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Mahonio you mean to say that you have started this topic want the man sacked but haven't even seen the team play since his his appointment. Where have you been?

I've given this a bit of thought and so the first thing to say is to apologise for the length of this post. My immediate response to Mahonio's original post was simply to post . I didn't expand on that as I felt it encapsulated my frustration at folk who are not prepared to give folk a chance to bed into a new role. It is, after all, a common criticism that football clubs don't give managers time and this club has a record of bucking that unfortunate trend. That is not to say that I did not have any concerns, but my view was that it was far too early to judge the man and we would need to be struggling well into next season before it would be reasonable to ask such questions. Since then, my concerns have been growing and yesterday rapidly took things to a new level - his comments before and after the match and the tactics on show during the match were simply not acceptable. So, should he be sacked? Rather than say a definite "No" as I did a short while ago, or a definite "Yes", I think it all depends on discussions between the Board and the Manager - and if such discussions have not taken place today, they need to take place very soon because having taken over the Manager's position at a period when the most successful season in the club's history was all but assured, Hughes has catapaulted the club into crisis in just a few short weeks. I don't use the word "crisis" lightly, but crisis it is. Hughes has now very publicly stated that the style of football the squad are good at and which the fans love to see is not his style. His style is to play it through the middle - a style he has not been able to achieve results with elsewhere and which we all know he will not acheive results with here. Not only are we to play it through the middle but the guys are to pass it at all costs. No wonder we are creating little up front and are nervous as hell at the back and are giving away soft goals. Not only is it not going to work, it is boring to watch. The frustration of players and fans alike was evident at the game yesterday. For me it was encapsulated at a first half free kick midway in our own half. With most of the team moving up towards the 'Well penalty area there was an exchange between Warren and Draper. Warren was calling Draper back to receive a short free kick and it seemed to me that Draper was effectively saying something like "what's the point" whilst Warren was saying it was what they'd been told to do. A short kick was taken and inevitably came to nothing. Presumably when Draper has been "educated" on how to pass the ball to Billy's feet through the 6 or 7 opposition players in the way, all will be well. If Hughes hasn't already lost the dressing room he appears to be doing his best to lose it and he is certainly losing fans through the turnstiles. If his insistance on his fundementally flawed tactics is allowed to continue then there are number of implications:- We will not win a European place next year. Whilst a European adventure at our level may not be very lucrative and might even cost in the short term, the experience for the players and fans and the kudos it would bring to the club would be huge. The longer term impact would be to attract more fans to the club and it would make it a more attractive club to potential future players. Barring miracles, what recently seemed probable this season is now highly unlikely. Players will want to leave. Perhaps we would get some money in for them as they are all under contract but it will not be much. Our current form is relegation form or close to. If this style of play carries on to next season and we lose some of our better players then relegation is a real possibility. Post independence, a European adventure will mean a trip to Berwick. Crowd numbers which are already low, will drop alarmingly and that will have a major impact on the financial position of the club. This will be a much bigger factor than any transfer income. Club finances will be further hit by a lower league position (or a position in a lower league) and no windfall through cup success It is a distinctly gloomy prospect. Hughes came here in the fortunate position of inheriting the best squad this club has ever had and with most of them contracted to the end of the following season or beyond. Since Butcher has left others have committed to the club, Tansey has rejoined and Christie has emerged as a real talent. In short, the scene was set to build on Butcher's legacy and take the club forward. Butcher and his management team certainly did well in assembling the squad and had them playing an effective style of play which, when the team was on form, could be exhillerating to watch. Where Butcher was weak was that he was often tactically naive and had no plan B. It was in this aspect of the game that I for one had high hopes of Hughes. I believed he could bring a different dimension to build on that legacy: little did I think he would simply knock it down. This is a crisis not just because of what we see happening to the team just now, but because of the potential of next season. The Rangers and Hearts are out of the equation and Hibs will be rebuilding. That's half of Scotland's big 6 teams. This year and next represent the best chance we have ever had or are likely to have for many a long year to finish in the top three and to win a European place. With the excellent squad we have available to us it really must be a priority for the club to secure a top 3 finish next season. We may never have a better opportunity as the following year will almost certainly see The Rangers back and challenging and possibly one or both of the Edinburgh clubs. Aberdeen and Dundee Utd will probably continue to strengthen. Bottom line for me is that we simply can't afford to start next season playing Hughes' "through the middle" nonsense. If he is given the chance and 10 games in we are sitting close to the bottom then it will be too late for anyone else to turn it around. We have to get back to doing what our players do best now. The Chairman needs to tell him that and if he won't do it, then out he goes. Many have said that so early in his contract the Board can't afford to sack him, but in my view the financial consequences of him continuing to do what he is currently doing would cost far more than buying out his contract. I don't know what gets written into contracts but is Hughes not in breach of his contract by radically changing the way we play? Surely the interview process must discuss a candidate's proposals for basic playing style and tactics. Unless the Board felt that this nonsense was a good idea then Hughes will be in breach of his contract and he can leave "by mutual consent". If the Board were conned because they did not have a football man on the panel then they should have the guts to make a sound business decision and cut their losses. So Mahonio, my original to you is now directed to Hughes and his fatally flawed philosophy. For raising the topic I now give you

I see this sort of statement as a wish from the poster and unfortunately reduces the strength of his posts None so blind etc!! Meekings pass back, Brills kick outs,, Billy's one on one misses, Shinnies clearance into the ruck of players instead of out for a corner, a crap pass on the half way line leading to an easy goal loss, etc I accept your point ..... not the players fault, all the managers!! AYE RIGHT!! From a Happy Clapper who is less happy at the moment.

I'm not going cos I can't be arsed.

I loved your line about the retirement do! Reminds me of the joke about the guy, Jimmy, on the golf course who stepped back from his shot, took off his cap and bowed his head as a hearse and funeral party drove slowly past. His mate turned and said to him that he was really surprised and quite taken aback by this noble gesture. As Jimmy put his cap back on he said, "Aye, well...we were married for 40 years."

I would say that they're both 75 yards wide for general conversational purposes. But, no 2 pitches will be precisely the same width! If either is narrower, then it's Dingwall! It's like saying two people are the same height. It wouldn't be exactly true, as if measured to the nth degree (say nanometres or smaller, down to atoms), one would be taller than the other. But we'd crack up if we lived in a world where everything was taken literally, in the true sense of the word! So, to summarise, the pitches are the same width.....but, of course, they're not!

The idea behind the passing game is that you retain possession. If your opponents don't have the ball, they can't score. Unfortunately, now that everyone knows we play like this, they press the ball, and we start passing backwards to retain possession. This ultimately leads to a back-pass, which then leads to a big hoof up the park. The added excitement is that we have a habit of either messing up the back-pass, allowing an opponent a 1 on 1 with the keeper, or take so long to pass it back that the opposition can close the keeper down leading to the comedic series of goals we have conceded. So, given that the keeper just hoofs the back-pass upfield, why don't we get the centre backs to do that instead?

You have far too much time on your hands lol.

I bet even Rick Astley would give up on Hughes

Dingwall is very narrow, so an all out attack 4-3-3 for me - Brill Raven Warren Meekings Shinnie Tansey Draper Ross Watkins Mckay Christie Subs - Esson, Devine, Tremarco, Vincent, Polworth, Williams, Evans What I think Hughes'll go with - Esson Raven Warren Meekings Tremarco Draper Tansey Polworth Shinnie Vincent Mckay!

Pele . . . . . The Rest

Also not renewing a season ticket after a few losses. You can't have been supporting the club very long if the thought of losing will turn you away.

Regardless of other topics we are still moving into our 20th season and fans are for life and not just for the good times. It would be good to see as many as possible in place for next season.

EDUCATE? He meant simply ...educate the players in his methods or views. Not that he is arrogant..

Ever since I saw the way that they dressed on Aintree Friday !!

Agree Gordie and probably what we needed was a manager of similar ilk in regard to style of play so why did the Board appoint Yogi if his consideration was to alter it ? And if that was not the case then why are they backing him. I am afraid that this season is dead and buried and we will continue to play as we are. Some may be crazy BUT if this is a plan for the future and players who are more likely to fit in the system are being sought then we may have to wait to see the outcome.

Bannerman hat on "Width of pitch is an example of a continuous variable (It needs to be measured). The pitches are the same width measured to 2 significant figures, i.e. the nearest metre in this case. No. of goals is an example of a discrete variable - it can be counted (unless you are talking about goals scored by ICT, which do not require to be counted)." Bannerman hat off

Is that the next level up or the next level down?

Heard that too. Also asking the fans for patience so as he can implement his plans to take ICT to the next level. ETA- must have heard it twice.

He was a definite no to maybe when I seen him last saturday. That's fine, I'm washing my hair anyway. What are you doing for the other 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds of Friday? Hmmmm, busted, obviously somebody who knows me. Well at least you did use the word 'hair' in the singular

Vincent must have naked photos of Hughes that he is blackmailing him with! there is no way Yogi is playing him on his performances

I'm in Tenerife.........thankfully. Hardly missed a game all season but sick of watching the crap being served up at present.

Why on earth would he tie the rest of the team down on long term contracts then? Including wingers like Williams. Did he tie them down or had they already agreed to stay but waiting to sign on the line

Me plus 3, it will be my belated birthday celebration.

A statistic particularly important in Aberdeen.

Hughes wanting to punt certain players would certainly explain his tactical stubbornness. He'll keep plodding away at this rubbish and punt the ones who don't like it or fit into the system. No doubt they'll be replaced by journeymen and other harlequins such as Derek Riordan and the like. Nick Ross will surely be one and maybe Watkins and Williams as well. Hughes has been a disaster for this club. Maybe in the long term, losing the cup final wasn't such a bad thing at all.

I don't want to see us qualify for Europe even if we could do it through 4th, as that would be seen as success and while the players deserve it for the first half of the season, I fear it would 'paper' over the cracks that have appeared since Hughes has come in. Our form and displays have been awful and the 'togetherness' seems to be evaporating. Maybe the bar of expectation has risen after the first half of the season, but on current form we are relgation fodder - a team of good players don't become bad overnight - we are trying to put square pegs into round holes at best.

The widths of the respective pitches are quoted on a few databases as both being 75 yards. I do agree that Dingwall's 'appears' to be a little narrower, but it's probably an optical illusion, with Dingwall possibly being a yard narrower. I've just had a look at Google Maps with their satellite view. Okay, not cutting edge civil engineering but, at the time the images were captured by Google, there is negligible difference. Using the length of the penalty areas (44 yards) as the standardised 'control', it's possible to get a reasonably accurate idea of the widths. From the screenshots, the penalty area width at Inverness is 4.2 cm = 44 yards; with the pitch width being 7.2 cm = 75.4 yards Dingwall's penalty area is 3.9 cm = 44 yards; with the pitch width being 6.6 cm = 74.5 yards. So, the 75 yard measurements widely quoted are, for all intents and purposes, correct. Edit. Obviously 'my' measurements of e.g. 4.2cm, are due to my browser settings etc and won't be the same for everybody - they're simply indicative, but the ratios will obviously be the same! (cos I know someone will be measuring!)

And to clarify my last post I've had 2 huge glasses of wine a box of 12 cobra beers and onto carling now it's $hit watching shalamar singing I can make you feel good and even that's not enough to make me feel happyaboutthe daftest beAr in town yabadabadoo yogi a fecking clown. Feel free to delete this admin but totally saying what I feel When we beat Arbroath 5-2! And herchie scored his hat trick being an ex jaggie i stood beside that crappy pie shop in the HE and said id support the team forever and I always will but yogi feck off and give Ict back to us please

Ive got a better idea as everyone seems confused about how we are playing and that the players are not adapting at all. Maybe members of the media team when they do these interviews with Hughes should ask him properly what he wants to do and how it will affect us. Its just a suggestion but a little bit of communication may help a little. On both Cup occasions (semi and Final) Charlie Christie was in the BBC studio and on both occasions he said what John Hughes is trying to do, the benefits will be seen. Im not asking for him to be grilled but to quell some fans fears they should just ask the question.

Bayne was on from the start and scored our goal. Niether Wyness nor Dargo were on the bench. Game was played on 25/02/07. Fifth round of Scottish Cup. ICT Team: Fraser, Hastings, Tokely, Munro, Dods, Wilson (McAllister 86), McBain (Hart 45), Duncan, Black (McSwegan 77), Rankin, Bayne. Subs: Ridgers, McCaffery, Hart, McAllister, McSwegan.

Christie inherited an excellent team, kept it going for a while, then let things slide. His signings? IIRC Dean MacDonald, Ally Ridgers, Markus Paatelaien. Relegation fodder. The high fitness standards left by his predecessor slid, the team became disorganised. We started playing aimless long high punts to the Dargo and Wyness. From free flowing, high energy attacking football to Highland League stuff. We had a great chance of a deep run in the Scottish Cup, very few SPL teams remained, we blew an easy home draw against a very weak Partick Thistle. The following (or maybe previous) season were on the verge of knocking Celtic out of the Scottish Cup, keeping things tight with a few minutes to hold out. He takes on Rory McAllister and Graham Bayne, they equalise shortly after. Towards the end of his run we couldn't buy a goal, he had Wyness and Dargo sitting on the bench, and favoured Graham Bayne. Every week he came out and talked Inverness down, insisting that we should all be grateful just to have a team in the SPL. He expected unconditional praise and adulation regardless of results, and refused to accept any criticism. He had delusions of grandeur, coming out in the papers talking about how he was learning Italian, and wanted to try his luck managing in Italian football one day. In the end he bottled it, and walked out of the job leaving us bottom of the league with 'nil pois', below Gretna. He was a great player, but a terrible manager.

Dimensions inflated just like their crowds!!

Marius Niculae fecked Caley Thistle and broke CC - Craig Brewster fecked Caley Thistle - Butcher fecked the likes of Tokely, Munro and co and was an arrogant feckin tatw who left ICT in the lurch.

Why Christie bottom? Got us to 7th in the table, with a points total above 4th, then 8th in his second. That's got to be better than Baltacha and Brewster 2 at least.

Tansey at right back was a real clanger for me, almost as hilarious as the days of Proctor playing sweeper and why was Christie dropped? He was our best player on Saturday. I want him to do well so badly just so we can put this all behind us but the last few performances have been some of the worst to date, last night being the real tip of it for me. He has totally altered a system that has brought about so much success for us over the last couple of seasons and has all but returned us to the dark days of hoof ball. Talk of winning ugly with the side is a joke, given the quality of performances seen at the start of the season (with the same players) he shouldnt have to re jig things as much as he has. We were warned about the stubborn nature. His persistence of Vincent as a winger (which he will never be) and not playing any of the 3 currently fit wide players at his disposal (which he should) makes it plain to see. Watkins and Ross are more than capable while Williams may not be the best but would at least be in his regular position, yet theyve been ignored. The only good thing that Ive seen is the development of the young lads. Evans looks promising while Christie has the potential to be a great player for us, last nights goal and cameo paying justice to that, it leads to the question of why was he dropped in the first place? I really just want this season to end, it all but did after the final. We are staggering towards the finish line with very little to show for it after such a great start in the league, i would have expecting a small slump at some point but this has been a major regression that we havent got out of. Hughes maybe cant be blamed for the start he had when he came here but part of me feels he can be blamed for not getting us back on track. 5 wins from 19 is pretty dire, 7 of those games have seen us not win against teams in the bottom 6, including Hearts. Part of me wants to give him the summer, but part of me cant help but think weve got it wrong. I would love to see him do well, its clear he is trying to work something here but its also clear he needs to re think it, this is a results business, we aint getting any and sooner or later something has to give.

From a psychological perspective it is interesting to note the power of the narcissist and the derision and scorn placed on his successor. It would also appear that the psyche places the most "successful" in regard to the SPL. Personally it would be close run thing between Pele and Robbo fer me as those were the days when we were at our most entertaining and our most resolute.

I'm going to start the Paul Sturrock nonsense again! (purely for my own amusement you understand!)

I liked the quick counter attacking game we used to play. As we seen it certainly effective away from home. I'm not convinced by this "passing game" pish. Even if we do get the players playing this style well are we going to win more games?...

Ultras!?

Here's where I've stood on the Hughes appointment throughout and why my attitude has changed: 1. Amazed that he was shortlisted, given some of the names supposedly (but probably not really) in the hat 2. Astonished that he was appointed for the same reason 3. Understanding of the board's decision after I heard his post-appointment interview - I could see how his enthusiasm and footballing philosophy, coupled with his willingness to embrace the club and community were attractive (especially if the rumours around Hartley's unwillingness to even move here are to be believed). In view of the other 2 candidates short-listed, I felt we'd got the best of a bad (short-listed) bunch. 4. Forgiving of our early form under him because we were already at the staryt of a slump when he came in and we had a real problem with suspensions and injuries in the holding midfield area, which he failed to solve 5. Forgiving of our form up until the league cup final because it was a distraction for players, management and supporters 6. Delighted that he was showing faith in the young players (Christie and Polworth) 6. Forgiving for the form in March due to fixture congestion:a small squad will always struggle with a succession of midweek + weekend games, but nevertheless.... 7. Confused by his midfield team selections. They have never been balanced, have consistently played guys out of position, when there are perfectly capable individuals available to play in those positions. 8. Frustrated by the lack of width and use of wingers. I now understand (as of yesterday) that he likes to play through the middle, but that is not what he said he'd do at the start which was along the lines of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"! We do not have the players to play through the middle. 9. Infuriated by his pig-headedness in sticking to a philosophy that is not working and is simply not entertaining. 7 chances in 90 min is not enough for a top 6 team at home. The players we have need to play with width and on the counter-attack with fast, incisive passing. 10. Devastated that he's managed to take a team that worked fantastically well in a 4-2-3-1 system, to one that can no longer defend or create chances and is hamstrung into playing square and backward passes in the name of "possession". Possession football only really works if you've got Iniesta and Messi to make a killer pass or go past 2 or 3 defenders. We have Vincent and Mckay. 11. Depressed that I don't think he will learn from his mistakes, or indeed listen to anybody around him. It wasn't broken....but it sure is now! The best fix will be to go back to where we started, play on the counter, with width and pace. Doran (when fit), Watkins and Williams are all capable and Christie is a revelation. Mckay will score if he gets chances in the 6 yard box (needs crosses to do that!); Draper, Foran, Tansey are all good players in their right places and the defence and keeper were watertight for 6 months. Good players don't turn bad overnight. In summary, I really believe in giving a guy a chance........providing he is willing to learn from his mistakes. Highes isn't doing that and doesn't look like he will anytime soon, so he's in my last chance saloon, I'm afraid. Season tickets are at stake here!

I think a 2-2-2-2-2-0 formation is more likely as the full backs will be considered as wide players and therefore unnecessary? Of course this formation could always be varied to an attacking 2-2-2-1-2-1-0 utilising a midfield diamond ?

Soon to be replaced by Kevin Thompson so we can move to a 4-6-0 formation with 6 centre midfielders.

Don't talk p1sh. We were clear in 2nd place with games in hand when he arrived.

I have an even more unusual one, Caley Thistle scarves at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.