As a man in his mid 20s, with the mindset still of an adolescent, many things frustrate me. Not having a job where I can use my degree. Having a job, which I know could pay better. Having the same conversations with people's voices on a daily basis. Having to commute on the world's warmest bus. Council Tax and many more. All affectations of being an adult that you don't think about when you are a student. These are all constants, and I'm pretty sure most people have the same or similar gripes. However, inconsistency gives just as much frustration to me as consistency.
On Boxing Day, Elaine and I bounded in to Braehead so she could do some shopping and I could carry said shopping, before going to watch the Clan v Belfast Giants. Regular readers will know the tie in, with my fiancee being from outside Belfast and formerly a Giants fan. The last match between the 2 at Braehead had ended in a 4-1 win for the Clan, which was followed up by much nose rubbing from myself in the direction of the in laws. Then, when Clan played giants at the Odyssey a few weeks ago, despite running them close, the Giants got revenge. Add in to this mix the Doucet/Zajac issues, and it set up Boxing days game to be a pretty tasty affair. It wasn't.
Belfast ran out 7-2 winners and barely had to try for their goals, with a number of them being gifted to them on a Christmas day leftovers sized plate. Clan just did not get going. Whether they were harboring food babies or whatnot, I do not know, but it was as toothless a display as I have seen the Purple Army (Richardson's or Bannister's) put on. The much lauded Krestanovich - Galbraith - Bayrack line just didn't put in the graft. The usually reliable Jade, looke dlike he was using someone else's stick, as time and again he couldn't get the puck out from under him, same with Mike Bayrack, whose skates saw more of the puck than his stick.
The D didn't fare much better, with Suoma exposed time after time. The second line with Haywood, McPherson and Campbell in attack were just as inept,and Giants were deserving of the win. The only one looking interested in fighting was wee Sammy, but that was more for his own sake than for the good of the team. As we filed out, Elaine and myself were baffled as to how Soupy could get MOM, as we'd agreed that purely for his assist and goal that Jim Jorgensen was the only worthy recipient. It summed up a rather frustrating night.
Fast forward 24 hours, and I'm sitting eating a big dirty burger in my living room, reading @ClanFans Twitter updates flood in and read on as Clan run out 4-1 winners at the Odyssey! A few expletives were uttered mid chew as I saw Bayrack had got goals 3 and 4, adding to Brocks first and Campbell's penalty shot. Where was this performance the night before? How could there be such a radical change in fortunes in the space of a day? As has been the want of Bannister's team this season, Clan are supposed to be poor on their travels and fairly unbeatable at home. Why did this change in the last 2 days?
Having been to every Motherwell FC game this season, I have seen the Well look shaky at home, but majestic everywhere else, which I know is frustrating for the season ticket holders at Fir Park. They are not getting the value for money that those who go to the away games seem to be getting, and unfortunately when the Club managed to incentivise them to travel through to Tynecastle at the weekend, they saw the team outplayed by Hearts. Those who journeyed through to Edinburgh who wouldn't normally, must be have been thinking that the away form was a myth.
This is sort of how I felt reading Twitter last night. Due to the holiday season, there was a bumper crowd at Braehead on Monday night. I'd imagine a fair few first timers went along, whether as an after shopping treat or were given tickets as Christmas presents, or maybe even regulars bringing their families along for a good night out. While the atmosphere was quite good (not as good as the last game v Belfast), the game was a bit of a damp squib as outlined above. With a larger home audience than normal, I suppose it would have been nice if the boys could have switched their performances around. A win would maybe have seen a swell in numbers for the Dundee game on Friday, which should still get a decent crowd due to folk still having Christmas money to burn.
Looking at the EIHL table, it perfectly highlights the inconsistency that has dogged this season. 14 wins and 12 losses, for every game won, we are losing another pretty much. Yes, we are top of the Scots (and Hull) and trying closing the gap on Cardiff, but if we could cut out the inconsistency and find a level or standard to play at in each game, Clan could be pushing for 4th or even 3rd. Wins over Belfast and the upper teams, as great as they are, don't mean anything if the team struggle against the likes of Hull and Fife. That is no disrespect to those teams, but the defeats the Clan have had to them this season are probably ranked as the worst in the Club's short history.
Going in to the second half of the season, Coach Drew needs to give the team a bit of a rocket in my opinion. Cut ot the mistakes and the inconsistencies and we can only progress. while the League would be a long way off, there is no reason why they can't push for silverware in the Challenge Cup and Playoffs. The guys need to get their eyes on the prize and start committing in every game, not just every other game.
Frustartion's well and truly vented for now...back to work for me!
Mon The Clan!
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