Tactical genius, or just lucky?

Last updated : 30 November 2005 By Ross Mcclung
Speak to any opposition fan and ask them what they think of Jim Leishman. Go on, how about most of them say one or more of the following things!

1) Very passionate and likeable
2) Eccentric mad and embarrasing
3) Hasn't got a clue about tactics
4) Media darling

Now quite possibly a lot of our own fans would agree, but the recent wins against Hibs and Celtic show that despite having an injury ravaged squad, deprived of the quality the Calderwood and his chequebook had, big Jim may just be proving some doubters wrong.

Dunfermline have been on the slide for a while now, and this seasons form can't have come as a shock to anyone. But encouraging signs are there. The improving form of young players like Greg Ross, Aaron Labonte and Noel Hunt - are they results from Leishmans man management?

The game against Celtic was for me a big shot from Jim at a tactics masterplan. To outfox a Celtic manager is certainly something to be proud of. Celtic never really looked capable of scoring, Jim's suffocating the wing play by placing Derek Young and Noel Hunt out wide and forcing play through two centre backs (Balde and Mcmanus) whose skill and creativity is crude to say the least was essential to the plan. A centre back trio for the Pars of Shields, Tod and Wilson mopped and pressed so that Fatson and Liedown were as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Leish deserves the praise. Now he has to keep on delivering and get the Pars safe. A side in transition definitely, a side going to division 1 however is not an option.