Football Season Guide

After a poor start Queens found their rhythm and were unbeatable in the mid part of the season. That gained them enough breathing space to comfortably finish the season without a relegation scare. They were a surprise package as their squad of mainly unknowns seemed to be thrown together at the last minute. At first glance it seems the heart has been ripped from the Doonhamers this summer. Talismanic striker Stephen Dobbie has left along with emerging talent Connor Shields. Last season’s find, Ayo Obileye, has stepped up to join Livingston. Several regular starters such as Gregor Buchanan have also left the club. Queens are left rebuilding again and an overreliance on on-loan players was obvious last season. Those coming in don’t appear to be of the same quality as those who have left. Lee Connelly has some Championship experience after a loan spell at Alloa, but he hardly has a goal to his name. Alex Cooper is highly experienced but has been out of the Scottish game for a while. It seems likely Queens will look to the loan market again to supplement their squad. The new recruits may seem unimpressive, but it was the same outlook at the start of last season and Queens certainly confounded their critics. It is clear that Queens will miss the goals that Dobbie, Obileye and Shields provided last season. If they can’t find some goalscorers, then they could be in trouble.