palmy_cammy

Talk about football, not politics! I've not made any of the pre-season games thus far, and although I quite fancied a jolly to Workington I'll be at Wickerman. Going by reports Durnan has looked good at centre half, as has Robertson. Am I right in saying Young has played mainly as a right-back? Lyle we all know is capable in Division 2, but is he maybe too similar to others we have signed? Where does Hopkirk play? Martin I expect will be signed as backup for Robinson. Centre of defence seems solid enough with McGuffie, Higgins, Black, and McKenna all capable of playing their. Strong possibility of Durnan or Robertson joining the ranks as well. Full back looks pretty weak with Holt being the only natural full back we have. Wouldn't object to seeing both a left and right back signed up. McGuffie can do a job at right-back, but I fear he doesn't have the legs to get up and down, and may get caught out. Plenty of width in the midfield with Gibson, Clark, Carmichael and Orsi all fighting it out for 2 positions. McKenna will fulfil the destructive role in the middle of the park, with at the minute, Johnston and McShane offering the creativity from the middle of the park. This is another area I feel we are weak. I was surprised to see McShane kept on, although I will of course support the managers judgement over my own. Johnston should still have the quality to succeed in Division 2, but won't have the legs to finish games. I would also prefer to see the manager on the sidelines. Hope we aren't looking at Young as a possibility in their as I fear he would be a Simmons-esque passenger. Striker-wise, we have a potentially great partnership in Smith and Reilly, but no depth whatsoever. I don't rate Clark as a forward at all, and although Carmichael played as striker at Gretna, I think he will be at his best for us out wide. From what I saw last season, Smith is a player who likes to drop deep, or into wide areas to collect the ball. This may of course have been as a result of the appalling service he received last year, I'm not sure. I would like to see us sign a more traditional "number 9" as I think we have the players to create plenty of chances, we just need to find someone to finish them off. I'm not sure if Lyle is the man for this. It seems we are going to sign 5 or 6 players so I would like those to be - a centre half, 2 full-backs, creative midfielder, and a striker? Anyone any views?

So who's going to Gretna tomorrow then...

Good to see a bit of sanity restored with the last two posts. It's a shame you don't post as much any more SD. I don't always agree with you, but your posts are always well thought out and balanced. The last few pages show some of our fans to be pretty small-minded and bitter.

Should every boardroom decision be made public, or just the ones the fans have decided should be? Or should we just scrap the boardroom all together and hold the board meetings on the Plainstanes, allowing passers-by to interfere?

I must say I find it hard to criticise anything Mr Hewitson has said in that interview. It's his first big decision as Chairman so I can understand him not rushing into anything, particularly when he doesn't actually need to yet. I fully agree with his viewpoint that he is "between a rock and a hard place". It is clear from the blog that the fans want to see Rangers placed in Division 3, due to a belief that morals are more important than money. Fair enough. As Chairman of the club though, looking at the financial side of things is pretty much number one on his job description. If he wasn't looking at the options, and trying to work out what is best for the club he would be far more open to criticism than he should be for keeping quiet until completely necessary.

I think the board have taken a big financial gamble on us bouncing straight back, and drawing bigger crowds as a result. If we don't succeed I fear a prolonged stay in division 2, or perhaps worse.

Where is this notion that we are going to be masters of tiki-taka next season come from? A few throw away lines made by Johnston when he took over? Granted anything will be better than the horseshit served up last season, but at the end of the day we are a 2nd division club signing 2nd division players, don't expect Pirlo do turn up on trial!

Very good centre half in the first division, considerably worse when used at right-back.

Indeed. One excellent season, one poor season. Certainly not deserving of some of the disgraceful treatment he received. Anyone who doesn't appreciate what he offered as a player clearly didn't see our CIS Cup game against Rangers where he absolutely bossed Davie Weir and Bougherra. If Davie Weatherston actually had any composure we would have won that game, with Holmer largely to thank. It is three years since his "good season" with us though and you can only think the attributes he is hated for, namely pace and movement, will have deteriorated further leaving him even more open for abuse. I don't doubt his great footballing brain will remain though. If, as today's Standard suggests, it is a straight choice between Holmes and Dargo I think I'd have to plump for Holmer based on his better injury record. Neither fill me with particular excitement though. We are lacking a target man type player from our team, but I don't necessarily think one is as much of a necessity as most managers in Scotland do. It only encourages ugly long ball football, and aimless punts that are generally dealt with by your archetypal Scottish centre half (a problem Holmer undoubtedly suffered with). In Kevin Smith we already have a player who can hold it up and bring others into play, as long as the ball is kept on the ground for him.

You do realise my dislike of McLaughlin stems from a season of watching his ineffectual performances on a weekly basis. I don't know why you're trying to make it sound like I have a personal dislike for him and criticise him to fit some agenda.

I've no reason to be unfair and unbalanced, just calling it as I see it. Dropping two divisions isn't something good players generally do though.

McLaughlin won't do any of those things! I don't think he made a tackle his entire time with us! Don't expect him to put in a shift or keep things together either. He is a headless chicken who seems happy wandering about wherever he fancies. He likes to get forward and join the attack and yes he scored a few for us, but when he gets forward he takes his time getting back, often literally walking back. His "ability" may be more evident in the 3rd division but it's his attitude that is the issue. That is why he is probably my most hated Queens player ever.

Scott McLaughlin signs for Peterhead. YASSSSSSS!!!!!! :D :D :D LINK.

I wish the manager had. I thought it was quite funny, by his standards!

Hopefully Johnston can put the cocky shite down a peg or two. He should be ridiculously good at this level though. Is it true that last season Falkirk played him more centrally rather than his usual left-wing role?

I'd love it to be true but if the big man wouldn't even do the lap of honour for fear of the fans reaction, I very much doubt he'd want to re-join us. Anyway well done dosserboy. People wanted this thread livened up, and mentioning Holmes' name is a sure fire way of adding an extra couple of pages! Similarly - Willie McLaren > David Weatherston...

If not a merge then lock the other one.

Why haven't you merged the threads yet then? I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with our new board-mates by clogging it up with my shite!

You're learning. Not enough for a greenie I see though! I'm in pre-season optimism mode, and at the minute everything I want to happen is happening which is maintaining this optimism. Of course it could turn out that I know absolutely nothing about football, and the things I want to happen turn out to be an absolute disaster! I did want Gus after all! Flash and Monkey Tennis have clearly followed Queens longer than I have though causing them to understandably be permanently pessimistic. It'll come to us all eventually.

I take Monkey Tennis's point, but the likes of McGuffie and Higgins are proven at first division level so it's fairly logical to assume they will cope a level down. They are the only two from the defence that I have seen people keen to sign. Reid I expect will move on, and hopefully so too will Potter. Although I had feared relegation from about September, it was his signing that sealed our fate IMO. McGuffie and Higgins were just starting to look like a partnership, and it was clear for all to see our midfield was lacking creativity. So what does the tactical mastermind do? Sign one of his old pals, who is no better than what we have. Cheers Gus. Although no-one can deny we were rightfully relegated, most people believe we had a reasonable squad that perhaps should've competed better than it did. I haven't seen anyone clamouring to get all of last seasons squad re-signed. Just a select few who were our better performers last year (McGuffie, Higgins, Carmichael), or have done it for us in the past (Reid and McKenna). I don't have a problem with bolstering our youth players with these experienced guys. With the exception of Clark, so far Johnston has only signed players the fans have wanted to stay so I'm content. Obviously alarm bells will start to go off if some of the pretenders from last season start getting offered deals as well though, but I have faith that having played alongside them, Magic will know who is and isn't up to it.

Hutton > Robinson IMO.

I agree wholeheartedly. It's pretty flawed logic to suggest that some of the wasters from last season will suddenly turn good because we've gone down a league. Didn't a lot of us bemoan the performances with the comment "this team would struggle in the second division". Even if the poorer opponents we'll be facing were to suddenly bring out the inner-Messi in the likes of McLaughlan, Simmons, Clark and Brighton, their attitude was lacking as much as their footballing ability. For that alone I don't think they deserve a second chance at my club. Relegation isn't an achievement that should be rewarded IMO.

We'd hardly be relying on him! As it stands we have Smith who is comfortably first division quality nevermind second. Carmichael who will surely be given more freedom to attack than he was under Gus. Reilly who will hopefully excel at a lower level and given more game time. We also have McCusker who would appear to as much of a gamble as Milligan with his injury record.