starchief

Well, there's plenty of black defenders who aren't - from Viv Anderson to Rio Ferdinand - but also, what about Kirk Broadfoot, Lee Naylor, Stewart McKimmie or Gary Stevens to name but a few. Aren't they just as clumsy on the ball and deserving of the name?

They did seem to doubt the shoulder excuse though.

Maybe see who goes down and nab some of their players. St Mirren have a few I wouldn't mind.

How strange. But I'd wipe out the location of your interview. You don't really want your potential employer knowing what you're up to all the time.

Killie tend to play on the ground, moving out wide and letting the frontmen drop deep and take men on. So with that in mind: Esson Tokely - Mihadjuk - Munro - Hastings Duncan - Black Proctor----------------Morais Imrie Foran Subs: Fraser; Duff; Gattheusi; McBain; Vigurs; Rooney; Eric Hastings as we need a defender to close down rather than midfield to attack, particularly with Killie. Duncan and Black could really put the wind up Killie with overly aggressive play. Invincible may well rip Tokely apart, so Proctor could be good in there to close down. They also have Taouil to bring on in that position, so that's a big strength to nullify. I was going to put McBain in on the left to protect Hastings from the impressive Hamill but I saw Killie's young right-back last week (Clancy) and didn't think he was much cop. Morais may just be the player in there. Foran is our most natural striker, so get him up there. Imrie a free role behind to terrorise the defence and keep the defensive midfield busy too.

I heard Radio Scotland pundits asking why, when he's still got it, that he didn't play himself when Inverness were crying out for an experienced striker.

Strange post. You point to a lack of goals and the need to sign a striker but criticise someone when he names one of those strikers that you obviously also don't think is good enough too. You also ask who ICT should sign but in the same breath say you think it's wrong to say who should be signed.

I agree with most of that. My point was, he was playing well (to my great surprise too) and shouldn't have been dropped. He was always going to make mistakes but criticising him when he's playing well isn't the answer. It's probably a purple patch (although we can but hope) but he's been far from our worst defender or player in that time. And McBain* (at left-back at least), Gattheusi or Hastings haven't done anything like enough to oust a form player and be automatic picks. *although he has done very well in midfield this season.

they might enjoy playing for a club and place there living but if a bigger club offers the player more money they will move. money makes everyone happy I'd suggest that's the voice of inexperience. Nothing could be further from the truth.

At which sport? I'm guessing lacrosse.

As it becomes even more the haves and have-nots (although is the credit crunch going to change all that permanently?), I suppose it will be packed defences for everyone outside the top teams. Even against their own peers, fear of a mistake is probably paramount. (it certainly is for 'solid-start-Starchief' in Football Manager games!)

At this stage, yep Hastings. He's a decent left-back that's probably got the bit between his teeth again after being left out. I thought he really suffered as well with no leader (i.e. Mihadjuks) in the team. McBain? Never see him tackling much. Maybe now is not the time to experiment. After the next couple of games when we're safe perhaps?

Also, if you enjoy your job and the place you're living - why move on? What price happiness?

Here's another one: 1) Which player surprisingly played in the Celtic match much to the horror of the supporters but ended up winning most of them over? 2) Who was playing at left-back when Inverness managed clean sheets against BOTH Old Firm teams ? 3) What player was named Man of the Match against Hibs by both the Scotsman and the Daily Record? 4) Who is the poster that's been unfairly criticising a player that's been surprisingly one of our best performers in recent games, desperate to pounce on a mistake to prove him right, even though the man in question has been neither our worst player nor our worst defender?

Here goes: 1) Richie Foran - had the chances, couldn't score 2) Richie Foran - what the hell's he still doing in the team if he can't put away chances 3) It could be Duncan, Tokely, Munro, Imrie, Djebi-Zadi, McBain, Morais or Proctor...hmmm...I'll go for Munro. Worst player in our defence. 4) In awe? Probably Black, maybe Imrie. In terror? Tokely, Munro, Imrie, Duncan or Djebi-Zadi. Over all, Duncan. almost guaranteed to give away the ball. And, guess what, he's a midfielder!!! How'd I do?

How about http://www.flamingtext.com/

To be fair, we did have 10 men and only one striker (who isn't really a striker) up there. I hear the Falkirk goalkeeper had to be outstanding though which puts us in good stead for the remainder of the season. Cup would be nice but Falkirk having to play in the cup, then crunch ties against the top teams before the break, then their relegation counterparts after? Doesn't sound too great to me.

I will just re-affirm that I think it's fine to criticise him for the mistake today. It's also ok to believe he's not the right choice long-term. But to continually slate someone who's playing well is a bit like those having a go at Blackie (whilst usually always mentioning Brew in their second paragraph - coincidence?). It's 'having an agenda' instead of basing an opinion on the facts of the day.

See the thread called "Ian Black" here - http://community.caleythistleonline.com/in...showtopic=11812 There's a link to the article plus a couple of thoughts by people who may well know a little more...

Completely agree. DZ's been playing out of his skin and IHE has still been criticising him. Let's face it, practically no-one wanted him in at the Celtic match but he's not only been worthy of his place, he's actually been close to or nominated for MoM on at least a couple of occasions. To continually harp on about the player when he's playing well, then batter him when he does make a mistake is pretty pathetic. Esson, Duncan, Tokely, Black and Munro have all had recent mistakes too. It would be no surprise to anyone that DZ has had one too. Sure, criticise him for that but continually harping on when he's played well is a bit pathetic. Here's my prediction: Hastings will make mistakes too...as would McBain. Also, Foran will miss chances. I shall now say this multiple times a week, so I can say I told you so. It doesn't matter if he scores a hat-trick, I will ignore everything but the bad, just to say I am right.

Pretty much at least matching Falkirk with only 10 men. Hopeful for the rest of the season. Hastings back in for Killie might be to our advantage as they tend to play on the deck. It's good to have competition for places at last.

For high interest rates, I'd say later rather than sooner (although I guess that's all relative). Probably 2010 (the year we make contact). They will go up before then but they will be balanced I suspect. Look out after the next election. BOOOM!

And if you're one of the few who don't read your super soaraway Scum, this is the story: Black to stay?

Jeez, 'seasoned'. Now I'm depressed. Nah, not really - age is just a number (just getting to be a bigger number all the time) Not quite sure what you mean there* but I do support Black's team (Inverness) but I won't be supporting his next one. I'll reminisce about THAT penalty and how good he was for us but I fully expect Black at Hearts to come back and clatter Duncan or whoever in the first few minutes and be resoundingly boo-ed for it. Quite right too. Just as I expect for Wyness, Dargo etc to try to score against us. Probably more so ICT than everyone else. But he hasn't gone yet. Friendly rivalry (as opposed to hateful bigotry) is the lifeblood of football (and there you were thinking it was history and romance). *but I did support Black over Brew as I thought Brew was wrong to drop our best player and a terrible manager to boot.

Since when? Denis Law? Georgie Best? That goal by Gemmill? 1967 Lisbon? 1966 Wembley? Beating Barnes' Celtic? Dalglish's swivel'n'shot? Jarzinho 1970? etc etc etc If it's not about getting misty-eyed then it's about a bunch of over-paid players turning up and kicking a ball about. History and romance is the blood essence of fitba the world over. And yet head and shoulders above pretty much everyone else at ICT. Oh right. Now I get it.