starchief

The biggest concern is the front line. We've got Kenny Miller, having his best season IMO, but probably not there for the next World Cup. Steven Fletcher's form has gone way downhill, plus he's not exactly champing at the bit to get back on Levein's good books. All Kris Boyd could do was score but that's the most difficult piece - unfortunately, he can't do that anymore. So, that leaves who? Goodwillie? Let's see if he stays out of jail, plus he's not international quality yet. The only other I can see is McGuire but it's still way too early to say if he's got it. Not too worried about any other part of the pitch - ok, it's not great when 3 out of the back four are relegation candidates and the other is a Spurs reserve but they're not bad players. Not great, but not bad. Mind you, we could have concentrated on attack if those two green-tinted turncoats, McGeady and McCarthy, had opted to play for their home country, their parents home country and half of their grandparents (as far as McCarthy's concerned anyway) home country. Let's hope we never see their like again.

Board deserve it. Never knew when they were better off with their sacking of managers.

This season, Celtic. Blatant Machiavellian attempt at manipulating referees, whilst blaming them and everyone else for their failures. As if the Old Firm get less decisions than anyone else. Not overly fond of Chelski either. I don't like clubs that will buy success, then sack a manager because, in the case of Grant, he loses the Champions League Final (after substantially improving on Mourinhio's league position), then sacking Scolari for losing a couple of games whilst still attempting to build his team. And another very good reason... ...Italy! Love the country, have some very good friends from there. Despise the football. I don't mind Scotland, Austria etc playing defensively as they just don't have the players to compete. Italy has some of the greatest players in the world, yet are still content to grind out a 1-0 win against lowly opposition. I find their football too dull to be interested in and that's purely down to their tactics, not the quality of player.

Esson Tokely - Munro - Hogg - Gillett Cox - Duncan Hayes - Duff - Foran Rooney Back to the 4-2-3-1 as we'll be playing counter attack. Duff's best position in his and my opinion. Also there to give a bit more bit than Odi or Doran (who'll be on when Hayes undoubtedly tires).

How poor were Edu and Rogne? Best moment of the game: McCourt treading on the ball and almost giving away a goal and red card (should've been) from the edge of Rangers' box, 20 minutes into extra time. How unusual, Lennon loses a must-win game.

From the little I've seen, Odi has always struck me as an out-and-out forward. Someone who's pace makes him best playing off the main striker - maybe a bit like Frank McGarvey or Mo Johnston (not saying he's that quality, natch). What he's not, in any way, shape or form, is a midfielder. Not even an attacking mid or winger. I'd sooner see Duff or Ross in that role. Even Foran further back and Odi pushed right up.

Did you stop for a while? You don't support an international team? No likings for an English team? No fondness for any Highland league club? I don't see how wanting Scotland's last representatives to do well in a European competition which ICT can't even enter detracts from supporting Inverness. And, for the record, I also wanted all the other clubs to do well when they were in it. I am neither pro or against Rangers or Celtic or whoever, in Europe, but will support any Scottish team in Europe with a majority of mainly UK players - which neither Rangers or Celtic do 8 out of 11 of Rangers players were from the UK, 5 of them Scots. And given probably our full-strength line-up would include Hogg, Gillet, Cox, Foran, Hayes, Rooney and probably one from Odi, Sanchez or Gill, that's 7 from 11 that aren't Scots. Less than Rangers tonight. You've as much right as anyone else. Who said you shouldn't? Who mentioned (apart from yourself) your sex or age? Me too. But I'll still support the Scottish teams in Europe over a Dutch team. Anything else just seems petty. I don't know why you're calling for back-up or being paranoid that you'll be 'shouted down'. You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, as others are entitled to disagree. I've not been rude or obnoxious, I just support Scotland in Europe. I'll have a laugh when the OF go out but, deep down, it just makes the competition a little less interesting. If you don't agree, fine. I'm not attacking, just disagreeing.

Five minutes to go, 2 goals to get, a penalty box striker finally comes on. Way too negative. Had to twist, rather than stick. Always Smith's problem.

Just crazy Smith still hasn't thought of bringing on a natural goalscorer like Healy. Instead, he'd rather push Bougherra up 'just in case' he's needed in defence. You're going out man! Have some risk about you. Lizi - you don't need to be a Rangers fan to want the Scottish team to win in Europe.

Rangers need to change it in the 2nd half. Two goals needed. Bet Walter will still play it tight. I'd haul off Edu (never been a fan) and Foster for Diouf and Naismith. Healy would also be on after 15 mins for Wylde probably if they don't get an early goal. I expect Smith to bring on Diouf for Foster or Wylde, then with about 10 mins to go, still 1-0 down, another sub, then be content at only losing 1-0/drawing 1-1, rather than the all-or-nothing it is.

Remember you can listen online via http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6305553.stm (just search for BBC Sportsound) I'm guessing Esson Duff - Tokely - Hogg - Munro Ross - Duncan - Cox - Foran Rooney - Sutherland Wonder if there's any tactical tricks. Doesn't sound like we've taken much account of Celtic's strength if not. Mind you, if we can get at them, they might crumble. Let's hope.

These are the kind of posts I'd like to see more of (even when I don't totally agree - don't think Hayes and Doran can track back enough, even when 100% fit).

I meant Foran instead of Sutherland. Dunno why I didn't put it?

I know most fans won't like it but it's long ball time - not through desperation though. Izaguirre and Wilson are both good full-backs, so can't expect too much from them. The odd break. Players like Brown, Kayal and Commons are good players, so we really need to hang back there. Where we can move is, especially with Majstorovic out, muscling in on, presumably Rogne and Mulgrew. They can batter them into submission. I'd play 4-3-1-2: Tuffey Tokely - Hogg - Innes/Munro - Gillet/Munro Duff - Cox - Duncan Hayes (free role) Rooney - Sutherland The midfield 3 to protect. Get it up to the front two via long ball. Hayes picking up the stray ball and running at the defence, wherever he feels comfortable. All going to plan, then Doran replaces Hayes after an hour.

McGregor Caldwell Hutton - Berra - McManus - Bardsley Morrison - Fletcher - Adam Commons Miller I think Brown and Fletcher are too similar to play together - it's one or t'other. Dorrans and Bannan could easily come in for either Morrison and Adam. Not a lot in it. I've put in a back 5 as I think the FBs are best bombing forward and not getting too wrapped in their defensive duties. Whittaker could do well in that system too. Up front is easily the toughest. I wouldn't have had Commons in there normally but he's doing well. We'll see what happens in a few months time. I don't think we have a striker that's anywhere near world class. Steven Fletcher's been fairly poor this season, so it has to be Miller for having his best season.

You mean the guy who was captain of Hibs then the SPL player-of-the-year when Celtic won the title. Same player that got a lot of plaudits during their Champions League run, only to become captain of EPL club Wigan when he left. Yeah, must be a really terrible player... I guess you're basing it on Tony Mowbray's run, where the central defence was left to fend for themselves with no midfield support, so that Celtic could become 'the new Barcelona'. Name a single defender that did play well for Mowbray?

I think that would go down very well, especially with no Doran next season.

Pele for me (err, not the Brazilian one). Under Baltacha or some other been there/done it, lower SFL-happy manager, we could easily have become a Stirling Albion, continually rooting around the lower reaches. I think Steve did wonders on local players, cast-offs and inspired punts. On the field, Paterson changed us into something bigger and better than most of us had hoped. Better still, Steve and Jock shaking hands. On and off the field, they gave birth to an ICT team with ambition.

Doesn't look like a good result at first glance but I think it is. I agree with Wanderer. Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Dundee United are going to be top 4. DU were only behind as they had so many games in hand. Sure they probably won't win them all but don't see them stumbling enough to be out of the top 6. Killie won't last the season, whilst Motherwell are finding their feet. Any top 6 ambitions will come from them. And if we finish above Aberdeen, that's been an amazing season.

I'm sure you say that every year about Tokely. From what I see and read, he doesn't appear to be as criticised as Proctor, Duff, Munro or Innes. So, another year for me. IIRC, he's already got another year as his contract was for 1 year + another if he played enough games (which I'm sure he will). No particular desire for Odi to remain, Gil needs to do something special when he comes back to prove himself. Let's hope he does but it's not looking great. As for Sanchez, probably, but depends on who else we can get. As long as Gillet can recover, definitely another contract.

What a loathsome man. Take your pick. Either of them will do. Season-long bans all round.

Wasn't Duff tried at LB a couple of weeks ago but was so poor, he lasted half an hour. I don't see that back four as any better (and probably not any worse) as the back 4 picked.

We might not have a regular RB, but Tokely, Proctor, Duff and, when he was at Leicester, Cox can all play that position. Merits can be debated but I can't say it's a problem position. Certainly no worse than van Zanten at StM or Hay at Killie, for instance. Golly and McBain though... Not too sure what's going on there. Obvious players for the problem LB position, so dunno why they're not being played. Maybe they're on a lower wage than would be expected but the Board thinks their experience is vital to bringing on youngsters. Almost P/T coaches I guess. Pure speculation mind you.

Having either Gillet or Shinnie back would help in the LB position Munro is getting slated for. Presumably Golly's just not got it anymore for Munro to have to get back there. Can't blame Butcher for that. How many players can we have for one position? We don't have a top six central midfielder. They're difficult to find. Duncan, Cox, Duff, Ross, Sanchez, Blumanshtein - all bottom six/SFL1, in my opinion (some hope for Ross mind you). Butcher's fault? I don't see how. I'm sure he'd love one. It's been the missing piece of the jigsaw since Black left, but where could we find a ready made replacement for no fee and low wages? Get one in and it's a game changer. Tactics. Well, I think there might be something in there. 4-2-3-1 was so successful away from home because it's a counter-attacking style. That's also what made it so bad at home, when we were more likely to attack/dominate. I'd be in favour of having a home and away system. It seems we pretty much have one system for all, then change that wholesale for another. I don't agree that Butcher was dismissed from Coventry for the long-ball. I think it was more political, with Ron Atkinson (a big cheese then) giving his interest. The club then invested a lot of money (Butcher IIRC made a profit) for not a lot of results. Sure, they played a more attacking style but spent the money on players that could do that, plus ended up no better off (in fact, worse off). At the end up, if we finish one better than any of Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd or Motherwell, then ICT have far exceeded my expectations for this season. I see Killie (flying high I know), St Mirren, St J and Accies as our mini-league. Finishing anywhere in the top 3 of that is a good season for a newly promoted club.

4-2-3-1 is a good away system. The problem is playing that system at home, when trying to dominate. I'd be in favour of varying it.