Nithsdale Wanderer

Absolutely disgraceful treatment of a real legend. Another experienced player rooted in QOS sidelined and discarded by this 'no-mark' manager who has no idea about proper footballers. This is not down to the Board, it is the Manager who has chosen not to play him regularly and left him marginalised whilst he lauds and plays Dykes at every opportunity. I bet if you were to ask Dobbie who his preferred partner would be it would be Del. If he had been utilised properly both he and we would have scored more goals this season. It really sums Naysmith up. Quite clearly Del has questioned his omission, as many players do, but Naysmith obviously cannot deal with any challenge to him and just decides to get rid as he has done with all the others - not good Management. Of course there are some players who need to be shipped out but the legend that is DEREK LYLE is not one of them. He is a positive influence all around the Club and a great example to the younger players. His quotes in the article sum up his feelings about the Club and situation. Disgraceful that he doesn't get the opportunity to reach 121 goals or to receive the send-off that he truly deserves and that the fans would thoroughly enjoy. It's Naysmith that should be going so the only thing I can hope for is that along with his style of play this matter will start to turn more and more fans against him. Is Del really injured or was he left out of the squad on Saturday because Naysmith 'spat the dummy' ? Certainly Del hasn't and exhibits a professional. dignified and measured response. I never thought it would come to this but that's me done for this season or until this so-called Manager gets what he deserves. He has ripped the heart out of the Club since his arrival. qos1919 says it's Dobbie that's keeping him going as there's not much else - sad but true.

You might as well because our current Manager is never going to see what you and most of us can.

I haven't got any thoughts on us signing players this month aside from I wouldn't trust this Manager with doing it. It's nothing to do with a " shoe string budget " he hasn't made signings that have significantly improved us. Not sure if your glory hunting comment is general or specifically aimed at me, but let me tell you something. I am now in my 50th year of attending Palmerston. I was there all through the 'Harkness' years including the lowest points when crowds were 300 - not much glory hunting going on then I can assure you. I was a regular in what was probably our worst season ever culminating in the 6-0 thrashing at home to Killie on the final day, the only consolation being it didn't save them ! I 'stayed' with Gus through THAT season right to the end hoping that we could survive. It's not about " turning up when the team is winning" it's about how we play. I am totally disillusioned by this Manager and his approach to playing football. We were warned by other fans of this and it was plain to see from an early stage what his approach was going to be. Yes, we are lacking quality in the squad but in Dobbie and Lyle we have 2 of the best goalscorers in the League but they are not utilised to their maximum to benefit the team. Naysmith is happy to select Dykes week after week to stand on the left and send high ball after high ball to him which, in fact, he is not very good at winning, indeed his general hold up play is so poor for someone with his physique - he is bullied by defenders week after week. I had the pleasure of watching some of the St. Mirren game on TV yesterday and it reminded me of how we used to play under Johnston, McIntyre and Fowler. How on earth is this Manager allowed to get away with it ? Having said that, it seems that more people are now beginning to get fed up with his approach too. I don't see him changing anytime soon so the sooner he goes the better, Finally, I have of course already paid for my Season Ticket so if I choose not to go I am not hurting the Club financially.

No, and I think more and more are beginning to realise it too.

Sounds like it went the way I thought it would today just the usual dull fayre . Never thought I would ever say this but I am quite pleased I never made the effort to go today. People talk about attendances not being great, well these are influenced most by what happens on the pitch not by how many school visits are made. We have talented goalscorers in our squad but they are not encouraged to flourish. This Manager will not do - he does not have the right approach to playing the game.

Sadly, this management team and squad are not good enough to make top 4. It wouldn't take much of an improvement to challenge as Morton and Dunfermline are inconsistent like ourselves and we are lucky that Falkirk are not where they should be but Livingston show no signs of cracking up and I fully expect Inverness to continue to climb the table. The GK and defence are just not good enough. Martin was 'talked up' plenty on his arrival but has failed to live up to any of that - slow to get down and hesitant in every other facet. Robinson far superior being agile and able to dive low or high and despite being much shorter much more commanding at coming for crosses. Like many others I want Brownlie to develop and have given him the benefit of the doubt on many occasions - not any more. He is a liability and shows no sign of significant improvement. Remember when we actually had defenders - especially Thomson and Aitken - who would put themselves in the firing line to block anything to avoid conceding ? Current defenders are soft in comparison and are unwilling to do the same. The Manager made up his mind early he was going to ditch Dowie, Higgins , Hamill and Robinson in order to strengthen our defence but it hasn't worked. I would strongly suggest that Higgins alongside Fordyce with Robinson in goal would be a stronger, more reliable unit than what we have now. Not a huge fan of Hamill but I suspect he would do just as well as either Mercer or Rooney. I often concur with 'rjc' and find myself doing so again. The midfield is just as - if not moreso - weak than our defence. Rankin has been a huge let-down since his arrival and does not dominate as I thought he would. We have no creativity in there but I don't think that is a major concern for Naysmith as he prefers to go long anyway. Dykes is a complete waste of space and offers nothing wherever he plays - I repeat he is not sharp mentally or physically. The fact that his contract has been extended says a lot about our Manager. Dobbie and Lyle are our best striking partnership but are rarely now on the pitch together. This season is now a 'write-off' and there is a huge revamp required but Naysmith is not the man to do it. He will probably remain until season end - unless we go on a long losing run - at which point big changes are required. His approach and players have not worked so it will be time for someone else to have a go. Apart from Fordyce and Marshall we need all new defenders. Midfield , with the exception of Jacobs, requires complete overhaul. With Del's impending retiral we need at least 2 quality strikers. Hopefully when a new Manager is appointed he is reminded of the football philosophy we employed and enjoyed in recent years which Naysmith has totally ignored and indeed seems to have ripped up.

He was originally a RB with Albion Rovers before playing up front for them and becoming the top goalscorer in the whole of Britain. He had offers from English clubs but having a decent job with BT , wanted to stay part-time which benefited us greatly and saved us from relegation in 75/76. He was brilliant but a totally different type to Dobbie. Electric pace and the best one-on-one finisher I have seen. Of course, he could finish superbly in all manner of ways too as those who were present at the remarkable Scottish Cup replay of February 18, 1976 vs Ayr United will testify. Over 8,000 at both games with at least 2,500 QOS at Somerset - those were the days ! Great character and entertainer too. He used to regularly tease defenders by inviting them with his hands to come and get the ball before knocking it past them and leaving them trailing in his wake. Great days those. Ball, Miller, McChesney, McLaren, Clark and Boyd, Dempster, Dickson P., Reid, O'Hara and Dickson. G. is still stuck in my head to rhyme off at any time. ( Subs; Thorburn and Donald) I think it was 2 then.

You may be but HE certainly isn't. Tries his utmost to keep Mercer and Rooney -and until very recently Stirling and Kane - from getting on the pitch. People get far too over-excited about the January window there's not often much out there. The exception would be when McCall brought in McDonald, Adams, Murray and Dobbie all of whom had an immediate impact. What a cracker that was at home to Partick although we tried our best to throw it away !

Not quoted in context sir. A touch ignorant, naughty or perhaps both.

It seems at last he has put in a performance that people seem to expect from him - OTT reaction though. Last season and this he has had several barren spells where he has been really struggling, far too greedy and woeful efforts at finishing for someone of his talent. This is not a criticism more a statement of fact and to point out that he, like anyone else, goes through these spells and is not therefore the infallible icon some make him out to be. Stay grounded !

Have seen no improvement whatsoever . Cannot hold the ball up - far to easily knocked off it by defenders- and not exactly a prolific scorer. For some-one, cannot recall who , to compare Dykes to O'Connor is proposterous. Big Sean had a dominating physical presence allied to a great touch and an ability to score with both feet as well as his head. It's quite clearly the Manager who has instructed this and it is his main game plan, all the time.

100%.

I wonder what happened in 12/13 ?

This Manager is not up to the job and - if he persists with his chosen methods - will not deliver top 4 which I guess is his remit. The sooner he goes the better let's not wait until he formally fails. He has failed already by serving up unattractive so-called football week after week on a regular basis which is driving people away. We have had 3 chances to break in to that top 4 this week and have taken none of them. 2 points and 2 goals with 2 home games in there is hugely disappointing but not at all surprising. I seem to remember we had a similar opportunity last season and blew that as well. He is unable to get the best out of the players at his disposal. I have said many times before everything about him is negative and I believe that influences the players in the same way. Well and truly gone are the good old days of seeing off Hibs, Rangers and Falkirk in the same week ! We have players who are proven goalscorers yet we are not scoring freely because he does not set up to create chances. I have still to work out exactly why James Fowler was binned but I suspect it was because of moans and groans like this and potentially falling attendances over the style of football on offer. Fowler though was still better than the present incumbent and tried to play football the right way even when faced with the adversity of losing more than half of his best players and his repalcements being beset with injury. So carry on as you are Mr. Naysmith and you will end up going the same way - hopefully sooner rather than later - if the Board are consistent in their approach and criteria for success. I guess I can take the short term pain if it leads to longer term gain. Something that really sums him up - Aidan Smith scored again for Annan today, a young player already with Championship experience and who has scored goals at that level and who has pace to burn which would complement Lyle and Dobbie and benefit the team as a whole yet he would rather persevere with the likes of Dykes and Fergusson who are more of a physical presence yet cannot finish. Fergusson should have been sent at the start of the season and Smith retained. Something he now seems to have realised.

Spot on. As expected, no mention in his interview that the tactics may be to blame - all down to the players having an off day.

Very impressed with TNS - especially 1st half. They played football the way we used to under Johnston, McIntyre and Fowler. They pinged it about 1st time and almost always found their own man. Contrast that to us who looked laboured and always needing an extra touch - with the exception of McFadden who needs/takes 2 or 3 extra - and are obviously instructed to play it long. Great tactic with Dobbie up front on his own ! When will we actually go out, take the game by the scruff of the neck and look to win it from the off - Montrose next week I hope ! Naysmith needs to get Lyle and Dobbie up front from the off instead of always waiting until the latter stages of games. Lyle always has an impact but I thought Stirling made a real difference when he came on too - much livelier and forward thinking than Murray. Time he got a run of games. After a shaky start, the defence coped well. Not always Brownlies biggest fan but I thought he did really well today - MOM for me.

I think even Stewart Kean would have tucked that one away !

How was it we ended up playing in Europe anyway - ah yes , we reached the Scottish Cup Final ! Gordon Chisholm - along with everyone else involved in that glorious period - absolute legends. Must have been a decent Manager too. You lot really should be over it by now.

I don't rate Naysmith as a Manager. I haven't seen anything so far to make me change my mind. Obviously, pleased to win and take all 3 points yesterday but, the last 20 mins apart, the football was unattractive. The usual ' boot it up ' to Dykes and scrap for second balls was the order of the day - our players are better than that. Falkirk played by far the better football and were good to watch - reminded me of how we used to play prior to last season. Patient, intelligent build-up, pacy out wide and fizzing crosses into the box. I think everyone, including our own Manager admits we were lucky to be ahead at HT.

Not aware that we have reached a Scottish Cup Final or played in Europe since Gordon Chisholm took us there although we have had some memorable, memorable moments since then. Totally unjustified animosity towards a gentleman and fine football manager whose achievements are unlikely to be repeated. Just because he chose to leave Dobbie out on occasion and the psychophants can't handle it ! Before anyone starts, I am not comparing directly Dobbie and Kean. In fact, I remember when we signed Kean there was an over the top reaction from some just because he had Premier League experience. I had to point out that he was not a natural finisher but a hard worker. I guess Chisholm based his decisions on the team as a whole and what system he would be using. A bit like Naysmith does with sacrificing Lyle - natural and regular scorer ref. yesterday - for a carthorse like McFadden ! Or was it because he left for Dundee, a much bigger Club than us and one that had special meaning to him - anyone in his position would have done the same. I really get concerned about the nasty, petty, small-minded attitude of some of our supporters. The John O'Neill episode is probably the worst example of it. A guy who came back to us and did very well. This is their job/career and they have to do what they think is best for THEM not QOS. I wish everyone who has been with us every success when they move on whoever and where-ever that might be.

Absolutely. Would have brought much more to the team than McFadden. Funnily enough stumbled upon a Sheffield Utd v Swindon play-off match from 2015 the other night which included 2 wonderful crosses from Bob that resulted in 2 goals, Glad to be reminded what a wonderful delivery he has.

Please read my comments carefully before sounding off. I refer you to 6Oct at 10.17 ; " As is his right, the Manager decided he did not want to keep him nor select him under any circumstance. " If the Manager wants to move players on that's up to him but we may not always agree with his decisions. There are two issues here. My main one is some people making wild allegations that Robinson was somehow a "disruptive influence" with absolutely no evidence to back it up. It seems that due to his performances last season and us having to pay him off - quite rightly - Robinson has become some sort of hate figure for a section of our support. I really don't think that someone who has contributed so much to our recent successes should be treated in such a manner. The other issue is , the Manager obviously does not rate Leighfield to cover for Martin. When this first occurred, to have a fit Robinson available and not play him then, in my book, that is poor Management and not putting the best available team on the park. If you think this is getting tiresome, I absolutely agree. I don't particularly want to have to spend the time repeating myself but you left me no choice as you did not grasp correctly the points I was making.

Let's hope Lyle isn't going the same way as Robinson. Not even on the bench today. He hardly needs rested and is not reported as injured on OS.

Spot on.

That is Leighfield you are describing. So Atkinson with 19 appearances - your figure - is therefore relatively experienced and in addition has trained and been around the 1st team squad for years. Thank you for re-inforcing my point.