MelvinBragg

Another defeat. We knew we were in trouble just emphasises it. Few home games coming up, need to hope we can pick up some points there. Defence seems the area most needing attention...

Assist and a goal on his debut and now Grant gets injured. Can't catch a break...

1-0 down. Hmmmm...

As does Moore. Don't think I'll be totally convinced by the back four until I see Stevie Hammell's name back in it...

Obviously, I hope that I'm wrong but the optimism from some ahead of tomorrow seems a bit misplaced. It's been a while since we've won a game and we don't know how the new guys will perform. Like I say, I hope I'm wrong...

Defence as a whole is interesting. Depending on McManus and Hammell recovering from injury, we have options all across the back four. Laing is suspended but O'Brien, Kerr, Ramsden and Reid all vying for a centre back place, with Kerr, Reid and Ramsden also possible right backs. Just need to hope that Baraclough has spent the last two weeks working out his best combination...

The Accies game being moved actually suits me but means that my son won't make it as he has BBs that night. Swings in roundabouts, I guess. Speaking as someone who does shift work, there are times when games being moved from the Saturday does actually help me. But I know I'm in the minority. But it is important to remember that Saturday 3pm doesn't suit everyone all the time...

The issue for me was that Laing allowed the St Johnstone player to get goalside of him. As soon as that happened, the referee was only going to make one decision. Was it a tangle of legs? Maybe but with a striker goalside of the last defender, referee has to consider whether the defender has engineered the tangle of legs. I have no quibble with Collum over the red card. Couple of other incidents where I reckon he got it wrong but none of them affected the outcome of the game...

Any/many of the new faces playing?

Trialists playing as well? We really are throwing the kitchen sink at staying up...

Straker til the end of the season. Thomas likewise with another year option. Johnson, no idea...

We're going to need a bigger bench...

No Pearson or Erwin? I think this illustrates the balancing act that the manager has now. Blending new faces with some of the good players we had already..

This. We've seen three of Baraclough's signings play and opinions are mixed on them, Pearson being the only one seen so far as definitely an improvement. Grant and Long look to have decent pedigree but you could say the same about Cosgrove and Nielsen in those positions. Will the two new wingers be better than Ainsworth? We don't know. We do have options now and while it's a cliche for every manager to say that "it's a good problem to have", the onus is now on Baraclough to mould a team. He's been backed by the board so even more than before yesterday, the buck stops with him. The hope is that the fight we saw against Dundee United and in the second half on Saturday is taken into the next game and with the freshness that new faces will bring, we can kick on and get some results. But it's a hope. Not a guarantee. Hard work continues...

I only count seven...

I think predicting a team for this game is nigh on impossible having not seen any of the new guys play. Have to figure Long in goals and Straker at left back. Centre half? Reckon Kerr's done enough to keep his spot. Who partners him, Ramsden, McManus or O'Brien? Right back? Good luck guessing that one. Midfield will depend on whether Lasley and Pearson are fit. If they are, have to imagine Carswell drops out. Pearson, Lasley, possibly Grant and one of our many wingers. Erwin has done enough to stay in the team and Sutton scores goals. Like I say, total guesswork for most of the team. Good news is, it'll be the same for Jim McIntyre...

How does the loan window work up here? I know that down south it opens next week for lower league teams. Actually think that with Vigurs, Lawson and Leitch still injured that anyone who can play centre midfield will be going nowhere. Even if Lasley and Pearson return, it's one area of the park we don't have many options so Carswell and Ramsden will be pretty safe. Obvious thing to say but we've plenty cover at right back. Watt out on loan to gain experience or possibly Reid or Kerr on their way (although both have featured a lot under Baraclough). Be interesting to see what happens and who Baraclough has been using simply because he didn't have other options...

I think the question now becomes which players will be leaving/going out on loan in the next few days. Burrows stated that there'd be some leaving. Cummins looks a no brainer. McHugh and Angol are injured so unless we're going to release them when they're injured which seems a particularly iffy thing to do, it won't be them. Signing of two wingers makes you look at Ainsworth and Dom Thomas. Given Dom Thomas has come off the bench in a few games recently, you'd think that Baraclough sees something in him. Concern would be, as Lobey Dosser says, that these new signings inhibit his development. Time will tell, I guess...

I'd assume so, presumably to fill the gap left by Kenny McLean..

Assuming it is Thomas, unless something has fallen through there. Still not been announced yet although clearly SFA have been notified of the deal...

Having nearly two weeks before the next game might work in our favour...

Get the impression that Thomas might be it for us. Like Baraclough's thinking. Opposition defenders really confused when told to "go and mark the winger Thomas.."

Shiels or Hartley?

I agree. Maybe add Watt's name to that list..?

Concern would be what it does for Moore and Erwin's time on the pitch...