Why Me?!

Confessions of an Edinburgh Clyde Supporter (9/12/2006: Livingston at Almondvale)

Is it just me or is it difficult to know what to make of this season?

As usual, the summer period was an interesting period for us Clyde fans. Their was all sorts of shenanigans going on in the background, with no one able to say what was going to happen. By the time the season started, we had lost our two main strikers and a manager who had helped us take Rangers to extra time and most importantly play Celtic off the park. Needless to say, the pundits predicted a relegation season. They always do though!

But then the season started! Things were a bit more positive. Okay, we still hadn’t really replaced Brighton and Williams, but Joe seemed to have the support of the players and we were playing some good stuff, especially at home.

Fast forward to Saturday, and our trip to Livingston, and I still can’t figure out what we are going to do!

Before the game; we sit 10 points off the bottom. Not too bad, by my reckoning we are a better team than both QoS and Airdrie (despite the fact we save our worst performances of the season for the latter!). We are also only 11 points of top before the game. Now in a league where anyone can beat anyone, what do we make of this?

For me, we could be in the promotion battle at the end of the season. On our day we are a match for any team in this league, especially at Broadwood. Maybe this then, is the reason why this season is so frustrating! One game magnificent, the next unable to string a pass together! We all know the players can do it, so if we the fans just keep getting behind them – even after mistakes – then we can go far.

The game at Livingston was like the story of our season so far. Start brightly, lose a goal, panic for a while, opposition down to 10 men and then we sneak an equalizer! The only thing getting me this year is that you can sense a tension before every game, one mistake and we seem to start getting on the players back. Remember, these guys are still young and learning, although occasionally of the boil, they are capable of brilliance.

So, 17 games gone, a match for every team in the league, a defender seemingly able to stroll through every game (enjoy Neil McGregor whilst you can) and a transfer window about to open, giving us the chance to strengthen. We are not in as bad a position as you would imagine going by some of the people you hear on match days. You would think we are adrift at the bottom of the league!

So when Dundee come calling on Saturday, lets get behind the boys and enjoy a good win with Gary Arbuckle again staking his claim for the golden boot!!

Mark Nimmo