Lobey_Dosser

With Aberdeen obviously very strong, hopefully we can strike a balance between bolstering the midfield and supporting Moult up front. Might be worthwhile putting the likes of Leitch on McLean, while Law will need to be on his game against McGinn and/or Hayes. 3-2 Motherwell with Thomas getting his first goal for the club.

Obviously it's way too early to discuss manager's future and I don't think anyone is suggesting his position should be reviewed just now. Niggling concern for me is that we could very easily lose our next 2 games against Aberdeen and St Johnstone. While a run of tough games would be out the way the pressure would be on prior to the East Fife and Killie games. Given how rotten we've been on recent trips to Perth, I think it's vital we run Aberdeen very close on Saturday.

Thomas has had a fair amount of game time so far and has a long way to go before being a regular first team starter. In addition to Thomas, the two which Baraclough rates the most, Watt and MacLean, are both injured. If they're good enough they'll get their chance. Last night didn't bode well for Leitch I guess but he didn't have a strong enough performance on Saturday to maintain his starting slot.

Baraclough's reported downfall at Sligo was his obsession with 4231. Before Skippy arrived in February, he experimented with the likes of Law and Moore playing in the advanced midfield role. While it worked at treat at Ibrox I don't see the point in signing Fletcher, Skippy and Moult unless you are committed to a front two more often than not.

Is it definitely the case that United are spending more than us? I get the impression that we are still investing significantly and our budget would comfortably be in top 6.

His Reading form early last season got him into a Wales squad that is flying. He's likely to have something about him.

I was hoping we had shaken the habit of failing to turn up for away games but not to be. Hopefully the long term plan is not to keep Skippy in midfield or else it's been a pointless signing. Moult and Fletcher need the experience of McDonald alongside them. Howler from big Connor for the 2nd.

Leitch needs a run of games to bed himself in but on the the evidence so far I've seen little to be impressed by. Granted I missed the 3-3 Celtic game, which followed a shocker from him and the team at Tannadice.

Time to bring Hearts down a peg or 2. Ainsworth to inspire us to a 4-0 win.

Neither Law or Jennings were ever adequately replaced by McCall, hence the current predicament. Would be nice to bring in a playmaker types but with the wages that have been spent on Pearson and Skippy, I think we'll be relying on them to create in their own fashion.

I'm not so sure weeyin, the rumoured pursuit of Irvine and reported offer for Bolger would suggest an energetic ball-winner is our priority. A move that I'd agree with. Skippy, Ainsworth and Marvin should offer enough creativity, with Thomas and McLean backing them up.

I'd go along with that. Wasn't expecting too much from him at left-mid yesterday but thought he slotted in well enough, was actually surprised to see him substituted. Looks a decent footballer and hopefully at the very least, he'll prove to be a decent utility player for us.

I think we'll bring in 2 if Pearson is out for a while. Burrows suggested as much on the radio yesterday.

Laing and Lasley the top performers, while the keeper produced a couple of eye-catching saves. Laing edges it for me despite the own goal. He looks determined to make the most of his potential.

Is the view from the lower tier rotten? £6 is quite a gulf in price.

No cash converters entertainment at half time either while numerous companies were advertised over the tannoy. Suspect Cash Converters are putting less money into the club than previous and their exposure is limited to the shirt.

I thought it was a decent enough game to watch with us having the upper-hand for 15/20 minutes in each half. We look fit and well drilled, with the keeper, Lasley and 3 of the back 4 looking really strong. A draw would have been a fair result but our lack of cutting edge cost us in the end. Pearson and Ainsworth were always going to be a big miss in that respect and so it proved. Skippy was left to do too much in midfield with Leitch offering minimal impact. This left Fletcher isolated and Marvin trying to do too much on his own. This season will be one of fine margins that could see us finishing anywhere between 4th and 10th. Looking forward to Tynecastle. Hopefully Fletcher and Watt are fit.

Expect this to be quite an aggressive encounter. Interested to see how Marvin does against 2 of the better fullbacks in the league.

Goes without saying that this would be a massive blow. Fancied Pearson to be one of the best midfielders in the league this season. We're going to need to bring in 2 midfielders now. Wouldn't mind Grant as the backup option.

We looked pretty tidy in the highlights. Hopefully we'll get a midfielder in this week before kicking off a difficult 3 games in 8 days.

Good solid start to the season. Hopefully Pearson is alright.

Team pretty much as expected, wasn't sure about Fletch or Moult. Watt must have picked up an injury.

Missed the Celtic game but should be sorted now.

I think McManus will have had a fair influence in the Ripley signing. Going back a couple of years, I think he played a part in Hollis being selected over Neilsen. Hopefully it proves to be a good signing. Clearly he was down our pecking order of targets but he looks to be a big unit of a boy.

Certainly not a Rangers bound Allan. If he does depart elsewhere, McGeough would be his natural replacement, who again will incur a similar transfer fee to McGinn.