starchief

Heard Manchester United is interested in him. Shame it's so far away. Why can't it be on his doorstep like it is Berbatov's or Nani's? Heard this on Sportsound the other night too. It's so difficult to attract players as they have to leave the Central Belt. Their families can come with them but what about the rest of their social circle? Come off it. It's only a few miles up the road. Plenty of Scottish players go off to play in England, Wales and beyond. It's a bit small-minded to think that Inverness is too far away from the street you were born to play for surely. Maybe we could attract better players by simply saying, here's something more than a year's contract. Make a life for yourself. (actually, I'd probably exclude Innes from that rant as he's at an age where there's little chance of a long-term deal, so perhaps he's thinking beyond next season)

Talking of the Likely Lads, I enjoyed the episode where Terry goes through all different countries saying why he dislikes them (everything from Sweden to Saudi Arabia). Then when it's suggested that he's only happy in Britain, he says he can't stand the Scots. Just England...but not the South...and he's never had much time for the Scousers and Mancs. So just the North-East...not that he likes Sunderland mind. He then slags off the part of Newcastle where Bob lives, so it's basically just his street...but he doesn't like his next-door neighbour. So the only place Terry likes is his own home ...and even then he's divorced!

SNP are in favour of AV. If AV comes about, I would hope the political landscape would change from Labour, Tory and Lib Dems (all of these parties are really coalitions) into parties with a bit more core-belief, i.e. Socialists, New Labour/SDP, Liberals, One-Nation EuroTories and Hardline EuroScpetics (along with others like Greens, SNP etc).

Quite a different kind of player though. Nish is over 6', with a not bad turn of speed and touch for a big man. Seems to make sense but it just doesn't work like that. Many of these players were also regular top six players too. The fall of Hibs from such a terrific team Hughes had started to assemble is so disappointing. I wrote an article some time ago here. At the time, the club could boast a team containing Riordan, Miller, Stokes, Benji, Zemamma, Nish, Bamba, Hogg, Murray and Rankin. Unfortunately, a return to long-ball tactics and a lack of fairly minor investment meant the club went on a downward spiral. I really think a modest investment in a couple of players (a centre-back and Ian Black or another terrier in midfield) could have made them something special.

Definitely Colin Nish. His confidence is completely drained but he came to Hibs a very good player. I'd fancy a spot of ICT magic would have him there again. Rankin as well would be very welcome, especially with Doran away and a chance Hayes won't be here. Naturally, we might re-sign both of these players (I know Hayes still has a year) but I'm expecting at least one to leave - possibly both. McBride was a decent player. Probably would add to the squad, especially if Duncan is allowed to leave. Wouldn't want to burst the bank on him but think he'd do a steady turn. Not too bothered about McCann. He'd do a shift, so wouldn't be upset at him coming back, but neither disappointed if he didn't. Can't recall ever seeing Duffy play but he came to Hibs as something of a prospect (replacement for Stokes) only to injure himself straight away. I'll leave that to wiser heads. Don't need Smith as long as our keepers both stay.

Esson Hogg - Munro - Innes Ross - Cox - Duncan - Gillet Doran Foran - Rooney Ross and Gillett as wing-backs. Munro as sweeper. Doran with a free role and Rooney/Foran as a battering ram.

What a bizarre view of life

Not sure about the non-attendance. The league though looks fun. Obviously doesn't mean anything in real life, e.g. relegation, Europe, finances, but interesting to know.

It's a great achievement to be able, after such a short time, to lump us in with St Mirren and Killie, rather than Stirling Albion and Morton - that could have so easily happened. Regular top six is very very difficult though. That would take a lot more risk or long-term management. It's really the same thing in this case (not in other cases I hasten to add). It means giving Rooney, Hayes and all those that follow long-term contracts. However, if it turns out that we've given contracts to the perennially poor (or even the perennially injured), then we could struggle to survive if the plan fails. However, if we don't, every season is a struggle. We can't build on Rooney or Hayes as they have such short contracts that we won't have decent transfer money or players that will do a Tokely and be around forever. But then again, the only way we could probably have given long-terms is by signing them before they'd proved themselves. As I say, a high risk strategy. So, next 10 years? I don't see us building higher but possibly not going backwards either. Hopefully more ups than downs, with the odd decent cup run and the one-off top six. With the turnover we'll have, relegation is always lurking. I say, let's hope for the best and enjoy the ride. That's a lot more satisfying than the Old Filth fans that see an away draw to a third-placed team as a disaster. Hope for the future but no expectations.

Why, what's he going to win in England if he doesn't go to Man U or Chelsea? The Chamionship is just the Second Division with a fancy name. With Hearts, I expect them to potentially challenge next season. As in, a real challenge for first, unless Rangers get some investment. Hearts with Diamond and Rooney, plus the likes of Templeton and Elliot getting more games could really do something (although I'd still prefer Rooney to stay). Hearts have also a far better chance of winning a cup than Watford or Notts County.

What does 'pointless' mean anyway in this case? Sure, the SPL isn't as good as many of the big leagues of Europe but I'd rather watch Aberdeen v Hibs than Real Sociedad v Alicante. I'm sure Austrians probably prefer to watch their league over Holland's. If it was just about entertainment or success, most clubs would go under, including ICT. Besides which, I quite fancy Hearts to challenge next year given a little input and Rangers struggling.

Alexei Eremenko far and away for me. Killie were very much relegation candidates at the start of the season. Eremenko has been easily their best player as they fired their way to potentially a top four finish (I expect them to finish six but who knows?). That's a far more difficult job than being potentially second top goalscorer for Celtic. Miller was better than Naismith at Ibrox. Izaguirre's been very good but probably not responsible for many wins or losses at Celtic. He adds to the team rather than it being moulded around him. Templeton looks really exciting but maybe not played enough. High expectations. Goodwillie has around the same goals as Hooper but playing for an inferior club. If he avoids jail, he could have a big future ahead of him. I'm certainly more excited about his talent than that of Steven Fletcher when at Hibs. Could be Scotland's best natural striker since, oh, maybe McCoist?

If I were a selfish person, then it would be Raith Rovers as they're probably the most likely to go back down (being a smaller club with presumably a smaller budget). But I like a competitive league, so Dunfermline for me. Be nice having many of the major towns/cities represented in the SPL.

So what if there wasn't as much money. If more expensive players are your biggest concern, then support the richest clubs. What money do Morton, Stirling Albion etc etc have? there may be a reduced class of player - but for most clubs I don't think we'd notice much. One thing that would change, the league would be more competitive. I think that would be more fun. Don't much care about the cash.

Hughes did pretty well with Falkirk. Only at the very end did it go haywire. Same could be said of Jim Jefferies. Caretaker manager's done fairly well in his career though. I'd give him an extended stay.

None of these actually play as a centre-forward anymore at club level, whilst O'Connor rarely plays. That said, I am a big fan of Riordan and (used to be) McCormack (but he seems to have lost it). I've no doubt Snodgrass and McFadden will be shunted into that position but I was meaning natural strikers. That's why we're having to play converted midfielders/ wingers. Mackail Smith is 27. I'm pretty sure he's at Peterborough for a reason. Maybe he'll come good but at his age, I doubt he'll progress much more. I forgot about James Mackie - did quite well when he played. As for centre-backs, I wonder how Webster will fare. When Saturday Comes (strongly recommended) suggested the reasons for Webster being constantly injured at Rangers may have not been the entire truth. All to do with money and contracts being honoured/not honoured. Who knows? Difficult to know how to play when it's the midfield that's by far the best part of the team (decent full-backs too). You can't leave the defence to take care of itself, nor can you defend deep, knowing that your classy striker will always take his chance. Instead, I guess it's a fairly negative, tactical game, building on the strengths of the passers and fighters in the middle.

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.

Nah, it's what he needed. A chance to get out and play regularly. I'd be a bit disappointed though if we weren't keeping tabs on him. Still a young man developing as a player.

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.

And yet, Jacko was a Director of Exeter City football club (due to a Uri Gueller connection).

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.