starchief

If you want to trawl the match reports, there was an outcry to drop G.Shinnie after a few bad performances on top of previous good ones.

With no pre-season and a run of injuries, Hogg was always going to struggle to get going. The busy festive period will bring out the best in him. I really don't fear for a defence that can call on Piermayr/Meekings, Hogg, Tokely, Gillet/Shinnie - possibly a little light in the centre (except I thought Golobart could have been a crucial player by now had we stuck with him - too late now I'm guessing) but that depends on Jones coming back. Too many injuries, plus too much bad luck with decisions. Unlikely it will stay like that. Imagine our team now but with Doran, Jones and Cox back, plus Hogg and Hayes motoring on full strength. That's easily better than the Pars, the Saints and a good few others at least.

Same as last week for me. I was tempted to put in Sutherland for Tade but Tade blows so hot and cold, I'd give him a first half/60 mins. Hogg just needs a couple of games to get settled. Cox needs some reserve games/from the bench before coming straight back in. Tansey looks the pick of this year's bunch for me. He's still pretty young and playing largely in a withdrawn role. If we could tie him up to a longer contract, I think we could have a future captain on our hands. I'd expect him to be a lot better once someone like Jones or Cox comes in as a defensive midfielder. Chippendale should be used more but I think of him as an impact player with 30 mins left. And I don't mean that as any sort of slight on him. I can see the value of Tuffey coming in. Basically, I would see it as a matter of who will stay and who will leave regarding contracts. It's not a problem position.

Duncan barely even plays for Ross County these days. The odd 10 minutes from the bench but that's about it. Munro, I can agree on - although give Hogg a run of 2-3 matches and I think he could be our best CD since Dods. But I don't think Duncan would have made much of a difference. Especially when you consider we've been weak in def mid due to injuries to Cox and Jones, rather than them not playing well.

A little unfair. Tokely and Hogg would have played every game, had they been available. Butcher hasn't willingly shifted around his defence. Injuries have forced him to.

If Aberdeen, Hibs, Motherwell or St Johnstone played Hearts at Tynecastle - would you say it was a major shock that Hearts narrowly won? It wouldn't even be a major shock if Hearts beat the Old Firm by the odd goal. Of course, it's disappointing to lose but let's keep some perspective.

I think we should join them in that someone should go down clutching their face next time they shake hands with Samaras. Gets the point across. Anyone remember that bellyflop by, was it Franny Lee? Colin Bell? Not sure. Behind the referee's back, just to emphasize how much of a dive had been taken. Hilarious but caused uproar from the fans. And of course when the ref turned around, the player was all "Who? Me, guv'nor? I did nothing!" Wish I could find it on YouTube - classic outstretched arm, Superman-style dive it was. Football had personality then.

Got to appeal. Show football for what it is. If we lose, accuse the refs of being biased every match until we get the decisions going our way. It worked for the other lot. And all they were angry about was not getting a penalty that TV evidence proved should never have been given.

I was calling for him to be sacked when the news broke, but he's in such a very poor state that it's difficult to feel much but pity. I still hold him accountable for his actions at the time but he's a broken man now. I suspect he's not much longer for this world. George Best didn't care. He lived the high life and, for the most part, seemed to enjoy it. Doesn't look like Gazza's enjoyed himself in years. Certainly not in the same way most of us know it. It's a long road back and I'm not convinced he'll make it but let's hope for the best.

As far as I can see, he's had two good seasons - his last with Raith and his first with us. Pretty poor track record otherwise.

Didn't they name Cumbernauld after him?

To be fair, Dalglish, Law, Best etc are in England's Hall of Fame http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Football_Hall_of_Fame - it's for the league, not the 50 caps international team.

So who is the King of Fife? Wee Robbo, after that last cup result. He deposed Jim Leishman's 80 year reign.

I really like Dunfermline. Quite a beautiful city, as is the Kingdom of Fife.

I liked him as a player but he messed us around over his "I'd love to sign a new contract but I've been on holiday" shenanigans. Can't be bothered with him.

I'd imagine 'Well, Killie and a few others might be interested in a Sutton free. If Tokely and Hogg are both fit, they would play. Weir wouldn't want to sit on the bench and I don't see ICT paying Hogg and Ross to not play either. We've two first picks, a youngster in Golobart and two fill-ins in Proctor and Jones (if he gets back). We couldn't afford another must play player.

The Hi-Bees wouldn't be happy with getting the last-placed manager in, no matter his capabilities.

Whaaat?! Please. Not old Hamish puking in the street. Not again.

One of those players that always looked dangerous but never provided at the end. Think Tade before he came to ICT. Or Kenny Miller before Boyd left.

Last interview I saw with him, he had no intention of ever returning full-time to Britain. Jimmy would be a good shout. Worked wonders with Aberdeen and Dunfermline. I'd be surprised if Billy Davies would consider it. I think his stock is higher than that.

But then, England played a 4-4-2 in the World Cup and were slaughtered by a more intelligent German formation (can't quite remember it - was it 4-2-3-1?). Having said that, I'd go for a 4-3-3 (switching to 4-5-1 if under pressure). Stokes, Hooper and Forrest are too good for us to stop. Kayal, Wanyama etc are playing pretty average with Celtic's defence all over the place. Our only hope is to give them a doing. Piermayr in for Meekings, Hogg in for Proctor. No other changes. Just go for it. Our season won't hinge on our Old Firm results.

We just need players back. If Tudur-Jones comes back ok (but we really need to see if he is with his history), then we have a good defensive midfielder/centre-back. So, if Hogg/Tokely is injured, he can fit in there and Cox into def mid. We also have Proc in a crisis. I can't see us getting a top defender to sit on the bench. Especially finding one for free. At the same time, we can't have a player like Hogg not playing either. We have to cut our coat according to our cloth. If no Tudur-Jones, then I guess try to keep Davis and Golobart. But we have to think of the finances. Getting Jones, Cox, Hayes and Doran back would change our season from relegation to top six potential. We don't have the cash for the squad we have, so bringing in more isn't feasible.

If it's this line up Esson Meeking - Tokely - Proctor - Gillet Davis - Tansey Hayes - Shinnie - Foran Tade I fancy our chances. This isn't far from our best team. Perhaps it's only one player that's really changed, with Hayes (I know Proctor's also come on but I mean type of player), but a winger allows a completely different style to be played. I think we'll sneak this 2 or 3 - 1. By not playing Chippendale before, we were really static down the wings. That changes from today. Expect ICT to upset the apple cart...again!

Does Lennon want the Celtic managers job? I very much doubt it. Why? Well, their line-up tonight has a central defence of Majstorovic and Loovens, whilst their chief prompter is Samaras. He likes a challenge alright.

I don't understand the whole situation but 15 points of Dundee's penalty were due to who they owed money too. Apparently, Rangers are more likely to get the 10 point penalty but, as they owe money to their owner, get off with the 15 points. All above my head but what I've heard.