Kmcalpin

Yes, I'm concerned too Iain about our apparent lack of preparation, but in Stuart McCall we trust. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating though as the saying goes.

Yes both did very well and were plus points. Both showed hunger and desire and some good touches. If he continues to progress and spend some time in the gym to bulk up young Thomas could well turn out to be real prospect. Very encouraging.

He was still getting buffeted and battered by some admittedly pretty big defenders yesterday. No reason whatsoever why bulk should affect speed, unless he's been training wrongly. Most of the world's best sprinters are big muscular guys. Many English Premiership players are built like tanks but by god they can shift. His biggest failing yesterday, as commented by many around me, was his lack of movement off the ball.

I'm optimistic that SM will bring in 1/2 strikers and a decent centre back within the next few weeks. No point in signing players for the sake of signing them. It usually takes until about the end of September before most teams know their best line up.

Fair comment. I thought Twardzik looked very weak in the air, and made a real lulu for Fulham's second goal. On the plus side he made a string of very good saves and his throwing and kicking was impressive. A mixed performance I'd say. Is he better than Gunnar or not??

We certainly looked way short of match fitness. Apart from giving the squad some of that, the game didn't tell us much that we didn't know beforehand. We still look very weak at the back, our strikeforce is a cause for concern, at least temporarily, with no one to partner John Sutton. Dom Thomas looked promising when he came on. Probably our best option, maybe the only one, on Thursday evening, is to play Ainsworth up front alongside Sutton. Erwin at a push. Bob McHugh again showed nothing. The main positive to take from yesterdays' game is that if we're confused then our Icelandic opponents will be even more puzzled.

When is the deadline for signing players in times for next week's tie?

A cup winning team depends on a number of factors not just ability. Luck is required as is plenty of character and the correct tactics. Our cup winning side of 1991 is not the best Well team that I've seen. I'd rate our side of 1976 higher ability wise but for some reason it didn't win any silverware.

Its not about income. Sometimes clubs want to try out trialists without shouting it from the rooftops.

Hard to say, but so far so good. I'm happy for the TV companies to ignore us in league games as will the club.

Pretty much agree with that Iain. We have got a limited budget and some situations aren't clear cut. We can only assume that the club has prioritised its playing budget to date.

How often did they start together in the last 3, critical, games?

My own gut instinct is that we'll make 2 further signings. An out and out hard running striker in the Clarkson/Ojamaa/Anier mould to complement John Sutton and a mobile centre back.

Chris Humphrey joined us when he was 23 which is 3 years older than ZFA is just now.

Has he actually left? Nothing has been said about him officially - strange.

If we do bring in another player I'm pretty sure it will be a central defender.

Both Hutchinson and Ainsworth have been offered deals - that much we do know. Very unlikely, though not impossible, that even one will re-sign. Lee Hollis? The club will not enter the new season with 3 signed experienced goalies. Most of us have understandably assumed that Lee Hollis will be the one to depart given that he is the one out of contract and Gunnar Neilsen is not. However, given that nothing at all has been said about this ostensibly clearcut situation by the club there may be more to this than meets the eye. Pure speculation on my part though. The club has a deserved reputation for keeping its cards close to its chest over transfers and I hope that continues. No doubt matters will become clear in time.

Given that we start pre season training in just under a fortnight I would think we'd be keen to finalise the squad by then. If Lionel Ainsworth's contract offer has not already been withdrawn I would think it sensible to do so shortly. Its never satisfactory to wait to see if players appear for pre season training to find out their intentions.

I would argue that whilst we are not a big city team we are certainly not a small town team. That status would certainly be true of somewhere like Brechin City, Carluke Rovers or perhaps Annan. The club has every right to ask the same people to give and some will give. Some of course won't or can't give - that's life. Asking the same folk to give more is not the complete answer I agree. An alternative is to cut admission prices thereby putting ourselves at a disadvantage compared with our competitors, who certainly will not cut prices. If we cut PATG prices and/or costs the quality of the product on the park will suffer and less fans will attend thereby putting us into a downward spiral. Whilst I agree with many of the complaints about pricing in general, there are no easy answers I'm afraid .

Nothing on the official website about that yet. Tell us more.

The problem is that some fans don't believe the answers they've been given by the club. There's nothing the club can do about that.

If United go with that strikeforce, they can't and won't play them all at the same time. Apart from that it'll cost them, so they'd better produce the goods in terms of trophies. Yes, our goalkeeping position is unclear and we won't go with 3 keepers. .

Yes, a good bit of business in getting jack to extend his contract. Hopefully he can build on his appearances last season.

United pump somewhere between £700k and £1m per year into their youth set up. They also predate other clubs' youngsters. None of this comes cheap.

I'm pretty sure that if Ainsworth moves on Stuart McCall will look for another right winger with pace who can take a man on. Time will tell though.