Mach1

I would rather put the bitching about the BOD behind us and get behind them and the players. Decent performance today but we badly need at least 2 quality forwards, one to score goals and a big guy to hold things up. A quality midfield schemer to give the wingers service and work the ball through would also help. Positives at Dumbarton were: the win; Robinson in goal made 2 outstanding saves; the central defence where Durnan was superb; emerging guile from Gibson and Carmichael and the solid midfield performance of McKenna. Downsides: the forwards were rank and in particular Clark who missed 4 sitters and has no eye for a goal; full backs way too often let their man get behind them and Young was not in the game and if he gets a contract that would concern me. Good start and Im optimistic but save the player budget on Lyle and Young and get in the three players and above then we have a chance of promotion. Concerned about Gibsons shoulder injury, ref had a duff game with mysterious or wrong decisions and the challenge on Gibson worth a yellow at least. Dumbarton will come back down as cloggers, only 6, 10 and 12 looked any good

My point is not to spend more but get in fewer better. I bet we have a bigger playing budget than Alloa but need to deploy it better via a few really high quality signings. Getting in fillers that failed before is pointless. Rather draft in more under 19s alongside some better players. For me priority is a couple of forwards as Smith is injury prone and Reilly unproven. Ideally big guy and a goalscorer...could be from Div 2, Spl reject, Div 3, Juniors or non contract. Better go younger for at least 1 of these. Not sure we have solved this yet. Especially when we were spoiled with Sam Parkin last year, probably the best out and out target man I have seen at Palmerston. Next would another centre half

Hmm! Although really happy with Johnstons attacking philosophy after the annus horribilis of last season we need to sorn our vsquad out quickly. That means adding fewer quality players rather than a string of low cost fillers. Push the boat out a little on cash as well. An insuider told me that the full-time offer that we made to Craig Malcolm was so desirory that it was less than Alloa offered him to go part time, result was that a player who really wanted to sign for us wouldnt now touch us with a barge pole. Friend of mine watched Durnan on loan at Elgin and proclaimed him a star in the making and pal in Perth said well thought of by the Saintees so I would definately sign him. Hopkirk has a good pedigree and by all accounts has played well so another stick on for me, particularly as midfield creativity was a real achilles heel for us last season. Milligan is low cost, local and at least has an eye for a goal so worth a punt. I would not sign Scott Robertson as last time he was here was possibly one of the worstnplayers I have ever seen in a Queens shirt... clueless, talentless headless chicken Ditto the Tan Man... ditched for his singular lack of ability to take a chance and given the baggage wouldnt touch him with a barge pole Young strikes me as another Simmons ie past his sell by date Concern for me is how late we are leaving signings, the totemic way we parade our full time status and the obsession with duds who we got rid of first time around. Its all about the quality of the players stoopid and not whether we are full time or not. At this point in time we are behind Ayr (given preseason results), Alloa in momentum and Arbroath in signings ambition. Good we have taken a period to reflect and watch trialists in action but now get on and sign a few good uns. By the way I have been going to watch Queens since 1971 and so if you think that a poorly executed but well intentioned political play by our Board will stop me then you have another think coming. Now is the time to rally round and get promotion so we can get back in the big club mixed for when Scottish football is reshaped.