Tree

If we can't get crowds at the moment how many people will turn up to watch a Craig Levein team defend their way to a victory with long ball up to big centre forward style adopted at Leicester, DU and Hearts?

He struggled for the first 20 minutes but he was not the only one. I thought he linked the play well for most of the match thereafter. I would still prefer Nick in this position though (think Polworth is better in a deeper role) but I am yet to be convinced about Greenhalgh (though to be fair he has limited time to adapt to the Scottish game yet)

Having sat through Saturday's game and let the dust settle here are my thoughts at least. 1. We started the game with our midfield jogging and SJ racing around. 2. SJ hit the ground running with just about every pass coming off. Always easier when there is not enough pressure on the ball with time to play the ball in to the front players and our defender being left with a man to mark and on occasions a further two players running past. 3. When the game starts like this keeping the ball is vital to take the sting out of the game and to allow some "resting in possession". In the first half hour Devine passed only to SJ unfortunately and Doran also lost the ball in the wrong part of the pitch too often 4. After the second goal we actually started to look to keep possession and on occasions made SJ look ordinary without ever really threatening (and when we got into good positions took the wrong option too often) 5. Much of the critisism of Polworth is a bit unfair. He started weakly but this was due in part to the nature of the way we were playing however the reason he was kept on was he linked the back to the front relatively effectively. Aside from this I prefer him played in a deeper role (against Charlton he walked through the game against a solid experienced and competative midfield). 6. I agree with Renegade that we are not good at reacting in game situations to tactics and make subs too late (which seems to be the way modern Managers are taught as this seems par for the course). 7. I disagree re Greenhalgh from last week. I didn't think he added too much and did not look ready for this level yet (may change yet). With two forced changes it is always easier to keep other players in position to try and maintain balance (I actually prefer Ross in the central position but understand why he was not played here). Unfortunately he disappeared in the second half completely In summary, too many players had an off day but we could have probably made some early changes to tactics to offset the issues. We also had players on the bench to make some positive changes earlier though I am not convinced this would have made a difference. SJ scored two well worked goals but we then gifted them two really poor ones in the second half (both their goals in the first half came from errors). At any level this is not acceptable.

It was always broke with queues back to Friar's Bridge and the Raigmore Interchange common at evening peak, however as per usual the fix is not quite what is needed. Why has a filter lane for north bound into Inverness been removed for example? The link road is actually a part of the cure with the traffic this will take away from the town centre and Longman helping to relieve the mid-week problems. Will do nothing for match day's however! It could be worse.......they could have come up with the nonsense the HC have managed to create at the campus entrance where traffic now goes up to two lanes before being throttled back to a single lane at the overbridge. A license for a few cars to "leapfrog" the cue and annoy anyone who stays in place. Why not extend the bridge and have two lanes through to Inshes roundabout (where it widens out to three lanes) and improve traffic flow?

Not sure one can say Butcher has assembled a full squad. ?? He certainly has a fine first 11. Not much on the bench though, unless somebody knows different? If we ge injuries or suspensions what can we do about it. The squad seems wafer thin to me. I am told rightly or wrongly that free transfers and loan players can be signed after the deadline if the club has room on the registration forms. We really ought to be looking for back ups. This is not a troll I am genuinly concerned with the bench. Hmmmmmmm. Think we've got a lot more on the bench than last year. Good young local players such as Polworth, experience such as Esson. New up and coming players like Williams, Greenhaugh, Adgensen and still Watkins and Allen to come in properly! So not sure what your problem is here Lawrence tbh. Have to agree ocg. The bench this year actually gives Butcher some options when for most of last season there was little in the way of players to change a game or shape of the team. If we get injuries or suspension??? We have the smallest budget and therefore one of the smallest squads in the league - how is this Butcher's fault? Of course we will be weakened when these happen but probably only Celtic carry enough players to cover injuries now.

The issue is that the lights are optimised for normal traffic flows in which there are a small number of north travelling cars turning right. Transport Scotland need to have a 'match day setting' which is enabled 11/2 hrs prior to kick-off. There will still be traffic delays but not the nonsense that happens at the moment.

Good luck getting SMEE to but a round. We've been trying for over 25 years without success

I've often thought that erecting a screen would be a (relatively) low cost way to improve the ambience of the ground. This would be a simple column and profiled sheeting structure with some of the cost possibly offset by additional advertising space created. External advertising is a bit more complicated due to the need to obtain Transport Scotland/Planning Approval. It would even be possibly to include permanent facilities for cameras whilst also helping to stop free 'sightseeing' old firm fans watching the game.

The wind behind Hearts in the first half possibly levelled the game a bit. Don't think we have dominated a top flight match as much as we did in the second half since Gretna were in the league.

More than the number that watched the first match against them last season

There was a failure of the central goals and score service yesterday which affected all the main outlets including Sky and BBC

Good display good noise from the away crowd! Polworth excellent for a young kid at this level

Forecast has changed :)

If the forecast is to be believed a boat would be better than a bus! Sun is out in Surrey at the moment at least :)

Don't think this is confined to just Tomnahurich Street! At what point did it become acceptable for till operators to sit chewing gum with their mouths open as they scan things through. Having worked for Willie Low many moons ago, it is amazing to see what Tesco find acceptable in terms of customer service. blocking isles and chatting and swearing with your mates when they come in!

Mmmm. Were we not hearing similar things being said regarding a certain player being released this time last year? To be fair though, I've heard from sources that Hogg is not heading off to Brora. We have a first choice pair of Warren and Meekings (who must get the vote for the most improved player this season) and back-up in the form of Devine and Cooper (who should develop and in reality are cheaper than Hogg). Hogg also signed with us again because he did not get a better offer. Suspect he is looking for a decent pay day somewhere.

What, Madrid fans coming all the way for this game? Impressive

BUTCHER OUT!!!!! Grow up little boy!!!! Unlike a fair few that could be mentioned on CTO I've never posted wanting Butcher sacked I'm not blaming Butcher at all for the failure to give Mackay Steven a contract, I'm blaming the short sightedness of the ICT board Dougal They offered him a contract - he chose to turn it down! How ffs is this the board's fault? Should they have used duress to force him to sign?

Given that we recently started a match with only one Scot on the pitch I don't think we should start throwing stones from that particular glass house. I see that Simon Ferry has been released by Swindon. A competent midfielder who might be a replacement for Andy Shinnie. Yes, but we are not the Chairman and Manager who went on Radio Scotland to talk of their different morals (to ICT) in using local players

Nick was pushed (thought not the hardest push ever seen). Whilst it can be seen from the highlights it was more obvious from the angle at the match. Interestingly the TV angle shows why the ref didn't think we should have got a second penalty when McKay was through on goal. From the main stand it was clear that the tackle never got near the ball and stopped Billy from shooting and possibly would have been a red card also. From behind it looked innocuous.

Basic rule for the referee is that he makes the decision and is guided by others (i.e. his assistants). In this occasion however he should have spoken with you to understand what you had seen and thereafter re-affirm his decision or otherwise. In addition to the common sense aspect of this it also helps diffuse the situation to have officials conferring. Higher level assistants are trained and should be briefed prior to the game that they should support the ref in the decision being made if they are overruled.

The latest in a line of classic comments from the tool The best one was on BBC Radio Scotland the evening before the cup game when he claimed that "we have different morals" in that they focus on local players. Cue January and the binning of some local players and signing of four overseas players?? He forgets the penalty in the last game which even though the forth official and Butcher admitted was too far away to know one way or the other he managed to see that it was a definite dive. The free kick yesterday before their goal was also a bit suspect, however no mention of this. He clearly is a little man with a big chip and I'm sure with man management skills like his he will do great at Aberdeen

The condition of the pitch combined with the shocking condition of the pitch meant that this was never going to be one for the purists. The number of mis-kicks from both teams reflected this and neither defence sought to take too many chances. Looked like a penalty to everyone except MacLean and Adams, though to be honest this was just one of many poor and inconsistent decisions. Can't remember which county player took a dive in the first half however there was no card shown yet he takes a different path for Shinnie. Ritchie clearly was not fully fit. Billy ran out of steam after about an hour and we seem to lack a replacement or at least someone who Butcher thinks can consistently replace him.

What, no place for Wayne Addicote

And County will see a similar fall if they remain in the SPL. I already know of a couple of people who are almost certain not to renew their season tickets for their second season in the top flight.