starchief

People will talk about missing Rooney but he's now a Championship level striker. It's doubtful we can get one in of that quality even though ICT did their best in regard to Adam. Just like Rooney, we've tried to buy in a striker (who then went to Accrington Stanley) and then got another promising player in instead (Mackay), as well as someone who looked the business in SFL1 (Tade), even if his goal-scoring wasn't the best. I don't see Aberdeen or St Johnstone being able to buy in a 20-goal striker, fully developed, so how can we, without getting rid of a good few other players? Even the likes of Darren Mackie are outwith our wage structure, I'm guessing, and I don't see he would be bring that many goals. So we will be looking for that diamond in the dirt. The only proven goalscorer we could possibly have brought in would be Rory McAllister. A 20 goal striker from the SPL is impossible. Let's just see if there's another Hayes or Rooney idling away in someone's reserves, just waiting for that chance instead.

Absolutely. I expect CT to come back in the New Year. But what could the new appointment achieve? Got to be better than 3rd place, which is where JJ would almost certainly have got them (IMHO). But that's going to take a few millions. Can't see that happening. Ambition above committment from Mad Vlad.

It's good timing from Vlad. Now they have the whole close season to prepare their new tactics. The new manager will have the whole summer to identify transfer targets and get in his team before, say, the SPL starts and the Europa Cup is upon us. Oh, and

Huh? This is crazy! I fancied Hearts to be at least 3rd this year. Jefferies had really steadied the ship there and brought in some good signings. Surely Mad Vlad hasn't judged the next two seasons on a couple of games in July???

Esson Piermayr - Tokely/Aldred* - Hogg - Gillet Jones - Ross Hayes - Tansey - Doran Foran We're away from home, so counter-attacking style. Whether Aldred plays is really down to his future. He's only here until Xmas but is there any talk of a longer term option? If there is, I'd have Aldred in there. If not, I'd just have him as back-up and let Tokely and Hogg develop a partnership.

Everyone is capable of beating everyone else. It should be tight. Bale and Ramsay can upset Serbia. Croatia can lost to Macedonia quite readily. All-in-all, a fighting chance.

If this is true, it's a great signing and could push us top six if our strikers fire (I do think Tade will become a very good striker for us but controversial I know). I'm not quite convinced yet it is. I just got the feeling Butcher wouldn't go back. But two from Tokely, Aldred and Hogg looks very promising.

Brewster at Dundee United. If we're talking before the abbreviation, Hearts had Alex McDonald and Sandy Jardine, plus St Mirren had Tony Fitzpatrick. John Hughes was player/manager at Falkirk but I think (could be wrong) he only played for them in the First when manager.

There's just no option. Duff would prefer to go non-League. Snodgrass went Division One (or Division 3 as was), Cowie went to a relegation battle in the ECL. If those players were staying in Scotland, then there's an argument about displacing Scots. Unfortunately, it's just not the case. Steven MacLean could have come back to a decent club up here but instead will be journeymanning in Yeovil instead.

The new Dods (how many years did it take to replace him???)

Exactly!

I don't see that we'll be getting two new centre-backs, leaving Tokely (who played much of last year as an SPL centre-back), Aldred and Meekings on the bench, alongside Proctor. ICT don't have that sort of cash, plus is there much better out there for the same money? Also, another winger? Doran and Hayes must be first choice, so buying one in means dropping one of them. Can't see that happening. A back-up? Well, they'd have to be better than Ross, Sutherland, Tade, Foran and G./A.Shinnie, just as adaptable and cheap. Again, not easy to find. Few have seen Mackay but there's your striker, alongside Sutherland, Foran and Tade, with A.Shinnie also being played up there. So again, he has to be better but at least as cheap. If he can find someone, great, but that's going to be tough. I would have thought a central defender and a defensive midfielder (maybe even the same player) to be priorities. Then, if a gem comes up that's cheap, get him in too but it's not gonna be easy to find. All-in-all, I'm really just expecting a defensive midfielder to come in for a first-team start. Succeed-or-fail, this is Butcher's team. Can't see him bringing in players then ditching them straight away.

With Rangers losing to Malmo, I doubt Rangers will be spending money now. Although I can't see why either Wylde or Healy didn't get on.

Hayes was to blame for the first goal - actually, it was Butcher for playing him there. Gillet shouldn't have been left on his own against two players. It made him look ridiculous. Then Proctor was missing at the back post.

Esson Piermayr - Aldred - Tokely - Gillet Proctor Hayes - Tansey - Ross Foran Tade Subs: Tuffey, G.Shinnie, Morrison, A.Shinnie, Sutherland, Doran, McKay We desperately need a defensive mid, so Proctor's going in there to hold the fort. Tansey slightly further forward, spraying the passes around, Hayes getting forward as much as he can. Foran playing behind Tade, whose job will be to score goals with his pace and bulk. Nothing else.

Yeah, we do have a couple of glaring omissions in centre-back and defensive midfield. Munro and Duncan are the obvious candidates but, even if they had to go, they also had to be replaced. Cox won't play every game. Although I quite fancy Proctor to slot in at defensive midfield, given that Butcher has never played them there, I suspect he doesn't have the same feeling. It's still early days but we are lacking in a couple of positions pretty badly.

He has in a way but not 'til next week.

Apparently a Christian fundamentalist. I'm sure Jesus would have been proud of all those innocent dead children

Well you've asked, so here you go! Well, believe it or not, I have to agree in part with Dougal! While I do not oppose giving the management team a new deal, I'd rather see how the first chunk of the season goes first. Remember how quickly things can change in football. I agree. Butch has taken an enormous risk. Could work wonderfully but could equally crash. I would have left it until Xmas.

I'd like to know what Renegade thinks.

Playing the only man up front meant much of Rooney's job was to hold up play to bring others in. Thought he did that really well. I don't think it was the wrong move. Of course, he won't be automatic choice for Brum. He's not a proven ECL or EPL striker. He's a prospect. It's now up to Rooney to take a chance such as this and make his mark. That's what he was brought in for and I'm sure he knows that. I think a top ECL club or a top SPL club were his best choices. He will get chances to show what he can do with both of them. The worst choice would have been a lower division club. The opportunity to score would have been much more limited. And even if he had, there's still not that much opportunity to be picked up by a higher team it seems. No, I think it was a good choice. He's got more strings to his bow than simply goals but I also think he's got enough about him to score a few for Birmingham. This is his big opportunity.

St Johnstone have pulled off a major coup by signing Cillian Sheridan for 6 months. This could be very important. Could even get them top six.

Sounds promising but steady on. His match was only against Buckie. Naturally you can only beat what's been put in front of you but getting him to train with the seniors sounds the best bet. Imagine if he was getting constantly skinned by G.Shinnie or his tackling looked to be sub-standard of Proctor. So, yep, promising but let's hold our fire on a new contract until we've got SPL quality to compare him to. Does look hopeful though.

Andrew Shinnie is an attacking midfielder though. Really we only have Cox and Proctor that can play defensive midfield. Possibly Tansey could go in there, although I've never read anything about him being a tackler.

So far, every single person has chosen the same players, except G. Shinnie (who I believe is injured). Not too much difference in tactics either. It just depends who we're shoving as the (prime) attacking mid. Renegade - this is your cue