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Don't believe all you read

From what I've seen so far this season those of you who've opted out because of entertainment factors are going to miss out. Get your ST's and prepare to be happy.

AWAY....OLE, OLE

IHE's assessment is bang on, you'll be pleased to hear, SMEE. Yesterday's approach was almost unrecognisable from most of last season's performances. Yesterday, I don't recall a single one of those speculative balls over the top that Mackay could do nothing with last season: the stress was entirely on retaining possession, building patiently from the back and allowing Doran, Shinnie and Sutherland to try to take players on and open up the defence, and even though we were still behind on almost 70 minutes, there was no sense of us panicking and starting to throw balls forward: players and management alike kept faith with the system they had started with and eventually it paid off. Sutherland worked hard and did manage to beat his man on several occasions, but I think he was tending to do this from such deep positions that he didn't create much threat; Andrew Shinnie had an excellent second half and was our most composed and creative player; but the performance that I found most encouraging was Aaron Doran's. On the previous occasions I had seen him he had a tendency to stay on the touchline and hide rather than getting involved, but yesterday he was coming inside and taking on his man at every opportunity. He could be a really important and effective player for us this season if he continues to do this. Mackay worked his socks off as usual and his goal was a just reward, but with this system we could ideally do with a striker who is adept at taking the ball at the edge of the box and carving out opportunities - either a Dargo or a Wyness in his heyday would have fitted into this team really well. The biggest thing lacking from yesterday's performance was the creation of more clear cut chances in front of goal. Ross Draper was the pick of the new boys for me: he protected the defence really well, was solid in his tackling and interceptions and moved the ball on in a simple and effective manner. It was difficult to assess the qualities of the new centre back pairing of Warren and King as they didn't have a great deal to do, but first impressions were that they were solid, held position well and fitted effectively into the new system by looking to use the ball to build attacks rather than simply hooking it away. Raven also looked solid enough, although as IHE has pointed out, Meekings had a greater impact with his tacking when he came on, probably becuase St Mirren at that stage were trying to get back into the game and threatening our defence more. Overall, it was a satisfactory result and a more than satisfactory performance. I've found our style of football over the past season and a half pretty depressing to sit through: like SMEE, I go to football primarily in the hope of seeing an attractive style of play, and if we end up near the bottom of the league but having played in this style all season, I will be more than happy.

Can I suggest that this thread is closed. It is old hat, history and unhelpful. We are in season 2012-2013 and the slate has been wiped. Only performances and managerial influence should be judged from henceforth.

I would have said that it should practically pick itself BUT can Butcher climb down and change accordingly ? ESSON MEEKINGS WARREN KING G.SHINNIE ROSS OTJ DRAPER DORAN A.SHINNIE MCKAY I would let Doran roam freer and try to bring him into play as often as possible. Play Andy Shinnie in a more advanced "hole" position, play the ball on the deck and attack down the wings and in behind the Killie defence - play Shinne and McKay in the Shinnie / Tade style when we drubbed them at Rugby Park.

So the new season is almost upon us, lets all look forward to it with anticipation. We all need to show a bit of patience as the squad gets used to playing with each other. Lets not shout Butcher never should have got rid of Tokley at the first poor performance as remember there were plenty of poor performances with Tokely in the side last season. The new players need a chance to bed in, the new squad needs a time to gel together lets give them the chance to do that. Finally please no "should Butcher go" polls should a couple of early defeats happen. Lets all believe!!!!

Esson Meekings Warren King G.Shinnie Draper OTJ Doran A.Shinnie Foran McKay

Feck me IHE your coming round to positive thinking. Are you maturing?............... yes you are! wish I had a smiley

Murray was awesome, simply fantastic to beat the number 1 grass court player in the world by that margin.

OLE OLE ha ha

SMEE this was like a whole knew game. We didn't just play well in patches. We played well for the whole game. We kept the ball on the ground. We made very good passes and we controlled for most of the game. The only blip was the one that led to the equaliser. If this team can stay injury free and give the same performances as today we will be knowhere near the relegation zone. If our first competitive game of the season is anything to go by then we have some great games ahead.

We're now a point above them

NAIEVE: Showing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgment. As ICTChris succinctly pointed out - we were pissh last season. The points apply to the standard of performance on the park and have feck all to do with budgets and league position. If we had sneaked in front of Aberdire we would have deserved a 3 maximum. The games after the split were ABYSMAL. But hey ho - who gives a feck as we were a feckin EIGHT at Midden yesterday - and yesterday is more important than yesteryear.

Having gone a goal behind and given the fact we always start slowly i would have taken a point today and on reflection was probably a fair result. We definitely started the better, neat passing and some good movement but apart from a tame effort from Shinnie had little to show for our posession and St Mirren grabbed the lead during a good spell for themselves. Nick Ross was a game changer, as soon as he came on space began to open up for us and he took his goal brilliantly, same goes for Billy, poor lad worked his arse off today but struggled to compete in the air but he made the most of Barron's error and finished his goal well. My only qualm of the day was bringing on Polworth, given that we were grinding the game out i think it would have been smarter to bring on Oswell. He would have been able to hold the ball up better and keep it in the Saints half but they grabbed their equalizer and were unlucky not to have another as Esson's save from Parkin's effort was top class. Didnt see the red card but referee showed little hesitation to show it. Thought all the new players did well. Warren and King looked decent, couple of shaky moments but i think they will gel with time. Raven looked ok but had to be cautious after getting booked. Thought Draper was immense, was all over the shop, made some great tackles and was unlucky not to score. Shinnie and Doran showed some terrific skill and after his late cameo Nick Ross has surely put himself into consideration for a starting place. Shane coped on the wing but i think Butcher should try him up front together with Billy, reckon they could crack it. Fans were immense, brilliant atmosphere and even after conceding the equalizer were in full voice till the end and gave the team an ovation. Times like this that unity is important and if everyone carries on the way they were today we will definitely pick up some wins. Looking forward to next week. A pity we didnt win but plenty to build on.

Good to see another ICT YouTube channel. The 1990s archive YouTube channel is here.

What a privilege is was to be a caley fan today, me my brother and cousin had a great laugh and the atmosphere was the best ever. The team showed the commitment and passion for the cause to come from behind just what you pay your money for!!

Every flipping game this season!

2 out of 10??? What would you have given us for finishing below Hibs? If we'd won a single game more, we would have finished above Aberdeen. What if we hadn't finished FOURTEEN points above Dunfermline but still avoided relegation? What points then? Two out of ten is for finishing a point or two above the relegated team. Not being nowhere near relegation and competing with the much bigger financed Hibs and Dons is worth more than that. And why, if season tickets being down is for not having players that have been here for the last ten years, not playing attractive football and relying on players coming for a few peanuts more, have Hibs and Aberdeen not crashed? They were no better than us last season and Hibs haven't looked inspiring for this either.

Ross is merely saying what the majority of non happy clapping, rose tinted spectacle wearing, forever optimists are saying. I feel that the article is practically bang on and indeed provides a reality check. I actually feel that it did contain several positive statements, albeit more in a hopeful nature - which is again realistic. There is equally a drop of humour mixed in. I had even found myself agreeing to a degree with the Jamboree rodent - As many of us have alluded to before last season was a feckin disaster area from start to finish. This pre season has not been anywhere as bad but we are starting off the campaign with a relatively untried squad, there are still doubts about the first eleven, tactics have been variable and we are really at risk with injury prone signings with no experience comparable to the SPL. But the slate is clean and the murmurs is that the togetherness factor is back and we have players. Yearning to play for the shirt, with a blend of experience and yoof. The performances on the park however are the proof of the pudding and hopefully there will be more positives to ponder on and provide fresh hope this evening. O2B

I was a season ticket holder until I moved to Spain 5 years ago, and I was one who said would buy a ticket if The management made the correct decision re the Rangers affair. Despite the fact that due to my location I will not be able to make any games I have today purchased a Family Season ticket and I am in discussion with the Club to work out some way of making sure that these seats are allocated to someone different each week (possibly a competition) and hopefully that will encourage some of them to come back