ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds

Assuming the six mentioned are correct then the defence really is in bad shape. The match preview mentions Kerr still wasn't ready to return from injury so he wouldn't have been involved anyway but the rest really are a worry, especially with Lyons also out injured. If Currie McDonald S.McGill Fordyce Agnew Frizzell McCabe Easton Smith Gal G.McGill That's the best I can come up with. If McGill's played centre half before and the missing players mentioned above are correct then he's definitely in there. I've thrown Agnew at left back for no reason other than the fact that he is actually left footed but we've been told that McDonald can play either full back role and is good with both feet so it could be him over there and someone else at right back. Ritchie's played there before and Gal's played as a wing back for us in the past. I feel like Smith would put in a decent shift from a wing back kind of role as well.

Yes and no. McCabe is playing that role in the midfield three and doing well in it, but if we were to switch to 4-4-2 and play two centre mids I don't think there's anyone in our squad I'd trust to play alongside him as the rest all seem like they'd need to be in a three (too attacking, too raw, too knackered etc). That's fine if we keep playing a three but if we wanted to go with two up front to get the best out of Gal (and fit our strikers like Gabby and Salim in the team without pushing them out wide) then it becomes more difficult. The only way to have a midfield three and two centre forwards at the same time is to play a back 3 or to play a midfield diamond.

Strangely enough, the midfield (the main problem in most Airdrie teams in recent memory) is the area I'm happiest with at the moment. McCabe's been excellent imo, and Easton probably looks our most dangerous player. I like the look of Frizzell too and I think they make a good midfield three. The problem there is that I feel we're forced into a midfield three since our midfielders are mostly quite attack minded. For example, I think McCabe could play as one of the centre mids in a 4-4-2 but I don't think there's another player at the club I'd trust to slot in beside him. Frizzell and Easton are very attacking players, Agnew doesn't seem to have the legs to play such a role week in week out, and the likes of McDonald, Scott McGill, and Ritchie are very raw. Defensively we've been pretty poor and I do wonder if that has anything to do with switching to a back four after training entirely with a back three. I'm hopeful that Kerr returning from injury will help though I'd stick with the back four and probably play Watson at right back. The forwards are a more complicated issue. Assuming we play 4-3-3 as we have been there should be one centre forward and two players out wide, but it's not exactly clear who should be where and I think this is the area that Murray really has to sort out. The three that started today were the strongest three available (they're definitely better than Allan) but I think Murray has to think a bit about how to get the best out of them, seeing as neither Gallagher or McGill should really be out wide. Diamond formation (how apt) might work but it puts a lot of pressure on the full backs to provide width (although if the midfielders and forwards give them proper support out there they should manage). I'm fairly confident there's quality in this squad. Despite the awful start I think it's a better squad than any we've started the last few seasons with, although possibly missing one defensive midfielder to tie the whole team together (not a clue where we'd find that player). We've seen before how far a good run can take you in this league, we need that sooner rather than later.

Quite clear for me after watching the highlights that MacLean's tripped Wardrop and conned the ref by feigning an injury. It's still a bit clumsy from Wardrop to commit there on a booking when we've got a fairly comfortable 2-0 lead, but he's really not done anything wrong. Ultimately we should be doing much much more to hold onto a 2-0 lead with 10 men and I thought Murray's subs were very poor in that regard. I know still images are generally a very poor way of judging a challenge in football but this being the moment of contact quite clearly shows MacLean sticking his leg out as Wardrop runs by him to the side. Really poor decision.

Quite clear for me after watching the highlights that MacLean's tripped Wardrop and conned the ref by feigning an injury. It's still a bit clumsy from Wardrop to commit there on a booking when we've got a fairly comfortable 2-0 lead, but he's really not done anything wrong. Ultimately we should be doing much much more to hold onto a 2-0 lead with 10 men and I thought Murray's subs were very poor in that regard. I know still images are generally a very poor way of judging a challenge in football but this being the moment of contact quite clearly shows MacLean sticking his leg out as Wardrop runs by him to the side. Really poor decision.

Not denying that Currie was absolutely time wasting after the red card, but I genuinely couldn't believe it when the ref booked him for it at a goal kick with Orsi still standing in his box.

Couldn't believe when Murray subbed off Gal when McGill was clearly limping and struggling to keep up. We dominated when it was 11v11 and I thought McGill was superb so the result is really disappointing.

To be fair I didn't read Murray's quote as him denying a move for Smith. He said the rumours were "jumping the gun" (i.e. nothing was confirmed) but definitely implied we'd be in for him if there was a chance. Delighted with the signing by the way. I really like Smith.

While he might not exactly be a winger, I think Smith coming back would address the lack of width in attack. I always thought he was better for us out wide than through the middle and we've got plenty of strikers anyway, so I wouldn't be surprised if he plays on the wing. That would require a formation change however...

Agnew has struggled as the deeper and more central midfielder imo but looked a lot better on the left of the midfield three against Motherwell. Baffling that Murray stuck him back in the deeper role at the weekend, especially considering McCabe clearly looks much more effective in that role than he does on the left of the three. Unless Murray plays him in a more favourable role I'd say there's a danger of Agnew becoming another Ryan Conroy (albeit his set pieces are far superior to Conroy's).

I've already voiced my concern over the 352 on here. It's a system we're using because it worked with an almost entirely different squad at the end of last season and I'm not convinced that means it should be persisted with this season. That's two games in a row we've struggled in the first half and have switched to a back 4 at half time so I wouldn't be surprised if we start with a 4 on occasion in the coming weeks. I really think there's a decent squad there and I'd like to see us give an old fashioned 442 a go with Easton and Frizzell out wide if both are fully fit as I think we've got a squad that would suit that system.

Easton needed to be on at half time. Cannot for the life of me understand why you'd opt for the third striker when there's no creativity on the park. When Easton came on he done well and I do think that a midfield three of him, Agnew, and McCabe can be good but that was dire to watch.

Match preview says no new injury concerns and hopeful of getting some bodies back so that could be Easton or it could be Frizzell, Lyons, Walker, Pyott etc. Would Easton start if fit? I've thought McCabe, Agnew and McDonald worked well together.

I'd like to think that if Salford don't offer us any kind of fee for Robert we'll just keep him for another year. There really isn't time to send him on trial to another club after this one with the league about to start and he's definitely a player that can contribute and challenge for a regular place in the first team. I honestly think that would be best for him as well since he's clearly not getting the bigger move he wants right now but might with another year of development. Would likely mean us missing out on any kind of fee but at this stage I'm not convinced the fee would be one that makes that much of a difference to us anyway since the likes of Burnley and Celtic have decided against the move and he couldn't keep his place in our starting 11 at the end of last season. As for the ticket prices, I agree that they are too high and I'm a firm believer that attending the football regularly should be an affordable day out for almost anyone but I don't really understand all the shock and outrage over them as if this is a new thing. An adult ticket is up by £1 on two years ago it's hardly a massive price hike. There's obviously an optimum price for the tickets in terms of the actual income to be made from them (500 tickets at £15 would generate more income than 400 at £18 for example) but I have no idea what price would actually optimise that income. How many fans won't attend regularly at £18 but would at £15? I haven't the slightest idea.

My mistake. I overlooked the extra point in that group which does make things a bit more complicated.

Good chance of 8 points and +2 GD being better than second place teams in Groups A and G. If Kelty Hearts and Arbroath draw then it'd also be better than second in Group B, and better than second in Group C if Dundee beat Forfar by 3 or more. Groups D and E could also have worse runners up but those are less likely. I'd say there's definitely a reasonable chance of 8 points being enough but a win should make sure of it. I don't think Motherwell will beat Annan by three anyway they looked absolutely terrible against us.

Very decent chance of going through as a best placed runner up with a draw and shootout victory (or as group winners if Motherwell bottle it against Annan). A win will most likely see us as group winners but even if Motherwell do better our score by 2 goals it should certainly be enough to put us through as a best placed runner up

I hope so since I've always liked our home top with black shorts but hard to tell when they're both wearing trackie bottoms. The black on the sleeves and collar suggests it could possibly be black shorts.

McKay hasn't been involved any squad yet in the League Cup so presumably he still hasn't fully recovered from the injury he picked up against Morton.

I've been very impressed with McDonald in all his appearances so far. Looks like a great find by the club.

Can we crowdfund for a Rhys McCabe statue outside the stadium? Goal was ridiculous of course but even without that I thought he was outstanding. Totally bossed the midfield. Everyone played really well but I think it's fair to give that special mention to McCabe and also to Gal who was terrific before he came off. Played them off the park and scored two screamers, if we play like that every week we'll win the league at a canter.

Extended trial is a load of crap. Either sign him or don't rather than leave us in limbo.

Queen's Park were probably the better team but not by a distance, and Gal missed a great chance with a free header before the penalty save so on another day we might have won comfortably. It's quite clear that whenever Salim or Gal get the ball they have very little support, particularly out wide and I think they seemed quite frustrated by that fact. Not a great show of football from either team but QP looked quite dangerous from long range shots. Before he went off injured I was actually very pleased with Lyons who looked much better than he did as a trialist or last weekend, and I think him and Watson were a lot better than Fordyce today. Clearly we need more bodies in but what we have looks pretty decent and should hopefully be improved with additions in the right areas (still need a defensive midfielder, a couple of wingers/attacking midfielders, and a striker imo). Quitongo defended very well but I'm not convinced by either him or Wardrop as our main attacking threat out wide so I'd prefer we switched to a back 4.

I really don't like this 352 shape. It made sense when Turner could make things happen through the middle but without him we're just a team without any width whatsoever.

No mention of Robert in the match preview but I'm sure his two week trial at Burnley should be finishing this weekend so it'll be interesting to see if he's involved.