Otis Blue

Queens Park, aye?

Jeezo, of course I know it's factually incorrect! I'm using artistic licence (or whatever it's properly called here) to make a point. Of course the existing board are physically still in place - we all know that. However, practically from all the evidence we've seen this season and especially after their AGM announcement their heart and minds are just not in it any more ... or Bartley wouldn't still be in place. They appear to be taking the easy option and leaving the difficult decisions to the next incumbents. The consequence is a completely deflated and rudderless ship.

Aye, I totally get your view ... but by christ if you'd had to witness our decline over the last three or so seasons ...

^^^ Bang on, can't fault a word of that.

This is fairly simple really. At this stage of the season it's all about momentum - in either direction. Annan have it in a positive upwards direction big time and they also have a number of ex QOS players with something to prove over their former employers, so they have motivation by the bucket load. At the other end of the scale QOS are a complete basket case of a club at the moment - a manager hopelessly out of his depth whilst reporting to a board that has just thrown the towel in and is in the throes of departing en masse and leaving a poor squad of players who are thoroughly demoralised following a season of being thrown under the bus by Bartley and his masterclass in recruitment, team selection, tactics and "motivation". Albion and Annan will be fine, and the disaster scenario at Palmerston will remove any worries at Kelty. There is no way this totally disheartened and disinterested QOS squad could prevail in the doon playoffs - it's Bonnyrigg for us next season.

Your theory is fine in principle ... alas, we have no board to sack him ... the board threw in the towel and walked first - yes, it's hard to make this stuff up! There's a very good chance Bartley will be with us to the end of next season as he takes us into the Southern Counties league or whatever the hell it's called. If Alloa don't take three points in this game and boost your goal difference at the same time ... then you really should just call it a day.

Unfortunately sound doesn't travel in a vacuum ...

^^^ 100% this.

I wouldn't bet on it, can't see it being the case.

Perhaps in theory, but who is actually going to do anything about it? They know they won't be challenged. I'm sure they're not quaking in their boots at the thought.

Queens had a wee patch where we started to look like a team, but over the piece it was clear which was the fitba team and Falkirk are head and shoulders above anything else in this league and the win was fully deserved. Yes, Falkirk have better players as you'd expect with their budget but the big difference is the managers. Over the years I've always liked how McGlynn sets out his teams, he understands the game, he can spot a player and he can see the best positions to suit his player's abilities. Yes, he's not perfect and is always capable of the odd total mindfart of a moment (don't remind the Rovers fans about the ugly DG fiasco ...) and he's not charismatic and struggles in front of a camera but he's humble and he's completely night and day to Bartley.

The fortunes of clubs at our level are always somewhat cyclical, you get your few years in the sun and that's followed by a return to the doldrums before hopefully the cycle turns in your favour again, so it could be argued that this has been coming our way. I just never thought that the decline would come this fast nor plumet so steeply. I never thought I'd ever see the levels of garbage that came our way in the Harkness years again, yet here we are and the Harkness levels of shite are about to be challenged in the next few months. That we don't even have a board (well, OK we apparently do just now but in name only) to take necessary key drastic actions at a time of such deep crisis just totally beggars belief.

Don't worry, we won't be third bottom for long. By Saturday night we'll have lost away to Alloa and Annan will have dispatched Kelty at home so we'll be equal on points with Annan and could well be 9th on goal difference if we capitulate badly at Alloa (entirely possible given the total demotivation of the squad under the guidance of this manager/board). The week after we go to Accies and we all know what happens there. It's time to get the post code for Bonnyrigg into the sat navs folks, this is now a L2 club in all but name.

Agreed, and I thought young Lewis put in a shift too. But that tactical masterclass from Bartley, dearie me ...

Absolutely ... but why does Bartley think he'll be sacked? The bloody board have walked out first. There's nobody left to sack him. What ... a ... bloody ... total ... omnishambles ... of a mess ... L2 is a freakin dead certainty. Bartley's got an excuse, he's totally out of his depth (although he doesn't know it), but our bloody board ... honestly, the timing of their departure announcement beggers bloody belief ... exactly what did they think would transpire?

Scottish third tier refereeing there, classic ... play the advantage man.

This is where Marvin hooks Connelly and Gibson, right ...?

First time you've seen us this season, aye?

Normal service resumed.

Get in Todd ... young Lewis Gibson coming onto a game here ... pleasing!

Hate to agree with Craigen but our high back line is just asking for trouble. Also our midfield was so far behind Mumbongo it wasn't true - improved a bit towards the end. Thanks to Falkirk not bringing their shooting boots (so far ...) we're still in it and it could easily have been 1-1 at HT.

Sympathising with Bartley over the young age of the squad, "so that's what he has to work with" ... aye, OK, but Bartley signed them - he could have added some experience, it was his choice.

Yes.

It's the BBC/Alba, what do you expect ...

I see that the BBC (or kinds of BBC) are covering both major 17;30 kick-offs in direct opposition - the big L1 game at Palmy and an FA Cup Quarter Final (a City team from Manchester and a United side from Newcastle) ... clearly the English FA didn't think this through properly when they scheduled their game ...