squeezeboxson

What was all the stress about?

Interesting how opinions differ. I think Boris was 100× better than Armour on Saturday. I missed Ben's first match but Boris is the closest thing to a natural striker I have seen this season in a sons shirt. But that may have been him giving a bit extra as he was looking to earn a deal...

And Armour rather than Melingui?

Interestingly... imo DT could be the difference between us staying up or going down. I think there are 2 things we currently lack from our team. A target man and a ball player to run at folk and create things. If we add 1 of those then it kinda counteracts the other. If we don't add a ball player then we continue to play the ball long to all the small guys. As much as C Gall, Thomson and Melingui would do their best - it isn't their strongest asset. But if we sign someone like Thomas then we shouldn't have to resort to playing as many long balls. Just look at Forfar and they don't have a big striker/target as such but they play good football and pass/dribble/run their way through (especially from midfield to attack). If we don't sign anyone else we will struggle to stay up but if we do sign DT then we are giving ourselves a much better chance of staying up and will have significantly strengthened during the transfer window.

He was fine on the whole. He played CB beside our other new signing. He looked fairly comfortable for more of the game before being involved in a mix up which led to us conceding a penalty. Partly his fault and partly the 'keepers fault. I'd imagine once Craig Barr is fit he will be shifted to LB though.

It's quite simple. It's about opinions. I didn't think we were speaking exclusively about this season. Others have been bad and get criticism as they deserved. I don't buy the Hutton/Carswell combination doesn't work thing. In Duffy's first game in charge they both played alongside one another and we won 4-0. It is all about getting the other players around about them working and if I remember correctly Carswell was played further forward. Yeah - that wasn't the toughest test we have ever had but it worked.

I'd go for that. He isn't a world beater and he plays in one of the less glamourous roles in the team. His body language isn't great which makes people think he just isn't bothered but for different managers to rate him he must do something right in their eyes. I don't think many (if any) of our fans have suggested he is an overly great player. It's just that more often than not he is the scapegoat following poor performances when he has only been as bad as others.

Aye, seems a bit odd we were trying to sign a right back. Can Wardrop operate at left back or something? I'd have to guess Duffy would have been happy for either of them to play left back or maybe he fancied putting one of them further up at right mid or something? Still seems a bit weird overall.

Pretty much what Moonster said. He got mix3d reviews. I assume Ross Forbes posted the update on your page and I'd say he was his biggest fan amongst our support. I wasn't that big a fan - he was fine but I wasn't fussed that he left. A squad player for me and if imagine he would stay that with yourselves.

I'm thinking maybe tomorrow we will announce any new signing(s)... go along to training tonight and get their photo and sign a wee deal. That's what I'm hoping for anyway!

It's all about opinions but I wouldn't be surprised if Spencer continues being an option from the bench at Forfar.

Todd is starting every week for Queens now. Seems to be doing pretty well there.

Again - Hutton getting criticism. Spencer was no better in my opinion. Especially as you specifically mention keeping possession. For me - Hutton has been one of the more consistent performers since Duffy came in. There seems to be a lot of panic. For me - I'll be worried come Wednesday or Thursday is we haven't announced any signings. I agree we aren't in a great place but stand by my point of Duffy wouldn't have let these guys leave if there wasn't some way he was going to replace them. Of course, no one knows either way if the replacements will be improvements...

This is pretty much my feelings on him. He didn't, imo, do anything particularly good. He was an option but for me he never looked that great. He'll do fine for most teams in this league - as a squad player. ETA - Despite his ability to run I never thought he was that good a keeping possession of the ball and was a tad lightweight.

Plus Ayr at at the top of the league and full time... Nice to take solace in other's failure since we ain't giving ourselves anything to smile about...

Did Ayr just out-Bonnyrigg Dumbarton?

"If we half our prices we might more than double attendances because other clubs have done it" Not sure what club(s) that is...

I totally agree with your point that despite how bad we are in the 'keeper area of our squad there are others we need in more. But possibly swapping Mcgowan for McCrorie would be an astute piece of business. I did say at Stenny a couple of weeks ago there must be a young goalie with a point to prove and improving to do that would be a better option to what we had (at the time). For me that's my issue with Smith too - he is on his way down and isn't going to get better at this stage on his career. As already mentioned it all depends on finances.

Highly doubt it. Maybe tomorrow. Would have thought the twitter would have given us some build up. Obviously new players may be at training but last week we announced Armour on Friday.

I've been saying this for weeks. Even when we had 2 or 3 subs. They were significantly weakening us when we brought them on (often played out of position). We have absolutely no way of changing things and if the system isn't working we just plod our way through and lose. A different option up front would make a massive difference. CG and RT are both far too much a jack of all trades. Not a target man, not a hold up player, not full of pace etc... most importantly none of them are good finishers. I also don't think we can underestimate the fact that we lost a last minute goal when we must have been tiring badly (down to 10 men and only 1 sub to bring on). Not to mention we had 2 midfielders playing in defence.

If that is the case then only time will tell. Given he wasn't found guilty as opposed to the aforementioned Goodwillie - he should have no problem finding a team.

I don't believe that one little bit. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. If the likes of David Goodwillie can find himself playing in League 2 then Nade could too.

So what do you put it down to? He is past it. I like the guy but he should be nowhere near a side like ours right now or even league 1 level.

It is simple. He wasn't that effective in his last 6 months with us. We missed him massively when all the stuff was happening and he was frozen out of the team. But that wasn't down to him being a good option beforehand it was down to him being the only option. Instead we brought in Iain Russell who wasn't anywhere near fit enough. There's a reason Nade is playing at the level he is and not in our league or even the league below.

Maybe 3 years ago...