Highlandhamer

The tactics right from the off for Queens were so far wrong Exactly the same as the last time we played Alloa at home. They were happy to sit deep and force us up the pitch with full knowledge they can counter effectively. Two goals last time around from long balls into the channels followed by a low whipped cross into the 6 yard box and no prizes for guessing how today's goals came about. So predictable yet somehow the management seemed to forget about this when applying a gameplan. They were more clinical and have determined bodies behind the ball. I thought Paton was probably our best player when he came on and did well in the centre of the park to add some kind of link up to the forwards. Second half was better and we did have chances but in typical Queens fashion our shooting wasn't up to par and all were down the keepers throat. I will say that earlier this season Brownlie added a threat in the air which was severely lacking and has made some mature defensive displays...however this has to be up there with one of the worst 90 minutes you can have as a player. Almost every touch was the exact opposite of what you would expect to happen. Game might have been completely different if it wasn't for his mistakes. But again, crosses. Learn the basics. Alloa certainly have.

Glad we managed to secure the win tonight. Really starting to seem like we need that first goal to open the flood gates. Dobbie steamrolling towards that 2nd spot and Dykes finding the target yet again which is encouraging to see. Also saw that Ross Fergusson bagged a hat-trick tonight for Annan, not entirely sure of the decisions surrounding his departure but given his physical attributes I still think he could have done a job for us considering our squad size.

Funny game that. Motherwell made it really difficult for us to play. A lot of air time with plenty high balls up to Sammon where he was in his element. We couldn't seem to touch him today, claimed every ball was his own and used his strengths to his advantage. In spells I felt we showed a lot of promise and can feel hard done by not to have scored at least one of our chances with the head. Just lacked that killer instinct going forward and felt a little shot shy today perhaps. We made a decent account of ourselves though against a physical premiership side and with a few loan signings to come in to add depth I think we might just do alright this season!

Honestly that equaliser will live with me for as long as I'm on this earth. The noise we made over the stunned gers fans when the ball hit the back of the net was breathtaking. Watching the highlights from that day and that goal in particular gives me this funny lump in my throat. Please Queens, I'm craving for another trip to Hampden. Let's have a cup run!

Very excited about these kits. Like many I will be adding that away beauty to my basket! I just wish they had designed a special badge or reverted to a classic to make the kits even more memorable rather than having the text underneath. Either way can't wait to see the physical versions.

Had a free weekend and made the trip to Palmerston today and I can safely say that it wasn't worth it. That's now the 5th draw I've seen us play this season...I sure know how to pick them. Just feels like far too many points dropped when in all honesty the opposition looks there for the taking! First half was extremely poor, far too much of the ball in the skies slowing the pace down. Second half we came out firing and made a few half chances. We used the wings well and played down to feet and I genuinely thought we were on to something until it fizzled out after 15 minutes and the game became frantic. It's so frustrating seeing a taste of how we can play when we have confidence on the ball and actually find a pass. Everybody complains we have nobody that can score apart from Dobbie, which I can't really argue with, however I don't think it's necessarily because our attackers can't finish. Dobbie is one of very few players that can take a half chance or less and turn it into a goal, that's why he has scored so many this season. In reality we just aren't creating enough proper chances in front of goal to give anyone with lesser ability than Dobbie a chance to score. We need to change the way we attack teams. Defensively we can be solid but upfront we are predictable and slow and are relying on Dobs for a bit of magic rather than trying to beat our opposition. We showed a hint of what we can do when we overlap in wide areas, play give-and-go's and play the ball on the ground at the start of that second half. But its too little and often too late. Still plenty of games to go to try and climb this table but we will need to turn in performances a whole lot better if we fancy our chances!

I just want to chime in about this conversation regarding Derek Lyle and his involvement in the first team. As many have said there is absolutely no doubting his commitment and desire when he is on the park. His ability to link up play with Dobbie has been telepathic at times and he is one of the most clinical finishers that we have had at the club. That being said, I think what Naysmith is doing is wise. Dobbie has already committed himself to another year with the club and finding a new suitable partner for him this early on will only benefit us for next season to start off strongly. Lyle will no doubt still play a part until his sad departure and I am holding on to hope that he can grab those goals he needs to climb up the record books - but giving more minutes to the likes of Fergusson should be encouraged and will hopefully pay off in the future and (with his current form) the remainder of this season too.

I've been quietly watching over the chatter on here for a long while now but it's been getting increasingly harder with each result not to chime in with my own two cents, so here goes... It's plain to see from our position in the group that our results at the start of this competitive season haven't been good enough, much like the later end of the previous season. It seems like we almost always outperform ourselves in games that we would be expected to lose, but it's the games against "lower" opposition or teams below us in the league that are the true must win games we carelessly throw away. Unfortunately this inconsistency has become a trait in our team as of late. I have never been one to place all of the blame on the manager as everyone knows that players on the pitch can ultimately turn in poor performances that directly cost games being won or lost. Small mistakes can be the difference between three points or zero but I can only be so lenient. The tactics employed by the manager and most of the players brought in as replacements have simply not been good enough. As others have mentioned, clubs in our league have recruited far better than us and the past few results are reflecting this. We understand as fans of this club that we may not have the pull that other clubs have to attract players, factors being location, money, management or even larger fanbases could sway players. But this cannot be pinned as an excuse. We have been a competitive championship team during what have been arguably the strongest divisions we have faced in a long time and need to be doing all we can to bring in quality players to really reach a playoff spot again now that some of the "bigger" teams are back in the prem. This is a massive opportunity for the club but we are not jumping at this chance and are slipping away from teams that we should be directly challenging for the top places. Instead we are content with just replacing players rather than improving on them while our best get picked up by our rivals. We don't deserve this as fans. This is not a negative post, rather an optimistic plea that we will bring in the right players and make the right decisions tactically. Dobbie needs support upfront and this needs to be addressed immediately. Players such as Dykes (who gets far too much abuse on here) has to be played correctly as an attacking midfielder rather than a striker so we might see something to cheer about rather than those who have been booing. We need creative attacking minded players and a solid defender for cover. I know the manager is holding on to see which players some top flight clubs are neglecting so that we can attempt to get a loan deal which I have no qualms with as they will no doubt boost the squad. But as the case is with loans, after this season the same problems arise as they return to their parent clubs and we are left with gaps in our squad needing patched up again. I hope we all receive what we pay our money for and get some exciting signings made very soon that will improve on this early disappointment. I don't want this to become a relegation battle but if there are no changes soon it may well end up that way. But in the time being let's support the club we love regardless of the numerous views of the manager, turn up next Saturday and hope for a new look team with passion and hunger for that victory.