Kmcalpin

Mark McGhee also made the same comment about us being off the pace at Cowdenbeath. Why are these other teams ahead of us fitness wise?

Would you care to name him?

Too much gloom and doom on here I fear. Yes, we've not being playing well but its only pre season and when the League Cup starts we will be actually be trying to win games. There's been more squad upheaval than many of us thought and thats taken its toll. I think we'll be ok with addition of another first pick central midfielder. My only concern, and it may be unfounded, is that we'll founder in the League Cup as its coming too early for us. COYW

Not exactly a confidence boosting scoreline but again no great shock. I suppose the success or otherwise of the game will depend on Mark McGhee's pre match aims. If it was to provide the squad with a tough competitive match then he picked the right opposition. Again Hibs would have had something to prove. Its a shame that we did not play English opposition this pre season but the fixture timetable would not have allowed it. Probably true to say that every side we have played so far had a point to prove, in addition to getting fit. I wasn't at the game today and will watch the highlights with interest but it strikes me that we were at least a couple of players short of a decent side ie Louis Moult and an attacking central midfielder. Playing two defensive minded and slow (?) central midfielders together simply isn't going to work, but Mark McGhee will know that already, as do most of us. A fit Louis Moult will improve our firepower up front. There will still be question marks about the central defensive pairing unfortunately and both full backs will come under scrutiny for different reasons. As a few of us suspected, the League Cup may come a few weeks too early for us, but that has still to play out. By the end of the group stage of the League Cup we should be in better position to know how things are settling down. It will take the new boys time to settle in and thats to be expected. The one crucial thing we have to do, is to sign an offensive central midfielder. I don't see that we have much choice.

Still no sign of Louis Laing in the starting 11 or on the bench at Easter Road.

Yes he may do well in the middle but he needs to harden up to play in the engine room. He needs to beef up to repel physical assaults from the Murray Davidson type opponent.

I hope he'll get his chance Andy and yes he's getting exposure in pre season games but is he not more of a defensive player? I'm sure I recall reading that MMcG referred to him as a tough tackling midfield terrier type.

Sad news about Jackie McInally. He was a decent player and signed from Kilmarnock. I remember him as an old fashioned inside forward. Condolences to his family and friends.

The central midfield jigsaw is currently clouded in uncertainty. Much will depend on how Mark McGhee views Cadden's role. Until now he has been played in a wide right role and to the best of my knowledge he hasn't been played in the middle in pre season games. That suggests that MMcG doesn't intend to deploy him there. So can he play there successfully? I tend to think that he can but thats by no means certain. So, given that, I'd say another attacking midfielder is an absolute must. Yet another factor is that Pearo may return to us in January and if so its a temporary vacancy and a case could be made for us to muddle through until then.

You obviously think more highly of the SPFL than I do. From the little I do know of their investigation and report into the Rangers play off goings on it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Were Ayr United, Kilmarnock and Ross County punished at the end of last season for pitch invasions?

Its a real shame that Louis Laing is injured but I'm beginning to have concerns about Kennedy in central defence. Maybe he's just a slow starter? Perhaps Heneghan will challenge for a starting slot.

I wasn't a Josh Law fan but he was under contract.

Thanks for that Andy. I know its difficult at this early stage, but I'm just trying to get on a handle on whether we're looking as though we're tightening up defensively in central midfield and whether we have any creativity there. At Cowdenbeath we seemed to have neither - I know the personnel were different. Maybe tomorrow's game will provide an indication of how central midfield is shaping up.

So, thats both Stephen Robinson and Josh Law departed for pastures new at Oldham. The Latics website thanks us, as a club, for being professional. Thats good to hear. However I hope thats not a coded way of saying we rolled over and gave them what they wanted as a club. Don't get me wrong I've no problem with either man moving on and good luck to them. However both were under contract to us and I sincerely hope that they will be compensating us accordingly. I don't think we're due a fortune and Josh Law did want to move on but we are entitled to a modest amount I would have thought; maybe in the region £50K - £100k.

How was central midfield today? Is McHugh an out and out defensive player who can tackle or is he more cultured? We simply don't seem to have the players to play with a lone striker - a strong running central midfielder is a necessity in such a set up.

In a word - yes.

Yes, its not unusual. However, if a club wants to sever a player's contract its not unusual for it to offer some compensation. Why should it be any different for a player who wants to sever a contract? There are a number of players who have bought out their contract. Players can't have it both ways. That said, some kind of mutual agreement is usually reached.

From the little we know I don't think Josh Law has actually left yet. The report is a bit vague but I interpret it as being he will be allowed to leave if he can find another club. Whether or not he'll be asked to pay up the remainder of his contract isn't clear, though I would doubt it.

You can bet the Scotsman would not have written this in the same way had McHugh joined Hearts or Hibs.

Yes I remember Jim McCabe a very gifted, if somewhat lightweight, player. His trademark was his long lank hair. Sad to hear this.

I'd imagine so yes. Sure he signed a new deal not that long ago. If he does move on it'll be interesting who Mark McGhee appoints as his assistant.

Yes, that was part of it but we were kicked off the pitch in a real battle.

Yes, for us they're just bounce games and the results are unimportant. However, we should be looking for decent performances and to assess weaknesses in the team. Players will be ring rusty but on the other hand they should be looking to impress Mark McGhee. He'll have a rough idea of his guaranteed starters but probably won't know his preferred starting line up until late September. Right now I'd say central midfield is up for grabs as is a central defensive spot.

I don't know if that would be wise. As it stands, McManus is a certain starter but I think its all to play for regarding his defensive partner. Currently we have Kennedy, Heneghan and Laing vying for the spot. On the basis of last season I'm not 100% convinced of Kennedy. If Laing were to go that would just leave one untried option.