DieDee

I'm with you. Bowyer showed a lot of promise in his early games with the way he set the team up but the defense was letting us down with individual errors. He's now had time to work on all aspects with a squad that, while they were totally mis-managed by McPake, should have more than enough to win this league this year, particularly as he's been able to make 5 of his own additions (though he needs to stop prioritising some of these over better payers). He's reverting to clogger football by not playing at least one of the two really good passers of the ball (McGowan and Cameron) that we have and that is what is costing us. If he sets them up properly and trains and motivates them properly (which I haven't really seen any issue overall) we should win this league.

Play 4141 replacing Grayson (def mid) with McGowan with 35mins to go. Both can then run their arses off. McGowan can really dictate play from that position

I agree, though can't agree with the thinking, that others have mentioned, that McGhee Grayson combo was good. Just totally devoid of any creativity, and as for Grayson, the number of times he stood there looking gormlessly as the Ayr player in front of him lined up a cross was baffling, just cut out the fn cross!. We need to be creating far more and these two as a combo are not the answer. At least we went for 451 2nd half, how many times have we said 442 just doesn't work for us, particularly as we only have one striker.

Er, that would lead to him aiming more right which would have meant the wind catching the ball even more. With that wind the answer was to kick it down the middle.

Not sure about this, not the kicking obviously, but the fact that all our players crowded toward the main stand side showed it was the manager's instruction. Bowyer should have spotted this straight away and given another instruction.

Yes, there is dog shite around but today was completely on Bowyer. With the wind 2nd half we had, what, 2 decent chances. A central midfield of McGhee and Grayson just don't have the guile. Sheridan was honking but came on 2nd half, why? We score a goal from a winger's cross but he gets hooked to pay a central midfielder in his role. McGowan, who should have been on to direct the play, is sitting on his arse. I could see what Bowyer was trying to achieve at the beginning of the season and thought, as he got to know what the players capabilities, things would gel. What on earth he was trying to achieve today I have no idea, if it were to see who the better battlers would be then aiming for the gutter brought its just reward

I'm not convinced, could be an alright signing but it just looks like a pure punt that ties up future budget and wastes management time. It could be cover for McCowan as Bowyer's spotted that McGinn clearly can't be arsed and shoehorning in players out of position isn't working too well either. I'd rather have waited till Jan and spent the money on a better prospect than this one, I'm not the one that's seen him in training though

Not sure French is really a right back, he certainly doesn't look it to me with his positional sense. Otherwise agree. We have Marshall, who is capable rather than great at this level, but he is our only left back so play him there. Kerr has been good, and is better, at RB so play him there. I would say Sweeney was not as good as many thought last season and not as bad as many think this year. He is a more naturally left sided central defender that is usually dominant in the air (a big problem for us last night). I'd go for Ashcroft over French (and before I get the howls of anger at this viewpoint he is the only defender to play in all the games we've let 3 goals in this season) at right CB just because of the experience he brings, though I'd like to see French developed there over the season. Get Gowser in the holding midfield role, again, good experience, can direct play positively and provides proper cover for the defence. Cameron and Mulligan/Anderson central in front. Wingers and striker are a given. Our best players in positions they can play naturally. Do this and we'll be alright. Shambles of many players shovelled into positions they're not suited for and we'll get more results like last night.

McGhee was grim but, for me, McIntyre and Kernaghan were far worse. Heaven forbid we drop points to that clown McIntyres current sufferers And not forgetting McPake's efforts which led to him being appointed in the first place

Dropping McGowan back gives him more options to pick a pass from and this is his strength. Likes of Anderson and Mulligan are then able to push up through the middle without leaving a ginormous hole behind them. Think worth testing having Gowser, Mulligan and Cameron as the starting middle 3. Maybe a bit lightweight but much more creative about them than Grayson and McGhee. As for Williamson, he just disappeared for big sections again last night.

A referee that can do his job, and he was well positioned for the should have been a penalty and red card decision, and we would have won on Saturday. Legzdins instead of Sharp and the first 2 goals wouldn't have happened. That said I'm far from pleased about Saturday and like most on here I think the line-up was a shocker. However, I'm not in agreement about some of the performances. I though Marshall was fine (that 2nd goal was down to Sharp, not even sure their player would have kept it in play), Sweeney was ok, scored and was unlucky with that 2nd booking. French played ok but was frequently out of position, I don't think it looks like his natural position. On top of that, the reward for Cammy, who has been playing well as RB, covering LB is to be dropped. That looks like a manager favouring players he has signed, never a good thing for squad morale. Of the 4 he has signed, who all started, only Robinson has impressed so far, though Grayson wasn't bad on Saturday. That said I don't know why Robinson was hooked as at least he can hold the ball up, Rudden was totally out of it given the gameplan of lumping it forward. Why go for a lump it forward when playing on the ground has suited us much better? Why drop, or not even bring on Cameron, the brightest spark over the last couple of games. He can make a bigger impact and play better through balls than McGinn so why not play him? I believe this squad can win this league if managed properly, Saturday was worrying

Agree. Would be even better though if we had him and Cameron signed up on decent length deals. Not much point in having an academy if we don't have the players being developed on some kind of option.

Got to agree re Grayson, not nearly enough impact in yet another game. Can't see, and I'd prefer if, Byrne doesn't return, too negative for me. With the set-up GB is going for we will will still be better with a holding midfielder with McMullen, Mulligan, Cameron and McCowan in front. I've thought Williamson could do this but maybe is a bit lightweight - could grow into the role though? McGowan, Anderson or even French? I've thought some of French's performances in defence have been a bit over-rated and the relative performance of Ashcroft backs this up, that said he's not a bad player and maybe this role could work for us, physical presence, can break forward at a decent pace, maybe not the close control in tight areas that ideally he should have but worth a go? With Rudden off injured yesterday, and not looking good for a quick return, anyone have any idea about the strikers expected return dates given we now only have Robinson available. OK'ish as long as he doesn't get injured but don't think him playing 90 mins every game will help him or team if this is going to be weeks on end

I'm given to understanding that QP aren't a bunch of cloggers so could be a good game. Like to see Williamson given the holding midfield role, thought he really came on to his game on Tuesday. Hopefully McCowan back with McGowan, McMullen and Mulligan. Would be happy for Anderson to be given a chance again if Mulligan is off it again.

GB hasn't really had long enough to figure out his best team yet. There are times that we look pretty decent, even last week at Ayr we looked fine until the goals went in and we now have Ashcroft back who is more than capable at this level. I think we should be competing come January, I can still see lots of teams taking points of each other with no runaway leader. That's when we need to be strengthening and I'd much rather GB targeted some really good ones in Jan (potentially pre-contracts that can lead to signing in Jan) than the left overs from this transfer window

While I'd still play a fit Legzdins I do think Sharp has been playing much better. Defence are now happy to pass back to him and he does come out for through balls. Kicking, while slightly better, and coming for crosses still needs worked upon. With Ashcroft fit the added experience at the back is making me feel a lot more comfortable about the defence as a whole. Queue losing 3 to QP

Haven't seen Clark recently but swap for Byrne might suit both parties

DEETV with a VPN

A lot of the suggestion may work but wouldn't get away from the fan basis and the unpleasant, shall we call it, element that the big 2 bring. If we want to move away from the cycle of the biggest clubs getting the glory hunting fan base we have to break the link between current clubs and the fan base so that the fans remain loyal to their local clubs. You could do this by moving to a regional based top league (other clubs could continue in the lower leagues but couldn't qualify for Europe). Let's face it, who from say Dundee and Angus (or whatever they would be called) is going to say they support East Glasgow or West Glasgow. Clubs from each region would be invited to join the league, thus utilising the facilities currently available. No club used as a home base could include any of the colours they have in their current home strip. This would mean every larger club would have to genuinely give up on their history but in the long term every club would have a similar sized population to draw their fan base from and make the league a genuine challenge. The current state of Scottish football just wont change and a tinkering of amalgamations wont cut it. Any plan put forward has to think about the next 100 years. With current state of Scottish Football, and the way the money now filters through the game, how many teams outside the top 2 would you think will win the league over this 100 years?

I'd like to see how the defence plays with Legzdins in goal. I've not been wowed by French but there is the keeper factor on top of settling in while the whole team is taking on board the way GB wants us to play. Way too early to judge him properly. An away draw with Morton has led to too much negativity and criticism. Marshall is good enough for this level, I know he has been making mistakes recently but over the season I expect him to get back into the groove. Wasn't it not long ago people were wanting £150k for him. Keep Cammy at right back, been doing a fine job there, I really don't like the shuffling players around, leads to none of them being in their natural position. Post the Ayr game it will be interesting how GB approaches the Falkirk game. Can't be taken lightly but a chance for some others to start? I suspect GB will want to rotate the squad and see if others can take on his philosophy in competitive action.

Can't see us getting a fee for a player we're wanting to move on. Just get him away and use some of the money freed up to get Mulligan to sign up on a proper deal

I'm glad we didn't go for Scott Allan, we have a midfield of Grayson (Holding), Kerr McGowan, Mulligan, McMullen. Anderson is still young and learning and can come on for McGowan in games latter stages (we could also put McGinn there as well). If we're going for any more bodies then a GK and LB should be the priorities. Personally I'd hold on to budget until Jan and assess then. It's a good time to target 23 year old players at bigger clubs that won't make it at that level.

Legzdins back will be massive. The whole defence just don't know what to do with Sharp in goal. Not his ability to stop shots but his ability to deal with a simple pass-back has him in total wobbly street, as all at the game today will testify. Out on loan where there is less pressure would do him a world of good. We have to get a back up keeper that is suitable for this level in-case Legzdins is injured again. I thought we looked better last week, apart from those defensive lapses, though today was on astro so I wont be over-judging on that basis but, yet again, Byrne didn't look up for it and that is too key a position in terms of getting the ball forward for not fully committed players. Playing Arbroath, who are really well organised with plenty experience, will be a real test of where we really are. Our young players will take time to get the consistency over each game and similar to last week I see us getting better as the season goes on,

Thought Sharp and French need a lot more experience around them and without that the whole defence look jittery. If Legzdins and Ashcroft come in then that will make a huge difference. McGowan in for Williamson will also give the midfield a bit more bite and leadership in the middle. Marshall and Anderson would be hugely helped by these changes. There were a lot of positives on Saturday and 3 changes could easily be enough. That said I preferred Robertson to Byrne and while McMullen may be frustrating he certainly did more than McGinn. With others on fringe of team there is decent enough competition for places. I feel a lot more positive than I have been at this stage over past few seasons, just don't expect a very young team to win every game

I thought McPake brought the best out of the team when he was our interim manager. As permanent manager we found as soon as something went slightly wrong he went into his shell and things generally got progressively worse. Every team has sticky patches so, yes, I think he'll fail. Nothing to suggest he learnt much at all over the years with us.