Nine games in to the Clan's Second Season, and it's been as much of a mixed bag as you would get trick or treating at this time of year. Despite the horror show in Hull that seems to have spooked many Clan, can we really have too much of a go at our men on the eve of our Edinburgh double header?
5 wins and 4 defeats, is an average start to the season. Everything given in one game is almost taken away the next. Having lost heavily to Nottingham last week, a bounce back win against Fife was always going to be needed. While not carried out in as impressive a way as many would have liked, it was a big W nonetheless.
Expectations of a win in Hull were extinguished almost immediately after face off, Clan going down to their heaviest defeat in their 2 year history. From reports I've read, the D may as well not have been there, as Suma was swapped for Mike Will for the second time in a week.
To compete with the big boys, the guys know they need to prove themselves better than the bottom feeders. There was ignominy in being turned over by a very good Panthers side, but I don't believe the Stingrays are as good a team Neilson's men.
So what is the issue? Why are Braehead Clan so liable to collapse at the minute. From the games I've been at so far this year, they seem to suffer a second period dip. Maybe they are committing themselves too much in the 1st, before gaining a second wind in the third, which against Fife, Coventry and Edinburgh seems to have been fine, but it won't do against the top 5.
Travelling seems to be an issue too with only one road victory so far. Whether its the journey to blame I do not know, but the away matches need to provide better fare, if not for the points, then at least for the ardent traveling support.
Whatever the issues are, it needs to be fixed. I'm not panicking yet though. November through December was a rough ride last year, with few points picked up in the lead up to Christmas, but Richardson's boys rode the storm out and had a cracking end to the season. I'm confident that Bannister can get the same drive and impetus from this years crew to settle the early season nerves.
We look to have the players to make an impact. A month in to the season and it's clear that theres a solid core of a team, provided game faces are on. For me, Jade Galbraith has been a stand out. Despite his reputation, his range of passing, his vision and his skill set belie his shabby looking frame. That's no disrespect to the man. Tommy Coyne, a Motherwell legend, never looked the most athletic in Claret and Amber, but did wonders for the Well. Galbraith has been integral to the workings of the team this season and his assists and goals are credit to his work rate.
Now that Bayrack is up to speed, he has become part of our import cluster who will make the difference. Jorgensen, McPherson and Suma have been strong players putting up decent numbers and stops respectively. Added to the old guard of Wedderburn, Campbell, Kyle Bruce, Krestanovich and Bannister himself, there is plenty experience on show. The youngsters, Zajac, Walker, Haywood and Connon are putting in fine performances as well.
Despite the win one lose one pattern, I do not see any cause for concern just yet. I don't want to sound like too much of a happy clappy here, but it's still early in the season. The league is so random at the minute, anything could happen. Hull lost to Edinburgh last week, yet horses the Clan. Bannister's men put away Coventry, yet they turned over the Panther's who dispatched Braehead easily. If results continue to be as polarising, then there will be cause for concern. But right now, it's all about backing the boys to the hilt, especially this Halloween weekend. No scares please!
As a side bar, I was a bit dissappointed to see that Jim Jorgensen retired from Twitter today. Whether he had been wound up after the Hull game, was getting too much attention from certain over enthused clan fans or just got bored of it all, who knows?
Seeing how open the players are to fraternising with the fans, social networking allows us to maybe see them more as regular guys and view their team camaraderie. In the past few weeks I've read about Jade's penchant for 10 pin bowling and FIFA, seen Sammy Zajac, Adam Walker and Brock McPherson feeding ducks and Jim himself in drag.
I know that makes me sound like some sort of stalker, but being right in to my social networking stuff, it's cool to see that these Saturday night heroes can be just as mundane as the rest of us.
So, what should you readers take from this blog?
Well, first of all, a heavy defeat does not mean the wheels have come off. Coach Drew has apparently noted the problems and is aiming to rectify them. The 2 Edinburgh games at the weekend will be the proof, as despite lowly status, they have had a decent November. It's up to the Clan to halt their resurgence and get some momentum of their own for the visit of Belfast next weekend.
Unfortunately I'll miss the double header due to a jaunt to Inverness for my other "job" but between 7 and 930ish, I'll be on Twitter to keep up to date with the hopeful tanking of the Caps.
Enjoy the Halloween and Hockey festivities, Clan Fans! My next blog will more than likely be about the Belfast game and the number of folk I have managed to coax along to the Arena for it.
Mon The Clan!!
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