Derby Jag

I have said previously that judging players crossing the border is foolish. There are countless examples of apparent English dross excelling up here and many examples of Scottish players tipped to succeed failing down south whilst others who were less rated made very good careers. All we can do is hope he works out well.

But he never scored for Shrewsbury on loan

Well of course but I think we lack a bit of strength in depth and that beyond our first 11 we have players who aren't quite up to the level we are playing at. Unless I'm misreading Maxi's tweet it seems more than one Sunderland player? Certainly better than this time last season but let's not forget the team we had then weren't good enough for this league. Our January window increased our quality in every part of the team and we ended up on a par with the rest of the bottom six, although still finishing 10th. My opinion on this window is more in frustration at what we've heard from the club, mainly the significantly increased budget and subsequent quality of player we could attract yet Archie clearly being annoyed at missing out on targets. Very poor is probably a bit too harsh but I'd just finished a game of football and discovered the two signings I had expected to have joined and fell through. I don't think we have a divine right to expect top 6 or the like due to how poor the rest of the league is but I hoped at the start of the Summer that we would see a team of increased ability throughout and could really hope to push on and have a more comfortable season and look to establish ourselves at this level for the first time in a generation. As it is I think we are about a similar level to that which finished last season. I could be wrong, I hope I'm wrong and I'll be the first person to admit if I am. We are good enough to stay up and are witnessing one of the best Jags team in my lifetime, however we can still hope for more in my opinion. Anyway it's essentially over, let's all get behind the guys and hope for a successful campaign*. *10th will always be objectively a successful season for us

So we missed out on yet more targets? Let's be honest this has been a very poor window. It's clear Archie feels the need to strengthen on what we have but for whatever reason we have failed to do so. Fingers crossed we keep everyone fit and that all the new guys prove to be of sufficient quality.

Not denying that for a second. I think people here have got carried away with the quality of our team since promotion, there were a lot of posts last season and this claiming we could make the top 6/go on cup runs etc and that our team, particularly in midfield is better than it is. We are, at best and as was shown last year, one of the weaker teams in the league. I think a lot of people, myself included, were optimistic at the start of the summer that we would really strengthen following survival and look to have a more comfortable time this season. Unfortunately this doesn't appear to have transpired and we are most likely going to have another long, tough season ahead of us where finishing 10th would be a fantastic achievement. BTW I am not criticing Archie here, these are pretty heady heights for our club and I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 2 and a bit seasons. There is no reason we can't, in my eyes, look to become a long term fixture in this league and emulate what your St Johnstone's and Inverness' have done of late but IMO we are still quite someway behind them.

A lot of people on this forum were being very dismissive of Hamilton's chances this season. There was also a lot of claims of Killie, St Johnstone, ICT and Dundee's frailties.

Our game with St Mirren in a few weeks is already looking to be very important

I hope people realise there are people who have been concerned about our transfer dealings this window who aren't complete roasters like kni. I have been pretty critical of this summer and made clear that I thought we had a weaker squad than that which ended the season. I still happen to believe that and it won't be until I see the new guys perform more that I change my opinion. I am not anti-Archie in the slightest and believe the last three years have been the best for a Jags fan for many years. I think my disappointment at this summer shows just how far we have come that we shouldn't settle with poor players with even poorer attitudes which have plagued us in the past. Fingers crossed Carroll and Eccelstone are on par with ATS and Taylor and that Seaborne, Osman and Stevo continue to impress.

Has this all come from a Falkirk fan on PnB asking if one of our two targets is him? Anyway he would fit the bill, young but plenty of experience and obviously is talented

Tbf people have made suggestions on players only to be mocked by a certain poster claiming all they know is through FIFA and Wikipedia. One thing to note is, so far to my knowledge Dundee Utd, Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Ross County and Dundee have all made left back signings so there are clearly options out there. Not making any claims on their quality. We are right now a weaker squad than the one which finished last year in 10th.

Yeh in afraid we are still quite considerably worse off than the team which ended last season. Hugely disappointed with this window consider in what was being spouted at end of last season. Feel it is a big opportunity missed to push on from last year.

Still feel numb. Anyone who argues we don't need strengthening are off their rockers.

If he isn't interested in us after winning the first division with our best team in generations and our first year in the top flight in the decade then nothing will get him 'back' I'd wager. Shame but can hardly be classed as a fan anymore in my opinion

I don't see how he has been any more unfairly treated than them any other players around the country who have had contracts ended earlier. I also still don't really see what Beattie said as being unprofessional.

Is that definitely the case or was it possible that he had asked for more first team games which Archie couldn't agree and was told he could leave if a replacement arrived, as happened yesterday?

I struggle to see this as a bad thing. Unfortunately signings don't work out and quite often these are rectified by a mutual agreement to break up the contract. I really liked Piccolo as a guy, met him a few times and he was very pleasant. I also don't think he was a terrible defender, however I don't think he was up to the level required and early Archie is in agreement. We also don't know how discussions went, maybe Gabby wanted first choice football that we couldn't guarantee and was told he could leave when he is replaced? Good luck to him anyway.

How do you expect any of us to be able to answer that. At the end of the day Archie has had the boy on trial for a few weeks now and clearly seen there was enough talent to give him a years deal, seemingly with most of that spent on loan. Why you are so outraged by this signing is beyond me

Hahahahahaha

There have been countless examples of players playing in relatively low quality leagues who have gone on to make very good careers for themselves. No idea why I am even engaging you with this

Three cheers for kni

Sigh. You don't deserve people trying to make sense of your inane drivel but are you implying this guy is rubbish purely because he played at a level below some players who were previously deemed not good enough?

Cheerios

Some of the things on here are so painful to read.

You do realise that was written on Saturday and it's been announced we won't appeal?

Refund here too