Part-time thinking

Adam Dodd had only been at Somerset Park for a fortnight but he already knew the script: “There is a huge difference between part-time and full-time and we put in a real effort and deserved to get something out of the game, or at least take it to penalties" he told the Herald after United’s semi-final defeat at Hampden. It is a familiar mantra – Ayr boss Brian Reid uses it in almost every interview you hear or read. Whether to take the pressure off his squad and engender an ‘underdog’ spirit as United fight relegation against exclusively full time opposition, or to take pressure of himself as an ambitious manager looking to move upwards in the game, there can be no doubt over the contractual status of Reid’s squad.

Unless you are Kenny Shiels of course. The contrary Kilmarnock manager caused a storm in the run up to the semi-final by claiming on BBC Radio Scotland Ayr United were not part time: “I don’t know where they get this part-time thing from. They are very much a full-time team” the Northern Irishman maintained. To underline his point Sheils made reference to United signing two players from Blackpool (Dodd and Tomsett on loan) and, bizarrely, goalkeeper Cammy Bell fitting a kitchen in his own home.

“We have to make it quite clear that they’re not part-time, they are full-time". 

Kenny Shiels on Ayr United

Brian Reid was affronted and the next day winger Mickey McGowan was on the back page of the red tops in a hard hat. Reid said: “I’m shocked, to tell you the truth. I’m struggling to understand where Kenny is coming from or exactly what it is he is trying to say.

“Is he calling us liars? It certainly looks that way.

“We are part-timers up against a side from the SPL and we are the underdogs. We are not lying about that.”

Michael McGowan: not a full-time footballer

A psychology graduate, Shiels - perhaps concerned about meeting the less cerebrally gifted Reid on a dark night - admitted he was playing mind games.  How else could you explain the Ulsterman claiming Kilmarnock (population 45,000) were the underdogs going into the semi-final because Ayr (population 46,000) is a bigger town? He was trying, unconvincingly, to take the pressure off his side.  But, whisper it, I think Sheils was making a good point about Ayr United's part-time status. A point that was seemingling missed by a rattled Reid and lost in the tabloid hubris surrounding the derby.

Sheils, not a stranger to being misunderstood, speaks from experience having managed in Northern Ireland for a number of years. "The boys are more professional now, they will have done their work and I guarantee they will have done as much work as us and they will be well rested" he said. Again after the game: "...do you think those guys are part-time? Modern players, whether they are with Ayr, Montrose or East Fife, they do their preparation because they have so much pride in being a good footballer".

If you give Brian Reid the credit for having the nous, the Kilmarnock manager called it correctly: "I've been in that position and what you do, as a manager, is you bring it up all the time to try to use it to take the pressure off your players.

"I don't blame Brian for doing that, it's a method of trying to take the pressure off his players.

He is working really hard to be the underdog and I can appreciate that."

Realism is important but I don't think some positivity from would go amiss from Brian Reid, for players and fans alike.  By constantly playing the part-time card, Reid may be taking the pressure off his players but is he also giving them an excuse?  Why not build belief in the players - and the fans - that Ayr United can match their opposition? Completely missed in the furore surrounding Sheils' post-match comments was the root of his frustration at Ayr's tactics: “Ayr were good enough to win. They have good players.

"You just have to make them believe that. You have to make them believe they are good.

"Their players' work ethic and endeavour was magnificent but it was a negative approach."

I've discussed the rights and wrong of United's approach in that game, but did the players believe that they could match Killie? More importantly, do they believe they can stay in the First Division?

The presumption is that part-time teams will 'run out of legs', tire in games against full-time outfits.  But Ayr have shown this season that they are a fit side, more than a match even for SPL sides. They took Hearts to extra-time in September. Matched St. Mirren for 90 mins in October, finishing the stronger and scoring a late winner. Both midweek games.  Indeed, as pointed out by Ross Moffat on twitter, no side in the First Division has picked up more points in final 10 minutes of games than the Honest Men, a season changing seven points from defeats turned to draws and draws into victories.  Brian Reid and his staff, and the players, deserve enormous credit for this.

United did come unstuck last Tuesday at Firhill, but the reason for Partick Thistle's second-half was as much to do with circumstances and schedules as it was United being part-time. Six nights previously, United had been chasing shadows for the first half-an-hour versus an exuberant Falkirk side but, with an extraordinary effort came back to finish the game stronger. At the weekend, a long journey to Dingwall and back was interspersed with a battling performance against league leaders Ross County in difficult conditions and on a heavy pitch. Any side, no matter how fit, would have struggled with that going into their third game of the week. Added to that a makeshift defence, weakened further by the loss of John Robertson when the score was still 1-1, and it was simply a bad day (or night) at the office.

Brian Reid hasn't always seen part-time football as such a hindrance. Following his first promotion to the First Division in 2009, he told the Ayrshire Post: “I don’t buy the argument that there’s a huge gap to make up and we certainly won’t be using the part-time excuse.” What changed? Ayr battled for the Second Division title in Season 2009/10 against a Raith Rovers who, like Ayr, hand a mix of part-time and full-time players.  The following season, United battled against relegation against Rovers and part-time Airdrie.  A disastrous run of just one win from their last 10 games saw United finish bottom on the final day of the season, two points behind Airdrie. The Diamonds - with a similarly punishing scheduled and part-time squad - picked up 17 points...

The psyche was probably changed the following season. Livingston romped the Second Division as the only full-time side. United finished 23 points behind Livi, but more interestingly with 15 points less than Season 2008/09.  That season saw some horror results against sides, (annoying football cliché alert) with all due respect, Ayr should have been beating. 4-1 away to Alloa and Forfar. 4-0 at home to East Fife. 3-1 at home to Stenhousemuir. Shocking results that had nothing to do with Ayr United being part-time and everything to do with Brian Reid's shortcomings as a tactician and man manager. Livingston's full-time status was a convenient excuse. Play-off success was the get out of jail card for the manager.

This season, unlike Season 2010/11, Ayr are the only part-time in the First Division but so far are holding their own, very much in a three-way relegation battle involving Raith Rovers and Queen of the South. Yes, full-time teams have more time to work on shape and tactics. More time to recover. But if Brian Reid can install the belief his players that they are match for any side in this division, regardless of whether they deliver pigs trotters, work on building sites or train full-time, hopefully the conclusion to the season can be positive.

Draw at Dingwall signifies improvement

October 1st 2011. Ayr United travelled up to Dingwall with a makeshift defence, conceded a goal in the fifth minute... and went on to lose 4-0 against Ross County, the third consecutive away game they had conceded four goals. Fast forward 20 weeks and Ayr United travelled north with a makeshift defence, conceded a goal in the seventh minute... and went on to earn a point in a gritty, characterful performance played out in wintry conditions.

Missing John Robertson - still out with a calf injury that can't heal quick enough - and Martyn Campbell, Brian Reid lined up with the same defence that ended United's impressive cup win over Falkirk last Wednesday, meaning Eddie Malone partnered Chris Smith with Adam Dodd dropping to left-back (for a more in depth look at Ayr's line-up and shape see rosscountytactics.com's excellent analysis).  It may have been an unfamiliar back four but County's opener was more predictable. Ayr have certainly improved their set-piece play in recent weeks, in defence and attack, but a low ball into the near post was deflected out by McMenamin and the second ball into the box was nodded on for Grant Munro to prod home from six yards.

That early lead really should have put the game into the 'routine' category for the champions-in-waiting but Brian Reid's men should be commended for matching their opponents on a heavy pitch. Ayr had a lot more possession than expected but the usual suspects, McGowan in particular, were often guilty of giving away the ball by trying to pass one man too many and simply not moving the ball about quickly enough. County - despite resting six players for their midweek cup game at home to St. Mirren - seemed to find it difficult to get out of second gear and lacked that creative spark to break through a disciplined performance from the away side.

Reward for that endeavour came on 80 minutes when, almost out of the blue, Blackpool kid Liam Tomsett picked the ball up in space 30 yards out and didn't need a second invitation to unleash an unstoppable shot into the top-right hand corner. (A goal that I really wish I had been paying attention to see...). It capped off another strong performance from the 18 year-old midfielder, full of energy and a game awareness that belies his age.  Added into the mix was a goal line clearance at the death as Ross County finally showed some urgency but that, coupled with a couple of excellent saves we've come to expect from Kevin Cuthbert, was enough to see out the final whistle.

Liam Tomsett struck a sensational equaliser

News over the Victoria Park tannoy that Queen of the South had conceded yet another late goal turned this point from a good one to a great one and the Honest Men now travel to Firhill on Tuesday night with the chance to climb out of the bottom two spots in the league table for the first time since the start of December.  Ayr have now drawn six of their last eight league games, and while it has kept them in touch with relegation rivals Raith Rovers and Queen of the South, need to start converting one points - and games in hand - into three points.

Tiffoney. No stranger to a red card. 

Ayr and Thistle played out a dismal goalless draw at Somerset back in December but that point saw Ayr climb to 8th place.  If Ayr are to repeat that on Tuesday it will have to be without Jonathan Tiffoney. Ayr's right back picked up a red card almost immediately after Tomsett's equaliser to add to the three he received last season. With over 50 first team starts under his belt, the majority of them at right back, the oft stated excuse: "he's not a right back" is starting to wear thin. Its natural that any youngster will struggle for consistency but Tiffoney is often his own worst enemy. Losing possession, looking for fouls, snarling at referees and rash challenges are all part of the 20 year-old's game he could do without. Not many agreed when Brian Reid brought in Jim Lauchlan to replace Tiff at right-back towards the end of last season, but the rational was understandable. John Robertson seemed to be Brian Reid's first choice in that position at the start of this season, but injury to Martyn Campbell necessitated his move to the centre where he has forged an impressive partnership with Chris Smith. Now Robbo has joined Campbell on the sidelines, Tiffoney's latest mis-demeanour is less than welcome with the squad so stretched and he may find he's replaced by a new face for a second consecutive season.

To end on a negative would be a disservice, however, to the efforts of Brian Reid's players. Beyond the unbeaten run - seven games if we're only counting 'normal time' - there have been notable improvements to the side, and aspects of United's game, which should stand them in good stead for the run in. If we can somehow have more luck with injuries, Ayr have every chance of staying in this division. That, more than any cup run, would be a massive achievement.

United's season Bairn again?

May 25th 2005. The Champions League Final. The Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. Liverpool turn round Milan's three goal advantage in the space of only six second-half minutes on the way to fifth European Cup. Nothing about Ayr United's Scottish Cup 5th Round victory over Falkirk on Wednesday night quite matched the scale of that occasion, but the comeback was certainly of similarly unlikely proportions.

Falkirk started the game like a train. The first 20 minutes or so was perhaps the finest display I've seen in the First Division. The Bairns were passing and moving at lightning speed and Ayr were chasing shadows. After six minutes, sixteen year-old Craig Sibbald ran at Tiffoney, passed the ball back to Willie Gibson who laid it off to left-back Tam Scobbie. His deep cross into the box found 19 year-old Blair Alston - given too much room by the returning Martyn Campbell sixteen yards out - and the youngster looped an unstoppable header right into Cuthbert's top right hand corner. Even at this stage I thought the game could well be over.

1-0 after six minutes and it looked like game over

Minutes later and an out-of-sorts Jonathan Tiffoney gave the ball away to Sibbald who's cross found the dangerous Moroccan Farid El Allagui six yards out but he was unable to steer the ball goalwards. This was ominous. It wasn't a case of Ayr sitting back, defending, standing off even - something that appears to becoming clichéd accepted opinion of Brian Reid's team following the League Cup semi-final. Ayr just simply could not get the ball from the visitors.

So, when Andy Geggan forced home an equaliser 13 minutes later there was a huge sense of relief. "OK, we might not get hammered here". Influential in the build up to the goal was Micheal Moffat. Restored to undoubtedly his best position up front, Moff took in a throw in from Eddie Malone, jinked and played the ball into Adam Dodd at an acute angle on the box. Dodd rocketed the ball against the cross bar, the ball may have crossed the line, but Geggan made sure.

That knock put Steven Pressley's team out their stride just enough. There was a penalty claim as Sibbald went down in the box but Malone hadn't done enough for referee Crawford Allan to point to the spot. I've seen the Falkirk youngster go down easily before, perhaps so has Allan. Falkirk were still on top, but quite as much as on top as previously.

At half-time it was level and Brian Reid did his best Rafa Benítez. Playing on his 27th birthday Micheal Moffat was playing like a man determined to prove Reid has been wrong to leave him stranded on the left of midfield. Not that some of his best plays didn't come out wide. Moments into the second-half, Moff received a ball up the left touchline, turned Darren Dods and accelerated away from the veteran defender and bore down towards the Somerset Road End in an exhilarating display of individual skill and pace. The stramash that ensued ended in Ayr's first penalty appeal of the night but signalled The Honest Men's intent and an intensity that wasn't to give up for the remainder of the game.

Instrumental in United's remarkable revival in the second-half was the introduction of Micheal McGowan for Alan Trouten on 51 minutes, Trouten's troublesome hamstring again playing up. The front four of Dodd, Moffat, Roberts and McGowan were pressing high up the pitch, right on top of the Falkirk defence. In the centre of the park Geggan and the impressive Tomsett were sweeping up, making it difficult for the Bairns to pass their way out their own half.

Just 5 minutes after his introduction, McGowan had created what was to prove the winning goal. Receiving his own throw back from the always available Tomsett on the left he made for the touchline. After getting the better of highly rated Falkirk right-back Keiran Duffie, McGowan crossed into a packed penalty box where the experienced Dods inexplicably handled. The same-aged Mark Roberts showed significantly more composure, making no mistake from the spot. Falkirk keeper Micheal McGovern didn't even move.

United didn't give up. They continued to press and harass. Falkirk were forced to go long and were clearly rattled by the home team's intensity. McGowan continued to run at Dark Blue shirts. Unlike for most of the season, however, the former Clyde winger was passing one, two, more men and the delivering. ''If he played like this every week, he'd be playing for Man City'' one North Terracing observer noted.

There was a third penalty shout as McGowan tricked his way into the box and struck the ball at Huddersfield-bound Murray Wallace. Another move down the right brought a shot which McGovern appeared to carry over the line. Yet another presented Andy Geggan with a guilt edged chance at the back post he could only cushion against the post. Breathtaking.

There is no doubt Ayr deserved this win. Steven Pressley threw on two giants up front at the death to supplement El Allagui but that simply isn't Falkirk game, even against a makeshift defence following Martyn Campbell's injury.

Ayr's remarkable unbeaten midweek cup run was extended to eight games in a performance that bodes well for the remainder of the league season. The final 45 minutes was perhaps the best football Ayr have played all season. The addition of Blackpool loan-duo Adam Dodd and Liam Tomsett as added a better balance to the side with a natural left sided midfielder and a real impressive operator in the centre of the park in Tomsett. The 18 year old has all the energy of Steve Bowey but vitally also a composure on the ball that could see him play an important part in Ayr's survival hopes.

Those survival hopes are unlikely to be given much of a boost later today (Saturday) as the Honest Men take on league leaders Ross County at Victoria Park, where the Staggies are yet to lose in the league this season. Injuries to John Robertson and Martyn Campbell will necessitate a reshuffle at the back meaning even bookmakers odds of 9/1 (or better) may be generous. But Ayr need to start picking up league points sometime and there would be no better place than at the home of the Champions-elect. Relegation rivals Raith Rovers and Queen of the South have both earned a point against County in recent weeks, albeit at home. A win for Ayr would send a strong message to Kirkcaldy and Dumfries. The side proved on Wednesday night they have it within them.

Striking the right balance

Ayr United's postponed Scottish Cup fourth round tie versus Falkirk, due to be played at Somerset Park last Saturday, gave Brian Reid the opportunity for some much needed time on the training ground with his squad. In the run up to the League Cup semi-final, Reid described some of the practical difficulties he faces seeing his players for only 90 or so minutes, twice a week. Chief amongst the difficulties of competing with boys clubs and amateur sides for half of a floodlit artifical pitch was the shortage of time to work on tactics and the shape of the side.

The need to hit the tactics board appears to be all the more necessary following the Honest Men's January transfer dealings. Along with the recruitment of Blackpool teenagers Adam Dodd and Liam Thomsett on loan, Ayr have added three strikers: Sean Higgins, Keigan Parker and Marc Dyer. With only Tam McManus leaving the squad following an entirely underwhelming return, Reid now has plenty of striking options to choose from. It's left United fans wondering how the side will line-up for what is sure to be a relegation battle.

This season has seen Brian Reid rotate his front men, Gareth Wardlaw, Mark Roberts, Micheal Moffat and latterly, Tam McManus. With nine league goals between them, they haven't been prolific and United are the league's lowest scorers - the only side to manage less than a goal a game average.

League appearances only. Source: www.andysstats.co.uk

Reid's favoured front two has been Roberts and Wardlaw, but the two have failed to strike much of a partnership.  Wardlaw has been Reid's go-to man when he has played one up front and is Ayr's best option in this role with his hold-up play and physicality. Top league goalscorer Micheal Moffat has been employed mainly in midfield, wide of both a 4 and a 5. This has been much to the chagrin of supporters - Moffat has show in glimpses when played through the middle he has something more to offer in an advanced role.

Brian Reid will be hoping his new recruits can help Ayr find the net more regularly. Sean Higgins has signed on loan from St. Johnstone having made just one start and three substitute appearances for the Perth side this season. Speaking after recruiting Higgins from Tayside rivals Dundee in the summer, then Saints boss Derek McInnes said: "Sean is a player we've looked at in the past because he's got good technical ability. He's a finisher and he had a great second half of the season before he got injured. He can play off a main striker as well, which is something we've not really had”. Higgins netted nine goals in the First Division last season – including 7 in an 8 games spell between February and March – as Dundee bounced back from administration and a 25 point deduction to put together a long unbeaten run but his season was cut short when he was forced to undergo knee surgery.

Higgins career actually started at St. Johnstone but he was unable to make the breakthrough and moved Ross County in 2002 without making a first team appearance for the Saints. He netted his first goal for the Staggies against Ayr United that season and in seven years at Victoria Park went on to make 211 appearances, scoring 56 goals. County fan and respected First Division analysis John Maxwell of the Ross County Tactics blog concurred with McInnes’ assessment of the player, commenting on his great technique and work rate in harassing defenders. Describing how Higgins enjoyed being supporting forward at County rather than leading the line, John suggested  Higgins was better with a focal point to play off and that Micheal Moffat would be an ideal strike partner for Higgins, Moff’s pace forcing defences to sit deeper thus giving ‘Higgy’ more space. 

Parker: hopefully toasting success again in May

Another player with pace, is Keigan Parker. Now 29, Parker’s career has taken somewhat of a tumble down the English leagues in recent years since his departure from Blackpool in 2007. Like Higgins, Parker started his career at St. Johnstone where he made 144 appearances between 1998 and 2004, scoring 25 goals and never really cementing a regular starting spot despite his promise. Colin Hendry took Parker south to Blackpool on a free transfer in June 2004, his first signing in a short tenure in the Bloomfield Road hotseat. Parker netted 41 goals in 3 seasons with the Seasiders, including two memorable strikes in the 2007 League One play-offs versus Oldham and Yeovil in the final as Blackpool clinched promotion to the Championship. That Wembley play-off goal was to be Parker's last for the Club, however, as he failed to earn a regular start in the Championship and was released by manager Simon Grayson at the end of the season 2007/08.

In the three seasons following, short lived spells at Huddersfield, Hartlepool, Oldham Athletic, Bury, Mansfield Town and FleetwoodTown reaped 11 goals in 93 games and plenty of motorway miles. Parker started this season at Blue Square Premier side Stockport County but was at the Cheshire club for only a month, making just one substitute appearance under boss Dietmar Hamman. The reason for his abrupt departure unknown, in September Parker signed for Evo-Stick Division One North side AFC Fylde. The standard of the second tier of the Northern Premier League – the 8th tier of English football – is anyone’s guess but Parker has netted 13 times in 28 appearances for Fylde this season, helping them to the top of the table and impressed in a recent bounce game for Partick Thistle. Boss Jackie McNamara told the Glaswegian newspaper: "Keigan played in a bounce match for us this week and did well. He is a player I have always rated but there's just no money to sign him. He is quick and scores goals and is a good age but unfortunately we won't be able to bring him in at this stage."

Parker’s last goal for Fylde can on the 14th January in a 7-0 win over Harrogate Railway in front of 321 fans and he leaves Lancashire with the best wishes of manager Dave Challinor, the original Rory Delap. Challinor told Fylde’s website: “Keigan has actively been looking to re-locate to Scotland…it’s an opportunity for him to start again. He’s still 29 and should now be in the prime of his career – he just needs to continue to work hard and get his head down to revive his career”. The striker himself said: “It’s a great chance for a fresh start back in Scotland for me and I am looking forward to it.”

There is no doubt the Brian Reid is taking somewhat of a risk bringing Parker back north, but I think any comparisons with another journeyman striker – Junior Mendes will prove to be wide of the mark. Mendes signed for Ayr in November 2009 at the age of 33 and having retired from the game that summer and was arguably never fit. Parker on the other hand has been playing regularly this season and banging the goals in, albeit in a successful team at a fairly low level of English football. There aren’t too many strikers in the First Division that were playing at Championship level just 4 years ago and if, as David Challinor says Parker can ‘get his head down’ he could prove to be a gamble well worth taking.  At 29, time is still on his side. 

I would be surprised if Higgins and Parker don’t form Brian Reid’s chosen strike partnership and the evidence suggests they could be successful pairing. Higgins appears hungry to get back playing, Parker to resurrect his career in Scotland.  But Ayr also also have options in abundance if injury or lack of form strike.  Providing Reid utilises his striking options wisely, and boldly, the Honest Men have all the tools they could hope to have to score the goals that will secure their First Division status.