Stand Up & Be Counted

ALL is not well at the Theatre of Pies with the last four games resulting in no points, one goal scored and ten against. You don't have to be a football expert (like Sandy Clark!) to recognise things have to change and change fast. Perhaps the most worrying aspect is the three teams who beat us are poor teams therefore where does that leave us?

The most significant change between this season and last is the alarming rate at which we are leaking goals. Many of the goals lost can be attributed to individual errors but maybe it's time for JJ to look at our 442 formation that has been used most of the season. JJ has always stated a preference for a 442 line-up and I think most fans agreed however it simply doesn't appear to be working. It may well be

that the players we have are more suited to the 352 set-up that served us so well last term. Shields looked a far better player in the centre back/sweeper role and it's time to give him another run in that role, as he hasn't been the same at right back.

If there's one thing that can kick start a season it's a good run in the Scottish Cup. Getting to the latter stages of the competition gets fans buzzing and we fancy it could spark a turn around in our league fortunes. Management, players and fans all need to play their part in turning a nothing season into something memorable. The management can get all the players together, remind them of their good habits from last season and build the flagging confidence. There was a big meeting last season between players and management when we were on a bad run, this week could be time for another.

Players can show more responsibility on the field where we still lack a genuine leader who inspires his colleagues and fans alike. Fans won't criticise a player who is obviously giving 100% every week however too many players appear to shirk responsibility rather than stand up and be counted. That may well be down to a lack of confidence but the remedy for that is to roll up the sleeves and work twice as hard.

Finally the fans can play a big part, especially at home, where we are becoming increasingly quiet. The cup is a huge attraction to many fans and probably our biggest away crowd of the season will head to Kirkcaldy this week, even the Howard bus is back on the cup trail. Get yourself along and make as much noise as possible, it may well be that one huge effort from everyone this Saturday can change our whole season around.

Can We Fix It?

IF Bob the Builder can then surely Jim Jefferies can as well, but how is he going to do it? You're probably fed up with us moaning so we contacted a few well known Killie fans and asked them all the same question: "What do you think is going wrong on the park and how can we fix it?" Here is a selection of replies we got. Can you spot any worrying similarities?

Sandy Ferguson (Club Photographer): "I think that we need a new midfield trio. I'm not saying that we have to make signings but should try to make use of our utility players like Canero, Fowler, Shields and (don't laugh) Hay. Our current midfield struggles to be creative and rarely tracks back effectively to assist the back line regardless of the formation. Fulton for sure needs a rest."

Colin Hargreaves (ex-Trust & KFCSA Chairman): "The most apparent issue for me is lack of leadership on the park. No one takes control of the team on the pitch or has the motivational drive to get their heads up. Jim Jefferies is a good manager, but he must see this and act quickly to bring in a leader. There is also no affinity between players and fans that once existed. No grabbing of the club badge or stirring of spirits during the game to invoke passion between the supporters and players."

Steven Lockhart (Killie Trust Chairman): "One thing that is glaringly obvious is the lack of leadership on the park. There seems to be a lack of communication throughout the team with no one ever looking like they are geeing the rest up. In the past we had players like Monty and Ally Mitchell who urged the rest on but there is a lack of that now. Unfortunately no one stands out as a natural leader but if I had the choice, out of the current team, I'd make Shields captain. I'd also start full day training sessions to work harder on particular areas of the game like defending etc. The players are also shirking responsibility and looking to get rid of the ball as quickly as they can, this is probably due to the fact that the crowd jump on any little mistake and none of the players obviously enjoy being the target."

"Best short-term fix I can think of is to go back to last season's tried and tested formation of 3-5-2. The players we have seem best suited to that. The manager also needs to show he's not afraid to drop established players who are off form. There is also a worrying gulf developing between the players and fans, we don't have anyone in the team that the crowd can easily identify with. Sometimes the players need to lift the crowd, for example as a team our players never seem that delighted when we score a goal...you never see them running to each other in celebration. A lot of fans have the perception that the players are only interested in turning up for training then heading home, its time to get the players out and about in the local schools in the afternoons as a start to rebuilding the bond between club and fans."

John Dewar (Journalist): "I just feel nearly all the teams in the SPL are inconsistent, whether it's game to game or season to season and Killie are no different. It's more or less the same team as last term but results are not what we were expecting (third place finish?). It happened with Bobby Williamson and it was bound to happen with JJ. Our players are on a par (good or bad) with most others and teams are just three games from being near the top or bottom of the league. It's just a case of finding consistency amongst a standard of player not quite good enough to achieve the required levels - consistently! Easy to say, I know, but if you look at the big picture it's staring you in the face. Put JJ or any other manager (including O'Neill and McLeish) in charge of another SPL club and it wouldn't make much difference."

Ann Reid (KFCSA Chairwoman): "No leadership on the park. Lack of confidence, why? No midfield or out and out striker. Players don't appear to be playing with any passion or conviction. Management appears to have no motivation or direction why were JJ and BB standing sulking with their hands in their pockets at Aberdeen? We should get players to talk to each other on the park and demonstrate the camaraderie there should be amongst professionals. Give the captaincy to a player who will command and lead on the park. Clear the deadwood from Rugby Park and have players on the payroll who want and will play for the jersey. Jefferies must shoulder some responsibility to stop the rot he is the 'leader'."

"Next Saturday is a MUST win game and management must motivate and encourage the players. It's noted Jefferies is blaming the defence for Saturday (well poor Samson) when Freddy and Greer were the 2 best players on the park. What about the non-existent midfield and our players second to every ball? Give the fans a chance to speak with the players so they can give a face-to-face explanation to their performance on the park. Team selection should be based on Professionalism NOT favouritism. Fans need to have an explanation as to what is going on, on and off the park. The silence is deafening and we are supposed to be important to Kilmarnock Football Club! Where is the commitment and passion that was displayed when we played Rangers in November? It is indeed worrying times and the fans are just so frustrated at the recent events. Give us back our pride, we are a proud species but we are really being tested to the limit, we all wait with baited breath and jitters about next Saturday."

Read the B&H column in the Kilmarnock Standard every week