[Mr X]

Monkey Tennis, on 24 May 2012 - 21:17, said:

You're maybe right.

I just fear that we're hoping a lot of players who came up well short in division 1 will somehow excel in division 2.

Now I accept that midfield, rather than defence was our weakest area last season. I also recognise the argument that suggests the gap between divisions 1 and 2 is the biggest because it tends to mark a notional FT / PT cut-off. Play-off outcomes wouldn't necessarily support this argument however.

Remember, that we're explicitly aiming to win the division next season. That means our players needn't merely cope in division 2, but must instead be capable of dominating. I know that world-beaters won't be available and that some players will be worth clinging onto. I do however detect a belief among Queens fans that this drop of a division will see us suddenly become very good in relative terms and I'm not sure that it's that valid.

I wouldnt disagree but I think the problem with that is any players who are capable of dominating the 2nd are also more than capable of getting a contract with a team in the 1st, on money that we cant compete with.

I think we also should remember that we still only have a handful of player signed for next season. Even if we ended up with 7 players from last season, that would still be less than half of the eventual squad.

[NEexile]

Dougie Mills, on 25 May 2012 - 08:00, said:

Are you Truthhurts?

Funny I was thinking the same myself

[weeredbook]

I just want to see on the deck attacking football.I think the manager will bring that next seasonLast season was the worst football played since the Dark Era, when Dougie Mills and other such" talents" were on show.Hopefully we will get some decent signings in, and if we get off to a good start, who knows ? .

Saturdays should be about looking forward to some entertainment,not dreading seeing a borefest.

This post has been edited by weeredbook: Today, 09:10

[Flash]

Monkey Tennis, on 24 May 2012 - 21:17, said:

You're maybe right.

I just fear that we're hoping a lot of players who came up well short in division 1 will somehow excel in division 2.

Now I accept that midfield, rather than defence was our weakest area last season. I also recognise the argument that suggests the gap between divisions 1 and 2 is the biggest because it tends to mark a notional FT / PT cut-off. Play-off outcomes wouldn't necessarily support this argument however.

Remember, that we're explicitly aiming to win the division next season. That means our players needn't merely cope in division 2, but must instead be capable of dominating. I know that world-beaters won't be available and that some players will be worth clinging onto. I do however detect a belief among Queens fans that this drop of a division will see us suddenly become very good in relative terms and I'm not sure that it's that valid.

This.
And although the midfield was probably the weakest area, the defence has to take its fair share of the blame for conceding 64 goals. I therefore would not be rushing to sign any of our defenders from last season and certainly don't see signing one of them as any cause for celebration.

[palmy_cammy]

I take Monkey Tennis's point, but the likes of McGuffie and Higgins are proven at first division level so it's fairly logical to assume they will cope a level down. They are the only two from the defence that I have seen people keen to sign. Reid I expect will move on, and hopefully so too will Potter. Although I had feared relegation from about September, it was his signing that sealed our fate IMO. McGuffie and Higgins were just starting to look like a partnership, and it was clear for all to see our midfield was lacking creativity. So what does the tactical mastermind do? Sign one of his old pals, who is no better than what we have. Cheers Gus.

Although no-one can deny we were rightfully relegated, most people believe we had a reasonable squad that perhaps should've competed better than it did. I haven't seen anyone clamouring to get all of last seasons squad re-signed. Just a select few who were our better performers last year (McGuffie, Higgins, Carmichael), or have done it for us in the past (Reid and McKenna). I don't have a problem with bolstering our youth players with these experienced guys. With the exception of Clark, so far Johnston has only signed players the fans have wanted to stay so I'm content.

Obviously alarm bells will start to go off if some of the pretenders from last season start getting offered deals as well though, but I have faith that having played alongside them, Magic will know who is and isn't up to it.

[Mr X]

palmy_cammy, on 25 May 2012 - 12:54, said:

I take Monkey Tennis's point, but the likes of McGuffie and Higgins are proven at first division level so it's fairly logical to assume they will cope a level down. They are the only two from the defence that I have seen people keen to sign. Reid I expect will move on, and hopefully so too will Potter. Although I had feared relegation from about September, it was his signing that sealed our fate IMO. McGuffie and Higgins were just starting to look like a partnership, and it was clear for all to see our midfield was lacking creativity. So what does the tactical mastermind do? Sign one of his old pals, who is no better than what we have. Cheers Gus.

Although no-one can deny we were rightfully relegated, most people believe we had a reasonable squad that perhaps should've competed better than it did. I haven't seen anyone clamouring to get all of last seasons squad re-signed. Just a select few who were our better performers last year (McGuffie, Higgins, Carmichael), or have done it for us in the past (Reid and McKenna). I don't have a problem with bolstering our youth players with these experienced guys. With the exception of Clark, so far Johnston has only signed players the fans have wanted to stay so I'm content.

Obviously alarm bells will start to go off if some of the pretenders from last season start getting offered deals as well though, but I have faith that having played alongside them, Magic will know who is and isn't up to it.

Either this is a very bad dream, or I just agreed with you

[palmy_cammy]

Mr X, on 25 May 2012 - 13:02, said:

Either this is a very bad dream, or I just agreed with you

You're learning. Not enough for a greenie I see though!

I'm in pre-season optimism mode, and at the minute everything I want to happen is happening which is maintaining this optimism. Of course it could turn out that I know absolutely nothing about football, and the things I want to happen turn out to be an absolute disaster! I did want Gus after all!

Flash and Monkey Tennis have clearly followed Queens longer than I have though causing them to understandably be permanently pessimistic. It'll come to us all eventually.

[ryanqos]

palmy_cammy, on 25 May 2012 - 12:54, said:

I take Monkey Tennis's point, but the likes of McGuffie and Higgins are proven at first division level so it's fairly logical to assume they will cope a level down. They are the only two from the defence that I have seen people keen to sign. Reid I expect will move on, and hopefully so too will Potter. Although I had feared relegation from about September, it was his signing that sealed our fate IMO. McGuffie and Higgins were just starting to look like a partnership, and it was clear for all to see our midfield was lacking creativity. So what does the tactical mastermind do? Sign one of his old pals, who is no better than what we have. Cheers Gus.

Although no-one can deny we were rightfully relegated, most people believe we had a reasonable squad that perhaps should've competed better than it did. I haven't seen anyone clamouring to get all of last seasons squad re-signed. Just a select few who were our better performers last year (McGuffie, Higgins, Carmichael), or have done it for us in the past (Reid and McKenna). I don't have a problem with bolstering our youth players with these experienced guys. With the exception of Clark, so far Johnston has only signed players the fans have wanted to stay so I'm content.

Obviously alarm bells will start to go off if some of the pretenders from last season start getting offered deals as well though, but I have faith that having played alongside them, Magic will know who is and isn't up to it.

That's the way I see it also.

[Mr X]

palmy_cammy, on 25 May 2012 - 13:13, said:

You're learning. Not enough for a greenie I see though!

I'm in pre-season optimism mode, and at the minute everything I want to happen is happening which is maintaining this optimism. Of course it could turn out that I know absolutely nothing about football, and the things I want to happen turn out to be an absolute disaster! I did want Gus after all!

Flash and Monkey Tennis have clearly followed Queens longer than I have though causing them to understandably be permanently pessimistic. It'll come to us all eventually.

You have your greenie although, in my lofty position, I have loads

I dont think many people were against McPhersons appointment last summer

[Flash]

I also take the points made by Mr X and palmy_cammy. I just wasn't that impressed with McGuffie last season, TBH.
I think the absence of a list of players who have been released is the biggest worry at the moment. I know their contracts are up, but it would be comforting to know who we were definitely not going to offer terms to. I'm pretty sure, in the same circumstances, we've had lists of players released before. The worry for me is that we are currently negotiating with all of them and that's why none has been said to have been released. This, and the complete lack of any signing, or indication of a signing, from elsewhere is a concern. I know it is early days, though.
And I might be pessimistic, but it is amazing how often the pessimists amongst us are proved right when it comes to Queens. Last pre-season I actually thought Gus would be ok. This belief continued right up until about 20 minutes in to the Diddy Cup game v Ayr when I then thought we could well be relegation fodder.

[Mr X]

Flash, on 25 May 2012 - 14:34, said:

I also take the points made by Mr X and palmy_cammy. I just wasn't that impressed with McGuffie last season, TBH.
I think the absence of a list of players who have been released is the biggest worry at the moment. I know their contracts are up, but it would be comforting to know who we were definitely not going to offer terms to. I'm pretty sure, in the same circumstances, we've had lists of players released before. The worry for me is that we are currently negotiating with all of them and that's why none has been said to have been released. This, and the complete lack of any signing, or indication of a signing, from elsewhere is a concern. I know it is early days, though.
And I might be pessimistic, but it is amazing how often the pessimists amongst us are proved right when it comes to Queens. Last pre-season I actually thought Gus would be ok. This belief continued right up until about 20 minutes in to the Diddy Cup game v Ayr when I then thought we could well be relegation fodder.

I dont know the reason behind it, but the club have already said - through the Board Blog - that they wont be putting out a list of released players, rather "...concentrate on announcing who we are signing"

[ryanqos]

Mr X, on 25 May 2012 - 14:39, said:

I dont know the reason behind it, but the club have already said - through the Board Blog - that they wont be putting out a list of released players, rather "...concentrate on announcing who we are signing"

Have the contracts expired?

[SUPERSOUTH]

No need to tell the world contract situations, surely clubs know when players contracts expire etc, so why should the club have to make an announcement, would be different if the players were stil contracted for next season and let go. In thus instance I support the board.

[Mr X]

ryanqos, on 25 May 2012 - 14:50, said:

Have the contracts expired?

Some of the players were commenting on twitter that they were now "free agents" last week. The OS has most of them down as the end of May, but thats just a convenience thing to indicate they are out of contract at the end of this season. Its not necessarily the actual, physical, date of the end of the contract.

[Flash]

Mr X, on 25 May 2012 - 14:39, said:

I dont know the reason behind it, but the club have already said - through the Board Blog - that they wont be putting out a list of released players, rather "...concentrate on announcing who we are signing"

I know. Which is why I'm worried that negotiations are going on with all of them. It would put my mind at rest if an announcement was made of contracts that would definitely not be renewed. I don't see what harm that would do. All you are doing is telling the fans which players won't be back and who are free to find other clubs. I know technically they are all free, but surely there are some we want to keep and some we definitely don't?
As I said, I don't ever remember a season where no such announcement was made. I could be wrong, though.
Anyway, I guess we'll find out soon enough as the signings are announced one by one.

This post has been edited by Flash: Today, 15:31

[Skyline Drifter]

Most of the players were out of contract on monday being the day after the playoffs finished. We never announced a "released" list last year either though the board did confirm Lilley Holmes and McLaren wouldnt be offered anything before Gus was appointed although he could have reversed that decision if he had wanted to.

This post has been edited by Skyline Drifter: Today, 15:43

[FC_1919]

I am in the wanting a released list camp, can't sleep at nights due to a combo of the heat and Simmons re-signing.

[kirkyblue2]

I think they're trying to be diplomatic or I hope they are by not releasing names.

[dosserboy]

Hawk, on 22 May 2012 - 20:24, said:

Whoop whoop!!

One goal all season, one decent 45 mins all season, jesus wept