MB

I must admit to a feeling of sadness at us turning our back on grass. I alway used to feel a sense of moral superiority playing against the likes of Hamilton (when they had a plastic pitch). Even though we often lost at New Douglas Park (and I still have nightmares about the 5-2 reversal), I could always console myself with the fact that at least we had a real pitch. Alas, that will be no more as we make the switch to plastic. Whilst it may make business sense and possibly even better conditions for playing football, I'm still sad. It's the passing of an era and it is just a bit difficult for me to let go of the grass. It may be muddy grass, but it's grass nonetheless. It has also happened most suddenly and I've not had time to prepare myself. I'm sure I'll get used to it but that's how I currently feel.

Yes, that is indeed what has happened.

Bit of a novice here. Gone for a treble today but one of the games was at Glebe Park. Match now off. What happens? Does it convert to a double or will the bet only be complete when the original fixture eventually gets played? I'm thinking the latter.

I see we have inducted two further Queens legends into the Hall of Fame: Bobby Black and Andy Thomson. Link Can't argue with either of those.

A true gentleman and scholar of the game, it's another sad day for cricket.

He must have been some player. A true Queens legend and I'm sad to hear this news.

I concur. The latest pronouncement by Robertson was completely unnecessary, crass and quite frankly embarrassing.

Cheers. That is how I pronounce it but many peeple annoy me (i.e the wife) by saying it the other way.

What is the correct way to pronounce paracetamol? Is is paraSETamol, or paraCEETamol? Is one the recognised American/English/Scottish version? Thanks.

That's not easy, so I'll cheat: Barney Mitchell Parker Higgins Sim

By Jesus, it's great being a Queens fan right now. Last season was horrific, but we now have a manager who knows what he's doing. AJ has a very bright future in the game, as do many of our young stars. Let's make the most of them while we still have them at Palmerston. Revel in it.

It's just a shame Goram is pictured beside two legends in the shape of Henderson and Ball. A mural of the winning challenge cup side would have been fine but I think most Queens fans would agree that we've had other keepers who have contributed more than Goram. For the record, when I saw him play for us he had a presence about him but others are more deserving.

I'm sure something could be arranged! I feel sick just seeing that mural. Roy Henderson spent 11 seasons at Palmerston and played only one of those out of the top division. Alan Ball played for the club for almost 20 years and has represented Queens more than any other player. Other notables not on the mural include Colin Scott: over 100 appearances (would have been more had it not been for injury) and was the keeper that saved that penalty against Hamilton Accies in 2002 that saw us promoted. Jamie Macdonald played for us for almost two seasons and was our keeper during our run to the Scottish Cup Final in 2008. My favourite when I was a boy, Alan Davidson, is 10th on our all-time appearances list and played for 11 seasons in total. Barney was eccentric and had the most amazing reflexes. He was our keeper in the promotion season 1985-86. George Farm, who only eight months before had been capped for Scotland, stayed with us for three seasons. He made over 100 appearances, including the promotion season 1961-62 and served as player-manager before being sacked by Harkness. Andy Goram played for us on 19 occasions and picked up a winners medal in the Challenge Cup. That's it. Goram is not on the mural for what he achieved at Queens. I saw a number of his games for us and he generally played well. He did a job, albeit briefly, then left. He does not deserve a place on the mural. I do feel quite strongly about this.

Yes, of course he would. Macdonald played with us for two very successful seasons in our history and generally proved to be a capable keeper. Goram is only there for what he achieved before his arrival at Queens. A Queen of the South mural should include pictures of players who achieved great things whilst at the club. It's not rocket science.

Goram's inclusion is a travesty. He hardly played any games for us and if others such as Alan Davidson, Colin Scott and George Farm are not to be found alongside two very worthy keepers in Henderson and Ball then it is absolutely scandalous.

I took my eldest son, aged three, to his first game on Saturday. He just about made it to full time but got a bit bored towards the end. So Mrs MB had to leave five minutes before the end of the game against Stenhousemuir. They missed two red cards! It was worth it as he was able to run around the terracing at Palmerston, although I didn't get to see as much of the match as usual. He shouted 'Come on Queens' and clapped when the goals went in. He also looked resplendent in my old blue and white scarf and got a free lolly from the club shop. The highlight for him was getting a high five from the mascot, Dougie Doonhamer, and a stroke of his (toy) collie pup. I guess you had to be there to see the utter joy in his face. So proud that I am now a dad that has taken his son to a Queens game.

There is little point in going over old ground. My views on this are well known, I think. The Board had a decision to make that should have been in the best interests of both the club and Scottish football as a whole. They got is spectacularly wrong, showed a complete lack of judgement and then tried to explain their reasoning with an argument that had more holes in it than Swiss cheese. With nobody else around to invest in the club, the board could start to heal the rift by inviting a fans representative to sit with them. It might end up as tokenism but I'm willing to give it a shot.

He's not obsessing at all. He is simply taking a pricipled stance and should be respected for that. Unlike Frascoigne, however, I do not have the backbone to walk away and have been swept along with the euphoria of Johnston's babes doing the business on the pitch. As for a fans representative on the Board, I am fully behind the idea. A lot still needs to be done to repair the relationship between the Board and the fans and it could be a step in the right direction.

We are now officially a 'scalp'. There, I've said it.

Well, that didn't work out very well. The little bugger gurned all night and consequently Mrs MB and I got virtually no sleep. I'll cut him some slack as he's not yet three days old! How did we manage the first time around?!

Cheers G_Man. It feels good to have him and Mrs MB home now. This is his first night in the house so I'd better get to bed now and try to get some kip!

Good name and I think we can all agree he sounds suitably Scottish. That is even more important given the fact I live in England! Thanks to everyone for the good wishes. So proud of Mrs MB today. Here's a photo of Alastair at 5 hours old:

Baby Alastair has entered the world. One more Doonhamer born around one hour ago. He is our second son and weighed in at 7lbs 4oz. Mother and baby both doing well. Dad shattered but proud.

Reilly is a far better finisher and is more of a natural goalscorer. However, Clark gets himself into the right positions, does a lot of work off the ball and is a constant menace. With Smith out for a while, do we need another striker? Or, should we dip our toe in the emergency loan market only if something happens to one of Clark, Reilly or Lyle? What's the score with Milligan?

I'd agree with that. We should also remember that McKenna is still picking up bookings as per usual. The Burns signing also tells us what we already know: the manager is going to play a very limited role on the pitch this season (as is McShane).