Football: Glens boss reckons he knows his starting 11

Jul 20 2011 by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer

GLENCAIRN boss Willie Harvey says he has a good idea which players will form his starting eleven as his side prepare to take on East Kilbride Thistle in the first game of the season.

Despite still having two friendlies to play, Willie and his management team have already discussed their ideal team for the opening encounter in the sectional league cup.

Glens have warmed up so far with a 1-0 win at West Calder and a 2-2 draw with Shettleston and will face Arthurlie on Saturday and St Anthony’s this coming Monday before kicking off for real a week today (Wednesday, July 27).

Willie says the squads picked for those two games will have no bearing on who is selected to play against East Kilbride.

Willie said: “I have a pretty good idea what our strongest team is. These last few games have allowed us to assess them, but there are still strong players who could come in and not be out of place.

“Everyone has been given a game the last two, but I’ve told the players that I will be selecting a squad for Arthurlie and St Ant’s, although everyone will be involved in one of them.

“No disrespect to West Calder and Shettleston, but these are stronger teams and we don’t want to be chopping and changing throughout the game.

“The first 11 is very, very close in my mind, but that doesn’t mean that will be who plays on Saturday or Monday.

“We’ve still got guys coming in. We have two players a midfielder and defender, who we will look to get involved as well.”

Willie was delighted with the workout his side received in their two warm up games so far.

He said: “It was two decent games.

“In the first 20 minutes against West Calder, we were a little rusty and you could tell the boys had not played with one another, but as the game progressed you could see us getting stronger and stronger and we dominated most of the game.

“Last night, we totally controlled the first half and then made eight or nine changes with people playing out of position.”

Willie admitted that the form of many of the new players delighted him the most.

And he reserved specific praise for young goalkeeper, Matthew McGinley, who has just signed from Vale of Clyde.

He said: “I was really pleased with the way the new signings performed. One or two of the guys we are having a look at might not make the grade, although we won’t make any decisions just yet, but those who had put pen to paper have done really well.

“The young goalkeeper, Matthew McGinley. He is a very good ‘keeper and he has looked very assured.

“The likes of Alan Evans and Matt Flynn have gelled very quickly and Ross Ballantyne has picked up where he left off.

“I’m not usually so optimistic but I can see a lot of positives. I’ve seen things that we need to work on as well of course, but even the supporters are seeing a difference.

“It’s refreshing to see players already coming together and getting angry about things, which is maybe something we didn’t do as much last year.

“Already the players are showing me that they do not like to lose.”

Glens will have to go without a planned friendly tonight at Fauldhouse, but problems with the park have put paid to that.

Willie though, isn’t too bothered: “We’ll have a training session and have a wee chat about what we could be doing better.

“It will actually be good to get a rest.”