Fae_the_'briggs

If he's under contract the BoD must have given Carlisle permission to talk to him so they will probably have some names in mind if he does leave. I certainly hope they're more on the ball than they were when searching for a Manager the last time as it seemed to drag on then they made what appeared a hurried/panicky appointment.

Kevin" The Dude" McCormick.

Wtf is this word salad^^^^^ Maybe you could take some time off from your Higher English lessons and go along and see what work is put in on the pitch.

Happy enough with those fixtures. Never been back to Motherwell since our Challenge Cup Final defeat there (I don't think) and never been to Ainslie Park so that will be something new. Happy to avoid Broadwood, and not too fussed that we missed a trip to the Cleyhole.

Can we really compare our playing surface against the likes of Falkirk's? Are they the same manufacturer, material, construction, substrate, etc. They may both be classed as 4G but they bear little resemblance to each other. Whether the ball moves differently on one than other I've no idea. I saw Alloa's pitch on telly in the play-offs and it looks a vast improvement on their previous surface, and better than ours. I think players/management have a bit of mind block when it comes to artificial pitches though, as an easy excuse to cover poor performances. Playing on artificial surfaces obviously differs from playing on grass but players and management don't alter their approach, they play their "grass" game with long high balls, leading to misreading bounces, etc, instead of playing more on the deck with passing to feet and running into positions looking for a pass, more like a bigger version of indoor 5's game basically. Obviously this is a lot harder and tiring and requires better ball control which is why most opt for booting the ball as hard and as far as they can.

The problem I think is, and you saw it with Mercer, as an example, that players who look half decent in lower divisions struggle to make the step up right away. Unfortunately Mercer had a few iffy performances which affected his confidence and kept him out of the side for long spells. He did look like he was coming onto some form towards the end of the season which he can hopefully carry into the next season. No doubt some players may be able to make the step-up without a problem but until you see them actually involved it's a bit of a blind guess.

Dunfermline reportedly close to signing Durnan.

So Sibbald being poor for the past two seasons is the reason that Falkirk haven't achieved promotion, nothing to do with the rest of the squad or former management? Whichever way you look at it, leaving the worst placed full time team in the Championship for a team promoted to the Premiership is without doubt a step up, not only literally but career wise.

Let's not bother about trying to mark our Centenary, let's just bring out commerative strips, nothing else seems possible or attractive to the punters going by reaction on here.

Probably been covered earlier but games against a "big" club usually means they send a squad of fringe 1st teamers and some under-21's so hardly a crowd pulling success for us. Probably the best you could say about playing Celtic or rangers is that their fans are so brainwashed they would turn up to watch anything involving their clubs. I was thinking maybe something along the lines of our Cup Final 2008 squad V Double Winning squad 2012. Maybe not as the main event but one of the possible attractions throughout the year. Obviously it throws up some problems, Cup Final captain banned from Palmerston for one thing, and most of the 2012 squad being involved with other clubs may not make it possible. As I say, just an idea.

Think its been shown in hindsight that Gretna's backer didn't actually have the money everyone thought, and was allegedly in debt to a lot of businesses. Even if he did have the wealth his poor health, and ultimate demise, would have probably ended Gretna's "fairytale" anyway as his family apparently didn't share his enthusiasm for his hobby. I don't really get the apparent dislike some express when a wealthy club owner pumps his own money into a club. No-one complains too much when the likes of Chelsea, Man City, etc are financed by wealthy benefactors but when it happens to a small town club in Scotland, on a much smaller scale obviously, it seems to be considered wrong.

Did think of putting it that way when I posted but didn't want to be too optimistic. I also thought a pop concert would be a good idea but quickly dismissed that for some reason.

Question for SD (or anybody itk), are there details of any events planned to mark the Club's Centenary Year apart from the special playing kits being released? On the playing side, I'm hoping we can mark the occasion with a top 4 finish (a long shot possibly) and/or a decent run in one of the major domestic cups.

(Un) fortunately don't get the P&J here in Dumfries so today was the first time I saw any reference to it. Hadn't noticed any mention on this thread either as far as I can recall. I notice Hutton gets mixed reviews among Sons fans, as he did when at QoS, and I doubt if he's the quality of player to help ICT push to get back up to the top flight.

Inverness CaleThistle apparently interested in signing Kyle Hutton according to Sunday Post.

I wouldn't think it would be that much of a risk. According to the paper I read, Lennon would have kept him, so he must think he's reliable, but he was overruled from above. As usual money would probably be a stumbling block if we approached him. As BeeJay says above we are probably well covered in that position, barring injuries of course.

It was Mercer who got injured and left by ambulance. No news on how serious his injury is. Edit to add: sorry didn't read posts already clarifying this.

I think his first two signings don't support your opening sentence. Rankin has been about a long time so Naysmith wouldn't influence his play too much and he didn't exactly set the heather on fire. Mercer he had at East Fife so he should have had a fair idea of his ability and potential. Again he didn't impress too much in his first season. To be fair Naysmith got the job at pretty short notice so he probably wanted some of his own players in when he took over.

Quite agree about trying to be positive and getting Harkins and Todd signed up looks a promising start. The changes to the loan system, where his best recruitment came from, means Naysmith will have to be extra sure that his signings are up to the task from the very start.

I wouldn't go as far as that tbh. Let's consider some he has brought in. Rankin: poor imo. The phrase "headless chicken" applies perfectly. Got a 2 year deal which was about 18 months too long. Mercer, another 2 year signing. Potential bombscare, started off a regular then spent a vast chunk of time bench warming. Has put in a couple of good performances towards the end of the season though so hopefully improving, depending on severity of his injury. Rooney: probably brought in to replace the out-of-favour Mercer. Unfortunately proved poor at defending but made some exciting rampaging runs forward. Martin: Adequate keeper unfortunately plagued by injury. Good if he stays fit. Stirling: should have been a regular but became a bit-part player. Given a 2 year contract but loaned out to Dumbarton midway through his first season. Probably won't be in Naysmith's plans next season. Cameron (loan): didn't feature too much but looked a bit shaky at times. Beerman: probably signed as cover but hardly made enough appearances to really form an opinion. Looked like a bit of a wasted signing imo. Successful signings were imo Fordyce, Kerr(loan) Kane (loan) after a slow start, Thomson(loan) Thomas (loan) Todd (loan, now signed) Harkins (just signed) potential cracking signing but judgement withheld until I actually see if he lives up to expectations. I've probably missed a couple but my point is that Naysmith's recruitment has been just as much miss as hit and most of the successes were loans

I think it's the view among a lot of QOS fans that Stirling won't be part of Naysmith's plans next season, indeed Naysmith may have already hinted at this. He is under contract so, unless they come to a mutual agreement to release him from this, he may command some sort of fee. He could therefore be available before the new season kicks off. Edit to add: Commiserations on being relegated, always liked my visits to Dumbarton.

I'm struggling to find much evidence of this "success" that the Ross County owner has apparently bankrolled. He hasn't splashed out on mega-star players to try and win the league, I doubt if the players are on top wages and they have been largely a mid to lower SPL/Premiership club since they went up. They have had some Cup success but have hardly been regular finalists. If buying success means putting cash in to maintain their top flight status then every club must be guilty of at least trying to buy success. I see very little similarity in the background of Gretna's meteoric but ultimately doomed rise with how Ross County are run. If they had been a big town or city team financed by a "sugar-daddy" would that be OK or is it just because they are a small town team that makes people think its wrong.

. Neither will they when we go up there. Queens fans aren't really in a position to slate other clubs' crowds or number of travelling fans. Hardly "the new Gretna" either, they didnt try to buy success in the same way by throwing silly money at it and appeared to work their way up through the divisions in the proper manner. I'm sure a few fans have said in the past that Ross County or St. Johnstone are the type of Club model that Queens should try and emulate. Having said that, on a completely personal level, travelling up the A9 (at least) four times next season isn't really getting me excited even though both Inverness and Dingwall are pretty good away days. Also from the Club's point of view it will involve more financial outlay with travelling and overnight stays. Hardly the ideal outcome but it is what it is.

If you mean Naysmith persevered with Dykes by playing him in a position he offered very little at before realising he was better partnering Dobbie playing two up front, then you are quite right.

For a BIG club like Falkirk finishing above the likes of QOS and Morton shouldn't be viewed as an achievement but a formality, so nothing to really seeth about for me. I admire your faith in thinking that Hartley will be your Saviour. He's certainly made a great improvement in his time in charge, you managed to move up the table and finish above Dumbarton.