Yes I know we have a bundle of relegation threads on here already but with the new manager in place this normally gives fans and players of the club a lift and a more positive outlook for the future. Butcher will certainly not have any problem motivating the guys and we saw at the weekend a much more spirited turn out from ICT.

However, we still slipped to defeat and Hamilton pulled further away with an excellent away victory at Killie and now sit 9 points clear of us with St. Mirren 8 points ahead and only Falkirk in reasonable touching distance (2 points away).

Is the relegation battle now just between ourselves and Falkirk? I feel that Hamilton are grinding out results when they need to and will be safe, perhaps even safer than I had imagined, and St. Mirren seem to do likewise and beat the teams around them to get the important points.

But Falkirk are still there and we can still get past them. So can we over turn the deficit and haul ourselves up into 11th before the seasons end? Looking at their squad they have some creativity in McCann and O'Brien and some talented youngsters whilst also appearing to have one thing that we lack - a consistent goal scorer in Mr Amy MacDonald (aka Steve Lovell) but with Yogi under pressure, the lift we get over the next couple of weeks from Butchers arrival could prove crucial.

I feel very that it is very much between Falkirk and ourselves and we do have enough to get beyond them but we need to turn in results against the likes of Hamilton, Killie etc. at the bottom of the league. Spirited performances against Rangers and Celtic mean nothing if we lose our bread and butter games.

Edited January 27, 200917 yr by RiG

With 10 games 'till the split we really have to get the finger out now. 6 of them are definitely winnable though...Hibs(H), 'Well(H), Killie(H), Falkirk(A), St Mirren(H) and Accies(H). I think we're looking at taking 15 or 16 points from those 10 games to give us a fighting chance post-split. Still lots to play for.

time for cool heads. it doesn't look good at the minute but we're going into a series of fixtures that we can win and go on a run. falkirk and hamilton can be pegged back

Lest you not forget - This was not all about Craig Brewster - he was backed and supported to the hilt.

Do you think that Butcher may have got results at Midden, Motherwell and Hamilton ?

While we will never know I dont think we would have come away from these 3 games empty handed if the change that almost everyone knew was needed had been made.

The change everyone knew was needed was made 1 month too late. The board have now turned to Butcher to save their bacon, I hope he does but the boards inaction has made his job much much harder. Of course games are winnable but there will be much more pressure on us as we HAVE to win them. The matches against Falkirk, Hamilton and St Mirren will decide our fate - they are our cup finals!

Butcher to save their bacon,

Love the pun

Butcher to save their bacon,

Love the pun

That is not funny - there is a lot at steak here.

been waiting to use it for a few days now

although I may have started something that I will regret...

Edited January 31, 200917 yr by ICT_Away

Defo on a two horse race now.

been waiting to use it for a few days now

although I may have started something that I will regret...

I reckon you could have been rasher than you were and talked a load of tripe - but make no bones about it - Brew rightly got the chop but the off cuts left Butcher in a rite stew.

Butcher will not be responsible if Grassa gets the chop but maybe if we still serve up mince.

The good thing is that 11 teams in front of us will get complacent thinking we are like a roll.

There is a lot at steak. Our offal season means we could be for the chop. We are mince in front of goal and poor on the flanks. We did well to chuck Brewster though, and if we can avoid the drop I think a ham shank would be in order.

we were lambs to the slaughter under brewster but the board must shoulder the blame for the offal position we now find ourself in with waiting so long to give him the chop.

we're in a stew, no doubt about it, but dont think butcher will serve up the same old baloney we've witnessed so far this season

Edited January 31, 200917 yr by caleyonup

I kidney not, once Hart was ripped out and despatched to sweetbread county, ICT lost its tenderloin. This lead to the supporters wining, the Chairman said 'have a mint', Thomo said 'we're at the bottom of the table, but that is not a crisis' in came Butcher who said 'no Brews after training now' while behind the scenes the Board quietly munched on humble pie hoping there would be a 6th course.

In the meantime, Falkirk and anyone remotely close to the end of the table, made a sharp exit.

Edited January 31, 200917 yr by CELTIC1CALEY3

And Butcher came as fast as possible ---probably came across the border at the CUMBERLAND gap?