That’s our season done and dusted – no joy in the cups and fifth or sixth – depending on how Broch do in their last game – in the league.
Disappointing under-achievement for investment made. As sure as good made little apples neither the manager nor the chairman will settle for that.
I’m certain heads will roll and there will be a big recruitment drive over the summer. We’ve been there before – we’re five years into our SHFL life and on what more or less adds up to our third squad in that time.
Should we be more patient and persevere further with the players we have? Can’t see that working out myself – although there are a few who are obvious 100% ones, somehow collectively they keep getting into the same self-defeating pattern of under-achieving in the games they are expected to win at a canter (eg v Huntly, Rothes, Lossie etc) and bottling it on the big occasion (eg v Berwick this season and the league decider against Cove and Ramsdens Cup at Annan previously).
That’s not an ability thing –it’s down to attitude and appetite more than skills and that’s where so far we have really failed to deliver. Too often we have been unable to generate or sustain enough momentum against hard working (but sometimes little more than that) teams.
If a side is prepared to fight hard for every ball and work their socks off off the ball, the present Formartine squad struggle to cope.
You simply can’t win the SHFL like that – you have to compete not just with Brora who have completed the league undefeated, but lower ranked teams who know all about getting in your face, breaking up play and damage limitation. Our lot for whatever reason (some suggest arrogance) haven’t managed that.