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Positives: we didn't collapse after conceding the early goal - we got deservedly level whilst well on top. the second goal came after our best bit of build-up play all day (which only came because King wandered infield into space) - and even then we only scored because their keeper made an error. And that's about it. Same old, same old for the most part. Conceding soft goals because of bad organization and individual errors. Doumbouya completely isolated whilst he was on the pitch (though Davies had him in his pocket anyway). Zero penetration due to the lack of pace in attack - mostly just sideways passes until we lose it or someone hoofs it. And panic stations at 2-1/3-1 down, where we start playing like 1980s Wimbledon, except without the charisma and the ability. County had done their homework. They were particularly keen for us to get Mckay on the ball, in the knowledge that he can't cross, whilst shutting down Tremarco on the other side. Boyce drifted in off the flank into the space behind Tremarco and caused us all sorts of trouble. In contrast we played exactly the same way we do every week, with no regard for the opposition's strengths or weaknesses. That's ten league games without a win for the first time since...er, ever in fact. It's the worst league run we've ever had in our entire history. Foran's post-match interview was just crazy. He heavily criticized the players both individually (he didn't name names, but made it quite clear he blamed Tansey for the first goal for not clearing at the near post and Meekings for the second for not showing Boyce wide) and collectively (no confidence, no fight, no grit, no energy). Then he decreed that a few weeks off for the winter break would fix everything, along with three new players. Firstly, he's damn lucky we have a winter break for the first time in years, and secondly, where does he think the money for three new players is coming from? He insists we're still going to finish top six. County fans in contrast think we're "going down, going down". I know which argument is evidence-based, and it's not our manager's.

The truth is, we, as normal, every day supporters of a football club have very little say in how a club is run. Demanding an overhaul of the board room without any knowledge of what is happening nor having any knowledge in how to run a football club is just ludicrous. The team, and board need you behind them, not routing against them.

No, Hughes basically decided he didn't want to do the job any more, unless it was on his terms. If your girlfriend announces that she'll only stay with you if she gets regular jewellery, fancy restaurants and designer clothing, it's time to part ways.

Big ask for someone to come in with absolutely no managerial experience . To me the fault lies with the board who never explored any other experienced options but went for the cheap and easy option.

I play the club lottery, buy merch and match tickets? You?

Pretty much agree with all you've said, and, like you, I wonder if Foran could do with someone other than Brian Rice as his no 2, as Rice certainly didn't seem to inspire particularly inventive or adaptable football after he replaced Latapy, and we are certainly in need of an alternative to the way we are playing just now. The bit in bold, though: it's true that we've retained the core of defence and midfield that won us the cup, but the forward line is completely different, and that makes a colossal difference; easily, potentially, the difference between top 6 and going down. I'd go as far as to say that think we have the poorest striking options, relative to our level, that we've had in my 20 years of watching the team. Also, I think there has been a fairly notable decline in the form of Gary Warren in particular, so although the defence might contain largely the same personnel as the cup-winning team, it's not quite the 'same' defence in terms of reliability.

Aberdeen: Defender Callum Morris exits without first-team appearance 8 hours ago From the sectionFootball Sharethis page Callum Morris signed for Aberdeen in June Defender Callum Morris has left Aberdeen having failed to make a single appearance for the club since arriving from Dundee United in June. The 26-year-old had spent two seasons at Tannadice but left following United's relegation from the Scottish top flight. English-born Morris first arrived in Scotland to join Dunfermline Athletic in 2012 after leaving Morpeth United. He has been part of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland U21 squads. Sharethis page

OFW TREMARCO MEEKINGS WARREN MCKAY DRAPER KING TANSEY DORAN POLWORTH FISHER SUBS: ESSON, SUTHERLAND, MULRANEY, BODEN, DOUMBOUYA, VIGURS, COLE Our Full-Backs need to bomb on, and support our wide players. Centre backs can sit back, and Drapes provides extra cover in front of them. Tansey gets his more attacking role, to go and control the game. Polworth plays up with Fisher, providing an out-ball, should we have to resort to Route1. I fear though, that this will be too much of a change from what we've been doing, as most camps admit that we've been playing well, just not converting chances or getting the rub of the green. So...I expect the usual suspects to be in the usual unfavoured positions, and the 'controversial' Vigurs to make the starting line-up, yet again. And an isolated one-up-top, which could change to Fish. A midfield of Tansey, Draper, Vigurs, Cole and Polworth is what will probably appear. Regardless of who steps onto the soggy Global Energy Stadium midden, we need to get right behind them and give them our full backing! Positive support from start to finish. Save all your moaning for here, post-match! Let's put the lights out on the wee-team, and go into our break on a high! #prideofthehighlands #foreverinourshadow #weeteamweecupbigteambigcup #caleyjagsaway #inforanwetrust #keepupthefight #topsix

Buy cheap pay twice , the board took a crazy gamble in appointing the untried Foran and it looks like he's going to lead us to the Championship and God knows where we could end up after that .

Typical response from Mr Bannerman

Don't be fooled by the closeness of the final score. That was more comfortable for County than the scoreline would suggest. We are so so disorganised it's untrue, no shape in defence or attack. I wonder what influence Brian Rice has in all of this. The downward spiral started the second Latapy was punted and he rocked up. We still have the bulk of the 3rd place and cup winning team and they haven't become terrible overnight. We're now 4 points from safety having had a decent run of fixtures over the last few weeks. Unless something changes drastically in the winter break we can start planning for the Championship. I've heard people say that it would be a good laugh in the Championship but it would be disastrous for the club. We must stay up. ETA: first time we've gone 10 league games without a win in our history.

That's 10 without a win and 1 win in 14. Brewster had won 3 in 14 when he got sacked......

I am desperate for Richie Foran to do well but im afraid some of his decisions and the loyalty he is showing to certain players is mind blowing. Owaim Fon Williams is costing us too many goals and is not the commanding figure he should be. Iain Vigurs offers nothing and does not deserve to start every week. His lack of quality and commitment is horrendous. Larnell Cole is ok going forward but defensively is not interested, he gives Brad no protection or help at all. We have to change things and go 442. Billy King, who was outstanding when he came on today, Ryan Esson if fit and Scott Boden should come in in my view. Also when Richie made the double change and took on Fisher and King why did he put Draper up front with Fisher. Why not leave Doumbaye or put Boden, two strikers, on instead. It made no sense at all. Richie is there to make big and brave decisions and at the moment he is not doing it. The sooner he does the better or we will be cut adrift at the bottom very soon.

To lift the mood before the bells, I hereby predict that we will now go on a run of 27 days without a league defeat!

Sensible comment, as ever, but it would give me more hope if we were able to cling on to a few of the standard attributes of decent managers: makes good signings gets the best out of the players team always looks well organised the players look really fit good tactician has a good plan B when things aren't going to plan makes good substitutions has the team playing attractive football team always hard to beat develops young players great team spirit is evident How many of those qualities has Foran demonstrated?

I haven't seen the old Nokia style text speak for years!

It's hard to argue that he's doing a good job at the moment when the same tactical limitations seem to be on show every week, but it's far too early to know whether or not he has the managerial attributes to change that. A few weeks away from competitive games, a bit of a rethink, possibly a slight reshuffle in personnel (although we'll be pretty limited in what we can do in this respect, I guess) and maybe we'll see an upturn in results and performances after the break. Ultimately the board will make the decision about whether they think it's worth the sacrifice of paying him off in the hope that it will save the club from relegation, but personally I think it would be pretty unjust to profess belief in an untried manager and then write him off as a failure after six months in charge.

Sack those who voted to give a rookie untested manager a four year contract. It was no doubt sold as golden handcuffs rather than a golden ball and chain. Everyone likes RF and I liked him as a player but professional football has no place for sentimentality, clubs, players and managers prove that every year.

Three wins in twenty games, no wins in the last ten, and three goals conceded in five of the last ten. I said at the start that the current squad should be good enough for a mid table finish and with an experienced manager I had no doubt that it would be but we don't have an experienced Manager, we don't even have a Manager who has served an apprenticeship as an assistant. I wanted things to work out for RF but it hasn't and is not going to improve. I defended JH's style of play and pointed to the fact that JH managed to pick up a steady stream of points even with a horrendous injury list. Look back to the number of first teamers missing after the double header with Astra plus the fact we had lost Shinnie and Watkins. I understand why the board parted with JH and I also understand why JH pushed as hard as he did to improve the squad, he wanted to kick on. Under JH we had a style of play whether you liked it or not, that has gone out of the window now, the team is directionless both defensively and offensively, I believe they are going out hoping to win whereas under JH I believe they went out expecting to win.Remember Tremarco's comment after the SC final that he was afraid of the manager when he got sent off? that says it all. Watkins called JH a madman, they all knew the plan and the consequences of not delivering it. It's no one's fault really, the board took a gamble on RF, they wanted some stability which we haven't had since Patterson but it hasn't worked and they now need to make a decision.

Agree with your summary on our forward line, easily the poorest I've seen. Perversely however, scoring goals isn't our issue- we've scored more than everyone outwith the top 4 and only 3 less than Rangers. Keeping them out is the problem and it's not solely the defences fault. Warren is perhaps slowing up however he still has plenty of good attributes, we're just not giving enough protection to the back four from midfield.

Personally I'd love nothing more than Foran to succeed, but I don't think he's got what it takes yet. Too little experience, I think the club should have looked for an experienced manager that wasn't going to have us in a relegation fight. Regardless if we stay up this season, with Foran I fear that for the next few seasons it's all we are going to be and that's in a relegation fight. For the last few seasons we've kept improving ourselves, whether it be cup runs or table finishes. The club was an established top six side, but it really is deteriorating by the week. Worst start to any season is pretty dire to hear. If a few other clubs weren't having such poor seasons then we'd be in alot bigger trouble than we are. in my opinion, if the board are tempted to make a change then now is the time to do it. With the break, it's a great time to get someone in before we have a run of crucial games. Would that really be such a knee-jerk reaction?

I’ve tallied up the totals for 2016. By my reckoning, we had 67 exICT scorers, compiling 416 goals as follows :- 26 goals S Sutherland (Peterhead,9/Elgin,17) 25 goals S Winnall (Barnsley) 21 goals R Mcallister (Peterhead) 19 goals G Wood (Formantine) 18goals Z Sutherland (Brora R) 17 goals A Rooney (Aberdeen), C Allen (Glentoran) 14 goals D Gillespie (Brora R), J Oswell (Newtown AFC) 13 goals S Soane (Forres) 12 goals T Agdestein (Haugesund) 10 goals S Armstrong (Celtic) 09 goals M Watkins (Barnsley), D Sanchez (FC Jazz) 08 goals M Laing (Inverurie), D Wyness (Huntly), J Hayes (Aberdeen), B Mckay (Dun U,4/Oldham,4), B Greenhalgh (Maidstone,4/Concord R,4) 07 goals D Imrie (Hamilton), M Finnis (Clach) 06 goals A McDonald (Oxford U), A MacLeod (Strathspey), D Lopez (Arenas de Getxo), L MacKinnon (Buckie), T Sho-Silva (Bromley), G Tade (Steaua Buch,2/Qatar SC,4) 05 goals T Aldred (Blackpool), R Eagle (AFC Sudbury), A Grieg (Brora R), M Bavidge (Inverurie) I Sekajja (Hemel H,2/Dulwich H,3), T Kink (SJK,2/Mezokovesd,3) 04 goals D Davis (Birmingham), C Dingwall (Formantine), C MacMillan (Rothes), R Williams (Ottawa) 03 goals J Roberts (Crawley), N Bulvitis (Plymouth), L Hughes (Barrow), D Park (Cove R) E Ofere (Dun U),G Munro (Brora R),I Black (Shrewsbury), A Chippendale (Stalybridge) 02 goals D Khutsishvili (Forres), A Evans (Shelbourne), P Roberts (Sligo), D Dods (Brechin), F Morais (Bradford),S Williams (AFC Fylde), D Cowie (Hearts),S Leslie (Clach) C Ferguson (Albion), R Christie (Celtic) 01 goal M Storey (Aberdeen), N Ross (Dundee), J Rankin (Dun U), A Shinnie (Hibs), A Barrowman (Albion), R Babtie (Peterhead), B Gilfillan (Annan), J Duff (Elgin), G Morrison (Brora R), S Duff (Cove R), A Skinner (Nairn),G Shinnie (Aberdeen)

I don't get this attitude on here that Foran can do no wrong, his lack of experience is showing as is his stubborn nature not to change things even when the team struggling - 1 up front isn't working and hasn't been for weeks and we aren't creative enough in front of the back 6. The 3 behind the striker aren't doing enough - we have pace in mulraney and most creativity from king, Doran or polly yet these guys are either benched or played out of position. Questions have to be asked about the support Foran gets from those in the rest of the management team and whether Rice is the right man to help Foran develop. Some on here want to blame the board, blame Hughes or blame the fans for not being supportive enough but after this many games we aren't seeing an improvement or anything that suggests a formula for success. Many on here wanted foran to get the job, but his lack of experience is telling. If we don't recruit in Jan which given our lack of fans or budget is unlikely then we won't stay up. Come back after the break and loose to Elgin which is feasible and it's going to be a long hard negative slog til the end of the season. Add to that the impending loss of tansey and meekings it's weaker we will become. The board need to act but it's in either replacing foran or improving the network around him by bringing in an experienced coach to help him with tactics and most importantly organising the defence. Sacking the board is a ludicrous call.

NOW?

We lost to Motherwell because we were poor and created little much like so many games this season, possession and tepid play in the middle or the park or hoofing long balls from back to front when chasing the game dont provide winning positions. Those that reside in the camp where its just bad luck need to look at last season and the DUtd situation where they lost games by the odd goal, were deemed to play well and were unlucky - they went down and we will too. As a critic of Vigurs, I can say its nothing to do with his former club or even his attitude when at the club first time, its his attitude now - there appears a lack of fight or creativity from him, often loosing possession and failing to track back or even attempt tackles. His set piece delivery is not to the required level of quality or consistency like at times against Motherwell - we can make excuses about the weather or anything else but if Foran persevers with him we need more. Thats not removing blame from elsewhere either. Criticism of players, tactics or managment seem to be unacceptable on here now, however last season it was all fair game so long as it was directed at Hughes or Dani Lopez (who), although I see Hughes still blamed in this thread for leaving and the club having to appoint Richie. Perhaps some are not willing yet to accept that we have moved to a weaker position as a club through the changes made and there maybe isnt the capability to turn this around crowds are still not improving and we certainly dont have the cash to buy our way out of trouble.

This is all the preview you need....

Johnny Hayes got Aberdeen's winner tonight (30 Dec) in a 1-0 win at Hearts and Michael Finnis got Clach's winner in a 2-1 win at Nairn.

I think the away support will be excellent, with a couple of thousand Caley Thistle brave hearts egging the players on with every move. No point dwelling on what's happened to date, there's everything to play for at 3pm tomorrow, it's a fresh start. 3-1 win.

Having just seen a replay of the 1st Motherwell goal I can safely say that anyone blaming OFW needs a brain examination.

Last night was my first game since October vs Rangers due to work commitments. The performance in the first half was quite good from us and I genuinely felt that we could have been coasting by a couple goal, it was fair to say the luck was against us on that part. What I found disappointing from our side was a mixture of good players under- performing and also our managers tactics and the use of subs. The recruiting this season hasn't been at all bad, Brad McKay was outstanding majority of the game I felt. Liam Polworth was played out of position and often wasted out wide. As the game was going on, it was getting more and more apparent that we are lacking a creative spark that has been missing since Christies and Andy Shinnies departure from the club. One thing that I had taken from the game is that Richie's inexperience is starting to show since we are in a rut. From memory, Kenny Cameron wasn't in favour of choosing Paul Hartley due to never experiencing managing a team that's facing relegation. I instantly thought about this and for all his faults, I would like to see Butcher in a Director of Football role to assist Richie for the good of the club. (More chance of pigs flying etc) Main thing to take from yesterday, there's a team looking devoid of confidence and we need a massive morale boost, starting Saturday?!

I am reliably informed that Richie has stated that he is not going to trim his beard until we win a game. I have a prediction for the end of th season.

Wish I was going to Dungwall and nothing will stop me going to Hellgin. As RIG says this is the time to rally. There was a lot of complaints about Yogi but he did set up a system, albeit not always pretty, to win games. Foran clearly lacks the experience and really does not have much of a bootroom to advise and mould. As ever we have a manager who sticks by his guns and probably sees change as failure or NOW bowing down to fan pressure. BUT he simply has to if we are to survive. IMHO Tansey has had Aberdire in his head for months. I think that he should have been benched weeks ago. However I hope he provides us with a final "swan song" at Dungwall. Shurely we will ALL be giving this 110%. As fer being better off going down the ONLY positive to that is cheaper entrance prices and better away days. As OCG points out we could be a Stain Midden. This is not a case of going down and bouncing straight up again.

ICT won the cup and ended near top of the league with most of the present players, therefore the poor play and results must be laid at the feet or head of the manager and coaching staff. Foran stated the performances are "good but not good enough". Should we now be asking the same question about him?

He actually started against Dundee on Sat... I think Rory Loy is a better striker than any of the three we have but that's not saying much...

Ryan Christie seems to have dropped off the Celtic radar, would love to se him back in the blue & red strip!

Ok

The same board that brought us tremendous success over the last few years? Change is indeed needed to prevent relegation, but you perhaps need to look more towards the dressing room than the board room.

But you're right!

Motherwell with late equalizer giving us hope if we win that hope gone after 2 mins going to be a long afternoon

Fully behind Foran. Stagnation at board level. Media team needs a clear out too. Sack the board.

Team Foran. Sack the board.

Not an easy thing 2 sack the board no money men wanting 2 buy us tho they made a major fcuk up binning yogi who despite horrendous injuries had us totally punching forans loyal but a dodgy appointment if theres $$$$ 2 spend will he do it wisely? Couple of decent signings could be the difference tight at the bottom whats billy mackay up 2 or storey loan options ciftci even

Wholesale change needed. We're going down. Sack the board. We need investment, new ideas, new direction.