starchief

I'd love to see Rory back. He looked a powerful player at Peterhead. He was only a kid when he was here. I'd love to see us take a chance.

That's not to be sneezed at. What? Have we done that one?

I think this is caution by the board. I used to think they were being over-cautious, now I'm not so sure. Given that Hayes left for Aberdeen, I'm really not too sure we would have had a bid in for him. And the way football is going, perhaps this is the only way to make sure we can survive is to plan one year ahead on the basis of what we know for that season. Most managers do that. See Sir Alex and Wenger as examples of this. It does get frustrating but it's probably the right idea. So you want Butcher sacked in case we're bottom? Perhaps we should extend his contract in case we're in the top six. We've not been threatened by relegation in either season we've been back in the SPL. In fact, given how close we got to the top six, the latter seems more likely. How about we judge Butcher on what the results turn out to be, not what the results could be? Maybe it's because I've been in charge of people's careers that I just take hiring'n'firing that bit more seriously. Butcher's never been my #1 man for the job but I'll wait until someone fails until I call for their head.

It wasn't that makeshift. Maybe not their usual team but I'd argue every single one of their players, except Twardzik, could be the first choice for their position. It's not some little reserve team. It's Lustig, Wanyama, McCourt and other internationals, million pound plus players and Anthony Watt - one of the best youth prospects out there.

In a 4-2-3-1, I would have thought Shane would have been the obvious choice for the 1. That role is usually to win the ball and pass it/head it to one of the 3. Not actually to be banging in the goals themselves which looks to be more McKay's job.

Probably our best player so far

Not SPL of course but McCoist must be on the proverbial shoogly. Didn't think he was up to much when he lost that ten-point gap last season but draws against Berwick and Peterhead? And the excuse being he has to get better players in! Buy in a few from Berwick and Peterhead then if they're better than what he's got for a fraction of the price of these foreign players. I thought he might get the experience to be a manager by coming through the divisions but late goals to save draws against part-timers isn't a sign of a tactical genius. I'd like to see a lower division manager that's served his time get a chance, the same way that Danny Lennon did when the Buddies snapped him up.

Don't seem to remember anyone say that apart from the Celtic game. Just searched over the Hearts and the Killie games with quotes such as "King :lol: :lol: Pretty impressed with his defending" and "Warren and King. Both look very solid". One bad performance against the best team in the league doesn't make an awful player. I'd like to see Morrison, Pepper and Oswell get their chance. After all, it's not exactly Champions League. Probably a less counter-attacking line-up. Regeurro Raven (for confidence) - Hogg - Meekings - King (or youth left-back - can't exhaust G.Shinnie) Polworth - Draper (or Jones if avail.) - Morrison - Pepper Oswell - Sutherland

Yes, it has. We've been well humped by the Old Firm in the past with just as bad performances. I suspect Raven wasn't dropped to stop disruption against a better team. With his substitutions, I think this might have been his last chance (for the moment). I fully expect Meekings to start next week. Although Arbroath might be a different proposition. Maybe he needs that game to get established. I wonder if 4-2-3-1 was a mistake. Most of us chose that as it probably wasn't the time to experiment but without Foran or Jones, I'm not so sure we can actually play that system. Again, Arbroath might be different, where Morrison might get a chance. Maybe a change with Draper as the sole defensive mid is the way without those players.

got one of those dongle for the net whilst waiting for my new internet to be set up after a house move. Won't stream anything, including radio.

Fenlon will get his chance, so it may be a while before he goes. Lomas is first for me too. Not sure what these rumours are but the team hasn't looked great. I've not been impressed with Lennon either but doubt he'll go. I just don't think he'd be any good if Celtic were on a financial level playing field. Everyone else seems fairly secure, unless there's a disastrous run of form. Even then, they're all good managers, so I hope they stay beyond a few bad matches.

There was quite a few Chelski fans kicking around Cairo too. Bet they've gone to a lighter blue.

Isn't Pepper more of an attacking mid like A.Shinnie? Never seen him play, so could be wrong. But remember it's Celtic. Too many attacking players and we get hammered. I know some will say they don't mind as it's the Old Firm. But I do remember criticism when we have been fried by them. A good solid performance is what's required, not pretending we're Barcelona taking on the minnows of Escocia.

Esson Meekings - Warren - King - G.Shinnie Draper - Morrison Ross - A.Shinnie - Doran Sutherland Perfect time for the 4-2-3-1 as we'll be counter-attacking. Celtic's weak point is central defence, so I'm putting Sutherland up front. His job is to win and pass back to the attacking midfielders (as Alex Ferguson asked Archibald to do - unfortunately, Stevie completely ignored him and now regrets it). Sutherland can also win in the air if Doran or Ross attack the wings. I expect the usual suspects to say go for broke. That's madness to me. We don't have the players. A 1-0, or a scrappy draw will do fine.

He's pretty much been a defence-minded midfielder for the best part of a season. How many goals should he be scoring?

Poor Ross - but then, maybe he does best as an impact player. Working so far this season.

I see Derby are preparing to sign Sammon for over a million, despite him only scoring one goal at his time at Wigan. The world's a very crazy place.

Mixu Paateleinen's napper?

I'm a federalist. Why should Brussels control the UK? Why should London control Scotland? Why should Edinburgh control the Highlands? A: when it's suitable. Power concentrated at the most appropriate local level. So, no to an independent Scotland but yes to max-devo for every country and county in the UK. Try living abroad (not other parts of the UK but Africa, South America and the like) and you might realise that Britain has a lot going for it.

King is supposed to be a left-back too. So, when Hogg is fit, it's a pretty strong defence we have there, with room for movement. Obviously a goal-scorer would be good (I wonder if Oswell might just be that) but not many clubs have that. The only other piece of the jigsaw is a passing midfielder is we move away from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2. That's really not a bad squad.

I think Raven has higher to go to. I presume Butcher sees more talent in him, once settled. Remember, he persisted with A.Shinnie when most were wanting him dropped. I'd give Raven one or two games, then Meekings comes in. But look at Raven's history. Worth giving him a try. Isn't coming up with your own selection a lot more interesting than guessing what Butcher will do? I'm not having a go. It just seems a more interesting way of approaching this thread.

Lack of competition, ability of the OF to hoover up talent from other clubs, little chance of silverware, one (or two, depending on the year) spending millions whilst everyone else has to rely on free transfers, unable to hold on to youngsters at a couple of grand a week, whilst other clubs pay tens of thousands. All solved by equitable distribution. Clubs, with added finance, hold on to their McGuire's, Allan's and Fyvie's. The OF compete with the rest of the SPL for players, instead of the EPL by losing their cash to other clubs. The Aberdeens, Dundee Uniteds and Hearts have a chance of winning the league. The SPL gets exciting and young players stay. Equitable distribution. That's the key.

The majority of English want Scotland to be independent to stop the moaning (the majority of Scots don't - why not read your reasoning into that if you're being fair?). If you're talking parties, the Tories are in favour of a united Britain. I doubt there's much financial benefit in hanging on to Northern Ireland but the Tories want that too for the history and tradition. Labour started from a socialist anti-nationalist base (but have lost most of that). The Lib Dems are federalists - more power to local government, less to national. It's not all about money.

I'd start with that too, although Meekings has to be in contention soon for right-back.

All it needs, in my opinion, is for the clubs to demand a more equal share of revenue. That's it. Presumably none of the bigger clubs came in for him though. And he never played for Scotland when with Hearts or Inverness. I find it strange that, one of the only Hearts players to hold his own against Spurs is overlooked but that seems to be the reality. I doubt he was turning down Liverpool, Chelsea or Man city to sign for Rangers. Hell, I doubt he was even turning down Leeds, Wigan and Watford. What he has got out of it is a possible Scotland cap and more money when it dd look as though no-one was looking to sign him.