Fae_the_'briggs

Just noticed for the first time that there is a substantial billboard in the Cuckoo Bridge Tesco with the Queens' fixture list on it. A great idea to get fixture lists in as many places as possible but how long has it been there and are there other billboards situated in other supermarkets, shops, etc.?

The lot of them by the way he's bleating. Another defeat where none of it is Non-stick Naysmith's fault. Probably set-up to contain Saints as long as possible and hopefully nick a goal instead of actually trying to pressure them from the off.

If the games televised on S4C you can probably watch it in the Club bar with a drink whilst the game goes on outside.

Gary Naysmith saying in today's Standard that the Brechin game will probably be too soon for Lyle to feature. As for some positive posts about Dykes' performance last week, I'm far from being a great fan of his but I agree he did put in a good performance last week. The problem I have is that, irrespective of whatever position he plays, he doesn't seem able to put in consistent performances from game to game.

That's strange, I thought I just saw him in Stirling Services buying a coffee and Krispy Kreme donut.

I believe he wasn't a bad player in his day but is maybe a bit out of condition now to be considered for the squad.

I personally think we will finish 6th/7th, but taking into account we are losing two good loan players, struggling at present with injury/illness to another 3 or 4 players, relying more at this time on young/inexperienced players, and teams like Falkirk and ICT are showing flickering signs of improvement, I'm not really surprised that some fans are looking on the downside. A Cup game V Partick Thistle would be hard enough with a fully fit squad so the possibility of losing potential money from a cup run to bring in new players is looking more likely. The Manager has a bit of work to do during this transfer window, although his hands may be tied financially regarding bringing in suitable recruits.

Dobbie signs new deal. Yippee.

Hardly the fans' fault that Mercer was mainly a bench warmer for most of the latter part of last season and early this season. The Manager obviously lost confidence in him as well. He moved Jacobs out of midfield rather than play Mercer at RB and this season he brought in another CD on loan so Fordyce moved to RB for many games. He also brought in Rooney, another right back. Mercer wasn't even given a runout from the bench in a cup game against Airdrieonians (?) when we were coasting. Situations like that probably dented his confidence more than any flak from fans.

I was surprised and disappointed at how poor Tapping has been this season. He definitely looked to have some ability and speed when he did manage to play last season but there was no sign of that this season. Maybe he was a bit wary of picking up another long term injury but at times didn't even look that interested. Maybe not the best decision by the management to give him a contract in the close season whilst he was still recovering from injury. I wish him well though.

Ever since the win at Dunfermline I think we have looked very "flat" going into games. In the warm-up before that game and during it you sensed that the players were up for it but lately there seems to be a bit of lethargy throughout the whole team, heads are down, no banter or smiling faces during the warm-up and a sense of "let's get this over with." Obviously we are missing some key players which will make things tougher but the morale seems to be suffering too. Part of the Manager's job is to motivate his players and Naysmith looks to be struggling to do this. As for Dobbie's supposed "strop" when he was substituted, quite understandable I would say when you see the likes of Dykes regularly performing like Bambi on ice and staying on. It would also be kinder to let young Connor Murray go out on loan as he doesn't look anywhere near ready for this level. He has shown occasional flashes of good play but on the whole has been fairly ineffectual.

Across your goalmouth. Seriously, Ice Bowl car park is handiest for where away support are seated in the East Stand. Also Arena car park at opposite side of the ground or plenty of sensible on-street parking all of which is free.

IF Kerr does leave, which I hope he doesn't, would Rooney not be a candidate to step in at central defence. Was he not signed as a RB/central defender? I've never seen him play there so have no idea what he would be like. Fordyce and Brownlie should be 1st choice in there when fit obviously.

The "hoof ball" that bugs me, and I would say is very much a part of Naysmith's tactics, is when goal-kicks, free-kicks from deep in our own half, etc, are punted up to Dykes or Lyle standing out wide with the intention of them knocking it down to a teammate. As I've said before the success rate of setting up scoring chances using this tactic is so slim as to make it a complete waste of time. I think Dykes' continued inclusion in the team is to use his height for this tactic. It was worse last year when Lee Robinson seemed to be trying to set some sort of record in punting the ball straight into touch, at least Martin seems to be a bit better at keeping the ball in the playing area, but the number of times it leads to scoring chances has not increased. As for Livingston's tactics, they play to their strengths and have the front players physically capable of playing route one football, most of our better players are suited to playing it on the deck not up on the air.

At what age does a "young player" cease to become a "young player" and is old enough to accept others opinions and criticism. Like a few other posters my main concern with Dykes is his inconsistency, both in showing ability and in attitude. IMO his regular inclusion in the team owes more to his height for getting his head to the ball to flick on for his fellow forwards than any other latent talent he may have. The success rate of setting up decent attacks from this tactic is minimal I would say but that's not entirely Dykes' fault as the Manager obviously likes this approach. The Manager and coaching staff see more of Dykes at training, etc, than the fans do on match days so they must think he is worth a contract extension, at least I hope the Manager had an input in the decision.

If he had to miss any games for Queens for the chance to play for Scotland it would probably best to be this Sunday's as, from our point of view, it is the least important of the competitions we are still involved in. Having said that his presence against TNS would be a boost to our chances of progressing further in the competition.

I'm pretty sure the BoD will consult with the Manager as to the best preparation for the game.

Alan Martin was selected in a P & B poll by many fans of all the Championship clubs for last season's Championship Team of the Season. Without actually checking back he may have been the leading contender in the official SPFL Championship Team of the Season, that is obviously how that conclusion was reached. Lee Robinson failed to get a single vote in the fans' poll IIRC. I think that more than clears up the perceived difference in their ability. Unfortunately the injury that Martin picked up in the Brechin game has seriously affected his ability to show the same form he achieved last season. At the time of his signing he was without doubt a vast upgrade over what we had to suffer last season.

So romping to a virtually unchallenged title in the 3rd tier of Senior football, the only full time team in that division, and lifting a trophy that no top flight team could enter, in your eyes elevates that squad and management team to Legend status? Yes it was noteworthy, deserving of praise, plenty of excitement , and the scenes at the Cup Final will be remembered for a long time by every Queens fan that was there, but in reality hardly a legendary feat worthy of bestowing Sainthood on all involved. . I suppose that high points are few and far between supporting Queens so we have to grasp any success with both hands, but some perspective also needs to be applied.

There certainly looks to be at least 2 or 3 that aren't used at all. There has only been 1 operating at the last couple of games. I don't think that even when the rangers visited, with the potential of attracting more home fans, that all the Portland Drive Turnstiles were open, I doubt if they will all be needed in future. I don't know if they are all fitted with the "new" revolving gates or if some still have the old ones. I'm sure that a couple of them have had the outer doors boarded over so they're obviously not intended to be used. Added to that the fact that the woodwork on all the doors is rotted away at the bottom, it doesn't present a good impression when approaching the ground. Hopefully they will have the backing of the fans rather than being viewed with suspicion. I should maybe direct my queries to them about programmes/draw ticket sales. One problem I can envisage is that, working as a Committee, supporters views or problems may not be dealt with as fast as just having one person doing it. I wish them all the best anyway.

The Commercial Department would be my guess as the best people to ask, I'll ask them before the next home game unless someone posts the answer on here first. I assume the programme sellers are instructed where to stand rather than just standing where they please. I don't actually buy a programme but do like to buy a couple of half-time draw tickets at each game. I have often felt sorry for the sellers standing at the "usual" sales point at the Portland terrace as it's not very nice when it's wet and/or windy. Perhaps one of the disused turnstiles could be converted to a sales booth inside the ground.

Aye, maybe best to be starting to sort out a squad for League 1 about then.

Are programmes and half-time draw tickets still on sale for supporters using the Portland Drive turnstile? The usual sales "booth" between the East Stand and terracing hasn't been attended for the last two home games. Have they moved to another stance?

Were the "Young Team" due to return or was someone spotted with a Lidl shopping bag?

Replied to this in the match thread so won't repeat it here but basically there is plenty of free unrestricted parking in the vicinity.