Scott Walker column

Published 3 Mar 2010 15:15 0 Comments

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I WAS inundated with words of sympathy on Saturday evening from people who thought Alloa's unbeaten run had come to an end - I was happy to inform them that wasn't the case.

Some reports were saying we had lost 2-1 to Peterhead but thankfully that scoreline was the other way around and our unbeaten run goes on.

First on the phone was my mum, who wanted to know how we had lost against a Blue Toon side which played with 10 man for the whole second half - I wasted no time in telling her we had actually picked up the three points that stretched our lead at the top to eight points.

To the game itself - the 2-1 home win to Alloa.

We played well against Neale Cooper's team and started the game brightly, producing some good passing movements throughout, with our winning goal the climax to excellent build-up play.

Our reaction to their equaliser was brilliant and showed the belief that exists amongst the players. At the start of the season I don't think that was the case.

The loss of a goal then would have seen us drop off in games but it galvanised against Peterhead. We took the game to them in the second half and battled to the end for the winner.

We have a winning attitude. When someone loses the ball there are two or three guys hunting it down and trying to win it back.

The players think we can win this league but do not think we are unbeatable. Allan Maitland tells us never to be unappreciative of what other teams can do and we understand that.

By continuing our run we are putting pressure on the other teams and the lads intend to keep their foot on the gas.

While second-placed Stirling Albion can go above us if they win their four games in hand, and they will see that as achievable, they face a strenuous amount of games that will be hard on their squad, which isn't the biggest in the league.

The teams around us all have games in hand over us but you have to remember these guys are all part-time and being forced to play twice a week for a couple of months on the back of a full-time job will be a massive test.

Looking ahead to the Clyde games - we were scheduled to play them on Tuesday night weather permitting and will host them at the Recs on Saturday.

The fact they have had games off will benefit us and we will be going for maximum points.

News that Scotland has lost a Champions League place thanks to an ever decreasing co-efficient could, in my opinion, result in the Old Firm being forced to concentrate on bringing through young Scottish talent.

The Glasgow giants have made little progress by bringing in high earners in the past who have failed to help them make any on-going European progress.

But if we concentrate as a country on the youth and give it time - say 5-10 years, then Scottish clubs can aim to get that place back with teams consisting of more home grown players.

That can be achieved - other small countries do it. But there needs to be more joined up thinking. Clubs, the SFA and government have to start investing in facilities that can take our national game forward.

Some people bang on about the £10 million lost to the clubs who could have qualified but in reality that money won't help them compete at that level properly any way.

Next week, I'll give you my reaction to the Clyde games and discuss why I think Scotland struggles to produce top calibre players even though we boast some of the very best managers.

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