pondsman

Agree with Bud the Baker. This is a very important game. The players MUST show a positive reaction after the Firhill performance. Given our recent results, a loss or even just a draw against a team from the league below us would be very worrying. This is the last chance for the players and the manager to show that they are beginning to get things right for the league games ahead.

After the last two performances I'll settle for a point against a team that's likely to be challenging towards the top of our league. Hopefully we'll have some of our injured players back by then and a bit more fight in our bellies.

Just watched Jack's post-match interview. To be fair to him, he gave his usual honest assessment of the game. Accepted his share of the responsibility (picking the team, motivating the players and setting out tactics) and pointed out that players are accountable for playing with desire and intensity. Again, I wonder how players who have shown ability elsewhere can play so poorly for a manager whose character, ability and enthusiasm, many said when they arrived, played such a big part in their decision to sign for the club. Maybe it's just too big a step up for some who played yesterday. Hopefully, Jack and James can turn things around when the injured and suspended players (Stelios, Todd, Magennis, Hilson) return to the side.

Can anyone explain how JR can go from motivating the team so well in the second half of last season to apparently being unable to get the players up for the challenge now? I've had great faith in Jack and James up till now and so many of the new signings commented that it was largely the manager's plans and enthusiasm that persuaded them to sign. However they don't seem able to produce the goods for him when they take the field. Surely they can't all be not up to the standard required for our league?

Poor, poor performance, especially from the defence. How can Baird and Mackenzie, who were so good in the second half of last season, be so poor now? Midfield almost non-existent today. Where were McGinn and McShane? Team as a whole didn't seem to be up for a challenge. The summer signings must be questioned. Only Samson and McShane seem to have some pedigree. Others all came from leagues or teams below us. We expected that they could step up to the Championship, but so far, that doesn't seem to be the case. We badly need Stelios, Magennis and Davies back. Looks like a long season ahead! COYS!

Would imagine the club will want the red strip worn at as many away games as possible in order to promote sales of replica shirts. Source of income for the club. Must say I'm not overly keen on it. Too much going on on the front of it. If you want checks, just make the whole thing checks.

Disappointing to find Buddies fans associated with the type of behaviour described by Stoobs. We sometimes criticise the behaviour of fans of other clubs but we lose the right to claim the moral high ground when this sort of thing occurs. Time to acknowledge that all clubs have a minority of fans whose behaviour in public places is not always acceptable. Let's encourage our fans, especially the young ones, not to get carried away, but to keep the vociferous support for our club inside the stadium.

Fine post-match interview by JR on Radio Scotland. Thanking fans for great turn-out.

I think Rocco could go but Sutton should stay meantime. He can still contribute some goals while I don't really see a need for Rocco now.

Brilliant series! As evidenced by the fact that it finished after just 3 seasons, instead of dragging on for 5, 6, 7 seasons like so many of the inferior shows we see now. If this Ian McShane is as good at what he does as the Ian McShane in Deadwood was we will have unearthed a gem! COYS!

Difficult to judge the team on this game as it was clearly being used to try out different players and combinations. Players tried hard but there was no real cohesion about the performance. Thought McGinn, Stelios, Irvine (till his injury), Buchanan and the new keeper got pass marks. Others need to raise their game a bit.

Disappointed to lose Rory. He did play an important part in our successful run in the second half of last season. Scored some vital goals, including at Easter Road on the last day of the season. Thought he might have been talked into coming back by Jack and James. But we move on...... and we need a big guy up front. Any ideas?

1. Dundee United 2. Falkirk 3. St. Mirren 4. ICT 5. QoS 6. Morton 7. Dunfermline 8. Dumbarton 9. Livingston 10. Brechin Let's be realistic. Premiership playoffs will be a good result this season. We will build steadily to ultimate success. COYS!

Jack's latest interview confirms that he was indeed spoken to by Nelms about the Dundee job. Although that was widely speculated at the time, I have not seen it confirmed anywhere. Indeed when Neil McCann was appointed, Nelms went out of his way to suggest that Neil had always been Dundee's first choice. Jack's interview seems to give the lie to that. Good to know that Jack preferred to stay with Buddies, but one wonders why he would even give it a moment's thought, given the situation that Dundee find themselves in right now. Anyway, he made the right decision as far as I'm concerned. Onward and upward with Buddies now! COYS!

Tipped for great things as a youngster but hasn't fulfilled the promise. Loaned to Forfar by Dundee United. Made a mark at that level which got him the move to QoS. Held back by injuries, so perhaps didn't do himself justice there. Jack and James may think they can get more out of him. Six month contract is probably fair to both club and player.