starchief

Amazingly Luggy has been sacked by Southend. After saving them and with a cup final to still play in Sturrock has been asked to leave as they are just outside the play offs.What a world!

Ive lived in poor countries and the dole isnt poor. Providing training and contacts is a great idea. Feel free to stay unemployed if you dont want to but why should anyone pay for that? When I was unemployed many moons ago, I had to jump through so many hoops to get voluntary work. As long as hope for the future is driving this, I see nothing wrong with encouraging the long term (or even the short term) back to work.

Drogba to China? They're all the same.

Erm, so what? There's a bunch of people here wishing A Shinnie well if he goes to a struggling club in the second division in England (even if it does have a fancy name). What's he going for? You have players saying how much they're a fan of Morton, St Mirren, Dundee etc but they all leave for more money and no-one seems to mind too much. "I hope one day to return to my hometown club" they say but don't add "when I'm washed up and don't have any choice except a bunch of similar paying clubs". Footballers are mercenaries? Of course. To an extent that's ridiculous.

unfortunately, that is very true.

What a weekend. ICT gets top six and the Saints (my home team) win the cup. Oh to be in Paisley tonight.

Is Butcher the man for the job? YES!

I agree with Adams somewhat. I don't want to win a derby game where we dominated then scored a penalty, that was dubious but ultimately correct. I'd much have preferred a definite off-side goal in injury time against the run of play. That would have pleased me no end. Oh, and I hope we go for Brittain if (when) Shinnie leaves. County's best player and seems to be over the injury problems that blighted a promising early career.

what terrible arguments from pro and anti. Fear mongering, baiting and chest beating. I dont see much in there to convince me either way.

I think Doran should be next up. No-one else can provide that width. He won't score as much as Hayes but he's more interested in crossing than Hayes. We' struggle to get someone that fulfills his role. He's key to the team. Without him, it's probably route one.

And look what Cowie is doing with...well, wherever he's at. Apparently he did well enough to get some Scotland caps but without looking it up, do you know where he's playing, if he's playing and how many goals he's had this season? It means nothing to most of us if he's playing out side the EPL or SPL. It's lower league football. And, as I've said before, don't complain about the state of Scottish football if you are wishing players away. This is your dream (not mine). I'd far prefer players to stay in Scotland and improve the SPL than lesser players replace them.

Already have turned down more than treble my salary (and that was to live in Paris, not Brum) but not for the same job (a similar, but definitely more admin post). Can't put a price on satisfaction. But it takes a while to realise that. I agree money does motivate players and the public at large in their jobs. But I don't get why it motivates fans. Surely, the wage packet means nothing to us? Isn't it all about football, not personal finance, to supporters? Would you applaud Shinnie if he got a job as a project manager with Microsoft because he'll make more money? Why do you care how much he earns and not the silverware he can pick up?

England's second division is only a step up in money. There's little chance of silverware or European football. Wages high but glory is zero.

But why? Not sure why Dunfermline should be losing money so readily. I know they don't like their owner but I can't remember any big name buys. They just seemed your typical 1st Division club that got a bit of success without letting it go to their head. Must have thouygh but not sure where it happened.

Hope they keep King as well, as long as his injury isn't too bad. Seemed to be a fixture in the team before that. King and Warren would be solid, with Meekings in there too (well, we can't just go with two defenders).

Is being in the second division halfway through the season really that exciting? Without Rangers for a few years, sharing the money from Celtic and having the current league set up where most teams can finish second (and possibly first with a bit more cash) just can't be beaten. A play off to finish and we're there.

For a bit of balance, no surprise that Celtic and Motherwell are the top two. Big surprise Dundee Utd aren't forming a three-team clade at the top with them. In terms of talent, those three should be above everyone else.

...in the final!

It would be a brilliant achievement if the players were from the Highlands, but as the large majority of these players are not, and in our case, not even Scottish, then our success can only be put down to clever acquisition and management. A good future for the game in the North can only happen if mostly players from the North are playing for these two Northern teams! And who do you suggest? If we played mostly Highlanders, we would be competing with Elgin, not for a place in Europe.

King was getting a fair amount of praise before injury too. I remember a fan of one of his old clubs coming on and saying that Gillett was alright but certainly nowhere near as accomplished as King. I realise injury might mean he leaves in the summer but I hope he doesn't (scans all being well).

If only it was. What annoys me is the 'anyone can do well coz its only Scottish football' comments. Might as well say anyone can win the EPL as there is a lot of money for teams. Being in an underfunded league doesnt mean financial equality.

I have a 12" disc of black plastic with a hole in the middle. Is this a record?

No to Proctor being in there. Shadow player of what he could have been at the end due to lost confidence but he did well for a number of years. I just wish we could have seen him at sweeper or defensive mid early on, with LDZ and Tokely bombing along the wings. A lost opportunity. Right....now for our worst XI posters. Wonder who #1 will be? Ach, you guessed it!

Apparently Tel has been checking out the Jam Tarts. The rumour is he will soon be visiting Tynecastle as early as Saturday. Now there can't be many reasons why he and his staff are so interested in the players of Heartski of Midlithuanian. I expect both Billy McKay and Andrew Shinnie to be accompanying Butcher when he finally decides to move south at the end of the week.

If Foran is back, then drop him in for Ross. Reguero for Esson too but still that 4-2-3-1. If not fit, then: Reguero Raven - Warren - Meekings - Shinnie Draper - Jones - Ross Shinnie - McKay - Doran