It has always puzzled me exactly what the point was of reserve team football and admit to being no nearer a solution.
Bribery and corruption from the Grandmaster enabled me to sample the delights of Broadwood Stadium to witness the competitive full debuts of Emerson Costa, Egil Ostenstad and a Tunisian trialist against a Dundee United second string who included such pins-ups as Owen Coyle, Garry Bollan and Andy McLaren. The ugly bug ball right enough.
It seems to me that the Under 21 job is a bit of a poisoned chalice with the latest incumbent being John 'Bomber' Brown. He can never totally pick his own team as there will always be demands from above to blood trialists, massage ailing first team egos and up the fitness levels of new signings. Hardly the stuff to set pulses racing. Yet 749 hardy souls turned up to witness what was little more than a training spin for all concerned.
The main two new signings certainly looked in need of a good run out and Egil could perhaps do some extra shooting practice, either that or he'd already heard of Croy and had decided to demolish a squat or two single-handedly. Emerson showed some delightful touches and looks like he's just an old showboater at heart. Let's hope he gets the opportunity to do just that on October 4!
As for the young ones, none stood out on the night as being anything special, even Chris Burke, who looks much better in his brief first team sojourns.
Perhaps therein lies the answer. First teamers playing at this level seem to lack interest and full commitment, the younger players can only progress to a certain level in the stiffs then they start to stagnate. Perhaps the powers that be could think up ways to make these fixtures more entertaining, eg maybe abolish offside or the backpass altogether to encourage kids to improve their techniques or give more points for goals scored.
Whatever, the entertainment levels at the last few reserve games I've attended have been dire to say the least and doesn't say very much yet for the benefits of Auchenhowie. I know its early days but the main thing I look for in these matches is to see a new rough diamond that I can pin my future hopes on. So far, the search has proved fruitless but I remain optimistic.
However, I take my snide baseball cap off to the Reserve Team Loyal, that hardy band who are always at these games and stay for the duration, unlike my good self who was screaming for mercy the entire second half. May your anoraks continue to be of the designer variety, you are truly dedicated!
The Major