IF LOOKS COULD THRILL
Del riled by Killie style slurs and insists he has one of league’s most exciting teams
DEREK McINNES has hit back at the snipers taking pot shots at Kilmarnock’s style of play – insisting he’s got one of the most exciting teams in the Premiership.
The Rugby Park boss has led his side back into Europe with an attacking blueprint built around two wingers and two central strikers.
Celtic and Rangers have both been beaten in Ayrshire while McInnes has been shortlisted for the SFWA Manager of the Year award and David Watson is in the running for the Young Player gong having already won the PFA Scotland award.
Killie dangerman Danny Armstrong is in the top three for Premiership assists while Marley Watkins and Kyle Vassell have both hit double figures in the goal charts.
Yet McInnes still reckons his team are victims of lazy accusations of a physical style of play. Former Aberdeen boss Neil Warnock was particularly outspoken after losing in
Ayrshire in February when he said: “We got bullied. I wouldn’t want to watch that every week but they played to their strengths and you have to match that.”
But McInnes hit back: “It jars me sometimes when people say they couldn’t deal with our physicality after a win.
“People will say Kilmarnock are good at what they do. That kind of suggests to me that we are just a wee bit basic.
“I don’t see any other team committing to two wingers and two strikers.
“Whether it’s a back three or a back four, that has been consistent.
“We probably can’t afford a 20-goal striker, other clubs have had the benefit of that.
“It’s too easy to suggest we’re just a physical team.
“We are an exciting team to watch – and that’s reflected in the season-ticket sales for next season.
“We’re tapping into the younger generation and it’s so important to do that.”
McInnes wants to bolster his strikeforce in the summer – but admits Kevin Van Veen won’t be staying at Rugby Park beyond the end of his loan deal.
The Dutchman has yet to score since arriving from Groningen in January and only one of 12 appearances have been from the start.
Skipper Vassell is under contract for another year and McInnes is confident a deal can be done to keep hold of Watkins too.
Livingston forward Bruce Anderson is on the radar but Van Veen will be heading back to Holland.
Gaffer McInnes said: “We signed Kevin and it was for 18 weeks on a level of money we normally can’t go to.
“We don’t have the ability to go to that level for a player. We were supported by the board in the window because we felt we needed other options.
“The form of Marley and Vass has been significant and Kevin recognises that too.
“He’s not been unhappy or upset at not making more of a contribution. He recognises the two boys have been hard to shift.
“We are going to need another keeper, we’re probably looking for a bit more pace up top for a different option. “But there’s
not much really. Europe changes it, if we get through the qualifiers and into the group stage then we would need to look at bolstering the numbers.
“For the here and now, the majority of the squad are under contract and I’ve already spoken to the players I’d like to keep.
“I want to enjoy my holiday. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like a holiday, you’re just working in better weather.
Folk say we are physical. We’re an exciting side to watch derek mcinnes
“Last year was pretty stressful in terms of what we had to do, I don’t think there will be the same levels of stress this year.
“That said, you still want to get the players you like.
“When we first came in we had a squad built to win the Championship. We didn’t really have value to it.
“Now we do. Watson, Armstrong, Matty Kennedy and Lewis Mayo.
“It would be good if we can continue attracting players who can help us in the here and now and also continue to add value to the squad.”