Season Diary - Week 04

Not many would have predicted Friday’s starting line-up for sure, but Lee Clark called it and it certainly seemed to work up to a point, so plaudits to him for that.

Despite facing a what is seen as a ‘new’ club to the league I would still have given my right hand for a draw before the match considering our form of late but I can’t now help but feel that we dropped two points.

Had we finished all our chances and the referee been a bit fairer then the game could have been over bar the shouting in the first half.

That’s not the way things work though and we struggled a bit in the second culminating in the sending of young Greg Taylor, quite rightly to be fair, but the defence were resolute and could do nothing to stop that free kick sailing in so the young guns (and Boydie) ended up having to settle for a draw.

Food for thought for the critics!

The weekend preview

With no games for the U13 Blues U15s and U17's this weekend.
It's the U13 Whites that have top billing with a double header against Clark Drive's two U13 squads, first up on fri night with a 6.30pm ko at St Josephs Academy then again on Sunday 9.45am ko at Irvine's Marress Park hopefully building on what they've achieved so far this season.

On Sunday its the senior ladies who have been on a great run of form recently and performing consistently to a high standard which is pleasing to say the least. Beating Celtic away from home last week was certainly no surprise to us even though they too have had a good run of form and were sitting in second place in the league. We welcome Boroughmuir Thistle to Rugby Park this weekend we certainly have a point to prove as we have been beaten twice away from home by them this season and don't feel as if our performances on these occasions are reflective of how good a team we are. It's a great opportunity to lay a few ghosts to rest and continue our winning form, kick off is 4pm Rugby Park Kilmarnock.

Good luck girls and coaches.  #wearekillie

Be The Boss - Jack Walton

This week's boss for the match against the new boys in the league is Jack Walton, husband of Susan, father of Sam and Killie through and through. Jack was born in the town and spent his formative years in Hurlford before moving back and now stays within a long throw from Rugby Park. On a Saturday night you can occasionally find DJ Jack behind the decks at Bakers reveling in some 90's house and such but the afternoon is reserved for Killie and hence we thought we'd ask him to share his master plan with us.

Thank you very much to KillieFC.com for asking me to be the manager for the upcoming game against Rangers (hereafter referred to as they or them). This is a game that whether played at Rugby Park or Castle Greyskull holds a lot of memories for myself.

Highlights being Tam Black's trundler or Pasca's nonchalant (played onside by a diddy) header and our victory over them in our first game against them in our first year back in the top flight.

Lowlights being hammered by eight goals in 1980 or having my religious status incorrectly guessed by an old woman with summer teeth screeching down at me from the top of the Copland Road Stand who then launched a greeny in my direction!

Anyway to the game and it's going to be tough because unless we get more loanees before Friday then we have to go with what we have so I will name my team and then explain my thinking.

DEFENCE
The Goalie picks himself so to rest of my back four. I am going to ask my boys to stay as a four; I want my fullbacks to play from in to out and not vice versa. I am going to ask them to stay concentrated at all times and for my full backs to tuck in tight and go with runners when need be.

MIDFIELD
In front of the fullbacks I am going to have MacKenzie on the right and Taylor on the left. My thinking is that they (Sevco) are strong in the wide areas and this gives my full backs protection and gives us good energy in wide positions. In central midfield I am looking for Dicker and Adams to be very competitive but also disciplined - if one pushes on the other has to sit tight. In front of those two I am playing the new lad Green. I like the look of this boy and once up to speed think he could become a favourite down our way. When we don't have the ball he can drop deep to reinforce our midfield.

ATTACK
Up top all on his own I have picked Boyd. My thinking is that a couple of seasons ago at Rugby Park against the Jambos, Boydie absolutely rag-dolled and bullied Danny Wilson and I'm pretty sure that he could do so again.

They like to keep the ball down and moving so we need to stay strong and focused and as much as I don't like to say it then let's get it up in the air and see if they can battle. We unfortunately do not have the players to go out and play teams off the park with the ball on the deck at the moment but we could really hurt them in the air.  As long as my team give it everything then I will be happy and if it's tight at the end then we could always bring Dave (Coulibaly) on to try and win it.

Finally going back to memories of us against them and one of the finest games I have ever seen at RP was over 20 years ago between the two reserve teams. A Killie team that featured Danny (that goal) Crainie, Ian Porteous and a trialist from the Buffs called Derek Anderson took on a strong side that featured Durrant, McCoist, Brian Reid and some Russians among others. A high scoring match full of flicks and tricks and a barrow-load of Crainie nutmegs. I'm pretty sure that they edged it 3-4. I wonder if anybody has the team sheets from that night because that would bring back memories?

KTID

Season Diary - Week 03

So much for that winning streak!

It’s a long way to Dingwall and an even longer way back when you get beat for the seventh time in a row from the former Highland League outfit.

It was a cracking sunny day in the north but there was no joy to be had for us as we put in another disjointed performance that barely registered in the ‘shots for’ statistics.

Two new players signed on Friday made their debuts, Adams and Hendrie, is it a coincidence that our performances are not all they should be when we keep drafting new faces in at the last minute?

I hear Chris Burke is training with us as well, but I hope that Lee can field a more settled side soon as the potential is definitely there, we just need some consistency in selection.

Celtic Academy 1-4 Kilmarnock ladies

Kilmarnock travelled to Glasgow to face Celtic hoping to avenge their defeat from earlier in the season when the Glasgow side took all three points away from Rugby Park.
  Killie started brightly but had nothing to show for their efforts over the opening twenty minutes. Both sides were working hard and to a certain extent cancelling each other out. That is, until Kilmarnock produced a goal to rival any other scored this season. An extended period of possession saw the ball shifted from right to left and back again until it came to the feet of Kirsten Rolf who looked up and threaded a perfectly weighted pass  that split the home defence and found the well timed run of Clare Docherty who slipped the ball past the keeper with her first touch to open the scoring.
A few minutes later the away sides lead was doubled. Another through ball caused the defence problems and the resulting back pass was picked up by the home keeper which resulted in an indirect free kick 12 yards from goal. A well worked set piece routine resulted in Sara Paterson sweeping the ball into the corner of the net to put the visitors two ahead.
At half time the away side were the most pleased and quite dominant within the game.
  Celtic changed formation and personnel at the beginning of the second half to try and affect some change to the pattern of the game. Kilmarnock continued to be the driving force in the game and twenty five minutes into the half and Sara Paterson scored a wonderful individual goal. She found herself trapped out at the corner flag with her back to goal with seemingly nowhere to go. A quick turn and sublime piece of skill saw her turn and beat her marker to make her way towards goal. She had options in the centre but ignored those and bent the ball into high into the far corner giving the keeper no chance to make it 3-0.
Celtic were thrown a lifeline with ten minutes to play when after a corner kick the ball bounced around the box before being smashed home from close range to reduce the deficit and give some hope.
  Kilmarnock were not to be denied though and looked the most likely to add to their goal scoring tally.
  Clare Docherty scored her 17th goal of the season after being put through on goal and lobbing the ball over the keeper from 18 yards to complete the scoring with 5 minutes to play.

An excellent three points for this young Kilmarnock side that pushes them up to joint third place in the league and sets them up nicely for the visit of Boroughmuir Thistle to Rugby Park next week who have beaten Killie twice this season.

The Ladies Weekend Preview

We again have a full card of fixtures, kicking off the weekend the U13s  Blues and Whites play each other on Friday night at Rugby Park not calling this one, as we would like both to win.

The U15s host last seasons performance league winners Central Girls at Rugby Park with a 2pm k.o on Saturday afternoon, this should be a big test for the girls to see how far they have come over the last couple of seasons.

On Sunday the 17s head up the coast to take on Morton with an early 12.30pm ko, hopefully following on from last weekend's convincing 6- 0 derby win over local rivals KSC girls.

The Senior ladies will be up at Barrowfield for a 4pm k.o. against the other half of the old firm Celtic, the young hoops winning 2-0 in the last meeting at Rugby Park but Killie will be in a buoyant mood after last weekend's draw with Rangers. The ladies played some fantastic stuff last weekend creating plenty of chances and the Glasgow side new they were lucky to get away with a point in that encounter.
Good luck to all #wearekillie

Be The Boss - Alan Green

What can we say about big Aldo? Quite a lot as it happens, but a fair amount of that may not be family friendly! The boy Green is a "weel kent face" about Rugby Park and about the town, as is the case when you are one of Royal Mail's finest. A season ticket holder, Aldo also travels to away matches with the Howard Arms bus when he can, and he's visited/slept in most stadiums around Scotland and on many a pre-season tour into the bargain. We thought we'd give Killie's best postie since Jim Wilson a shot of being the Boss as he's a bit out of practice since fiancée Lou moved in, here's what the professor had to say...

The formation I am going with is a 3-4-1-2.

GOALKEEPER
Jamie McDonald - Jamie has been a wee bit shaky so far but easily our number 1 by a country mile.

DEFENDERS
Will Boyle - Seems to be getting up to speed with our game up here and could be another Frazer Wright who also liked a head knock.
Miles Addison - No nonsense tank who could be vulnerable against a quick player but in my opinion should be captain and a real presence on the pitch.
Jonny Burn - I haven't seen much of the lad but he looks a solid, athletic guy who could be an asset to a three man defence.

MIDFIELDERS
Jordan Jones - The best signing Lee Clark has made and I think could play as a wing back if our three centre halves work well.
Martin Smith - After a slow start he is starting to show his worth and could form a good partnership with Dicker.
Gary Dicker - Our most experienced midfielder who on his day can win us a game with a pass. A few goals from him would help though.
Stevie Smith - Naturally left footed and should be on the left side. If we can get a right back sorted I would be delighted. Stevie could also work well as wingback as could young Taylor.

IN DA HOLE
George Green - Eh I could hardly leave out my namesake could I? I liked the look of the lad at Hamilton considering he had just arrived so think he is worth a shot just behind the front two.

STRIKERS
Kris Boyd - For obvious reasons Biydie would be my main man up top. He has been fantastic in the last two games and has the build and talent at set pieces etc.
Souleymane Coulibaly - The wee man is a work horse that ain't afraid to shoot. Far from the finished article but working alongside Boyd they could forge a very good partnership.

SUBS
Oliver Davies, Rory McKenzie, Greg Kiltie (if fit) or Adam Frizzell (if not), Callum McFadzean, Mark Waddington, James Cobain, Greg Taylor.

This is a real honour for me and one of the highlights of my 28 years supporting 'the mighty'. Thanks tae ma auld pal Baz for the chance and even if my team is duff, I am still proud to have had the chance to 'be the boss'!

KTID