Spider1975

Yup, started watching QPFC in the mid-eighties thanks to my Mum's work colleague, (who's son played for them), taking me most weekends. Remember non-first team and youth games etc being played occasionally at Lesser and definitely remember (vaguely) standing on a bank. Pretty sure I saw various PL managers there from time to time taking in games, (Jim McLean and Graeme Souness both spring to mind)

The 53% possession stat is a bit misleading, as Rovers spent a fair while in the first half passing the ball sideways in and around their 18 yard box, which probably says a lot about QP's forward line, (especially Murray) that prevented them playing out.

Got high hopes for this one as a spectacle; was at the last Airdrie - QPFC game last season where Dylan Easton seemed to revel in goading the travelling support during their 2-0 win - all good banter, eventually made sweeter by the fact he gave away the penalty that SM converted to get us promoted in the play-off final.

Nothing would give me more pleasure than having the big fella prove me wrong though I suppose the difference in critique between him playing McKay on-side and Fox doing so would be that Fox has been out for a fair bit and probably not completely match sharp? To be fair on OC, the recruitment so far this year has been sound and the way he has the team playing in general is a pleasure to watch, (when we're not shipping cheap goals). I do worry about the inability sometimes to convert all the midfield creativity into some sort of meaningful end product, (hark the increasing shouts of 'shoot FFS' the longer the game went on). Davidson had as solid a game as I've seen in a while on Saturday but agree completely with the RB situation.

A 'big investment' in Eze?, well he wasn't in any way missed last night and the performance, (besides getting caught on the counter for the goal) was night and day compared with that against Cove. Fox brought a composure and leadership that's been sadly missing lately (IMHO). Other than that, highly impressed with Thomas, Jarrett and Thomson. Special mention to Boateng who at one point single handedly broke up an ICT counter.

Due work didn't make it to the game but watched on the BBC, (QPFC on the box, who'd have thunk it!) Is Coyle trying to morph into a pound-shop Guardiola in that any goal scored must be rolled in from half a yard and come from a minimum of 26 passes?, all very pretty but I'm surprised Murray has any hair left given the amount of times he looked like he was tearing it out with what was going on around him. Cove always looked comfortable in defence and it was maybe indicative given the age of the QPFC team that we seemed to get caught so easily on the counter. Given his size Eze can neither use his head, nor seems to be able to run - all fine if he's positionally sound but that seems errant too. Hope he's ok, but Fox and Kilday must be the preference in the centre. I worry that given our issues hanging onto leads, (see all of last season) and a potential inability to get back into games if we go behind, it's maybe time to go five at the back. Can't see relegation being an issue with Accies being so dreadful but it's such a tight league that we could head south rapidly if we don't shore up the defence.

The Cove match reporter was obviously watching something different to me then Eze is a unit and once he adds some finesse when using his head, he'll be a weapon. Thomas, Robson and Savoury terrific again with a special mention for Savoury's defensive work which got Davidson out of jail a few times. As for Simon Murray, another strong performance - I fear for us if either he, Savoury or Robson get injured. I reckon Murray's movement and running was the reason Shay Logan needed to tuck his shorts into his pants - presumably it saved him from an overt Gary Linekar moment!