My first look at this season's team and once Magic made the change there was no difference between us and the Pars so there may be some hope for the season.We were second best first half but that may have been down to Kilday lost in midfield and the defence were incredibly ponderous.Semple was no where near the pace of the game and Brownlie and Holty were guilty of switching of in the first half.There seemed no communication and if Darren is going to be skipper and a mainstay he needs to be the organiser and take command.All four at the back have decent experience and must play as a unit.We were a different team second half and Kilday was better at the back and the much maligned Lewis Kidd did fine and at least tried to play some football.Oliver and El Bak battled away with limited service first half and had energy movement and pace second half and most importantly a goal.
Midfield is the main worry although Pybus has something about him.We need someone to play wide right as it is doing MichaeL Paton no favours he has neither the pace or physicality to start there.If we have the funds for 2 players they must surely be for midfield.
Best for Queens were second half Holt and Oliver and Bakhtaoui.Turner took his goal well and was busy and could be a player for the Pars.He stood out for Stranraer and I hope he was at least on our radar.The sub Coley looked strong and rapid but again Nisbet had little impact apart from forcing a smart save from McCrorie.Good numbers down from Dunfermline but the home support was poor for our first League match at Palmy.
Easier said than done and i would not be shocked if no one comes in but two shrewd signings in midfield should see us looking fine.We wait with bated breath.
https://youtu.be/Hf_YPGOHjws Pars TV highlights
That rash second half tackle by the Pars defender was very fortunate to not give away a penalty. In fact, it looked at the time as though the ref had pointed to the spot and then changed his mind a nanosecond later.
From my spot in the new stand I thought that young Murray went to ground very easily but then was under the impression that the ref had given a penalty by pointing towards the spot. Clearly on the highlights the ref actually was pointing for a by kick while the Pars players were baying for Murray to get booked for diving which would have resulted in a sending off having been booked previously. By the way this ref was as bad as I have seen at Palmerston.
Murray may have went down too easily but it was a reckless , two feet off the ground tackle and the Pars defenders were clever in deflecting the reds attention to something else rather than their own players antics.
I could see plenty on Saturday- overall- to be happy with. If we could somehow get Wilson in from Kilmarnock and slip him into centre mid , this allowing Pybus to go wide right , then the midfield would start to take shape. I would like to see Daniel tried here as he looks to have the ability to get past men and surge forward. This would mean a good sub in Paton to come on with fresh legs.
Who would the midfield 4 be then? To me Murray plays better on the right than left.