Something In The Reserves

The contrast between the fortunes of the Saints reserve team and the first team is incredible. The first team have scored just eight goals this season, the same as the reserves have done at home - and they've cracked in ten on their travels! Seven games have seen a return of 16 points, with only a draw against Gretna and a defeat to Falkirk to blemish their record. The first team has managed two points less from four games more. The reserves are flying high, and it's things like that in Football Manager that always make me wonder if I'm picking the right players!

So what's the difference?

The obvious answer would be that, in the grand scheme of things, the reserves don't matter. It's a chance for fringe players, out of form first teamers and youngsters to stake their claim, with several sides putting an emphasis firmly on the latter. Saints racked up a comfortable 3-1 win over Rangers earlier in the season, but very few of the Gers players had much first team action under their belt.

However, it's quite bizarre that a team that is struggling to score goals when it counts can bang them in at will in the reserves - with often the same players who are struggling in the first team on the score sheet. Alex Burke, Stephen O'Donnell and Alan Reid have all found the net on several occasions in the reserves this season, but have yet to do so for the first team (although in Reid's defence, he has hardly played and usually does so at the back). Trialist Tcham N'Toya also scored a few times for the second string, but mysteriously wasn't offered a deal.

The standard of opposition is obviously much poorer than what these first teamers normally come up against, but it would appear the reserves are far more attacking than their first team counterparts. Stuart Balmer is in charge of coaching the team, and it would be interesting to know how much input he has on the way the team play. Is he the reason for all the goals? Or could it be that, with small crowds at these games, there isn't the pressure on the players to perform and they can relax a bit?

Whatever the reason, we're a point clear of Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a game in hand. The only way the league could be any more bizarre is if Gretna were up there too, but they're second bottom - a place behind Celtic.

So, could we have a trophy of sorts to celebrate come May? Possibly, although don't expect any street parties if we win this particular league.