot of their doppelgangers are. :)

We're out of two of the three knockout competitions now, so the lads will soon be getting a little more rest. Before then, however, we have four matches in the next two weeks...

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 December 2012

(I've been on vacation without reliable wi-fi, which turned out to be something our family really enjoyed. I did have my laptop, however, so I got to play some Football Manager. Here's a brief summary of what happened with Strathspey Thistle during the last month, game-time.)

SFL Premier League play
Strathie have won three and drawn one since my last report. On 14 November, we were home to Queens Park, and won 2-1 on goals by Christian Bowles and Zander McLeish.

Away to Peterhead on the 21st, we got early goals from debutant striker Sean Dickson and Calum O'Neill, and held out for another 2-1 result.

We had to return to the pitch three days later, and battled Annan to a scoreless draw, as both sides fielded weary, partially rotated squads.

December was ushered in with a 2-0 victory at Fraserburgh, courtesy of scores by Craig Gordon and Stevie Murray.

Here's the league table:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps92527ba6.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps92527ba6.jpg.html)

The Scottish Cup
On 17 November, we advanced to the next round by edging Darvel, 1-0. Mark Wright, a midfielder up from the reserves, got the game-winner after 84 minutes. We've drawn Inverness Caledonian Thistle next, so we'll face another top-level club--on their grounds, on 22 December.

Hello and Goodbye
Our backroom staff spotted several players over the past month, and recommended that we take a closer look at them. Fortunately, the board pleasantly surprised me by increasing the amount they're willing to pay for good talent.

On 21 November, we signed Sean Dickson, who had been looking for a club. Sean is 19, and like a lot of young strikers, the physical aspects of his game are ahead of his technical proficiency right now. He does demonstrate good off-ball skills, and he's a decent finisher for his age. At £250 a month, he might turn out to be a good bargain.

Two days later, we added another very talented young defender to our back line. Andy Chisholm is still two months away from his 18th birthday. He's fast, tough, and very focused for a player so young. Chisholm is best at right back, but he can also play in the center, and he's immediately stepped into our first team. He's an old-fashioned, defensive-minded full back. Our best evaluator of talent, Andy Robertson, says Chisholm has the potential to play at the highest levels of Scottish football. For now, he's ours for £775 a month.

When the transfer window opens again on 1 January, we'll add midfielder Chris McLeod, 31, from Hill of Beath. Chris brings a veteran presence to the club, and his mental attributes are all solid. He can play both on the right side and in the central midfield, and he will receive playing time in both spots.

Two players--Mark Wright and Michael Britton--will be leaving Strathie on free transfers next month. Both have signed with lower level clubs, and we wish them well.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

15 December 2012

Berwick 1-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Andy Chisholm
M: McLeish, Bowles, Thomson, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Sean Dickson

Goal: Murray (37)

Berwick were 2-5 favorites here, and for almost an hour, it looked like we were going to steal three points. Stevie headed in a pretty cross from O'Neill and our defense, headed by new acquisition Chisholm at right back, did a great job of stopping Berwick from threatening our goal. Greg King, who had come on at the hour mark, equalized at 87'.

The pattern of the match was a lot like it is whenever we play one of the better clubs in the league. Berwick controlled possession (61%-39%), outshot us (16-9), and generally looked like the better side. We played a defensive mentality and tried to keep them off the scoreboard. It's not my favorite way to play the game--I prefer a more free-flowing style myself--but you have to do what you have to do. We'll take the point and be thankful for it.

Hello: Our backroom staff, especially Andy Robertson, keep finding intriguing players for us on clubs a level or two below ours. This time, Andy tipped me off on Stevie McCluskey, a 23-year-old midfielder who was having problems breaking into the first eleven at Keith (one level lower).

He's a lot like Calum O'Neill. He's fast, not quite as strong, a little better defensively, and a little less polished technically--possibly because he's been playing at a lower level. McCluskey is a big dude--6'3", 194 pounds--and he has a touch of a nasty streak. That might not be a good thing in a league that starts making lads sit out after their second yellow card.

We've signed Stevie to a two-year deal at £275/month, with a 5% raise next year. He'll join us on 1 January. At the very least, McCluskey will provide cover for O'Neill, and at best, he'll be able to step in if we can't sign Calum for next season.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

19 December 2012

Strathspey Thistle 2-1 Edinburgh City

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Chisholm
M: Brady, Bowles, Thomson, O'Neill
ST: Dickson, Murray

Goals: Murray (58, 72)

Edinburgh City sits bottom of the table, and they came into the match without a manager--they sacked their man last week. I'd like to think we would manage better than a 2-1 result against them, but that's what we got.

It's not like I went easy on them, either. That lineup is, right now, the best I can put on the pitch; Craig Gordon will be out for a few weeks with a painful sports hernia. We went out in Attacking mode, playing at home against a weaker side. We didn't score until I dialed it back to Standard.

For those of you who are reading along: could it be the case that this club simply doesn't play well using an Attacking strategy? Other clubs I've managed have been able to pounce on weaker opponents in matches like this one, and Strathie has never established that killer instinct. Maybe playing with a new striker, Sean Dickson, made it tougher for them to coordinate their attacks.

We actually went a goal down, before Murray struck twice within 20 minutes to pull the three points back our way. Stevie was Man of the Match (8.8) and, with 14 goals in league play, he's on the leader board now.

Stephen Brady's recovery from injury is progressing slowly. He's getting tired quickly, and once we pass the hour mark, he needs to come off the pitch.

Naughty list: Stevie Bell was booked again--his fifth yellow card. He'll miss the Cup tie against Inverness Caledonia Thistle on the 22nd.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

22 December 2012
Scottish Cup, Fifth Round

Inverness Caledonia Thistle 4-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-5-1
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Hughes, Chisholm, R. Park
DM: Jess
M: Thomson, Brown
AM: McLeish, Bannon
ST: Murray

Goal: Murray (88)

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Strathie faces a Premier League (or PL-calibre) side on their grounds, plays the majority of the match without the ball, and endures a barrage of shots on goal, many of which Chris Christie manages to save. In the second half, the stronger side wears us down and scores three or four goals, despite our attempt to park a fleet of buses in front of our net. And Stevie Murray knocks one in to give us one brief moment when we can hold our heads high.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle aren't Rangers or Celtic, but they're still in the Premier League. And, with a league match three days earlier, we can't field our best side against them, which doesn't help matters. They scored in the first minute, but we managed to hold them right there until the half. Then, they scored three times in the first 20 minutes of the second stanza to complete the rout

Stevie Wonder's goal was possibly the best of the year. From 26 yards out, Stevie curled one past their keeper into the top right corner of the goal. It was his 20th goal of the year, third most in Scotland.

Incidentally, the SFPL is the highest-scoring league in the nation. Robert Henderson of Elgin City has 18 goals in league play; Gary Findlay of Buckie Thistle has 15; Murray has 14. Henderson and Findlay are the two men with more total scores than Murray. Stevie's total would lead any other league in Scotland.

Now we're out of all the cup competitions, so for 2013, we can concentrate on league play. Our three points today put us into the promotion playoff spots (we're 5th)...but as I've said, as rewarding as promotion would be, do I really want to accompany Rangers up to the next level? It might be nice to have a season go by without having to take my lumps against them twice!

Happy holidays from Granton-on-Spey. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

29 December 2012

It's time to start thinking about contracts for next season.

ST Stevie Murray: He's 21 years old, and he's scored 20 times in 25 appearances. He wants a £75/month raise, to £675/month. That's a no-brainer. There's no reason to believe he won't be this good for a while.

GK Chris Christie: Chris is better than average for our league and, compared to other keepers of his quality, he's been a good bargain at £190/month. I offered him £275/month for next year, and think he'll be worth the investment.

M/AM Calum O'Neill: Like Christie, he's 22, and he's been solid for us (6.92 avg rating). He wants a £200/month raise for 2014, up to £500/month. I'd like to talk him down from that, and with Stevie McCluskey coming on board, Calum is now a little more expendable than he was before.

D Stevie Bell: At age 19, Bell is one of our best young players. His average rating in league play is a 7.27, so he's doing the job. He's on £250/month now, and he wants £325/month for next year. Sounds good to me.

D Willie Campbell: He's a year older than Bell, and he's been a notch below Bell's standard. He also wants £575 a month. I'll need to think about this one.

M Stephen Brady: When he's been healthy, Brady has been solid. He's appeared in only nine matches this year. He's asking for £700/month for next season, a £150 raise from this year. I'm leaning towards "no thank you", but I'd like to watch him a little longer first. I've got Zander McLeish on a youth contract, and that makes Brady's salary demands less pressing.

M Christian Bowles: I'm happy with Bowles; he has four goals and a 6.83 average in the league, at age 18. He looks like a great deal at £250/month for next year, up from £200/month. Definitely yes.

D/M Paul Duncan: Paul is a little older, at 26, and he's been destroyed in matches against better opposition. Still, he's been fine in the league, and he can play several positions. He's willing to come back for next year at £220/month, same as he's making now. I'll offer him that deal.

M Ronnie Thomson: Here's where it gets tough again. Ronnie is 31, so he's no spring chicken. He's fast, but his defensive liabilities have been exposed several times since he's been with us. He's not a great partner for Bowles, who is also primarily an offensive force. He's OK with another year at £325/month, but I won't go higher. I hope Ronnie makes my decision look good.

D/M Jamie Bannon: With a 6.91 rating in the league and the ability to play anywhere, Jamie's the kind of player I like to have in the club. He wants a £125/month raise, to £300/month, which is more than the board will let me pay a backup. When we discuss giving him Rotation status, his request immediately doubles. Calum Noble is about to arrive at Seafield Park, and he's very similar to Bannon. Right now, there's no deal.

M/D Mark Brown: Brownie, 22, is two years younger than Bannon. He isn't as versatile, and he isn't quite as good. Our staff thinks Brown is as good as he'll get, but I like him. I offer him a £20/month raise, to £250/month, and he's OK with that.

ST Craig Gardner: The most significant thing about Craig is now his age, which will be 38 next season. He wants a £115/month raise, to £275/month. I've got too many good attackers--Murray, Gordon, Dickson-- who are younger and just as good, or better. Sorry, Craig.

D/M Jamie McKinlay: Again, Mac is a guy I like a lot. He's about to turn 33, and his talents are starting to slide. He's on £170/month now, and he wants £200. I'm not sure he'll be worth it next year.

The tough calls here are Campbell, who might well be worth £575/month, and Bannon, whom the board won't let me offer a measly £25 more a month. If I don't have Willie, I need Jamie even more, and without Willie, I'll need one of the young center backs to really step up his game.

I smile and offer Campbell his contract. He's basically getting the money I won't be paying Craig Gardner next year. And, if I can't reach an agreement with Bannon, that money is available, too.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 January 2013

Happy New Year, everyone!

The following players have accepted their contract offers for the 2013-2014 season:

Mark Brown
Willie Campbell
Stevie Bell
Stevie Murray
Paul Duncan
Chris Christie
Christian Bowles

That puts six members of our typical starting XI--Campbell, Bell, Duncan, Murray, Bowles, and Christie--under contract for next season. Craig Gordon, another regular, is already signed through 2014, and so are William Jess and Kenny Allan.

Bowles has been drawing raves from our staff for the quality of his training. He's developing into a real boss.

I have a feeling I'll want to sign Andy Chisholm to a new contract, but right now he's requesting more than we can pay. Our board will allow an offer of £925/month, and Andy is asking for an even grand.

Eric Rojas, a 25-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder for Barca, won the World Golden Ball and World Player of the Year awards. He wears the number 10 shirt at Barcelona. Wonder who he's supposed to be? ;)

The board is extremely happy with my performance, and I like seeing that "Untouchable" job status up there. They're not happy with Jamie Bannon's performance, which is making the possibility that he'll be on his way out a little greater.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

5 January 2013

Elgin City 4-0 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Chisholm
M: Brady, Bowles, Chris McLeod, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gardner

Ouch.

Ronnie Thomson got hurt in training and Sean Dickson has a bad cold, so they joined Craig Gordon in sick bay. Elgin City is a good side, solidly in position for the promotion playoffs. Still, we were horrible. No two ways about it.

Andy Chisholm and Stephen Brady, who between them make over £1200 a month, were terrible; Andy rated out at 5.3 and Stephen at 6.0. I subbed them both out before the hour mark.

We allowed 23 shots, and SIX clear chances. Of our 10 shots, only three were on target, and only one--a nice strike by O'Neill--was even the least bit dangerous.

The loss broke our string of seven games in the league without a defeat, and it drops us to seventh in the table, a point behind Stirling and two clear of Berwick.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

12 January 2013

Wick Academy 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, Chisholm
M: Brady, Bowles, McLeod, O'Neill
ST: Allan, Murray

Goal: Allan (17)

It wasn't pretty, but our games away from Seafield Park never are. We lost the possession battle again, 58-42%, and were outshot, 14-8. But Stevie Murray played in Kenny Allan for a tidy goal, and our defense played a much better game.

Andy Chisholm, in particular, was a force; he was Man of the Match with a 7.8 rating.

Incidentally, I don't think I'l let our youth coach give another team talk. For some reason, he told the lads he had nothing to say, which confused Chisholm...that would confuse me, too.

We have two weeks off before our next match, home to Clachnacuddin.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

26 January 2013

Strathspey Thistle 2-1 Clachnacuddin

4-4-2
GK: MacDonald
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, Chisholm
M: Brady, Bowles, McLeod, Stevie McCluskey
ST: Dickson, Murray

Goals: Campbell (2), Bowles (pen 40)

We took advantage of two weeks' off to let some players get healthy and make one final tweak to the roster as the transfer deadline approaches.

The one frightful performance against Elgin City notwithstanding, Andy Chisholm has been very good for us so far. And, since he's only 17 years old, he's going to get better. Unfortunately, he might price himself out of our budget, as soon as next season.

With that in mind, we signed a Northern Irishman called Matt Kennedy. He's a little older (21), and he can play both right and center back. Matt's "attribute circle" fits just about perfectly with Andy's, and our staff think he's almost as good a player--but without the Premier League potential. The fact that Matt's salary is £170/month--about a fourth of Andy's--is relevant, too.

We sent Jamie Bannon out on loan to Leith Athletic(two levels down from us), where he'll hopefully work through the struggles that have put him on our fans' bad side lately. Leith are willing to pay his wages over the term of the loan, and he'll get regular football there.

Against Clachnacuddin, we struck almost immediately off a corner, with Willie Campbell rising up and pounding a header into the top left. Christian Bowles added one from the penalty spot, after Stevie Bell was blatantly knocked down in the area. Bell was great all afternoon, and was named Man of the Match (8.4).

Ian MacDonald, whom four clubs are trying on a daily basis to get me to release on a free, started in goal. He let in a late goal, but it was a good one, and otherwise he looked sharp. I need to play Ian more often. Andy Robertson says he has five-star potential, and he won't turn 20 until April.

Stevie McCluskey debuted at right wing, and Matt Kennedy came on as a sub for Chisholm; both looked comfortable and played well.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

2 February 2013

Strathspey Thistle 2-2 Stirling

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, Kennedy
M: Brady, Bowles, McLeod, O'Neill
ST: Dickson, Murray

Goals: Dickson (28), O'Neill (90+5)

This one felt good. Nobody gave us a chance against Stirling, even though we were on our own grounds. It wasn't a win, but watching Calum O'Neill knock in the equalizer late in stoppage time was thrilling, and it gave our lads a big lift.

Our first goal was one of the funniest I've seen yet. It began with Willie Campbell hoofing a clearance from deep in our end. The ball bounced past Stirling's defenders and on to their keeper, Stuart Cross, while Sean Dickson raced in pursuit. Expecting Cross to control it easily, the Stirling backs did what they should--stop their run toward their own goal and make themselves available for Cross's pass. Only Cross didn't handle it easily. As he moved up to the edge of his area to kick it, he lost his balance, sprawling onto his front; instead of a crisp clearing pass to a teammate, he tapped it conveniently up to Dickson. Sean easily put it into a wide-open net to level the score at 1-1.

Stirling's Sean Brown knocked in his 20th goal of the season just past the hour mark, and it looked like that would be the result...until a lovely series of passes laid in O'Neill for the equalizer. Murray began the sequence with a back pass to Kennedy, continuing his run up the right channel to take the return pass. Stevie then sent the ball to Bowles on his left, and when O'Neill slipped past his mark into the area, Christian set him up perfectly. Keep doing things like that, Calum, and we'll find you that £500/month you're looking for.

Here's the latest league table:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps5584a6f8.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps5584a6f8.jpg.html)

Now there are four tiers:

Rangers. They are clearly showing their class to the rest of the league.
The rest of the top half, eight clubs lining up politely with one point between all of us.
The third tier, not close enough to challenge for the promotion playoff, but safe from relegation.
The drop zone gang, all of whom are at least 12 points from safety.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

4 February 2013

When I started negotiating new contracts back in late December, I somehow forgot to sign Sean Dickson. Andy Robertson, the only coach in our backroom with any real ability to tell a good player from a pub leaguer, says Sean is already almost as good as Stevie Murray, with the potential to be even better. I offer Sean £300/month for next season, and he accepts.

At the same time, I secure Matt Kennedy's services for another year at £220/month, a £50 raise. It's hard to imagine Matt won't be worth that much.

Incidentally, I also signed Robertson to a new deal, paying him £300/month for next season. He's a very good coach for this level.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

16 February 2013

Buckie Thistle 2-3 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: MacDonald
D: Duncan, Campbell, Bell, Chisholm
M: Brady, Bowles, McLeod, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Bowles (5), Murray (15, 28)

Buckie have been on a run of poor form that sent them from second top, right on Rangers' heels, into the group of teams that are scrapping with us in the second tier. We avenged an 0-3 loss at Seafield Park with an exciting reversal of fortune on their grounds.

All the scoring came before the half. Bowles rifled in a cross from O'Neill, and Murray tapped in a pass from Gordon, after O'Neill hit him with a second beautiful ball from the right flank. Buckie pulled one back, but two minutes later, Stevie scored again to give us back our two-goal lead. Their second goal came right before the half, on a wicked free kick that tied MacDonald in knots.

It was good to see Craig Gordon back on the pitch, but we'll be playing without Christian Bowles for a few weeks. He twisted his ankle early in the second half. Ronnie Thomson is almost match-fit now, so he'll be playing regularly in Christian's spot.

Naughty list: Three-quarters of our back line--Paul Duncan, Stevie Bell, and Willie Campbell, drew yellow cards from referee John Beaton. They'll all miss the next match, home to Clyde--a tough side, against whom they would come in very handy.

In seven SFPL matches, "Mr Beaton" has handed out 24 bookings, and he's the lowest-rated official who has worked in the league this season. "Mr Beaton," you're a git.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

23 February 2013

Strathspey Thistle 1-1 Clyde

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Mackintosh, Noble, Chisholm
M: Brady, McLeod, Thomson, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Dickson

Goal: Murray (10)

With three starting defenders sitting out the match, I'm far from disappointed with this outcome. Fortunately Clyde aren't one of the higher-scoring clubs in the league. They are very stingy defensively--only Rangers have conceded fewer goals in league play--so getting an early goal was a big boost for our confidence. It was a bit of a fluke, as Stephen Brady took a shot from 18 yards that actually hit Stevie Murray and caromed to Stevie's right. He beat a Clyde defender to the ball and knocked it past their keeper.

Clyde's equalizer came on a beautiful solo run up the right side by John McMillan. It was the kind of goal you love to watch, unless it's being scored against your club.

The worst thing about the evening was an injury to Sean Dickson. He went off early in the second half, but fortunately he won't miss any further time.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

9 March 2013

Strathspey Thistle 3-1 Mid Annandale

4-2-3-1
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Noble, Campbell, Chisholm
DM: Jess, McLeod
AM: Murray, McLeish, O'Neill
ST: Gordon

Goals: Murray (28, 50), Gordon (52)

A home fixture against one of the weaker clubs in the league seemed like a good time to try out our third tactic. Zander McLeish isn't as good at AMC as he is on the flanks, but he's the best we have there. Stevie Murray is every bit as deadly at AML as he is up top.

Since Stevie Bell has been booked four times, his suspension lasted two games; that's why Calum Noble was at center back again tonight. Noble's versatility has already been as big a benefit as I thought it would be when we signed him.

Murray's first goal was, in the commentator's words, a shot "no goalkeeper on earth would stop." Their keeper parried Gordon's shot back toward Stevie, and he hit a screaming half-volley back across the face of goal and into the far corner. Stevie's second score was laid on by Gordon, who played a perfect ball for him to run onto just inside the area.

It seemed only fair that Craig would get a goal of his own, and his came off a scramble following a free kick. It wasn't pretty, but it counts.

Murray (8.9) was Man of the Match, with Gordon (8.5) and Andy Chisholm (7.7) also playing especially well.

We moved into the playoff spots again, and it remains extremely tight:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps5d15d8f5.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps5d15d8f5.jpg.html)

We still have matches with Rangers, Berwick, Montrose, and Peterhead among our eight remaining fixtures.

Hello: I've noticed that as we are continuing to play competitive football, I'm finding more players willing to consider signing with us. For example, this week we lined up our first transfer for this coming summer. He's a player we've had our eye on for a while, and in January, he wasn't interested in us at all.

His name is Robert Muirhead, and he's a 17-year-old left/center back from Stirling University F.C. His club is currently battling for promotion to the SPFL for next year, so he might be facing his former teammates in league play next year. I'll be glad to have him on our side.

Robert is already a sure tackler with very good positional awareness, especially for a teenager. He needs to work on his strength, but he's fast, well-conditioned, and explosive. Our staff thinks he's almost ready to start for us at left back, but his potential is what has us excited. He's not cheap, at £325/month, but I think he's a good investment.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

17 March 2013

East Stirlingshire 2-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: MacDonald
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, Chisholm
M: McLeish, Bowles, McLeod, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goal: Gordon (90+1)

When I looked at East Stirlingshire's team report, I thought to myself that they looked awfully tough for a 12th place side. They did nothing today to convince me that my initial impression was incorrect. They controlled the game from whistle to whistle, keeping the ball away from us and patiently waiting to exploit any advantage they saw.

Paul Duncan is like the little girl with the curl; when he's bad, he's horrid. He was bad today. So was Stevie Murray, whose 5.5 match rating was the second worst he's had in 20 matches--and the worse one came in the disaster against Celtic.

Craig Gordon's goal was only a small consolation.

The result left us in eighth place, one point better than Peterhead, the bottom club in the group that is competing for a playoff berth. Speaking of playoffs, Rangers clinched their berth this week, but since they're 18 points clear of the second top club, I think they're a safe bet for the top spot, don't you?

The Kids are Alright: Our youth trialists arrived this week, and there are a few who look like definite keepers.

The most exciting of the group is Shane Bennett, a 15-year-old right back whom Andy Robertson says is already good enough to be a star in our league, with Scottish Premier League stardom in his future. Eight of his mental attributes are already in double figures, which is exceptional for a veteran player at this level--much less a kid who is too young for a driver's license. He's not an exceptional athlete; he's actually on the slow side. It looks like he's a hell of a footballer, though.

Among the others with particularly big upsides are goalkeeper Kevin Tiffoney, left winger Paul Aitken, center back Dave Reynolds, and striker Allan Gunn. All of these young men, along with a dozen or so others, have been signed to youth contracts.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

30 March 2013

Vale of Leithen 3-2 Strathspey Thistle

GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Mackintosh, Chisholm
M: Brady, McLeod, Noble, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Murray (5, 23)

I could try to explain this one away in all kinds of ways.


The weather was terrible, with a downpour making the pitch a soggy mess.
Stevie Bell strained his groin in training, and he wasn't able to play; in fact, he'll probably be out for another three weeks.
Christian Bowles was serving a one-game ban for picking up his second yellow card.
Their second goal was a fluke, an attempt at a cross that hit the bar and bounced past Christie's hand.


No, that's not working very well. Vale of Leithen beat us, plain and simple. They have been playing better lately; they beat Clachnacuddin 3-0 three weeks ago. They're not the side we hung seven goals on last fall.

I'm thinking about making a change in my backroom staff. If there's a better assistant manager available, I might see if I can bring him in. Stevie Smith, who's currently on the job, isn't contributing much.

Next up are Rangers, so I don't see the losing streak ending next weekend.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

6 April 2013

Strathspey Thistle 0-4 Rangers
Attendance: 1500

4-1-3-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Chisholm, Shane Bennett
DM: Jess
M: McLeish, Bowles, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/rangersmatch1_zps6ad4f343.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/rangersmatch1_zps6ad4f343.jpg.html)
A sellout crowd at Seafield Park

It was hard to imagine anything else happening today, so I'll focus on some of the positives.

With Stevie Bell still recovering from his injury, I decided to let Shane Bennett make his first team debut. He handled himself just fine, with a 6.4 rating that was the second best on our back line.

Craig Gordon was our best player, with a 6.7. He and Calum O'Neill both hit the woodwork in the last 10 minutes of the match; if those shots had gone in, we're looking at a very respectable scoreline.

Nobody was booked, so we'll be playing at full strength next week, at least as far as suspensions go.

A sellout crowd of 1,500 packed Seafield Park, and it looked like about half of them were Rangers supporters. That means about 750 came out to root us on, which would still be our largest crowd of the season.

Those aren't huge positives, but they're better than none at all.

With their victory, Rangers clinched the SPFL championship, so they will play in the Premier League 2 next season. Our loss drops us to ninth place, three points behind Montrose and six clear of Annan. The teams in second through eighth places are separated by a total of six points, so the battle for the playoffs will be a very exciting one.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 April 2013

The overhaul of the Strathspey Thistle backroom staff was completed this week. I was planning to replace my assistant manager, but when I saw three unemployed staff members who were (1) considerably better than the ones I had and (2) willing to talk about a position with Strathspey Thistle, I decided to find a way to bring them all on board.

I sacked assistant manager Stevie Smith, who was taking £800 a month and giving banal in-match feedback and occasional, incomprehensible team talks in return. Likewise with coach Steven Cummings, who isn't as talented as most of the guys out there looking for work.

My new assistant is Michael Dempster, 32, who holds a Continental B license and prefers attacking, free-flowing football. He's very good at coaching both the attacking and defending phases of the game, and his determination and discipline are both upgrades from his predecessor. He's signed through June 2015 for £600/month.

Cumming's replacement is Billy McConnell, 35, who was capped 38 times by Northern Ireland. He is an especially good tactician for our level, and his adaptability and determination are excellent. McConnell is a "model professional," and he'll be on staff for the next two seasons at £275/month.

I decided to add an Under 19s Manager, and gave the job to Stuart Forbes, 31. To be honest, he's the best coach and teacher on our staff--12 Attacking, 15 Defending, 12 Fitness, 11 Man Management, 13 Mental, 19 Working with Youngsters, 13 Determination, 16 Discipline, 11 Motivation. If Forbes can't get the best out of our young players, I don't know who will. Forbes holds a Continental B license, too, and he's signed for £425/month through 2016.

They join coach Andy Robertson to comprise our new--and hopefully improved--backroom staff.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

20 April 2013

Strathspey Thistle 1-0 Montrose

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Chisholm, Campbell, Bennett
M: Brady, Noble, McLeod, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goal: Gordon (82)

This was much, much more like it. I called a team meeting at the beginning of the week, and the players reacted well. Against a side that's roughly our equal, we played very well defensively and got a timely goal from Craig Gordon.

Montrose's defenders were clearly not going to let Stevie Murray beat them, and on Craig's goal, two of them closed down on Stevie when he got the ball at the edge of the area. That enabled Craig to find some space, and when Stevie pushed the ball over to him, Craig was alone against their keeper. Put it on the scoreboard.

The crossbar denied Declan McGowan's attempt at an equalizer on 88', causing us all to breathe a big, big sigh of relief.

Now we're even with Montrose on points, but trail them on goal differential, so we're still sitting ninth. Our remaining fixtures are with the clubs placed 11th, 5th, 3rd, and 10th.

Naughty list: Calum O'Neill will be sitting out the match away to Queen's Park.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

27 April 2013

Queen's Park 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: MacDonald
D: Kennedy, Bell, Campbell, Chisholm
M: McLeish, McLeod, Thomson, McCluskey
ST: Murray, Dickson

Goal: Murray (31)

Stevie Murray rifled in a free kick from 31 yards out to earn us another three points at an almost-empty Hampden Park in Glasgow. It's a huge stadium, and it looks weird with only 408 people in the stands!

Andy Chisholm bossed the game from his right back position, earning a Man of the Match award and an 8.3 rating. With Queen's Park threatening in the closing minutes, Andy headed away a dangerous cross that, had it reached its target, would have almost certainly resulted in a goal.

Ian MacDonald had an excellent day between the posts, recording his second clean sheet in six league appearances.

After this week's results, the relegation spots have been decided, and it will be Vale of Leithen, Edinburgh City, and Mid Annandale going down to League 2 for next season.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

2 May 2013

Today, chairman Don Williamson announced that Strathspey Thistle F.C. has signed me to a three-year contract extension. I'm receiving a big raise--from £1000/month to £3000/month.

I'd briefly considered testing the market, wondering if a bigger club might show interest, but I feel like I definitely have some unfinished business here at Strathie. I'm putting together a talented young side that ought to get better, and I'm flattered by the board's show of confidence in me.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/HighStreet_zpsb32e60c5.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/HighStreet_zpsb32e60c5.jpg.html)
Here's the High Street of Grantown-on-Spey, which is starting to feel a lot like home.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/strathspey01_zpsf4b152a2.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/strathspey01_zpsf4b152a2.jpg.html)
A view of the stand at Seafield Park. Photo by steveb.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 May 2013

Congratulations to Celtic, who defeated Kilmarnock 3-0 to win the Scottish League Cup.

Peterhead were the biggest surprise in the tournament. They did the SFPL proud by advancing all the way to the semifinal.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

11 May 2013

Strathspey Thistle 2-1 Peterhead

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Campbell, Chisholm, Kennedy
M: Brady, McLeod, Bowles, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goals: Gordon (12), McLeod (34)

This was one of the best, most entertaining matches we've played all season. Both teams generated some exciting chances, and we did a much better job of controlling the ball, moving it around without losing possession and waiting for a chance to attack.

It was great to see Chris McLeod get his first goal in a Strathie shirt. Christian Bowles set him up perfectly, and he ripped a drive from 22 yards just inside the left post.

David Ramsay, who has scored over 100 goals for Peterhead, pulled one back before the half, and he nearly equalized with five minutes in regular time when his header drifted just wide of Chris Christie's right post.

Peterhead came in to the match fourth in the table, so this was a big win for us. Now we are tied with them on points (57), but they edge us out for sixth (and the promotion playoff spots) on goal differential.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

12 May 2013

Another cup has been awarded. To almost nobody's surprise, Rangers defeated Linlithgow Rose, 2-0, to win the Scottish Football League Cup. They have already won promotion to Premier League 2 for next season, setting SFPL records for points earned and goals scored.

Elgin City have qualified for the promotion playoffs, and they're close to sewing up the second automatic promotion place.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

18 May 2013

Strathspey Thistle 1-0 Berwick

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Bell, Chisholm
M: McLeish, McLeod, Thomson, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goal: Murray (16)

Our late-season reversal of form continues, as we made it four straight victories with a narrow 1-0 decision over Berwick, a solid candidate for promotion.

New assistant manager Michael Dempster appears to have a much better knack for match preparation than his predecessor. He varies his approach depending on the opponent, and in preparation for Berwick, the squad worked on attacking movement. It showed on the pitch, as our pass completion percentage was higher (79%) for the second straight match, and we outshot our opponent--something we've almost never seemed to do.

At the same time, we're tightening things up in the back, too. Berwick are the fourth-highest scoring club in the league, so it's quite a feat to maintain a clean sheet against them. Peterhead are even more prolific, and last week we held them to one goal.

We held our place in the table, forecast to miss out on the playoff by a margin of 20 goals to Peterhead. We have to win our final match, away to Annan, in order to keep our playoff hopes alive.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

19 May 2013

Hibernian are lifting the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902, on the strength of a 2-0 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. You might remember that Inverness sent us out of the competition in the Fifth Round, so to see them advance to the Final makes me feel a little better.

With their victory, Hibs are eligible to compete for the EURO Cup, beginning this summer.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

25 May 2013

Annan 2-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Duncan, Bell, Campbell, Chisholm
M: Brady, Nobles, Bowles, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goal: Murray (73)

For fourteen minutes, it looked like events on several football pitches around Scotland had come together to put Strathie in the playoffs. Stevie Murray's goal had drawn us even with Annan and pushed us into sixth place in the SFPL.

Then, a strike from Annan's talented young forward, Kevin McDonald, put his side back in front, and that returned us to seventh, where we began the match.

And, with that, our 2012-2013 season came to a close.

The Strathie side we've seen since mid-April would be playoff-worthy, but our body of work over the entire season gives me the impression we're right where we belong. Good enough to dream; good enough that, with some better managing on my part, the playoffs are a reasonable goal for next season.

The board won't be disappointed with the fact that we're banking £750,000 for our finish in the league. Not bad for a club that was expected to fight hard to avoid relegation.

Here's the league table as the playoffs approach:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpse851faa0.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpse851faa0.jpg.html)

You read that right; Rangers have a +90 goal differential. They scored 104 and conceded 14 in league play. Their single SPFL loss came on 1 December, 2-3 away to Peterhead.

We scored 57 (tied for ninth in the league) and conceded 52 (tied for seventh).

[Greyfriars Bobby]

4 June 2013

Peterhead and Berwick are through to the finals of the SFPL Promotion Playoff. Peterhead defeated Clyde, 3-2 on aggregate, while Berwick eliminated Sterling, 2-0 on aggregate.

Both results could be considered upsets, as Berwick and Peterhead were fifth and sixth in the table, respectively, and they knocked off the fourth and third place clubs.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

11 June 2013

Peterhead will be joining Rangers and Elgin City in the Scottish Premier League Two next season, as the Blue Toon defeated Berwick, 6-3 on aggregate, in the Promotion Playoff Final.

Moving down to join us in the SPFL will be Brechin, Albion Rovers, and Stranraer.

Three clubs have earned promotion from the SFL First Division for next year: league champion Cove Rangers, runner-up Formartine United, and playoff winner Stirling University FC.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

26 June 2013

Here is Strathspey Thistle's Best XI for 2012-2013:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/BestXI_zps1e810514.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/BestXI_zps1e810514.jpg.html)
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/BestXIStats_zps58b9f0ea.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/BestXIStats_zps58b9f0ea.jpg.html)

Those of you who have been following won't see too many surprises here. Replacing Jamie Bannon with Andy Chisholm was a definite upgrade.

The most influential player who doesn't appear on this list would be Chris McLeod, the versatile midfielder who ended up starting almost every match because one of our regulars was injured or on a yellow card suspension.

Looking at the stats a little closer, I saw some interesting things:
Gordon led the team in assists, with 11. Murray was second with 9.
Bell was an atrocious passer, completing only 56% of his passes. He led the team in interceptions, however.
Campbell led the team in total headers and key headers.

Not surprisingly, the fans named Stevie Murray their Player of the Year. He's earned Favoured Personnel status, too.

And, finally, I was named SFPL Manager of the Year. :)

In a few days, we'll officially close the books on 2012-2013, and the new season will begin. I'll introduce you to several players we've brought in already, and we'll say goodbye to a few who will be bidding farewell to Seafield Park...including a couple I hate to see get away. :(

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 July 2013

The board believes we can earn a spot in the playoffs this year. I think that's a reasonable expectation, considering we missed the playoffs by a single point last season. With those expectations comes a much, much more generous budget. The board will allow me to pay almost twice as much in salaries, and we have a transfer budget of £144,000 this year--after having no money for transfers last season at all! More later on the challenge I'll face, as I get used to the new financial realities around Seafield Park.

Departures: Several players from last year's squad are gone, either by my choice or by theirs, more or less. The ones you'd remember generally fall into the latter categories. Craig Gardner is probably the best player I didn't offer a new contract.

Chris McLeod is the player I really wanted to keep, but he wouldn't even discuss a contract. I wouldn't meet Ronnie Thomson's price--I didn't think £750/month was reasonable for a player who's 32 and whose place would have been challenged by two newly arriving midfielders.

Jamie Bannon wouldn't negotiate with us, either. He never really got going last year, and he had lost his starting spot(s) to Andy Chisholm and Matt Kennedy. We loaned him out to a lower level club--on HIS request-- and he played poorly there, too.

Arrivals: I could negotiate a little tougher with Thomson because I knew I had Steven Noble on his way to Seafield Park. With Brora, Noble earned a place on the SFL First Division team of the year, with a 7.32 rating. He is much more defensively adept than Thomson, but he also managed to score 5 goals and record 11 assists. He's not young--he's 33--but he should be among our best players. He'll earn £900/month, which makes him our highest earner.

Mark Black will also substantially improve our midfield corps. He is a box-to-box midfielder who featured regularly for Whitehill Welfare (SFL First Division) after signing there in January. We signed him for £350/month, and our staff believe he's ready for a first team role at age 21.

It is not true that Adam Wright turned out for the Scotland-England international in 1872. He didn't join the "Wembley Wizards" for their famous 1928 match, and he didn't ever play against Stanley Matthews or Bobby Charlton. Adam is a mere lad of 46, and I know I'm taking a chance giving a man his age £600/month. However, like Sir Stanley, he's still in excellent condition, and he made 26 productive appearances for Pollok (SFL Second Division) last season. He'll be a semi-regular, and he'll undoubtedly provide guidance to our young players.

To bolster the back line, we added Charlie Laird, 23, from Stirling Uni and Ian Roberts, 30, from Montrose. Laird was everpresent last year, making 38 appearances with a 7.17 rating. He's primarily a center back. Roberts can play almost anywhere, but he's most comfortable at left back. He'll challenge Matt Kennedy there.

I'm sensing there might be more changes yet to come. I signed up many of last year's core players back in the winter, thinking I'd be working with a 2013-14 budget that was a lot like 2012-13's. Now, I have a lot more money, and I'm wondering if I should shop for some better talent. Being able to browse beyond the "free transfer" rack is an inviting prospect.

One scenario involves bringing in higher-priced talent everywhere I don't have a first-rate starter, and offering to transfer out some of the £400/month, three-star lads who might go on to stardom at a lower level.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

12 July 2013

The players have returned, and have begun their preseason training. They've also greeted two new teammates.

Even though the central midfield is one of the stronger areas of the squad, I made a £14,000 offer to Brechin for Colin Brown, who was also on the radar at several of the other clubs in our league. They accepted, and we negotiated a deal with Colin that will pay him £1,200/month.

He is a technically proficient player, good on the ball, a slick passer and a sure finisher. We will slot him in beside Steven Noble when we play with two central midfielders, and his presence makes the idea of using a formation with three men in the middle more attractive.

The other newcomer was signed for his upside. Tim Francis, a 20-year-old left back/center back, was looking for a club after spending last year with Kilwinning Rangers, a small club in his home town. Our backroom staff agrees that he has the potential to play at the higher levels of Scottish football, and assistant manager Michael Dempster projects Premier League stardom and Scotland caps in his future.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

24 July 2013

Over the past two weeks, we've sold two players and brought in two, and we've played two friendlies with mixed results.

Paul Duncan might have seen the writing on the wall when we brought in Tim Francis, and Paul wasn't happy with the prospects of being a super-sub who could step in anywhere we needed a defensive presence. The supporters were on his case, too, which might have contributed to his desire for a transfer.

I was flabbergasted when I saw that Inverclyde, a club nine levels lower than we are, signed Duncan for £2,000/month! They're a professional club with a salary budget befitting their status, and Paul's salary is middle-of-the-pack money for them. He was making £300/month with us.

Mark Brown became the odd man out in the crowded midfield situation, and he was released on a free to Lossiemouth. He got the possibility of more playing time, and a £75/month a raise from the £200 he was pulling from us.

I paid £6,000 to Stranraer for left wing Scott Courts, a 29-year-old veteran who will challenge Stephen Brady; if he doesn't start, he'll give us cover across the midfield and at forward. He's particularly talented at long throws, so if he's on the pitch, he'll take that responsibility. Scott signed a two-year contract for £550/month.

With the future in mind, I signed an 18-year-old M(C)/AM(C), Charlie Clark, from Forres Mechanics. He featured five times there last year and contributed two assists. We don't need him to do anything right now but get better, and begin to stretch toward the high ceiling we think he's capable of reaching.

Friendlies: We lost a shootout home to Elgin City, 3-5, and won 2-0 away to Fraserburgh United.

Against Elgin City, Sean Dickson scored twice, but his efforts were more than undone by a four-goal tour de force from Robert Henderson, who put in 25 last season. I'm not sorry we won't be seeing Elgin City in the SFL Premier this season. Youth striker Graham Law got our other goal.

Our defense was unexplainably bad in that match; we allowed them eight shots on goal and five clear chances.

The Fraserburgh United contest went much better. Dickson found the net again, and so did young fullback Robert Muirhead, who banged in a header off a corner kick. Willie Campbell and Andy Chisholm bounced back from their frightful performances in the first match.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

27 July 2013

My assistant manager, Michael Dempster, didn't think there would be much reason to look over the players who attended Scotland Trial Day on 18 July. Most of them aspire to clubs a lot more prestigious than we are. I didn't attend the match, but I did look at the rosters, and had our scouts check a few of them out.

All but one of them turned up his nose at the idea of playing for us; a day later, one young striker signed for Hearts. However, a right winger called Garry McGowan actually listened to our offer, and today he became part of Strathspey Thistle F.C.

A lad of 17, Garry is already one of the most talented players in our side. He's a good deal faster than Calum O'Neill, who was our gold standard for pace and acceleration. His finishing ability rivals that of Stevie Murray. Craig Gordon is the only man in the club with more skill on the dribble.

McGowan is ours for the next two seasons, at £1,000/month. By then, I'm guessing the lure of the big stadiums and bright lights of more prestigious clubs will call to him loudly, but for now, it will be fun to see how good he might become. Who says we can't have nice things, at least for awhile?

He made his debut today, away to Hall Russell United, where we won, 2-1 on goals by Stevie Murray and Sean Dickson--who is making it very difficult for me to find a reason why he shouldn't start beside Murray when league play begins. Youth goalkeeper Kevin Tiffoney kept a clean sheet for the 56 minutes he spent between the posts.

We drew Whitletts Victoria in the first round of the Scottish Football League Cup, which forces our SFL Premier opener up to 7 August at Fraserburgh.

Before then, however, our supporters will be treated to a friendly against Manchester City Reserves at Seafield Park on the 3rd. I hope we fill the stadium that night.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

3 August 2013

Strathspey Thistle 1-2 Manchester City Reserves
Attendance: 1,422

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Roberts, Bell, Kennedy, Chisholm
M: Brady, S. Noble, Wright, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

Goal: Murray (7)

How on earth the supporters could be "somewhat concerned" after this match is beyond me. Did they not see who that was on the pitch with us? Man City's reserves included players with full Northern Ireland and Romania caps to their credit and Germany and England youth internationals. In other words, it was a hell of a side.

They scored the winner in stoppage time, so for over 90 minutes, we played them to a draw. I'll take that anytime.

Scott Courts missed the match with a hamstring pull, which will keep him out for about three more weeks. Mark Black has a similar injury, but a little bit worse; he might be sidelined for about a month.

Steven Noble will be Strathspey Thistle's captain this season, with Chris Christie serving as vice captain.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

7 August 2013

Fraserburgh 2-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Chris Christie
D: Ian Roberts, Willie Campbell, Charlie Laird, Andy Chisholm
M: Stephen Brady, Steven Noble, Colin Brown, Garry McGowan
ST: Stevie Murray, Craig Gordon

Goal: Murray (2)

I was furious after the match, but not at my players.

Murray's goal got the season off to a great start. Noble set it up with one of the best passes I've seen from a Strathie player, and all Stevie had to do was push it into the goal.

We had to take Christie out at 13 minutes, and Ian MacDonald came in and played well. Fraserburgh's first goal was a strong one, and the second one as the result of a cheap penalty called on Ian Roberts.

I voiced my displeasure in the post-match presser, and I heard from the FA about it. I don't care. The call was bad, and I wanted my players to know I have their back.

Christie will be fine, but Chisholm won't. He strained his groin late in the match, and he'll be out three weeks or so. Tim Francis, who got dinged up in training, didn't play tonight, and four other players--Scott Courts, Mark Brown, Zander McLeish, and Stevie Bell--are all injured to a greater or lesser extent. Bell might be ready for our Cup match in a few days.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 August 2013
Scottish Football League Cup, First Round

Whitletts Victoria 1-4 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Matt Kennedy, Stevie Bell, Laird, Shane Bennett
M: Calum Noble, S. Noble, Adam Wright, Calum O'Neill
ST: Murray, Sean Dickson

Goals: Dickson (3, 9), Murray (11, 50)

Whitletts Vics are in the Fifth Division, so we ought to be able to take care of them the way Rangers and the Premier League bigshots take care of us. We were ahead 3-0 after 11 minutes, and cruised home from there.

We were able to field a good side--better than we'll often be able to put on the pitch for a Cup tie. We don't have to play again for another week.

Somehow, we didn't win the possession battle; they had the ball just over half the time. I can't seem to get our guys to keep the bloody thing. They outshot us, too, because they were firing away from the parking lot after they fell behind. We conceded late, when their striker strolled between our center backs and fired from inside the six-yard box.

Tim Francis was fit enough to play 20 minutes for us, and we featured a midfielder (Adam Wright) who is 30 years older than our right back.

We're expected to reach the semi-final of this tournament, so we still have a long way to go.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

11 August 2013

All three of our cup draws took place today, and here are the clubs we'll face:

Scottish Cup, 2nd Round: home to Forfar, 7 September
Scottish Football League Cup, 2nd Round: away to Nairn County, 18 September
Scottish League Cup, 2nd Round: away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 21 September

The League Cup draw is a tough one. The board expects us to reach the Second Round, but that's gonna require an upset--especially since the tie takes place three days after another cup match and four days before a league contest.

We'll play eight matches between 31 August and 28 September, which will put our depth to a rigorous test.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

14 August 2013

I just received a transfer offer for Tim Francis from Aberdeen FC. Yes, that Aberdeen, the club that was relegated last season from the Premier League. They offered us £24,000 over 30 months, plus another £2,000 if they're promoted back up.

As attractive as the offer was, I turned it down. If he's truly that good--and our staff think he just might be--I want to have him in our lineup for more than 20 minutes before he's shipped off. Tim is happy playing for Strathie. He's only 20, and as long as he feels his development is proceeding well at our club, I'd like to keep him around.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

17 August 2013

Strathspey Thistle 4-0 Berwick

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Tim Francis, Campbell, Kennedy, Laird
M: Brady, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Dickson

Goals: Murray (7, 62, 83), Khoza own goal (77)

It's hard to be much happier with an outcome than I am with this one. It might have been the most satisfying match I've ever experienced at Strathspey Thistle. Berwick lost the promotion playoff final last spring, so they're a good side, one we'd have to play well against to defeat. That's exactly what we did.

Colin Brown created our first goal with a beautifully weighted ball up the middle to Sean Dickson. Berwick's center backs both decided to mark him, which was a fatal mistake, for they left Stevie Murray completely alone. Sean got him the ball, and that's all it took.

Dickson brought the crowd to its feet on 62' when he picked up a Garry McGowan header deep in his own area and set off on a long run up the right side. When he neared the byline, he sliced a cross to Murray, who hit a right-footed volley into a wide-open goal. I haven't seen two more professional goals in the same game from Strathie since I arrived there.

I felt sorry for Tsepo Khoza, Berwick's captain. He's a very good right back who was moving into position when a cross deflected off him, past his keeper and into the goal. Had the

Murray's hat trick delighted the crowd, who were happy to learn that we've extended his contract through 2016. Stevie will earn £1,000/month, which I don't mind paying to a productive striker who is a fan favorite at Seafield Park.

[bbgunn]

Murray is on fire!

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Murray is on fire!

That's the truth! Counting the friendly against Manchester City Reserves, he has seven goals in four matches. It's never realistic to expect a striker to maintain that kind of form, but "Stevie Wonder" is certainly giving us every reason to believe he'll be one of the SFL Premier's most dangerous scoring threats again this season.

Thanks for stopping by. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

24 August 2013

Brechin City 1-0 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Francis, Campbell, Laird, S. Noble
M: Brady, Brown, Wright, McGowan
ST: Murray, Dickson

We were edged out by a side that was the oddsmakers' pick for league champion, and the match was on their grounds. It's hard to be too upset about that outcome.

We were outshot 13-6, but we held possession half the time and generally looked sharp. Tim Francis played exceptionally well for us, earning Man of the Match honors (8.0).

Unfortunately, the injury bug bit us again. This time the victim was Sean Dickson, who will be out at least two weeks with a gashed leg. Craig Gordon will take his place in the lineup while he recovers.

By the way, we are fifth favorite for promotion, with 6-1 odds against us. Albion Rovers, Stranraer, and Clyde are the other clubs who are favored to place ahead of us, and we're on the same odds as Stirling.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

31 August 2013

Today marks the end of the summer transfer window, and while I don't have a definite need in mind, I remain open to the possibility of improving our side.

The morning begins with the arrival of scouting reports for some youngsters who have been without clubs since they were released in the spring. The most intriguing are a 17-year-old striker, Willie Nelson, and a 19-year-old goalkeeper, Craig Robertson. Neither of them play a position where we have a pressing need, but they are both extremely talented players, and our staff thinks they would be great additions to our side.

My reporter buddy Sean Nicol asks me if I'm planning to sell Tim Francis; his sources tell him there will be some clubs trying to pry him away. I tell Sean that Francis isn't going anywhere, and that makes Tim very happy.

Meanwhile, I am deciding whether or not to offer contracts to Nelson and Robertson. Our chief scout thinks Nelson will want close to £1,000/month, which is what we're paying Stevie Murray. Is that too much for a youngster who played three first team matches for Rangers last year? I almost always play two strikers, so Nelson could slot in beside Murray; there's no way in hell I'm taking Stevie Murray out of the first team. Nelson would pair well with Murray, since Stevie is developing into a prototypical Target Man, and Nelson profiles best as a stylish Deep Lying Forward.

Robertson might sign for £500-£700/month. That's twice what we pay Chris Christie, our first choice keeper, and we have a promising backup, Ian MacDonald, who is a year older than Robertson. Still, Craig has played for Scotland at the U19 level, an achievement no Strathie player can claim.

I decide to make contract offers to both Nelson and Robertson. Both players are satisfied with my first offer: £600/month for Robertson, £825/month for Nelson.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

31 August 2013

Well, that didn't take long!

Two hours after we offered them their contracts, both Willie Nelson and Craig Robertson were officially signed for Strathspey Thistle. Both players accepted two-year contracts, so they'll be with us through the 2014-15 season.

Nelson isn't extremely fast, but he accelerates so quickly that he seems faster than he is. He's good with the ball, a shifty dribbler with a deft first touch, and the ability to finish. His playing style and skill set complement those of Stevie Murray very well, and those two, along with Craig Gordon and Sean Dickson, make us four-deep at striker.

Robertson is probably only a little bit better than Chris Christie right now, but he's four years younger, and it's safe to say that his potential is greater. Chris is better in the air, but Craig is a more skilled distributor. Right now, I see myself using the two keepers in a rotation of sorts, unless one of them seizes the job or becomes too unhappy sharing the job. And, unless Ian MacDonald is absolutely horrified at the prospect of being loaned out, I'll see if there's a club who would like to have a good young keeper for a season.

Both of our new men will be available for today's match, but neither is anywhere close to match fit. Still, I might let at least one of them make his first team debut today.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

31 August 2013

Strathspey Thistle 2-0 Stirling University FC

4-4-2
GK: Craig Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Bell, Laird
M: Brady, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Willie Nelson, Murray

Goals: Brady (26), Francis (38)

We played the kind of football I like to see today. We controlled possession (62%), passed accurately (79%), and outshot our opponent (18-10). Most importantly, we won the match. Stirling Uni are currently lying in the drop zone, but it's still satisfying to see us control a match. Charlie Laird was especially glad to see us grab three points from his former club.

Tim Francis was superb once again, establishing a commanding presence in the air which was capped off with a goal, when he headed in Garry McGowan's cross. It was great to see Stephen Brady get his first goal for Strathie, which occurred at the end of a long sequence of passes--again, featuring Francis, who provided the assist.

Our newest additions acquitted themselves well. Robertson made several saves and kept a clean sheet, while Nelson was active and nearly had an assist when Murray banged one off the woodwork.

We've moved up to seventh now, and we're away to Clachnacuddin in four days. Robertson and Nelson won't be available, as they'll be off on international duty with the Scotland U19s.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

31 August 2013

As the evening continued, Hamilton Academical (Premiership) tried to get me to give them Shane Bennett on a free transfer. Yeah, that's gonna happen.

We accept a loan offer from Forres Mechanics (SFL Second Division, 2 levels lower) for young goalkeeper Kevin Tiffoney. He can get some first team experience there, which he won't be seeing here this season.

And, with that, the transfer window closed.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

4 September 2013

Clachnacuddin 0-0 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Francis, Campbell, Kennedy, Chisholm
M: Courts, Duncan Ross, Stevie McCluskey, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Gordon

This is the first of our troublesome clusters of matches: two in close succession, a Premier match and a very tough tie in a cup competition where we're supposed to keep going for a while. I would have loved a result here, but given what happened, I'll take the point and smile on my way out of town.

Clachnacuddin were awarded a penalty, and it was taken by Tommy Maxwell, who is very good from the spot. Christie came up huge, saving the penalty and preserving the draw.

Matt Kennedy (7.6) was Man of the Match for his efforts to keep Christie's sheet clean. We didn't really generate a dangerous scoring chance all evening.

I gave midfielder Duncan Ross his first team debut tonight. He's 19, and our backroom staff is divided on the issue of his potential. Michael Dempster and Andy Robertson, our best evaluators of future talent, say he could be a very good one. I like the fact he is already comfortable playing in several different positions. He's one to keep an eye on. Right now, he'll see the vast majority of his action with our reserves and U19 squad.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

5 September 2013

Willie Nelson and Craig Robertson traveled to Agueda with the Scotland U19 squad for a friendly match with Portugal. Nelson scored the Tartan Army's lone goal in a 1-3 defeat. He played all 90 minutes, and his 7.4 rating was second best on Scotland's roster.

Robertson did not play, as Eddie Munro was in goal.

Willie and Craig will continue on to Daugava, Latvia for another match in four days.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

7 September 2013
Scottish Cup, Second Round

Strathspey Thistle 2-0 Forfar

4-5-1
GK: Christie
D: Roberts, Bell, Francis, S. Noble
M: Wright, Brown
AM: C. Noble, McGowan
ST: Murray

Goals: Murray (27, 69)

I can admit it now: this one had me worried. Forfar are a mid-table club in Premiership 2, so they're a very tough draw, even at Seafield Park. With Gordon exhausted, Dickson hurt, and Nelson on international duty, we had one fit striker--Murray--so the 4-5-1 seemed like the only formation that would work well. I had Michael Dempster pick the lineup, and his choices were obviously good ones.

Stevie's first goal wasn't spectacular, but it was Murray at his best. He took a pass from Adam Wright at the edge of the area, with two markers nearby. Using his strength to keep the defenders from muscling him off the ball, he slid to his right, opening up just enough space to shoot and, even more importantly, drawing the Forfar keeper just far enough to his left to give Stevie a shooting angle. Stevie drew the ball back across the box as the keeper leaned the wrong way, putting it into the far corner of the net.

Murray's second score came on a header, after a Forfar center back tried to clear and completely missed the ball. All Stevie had to do was tap it with his forehead into a wide-open net.

As good as Murray was, it was Tim Francis who once again was the best player on the park. The commentator kept giving "Headed clear by Francis..." "Well intercepted by Francis...", even "Headed off the line by Francis...that was a sure goal!" Tim banked a 9.0 rating before leaving at 70'.

Everyone can rest now, since we have a full week off before our next match. That will be a luxury we won't have again for a while!

We earned £2,280 for our performance.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

12 September 2013

The Scotland U19 side won 4-0 away to Latvia this week, with Craig Robertson between the posts. He made five saves, denying the Latvians their only good scoring chance. He finished with a 7.0 rating.

Willie Nelson was also in the starting eleven, playing 39 minutes before subbing out. He played well while he was on the pitch, earning a 7.1 rating.

Both players should be back for our next fixture, home to Montrose, in two days.

We have an easier draw in the third round of the Scottish Cup than we did in the second. On 12 October, we'll travel to Fleet Star, an SFL Third Division club.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

14 September 2013

Strathspey Thistle 4-0 Montrose

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Laird, Chisholm
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Courts (7), Flockhart own goal (11), Campbell (24), Nelson (55)

Montrose are really struggling this season, and we opened up a quick three-goal advantage that put them back on their heels.

I think both Stevie Murray and Gareth Flockhart, the Montrose keeper, were robbed on the official decision to award Flockhart an own goal. Murray's shot seemed to carom off Flockhart's back, but I'm not sure he could have saved it , even if he'd been in a good position. It was that good a shot.

Courts had the pick of the goals, a low, hard shot from 20 yards out, just wide of Flockhart's outstretched hands. Campbell's was well taken too--a header off Noble's corner.

Noble had two assists, but Campbell, who was a rock on defense, got Man of the Match with a 9.0 rating.

We're seventh in the league now, two points off a spot in the playoffs--but it's still very, very early. I'm happiest with the fact that we've conceded only three goals in six league games (we've scored 11).

[Greyfriars Bobby]

18 September 2013
Scottish Football League Cup, Second Round

Nairn County 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Roberts, Campbell, Francis, Laird
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Nelson, Murray

Goal: Murray (90+2)

This was tougher than we thought it would be...but we made it that way ourselves.

About a half hour in, Ian Roberts hammered a Nairn County player with an elbow and drew a straight red card. His vicious foul meant we'd have to make things happen with only ten men. We dropped Steven Noble back and parked the bus, hoping to avoid a goal.

The strategy worked, and we went into stoppage time with a scoreless draw. I was expecting the match to continue into extra time, which was the very last thing we need with so many fixtures coming up.

Then, Nairn goalkeeper Dougie McGowan made the kind of error he'll have a hard time forgetting. Attempting to clear the ball to a defender, he rolled it past his teammate and onto the foot of Willie Nelson, just inside the penalty area. When the defense converged on him, he slipped the ball to Stevie Murray, who drove it past the hapless McGowan before he could scramble back into position.

It sure wasn't pretty, but we'll take it.

Roberts will be suspended for a match, and so will Colin Brown, who drew his second yellow card of the season. It's not likely either would be fit to play anyway, since the next match is in only three days.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

21 September 2013
Scottish Cup, Second Round

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-0 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Bell, George Mackintosh, Shane Bennett
M: Brady, Mark Black, Christian Bowles, McCluskey
ST: Dickson, Gordon

In this case, I'm not terribly disappointed with an 0-2 defeat. I admittedly chose a side that is far from our strongest, choosing to save more of our better players for the league match four days from now. Still, this is a far better group of players than we've ever been able to turn out in a similar situation.

Midfielders Mark Black and Christian Bowles, who were injured in training and have been building their match fitness with the reserves, made their first appearances of the season for the first team today.

We conceded an early goal and held the scoreline until very late in the second half, when Inverness strung together a very nice series of passes until we slipped up and left a player unmarked.

Nobody expected us to beat Inverness, so the players handled the outcome without losing much morale.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

25 September 2013

Strathspey Thistle 2-4 Wick Academy

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Laird, Chisholm
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Nelson (6, 84)

When I start to think I'm figuring some of this out, wham! Something like this happens. At home, against a club that is both not as talented and not as match-fit, we get sent off without much to say about it.

We scored first, but Wick Academy equalized fairly quickly and took the lead early in the second half. Then, another goal put us two down at the 79' mark.

I subbed in Sean Dickson (a striker) for center back Willie Campbell, who was struggling big time, in an effort to spark the attack, and it seemed to work for a few minutes. Murray put Nelson through to bring us back within one score. However, Chisholm got hurt and had to leave the match, Dickson nearly cracked the crossbar with a drive, and Wick Academy took advantage of our manpower shortage and scored again.

Nelson (8.8) and Murray (8.5) were very good; Campbell (5.9) and Francis (6.2) were not.

We're in eighth place now, one of a cluster of four teams who have earned 10 points from 7 matches so far this season.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

28 September 2013

Strathspey Thistle 2-0 Formartine United

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Francis, Bennett
M: Brady, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Gordon, Murray

Goals: Graham own goal (6), Brown (73)

We're back on the winning track, with another very good performance defensively and a timely goal or two. I would still rather see us control the ball more--we had only 47% of the possession tonight--but we outshot them (8-6) and, most importantly, we kept them off the scoresheet.

The own goal was the result of a hard drive by Craig Gordon that banged off the crossbar, hit the goalkeeper in the back, and bounced into the net behind him. Again, it would have been nice to see Craig get credit for it, but that's football.

Colin Brown slotted home the other goal, his first for Strathie. It's nice to see some goals coming from the midfield, so our opponents can't smother our strikers and feel confident about their chances of shutting our offense down completely.

Another clean sheet for our new goalkeeper, Craig Robertson. It's his third since he arrived, and that ties him with our other keeper, Chris Christie, for most in the league. Our seven goals conceded are the fewest in our league.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

5 October 2013

East Stirlingshire 0-5 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Francis, Campbell, Chisholm, Laird
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Nelson, Murray

Goals: Brown (2), Nelson (43, 59), Campbell (72), Murray (82)

When we played East Stirlingshire back in March, they beat us 2-1 at Ochilview Park. We returned there tonight, and the outcome was very different.

Our opponents seem to be, with good reason, very concerned about letting Stevie Murray have room to operate in front of the goal. Lately, though, they have been paying for their determination to deny Murray those chances. Willie Nelson is making them pay, again and again. He struck twice in this match, giving him five in four league contests.

Colin Brown scored a goal for the second straight match, and he added two assists, good for a 9.1 rating and a Man of the Match selection. Andy Chisholm (17 interceptions, 14/14 headers won) was tremendous in the back, too.

Here's how the table looks after this weekend's matches:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps6ff22c0c.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps6ff22c0c.jpg.html)

We're back in the playoff spots, with one of the better goal differentials in the league. It's still very early, but that's a good sign.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

9 October 2013

Queen's Park 1-3 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Laird, Bennett
M: Brady, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Dickson

Goals: Francis (11), Brady (19), Dickson (50)

Another three points lifts us all the way to third in the SFPL, level with Clyde on 19 points but two goals better on differential. Annan have 20, and Cove Rangers, this year's pace-setter, have 25.

Tim Francis made excellent use of his PPM, Shoots with Power, and scored on a thunderous strike just inside the left post, a shot that I'm not sure anyone else in the team could have delivered. Stevie Murray was Man of the Match, although he didn't score; his header onto the foot of Stephen Brady in the six-yard box created our second goal, and his inch-perfect pass to a charging Sean Dickson set up our third.

Youngster Shane Bennett gave us a good performance at right back--the kind we need to get at a time when our crowded schedule requires me to give first teamers occasional rests. Bennett is doing nothing to make me think he's not ready for regular action at age 16.

Willie Nelson is on international duty, representing Scotland at the U19 European Championship Qualifying. He didn't play in Scotland's 3-1 victory away to Faroe Islands. Fortunately, we didn't need him...if he's not going to suit up, I wish the national team wouldn't take him.

Another short rest--three days--before a Scottish Cup tie at Fleet Star.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

12 October 2013

Good news from the European U19 Championship: Scotland are through to the Second Qualifying Round after defeating Switzerland, 2-1.

Willie Nelson came off the bench to figure in both Scotland goals. He set up the first, and he scored the deciding goal in the 80th minute.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

12 October 2013
Scottish Cup, Third Round

Fleet Star 0-3 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Bell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, O'Neill
ST: Murray, McGowan

Goals: Kennedy (6), Murray (38), Chisholm (56)

With a slightly different lineup, we did what we were expected to do in this Scottish Cup tie against an amateur side from three divisions lower.

Two of our goals came from back-liners, with Matt Kennedy scoring for the first time in a Strathie shirt. His was a well-struck shot from the left edge of the box, laid on by Colin Brown, who is developing quite a knack for setting up his teammates. Chisholm powered home a header off a corner by Adam Wright, who had just entered the match.

It was good to see Stevie Murray get a goal, too. Lately, he has been expanding his offensive role, playing more effectively with his back to goal and making precise passes to open teammates. He demonstrated today that he's lost none of his ability to put it in the back of the net.

By reaching the fourth round, we've now met our board's expectation for this competition.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

16 October 2013

Scotland have qualified for the 2014 World Cup!

A 2-0 defeat of Belgium secured the top spot in Group 1 of the European qualifying tournament. Scotland finished with 16 points in 10 matches, with Serbia a point behind. Croatia, Belgium, Wales, and Macedonia rounded out the group, in that order.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

19 October 2013

Strathspey Thistle 3-0 Albion Rovers

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Laird, Chisholm
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Courts (33, 47), Murray (45+2)

This was one of the most satisfying victories of the season. We went out with an attacking mentality, which we don't often do--and it worked a charm.

We controlled the ball 61% of the time and completed 81% of our passes. And that scoreline says more about our performance than anything else.

Scott Courts, the Man of the Match, got a brace, and Murray rifled in a volley for our third goal. Stevie set up Courts' first goal with a sweet pass from inside the area; it was Murray's seventh assist, which tied him for most in the league.

We moved up to second place, with help from Brechin, who defeated Annan.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

24 October 2013

As we prepare for Saturday's match away to Clyde, the business side of club operations has been in the headlines.

A local businessman, Marc Love, has his sights on becoming the next chairman at Strathspey Thistle. He's supposedly prepared to offer up to £775,000 to seize control. The club is worth about £1.4 million, so it sounds like Love would be getting a good deal.

The directors have placed me under a transfer embargo while the takeover is resolved. Fortunately I don't see much need to bring anyone in right now, but I'd still rather the situation be straightened out, one way or another.

More relevant to Saturday's match is the news that a heel injury suffered in training will keep Scott Courts out of action for about two weeks. He joins fullback Charlie Laird on the sidelines; Charlie has a pulled hamstring and will be out for up to four more weeks. Clyde are a good side, and we could certainly have used both Courts and Laird against them. Stephen Brady and Stevie Bell will probably start in their places.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

26 October 2013

Clyde 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Brady, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goal: Murray (90+1)

For the second time this season, Stevie Murray delivered a goal in stoppage time to break a scoreless draw. This time Murray's strike garnered us three points in a match against a top SFPL rival on their grounds. Cove Rangers lost to Montrose (!), so their lead over us is now down to a single point (26-25).

Clyde came out determined to barricade their goal, starting two defensive midfielders in front of their back four. We controlled possession most of the game, but were unable to get good scoring chances. Clyde's strategy worked for 90 minutes, until Murray ran onto a nice ball from substitute Sean Dickson and banged it in off the post.

There's a reason Stevie Murray is the most popular player in the club.

Tim Francis played another superb game at left back. He was credited with 16 interceptions, and his 8.1 rating earned him Man of the Match honors. His fellow defender, Willie Campbell, posted an 8.0, winning 13 of 14 headers.

Unfortunately, the plague of injuries we've suffered lately claimed another victim. Andy Chisholm went down again; he'll miss 3-4 weeks with a painfully twisted knee. We face Annan, who are third in the table, at Seafield Park next week, and now we'll do it with three of our first eleven watching from the stand.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 November 2013

Today's a big day for Strathie, as our club swept the monthly SFPL awards.

The Player of the Month for October was Stevie Murray, on the strength of his three goals in four league contests and an average match rating of 8.32. He's netted 7 times in his 12 league appearances, and has also contributed 7 assists.

Center back Willie Campbell was voted Young Player of the Month. Campbell, 21, posted an average rating of 7.92 last month, and scored a goal. His average rating in league play this year is a 7.49. Teammate Tim Francis placed third.

And I was named the Manager of the Month, after we won all four of our league matches by an aggregate score of 12-2.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

3 November 2013

Strathspey Thistle 5-0 Annan

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Francis, Bennett
M: Brady, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Murray (10, 34, 83), Nelson (66, 90)

I would have been very satisfied with a 1-0 result over a side like Annan, so sending them off by a 5-0 score was, honestly, a very pleasant surprise.

As Stevie Murray and Willie Nelson get more accustomed to playing together, their striker partnership has become increasingly lethal. Each man set up a goal for the other, and it's been fun to watch defenders try to figure out which presents the more dangerous challenge and respond accordingly.

The best goal of the day was Murray's third, which was set up by a perfect pass from substitute Mark Black.

Both Murray (9.6) and Nelson (9.1) were almost flawless, and Tim Francis posted an 8.6 rating as he moved to center back from his usual spot on the left. He intercepted 11 balls, and right back Shane Bennett connected on 50 of 51 passes.

The only black mark on today's performance occurred when Willie Campbell was sent off for his second booking. I was trying to get a sub in for him when he drew his second yellow. He'll miss our next match. We managed to score two goals playing with ten men.

Cove Rangers topped Fraserburgh, 1-0, so we remain a point behind them.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

6 November 2013

Stranraer 2-7 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Bell, Francis, Bennett
M: Brady, S. Noble, Mark Black, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Black (14), Nelson (21, 33, 65, 84), S. Noble (36), Murray (51)

I'm enjoying this, because it's the kind of run that doesn't come along very often!

Stranraer were relegated from Premier League Two last season, after finishing bottom of the table. They came into this match fourth in the SFPL, so they've been a very solid club at this level. To win by five goals on their ground was therefore quite an accomplishment.

Willie Nelson was lights-out all night long. He's now scored 11 times in 8 league matches, which is the definition of top form for a striker. He won't turn 18 until next August and, while I'd love to see him in a Strathspey Thistle shirt for the next decade, it's hard to imagine he won't be a target for bigger clubs before long.

Mark Black scored his first goal for us, and assisted on two others. Garry McGowan set up Mark's goal, and laid on one of Willie's, too. Captain Steven Noble scored, assisted, and won all eight of his attempted tackles.

We're now top of the league as we await the result of Cove Rangers' match with Berwick in four days; if Berwick win or draw, we'll stay ahead.

I have to say..the view from here is great. :)

[bbgunn]

Enjoy the view, definitely!

I'm on top of my division in my current save, but it's only 1/3 of the way through the season, and I just feel that we're not going to finish there (we were just promoted), so I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Enjoy the view, definitely!

I'm on top of my division in my current save, but it's only 1/3 of the way through the season, and I just feel that we're not going to finish there (we were just promoted), so I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.

Good luck staying top of the table!

It's still early in our season, too, but Strathspey Thistle are playing in the same league for the second year. It's a little easier for me to believe we might remain close to the top of the table all year. The board expects us to qualify for the promotion playoffs, so they believe our current position is reasonable, too.

Thanks for following along and commenting. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

9 November 2013
Scottish Football League Cup
Third Round

East Stirlingshire 0-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Ian Roberts, Campbell, Francis, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, Calum O'Neill
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Brown (16), Campbell (55)

A comfortable win over a league opponent sends us into the Fourth Round of this tournament, which involves teams from the five divisions of the Scottish Football League. The board expects us to reach the semi-final, so we needed a victory here, and the lads delivered it.

Neither of our red-hot strikers found the goal, but each of them set up a teammate. Murray played a superb ball for Colin Brown to tuck into the right corner for our first score. Campbell headed in Nelson's corner for our second. The goal, combined with a very good day at the office defensively, earned Campbell the nod as Man of the Match (8.4).

Craig Robertson kept another clean sheet; it's now been 387 minutes since he last conceded.

Garry McGowan wasn't with the squad, as he was called up to the Scotland U19 team for matches with Hungary and Austria next week. He'll receive his first cap if he appears in either game.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

16 November 2013
Scottish Cup
Fourth Round

Pollok 2-2 Strathspey Thistle
Strathspey Thistle win on penalties, 4-3

GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Francis, Bennett
M: Greg Kelly, S. Noble, Wright, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Dickson

Goals: Courts (71), Dickson (91)

I tried to rest a few regulars today, because our schedule is about to get congested again. We barely got away with that, requiring penalties to send off a tenacious Pollok side which are second in the First Division, one level below us.

We got a scare when Stevie Murray had to come off with an injury, but our physio said he won't miss any time. Same with Shane Bennett, who picked up a knock early on and played all 120 minutes.

Willie Nelson, who came on for Murray, had a hand in both our goals, and nearly won the game in regulation time with a goal of his own. He set up Scott Courts with an incisive pass, and when Sean Dickson lost his marker, Willie got him the ball inside the six-yard box. Nelson's penalty was turned away by Pollok keeper Craig MacDonald, who hadn't conceded in nearly 300 minutes before Courts beat him.

Tim Francis, still at center back, had a huge game: 33 interceptions, 17/19 on headers, and four key tackles. Adam Wright, a former Pollok star, played with a verve that made it hard to remember he's 47 years old. The veteran completed 112 of 128 passes, establishing his presence in the middle of the pitch.

Robert Stevenson equalized for Pollok on 108', sending the game to penalties. With the shootout tied at 3, our fifth man, Scott Courts, stepped to the spot and fired one past MacDonald to win the match.

We have some tired players after this one, but it was a splendid match, and we're glad to advance to the next round.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

18 November 2013

Garry McGowan's first experiences as a Scotland youth international were positive. He started both matches, a 2-1 result over Hungary and a 3-0 victory over Austria. Garry set up a goal in the Hungary match.

And there might be some good news about the takeover talks, too. Aspirant Marc Love and current chairman Don Williamson are apparently only days away from a deal, according to sportinglife.com.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

20 November 2013

Strathspey Thistle 1-1 Buckie Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Roberts, Campbell, Francis, Chisholm
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goal: Noble (54)

Craig Robertson ran his streak to almost 400 minutes before he finally conceded a goal, but an opponent still hasn't beaten him in the equivalent of almost five full matches. Buckie's goal came on a corner that pinballed around in the six-yard box before it caromed into the goal off Robertson's shoulder.

Captain Steven Noble leveled early in the second half. He was named Man of the Match on the strength of his all-round excellence; he completed 61 of his 64 passes and led the team with 6 successful tackles.

Another yellow card for Willie Campbell will keep him out of our next fixture. Fortunately one of our defenders, Andy Chisholm, is back on the pitch, and another, Charlie Laird, might be ready to play an hour or so against Stirling Albion in three days.

Our streak of ten consecutive victories has now been snapped, but the point we earned with tonight's result keeps us five clear of third place and three short of Cove Rangers, who sent off Brechin 2-0 this week.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpsb7ebf6df.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zpsb7ebf6df.jpg.html)

We've drawn First Division side Spartans in the Fifth Round of the SFL Cup. They're a mid-table side who should put up a decent fight on their grounds. There are an additional £7,610 in our coffers for winning our last cup match.

Pleased with both his performance on the pitch and the quality of his training, we offered young right back Shane Bennett a new contract this week. Shane, a Grantown-on-Spey lad, accepted it, glad to stay with a club so close to his heart. He's under contract through June 2015 now, on £150/month with various raises built in for promotion, etc. He might well turn out to be a huge, huge bargain.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

23 November 2013

Stirling Albion 2-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Laird, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Ross, O'Neill
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goal: Nelson (71)

We got a taste of our own medicine tonight, as Stirling captured three points with a late goal after Willie Nelson had struck an equalizer for us. Stirling have had our number; in three matches with them since I joined Strathie, we've won one point.

After the match, my journalist mate Sean Nicol took me to task a little bit for resting so many first team players. There wasn't much else I could do, since we were playing our third match in a week's time.

Youngster Duncan Ross, whose form for the reserves earned him a start, played well until he twisted his knee and had to come out. His replacement, Colin Brown, made the mistake that led to the winning goal...although after looking at the replay, it looked to me like Chris Christie still should have been able to save it.

Now we have a week to rest before leaders Cove Rangers come to Seafield Park for the most eagerly anticipated league match thus far this season.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

30 November 2013

Strathspey Thistle 2-2 Cove Rangers

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Francis, Campbell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Brown, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Nelson (48, 84)

Cove Rangers were champions of the SFL First Division last year, and they haven't missed a beat as they've moved up to the Premier Division. In front of a good crowd (526) on a chilly, rainy night, we erased a two-goal deficit and fought the league leaders to a draw.

Rangers have two excellent strikers, just like we do. The league's top scorer, David Ramsay, produced two goals in the first half, and our Willie Nelson replied with a brace of his own in the second stanza. Ramsay, who has netted 21 times in 17 league matches, was Man of the Match, with Nelson, who has 14 goals in 11 contests, right behind.

I'll take Willie over David because, at 33, the Cove Rangers man is almost twice as old as our 17-year-old star.

I would have loved to see us get the result, but I'm encouraged by the fact that we were clearly the better team tonight. We had possession 57% of the time, had 15 shots to their 10, and took nine corners to their one. Twice their keeper, David Kelly, made highlight-quality saves; his denial of Scott Courts' low drive, which he turned away with a sprawling dive, was the best save I've seen all year.

The worst news of the night was the physio's report. Colin Brown will be out for about two months with a knee injury. Mark Black and Adam Wright will probably cover for him in the central midfield while he mends.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

14 December 2013

We went two weeks without a match in early December, but that doesn't mean life around Strathie was uneventful.

First, we learned that the SFL Premier League Player of the Month was in our club for the second straight month. November's selection was Willie Nelson, who fired in nine goals in five contests and posted an 8.50 rating.

Strathspey Thistle 3-1 Fraserburgh

GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Murray (22, 47), Black (45+1)

Grantown-on-Spey is a festive place during the holidays, with all the trappings of the Christmas season--sparkling lights, bustling shoppers, the sounds of carols. On a crisp, clear night, perfect for December football, almost 1000 fans turned out at Seafield Park to watch the action.

Fraserburgh is in the drop zone, but they always play us tough. They handed us a 2-1 defeat in the season's first match. This one looked at first like it might be equally tough, as Willie Campbell leaped to head away a cross and bang it backwards past Craig Robertson instead...our second own goal in a month.

Fortunately, we righted the ship quickly, with Stevie Murray getting a quick equalizer, and Mark Black putting us ahead in the final seconds of the first half. Murray added another right after the break and we cruised home, sending the big, noisy crowd home happy.

The supporters were thrilled with the way we played, outshooting the visitors 16-2, maintaining possession 58% of the time, and passing accurately.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

18 December 2013
Scottish Football League Cup, Fourth Round

Strathspey Thistle 4-1 Kelty Hearts

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McCluskey
ST: Murray, Dickson

Goals: Dickson (pen 29), Murray (37), McCluskey (68), Courts (80)

We are expected to make a deep run in this tournament, so for that reason, I fielded a stronger-than-usual squad for a cup tie in the middle of a crowded sequence of fixtures. The supporters don't like seeing a lot of reserves turn out for a home match.

This week, Stevie McCluskey came to me, asking for a chance at some first team football. He was forthright but not obnoxious, coming to me before he complained to the media. He's primarily a right midfielder, and we've got two younger men at that position--Garry McGowan and Calum O'Neill--who are both good. Mac, in particular, is a star in the making. I promised Stevie I'd let him out on loan to get him some experience, and he took that very well. I decided to reward him for his professionalism with a start in this match, and he rewarded the club in return, with a thumping goal off a beautiful pass from Mark Black.

Black pulled the strings from midfield all night long, laying on two goals and making several crucial tackles. He was Man of the Match with a 9.0 rating.

On the other hand, Hearts midfielder Dean Tiffoney, a very good player for League Three, had a forgettable match. His foul led to the penalty Sean Dickson scored, and his error led to Murray's goal. Our scouts are still taking a look at him, however...although, until our seemingly endless board takeover is resolved, scouting a possible signing is merely an exercise in player evaluation.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

21 December 2013
Scottish Cup, Fifth Round

Spartans 1-4 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Kennedy, Chisholm, Laird, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Nelson (58), Kennedy (77, 81), Courts (78)

We traveled to Edinburgh for a cup tie, our last match of 2013. Taking the pitch before a crowd of fewer than 100 was unusual, since our supporters have come out in such force lately. Perhaps the weather--sleet, wind, and a temperature just above freezing--kept the crowd down.

Spartans took the lead on an unusual goal. They hammered a free kick off the crossbar, and it ricocheted past Andy Chisholm onto the foot of a surprised Alan Preston. Craig Robertson had no time to react before Preston redirected it into the net.

Until the hour mark, it looked like the First Division side from Edinburgh might hold on for an upset victory. Then, the Strathie lads recovered their form, as Nelson's equalizer was followed by the first of two goals from defender Matt Kennedy. Courts sandwiched a score, his second in two matches, between Kennedy's.

The Man of the Match was our captain, Steven Noble. If there's a player in our league who can strike a dead ball as well as he can, I haven't seen him. Ask Matt Kennedy how well Steven hits a corner; Matt headed in two perfectly delivered balls off Noble's boot tonight.

I was pleased when Shane Bennett told TEAMtalk.com that my half-time talk "inspired the team to overturn the deficit and emerge victorious at the final whistle."

We'll be able to celebrate Christmas with our families, as we return to the pitch on New Year's Day, away to Berwick.

Merry Christmas from Strathspey Thistle Football Club. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 January 2014

With the New Year came the end of the drama surrounding the takeover of Strathspey Thistle FC. Today, new chairman Marc Love sent me a message to thank me for the patience I displayed during the three months of negotiations that finally ended with his taking control of the club. Love won't be infusing the club with any cash right now--we don't need it, with almost 900,000 quid in the coffers--but I can now buy and sell players again.

Don Williamson, the former chairman, did a classy thing on his way out. He went to the press and mentioned that it would hurt the club to be kept out of the transfer market while the take-over negotiations went on and on. On Christmas Eve, it appeared the deal had collapsed, but the sides returned to the table after the holiday and worked out a deal.

"Love" is not only our new chairman's surname; it also describes his apparent feelings for the club. I liked Don Williamson, and I hope my working relationship with my new boss is just as productive.

With the "Open for Business" sign back out at Seafield Park, other clubs are already beginning to court our players. Forres Mechanics, a League Two club, wants the versatile Calum Noble on a free...it ain't happening. Forres, and three other clubs, want George Mackintosh, a young defender on loan, and that's more likely to happen.

Premier League clubs are sniffing around Tim Francis, but they'd have to make me an offer I can't refuse in order to get me to sell a lad with Tim's talent who happens to also bleed Strathie blue.

The board remains pleased with my performance; my job status is "Very Secure," and I'm just as happy to be here as they are to have me.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 January 2014

Berwick 1-3 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McCluskey
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Murray (31), Courts (44), Nelson (83)

We took exactly three shots tonight, and all of them found their way to the back of the net. That's the definition of "clinical finishing," and I've never seen anything like it.

Stevie Murray scored the first one off a perfect pass from Willie Nelson, and then Stevie laid on goals for Scott Courts and Nelson later in the contest. We conceded a late goal, but by then we had matters well in hand.

Courts' marker gave him goals in his last three games, and seven overall. That puts him third in the club, behind Murray (21) and Nelson (16). Stevie has added 16 assists, 13 in league play, which leads the SFL Premier by four.

We had some bad news, too. Courts was booked, and he'll be suspended for the next game. Calum Noble, who came on as a substitute, injured his knee and will be out of action for about a month.

Cove Rangers lost away to Clachnacuddin, so we've cut their lead to three points, 42-39, after 19 matches.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

4 January 2014

Strathspey Thistle 3-0 Brechin City

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Chisholm, Francis, Bennett
M: Brady, S. Noble, Black, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Nelson (10, 61), Black (59)

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the goals are so delightful.
And since we're keeping a clean sheet,
Let it sleet! Let it sleet! Let it sleet!

It was a single degree above zero (C°), but 1,238 hardy, football-loving souls braved the gusty winds and sleeting skies to watch us avenge an earlier-season loss by sending off Brechin.

The supporters delighted in a viciously-struck goal from Mark Black, who has filled in admirably for the injured Colin Brown in the center of the park.

They thrilled to the slick passing of Stevie Murray, who laid on two goals.

They admired the deadly finishing of Willie Nelson, who scored another brace, his second only two minutes after Black's score.

They cheered a fine performance between the posts by Chris Christie, who remains a strong, positive influence in the changing room despite losing playing time to wonderkid Craig Robertson.

And they even found time and energy to compose a weather-inspired song, which they belted forth after Strathie went up 3-0 and appeared on our way to another victory.

We'll all be watching for news from East Stirlingshire, where if bottom-of-the-table Shire can somehow find a way to see off Cove Rangers, we'll move top of the table--tied with Rangers on points, but ahead on goal differential.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

7 January 2014

Two pieces of good news this week!

On Sunday (the 5th), East Stirlingshire pulled off a 1-0 upset of Cove Rangers, with the Shire's goal coming on a penalty. That result put us top of the table, with an eight-goal advantage over Rangers.

Today we completed a deal that will bring central midfielder Hugh Strachan on loan from Premier League club Partick Thistle. The Jags will pay Strachan's wages, so it won't cost us a thing.

We don't really need a central midfielder, but a player of Strachan's quality is always welcome. He is a creative offensive player, a very good passer who will fit in well with the possession-oriented style I want us to play. He's young--only 20--and if he's a good fit for our side, I'm planning on making him a permanent offer this summer.

He'll be available for our match away to Montrose on Saturday (11 January).

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 January 2014

We're excited to announce the signing of 22-year-old centre back John Cameron from Livingston. Cameron didn't figure in their plans, but his all-around ability caught the eye of our scouting staff, and we happily paid £8,000 for him. Other clubs are expressing interest in defenders Matt Kennedy, Stevie Bell, and Willie Campbell, so the signing of Cameron gives us some additional security along our back line.

Defensively, Cameron is similar to Campbell, perhaps a little better in the tackle but with slightly less positional awareness. Where Cameron sets himself apart from our other backs is his technical skill. When he takes possession, he finds open teammates and gets them the ball, and he's also able to move it out of the back third himself. He'll also be a threat on set pieces.

Cameron will be paid £1,000/month through June 2015. He's currently recovering from a hamstring pull, so his Strathie debut will probably occur in two or three weeks.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

11 January 2013

Montrose 0-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goals: Francis (61), Murray (65)

Montrose are a playoff-calibre side, with an especially stingy defense. It took us a while to get going, to figure out a way to get past them, but Tim Francis headed home a Steven Noble corner and Stevie Murray slotted home a Scott Courts pass, and we held on for a 2-0 result.

Craig Robertson only had one challenging save to make, and he rose to the occasion to post his seventh clean sheet in 13 league matches.

Francis, who also had a very solid game defensively, was Man of the Match with an 8.2 rating. No wonder Falkirk and Partick Thistle are rumored to be close to offering to buy him from us.

Cove Rangers drew with Queen's Park, so we are now two points clear at the top of the table.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

15 January 2014

The other day, we learned that defender Matt Kennedy will be moving to Cove Rangers when his contract expires on 1 July. Matt has been on the fringes of the first team since the emergence of Shane Bennett, who is now featuring regularly at age 16.

We wish Matt well, even though if the season ended today, we'd be playing against him in Premier League Two next year. The signing of John Cameron is now looking like an even better move.

Robert Muirhead, a promising 17-year-old center back, has returned from a loan spell at Huntly, and he might also figure into the back line mix this spring.

We'll be loaning another young defender with promise, Dave Reynolds, to Newmachar United of Scotia League Two (the lowest level of the pyramid in this save). There, he'll join another Strathie trainee, Ross Mackay-Steven.

The most exciting news of the week has been the signing of striker Mark Love, 17, from Rossvale of the Scotia Championship league. We paid £5,000 for him, and if he turns out to be as good as our scouts think he will be, it will be a bargain.

Love has scored five goals in 17 matches for Rossvale, the Championship leaders. He's tall and strong for a teenager, with above-average pace, and he's very good on the ball. He's also as determined to make good as any player I've ever seen. Mark will join us on 1 July. We don't need him to step in right away, since both Stevie Murray and Willie Nelson are signed through the 2014-2015 season.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

22 January 2014

Stirling University FC 0-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Kennedy, Campbell, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McGowan
ST: Murray, Dickson

Goals: Murray (14), Courts (30)

With Tim Francis and Willie Nelson both suspended for drawing (excessive) yellow cards, Matt Kennedy and Sean Dickson got first team chances today at Stirling Uni. I also experimented with using Scott Courts and Garry McGowan as advanced midfielders, and the shift worked well. Courts scored one goal and assisted on the other, and was Man of the Match (8.2). I'll use that formation again, against another opponent who is vulnerable defensively.

The pundits said we should have beaten Stirling Uni by more than two goals, but I'm perfectly satisfied with this outcome. We had the ball 62% of the time and kept another clean sheet. If they don't score, we can't lose.

John Cameron made his debut today, coming on as a substitute when Dickson got a knock and I changed to a more defensive approach. Cameron's hamstring is healthy, but he wasn't quite fit enough to start. He'll feature in the first team on a regular basis when he's up to speed.

Greg Kelly, who wasn't content to cover for Courts while he developed his game, complained enough that I released him on a free. Edinburgh United signed him, so he'll be plying his trade seven levels farther down the pyramid.

I tried to honor my promise to Stevie McCluskey and send him out on loan, but when I offered him out, no team was willing to take him. I'm going to transfer list him and see if someone will give me £500 for him.

Our victory gives us seven straight wins, so we appear to be back on track after faltering a little bit in December.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

25 January 2014

I'm satisfied enough with our club that I'm not looking to do more than fine-tune the squad during the January transfer window. Today, we announced the signing of three youngsters, all aged 18, whom we hope will develop into future stars.

Peter Weir, an AMC/MC, currently plays for Carnoustie (Third Division), where he has made 18 appearances, mostly as a substitute. He has scored one goal and posted a 6.54 average rating. He's not nearly ready to play regularly at our level, but our scouts believe he has the potential to play effectively at Premier League Two. Weir is fast and flashy. His first touch is sure, and his other technical skills are very good for his age. I can envision him pairing effectively with Duncan Ross in the center of the park in two or three years. Peter will join us on 1 July.

Stuart Greenhalgh has already arrived at Seafield Park. This English center back was without a club, and is glad to be back on the pitch. The first thing you notice about Greenhalgh is his size--6'4", 207 pounds--but there's more to him than his physical presence. His mental attributes--positioning, teamwork, determination, work rate--are all solid. He's on a contract that will pay him £375/month for the rest of the season, and I anticipate us signing him on for longer than that. Stuart projects to be a valuable member of the back line rotation as he matures; that's a necessity, considering there always seems to be a defender banged up or suspended for drawing yellow cards.

Willie Sinclair, who is best as a deep-lying playmaker in the central midfield, is also already with the club, on a £20/month youth contract. He is a more polished player than Weir is right now, especially defensively. Sinclair isn't fast, but he is very sure in the tackle and demonstrates the ability to make all kinds of passes. He'll turn out for our reserves and U19 squads now, and might get some first team action later in the season.

It's looking more and more likely that Stevie McCluskey will be leaving the team before the transfer window closes next week. Several clubs are showing interest in taking him on a free transfer, and I'm inclined to let him go so he can play some first team football.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

25 January 2014
Scottish Cup, Sixth Round

Hamilton Academical 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Chisholm, John Cameron, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McGowan
ST: Murray, Nelson

Goal: Murray (64)

For the second straight year, we defeated a Premier League side in a cup competition, and this time, it earns us a place in the Quarter Finals of the nation's most prestigious tournament.

John Cameron was handed his debut today, and from the looks of things today, he might be the final piece of a defense that could carry Strathie to the higher levels of Scottish football. No offense intended to Willie Campbell or Stevie Bell, the center backs who began the season in the first team, but Cameron provides the all-round skill set that sets the best backliners apart.

The emergence of Shane Bennett at right back has allowed me to shift Andy Chisholm to the center, where he is even more effective. Chisholm was Man of the Match today (8.0) for his efforts to keep Hamilton off the scoreboard.

Cameron is the oldest of the four backs, at age 22, and goalkeeper Craig Robertson--the final line of a tough defense--is only 18. I hope we can keep these guys together for a long time.

Steven Noble drew a yellow card and was starting to tire late in the first half, so I replaced him with Duncan Ross at halftime. Ross, who is a very good passer, laid on Murray for the deciding goal and generally looked like a player who is increasingly ready for first team duty. Ross's attributes are up across the board, as he begins to fulfill his considerable potential.

Not surprisingly, my strategy for the game was as defensive as I'll let it be. On 70 minutes or so, I pulled a tiring Murray from the match in favor of Campbell, a fifth back, and set our mentality to Contain. Hamilton had the ball most of the time, and outshot us 17-9, but we denied them even a single scoring chance.

I'm surprised the supporters weren't more than "satisfied" with this result. I think it's one of the bigger victories we've had in my tenure at Strathspey Thistle.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

31 January 2014

The transfer window closes today, and over the past few days we've been doing a bit of business, both as buyers and as sellers.

Our scouts discovered a 17-year-old left winger called Johnny Neill. He was looking for a new club, having been let go by Falkirk back in June. Right now he is as green as grass, but everyone in the back room thinks he's going to be good. Johnny's already got considerable ability to handle a football (high Technique), but he's apt to do just about anything with it, for good or ill (low Decisions). He's got good pace and, perhaps most intriguingly of all, his preferred foot is "Either." Neill is a long way from unseating Scott Courts at M(L), but for a 20-quid youth deal, I'll take a chance on him.

Today we found a buyer for Stevie McCluskey. Clachnacuddin offered us £500 for him, so we accepted the deal and sent Stevie away with a handshake and best wishes. He'll be with us through the end of the season, but I doubt I'll use him; I'd rather give the playing time to the lads who will be part of the future plan around here.

At age 19, Christian Bowles was a regular for us in the center of the pitch last season, making 34 appearances and scoring 6 goals. Strangely, though, even with the playing time he received, Bowles didn't progress at all as a footballer.

This year, with the arrival of players like Steven Noble, Colin Brown, and Mark Black, he's found it tough to get first team action. The development of Duncan Ross, who is a year younger and is now a considerably better player, made Bowles expendable. Clachnacuddin might have two former Strathies in their first team next year, as Bowles will join McCluskey there in July.

I figured those transactions would be it for us this winter...until scout Bryan Little directed my attention to a Polish striker called Andrzej Gajda who's been plying his trade at Huntly in the Second Division for the past two years.

First of all, Andrzej is one big dude. He's 6'6" and weighs 207 pounds, and he's as strong as they come. He's also a very good player, a target man who lays off the ball to his teammates well enough to lead his league in assists and who finishes well enough to net 10 goals in 22 appearances. Andrzej speaks and understands English well. And, he's a leader; he's been Huntly's captain since he arrived last year.

We have a good relationship with Huntly; we sent them Robert Muirhead and goalkeeper Ian MacDonald on loan this year. I offered them £12,000 for Gajda, and they countered by asking for £16,000. We have lots of money left in our transfer budget, so I met their price.

I wasn't in desperate need of a striker, not with Stevie Murray and Willie Nelson in the team. And Gajda is 27; he's hardly a geezer, but acquiring him he doesn't fit with my recent efforts to bring in younger talent. Still, he'd easily be the third best striker on the squad, and his physical presence would make him a perfect partner for either Murray or Nelson.

I offered Andrzej a two-year deal at £750/month, with a good promotion bonus and a healthy raise for next year. With about six hours remaining before the window closed, he accepted the contract, and he'll be joining us time to suit up for tomorrow's match--with none other than Clachnacuddin-- at Seafield Park.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 February 2014

Strathspey Thistle 6-0 Clachnacuddin

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Chisholm, Cameron, Bennett
M: Murray, McGowan, Hugh Strachan, Courts
ST: Andrzej Gajda, Nelson

Goals: Gajda (17, 22, 27, 56), Murray (21), Nelson (49)

Welcome to Strathspey Thistle FC, Mr. Gajda.

In a performance that will undoubtedly be long remembered, debutant Andrzej Gajda scored four goals and led Strathie to a 6-0 triumph before over 1,200 wildly cheering supporters. His dominance in front of the goal--he won all six of the headers he contested--gave us a dimension we've lacked in the past.

I used the 4-4-2 with attacking midfielders on each wing, playing Stevie Murray on the left side. He scored a goal and set up another, while fellow striker Willie Nelson scored and added two assists. Steven Noble was suspended for accumulating another yellow card, so Scott Courts moved from the left wing to the center, pairing with loanee Hugh Strachan, who also made his Strathie debut. This set-up worked so well that I might consider using it even when we have our full complement of midfielders.

The defense played another outstanding game, helping Craig Robertson keep a clean sheet, but it was Gajda's barrage of goals that earned this match a place in Strathspey Thistle lore.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

4 February 2014

First, the bad news: Defender Andy Chisholm and midfielder Duncan Ross will both be out of action for a while. Chisholm suffered a thigh strain in the Clachnacuddin match and he will miss four weeks. Ross's problem is more serious. He will be unable to play or train for as long as two months, after he was diagnosed with a sports hernia.

Some good news: Eight of our players featured in the SFL Premier Team of the Week following our defeat of Clachnacuddin: Craig Robertson, Shane Bennett, John Cameron, Garry McGowan, Scott Courts, Hugh Strachan, Stevie Murray, and Andrezj Gajda. It was the first TotW nomination for Cameron, Strachan, and Gajda; the second for Robertson and McGowan; the third for Bennett; the fourth for Courts; and the fifth for Murray, after featuring six times in 2012-13.

Murray was also chosen as the Player of the Month for the second time this season, with Willie Nelson finishing third. Stevie Wonder scored three goals in four appearances. Nelson was also runner up for the Young Player of the Month prize

I was voted Manager of the Month after our 4-0 record in January, scoring 10 goals and conceding one in league play.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

8 February 2014
Scottish Football League Quarter Final

Buckie Thistle 0-3 Strathspey Thistle

GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Cameron, Campbell, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Strachan, McGowan
ST: Murray, Gajda

Goals: Murray (23, 34, 45+2)

This time, it was Stevie Murray's turn to torment an opposing defense. He scored once off a perfect pass from Andrzej Gajda, and twice off equally well-placed balls from Garry McGowan, who ran wild on the right wing today.

Craig Robertson has now gone 457 minutes without conceding. He would be the first to say that the back line--indeed, the entire team--deserves some credit for that record, but Craig has been making a tough save or two every game, the kind most keepers in our league wouldn't stop.

Now it's on to the Semi Final of the SFL Cup, and I'm going to make winning the trophy a top priority. We're this close; let's finish the job.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

15 February 2014

Wick Academy 1-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Laird, Cameron, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Black, McGowan
ST: Gajda, Nelson

Goal: Nelson (80)

Wick Academy, a solid, mid-table side, has certainly had our number this year. They beat us 4-2 at Seafield Park back in September, and today it took a late Willie Nelson score to draw us even. We're lucky to get the draw; in the first half, they hit the post with a shot that had Craig Robertson beat dead to rights.

We were the better side most of the day, outshooting the Scorries 16-6, keeping the ball 56% of the time, and completing over 80% of our passes. Still, their goal was a good one, coming after they had patiently moved the ball around, testing our defense.

Our best player was Tim Francis, who had 11 interceptions and delivered three key headers--one of which cleared the ball of the line and possibly saved a goal. Unfortunately, Tim also drew a yellow card, which will put him out of our next match. Hopefully Andy Chisholm will be fit enough to play by then.

The Scorries snapped our ten-game winning streak, but we still have our 12-match run without losing, which dates back to late November.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps393be752.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/LeagueTable_zps393be752.jpg.html)

Cove Rangers' form has slipped slightly in recent weeks, enabling us to gain a little more clearance at the top of the table. Now, Rangers are fighting to keep their automatic promotion spot, with several clubs bearing down on them.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

22 February 2014

Strathspey Thistle 3-4 East Stirlingshire

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Kennedy, Cameron, Campbell, Bennett
M: S. Noble, Strachan
AM: Murray, McGowan
ST: Gajda, Nelson

Goals: Murray (11, 28), S. Noble (84)

The mood around the club is subdued tonight, as we lost not only the match but one of the side's most exciting, effective players. Willie Nelson's season is almost certainly over, after he broke his ankle early in the second half.

I had our wingers play higher up, as attacking midfielders, and I liked the way we performed offensively. Unfortunately, our defense endured a horrible evening. Shane Bennett and Matt Kennedy both played poorly, and Chris Christie conceded a soft goal. I wanted to get Christie some playing time, and right now I'm wondering if that was the right decision.

The loss of Nelson is a serious blow, as Willie has been superb since joining the club in late August. He's been a particularly deadly scorer in league play, netting 19 times in 18 contests. I'm even more glad I signed Andrzej Gajda now.

Hopefully he can cover somewhat for Nelson's absence as we head toward the end of the SFL Premier schedule. Cove Rangers, who got a hat trick from David Ramsay today and beat Annan 3-0, are now back within three points of us.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

1 March 2014
Scottish Cup Quarter Final

Strathspey Thistle 2-2 Falkirk
Strathspey Thistle win on penalties, 5-3

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Campbell, Cameron, Bennett
M: Courts, Strachan, S. Noble, McGowan
ST: Gajda, Murray

Goals: Courts (30), Murray (49)
Scored in shoot-out: Cameron, Murray, S. Noble, Gajda, Francis

Strathie's unexpected run in Scotland's most illustrious knockout competition will continue, as a sellout crowd of 1,500 watched their heroes defeat Premier League side Falkirk on penalties tonight.

Falkirk took an early lead through Philip Vincent-Day. Scott Courts pulled us level with an easy tap-in, after Stevie Murray gave him a perfect pass. Murray put Strathie in front with a wonderful goal, weaving through the Falkirk defense for 30 yards before finding enough space to release a laser just inside the left post. Vincent-Day headed in a cross to equalize only a minute or so later.

That's how the score stayed through extra time. After seven straight shooters scored, Strathspey Thistle goalkeeper Craig Robertson turned aside an attempt by Andy Wright. Tim Francis, who played an outstanding game on defense for Strathie, stepped to the spot and calmly knocked his shot into the net to win the match.

The other clubs that earned berths in the Semi Final are powerhouses of Scottish football: Celtic, Rangers, and Kilmarnock. We'll soon see which of them we will face next.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

2 March 2014

We have reached the Semi Final of the Scottish Football League Cup and the Scottish Cup, and there will be some additional football at Seafield Park this spring.

Strathie have been drawn as the home club for both matches. On 22 March, we host a tough First Division side, Linlithgow Rose, in the SFL Cup. They have been rolling through the First Division, losing only two of 29 matches; they're just ahead of Pollok, who took us to penalties earlier in the tournament.

On 5 April, Rangers come to town for the Scottish Cup tie. Like Linlithgow Rose, they are top of the table, leading Dunfermline by two points in Premier League Two. They have lifted the Scottish Cup 33 times; only Celtic (35) have won it more times.

It's safe to say that we'll have to play our best football to advance in either competition.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

8 March 2014

Formartine United 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Robert Muirhead, Coleman, Chisholm
M: Courts, S. Noble, Strachan, McGowan
ST: Gajda, Murray

Goal: Gajda (53)

After firing in four goals on his debut, Andrzej Gajda hadn't scored in a month. He ended his scoring drought in emphatic fashion, netting the only goal in a gritty defensive contest at North Lodge Park.

Gajda was first to react when Garry McGowan rattled the crossbar with a drive that caromed back into the six-yard box. He caught the ball on the volley and drove it past the sprawling Formartine goalkeeper.

John Cameron, with five headers won and nine interceptions, was Man of the Match for his fine work on our back line.

We weren't favored to win this one, as Formartine lie third in the table, and they're particularly tough to beat on their own grounds.

Stranraer scored a late goal to beat Cove Rangers, so our lead is back to 6 points. That extra cushion might come in handy, as Stevie Murray and McGowan drew yellow cards that will keep them out of next week's match.

I handed Robert Muirhead his debut today, and he played a very good game at centre back. Buckie Thistle are hinting at a transfer offer for Willie Campbell, and if Muirhead can emerge as a less expensive alternative, I might be inclined to accept the offer.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

15 March 2014

Strathspey Thistle 5-2 Queen's Park

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Cameron, Campbell, Kennedy
M: Courts, S. Noble, Strachan, Black
ST: Gajda, Dickson

Goals: Dickson (17, 53, 59), Gajda (45), Courts (49)

I'm not sure if Sean Dickson was imitating Stevie Murray or Willie Nelson today, but either way, his impression couldn't have been much better. Dickson's hat trick was more than enough to see off Queen's Park, who scored two late goals to make the score line a bit more respectable.

I had been wondering if Dickson was a luxury I might not be able to afford. He'll be our fourth striker next year, unless a young gun like Mark Love develops so quickly that he bumps Sean another slot down the depth chart. His performance tonight inspired me to offer him a new contract and, to my surprise, Sean accepted a pay cut! He's signed on for next year at £300/month, £25 less than this season. Dickson has 8 goals in 17 appearances, almost half of those as a substitute, and if he produces at the same level next year, we'll call it a bargain.

Buckie Thistle beat Cove Rangers, and Stranraer saw off Fraserburgh, so Stranraer is now second place. We're seven points clear of them and nine clear of Cove Rangers.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

17 March 2014

The arrival of each year's youth candidates is an eagerly awaited harbinger of spring. Last year, we obtained Shane Bennett, who is now my first choice at right back, and a handful of other promising young players. This year's crop contains two youngsters who have our staff almost as excited. Both of them are strikers, and they're both considered five-star prospects.

David Allan, 15, is a player in the mold of Willie Nelson. He's even a bit faster than Willie, but lacks the technical prowess that has made Willie one of the league's deadliest strikers. He has plenty of time to get there, however, and our staff believe he will one day be good enough to lead a Premier League Two side.

Jonathan Gillespie, also 15, is a stylish forward, a trequartista who will one day bring crowds to their feet with his dynamic play. He is very good in the air, and is slightly more skilled right now than Allan is, but with a slightly lower upside. Still, it's easy to envision Gillespie as a future star.

Several other youth, such as midfielder Blair Ross, defender Steven Sharp, and attacking midfielder Hector Calder, look promising, too. None of them stood out in today's friendly match against our U19 team, but our youth manager, Stuart Forbes, offered each of them a youth contract.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Once in a while I feel like a break from my Strathspey Thistle game, and I'll spend some time enjoying another Football Manager career for a few days. I've been managing an amateur team at the lowest level of the English pyramid, using the "Level 9" edited database that several of you have used in your forum stories.

22 March 2014
Scottish Football League Cup Semi Final

Strathspey Thistle 1-1 Linlithgow Rose
Strathspey Thistle win on penalties, 4-2

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Muirhead, Cameron, Chisholm
M: Courts, Strachan, S. Noble, McGowan
ST: Murray, Gajda

Goal: Gajda (30)
Scored in shootout: Murray, Ross, Francis, S. Noble

Once again, Strathie needed penalties to advance in the SFL Cup tourney and honestly, we were fortunate to get that far. Hugh Strachan was sent off for his second yellow card right before the hour mark--as I had a sub ready to come in for him--so we played the rest of the way with ten men.

We lost the lead Andrzej Gajda gave us when Ross Allison equalized on 69'. I had already replaced Gajda with another midfielder, Duncan Ross, and I set our mentality to Contain in order to keep the scoreline where it was.

Goalkeeper Craig Robertson was the hero of the day, punching Sean Scott's penalty away and giving our captain, Steven Noble, a chance to win the game or us. Steven came up big, drilling his penalty past their keeper and putting us through to the Final.

Some pundits wonder if playing for two cups will distract us from the task of winning the league, pointing out that our closest SFL Premier challengers, Stranraer and Cove Rangers, can concentrate on league play. I don't think it will make a difference, and the thought of winning a double has given our players extra incentive to keep working hard. As for winning a triple, getting past Rangers in the Scottish Cup might be a pretty tall order. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

24 March 2014

We tucked away another £5,730 for our victory in the SFL Cup Semi Final. Our opponent in the Final will be Deveronvale, who are a mid-table side in the First Division. We should be favored, but as our own experiences in the Scottish Cup demonstrate, an underdog can pack a hearty bite.

The Final will be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow on 7 May.

I learned today that Ayr United player/manager Scott Noble was in the stands for our match yesterday. Add Ayr to the list of clubs who would like to take Tim Francis off our hands. I don't feel like selling Francis, and if I did, I'd be more apt to make a deal with a Premier League club like Falkirk than a Premier Two club that we might be playing against next season.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

29 March 2014

Albion Rovers 3-2 Strathspey Thistle

4-5-1
GK: Robertson
D: Kennedy, Cameron, Campbell, Bennett
DM: S. Noble
M: Black, Brown
AM: Courts, McGowan
ST: Gajda

Goals: S. Noble (28), Urquhart own goal (60)

This one had "trap game" written all over it.

First of all, we were missing four regulars: the injured Willie Nelson, plus three serving disciplinary suspensions--Stevie Murray, Tim Francis, and Hugh Strachan. The 4-5-1 seemed to be the best choice for the players I had available, and at first, it worked a charm. Steven Noble fired in a free kick and put us ahead, and when Hugh Devlin picked up two yellow cards and was sent off, things looked good for the away team.

Craig Urquhart had other ideas, however. He delivered an equalizer, a "cheeky lob" that came five minutes after Devlin's dismissal. When Jack Smith scored off a horrible misplay by Matt Kennedy, we found ourselves a goal down to a side playing a man short.

The ubiquitous Urquhart scored twice more, once for each side, and that completed the scoring...although we had a goal waved off when the official decided Scott Courts had strayed offside. I voiced my displeasure with the decision to the media and earned another warning from the FA, as well as a word of caution from the board. I don't much care; the call was possibly not as bad as it seemed, but I was fed up with the entire day's proceedings.

And, to make matters worse, Andrzej Gajda will probably miss two matches with a bruised rib.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

2 April 2014

It seems we're always having to rotate strikers in and out of the lineup these days. Between injuries (major and minor), suspensions, and fatigue, I've been using four or five different players up top in recent weeks.

Even if that were not the case, I would have noticed Robert Murch, a lad of 15 who's playing for Inverclyde in Scotia League One, which is the second lowest level on the pyramid. In two matches there, he's netted two goals. That information alone didn't seem too impressive until I discovered that Inverclyde are a fully professional club which pays their senior players several times what our fellows make. They have only lost one league match, and they have a +77 goal differential. In other words, they can play, and a player who can crack their first team a month before he turns sixteen is a young boss.

Murch is a typical youth player when it comes to the mental aspect of the game; traits like composure, concentration, and positioning, which a player learns through hours and hours on the pitch, are not Robert's strong points. Put a ball at his feet, however, and Murch becomes a magician.

At 15, he is already a more lethal finisher than any striker in our club, including lads called Murray, Nelson, and Gajda. His technical skills surpass all three of those players, and his quickness, pace, and fitness are all very good. Our scouts believe he will be good enough to star for a Premier League 2 side one day.

Murch was willing to talk about a contract with us, and I signed him to a youth deal that begins at the end of June. I'm more than happy to add him to our front line corps, and if he turns out to be as talented as I think he'll be, he will offer us a younger, better and for now, cheaper alternative to one of our current group of strikers.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

5 April 2014
Scottish Cup, Semi Final

Strathspey Thistle 1-0 Rangers

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Muirhead, Campbell, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Strachan, Black
ST: Murray, McGowan

Goal: McGowan (27)

Aye, laddie, I was there the day Strathie saw off Rangers...

Fifty or sixty years from now, children will beg their grandfathers to tell them the story again. Some may remember the day as being bright and sunny, and some may recall a gale whipping around Seafield Park; it was actually a chilly, rainy afternoon, typical for the Highlands in early springtime.

If the old fellows recall Strathie controlling the run of play and coasting to victory, they'll have it wrong. Rangers held the ball well over half the time, and took 16 shots to our seven. Most of those attempts were fairly harmless, though, and Craig Robertson was called upon to make only two difficult saves.

They'll be right if they remember Garry McGowan's goal as a fine one. It began with a corner from Steven Noble that was headed away by Rangers defender Filippos Roubanis. Willie Campbell took the ball on the bounce and shot; Cammy McKimmie parried it away, and Tim Francis pounced on it. Francis found McGowan and pushed the ball to him as McKimmie came out to challenge him. McGowan shot low and hard to McKimmie's left, and put it past him into the net while Strathie's supporters howled their approval.

They'll also be right if they recall McGowan was playing striker, rather than his customary spot on the right wing, and if they remember McGowan was once in Rangers' youth system, they'll be right about that, too. Garry bears no ill will toward his old club, but he surely felt good about scoring the goal that knocked them out of the Scottish Cup.

Old Rangers supporters will swear up and down that Shane Bennett deserved a penalty when he fouled Ryan McGowan, but their Strathie counterparts will simply smile and say "The referee dinna see it that way." And if the Rangers man says "David Allan wasn't in the team that day," his Strathie mate will reply, "Nelson and Gadja were out, too. Two strikers for one o'yours."

And the Strathpey Thistle fans will surely remember the way Tim Francis played that day. They might not remember that he had 16 interceptions and won 9 of his 10 headers, but they'll be able to close their eyes and see him prowling the back line like a cop on the beat. And they'll remember the pass that laid on Garry Mac's match-winning goal. They might even recall the story they read the next day, where I told them I wouldn't sell Tim Francis away, even if bigger clubs came calling after they watched his performance. (Incidentally, Tim doesn't want to leave Seafield Park, anyway.)

The old fellows will remember how they chanted "We're on our way to Hampden Park," as the reality of the fact they'd be playing not one, but two cup Finals at the storied old stadium sank in.

I doubt they'll have a memory of a sweeter, more surprising victory on their own home ground. They might remember celebrating a league title won at Seafield Park, but seeing off one of the Old Firm in a Cup tie will always be something extra special.

The day wee Strathie saw off Rangers, back in '14...

[Greyfriars Bobby]

19 April 2014

Strathspey Thistle 2-0 Clyde

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Cameron, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Black, S. Noble, Strachan, McGowan
ST: Gajda, Murray

Goals: Cameron (pen 6), Black (53)

Two players who don't often get goals put 'em in today, and another great performance from the lads in the back sent off a tough Clyde club by a 2-0 score. I'm very pleased with the fact we got 20 shots off against a side that is usually very tight defensively, and our passing is getting better and better. Hugh Chisholm seemed to have the ball at his feet all day long; he tried 106 passes and completed 102 of them.

Shane Bennett bounced back from a run of lacklustre form with an 8.4 rating and a Man of the Match selection.

The only point of concern was an injury to Garry MacGowan that forced him out of the match on 4 minutes. Duncan Ross came in and did a fine job in reserve, and it turns out that Garry won't miss any time with his injury.

Next up will be Stranraer, another club that is in the playoff places right now. They are third in the table with 56 points, five behind us, with Formartine United between us on 57.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

20 April 2014

Celtic have clinched the Premiership for the second consecutive season. They are 16 points clear of their nearest competitor, with 61 points from 26 matches. Their victory qualifies them for the European Champions Cup next year.

Speaking of the Champions Cup, that competition has reached the Semi Final, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Olympique de Marseille, and holders Bayern Munich still in the running.

Closer to home, congratulations to coach Chris McLeod, who just received his Contintental B license. He joins assistant manager Michael Dempster and U19 manager Stuart Forbes among members of our backroom staff with those credentials. (I have a Continental Pro license, which I suppose is FM's equivalent of a UEFA Pro license.)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

26 April 2014

Strathspey Thistle 6-0 Stranraer

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Cameron, Campbell, Bennett
M: Ross, S. Noble, Strachan, Courts
ST: Gajda, Murray

Goals: Murray (6, 21, 51, 53), Gajda (34), Francis (45)

Stranraer are a good side, but we have been able to trounce them both times we faced them this season. We beat them 7-2 away back in November. In that match, Willie Nelson struck for four goals, and this time, it was Stevie Murray. Stevie had been on a fairly long goal drought, and he ended it with a flourish (or four).

Our second goal was one of the most satisfying of the year. We passed the ball quickly and carefully, looking for a good scoring chance, eight players touching the ball before Scott Courts laid on Murray with a ball he could tuck past the Stranraer keeper. That sequence was exactly the way I want Strathspey Thistle to play football.

Naturally Stevie was Man of the Match (9.8), but the press had almost as many good things to say about Tim Francis. Tim headed in a Steven Noble cross and assisted on Gajda's goal, and played his usual strong game at left back. The pundits continue to predict that Francis will one day take his game to a bigger club but, for now, he's very happy with us, and we're equally happy to have him in the team.

Besides, if we keep playing like this, the whole club will be moving up to a higher level. :)

The table is now all scrambled up, with five clubs clustered within two points of each other in second through sixth places. We're still top, on 61 points, four clear of Clyde, who are now second. With three league fixtures left to play, we have clinched a playoff spot, at the very least.

At the other end of the table, Stirling Uni and Fraserburgh are relegated to the First Division.

If we are promoted, we won't be battling Rangers for a league title. They are already assured of promotion to the Premier League, which is where they belong. Kilmarnock are dropped already, and will be a potential Premier League Two opponent for us next season.

First things first, however. We have two Cup finals to play, and a league to win. :)

[Greyfriars Bobby]

7 May 2014
Scottish Football League Cup Final
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Strathspey Thistle 1-0 Deveronvale

GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Cameron, Campbell, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Strachan, Black
ST: Gajda, Murray

Goal: S. Noble (10)
Attendance: 4,523

It seemed fitting that our captain, Steven Noble, would score the goal that earned him the right to lift the 2014 Scottish Football League Cup. His rifle shot of a free kick earned Strathspey Thistle their first trophy since the club's founding in 1993.

Deveronvale were a gritty, tenacious side; they lined up in a 4-5-1, trying to strangle the match in the middle of the park. By and large, their strategy worked. We put only two shots on target, although we kept the ball 55% of the time.

At one point, I was sure Deveronvale had equalized, but a spectacular save by Craig Robertson kept our narrow advantage intact.

Noble was Man of the Match (7.9), and our entire back line graded out at 7.1 or better.

I sent out our best possible side, even though we have a league fixture in three days. Winning the Final was worth it, even if we lose at Buckie Thistle on the 10th.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

10 May 2014

Buckie Thistle 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

GK: Robertson
D: Muirhead, Francis, Cameron, Bennett
M: Ross, S. Noble, Strachan, Courts
ST: Gajda, Murray

Goal: Murray (45+1)

We went into today's match, away to Buckie, needing three points to clinch the SFL Premier title. That's exactly what we did, as Stevie Murray headed Steven Noble's corner off the crossbar and in to give us a narrow 1-0 victory. We can put the league championship trophy on the shelf beside the SFL Cup.

Buckie played much of the game with ten men, because Jim McShane chopped Shane Bennett down with a vicious foul on 34'. To their credit, Buckie refused to go away, and we had to play good football to take and hold the lead.

Another clean sheet for Craig Robertson, who has now played over 500 minutes of football without conceding.

Now I can safely rest my first team in our next league match, at home with Stirling. That will allow us to field a full-strength, rested side in the Scottish Cup Final on the 21st.

2014 will already be remembered as a golden year for Strathspey Thistle F.C. How much more remarkable will it be, if we somehow manage to defeat Celtic and win the Scottish Cup, too?

[Greyfriars Bobby]

17 May 2014

Strathspey Thistle 0-2 Stirling Albion

4-4-2
GK: Christie
D: Muirhead, Stuart Greenhalgh, Bell, Steven Sharp
M: Zander McLeish, Willie Sinclair, Kieran Graham, Tom Forrest
ST: Jonathan Gillespie, Daniel Allan

With the league championship already in hand, I started an assortment of backups and kids, and they honestly played a little better than the scoreline indicated. Among them are several of our club's brightest prospects. The consensus in our backroom is that Sharp, Sinclair, Gillespie, and Allan are all future Premier League 2 standouts, and all but Sinclair are 15 or 16 years old. Sinclair's a relative geezer at 18.

The supporters were miffed that we fielded a "weakened side," but we're facing Celtic at Hampden Park in three days. There will be over 50,000 people in the stadium, and I'm putting our first team out there for that experience.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

21 May 2014
Scottish Cup Final
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Strathspey Thistle 0-4 Celtic
Attendance: 52,063

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Francis, Cameron, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Courts, S. Noble, Strachan, Black
ST: Gajda, Murray

As lopsided as that scoreline looks, I can take several positives away from the match.

Celtic's manager, Paul McGeehan, took us seriously. He fielded his first team, including nine players who have won full international caps. Celtic are, without doubt, the best side in Scotland, and we got their very best. This wasn't a side full of youth teamers who sent us off.

I'm establishing a very good relationship with McGeehan, which could come in very handy if we ever want to take a Celtic player on loan.

Willie Nelson and Garry McGowan weren't fit enough to start, but both got into the match later on. Nelson came close to a goal, rattling the crossbar with a fearsome drive.

Yes, it would have been great to win, but we took the pitch at our national stadium, before a capacity crowd. It was a moment none of us will ever forget.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

24 May 2014

Cove Rangers 1-0 Strathspey Thistle

GK: Robertson
D: Muirhead, Francis, Cameron, Bennett
M: Black, Strachan, Ross, McGowan
ST: Gajda, Nelson

Tired, and with not much to play for, we faced a fired-up Cove Rangers side who were in a tight battle for a spot in the playoffs. David Ramsay knocked in his 40th goal of the season to send us off.

Steven Noble, who drew a yellow card in the Cup Final, was unable to play, and we missed his stabilizing presence in our midfield. Hugh Strachan and Duncan Ross both played well, however, especially Strachan. I'm hoping we can interest him in signing a deal that will keep him at Seafield Park on a permanent basis.

Cove Rangers, who finished fourth, will play fifth place Albion Rovers in the Promotion Playoff. The other playoff pairing will match third place Clyde and sixth place Annan Athletic.

Stranraer will be moving back to Premier Two next season, as they finished the year second behind us.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

27 July 2014

I got so caught up in the excitement of preparing to play at a higher level that I didn't take time to write about the process, so here's a quick review of the past two months at Strathspey Thistle FC.

Here is how the top of the league table looked at season's end:

Club GP W D L GF GA DIF PTS
1 Strathspey Thistle 34 21 4 9 83 32 +51 67
2 Stranraer 34 19 5 10 64 50 +14 62
3 Clyde 34 17 10 7 62 35 +27 61
4 Cove Rangers 34 18 7 9 74 49 +25 61
5 Albion Rovers 34 17 8 9 58 46 +12 59
6 Annan 34 17 8 9 63 57 +6 59
7 Formartine United 34 17 7 10 58 46 +12 58
8 Montrose 34 14 8 12 54 50 +4 50
9 Brechin 34 13 9 12 66 60 +6 48
10 Buckie Thistle 34 13 8 13 59 46 +13 47

Clyde won the promotion playoff, as I expected they would, so they will join us and Stranraer in Premier League Two next season.

At the other end of the table are Clachnacuddin, Fraserburgh, and Stirling University FC, who will be relegated to the SFL First Division.

Here's our Best Eleven for the 2013-2014 season.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/bestxi_zps655d16d2.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/bestxi_zps655d16d2.jpg.html)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m249/BigSix_2006/Strathspey%20Thistle/bestxi2_zps2e470d19.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/BigSix_2006/media/Strathspey%20Thistle/bestxi2_zps2e470d19.jpg.html)

The fans chose Stevie Murray as their Player of the Year, which came as no surprise to anyone.

Murray, Steven Noble, and Tim Francis were all chosen to the Premier Division Team of the Year. Murray was edged out for Player of the Year by David Ramsay of Cove Rangers, who netted 41 goals in league play. Murray had 24.

Several of the players from our Best Eleven will be in someone else's kit this season. The toughest loss will be Willie Campbell, who angrily asked for a transfer when I wouldn't promise to play him in the first team this season. A month later, he's still looking for a club. I saw him at Scotland Trial Day the other afternoon.

Colin Brown and Charlie Laird asked for more money than I was willing to pay for a reserve, so we parted ways. Brown signed for Elgin City, and Laird is still unattached. Sean Dickson, whom the fans really liked, went for a big payday to Inverclyde, where he's on £1,700 a week--twice as much as we are paying anyone in the club.

The board surprised and delighted me by approving a weekly wage budget that is four times bigger than last year's-- £16,150 per week. We also have £503,000 to spend on the transfer market, but I'm finding it difficult to spend. We have the money to pay some top players, but we lack the reputation that will attract them. So I can either grossly overpay average players, like Inverclyde does, or try to fill the club with solid players who fit well with the style of football I want to play. I'm taking the second option.

First, however, I did want to reward Stevie Murray and Tim Francis, both of whom accepted contracts before I realized how much bigger our salary budget would be. I wanted both of them to be paid like the stars they are, with salaries that are among the best in the club. Stevie signed a new deal for £800/week, and Tim for £550.

Then, I worked out a deal with Hugh Strachan, who played so well for us when he was here on loan from Partick Thistle. Hugh is all ours now, for £400/week.

With Campbell and Laird gone, I wanted to bring in a new man for our back line, and I found one I believe will be a star. Alastair Russell was in Hearts' youth system, and played 10 matches for Alloa and Airdrie last season. Imagine a smaller, less physical version of Tim Francis, with Tim's sense of the game...and two years younger, at 19. Like Francis, Russell is a natural left back, but Francis is also accomplished in the center, so I'll slide him there to make room for Russell. Alastair will be paid £230/week.

Aged 29, Sebastian Cabaj is a little older than I'd like, but his versatility--he can play all over the left side of the pitch, and at DMC--and his blazing speed made him stand out from the crowd. We faced him last year, when he was with Montrose, for whom he produced 12 assists. He can cross a ball with the best of them. Sebastian will earn £240/week. He's from Poland, like Andrzej Gajda, and among his preferred moves is Argues With Officials.

We've had our eye on Brent Hunt, a classy little midfielder who was with Queens Park the last two years. We signed him to his first pro contract, which will pay him £230/week. We believe he'll be worth every penny; in fact, some of our backroom staff believe he's our best midfielder. They agree that he has Premier League upside at age 21. Brent was a New Zealand youth international, with three caps to his credit.

Aberdeen decided 19-year-old Joe Linton didn't fit into our plans, but I think he'll be just fine at Seafield Park. A central midfielder, Joe won't dazzle you with his pace, but he is technically sound and works like a terrier. We'll pay him £210/week to cover for us in the midfield...for now; his potential looks considerably more promising.

After losing our first friendly, 2-1 away to Dyce, we've won three straight, including a 4-2 result over Premier League club Dundee. Willie Nelson netted a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over Deveronside, and got a brace to send off Tayport, 3-1. Next up is a match with Manchester United Reserves, which ought to sell out Seafield Park. They'll be delighted to see our newly re-laid pitch, which is in perfect condition.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

June and July 2014

The World Cup

I decided the most storied competition in the world of football deserved its own post. Of course, nobody from Strathie saw action in Brazil, but Scotland were there, and the tournament turned out better than most Scots could have dared to dream.

Scotland were assigned to Group B, along with Australia, Algeria, and the favorites, Italy. In their first match, the Tartan Army stunned Italy, beating the Azzurri 1-0 on a goal from striker Steven Sheerin, who plays his club football for Newcastle.

Next, Scotland sent off Algeria, 4-1, with Sheerin scoring a brace, and a hat trick from James Hay (Locomotiv Moscow) was enough to defeat Australia, 4-2. Scotland were on to the second round of the World Cup for the first time in their history!

Cinderella's night at the ball couldn't last, however. Chile eliminated the Tartans, 3-1. However, for a nation that was ranked 51st in the world a year earlier, a victory in the group stage of the World Cup has to be considered a treat. Now, Scotland are ranked #12.

Italy also qualified to continue in the tournament, and ended up in the Semi Final, where they lost 2-1 to Brazil. Holland earned the right to face the home team in the Final by defeating Chile, also by a 2-1 margin.

The Brazilians hoisted the Cup, defeating Holland 1-0 on a goal by midfielder Paco, who turns out for Liverpool during the club season. Italy finished third, defeating Chile, 3-1.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

6 August 2014

Ayr United 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Craig Robertson
D: Alastair Russell, Tim Francis, John Cameron, Shane Bennett
M: Scott Courts, Hugh Strachan, Steven Noble, John Murray
ST: Andrzej Gajda, Stevie Murray

Goal: Courts (80)

Ayr United were fourth in Premier Two last year, so they're a very good side. We played a clean, precise game and got a late goal from Scott Courts to secure a result in our first match at this level.

Our back line was formidable in front of Craig Robertson. Bennett, Cameron, and Francis made 10 interceptions each.

Hugh Strachan controlled the ball like he had it on a string; he completed 73 of his 76 pass attempts. Duncan Ross came on for him on 72 minutes, and it was his inch-perfect pass that laid on Courts' goal.

At some point, the supporters might start to complain about the style of football we're playing if we keep winning 1-0 matches, but I'll take that result every time.

They didn't complain when we played Manchester United's reserve team to an 0-0 draw in our final pre-season friendly.

I chose Steven Noble to serve as Strathspey Thistle captain again this season, and Andrzej Gajda will be vice captain.

I made Andrzej very happy when, on his suggestion, I signed his countryman and friend Jakub Stanek from Huntly on a free. Stanek is comfortable in the central midfield and on the right side of the park, and he provides us with economical cover at several spots for £65/week.

We enter the season with two new faces on our backroom staff. The board approved the hiring of an additional coach, so I signed Paddy Stewart, who is currently studying for a Continental A license. Paddy is adept at coaching both attacking and defensive football, and he has a sharp eye for talent.

The other appointment is even more exciting. Veteran Adam Wright hung up his boots at the end of the season, ending a three-decade career as a player at the age of 47 with two winners' medals in his hands. I'd always known Adam wanted to go into coaching, so I opened up a spot for him on our staff and hired him. Adam is the cleverest coach on our staff when it comes to attacking strategies, and the lads enjoy his motivational team talks.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

9 August 2014
Scottish Premier League Cup, First Round

Peterhead 0-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Andy Chisholm, Bennett
M: Duncan Ross, Strachan, S. Noble, Garry McGowan
ST: Willie Nelson, Gajda

Goal: McGowan (45)

Our board only expected us to learn from participating in the SPL Cup, since as a newly promoted club, we're considered the smallest of minnows. For that reason, a result like this one is a pleasant surprise. Since we have a week off after this match, I could field a stronger side than I might usually be able to put together for a cup tie.

Again, we proved that if the other team doesn't score, we can't lose the match. The hero of the day was Craig Robertson in goal, who posted an 8.5 rating and made the most dazzling save of his Strathie career when he punched away a howitzer off the boot of David Gormley.

I was a little surprised to discover that Garry McGowan scored his first career goal today! He's played so many matches for us--and played well--that I would have sworn he'd already found the net. He did have 9 assists in league play last season, however.

I had a difficult decision to make this week. Scott Courts attracted a transfer offer from Grimsby Town, in England's npower League 2. They were willing to pay £7,000 for him. Scott didn't appear eager to leave, but neither did he state that he wished to stay with the club. I accepted Grimsby's offer, and a day later, Scott signed with them...for £800/week, more than four times what he was making with us. At age 30, I can see why Scott wanted to cash in, and I wish him well with his new club.

Now I'm looking to fill a big hole on the left side of the park. Duncan Ross, who is fairly good at a zillion positions, started there today, and he might be the answer if I can't bring in a more natural player there.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

16 August 2014

Strathspey Thistle 2-1 Dunfermline Athletic

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Cameron, Bennett
M: S. Murray, Strachan, S. Noble, McGowan
ST: Nelson, Gajda

Goals: S. Murray (5), McGowan (65)

Yes, you read that right; I gave Stevie Murray a start on the left wing and he banged in a goal! He's got a red dot there, so I don't think I'll keep using him in that spot. He didn't seem to want to stay over on the wing, for one thing. When he scored, he was running up the RIGHT channel to take a pass from Hugh Strachan.

Garry McGowan got the goal that turned out to be the match-winner, his second in two games.

Robertson suffered a horrendous mishap that led to Dunfermline's goal. As he came out to challenge Andy Mackay, he tripped and fell, and Mackay simply tucked the ball into an unguarded net.

Alastair Russell had a wonderful game at right back, winning 9 of the 10 tackles he attempted. I handed another new man, midfielder Brent Hunt, his debut as a substitute. Hunt was serving out a ban for some reason; I wasn't sure what he'd done.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

22 August 2014

I went shopping for a left midfielder to replace Scott Courts, and I found him...and two other guys I believe will make good additions to our club. Good thing, too, because we sent three players out this week--one on loan, and two on transfers.

Going out: Calum Noble, whose most notable attribute is his ability to play any position but goal and striker, wanted to play first team football. I valued him for his "super-sub" capability, but I can't blame a lad for wanting playing time. I promised him I'd send him out on loan, and he's going to be with Forres Mechanics for the remainder of the season. He'll join young goalkeeper Kevin Tiffoney, who's also on loan to the Can Cans.

Stephen Brady once seemed like a star of the future. He never truly established himself in the first team, however, and the fact that he can only play one position limited his opportunities. Granted, that position happens to be left wing, but when I found a much more intriguing option, I could say yes to an offer from St. Andrews United, where Mr. Brady will be a star.

Finally, we bid goodbye to George Mackintosh, who got shuffled to the bottom of the depth chart at center back. He's simply not talented enough to play at this level, and we offered him around to see if there was a club who'd like to to have him. George got a nibble from Haddington Athletic, in the Scotia Premier League, and we let him go there on a free.

Coming in: The Mr. Everything role that was once Calum Noble's will now be filled by John Calder, age 25, who has turned out for Alloa, East Stirlingshire, and Clyde during the past two seasons. John is a well-rounded player with lots of attributes in double digits, which should make him very useful at this level. He's better on the left side of the pitch than the right, and he's much better in a defensive role than as an attacker. We paid Alloa £12,000 for him, and he'll earn £300/week for us.

I'm afraid that, one of these days, someone's going to make me an offer for Willie Nelson that I can't refuse, or Willie is going to get a hankering for the bright lights of big cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow and want to join a bigger club. That's why I was willing to pay £10,000 to East Fife for striker Willie Paterson, age 30, who was unhappy when East Fife was relegated out of Premier League Two. Paterson is a big, strong target man, a lot like Andrzej Gajda, with slightly better technique and slightly less physical prowess. He'll earn the same salary as Andrzej, £300/week.

Then, the grand prize. One of our scouts, Bryan O'Connor, has been looking for players south of the border in England. Among the players he saw is Bryan Pelletier, 25, who was released from Tottenham at the end of last season after making nine appearances. He was still looking for a club, so I thought I would take a chance and offer him a contract. We negotiated back and forth, and he accepted a £1,000/week offer. The next day, he announced he was joining Strathspey Thistle.

Pelletier immediately becomes the most talented player in our club. His position is listed as "Midfielder/Attacking Midfielder (Left)/ M/AM (R)", which gives you an idea of his ability to dictate the flow of a game from a variety of positions. Imagine a more talented version of Garry McGowan, and you have a sense of Bryan's ability. He's from France, and he played four times for his country at the U21 level.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

23 August 2014

Livingston 2-4 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Cameron, Bennett
M: Bryan Pelletier, Strachan, Noble, J. Murray
ST: S. Murray, Gajda

Goals: Pelletier (26), Gajda (29, 48), S. Murray (45)

Bryan Pelletier made his Strathspey Thistle debut today, putting an exclamation point on a very good all-round performance with one of the most memorable goals I've seen in my time at the club.

Livingston took the lead through Brian Shinnie, but 13 minutes later, Pelletier picked up the ball deep in his own half. He flew up the left wing, jinking past Livingston left back Tony Martin, who turned the wrong way as Pelletier sliced toward the middle of the park. As Martin gave chase, Pelletier angled into the six-yard box, slicing past another defender, and fired a low, hard shot past the keeper into the right corner of the net. We scored twice more before the half and once immediately after the break, and won our third straight league match.

Livingston were relegated from the Premier League, and they're still looking for their first points of the season, so I won't read too much into today's result. Still, the win puts us second, behind St. Johnstone by four in goal differential.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

30 August 2014

Strathspey Thistle 4-1 Clyde

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Cameron, Noble
M: Pelletier, Brent Hunt, Strachan, J. Murray
ST: Nelson, Gajda

Goals: Gajda (42, 51), Nelson (68), McGowan (90+2)

It's still very early in the season, but we're top of the table after a comfortable victory home to Clyde, who joined us in promotion from the SPFL Premier last season. We fell behind in the first quarter hour, but big Andrzej Gajda powered in two goals to turn the scoreline around, and we took it from there.

Tim Francis might be even more effective at center back than he was on the left; he was a tower of strength for us again today. His performance continues to attract the attention of bigger clubs, who offered us £30,000, even £35,000 for him as the transfer window closed. I'm not used to managing a player for whom teams are willing to offer five-figure transfer bids; my Football Manager experience has all been with lower level clubs. At what point might I decide I want the money Francis might bring in more than the services he can offer on the pitch? He's a homegrown player, and I enjoy managing him, so for now I'll keep him.

I did sign one more player today, veteran defender Colm Cunningham, whom I brought in from Hibernian on a free transfer. He saw action in 24 matches for Hibs last season but, at age 36, he had yielded his regular spot to a younger player this summer. Colm is equally comfortable on the right or left sides, and his outstanding mental attributes make him a natural leader and a stabilizing influence on a team that is the youngest in Premier League Two. Colm will be paid £700/month, plus various incentives.

We sold Zander McLeish to Lossiemouth for £1000, in order to give him a chance to play regular football; he wasn't going to get that chance with us anymore. Lossiemouth play three levels down the pyramid from us now, and Zander will be a great fit there.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

3 September 2014

Strathspey Thistle 1-2 St. Johnstone

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Cameron, Chisholm
M: Pelletier, Noble, Strachan, McGowan
ST: S. Murray, Gajda

Goal: Nelson (84)

This was a heck of a football match, very well-played, with lots of exciting action. The only thing wrong with it was the scoreline. It's really a shame either side had to lose this match.

Willie Nelson, who came on for an exhausted Gajda, pulled us within a goal, and we had two good chances to equalize in stoppage time.

St. Johnstone came into today's match having conceded only one goal, so I'm satisfied with our performance against them. The result puts them top, with 13 points in 5 matches. We're right behind them on 12 points.

The media seems to think that since we've lost a match and broken our run of results, we're going to slide down to the bottom of the table, where they think we belong. Honestly, I think we're going to be a mid-table club. I've looked at the rosters of the other teams in our league, and I don't think we have quite enough talent to run with the big dogs right now.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

September 2014

Our roster has experienced quite a bit of turnover in the past few months, so I thought it was probably a good time to take a closer look at the club. I'll list the starters, reserves, and prospects at each position, beginning with the goalkeepers.

GOALKEEPERS

First Team: Craig Robertson (age 20)
Craig has established himself as our first choice between the posts. In 24 league matches last year, he conceded only 18 goals, and he kept 13 clean sheets. He'll face a tougher task as we move to a higher league, but he's still a quality player at this level. Our back room staff agree that he could get even better.

Reserve: Chris Christie (age 24)
Chris has appeared in 55 league games for us, and he was our starter two years ago. Robertson, who is better and younger, has forced him into a clear number two role. He's probably a bit over his head at this level.

Prospect: Rab Hamill (age 16)
Rab's potential has us extremely excited; our staff believes he's a Premier League-calibre keeper in the making. He's improved quite a bit since we signed him to a youth deal last summer, and he's already about as good as Christie is. He'll play a lot at the U19 and reserve levels, and he'll possibly make his senior debut this season. Keep an eye on him.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

DEFENSE

Left Back

First Team: Alastair Russell (age 19)
Alastair came up in Hearts' youth program, but they released him at the start of last season. He appeared in one match for Airdrie, went to Alloa for a spell, and was released on 1 July. We like his marking, tackling, and passing ability, and he has a mature understanding of the game while he's still a teenager. He looks like a good fit for us.

Reserves: John Calder (age 25), Sebastian Cabaj (age 29)
Both these players give us solid coverage at several positions, especially Calder, who plays a solid, well-rounded game of football. He was Alloa's property the last two seasons, but spent most of them on loan. Seb is very athletic and has very good ball skills. He was a regular for Lochee United and Montrose the past two seasons.

Prospects: Kenny Kerr (age 16), Kris Noble (age 16)
Both Kenny and Kris were released by big clubs, Kenny from Inverness and Kris from Hibernian. Kenny is more apt to push forward, while Kris is a more traditional, defense-first fullback. If they develop, they could both be stars at this level, and solid contributors to a Premier League side.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Center Back

First Team: Tim Francis (age 21), John Cameron (age 23)
If interest from bigger clubs is the measure of a player's quality, then Tim is the best player in the team. His attributes continue to improve, and he draws regular praise from our coaching staff for the quality of his training. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that I'm going to hang on to Tim as long as he's happy here, and build my club around him. John is a solid stopper, an excellent partner for Tim, who usually plays a covering role. He is slightly better with the ball than Tim, better at getting the ball to the team's more creative players. John is also developing into a team leader and could wear the captain's armband one day.

Reserves: Andy Chisholm (age 19), Robert Muirhead (age 19)
Andy can play anywhere across the back line, and has started for us at all four defensive slots. He has made 40 league appearances for Strathie since he joined the club in early 2013. Robert joined us from Stirling Uni last season, and spent time on loan at Huntly. Both are old-fashioned center backs, big, strong, hard-nosed characters who police the back line with their physical presence.

Prospects: Steven Sharp (age 16), Nathan Stevenson (age 16), David Stewart (age 16), Stuart Greenhalgh (age 19), Dave Reynolds (age 17)
We're loaded with talented youth players who can play center back. Sharp is probably the best of the group right now, but Stewart seems to have slightly better potential. Greenhalgh is the oldest, but he's the least polished player of the group. Stewart, who was a Partick Thistle apprentice, is huge: 6'7", 205 lbs. We found Stevenson on Inverness' scrap heap, and Sharp and Reynolds are local lads.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Right Back

First Team: Shane Bennett (age 17) or Colm Cunningham (age 36)
If we want youthful energy and athleticism here, we can go with Bennett. If we want technical expertise, experience, and a more robust attacking threat, we can go with Cunningham. Either way, we get a very good player. Cunningham can play other positions well, while Bennett is only comfortable at right back. We signed Colm from Hibernian last month, and besides making 34 appearances for Hibs, he's won 12 caps for Ireland--which makes him our squad's only full international.

Reserve: Sipho Tshehla (age 16)
He might be only 16, but he's already good enough to play in the first team if we need him to. Dundee United released him on a free, after he helped them win the Under 19 Cup last year. Tshehla's most notable attributes are his tackling and positioning. He is eligible for both Scotland and South Africa.

Prospect: Dylan Sinclair (age 16)
Of course, Tshehla is also a prospect, but Dylan might have an even bigger upside. He made two appearances for Celtic last year, but they let him go in June. Our scouts are discovering some very promising players who were once youth candidates for bigger clubs. If we can develop them properly, we'll have a Premier League-ready side within a few years.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

MIDFIELDERS

Left Wing

First Team: Bryan Pelletier (age 25)
I wondered how the arrival of a star like Pelletier would affect the chemistry of the team. Would its stars and leaders, players like Stevie Murray, Steven Noble, and Andrzej Gajda, accept him, or feel like their places were threatened somehow? It seems that every man in the team lists "Believes Bryan Pelletier will become a vital part of the team" among the things they believe to be "Good Relationships." I would agree with that assessment. It's hard to imagine a player as talented as Pelletier being anything but a success at Seafield Park. The supporters miss Scott Courts, whom they list among their Favoured Personnel, but hopefully BP will win them over soon.

Reserve: Jamie Tiffoney (age 20)
Tiffoney was cut loose by Ayr United after scoring five goals and making their Best Eleven for 2013-14. He also had a very productive loan spell at Clyde, which is where I first saw him. He can play on either wing, and he's too good to languish on the bench all the time.

Prospect: Johnny Neill (age 18)
Green as the grass on our newly laid pitch, Johnny is some time away from making an impact on the senior team, but if he realizes his potential, he'll be a big time player one day. He'll probably develop into a dangerous offensive winger, and he uses both feet equally well.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Central Midfielders

First Team: Steven Noble (age 34), Hugh Strachan (age 21), and Brent Hunt (age 21)
Noble is the club's captain, and the intangibles he brings are almost as important as his contributions on the pitch. He is a set piece specialist who delivers corners and free kicks, and he is best in a holding role. If we play a DMC, he's the man. Strachan came to us on loan from Partick Thistle and played a crucial role in helping us win our historic double. Like Noble, he is better in a deep-lying role, and we often move Noble higher up when we pair Strachan with him. Hunt is a New Zealand youth international whom we signed from Queens Park. He netted 10 goals for them in two seasons. Hunt is useful as an advanced playmaker, and he's comfortable at AMC, too.

Reserves: Phil Potter (age 19), Duncan Ross (age 20), Joe Linton (age 19), and Declan Neill (age 21)
I like having several versatile players to cover a variety of roles in the midfield, because fatigue and suspensions invariably take their toll in the middle of the park. Potter, a recent signing from Dunfermline, is a dynamic offensive force whom we can bring on when we need goals. He will push for a starting role sooner rather than later. Ross is a box-to-box midfielder with size and good ball skills. Linton, a pocket-sized (5'3") powerhouse, is a lot like Colin Brown, who made valuable contributions to last year's team. Neill is currently playing regularly for the Northern Ireland U21 side. He can play effectively on the left side as well as in the center, and he is an especially good defensive player.

Prospects: Willie Sinclair (age 18), Peter Weir (age 19)
We aren't quite as young here as we are at some other spots, but Sinclair might eventually be the best player we have at this position, a playmaker who can orchestrate our attack with a deft touch. He began his career in St. Mirren's youth program. Weir is a flashy attacking player who can score, a regular with Carnoustie (SFL Third Division) at age 17.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

STRIKERS

First Team: Stevie Murray (age 24), Willie Nelson (age 18), Andrzej Gajda (age 28)
Murray is the most popular player in the team, idolized by the supporters and well-liked by his teammates. He's also the driving force of our offense, with 24 goals in league play in each of the last two seasons. Not simply a goalscorer, Stevie Wonder led the SFL Premier with 16 assists last year. Nelson's first season with Strathie was cut short by injury, but not before he fired in 19 goals in 19 appearances. Gajda captained Huntly for two seasons before he joined us last January, and he's now our vice captain. He scored 7 goals in 10 appearances for us. We employ Murray as a deep-lying forward, with Nelson in a more advanced position. Gajda, who stands 6'6" and is massively strong, is the textbook definition of a target man.

Reserve: Willie Paterson (age 30)
Paterson, who turned out for Stenhousemuir and East Fife the last two years, is a lot like Gajda--big and strong, able to command the air and score off set pieces.


Prospects: Robert Murch (age 16), Mark Love (age 17), and Jonathan Gillespie (age 16)
At some point, we'll either make room for Murch by selling one of our other forwards, or sell Murch himself for a pile of money. He's that talented, with a sniper's touch in front of goal and enough pace to create chances all by himself. Right now, he's knocking in goals in bunches for the reserves. Love signed from Rossdale, where he scored 11 goals as a 16-year-old. Gillespie, a hometown boy, is currently on loan at Deveronvale; he is the least polished of the teenage trio, but his speed makes him an intriguing prospect.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

17 September 2014
Scottish Cup, Second Round

Strathspey Thistle 1-0 Partick Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Chisholm, Sipho Tshehla
M: Pelletier, Hunt, Noble, McGowan
ST: S. Murray, Gajda

Goal: Pelletier (86)

It would have been nice to think that a club that played in the Scottish Cup Final last spring might have been able to avoid a matchup like this one, but the vagaries of a random draw granted us a very tough tie. Partick Thistle are a Premiership side, and they currently hold the Scottish League Cup. Still, a big, loud home crowd and a late goal by Bryan Pelletier, combined with a stout defensive performance, saw us through.

Pelletier was played in by a perfect pass from Garry McGowan, and he knew exactly where he had to place the ball.

Tim Francis was Man of the Match, and he earned the honor. Partick Thistle's potent attack kept him and his fellow defenders busy all evening. Francis won 13 of 14 headers and amassed 20 interceptions. The effort of our back line kept Craig Robertson from having to work terribly hard; the keeper made only two saves...but both of them were very good ones.

Youngster Sipho Tshehla made his debut at right back, and we had to cover for John Cameron, who injured himself in training; he'll be out for about six weeks. The fact we played so well defensively with two regulars in the stands is even more impressive.

We'll return to the pitch in only three days, for a League Cup tie against another Premiership club--this time, it's St. Mirren.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

20 September 2014
Scottish League Cup, Second Round

Strathspey Thistle 1-2 St. Mirren

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: John Calder, Francis, Chisholm, Declan Neill
M: Pelletier, Hunt, Strachan, J. Murray
ST: Nelson, Willie Paterson

Goal: J. Murray (35)

I feel horrible for Declan Neill, who will want to forget his Strathie debut as quickly as he can.

We were deep in stoppage time, level at 1-1, when Neill clattered St. Mirren skipper Derek Tracey in the area. The referee pointed to the spot, and Tracey did the honours himself. Craig Robertson guessed which way Tracey would shoot and got his fingertips on the ball, but Tracey put enough power behind the shot that it ripped through Robertson's fingers, off the post, and over the line.

John Murray got his first goal for us and put us ahead 1-0, but St. Mirren drew level just after the hour mark. That's where we remained until the aforementioned penalty was given.

John Calder and Willie Paterson also received their first start today, and both played well. You can expect to see quite a bit of squad rotation in the days ahead; we're dealing with a decent amount of fixture congestion right now.

We're out of the League Cup, but I'm honestly not terribly torn up about it. Neither is the board, which is always a good thing.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

24 September 2014

Arbroath 0-3 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Pelletier, Noble, Phil Potter, McGowan
ST: S. Murray, Gajda

Goals: Gajda (3, 29), S. Murray (14)

Back to league play, with a comfortable victory away to Arbroath. We were outshot, 13-7, and Arbroath had possession 57% of the time, but Arbroath had only one good scoring chance, and Craig Robertson made a sweet save to thwart it.

Andrzej Gajda was Man of the Match, as much for his dominant play in the air (13 headers won in 13 challenges) as for his two goals. Captain Steven Noble played well in midfield.

Sixteen-year-old striker Robert Murch made his first appearance for the senior team, coming on as a sub at 58 minutes. He looked secure with the ball, and I'm going to try to find a way to get him some additional time very soon. I don't want him becoming frustrated and wanting to leave because he's not getting any first team football.

We have two days off before we're back in action, away to Peterhead. We'll go into that match top of the table, with 15 points to St. Johnstone's 14.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

27 September 2014

Peterhead 1-1 Strathspey Thistle

4-4-2
GK: Robertson
D: Russell, Francis, Chisholm, Neill
M: Kevin Tiffoney, Hunt, Strachan, J. Murray
ST: Gajda, Nelson

Goal: Gajda (39)

This was a very tough fixture, away to the third place team in the league. We were only seconds away from a result, but Peterhead got the equalizer deep in stoppage time, and we left the Blue Toon with a point in hand.

Andrzej Gajda continues his run of good form, scoring on a left-footed volley of a ball from John Murray.

Could we have won if I'd started Stevie Murray or Bryan Pelletier, both of whom were on the tired side? I doubt it would have made much difference. Tiffoney and Nelson are first team quality players, especially Nelson.

St. Johnstone beat Cowdenbeath, 2-1, so they move to the top of the table on 17 points. We're second with 16, three clear of Dumbarton.

There is a 10-day break in the programme now, which should allow fullback Colm Cunningham to return to full fitness. He's been waiting for a sports hernia to heal, and I hope to give him his Strathie debut against Cowdenbeath on 8 October.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

4 October 2014

I realized this week that our board has allowed me to bring in more coaches, so I've hired two new backroom staff members with specialized skills.

Our new Fitness Coach will be Paul Steele, 29, who hung up his boots last spring after a spell with Winton Rovers. Paul will handle our strength and aerobic fitness program, and his skills could make a big difference here.

We also hired Craig Stewart, 32, as a Goalkeeping Coach. Craig also retired last spring; he was the first choice between the posts for Rotherham in England's npower League Two. He's extremely good with young players and has a strong knowledge of tactics, so I think he will work well with our youthful goalkeeping corps.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

8 October 2014

Strathspey Thistle 4-0 Cowdenbeath

4-4-2
GK: Rab Hamill
D: Russell, Francis, Chisholm, Bennett
M: Pelletier, Noble, Potter, J. Murray
ST: Robert Murch, S. Murray

Goals: Murch (2), Russell (17), S. Murray (54), J. Murray (82)

We couldn't have scripted this one much better.

We gave debuts to Rab Hamill and Robert Murch, who are both 16; Hamill kept a clean sheet and Murch was Man of the Match with a goal and an assist.

We put four goals in against a Cowdenbeath side that played with four defenders and two DMCs, in an effort to strangle the game and try to get a 1-0 result.

Alastair Russell, whose spot in the first team was being questioned by the supporters, played to an 8.2 rating and got forward for a goal.

Bryan Pelletier created John Murray's goal with a perfect cross to the far post, leaving Murray with nothing to do but push it into the goal.

Dumbarton beat St. Johnstone away, 2-1. That result, combined with our victory, put us top again.

We were able to rest some regulars, and sub others out at the hour mark, and still get a result. We have a Scottish Cup tie in three days, and we will be relatively fresh.

The only thing I'd call a negative was an injury to Andy Chisholm, who will be out of action for two or three weeks with an injured elbow. Fortunately, John Cameron returned to training this week.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

I'm never sure what is the best approach to take against a team that parks the bus, like Cowdenbeath did in our last match.

This time, playing at home against a team that's in the relegation zone, I took an Attacking mentality. I used a touchline shout to tell the players to work the ball out of defense; if Cowdenbeath don't have many players forward, they shouldn't be able to interfere too much with our ability to pass the ball out of our own end. I didn't think working the ball into the box would be a good idea, since they had six players who didn't seem to be doing anything but guarding the fort.

It worked well, but I'm not sure if that's because my strategy was sound or because we had much better players than Cowdenbeath.

I've read that it's actually a better idea to instruct my team to drop farther back, in an attempt to tease the opponent into pulling forward and opening up more space for your guys. Or would they still simply sit back in front of their goal, content to take a goalless draw?