Better than expected?

[stevico1]

Apart from perhaps a striker that Butcher has stated in the Courier he would like to add to the squad it is looking like our squad is complete. I am happy with the look of the squad and getting Foran to sign again is a huge plus. I for one think the squad is looking a lot better than I expected it to be looking a month ago.

Roll on the start of the season!!!

[KingBeastie]

I agree but we could do with an better/more experienced back up keeper

[AJS]

Minus Black and Cowie i'd say this squad is stronger than the one we had this time last year. Say's alot about Butcher's contacts.

He did well in Negotiating with the majority of out-of-contract players too stay and seems to have worked tirelessly in bringing in fresh talent, majority being young ambitous players with their best years ahead of them.

Think he deserves a massive hand in all this. Can't wait for the new seasn to start.

[Georgeios]

I agree we have the goods it seems, but with the one year deals being offered and all that good stuff, at the end of next season who else will be out of contract?

[Jay_7]

Definitely better than what I expected. Just imagine the calibre of player we could have attracted if we were still in the SPL :(

[kencar]

Not seen any of these new signings in the flesh to make any comment on them. There is of course a world of difference between pre season friendlies against highland league teams and life in the 1st division!

[Harry Chibber]

We are still relying on Proctor as our most natural right sided player... or maybe Duncan

enough said really

[RiG]

Erm, how can people say this squad is stronger than the one we had last season? We've seen these news guys in friendlies and a bit of training. Maybe in terms of numbers and cover for positions it is stronger but I think we need to wait and see if as individuals and therefore a team they are stronger.

But I do agree that it is looking better than it was a month ago. Will be interesting to see how these new guys play. Can't wait for tomorrow

[SMEE]

Not seen any of these new signings in the flesh to make any comment on them. There is of course a world of difference between pre season friendlies against highland league teams and life in the 1st division!

Exacta Mundo...Dean McDonald for example. Lots on here were creaming themselves over him based on pre season!

[Renegade]

And some were still treating him as a god half way through the season, even though every time he came on, it was only for about ten minutes, during which he aimlessly plodded about.

[DornochCaley]

Im very confident now. Not over confident, but i think we have the best team in the league and more than capible now of winning it. Before i wasnt so sure.

[Scotty]

As has been mentioned already, we have had players before who nailed it during pre-season and failed to shine once the real stuff started - Deano, Rory, Garry Wood to name but 3, so pre-season is no yardstick of what is to come.

HOWEVER - I am optimistic about this season. All the incoming players are young, seem to have something about them, and most can play in more than one position. It is down to Butcher to get the best out of them and I believe he can motivate them in that respect.

We will not have the most expensive squad in the division - that will be Dundee - but it seems we have once again done a bit of a rebuild job and brought in guys that will be workmanlike and hopefully get the job done. Someone commented about our lack of flair players ... I looked at the squad list and had to agree ... but that can also work in our favour. The 1st division is a hard league that needs grafters working together as a team ... hopefully what this squad lacks in creativity it can make up for in graft and teamwork ... just like ICT used to !

[Scarlet Pimple]

That last point is well taken Scotty.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Not seen any of these new signings in the flesh to make any comment on them. There is of course a world of difference between pre season friendlies against highland league teams and life in the 1st division!

Spot on - and I will get my first glimpse at Dumbfarmlife - when the season really starts - although I would cherish a wee cup run as well.

I think that although peeple have their reservations we have a backbone of seasoned professionals who have fairly extensive experience of the SFL and we have kept the "spine" of the team relatively intact.

I think that we are as good as anybody else defensively, we are as good as anybody else in the attacking sense but I fear that we are lacking in the creativity sense. I also fear that we may be in for some back to the wall, hit on the break away days - effective if not pleasurable - hopefully I will be proved wrong.