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Toon 68

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    Clyde FC; Season 2022-23

    in Scottish League 2 General Chatter

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, Ivo den Bieman said:

    With Montrose idle I took in this Festival of Incompetence at Balmoor.

    Firstly, a beautiful day but absolutely Arctic, and it became clear that whoever handled the strong wind blowing up the ground would take the points. Clyde had the wind at their back in the first half and had a couple of good opportunities; both falling to the no. 9. One saw him bearing down on the Peterhead keeper after one or two nice passes but the goalie won the battle; secondly an abysmal sclaff from a Peterhead defender (no.6) played him in but again the forward unable to take advantage.

    The frustrating thing about the game was that both sides played as though it was a completely calm day. With such a high wind short sharp passing is needed and forget the long ball. Unfortunately both teams, largely, did the opposite. The wind was so strong that the ball quivered whenever it was placed for a corner or free kick; both teams went for the default blooter rather than keeping on the ground and trying to move it quickly.

    With the game scoreless at half time, it seemed as though pre-match predictions were coming to pass; both teams the mangy curs of Division One scrapping toothlessly over a pointless bone, desperate for the footballing vet to come along with his big needle and put an end to a miserable campaign.

    The second half was a little better than the near-subterranean bar of the first. What proved to be the winner came after a flurry of corners for Peterhead; the ball bobbled around in the box, the Clyde cludgie unable to clear the blockage, and wee Shanks cheekily back-heeled the ball home from an angle just inside the six yard box, past the sprawling Parry. Huge celebrations from the team and the home support and the goal really gave Peterhead an energy. Shanks was possessed for the next ten minutes, bullying the slothful Clyde no 14 off the ball inside his own half on a few occasions. Big Fosu upfront for the Fishy Jailers is an unguided missle; you never know what to expect from him. He's a limited player but very willing and a trier. He should have has Peterhead further ahead when he met a lovely right wing cross by the penalty spot, but somehow scrambled the header wide. A few minutes afterthere was an almighty scramble in the box and uncertainty from the Clyde keeper as the ball floated and swirled like a balloon at the end of a wind tunnel; somehow the ball stayed out with shots blocked by Clyde defenders.

    Jim Duffy seemed to regard the game with the indifference of a man at breakfast, thirty years into an unhappy marriage. He looked glum and miserable throughout. Bringing Rennie on for his debut seemed to ginger Clyde up a bit and for the last fifteen minutes they had the lions' sure of the possession and attack. However, watching Clyde trying to attack at present is like watching a drunk try to eat an avocado with a screwdriver. Peterhead's defence was more or less assured in dealing with the visitors' clumsy efforts, with the goalkeeper not having a save of significance to make. It was more nerves and mind games in the home defence that threatened an error.

    A couple of things to conclude. Firstly a crowd of nearly 700 on a totally freezing day who care enough about the fortunes of two such poor teams is a credit to both and I have to complement a good humoured Clyde support whose persistent chanting for their team was by far the most impressive thing about their club today. Of the two I have more optimism about Peterhead. Yes they are a very limited side who've had a terrible season for one reason and another but there are green shoots there. I thought they defended quite well with big Joshua and Jason Brown having good games at the back. The on loan keeper was decent. I was also quite impressed with young Jack Waddell and Shanks, a livewire confidence striker. Davie Robertson may just get enough of a tune out of this charity shop fiddle to see it in the play offs at the end of the season, a task which looked hugely optimistic when he was appointed a few weeks back.

    Glad that it's not really my problem where Clyde go from here. What a sorry mess the club is in.

    Couldn’t make it today, Thanks for the honest  report 

    Agree, shanks is a grafter 

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