starchief

Would we really do worse with an ICT dream trio of Robbo, Shearer and Christie taking over, either temporarily or permanently? I think not. Even getting Pele on board as a scout or advisor? Can't see it being overly costly if we're short of cash and make an appeal to the heart. If it works, then a contract. If not, then we are no worse off than that guid laddie at the moment.

So the style doesn't suit McKay, Doran, Williams or Watkins. I'd also suggest it doesn't suit Foran or Warren either. Giving Hughes 'time' would mean these players underperform or we get rid of them. Or we get rid of him!

He's not the man for the job. Why wait until it is an absolute disaster when we can see it is going that way? Best cut your losses early. No, I don't see Yogi getting sacked but that's a mistake. Not something that should be supported. The 'who do you want?' thread contained a lot of good, affordable suggestions. How this sustaining and improving working out? Yogi isn't the man. I very much doubt it, with Hughes in charge. Cannot see it for next season. Of course it's a success. But you're saying we shouldn't expect to improve in that sentence. 20 years ago, we would have been happy being in Division One. But then, we didn't have this team. With Hughes struggling to get a job, I'd be astonished if the Board hadn't taken that into account with a get out of jail free card. Hughes would have come with a contract that meant he could be got rid of without a huge pay-off. Any businessman could see that. Actually it was when Hughes came in. Shearer and Foran did just fine before that. I completely agree with this. Managers need time to get established but we can see this is going so wrong. We've got a good team signed up for next season that just needs a decent manager. Not one with a perilous track record determined to change a winning philosophy to his old failed one.

It's actually 2363, plus three fit and available wingers.

I remember the very same thing being said with McBain out on the right and Vigurs on the left under Brewster.

I liked this comment from the Daily Record phonein: John Steven, East Kilbride, said: “If ever a manager made the wrong decision in life, surely it has to be Butcher going to Hibs.”

Don't need to be demoralised. It's down to tactics. Before Yogi: 2 central defenders + 2 defensive midfielders + a commitment to getting the ball up to wingers quicly. After Yogi: 2 central defenders + varying amounts of central midfielders + defenders encouraged to tippy-tap. Our defenders are more Alex McLeish than Alan Hansen. Wholehearted but not skillful passers.

Almost correct, except... I have faith in the players but not the management. I've written him off, as you rightly say. His stamp will be damaging. I'd rather not give him time to do that. However, be gladdened. Yogi will be here for a long time. Then we can look back and say, what a disaster! And... The Chairman can have his opinion, as can I. He has no more right than me and blindly cheering every successive failure will not help ICT. After all, were you glad ICT waited so long to get rid of Brewster when it was so obvious he wasn't the man for the job?

Nonsense. Everyone negative (such as myself) would loved to have Hughes to succeed. But it hasn't and his background suggests nothing better. It's either accept that or want a change before the damage is permanent. But it's not the start of the season. How has Yogi done since he came in? We wouldn't be in the top six based on those results. His record also suggests that we will struggle next season too. This is on the basis of keeping our current squad - you know, the one we were desperate to re-sign as they got us to second. Next year, I expect a struggle with relegation, purely down to tactics. Not the squad's ability. Why did we hire a manager then if he has no effect on the team? If it's some natural up and down, then save the salary. The fact is, manager are supposed to improve the team. Otherwise, it's pointless having one.

Hughes didn't get us into the top six.

The question now is: 6th or 5th place?

Kingsmills: why not in the sack Hughes camp then?

I don't know either. Is it too late to get hislopoffsideagain as manager? Seems to know a bit more about the way ICT should play than the current numptie.

Me? No way! Yer grandmother puts boiled sweets up dogs' bottoms and feeds them to children. I do. Thanks Terry. Pity you left us and it's all going wrong, where we are likely to end up in a worse position than last year. Given that Hughes came in and we were competing for Europe, I fear now, we are competing to avoid sixth. And yet, since the new manager we've gone from a team that does win to one that doesn't. A team that can score to one that can't. The only difference between the two is tactics. Not sure why you think I'd disagree there. For the record, I don't. I thought he was hired as he wouldn't change anything? How about this: what were you happier with? (a) A rapid counter-attacking system that suited the players so much, we were a clear second with games in hand and in both cups? (b) A system where the central defenders play a passing game they are not suited to and a congested midfield with no quick release in an attempt to be open and expansive that has seen us win one home game (a replay against Stranraer) and plummet down the table. It's a tough one isn't it?

Yeah, but we were drawing before the red card. Not winning. And then seemed to become more dangerous AFTER the red card, according to reports.

I suspect Yogi will go for Tansey in central defence, so he can pass the ball around, as that's what is really needed in a centre half. We need to attack down the wings, so Draper and Warren are the most natural there. I doubt we will have anyone in central midfield this time as we spend so much time tip-tapping around the defence that the result is either a backpass or a big punt up, so no need for anyone in front of the new Puyol and Beckenbauer. McKay up front.

Still one point above St Johnstone. I firmly believe we can hang on to top 5. BELIEVE!

Fixed that for you.

So basically, Yogi wants all the players to play football, passing it here and there. Even defenders. Ermmm, can anyone remember when John Hughes was a player? I thought he was terrific. But NOT due to his passing ability. Far from it. He was an all-action Warren kind of player. Couldn't pass to save his life. And it's not working for ICT. Yogi wants players to express themselves and play with a smile on their face. We've been playing pretty well since he came here. And yet, we've been woeful. Butcher wants to win. He doesn't care about smiles-on-faces. I thought Yogi was chosen because he was the same as Butcher? This isn't a boys club. It's professional football.

Kilmarnock asked Jimmy to stay but he turned it down. With his record, I'd have him in a shot. Mahonio: I wish you wouldn't be so easily swayed. It's fine for someone to argue against you. That's just their opinion. If it's a good one, sure, change yours. But it's also okay to keep your own and disagree. There's no personal attack in disagreeing with an opinion.

I'd prefer Hughes to go as soon as, as I think he will drag us down to level we will struggle to get back from. It's not just disastrous form here but also his previous. However, I don't expect him to get sacked. Not now. Not at the end of the year. Not Oct/Nov. Probably not even Xmas, unless we are marooned at the bottom. Out board are loyal to a fault. I fully expect to be sitting here next year, with an ICT far out of the top six, struggling against relegation, with Yogi still esconsed in his job, despite having the same players that had us at 2nd. I desperately hope I'm wrong. Way more than any desire to be smug, nodding my head. Nice guy though he is, everything screams to me, this is how it was at Hibs. Good squad without being able to get the best out of them and a bad run of results that he seems to have no answer for, nor any desire to vary the team when it's not working.

Yeah. It'll give Yogi a chance to get us promoted back into the SPL.

YES!

And yet, anyone who criticizes Hughes is 'an idiot'.

now, now. Don't exaggerate. Nothing's more tedious than that.