Kierkegaard

Start with the positives: GB has massively improved the team's fitness, strength, organisation and morale. We are no longer a side that can be bullied - some performances last season were pathetic. Annan weren't a better team than us on Saturday - we gifted them a goal from a set piece, though, and that must be addressed. When we played the ball on the deck we looked good - the move that got Sherin's goal was a classic, with a superb cross from Brad Smith. In fact Smith was running past the Annan right back at will. We didn't exploit that obvious weakness though, playing more hoofball as the game went on. We need a combination of strength and football on the deck. It's early days, but if the management team can get that sorted we won't have to endure the torture of a third relegation [play off.

Ta Impressive pre-season

Where are the highlights, David?

His lunchtime consistes of munching a whole cow.... Brilliant start for the big man. Quite a change to have a front pairing that refuses to be intimidated. Last season we were weak up front and too easily bullied. These days are over.

Mark Yardley used to respond to criticism by fans about his girth by running backwards, imitating the beeps of a bin lorry. Class act, and a natural goalscorer.

Thanks, Jordan, for the good wishes and the interviews

Cautious optimism, Drifter. The big difference this time around is that we have a manager in place right from the off - a manager who has had time to assess the squad. He's got rid of a few and has made some decent signings. When GB came in, the organisation and morale of the squad improved immediately, and the players have been playing for the manager. One thing for sure is that we won't be outmuscled up front - that's a big improvement. Keeping Davie McGurn is a good bit of business, as is retaining the services of Blair Malcolm. Off the field, the appointment of a new CEO is intriguing. Everything to play for.

That sounds like a good offer, Scott. Anybody out there who could help with the uploading, etc? Any toddler wanting to make some pocket money?? (That's a joke, by the way, but we may be looking at a teenage generation. Could Beath High School setup a communications project in association with the club? There are young people out there who are very tech savvy and could make a name for themselves - look at how Ross Cunningham developed his skills brilliantly and has made a good career for himself. We've got to think "out of the box" and create a communications model that can excite young people. Are there colleges in Cowdenbeath or Dunfermline that could set up a communications module in co-operation with the club? We've got to get out of the rather tired public meeting/perpetual relegation battles mindset and excite people about the club. While I'm banging on about it, we need a hard look at our recruitment of players/managers model - could we get some of our fans - maybe some who've done a bit of coaching - to look out for players in local juvenile'/junior/amateur leagues who are beginning to make a name for themselves - after all, someone spotted Greig Stewart in the amateurs. This would be an engagement with the fans with a potential to excite people.

Whether we like it or not, any modern football club in the era of social media has to have a media strategy. Relying on public meetings in Cowdenbeath, thereby excluding quite a number of fans who don't live in the immediate neighbourhood, simply won't do any more. If we're serious about engagement with fans, modern means of communication have to be employed. Social media can be used to gain a lot of free publicity for the club. Short interviews with management and players can be done on a mobile phone and uploaded immediately via Twitter. And, yes, announcing that new signings are imminent can build up a head of steam. Look at the amount of excitement generated by Drifter's excellent strip designs. We had people from different parts of Scotland joining in. Opinions by fans of different clubs were helpful as well. Donald has clearly been converted to the idea of the club having a strategy for the digital age; we now need a bit of action on the matter.

We'll need to sign a decent back up keeper. We really rode our luck last season. Imagine if Davie McGurn had been injured in the Cove game - doesn't bear thinking about

Who exactly do we have signed up already?

We may be missing a trick here. Look back at this thread, and see how much interest has been generated by the excellent designs Drifter has produced. Of course fans care most about what happens on the pitch - but like it or not, that includes how the team look on the field of play. We want to take pride in our team. For me, one of the good things about lower league football is that we are not tied up with the Old Firm. There's a toxic aspect to what they represent (as I know well when I used to write for the Herald). I think it's naive to pretend that the red and black socks have got no resonances with Rangers FC - it's one of the things visiting fans immediately pick up on. We also get criticism on social media. Can you imagine what the response would be if the new socks were modelled on Celtic's? Given all that, why do we make ourselves vulnerable to criticism season after season with socks that aren't even part of the Cowden tradition? What is the point of it? Think again about the interest generated over the past few weeks about strips right here on this forum. We have seen some cracking designs. We'll all have our own favourites .(Mine would be the blue and white stripes, with white socks). It's too late for this season, but we can see that the debate really engages the fans, particularly in the close season. This time next year, could Drifter's designs go back on P & B and fans' opinions feed into the choice of strip/socks? This discussion also highlights the importance of social media - quite a number of dedicated fans spend a lot of money/time in travel to games, but midweek meetings might be very difficult. Many, many people communicate via social media and if we're hoping to attract a new generation, this is the way to go.

After the first game at Cove's ground, the Cove captain said in the Press & Journal (for which I write) that Sheerin was a very difficult player to play against. He said that after the game he was covered in bruises! To be fair, he also said that Sheerin was a good bloke and that he liked him.

Ball control

The Cowboy is joking. Surely.

In fact, I think we should get a blown up pic of the dude on the top left and put it above the away dressing room door with the words "Abandon hope all ye who enter here". Make sure it's in place in time for the Cove game. In fact, is that not Toorie's great grandfather in the middle?

The dude at the top left probably never put in a tackle - he just stared at people and they immediately surrendered. Toorie probably modelled himself on him.

I prefer this strip: The Miners

This is the one, Drifter.

Here we are - from the text of a book called Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil: One incident stands out. Levein persuaded his friend, Pasquale Bruno, the ex-Juventus, Torino, Fiorentina and Hearts star, to make a cameo appearance for the Blue Brazil in a match at Central Park against Ross County. The tanned Italian superstar strolled elegantly around the Fife Maracana. Then, with Cowden 2-0 ahead, Stuart Juner, a legendary Cowden terracing wit, shouted: “Hey Pasquale, where have you been all my life?” Bruno looked up and grinned - and completely missed the ball, allowing the Ross County striker to run straight through and score. The Blue Brazil ended up losing 3-2. If it's in Black Diamonds, it must be true... or aproximately true. I must say the late lamented Stuart Juner was best terracing wit I've ever heard.

Mustn't get carried away, but it may even be fun to go to Central Park next season.... Time to back this by buying season tickets...

Excellent. He kept us in the second division. Great to see the CB plus centre mid situation being addressed - absolutely critical. Rumbsby gave us a good first season. Decent player, but fell away.

The names being talked about shows we are benefiting from having a manager who really knows the lower leagues being in place already for the new season. GB seems to be going for experienced pros with a bit of weight and authority about them, GB came into a difficult situation and very quickly cleared out the worst of the team and got the players organised. It was obvious latterly that the team were playing for the manager. We may not set the league alight, but we certainly won't be pushovers if the manager gets the players he wants.

Cowden have signed Jack Whittaker. Do you think he will do a job for us?

Here's mine, white collie.