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As Jonathan Wilson regularly highlights, formations are neutral in themselves, none are intrinsically attacking or defensive. For many years David Moyes successfully deployed a very defensive 4-4-2 with a narrow bank of 4 deep lying midfielders and 2 very hard working forwards who came deep to look for the ball. There are also countless examples of attacking teams playing with a single striker. Barcelona, perhaps the worlds most attacking football team often play with no strikers at all. When Messi is deployed as a "false 9", he starts from the traditional centre-forward position but constantly moves deep and wide as the creative midfielders and sometimes even the full-backs move beyond him I think 4-2-3-1 works for us for a number of reasons. Firstly, the trend throughout football is to have 5 midfielders or 4 plus a deep lying second striker. By playing a "traditional 4-4-2" as Renegade suggests, we immediately cede an advantage to the opposition's midfield. Secondly, we aren't blessed with many players who are comfortable with the ball at their feet. This is the unfortunate reality in most of Scottish football. It's very difficult to take the game to the opposition when your players are prone to losing possession and we must accept this as a weakness and ensure that we have plenty bodies behind the ball when the inevitable occurs. As well as covering for our weaknesses, 4-2-3-1 has allowed us to exploit our strengths, namely, Rooney and Hayes. Rooney moves well, dragging defenders out of position. When spaces do appear, he has a great knack of finding himself in them, while Hayes' direct running is most effective on the break. This is how we got promoted and this how we started the season so well, to ditch it now because we're having a difficult run is knee-jerkism. That's not to say it shouldn't be tweaked. By moving Nick Ross into a deeper position, Butcher has made that part of the midfield more creative. Similarly, playing Sanchez behind Rooney is an attacking move. Perhaps his next move will be to play one of the new signings on the left instead of Foran. Again, an attacking move. Changes will be and are being made to try and get us of our current poor run, but they needn't include the old-fashioned cry of 4-4-2.

If Tokely and Munro are both suspended then i hope we sign a new defender over the weekend. I remember Brewster thinking Proctor would make a decent centre half and Proc was getting ripped apart on a weekly basis, Innes is ok but needs a good partner beside him. If they are our back up backline then i fear for our chances of getting anything from the next few games.

If I were boss, I think my favoured option at this time would be a switch to the 4-4-2 diamond, with Hayes and Doran or Ross out wide, Duncan sitting in front of the back four with Sanchez as an attacking midfielder. I'd also move Foran back to the centre to partner Rooney.

You're right about the comedy potential. I'd like to see them move to the Al Jazeera news channel instead, imparting their wisdom on middle eastern politics and the latest jihadist videos. I can just see it. Keys: And I'm hearing there's been another beheading in Kandahar. Andy, what can you tell us? Gray: Oh ya beauty! What a strike! Good build up, then suddenly he cut across, and bang, clean as you like. Nothing at all the peacekeeper could do about that one. I think that's Mohammed's 4th of the season. Take a bow, son! Keys: And who's been causing all the problems for the defence? Gray: It's the Saudi lad again, Big Osama, who seems to be involved in all the attacks. He's a threat in the air, and they just can't keep up with him either, it looks like he can just run and run. Not only that, but he's behind some well worked set pieces - that last one was straight off the training ground. It's no surprise that he's wanted by some bigger clubs. Keys: And how long is left? Gray: By my watch I reckon about...10 years. Plus injury time. And there's been plenty of that, with both sides getting stuck in. That's what I like to see, plenty of blood and guts. Keys: And what's your view on the match officials? Gray: Pretty dodgy if you ask me. Far too inexperienced for a contest like this, and it's pretty obvious that there's widespread corruption. But you know what? None of that matters, because at least they're all MEN. Keys: Thanks Andy, that's the spirit! Right, it's time for a break, but we'll be back right after...Oh, hang on, apparently we won't.

P&B is just a site for slanging matches. Its a waste of bandwith imo.

If grant hit the don's boy in the penalty box should that not be a spot kick??

While i'am the first to admit i'am not his biggest fan i will be the first to admit he has been one of our better players this season. Most games he has played we have got results and most he hasn't we have either lost or failed to get a result, stats don't lie. The last 2 games have been crying out for a defensive presence in midfield, yet the lad was left completely ignored. At one point we had a striker and winger occupying centre midfield last night, that is just not on when Russell is at our disposal. What has the boy done to deserve this? He shores up the midfield when he plays and he always gives 100%, get him back in the starting 11!

I think its a damn disgrace that the EPL should be dictating what players a manager chooses for the team. They all play for that team so what's the problem? And it makes it even worse that Blackpool almost beat the Vile....erm...I mean the Villa with a, so called, weakened team.

That's what my Mum says about her, but I do notice when she's there, she just annoys me, so that's why I pretend I can't see her. It could be that Duncan doesn't do as he's asked. That's my contribution.

When Blackman celebrated his goal off the pitch Steve Conroy goes to his top pocket to book him then realises he had been booked already then does nothing

I am continually suprised by Butchers eagerness to drop Duncan, it seems like Duncan is always the first one to be dropped from the team if things arent going right. IMO Duncan is a very important player as he carries out the dirty work in the middle of the park. He is 100% committed and always full of energy, just what you need in a midfield battler yet he is continually dropped and i cant say i agree with it. I can see why some fans get on his back as his passing is not always the best but nevertheless he still has many important attributes to offer the team. With a bit more luck on saturday he could have won us the game as well. great run into the box and very unfortunate not to score

good grief. Some of the negativity of posters on this forum beggars belief at times. Yes the last couple of months has not been great.But we are holding our own punching well above our weight in the Premier League.Those of us who remember standing at kingsmills or telford st with a few hundred others wondering if the 'scottish' league would ever deign to let the Highlands in really can see Ict are living the dream.Lets all pull together and get behind the team. Rant over.

Charlie Adam should be a lesson to regular visitors of the dump. He played in his shell in Scotland because of constant abuse from Rangers and St Midden fans, as well as opposition fans. He wasn't allowed the mental space on, or off the park to express himself properly. He always has had 100% technique, and just needed the belief/support of the supporters. He moved to Blackpool with no pressure, and now they have an outstanding play maker. I wouldn't say he's that much fitter, and he still moves at the same pace, he just believes in himself now. Maybe the next time Duff gets caught in possession, we could leave the huge collective sigh out, and just offer encouragement instead?

Aberdeen FC and their fans are douchebags (in football terms, im sure they are very nice outside of footie)....i dislike them as much as Rangers fans

We don't play a 4-5-1, it's a 4-2-3-1

That'd increase the attendances . Notice you got a red dot for your post , I bet if anyone else had posted it there would be no red dots .