By Gordon Thomson
March 12 2004
Airdrie travel to Berwick in the Challenge Cup Second Round 13/8/02 hard on the heels of our first defeat at Hamilton on Saturday. How the team bounce back will be a good measure of our new manager.
The transfer deadline is only 18 days away now and Airdrie will add four players before that deadline. It's fair to say that Saturday's defeat by Hamilton will have added to the urgency, and underscored the need, for a bit of qualilty to be added to the squad. But it's also fair to say that the team which won the first two games against Forfar and Raith haven't suddenly become a bad team either. Sandy will have a bit of fine tuning to do and the Berwick game probably can't come soon enough for him. 'Should he change the formation or personnel?' will be the main thought of the fans going down to Berwick. Marvyn Wilson will be available despite his sending off on Saturday so there should be a full squad to choose from. Many think Paul Armstrong is a stick on to come in after three strong substitute performances. Will he go in at right wing back in place of Boyle, or maybe sneak into midfield? Will Paul Ronald add a bit of height to the attack in place of McGuire or Glancy, or possibly at the expense of one of the three midfielders? Will Harvey, if he signs in time, or Willie Wilson get a start? Plently to think about. I'm sure of only one thing though, that Sandy will want to waste no time in bouncing back after 'that' result on Saturday. Personally I'd like to see Armstrong start on the right of a midfield four beside Wilson, Docherty and McVey, with Docherty concentrating on being the anchor man allowing Marvyn to push on a bit and not needing to defend quite so desperately, hopefully he'd pick up less bookings. That would leave room to accomodate a target man up front without losing the industry and invention of Glancy and McGuire. We're just a bit short of cover till the squad is added to. Berwick haven't been doing to badly of late either. Last season's windfall of two Rangers cupties led to a summer spending spree. In came three former Diamonds. Eddie Forrest (above), Tony Smith and Gordon Connelly all signed up along with Connelly's former QOS team-mate Graham Connell and a few others. Their danger man is striker Gary Wood who has been on fire so far. Brannigan beware! Be sure to get behind the team. AISA buses will be leaving the Albert Bar at 4pm. Non members welcome. C'mon the Diamonds!!!!
