ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds

It was Euan and I would agree it’d be very harsh to drop Justin at the moment I was just throwing out a quick team assuming Telfer is coming in to start games. Might be that Telfer stays on the bench behind Devenny or that a forward is dropped in favour of a midfield four. Or as has been mentioned by another, McCabe could drop into defence with Telfer taking the deep midfield role (although I’d rather McCabe played the deep midfield role personally).

Rae Ballantyne Watson Dycey Deveney Telfer McCabe Frizzell Jamieson Gallagher Smith That leaves Taylor-Sinclair, McMaster, Wylie, Devenny, McGill, and Kouider-Aissa for cover. As I’ve said I think we still need a centre half in as I’d argue Dycey is our only natural centre half with Watson being more of a natural right back who can provide cover for Ballantyne and at centre half (or be very useful in a back 3). If it’s 433 there’s three midfielders to cover our midfield three which is good cover and two forwards to cover the front 3 which is absolutely fine. Arguably the only players from last year who left that would start in the current squad are Easton and Paterson (and obviously McInroy but he was away midseason). Could argue for Kerr but he barely played last year, even if I felt he could have been used more. I’d agree that we’re probably a bit stronger overall this year but there will be times we’ll miss Easton’s magic or Paterson’s ability at left back. Hopefully Dunfermline aren’t as good as Cove.

I’d say we’re now only a centre half away from respectable/acceptable squad depth. More would be nice for competition, but that’s probably all we need as a minimum requirement now.

He played right back for us when he first joined as well and I’d actually argue until we signed Ballantyne he was probably the best right back at the club. He was never going to play there regularly though as he’d always be required at centre half.

Can’t see Ballantyne’s red being appealed as I feel it was a pretty obvious red after watching the replay. But that’s exactly the team I’d go for as well, it keeps our best formation/shape without playing too many out of position. The only thing that could maybe change is bringing Wylie in for McGill and playing a midfield diamond with two up top, but I’m not convinced that would be better, I’d just like to see Wylie get 90 minutes alongside 10 teammates as I feel he missed his chance to get a proper crack at it after Ballantyne’s early red at the weekend. Not got my hopes up but a signing before the game would be ideal, with centre back as a priority imo and a midfielder also needed.

Definitely still need a centre back and a centre mid in my opinion. If Watson’s best position is right back then really we’ve only got Fordyce as a natural centre back with cover provided by a right back (Watson), left back (ATS) and a midfielder (McCabe). I’d like to see Fordyce have a consistent partner in defence that is a natural centre back. Numbers in midfield might seem ok, but at the moment I’d say we’re relying on Devenny being a first team player all season. McCabe and Frizzell we can maybe expect to play every week, but Devenny’s only competition at the moment is Wylie and I suppose McMaster when he returns from injury. Becomes even more of an issue if/when McCabe is required to cover centre back. Would be really good to get a player in before Montrose so we have some good news to perk us up after a bad weekend.

Montrose away isn’t the easiest game to be next up however. If we’d won yesterday I think most would have seen a draw away to Montrose as a good result, but now we’re in a position where a draw extends a winless run to 3 games. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with drawing away to Montrose, but it’s not an easy place to go when we’re all hoping for a positive reaction from the team, especially when we’ll be missing Ballantyne through suspension.

I think we missed McCabe in midfield more than Devenny in that first half if I’m honest. Jamieson had a poor game other than a few decent flashes but yes I think it would be good to see a bit more commitment towards a team effort from him. He’s obviously talented. As for next week’s back four I think it should be fine to go with Watson at right back, bring Deveney back in at left back and go with Fordyce and Taylor-Sinclair at centre back to allow McCabe to play in midfield.

Tactics with 10 men were very naive and Fordyce had one of the worst games I’ve seen anyone have for us in a long time. Pathetic really and we need to bounce back next week in what will be a very tough game away to Montrose.

I thought it seemed quite naive on their part to think teams in the English Premier League would loan players to Scotland’s third tier. I’m not even saying our league is of a poor standard, but Scottish football in general never mind the third tier is perceived that way down south. Anyway, our striker on loan from West Ham must be due to arrive any day now.

Can’t out of contract players still sign after this window closing as well? I thought the window was only for club to club transfers (which we wouldn’t be doing anyway)?

Our record against the strongest team in this league in the last few seasons has been poor. 2019/20 we lost our three games to Raith Rovers. 2020/21 we lost our three games against Partick Thistle. 2021/22 we lost our first two against Cove and drew the last two. Starting with a draw away to Dunfermline (who I assume will be the strongest of the nine teams that aren’t us) is a big improvement on that. Early days but looks like it’ll be us and Dunfermline at the top end of the table, though Falkirk might not be too far behind.

If you DON’T count playoff games as league games we’re now 24 unbeaten in the league and still haven’t lost a league match in 2022. If you DO count playoff games as league games we’ve had one 90 minute loss in 28 games, which came away to Montrose. Haven’t lost in 90 minutes at home in any competitions since November.

Frizzell obviously done enough to earn his MOTM award, and Jamieson was likewise excellent has been pointed out, but for me the star man today was Cammy Ballantyne. Attacked the flank very well in the first half and was solid against any player that dared to take him on.

Was posted on the facebook group. Someone got in touch with QOTS after feeling like Airdrie fans were unfairly treated. Apparently the police contacted QOTS before the match which led to QOTS considering it a “higher risk” match, meaning extra stewards and a police presence at the game. I can only assume this was a specific worry with Airdrie playing against Quitongo’s new side and is unrelated to bus issues.

Not to get carried away but I’m not convinced we’ll ever sign a player again. I can already see us in 2034 fielding a greying team of McCabe, Fordyce, Watson, Gallagher and co.

Similar to Airdrie. Good start, but squad still very light. Like yourselves we need cover (or ideally competition) at LB/CB as well as probably another midfielder and forward/wide player.

I’d be delighted if we got Allan in but I’d be slightly worried whether or not he’d be able to cope with playing at a high intensity which McCabe seems to favour. Good start to the season but we absolutely need some bodies in sooner rather than later.

You can't be surprised by the way the prosecution is conducting their business surely? It's basic stuff. Of course those instances have absolutely nothing to do with the Quitongo case but if you're trying to prove the 'defendant' is racist you obviously bring up previous examples to sway the decision. I think Andy’s point is that none of these previous examples are actually examples of Hetherington being racist or turning a blind eye to racism, which I’m sure Quitongo has accused him of. It’s not surprising it’s been brought up and if I’m honest I wouldn’t say it’s completely irrelevant since it does highlight a serious issue with far right ideology and racism from some of the bams in our support. Those previous examples won’t prove that the investigation by the club was inadequate and they won’t prove any direct wrongdoing from Hetherington but I’m assuming the prosecution is claiming guilt by negligence, in that the club’s failure to deal with past instances has led to Quitongo being put in this position. Not sure how well that would hold up in court however and I would imagine if the club has actually punished previous wrongdoers they can prove that they have taken these issues seriously. It all probably hinges on how professional the Quitongo investigation actually was.

Just seen that. Think the best thing now would be to get Johnson in on loan until January if possible.

Him and Grimshaw obviously the stand outs there but Grimshaw probably has his eyes on something a bit better than League One. There’s a few in there born in the 2000s that have came through at Premiership and Championship clubs and been released. One or two of them might actually be pretty good but hard for us to know much about them at all.

22 is it not? But yes, still not lost a league game in 2022.

Johnson - not a lot to do but made one very decent save. Cracking long throw to start the attack that led to the fourth goal. Ballantyne - skint a man by headering the ball on the deck. Enough said. Watson - colossal. Fordyce - very good game. Wasn’t troubled. Deveney - his best game so far. Worked his socks off. McCabe - I’m sure at one point I noticed him wearing his slippers and smoking a cigar. Devenny - really tidy player. Played very well again and is doing everything to hold onto that starting spot. Frizzell - potentially the best player in the league this season. Doing well to make us forget Easton. Jamieson - really impressed. Still think he needs to gel with the rest of the team and can be even more effective when he does, but clearly a very talented and skilful dribbler. Gallagher - did what he does very well. Smith - alongside Frizzell potentially the best player in the team/league. Didn’t get a goal today but clearly enjoyed himself and never seems to lose the ball (even when he does he usually wins it back). Playing with a lot of confidence. Salim and Gabby done everything you can expect from substitute strikers. Wylie looked decent but it probably is easier to come on against a team that’s getting scudded and only has 10 men.

Mochrie, who ourselves and Falkirk were supposedly in for, is Dunfermline-bound. Still think our starting 11 is pretty much as good as any other 11 in this league, but I think most neutrals would look at that Dunfermline squad and see it as the strongest in the league.

A number 10 that’s stepover daft and can pick out a pass.