The Arch

I don't think there's any way back for Erwin at Leeds, given how well they're doing these days. He was certainly impressive for Motherwell towards the end of 2014/15. Possibly a similar style of player to Azeez, but a better finisher. Definitely think he would be worth a punt. I think going for guys that have been good in Scotland, but lost their way after big money moves down south, is a good market for us.

Big fan of this goal. Been a while since we had a tricky centre half.

There's a story in the Daily Star saying we have a Jermaine Grandison on trial - who's just been released by Shrewsbury Town - so guessing it's him.

It's a shame David Wilson has never been given a loan spell to learn his craft because there's definitely a player in there. I'd say he's slightly too erratic to be a starter at this level just now, but he has something.

It's referred to as a "short term deal". I'm hoping it's as short term as possible. No offence David.

Brilliant signing. Pretty sure he's played left back and centre half for Accies in the past - think he might have been right centre half in the 2-2 game at Firhill - so really is perfect for us. Don't think anyone could have expected an upgrade on Gary Miller, but we've managed it. I think Gordon will be a regular all season, so once Dumbuya is back it might be - Dumbuya Gordon Lindsay/Devine Booth. Once everyone is fit we have a very good team at this level.

Question for those at the Dunfermline game - Did Devine look faster or better on the ball than Frans/Seaborne? I'm presuming he's right footed but must admit to not overly noticing him in our games against Caley. Could see the temptation in trying for a loan deal for Jack Hendry but would mean we'd have a very young central defence. Hopefully Kevin Nisbet gets put out on loan this season. Definite potential there but unlikely to get much of a look in if we have three strikers. They might want to see how he gets on for the "colts" in the cup first though.

Graeme Shinnie is one of the best players in Scotland. I think we're realistic enough to know we're unlikely to be signing players of that quality.

I read somewhere that he's captain of Killie's under 20s, so I don't think he'll be making a sideways move just to be part of our development team. An article on the SFA website says he's a right back and centre half, so certainly looks like he could be Gary Miller's replacement as back up full back and fourth choice centre half. It would perhaps be difficult attracting a player with similar experience to Miller, knowing they wouldn't be starting ahead of Dumbuya, so maybe this is the level we're looking at replacement wise. I'm pretty sure the story will be correct given I know the reporter involved. Be interesting if we have to pay anything or not.

I think Edwards will have a good season, but he's only looked comfortable to me in the middle of the three behind the striker. I don't think he's strong enough to play in the role beside Osman. Time will tell.

Can't wait to see Lawless and Erskine link up again. Surprised to see he's re-signed tbh. Great stuff, and at least the two year deal gives us a break from the will-he, won't he? saga. Pretty sure Frans will re-sign from the Twitter hints. I think Miller would re-sign if he was guaranteed to start because I can see him getting a sideways move at best, but is probably concerned about just being Dumbuya's understudy all year.

Sean Welsh has posted an Instagram pic of Lawless and Banzo together, with the caption "Massive good luck to these 2..will be missed." Cheerio Stevie.

Just said that he's leaving. Didn't make it clear. I'd imagine he'll be dropping down a division or two if he manages to get a move.

Some interesting titbits from Archie's interview with Michael Max. Seaborne expected to go down south, Miller and Frans both offered deals, Bannigan off along with Jordan Leyden. Also sounds like David Wilson might stay, while they're planning to send Penrice out on loan next season to learn the "ugly side of the game". Sounds like it is 50-50 on what Lawless decides. Thought today was pretty average. Ryan Scully doesn't look good enough to me. Can't remember anyone breaking through our ranks that looks as comfortable on the ball as Penrice. Amoo loves a headed tap in from a few yards. Apart from the first 20 minutes it was pretty dull.

Great stuff. We now have six definite starters for next season with Dumbuya, Cerny, Booth, Osman, Erskine and Doolan all signed up. I think Osman would probably be a regular starter for every team in the league apart from Celtic, Hearts and Aberdeen, which is as good a compliment as any. Hopefully get Miller and Amoo signed up, and then at least one out of Dan and Freddie. Would be great to see Lawless and Erskine link up again, but who knows on that one. Can see McDaid possibly being let go early, as he doesn't seem to have been a great success at Cowdenbeath.

Lawless also "liked" a 4am tweet from Thistle reject Ryan Finnie posting the lyrics to a pro UVF song. I certainly won't miss his Twitter persona if he leaves.

No idea on Lawless. I don't know our money situation. I'd doubt we'd hear a decision on Alston until final positions of St Johnstone and us are clear, and also until Falkirk's play off challenge is over. If Falkirk get promoted a move to us would be a bit sideways.

They're meant to be offering more than we are, and their contract offer I'm told will stay the same even if they get relegated, so I could see why he might be tempted. I've no idea what he'll do. He planned to leave us last year because he wasn't playing enough, and then ended up signing a deal. I think at best he'd get a side way move, but he wouldn't get as many starts at most other premier league teams as he does with us.

Would imagine we'll see a few more sign up in the next few weeks, but they probably won't be the priorities. Presume Pogba will get another year given the clause, and hopefully Amoo won't be too hard to deal with. Guessing Osman and Lawless will leave us hanging to the very end. Not sure what will happen with Seaborne, Frans and Miller. Would guess we'll offer them deals but the first might fancy a move back down south, and the other two perhaps want more regular football. Would be content enough to run with Seaborne, Frans and Lindsay for next year, although would happily swap Frans for someone with more pace and a bit better on the ball(admittedly hard to find). Scully, Duggan, Wilson and German will probably go, although could put up with Scully as a number two if he fancied it, given Cerny will play every game if fit.

Big Pogba gets another one-year-deal if he plays 25 games this season, according to today's Evening Times. Quite a good chance he'll reach that figure. Would really rather we could find a better option for next year, even though he's been okay.

I do wonder if the defensive midfield three is just a tactical decision from Archie. Maybe he's decided it's worth losing the attacking threat to crowd out the midfield and keep more clean sheets. We definitely are less maverick a team than we've previously been. I think it's partly down to the standard of wing play dropping as much as anything else. Lawless has been decent, but nobody else has really contributed enough. Amoo doesn't match up to even a below par Higgy imo.

I think it's in Bannigan's interest to leave tbh. What else can he really achieve here? Where would he go though. I feel a lot of moves in Scotland are a bit sideways given that I don't think Rangers/Celtic/Hibs/Hearts/Aberdeen would want to sign him. He could earn himself a move to Luton-esque heights I suppose.

Can't think of many full backs in Scotland I'd swap him for. Very pleasing. He's a relative nomad, so was maybe happy to settle down for a while. Probably played into our hands that he was 29. If he was 10 years younger we'd have had scouts from all over Britain coming to watch him. If Doolan, Banzo, Cerny, Booth or Lawless(among others) were also to sign up in the coming days/weeks I'd be pretty delighted as well.

What are people's thoughts on David Wilson out of interest? Can't make up my mind on him at all.

If Wilson's coming on ahead of him he's perhaps considered 6th choice I don't think Archie trusts him to put in a shift. He lets players run off him a lot, which we couldn't have afforded yesterday. He hasn't really offered much since August last year, and his performance in the 3-1 loss at home to County was one of the most disgraceful I've ever seen. He is rightly behind these guys, and I personally think we'll never see the best of him. Wouldn't be surprised if he's gone in January. On the actual game, I thought Hendry, Lindsay and Cerny were great. Lindsay wins a ridiculous amount of headers, and Hendry looks like a good passer, although there obviously wasn't much of an outball. I hope at least one of the pair gets a run for most of the season alongside one of the more experienced guys. I think they'll physically match up to anyone, and the full backs helped them out well yesterday. The downsides: I thought Osman was guff for the most part. Amoo needs the ball in front of him, or he'll be anonymous. Frans was foolish whether it's a sending off or not. Good point though.