The Great Big Kilmarnock Thread

[paul wright scores]

9 hours ago, C4mmy31 said:

Aghhh ffs..... JJ has a hamstring injury, SC saying he's definitely out Saturday & doubtful for Tuesday.

Mind games from Steve Clarke.

He didn't go straight to the dressing room when he was subbed last night, which he would have done had it been bad.

[theProdigy]

Mind games from Steve Clarke.
He didn't go straight to the dressing room when he was subbed last night, which he would have done had it been bad.

Also with the speed that the sub was made after JJ signalled, it suggests he was already coming off!!

He also walked off the park and to the dressing room with no limp that I could notice!

[killiepiemuncher]

[theProdigy]

[C4mmy31]

Some of these stats that the BBC have compiled are astonishing. I hadn't realised the last time we failed to score in a match was November ffs......

When Steve Clarke was appointed Kilmarnock manager the club were bottom of the Scottish Premiership having amassed just three points from eight games.

Avoiding relegation was the former West Brom and Reading manager's clear target.

Not many would argue that he has not achieved that already although the man himself refused to concede it following Wednesday's 2-0 win over St Johnstone.

Clarke didn't take charge for the 2-0 win over Partick Thistle in mid-October that saw them rise to 11th place.

But his influence since has been overwhelmingly positive with the Ayrshire side currently fifth on 40 points.

It has been an astonishing turnaround.

Resilience

In Clarke's first match in charge they secured a point with a last-minute equaliser against Rangers.

It was against all the odds - the Ibrox side missed a late penalty and Kilmarnock flew up the park and netted. It was a sign of things to come.

Three days later, they trailed 1-0 away to Celtic but found another equaliser and another point.

It was the perfect platform to build on. Since then, the squad has demonstrated a proven ability to overcome significant obstacles.

On six occasions in the 19 league games under Clarke's management, they have come from behind to earn points. That's 10 points from losing positions.

They notably came from behind to beat Rangers 2-1 at home in December.

Against Dundee, down to 10 men and trailing 2-1, they somehow produced a thrilling 3-2 victory. Away to Ross County they were two down after an hour and took a point.

Two down at home to Hibernian after 10 minutes, they were level after an hour and turned a likely defeat into another draw.

It seems Clarke has instilled a 'play the full 90 minutes' attitude into a squad that looked beleaguered before his arrival.

Consistency

In those 19 league games Kilmarnock have lost just three times and amassed 34 points.

They've beaten Celtic, Rangers and Hearts alongside crucial wins over bottom-six sides.

Strikingly, Kilmarnock have picked up five more points than third-placed Aberdeen during the same spell. And they are only seven points worse off than Celtic during that period.

Statistics often do not represent the full picture but these do.

Attacking threat

They've scored in every game bar two under Clarke. The last time they did not net was in November against Dundee.

That goal threat is steadily delivering points.

Kris Boyd only had two league goals prior to Clarke's arrival. He's added 12 in the Premiership since and earned an extended contract.

The balance between attack and defence seems to be working with an ability to adapt when faced with adversity.

Offering greater support to Boyd has paid dividends. He is not the most mobile but given service he is a proven goalscorer.

Improved squad

It's notable that the majority of Kilmarnock's success has been delivered by a squad Clarke inherited.

Eamonn Brophy had made little impact early this season but now looks a player full of confidence. They all do.

Jordan Jones is increasingly effective.

Clarke's reputation, after a highly successful playing and coaching career in England, has allowed him to make unlikely acquisitions.

Youssouf Mulumbu is the standout but even without him Kilmarnock deliver. Aaron Tshibola is also beginning to contribute.

Clarke seems to have excelled in all areas of management.

He is getting the best out of players who were underperforming. He has made key additions. He has his side extremely well organised and they are adaptable to the situation they face.

There is a confidence about Kilmarnock that has been non-existent in recent years.

Mangers often point to players as being the main source of success.

In this case, Clarke must take full credit and is surely an outstanding contender for the manager of the year awards.

(BBC)

[C4mmy31]

There isn’t a lot left to be said as far as Steve Clarke goes.

The turn around at Rugby Park has been nothing short of remarkable.

To have lost just two games (three) in his entire reign is mind-boggling, to be quite honest, and if he isn’t crowned Scotland’s manager of the year then there is something far wrong.

Clarke has turned a group of players who looked down and out and without a hope into a team that are more or less guaranteed top six football and could be on the cusp of a trip to Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Ross County are the next visitors this weekend and it’s difficult to see anything other than a Kilmarnock win.

People are bound to say that this column has now cursed their chances – but even at that, we’re so far gone in this incredible run that even if they didn’t manage a victory on Saturday, their next three points wouldn’t be far around the corner.

In recent years under previous managers when you felt the team were about to record some decent form, they’d quickly be brought back down to earth.

That didn’t happen to Kilmarnock under the current boss. The run kept going and, quite frankly, doesn’t look like ending any time soon.

Jordan Jones is in brilliant form, Kris Boyd has rolled back the years and sits as the league’s top scorer, Youssouf Mulumbu has been an inspired signing.

Those players grab the headlines but when you look at the improvements in the others, that’s where Clarke’s brilliance really shines through.

Greg Taylor, Stephen O’Donnell and Kirk Broadfoot are three straight off the bat who have been on a different level in recent months.

The shifts the two full-backs are putting in at the moment are incredible, with both a threat on the attack and sound at the back.

Broadfoot’s signing was not met with much fanfare and his slow start to life at Rugby Park didn’t help things.

Now he’s one of the first names on Clarke’s teamsheet, an ever-present during the revolution in Ayrshire.

Alan Power and Gary Dicker have been immense in the engine room. Scott Boyd, Stuart Findlay and Gordon Greer have been solid albeit they’ve had to rotate the second centre-back spot.

Eamonn Brophy has burst onto the scene with a few goals and it’s no surprise to see clubs like Brighton and Hove Albion seriously looking at the forward.

Rory McKenzie fits into the midfield well when called upon and even Lee Erwin looks to be finding form at an important part of the season.

The squad – and not just the 11 on the park – are flourishing under Clarke and his coaching has brought out the best in them.

Now the manager just needs the fan backing to match the performances.

There is an excellent core support at Rugby Park who have got louder and louder as the weeks have got on and backed the team.

The away support is one of the best in the country and had been even in the dark times over the past few years.

But now those stay away supporters who haven’t gone much in recent memory have to step up to the plate and come along to back the team.

This Tuesday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final replay with Aberdeen is the perfect opportunity to show your support.

Big game? Check. Trip to Hampden at stake? Check. Good opposition? Check. Managers arguing in the media setting up a tasty encounter? Check.

What’s not to like?

(David Wren, Standard)

[Fide]

5 hours ago, C4mmy31 said:

There isn’t a lot left to be said as far as Steve Clarke goes.

The turn around at Rugby Park has been nothing short of remarkable.

To have lost just two games (three) in his entire reign is mind-boggling, to be quite honest, and if he isn’t crowned Scotland’s manager of the year then there is something far wrong.

Clarke has turned a group of players who looked down and out and without a hope into a team that are more or less guaranteed top six football and could be on the cusp of a trip to Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Ross County are the next visitors this weekend and it’s difficult to see anything other than a Kilmarnock win.

People are bound to say that this column has now cursed their chances – but even at that, we’re so far gone in this incredible run that even if they didn’t manage a victory on Saturday, their next three points wouldn’t be far around the corner.

In recent years under previous managers when you felt the team were about to record some decent form, they’d quickly be brought back down to earth.

That didn’t happen to Kilmarnock under the current boss. The run kept going and, quite frankly, doesn’t look like ending any time soon.

Jordan Jones is in brilliant form, Kris Boyd has rolled back the years and sits as the league’s top scorer, Youssouf Mulumbu has been an inspired signing.

Those players grab the headlines but when you look at the improvements in the others, that’s where Clarke’s brilliance really shines through.

Greg Taylor, Stephen O’Donnell and Kirk Broadfoot are three straight off the bat who have been on a different level in recent months.

The shifts the two full-backs are putting in at the moment are incredible, with both a threat on the attack and sound at the back.

Broadfoot’s signing was not met with much fanfare and his slow start to life at Rugby Park didn’t help things.

Now he’s one of the first names on Clarke’s teamsheet, an ever-present during the revolution in Ayrshire.

Alan Power and Gary Dicker have been immense in the engine room. Scott Boyd, Stuart Findlay and Gordon Greer have been solid albeit they’ve had to rotate the second centre-back spot.

Eamonn Brophy has burst onto the scene with a few goals and it’s no surprise to see clubs like Brighton and Hove Albion seriously looking at the forward.

Rory McKenzie fits into the midfield well when called upon and even Lee Erwin looks to be finding form at an important part of the season.

The squad – and not just the 11 on the park – are flourishing under Clarke and his coaching has brought out the best in them.

Now the manager just needs the fan backing to match the performances.

There is an excellent core support at Rugby Park who have got louder and louder as the weeks have got on and backed the team.

The away support is one of the best in the country and had been even in the dark times over the past few years.

But now those stay away supporters who haven’t gone much in recent memory have to step up to the plate and come along to back the team.

This Tuesday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final replay with Aberdeen is the perfect opportunity to show your support.

Big game? Check. Trip to Hampden at stake? Check. Good opposition? Check. Managers arguing in the media setting up a tasty encounter? Check.

What’s not to like?

(David Wren, Standard)
 

David Wren's a good guy.

[Nadroj]

Didn't know Brighton were looking at Brophy.

[Estragon]

1 hour ago, Nadroj said:

Didn't know Brighton were looking at Brophy.

???

[cass316]

Steve Clarke wins manager of the month for February.

 

 

http://www.kilmarnockfc.co.uk/Article?id=6890

 

[Nadroj]

33 minutes ago, Estragon said:

???

Its in the David Wren article.

[C4mmy31]

[Richie95]

Brophy to Brighton is an odd move, but yet again, it just another example of a player who Clarke really has managed to influence. 

[cass316]

Big Alex

[Estragon]

^^^
Absolutely love this guy, not entirely sure why - he just looks like a total legend.

[Squirrelhumper]

6 hours ago, Fide said:

David Wren's a good guy.

Aye but a *** from Killie. Loses points for that!

[Squirrelhumper]

9 minutes ago, Estragon said:

^^^
Absolutely love this guy, not entirely sure why - he just looks like a total legend.

Him and Clarke bought Yeti a carry out for Aberdeen for his birthday!

[C4mmy31]

[Nadroj]

2 hours ago, Squirrelhumper said:

Him and Clarke bought Yeti a carry out for Aberdeen for his birthday!

That's absolutely class. 

Dyer seems sound as f**k

[BlueKillie]

Seeing the amount of respect the players show Dyer, when it all comes to the end of the Clarke Era, I would like Dyer to be given that managerial role. I have no doubts that obviously Clarke is behind the magic but I feel Dyer does a lot more than he is given credit for. 

 

The man just oozes legend!