Velvet Donkey

An even enough game with Thistle deserving the win. No catastrophe, but I'd be starting with Robson and Longridge next week. I still think we need one or two more recruits if we are to manage squad rotation throughout the season and give enough minutes to the developing players without burn-out.

Good summary. Boateng yes, Eze no.

Week 1: Hearts Week 2: Rangers Week 3: Celtic

This from Scott Burns again: Queen's star attracts EPL scouts Arsenal and Southampton both ran the rule over Queen’s Park youngster Callan McKenna at the weekend. The Gunners and the Saints had scouts to watch the keeper in action in their weekend win over Arbroath. Premiership rivals Brighton are already in talks with Queens to try and land their 16-year-old keeper. The Seagulls, however, could face competition with Arsenal having a prominent scout at the game. Southampton have been long-term admirers and their interest was flagged up more than a year ago by former scout Kevin Hamill. They have since upped their interest and it is likely that Premiership interest would be too strong for Saints to take him down to the Championship.

I thought our 'tippy-tappy team of youngsters' were to get schooled no? Will get caught out a few times at the back, and we have to convert more of our chances, but that was very good to watch, and we will get better. Looking forward to the highlights. Hope they include ......'get it up you Campbell. You look like a bus driver!'.

Keeping an eye on this one, hope he does well. Has looked really good to me in the limited end-of-game time sub appearances he's had. Can hold the ball up and bring others into the game as well as a tireless press, and a natural finisher. If he gets regular starts this could be his big season.

Agreed, I was overlooking Mal. But Ralston, - as a 16 yo - made the biggest difference to our team at the time. Brophy was good too, but Ralston was so effective.

Our last attacking right-back from Celtic is maybe the best loan signing I've seen play for us.

Week 2 Rangers

Yes. I believe we are the second row, not the first.

Yeah, it's maybe no bad thing to learn these lessons early on. McKenna got away with some very tidy footwork in the first half that seemed a bit risky, but surely would have given him confidence. Bannon's pass was a bit wayward, but hopefully the mistake will have helped to develop the judgement of when you just need to put your foot through it. I'm fully behind the style of play, but agree with Bridge of Weirdo's post (added below because I forgot what forum I was on!): Am I kidding myself on to think that the last 4 games were to trial a new style of play for us which includes our keeper playing a far more proactive part of playing the ball 'out from the back' rather than a real intention of progressing in the diddy cup ?. If it continues into the league program which starts at Inverness next week it won't be long before it's realised that a high pressure line will (as it did today) eventually result with mistakes ending in tap-ins. I'm no fan of hoof ball but there is a lot to be said for a well placed long ball and although playing from the back looks great if it is executed correctly especially if it results in a shooting opportunity there imo has to be a balance between the two styles and not what seems to be the case at the moment of an almost obsession on playing it back even if there are openings elsewhere. Looking forward to the real stuff starting next week and can only hope that gaining 3 points even at this stage of the season is not sacrificed for the sake of an experiment?.

That was more encouraging. I thought we did very well against a decent and physical Premier side. Impressed with Cammy Bruce, a confident shift. Spong looked sharper too when he came on. Playing passy in our own penalty area is going to take some getting used to, and I think we presented Motherwell more chances than they created. Looks like we need a bit more threat up front, and hoping Veldman is working on that.

Ah, I must have missed his injury. I'd also like to see him get a run. I've always thought he's done really well with the limited opportunity he's had.

No Scott Williamson again, and no mention of injury?

Week 1 - Hearts

Was that Healy? Anyone know anything about our trialist (34)? Looked ok.

I don't know how you could be bothered to be honest.

The first competitive event yes, albeit a friendly.

Yes absolutely. And despite what Arachnophile has also said above, we may as well just hand out badges to those that come in to give us the benefit of their insight. 'I warned everyone about the Glasgow Gretna's unsustainable plans, yet their money-bags owner keeps bankrolling a vanity project with no fans. Know your place Queen's Park!'.

That's what I thought too, but he has played more league football than Mal Boateng did before he arrived.

Ludicrous yes. Unfair no.

Fair enough. If there really really is such a sense of unfairness over maybe two league games and a few Lorne Sausage cup fixtures, then just make it the full season.

As I said, whether we have a ground, or half a ground, or no ground is entirely irrelevant.

What's the problem if they do? Clubs have to make arrangements for whatever league and scenario they anticipate. We got agreement for a couple of games at Hampden last season, and I took those as a special arrangement as our registered ground wasn't available. If you suggesting that we would re-register on a game-by-game basis according to how lucrative the gate was, then I'd agree that's unfair?