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We didn't get started at all yesterday, which was particularly frustrating as Partick looked like they might have wilted if we'd put any sustained pressure on them - they didn't have a great deal of presence and conceded possession in midfield relatively easily. The problem was, so did we, and in the end Partick created the far better chances and were unlucky not to win. There's no question that we missed Foran's influence, and the decision to play Williams in his place was somewhat surprising - he's eased off the ball far too easily, isn't strong enough in the tackle and seemed to be chasing the game most of yesterday. I'd hope to see Ross in there for the Celtic game, but the fact that Ross has been the first player substituted in each of the last two games (wrongly, in my opinion, in each case) makes me wonder how important to the team Hughes believes he is. Greenhalgh did pretty well when he came on and has maybe staked a claim for a place, but I'd like to have seen him replacing either Williams, with Ross dropping back, or Doran, whose performance levels are currently way below the level they were at in the early games of the season. There's perhaps an argument for resting him for a couple of games and making him fight for his place ahead of the semi-final. I think that Doran at the top of his form is unquestionably part of our strongest team, but at the moment he's a long way short of that form. The defence was pretty sound throughout, with with Meekings and Brill the standouts, but they were culpable in the hugely ineffective long ball strategy that we employed for most of the game - my one gripe with both Brill and Gary Warren is that they don't seem to look for a good out-ball properly but instead just hammer it up towards McKay or Doran. If we do that against Celtic then we'll just be inviting pressure onto us and we'll take a hammering. I am, I must confess, a bit worried about the Celtic game now - if we struggled to create anything against a hardworking but limited Partick side, then I can't see how we can hope to take anything against a side that is, it is now becoming clear, streets ahead of the rest of the league. Hopefully Hughes can look at yesterday's performance and set us up in a way that actually plays to our strengths on Sunday.

You are far from alone in being surprised by Hughes's appointment. You are far from alone in being disappointed by the appointment and very many of us doubt whether Yogi has the experience or ability to maintain our current position far less improve on it and it may well be that time will prove you and many of the rest of us were right all along. However, that said, I fail to see why you, or anyone else, are not prepared to give the man a chance and can't for the life of me see what's to be gained by constantly voiced negativity so early in the new manager's tenure. He may fail and his record to date suggests he probably will but at least give him the opportunity.

Brill Raven Meekings Warren Shinnie Draper Tremarco Doran Ross Watkins Mckay The battle in the midfield would interest me greatly. Scott Brown and Kris Commons are the ones that create the attacks for Celtic and I personally think Draper and Tremarco's strength would stop Celtic creating anything.

Merry Xmas Renegade. I liked your post, there. Articulated much of what I've been thinking and feeling. I spent Christmas down-south in the company of (amongst others) a Dundee fan who roundly mocked ICT's backward step in appointing Hughes. To be honest, I found it hard to justify the board's choice despite my best efforts. I'd argue black-was-white when it comes to 'defending' Caley Thistle, but I eventually conceded that JH was certainly not who I had in mind as the man to take us forward! Interestingly, as an outsider, he was aware that a "long-serving, senior director" resigned during the recruitment process...maybe something we've not given enough credence to. Yes, we're all loyal to our team and defend them to the hilt, but it's also okay to acknowledge a catastrophic error. I'm sure most 'diehard' Cardiff City supporters are, today, disgusted by their Chaiman's decision to sack their boss. Being a fan doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with every decision your club makes. One doesn't have to toe-the-part-line to be 100% behind the club. Managers come-and-go. The club is the constant. It's unrealistic to expect us to get the managerial appointment right all the time. Beating Hearts in the League Cup semi is a very realistic expectation but won't 'prove' Hughes is the right man. He'd simply be in the right man in the right place at the right time. Pass the sherry...

As I said before, next season we'll find out how good Hughes really is and it's far too early to be too judgmental. There were some parts though of the whole managerial saga, that I did find a little odd. For one, why was Hughes offered a two and a half year deal? That's an awful long time for a manager who has, and lets be honest, a rather mediocre managerial record. Also, what was it about Hughes that sent him over the top? Did Yogi pull off the usual superlatives of hard-working, boilersuits, spirit, passion and his epic banter with those behind the dugout?! Did this sound better to Cameron than the dour drawls of Levein etc.? Was it Hughes's promise to carry on as normal that was the music to the chairman's ears? Some of us speculated at the time that perhaps Hughes had lined-up John Collins as assistant or Director of Football, or someone of that ilk, was what put him over the top, but it now seems to be that he had no plan of who his assistant would be whatsoever. Why wasn't that considered at the time? Not for one moment do I believe that Hughes was the first choice with the players or the board. When have to ever heard of a man who was unemployed being the first choice, yet taking four weeks to appoint him? If Hughes was the first choice and the outstanding candidate from the start, why was Hartley approached? Let's be honest here - he wasn't. I also claimed a while back that Foran's face didn't match what he was saying when Hughes was appointed - I still think that's so. Foran also claimed that Hughes was the favourite with all the players from the start, yet goes on to say that some had never heard of him! Was he really the first choice with all the players? I rather doubt it. Kenny Cameron claimed that Hughes was the "unanimous choice by the board". While that may have been true, you've got to look at who the other choice was. That person was Paul Telfer. Not exactly a difficult decision. Which brings me on to another point; How on Earth did Paul Telfer wind up as second choice?! The guy didn't exactly have a playing career that set the heather alight and his only coaching experience is as player/coach of Sutton United! I mean, how on Earth did that happen?! What does it say about the investigation process, when he can be deemed worthy of an interview? Obviously, Hughes is now our man and we're stuck with him for the time being. As I said earlier in the thread, it's too early to judge him, and he was by no means the man the majority wanted, but nor was he the worst candidate suggested. Next season we'll find out how good he really is, but there were some parts of the whole saga which were a little strange to say the least.

You can see where starchief is going with this -him and AJ have an opinion and don't dare go against them.Fact remains yogi has bombed already - Patrick should have had the game wrapped up by half time ,some of the posters on here think a point is fine . I can see hard times ahead for the thistle .KC took the cheap option and that's a fact.

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