MelvinBragg

Pretty much every single player we sign is a gamble on one level or another. They're either unproven at our level, older guys whose best days are behind them and we're hoping to squeeze a couple of seasons out of them or guys who have had injuries that we might not have been able to sign if they didn't have a couple of dents in them. And most clubs our size are doing the same thing (St Mirren signed Dunne and O'Hara from ourselves with their injury records, Dundee United went for Moult). Are other clubs simply being luckier or are their flaws in our training methods or physio/medical approach? That's a separate question.. Even our signings that have worked out in the past have been gambles Moult, Kiprè and Marvin Johnson? All unproven at our level. Aldred? Persona non grata at a shite Bury team. Chris Porter, we were told that we would never keep him fit. Tony Watt? Lazy, wouldn't apply himself. Basically there's no guarantees when we sign any player one way or another.. The only signing I perhaps have an issue with is Callachan. While Halliday (played loads of European games, experienced player to help an inexperienced midfield) and Nicholson (decent pedigree) have records that you could argue justify a gamble on them, I'm not sure you could say the same about Callachan's history...

Went for Robinson. Ross County looked more comfortable when he went off..

Did you see him for Killie? Anyone who would take him back after seeing him play for Killie is off their head...

I'm assuming those who said Partick never looked like scoring didn't see Graham blazing over an open goal. Or the easy chance they missed in the first half.. They had chances. We had a couple too but let's not pretend they created nothing...

Playing Miller as a ten is a ridiculous decision...

Twice in six months we've made Robbie Crawford look like a player. If that's not a sobering thought, I don't know what is... EDIT Just announced we're putting Wells on for Stuperavic. As poor as Stuperavic has been, the two up front experiment didn't last long...

Should be losing...

Or the fact he is now a father will now be a strong motivation to make a success of his move to Europe so he can provide for his family..?

Scotland beat Spain last year. Darvel beat Aberdeen. It doesn't just happen to us, it just feels like it's always your team...

Have seen very little of him, but I have said to a few folk that I think Stuperavic might be part of the answer to our creativity issues. He seems to put plenty of pace on his passes as opposed to some of the pedestrian passing from some others. Also drives at people. Early yet but I reckon he'll be key for us...

I was thinking the same thing...

I think that would be the concern. The number of signings that have been made and yet you're still saying that we haven't added enough pace and energy. Are we going to manage it with the last two or three? For what it's worth, I actually think Stuperavic could be an answer to the creativity issue if we're going to persevere with two behind a lone striker. He was passing the ball with a bit of zip on Saturday and at least trying to drive at people. My own preference though would be to go 352 and play with two quick wing backs...

While I don't disagree with your point, you could play devil's advocate and say it's not an unreasonable conversation given the number of players we've brought in already. You could say that having signed that many players, the bones of the team should be there already be in place. Yes, a few players are injured but again that leads to questions. I'm not criticising the manager and I agree it's early. But to say you can't make a case against him is a stretch...

You said he had signed no attacking midfielders. If you're going to criticise him (and there's plenty to criticise him for), at least stick to facts...

He signed Nicholson...

Who have those two signed?

How much did we get for James Scott?

Stop coming here with facts...

A centre midfielder? Good luck with that. Paton, Miller, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Sparrow, Nicholson, Callaghan could all be classed as midfielders and Wells is coming through with Slattery to return. Whatever you think of their quality, that's a lot of wages already used up there...

Aye, Ruddy and Gillespie? Do you need two?

I assumed that meant Mark Gillespie had been released. But no...

If we sell Bair and Van Veen has lost about a stone. Then I'll maybe think about it. And even then I'm not convinced...

Looking at the squad, prayer might not be a bad idea...

Any word on a goalkeeper signing? Or are we going away for out preseason camp with only one goalie?

Whatever you think of their quality, I'd argue that Kettlewell has five players he considers central defenders so not certain another one will be close to the top of his list. Goalie definitely a priority. Wing backs we tend to source from English Premier League or Championship academies so we'll probably need to wait on that one...