starchief

What was wrong with the way Mo left? He came in as assistant to Butcher. When Butcher was under contract and sitting in the stand beside the Hibs chairman, Mo was in the Inverness dugout doing his best to get a win against Hibs. He then left without any fuss to the same position at Hibs. I see nothing wrong with that. I'd have no problem with Charlie as manager as I thought he did pretty well first time around. However, I'd be even happier with him as Director of Football charged with complete control over the restructuring of the club. I wouldn't like to see him back but I certainly wouldn't say Butcher failed at Motherwell. A dodgy start but soon on to winning ways. I also think he did pretty well at Coventry - a club selling all its' best players, signing almost no-one but still being kept in the (then) First Division. He was sacked as another cost-cutting measure as they could get rid of both a player and a manager salary in one stroke. If it had been Xmas, I would have suggested someone like Jim Duffy but there's no way he would come now. I'd still go for Paul Hartley, who was terrific for most of his time at Dundee. Yep, it ended badly but so has Arsene Wenger. You've got to realise ICT's limits and what a manager could bring, even if he's not not perfect. But then, when you consider the appointments... Butcher: fans not happy Hughes: fans not happy Foran: fans happy Not absolutely sure we should be allowed to choose

It is. Compensation is not an issue.

Who said he didn't? Either Foran takes a strop, quits (as he has absolutely no hand over the board), fails to get the job he is desperate for, leaves football to be a delivery driver a la Duncan Shearer and looks on as Paul Sheerin or someone takes charge with Foran thinking 'I should have taken my chance'! Or he takes the job and shuts up. Those are the only choices. And Foran has a depth of belief in himself only outdone by Roy Keane. Misplaced or not. It's not the first time the latter has happened. Brewster and Park were not on speaking terms either and muddled through undermining each other (although Brew could claim the high ground - he was the one supposed to make decisions) as Park still had a contract to fulfil. It's not Rice's fault that he was taken on to play a completely different type of football for another manager. The chances of him being snapped up by another club are doubtful, in the short-term at least. I'm not surprised he stayed. But the Board should have recognised it's not working and taken even a temporary solution much earlier.

I'm surprised people are mentioning what Malpas got up to before and after ICT, without concentrating on what he did here. Why hasn't Malpas been in management for two years? Because of the disaster of Hibs. How did he get the Hibs job? Because of the success he had at ICT. Someone else brought up the relegation event, without mentioning ICT were promoted and leaving when we were (IIRC) second top and in the semi-final of a cup. Malpas was a roaring success at ICT. It's a great idea to get him back and see if that can be replicated. Malpas sat in the Inverness dugout when Butcher was with the Hibs Chair in the stand. Yes, he left, but he did so with dignity, unlike the manager at the time. Yes, it's very late - maybe too late - but it's a good idea. And I'd be happy to see Mo stay, even with relegation. As for Brian Rice...it's an open secret that he and Foran don't gel. No surprise, given Rice is a tipp-tappy Hughes assistant, whilst Foran is from the kick-and-rush school of Butcher'n'Malpas. It was always a marriage of convenience.

I've been trying to avoid forums for the last couple of years but I felt the need to bring this up: According to Barry Wilson, it's a four year plan, consisting of Foran on a yearly rolling contract, I.e. no to very little compensation.

I've long thought Bobby Williamson was a good manager. Did well at Killie, did well at Hibs bringing through a crop of youngsters and silverware (hated by the Hibs fans of course for ridiculous reasons). Plymouth might have been a black stain but then did he do as well as anyone could have? Yep, Chester was poor. Seems to be respected in Africa although I know little about how realisticly well he should be able to do with the teams he had. Archie Knox wanted the job but eventually turned us down due to some legal issues with his previous club. I'd certainly have liked to see what he could have done for us. Malpas could well have been a car crash or it could have been stability. Who knows? Chris Sutton? Can't understand that one though.

Happy clappers that said naysayers wanted ICT to fail as it was 'personal' against Yogi A great result like this and the usual suspect tried to make it 'them' and 'us'. Everyone wants ICT to win! Everyone wants Yogi to succeed! As many did with Butcher, all naysayers want to hold their hands up and say their wrong. Amazing this still needs said....

I'm absolutely in favour of impact subs. 30 mins to go and you bring on one of your talented players to skin an already tired full-back. Yep, a great idea. But for that, why not naturally wide players, e.g. Doran and Watkins, even Ross, then bring on another talent, such as Williams (the order can vary). With Vincent, the full-back won't be dragged here-and-there as that's just not his game. It's Christie/Vincent or Tansey/Vincent. That's his position. Anyway, I'm going with Renegade's team for this.

The only player of note Aberdeen have lost is Magennis. And, for that position, they have brought in Goodwillie. I'd say that makes them stronger than last year.

Celtic: weaker Motherwell: weaker Aberdeen: stronger Dundee United: weaker ICT: no change St Johnstone: weaker Ross County: unknown but probably weaker St Mirren: probably a little weaker but nothing too different Kilmarnock: weaker Partick: around the same Dundee have signed well but I'd rather face Hamilton than Hearts. It's definitely a weaker league.

McCourt has been one of the most skillful players in the last 10 years. I'd love to see him here. Look at how well McGinn's doing at Aberdeen, yet he's not a patch on McCourt. Better engine but McCourt's a real game-changer. Not that I think he will come but a terrific player nevertheless.

It's in the Scottish Sun. For some reason, I can see it on my tablet but have to 'join' the Sun to get it on the laptop.

With a settled team of good players that have finished top six in the last two seasons (and only narrowly missed the season before), anything less than top six is a step backwards. It would be accepting mediocrity and being satisfied with a team playing well below their capability. If Terry Butcher's highly limited tactical knowledge can do it with this squad, then what would a bottom half finish say about the current...?

I'd go with Sean127's line-up but if we were to go three at the back, I'd prefer a sweeper with Tansey dictating the play from the back. Although I wouldn't actually go for that system. Raven isn't a wing-back. More likely that would be Doran/Williams/Watkins.

Easy to overlook in the shadows but I would be inclined to let County compete too. I was only putting in the ones that will stay up.

Celtic Aberdeen Dundee United Motherwell St Johnstone Dundee St Mirren ICT Killie Patrick Hamilton I could see us doing so badly that, like the Ross County match, Hughes is forced to abandon his coaching style for his playing style, meaning we start rising in the table.

Don't think we should be too quick to dismiss Gow. He certainly had talent. But who knows what he's like now. Training/a trial seems a reasonable way forward. If he's not good enough or wants too much, then fine. But let's wait and see first.

I wouldn't say Meekings and especially Warren can play from the back. Warren especially is a no-nonsense defender, more Terry Butcher than Alan Hansen. If we are going to go down the road of playing it from the back, I can't see how one or both central defenders fit in. It's square pegs for round holes with that system as was shown up in the last few months. Preferably we'd ditch that system and play to our strengths but if not, then I don't see how Warren can be 'educated' into being the new Beckenbauer, when he's more like the old Yogi. After all, Hughes never managed to convert to a ball-playing centre-half.

We should take a chance on Goodwillie. I also believe we should get in Riordan and O'Connor. Maybe look at a backroom staff of Craig Bellamy and Gazza to finish off the chaos.

Lee Miller's only 30?!?! Seems like he's been around forever. How about that Dundee Utd youngster, Bryan Gold or something. I think Lisburn are hoping to sign him for £2-3. He's much better than that. Edit: ok, now I feel stupid. It's more like £2-3k. We can't match that.

You don't need to agree. That's why the question mark. As I said, I thought he dramatically under-estimated the SPL - probably too much comparison with the Irish League. He still did get to a cup final and did far better than some other ol'manager - possibly even to top six. His pedigree suggests that he does have the ability. I suspect he would be able to take the Hibs experience on board with a different team and do better.

That's not what Hughes said.

More like complete and utter madness. It means not even replacing the departed. A weaker squad. Nevertheless, we're told that the latter half slump was inevitable, so, no doubt the first half of the season will at least equal last season as managers don't appear to have any influence over how well a team can do.

I see Butcher's predecessor Pat Fenlon has been offered a couple of jobs in the island of Ireland. I think he'd be a good choice for a number of Scottish clubs. He underestimated the SPL during Hibs but given a clean slate, his background and the benefit of experience, I could really see him do something. Agree?

McKay did run dry but I'd put that more down to the playing style robbing him of chances more so than an almighty downturn in form.