starchief

Before this season I would have agreed but he is doing a brilliant job for Birmingham by sitting in front of the defence and allowing Lee Boywer to break forward hence he has started scoring goals Football fans do have very short memories. Ferguson was chosen above Paul le Guen mainly because Fergie was playing out of his skin despite the poor tactics and terrible signings. Then Ferguson dragged Rangers by the teeth to the UEFA Cup Final, where Advocaat targetted the midfielder as the main threat. After being out with a serious injury, Barry then came back but played poorly alongside Mendes. I know people want to believe Ferguson has played poorly for Rangers for years but it's just not the case. The reports are online from the periods mentioned if you want to check.

Leeds leading Man U 1-0 on AlJazeera Sports +5. Looking well worth it too.

Disallowed goal by Celtic. Should have stood but, to be honest, I'd have been more surprised if a challenge on the 'keeper hadn't been penalised. It's unfair but always happens.

I support neither but, with the form Rangers are on, I can't see beyond them. Especially with Celtic's only striker in McDonald being out.

Goal of the Decade - Brewster's first for Ross County - at last our hero was over his crippling shoulder injury Player of the Decade - Brian Kerr. Easy to see why he got his Scotland caps. Manager of the Decade - Brew. Soon as he went, Inverness crashed to relegation. No coincidence there! Captain of the Decade - Lionel Djebi-Zadi for true dedication to running about here and there (are you sure? I thought he was) Goalkeeper of the Decade - Zibi Malkowski: only made a couple of mistakes in the whole time he was at TCS. Defender of the Decade - For entertainment value? Lionel of course. Midfielder of the Decade - The pin-point of accuracy of Russell Duncan is hard to look past Striker of the Decade - Barrowman seems to be on strike the longest Assistant Manager of the Decade - Craig Brewster: if only we had a manager alongside him... Signing of the Decade - Filipe Morais for total dedication to the cause Game of the Decade - Airdrieonians 5 Ross County 1 (28.10.2000) Save of the Decade - our wonderful board for saving the club from extinction Most Skilful Player of the Decade - Andy Barrowman for his skill on contract negotiations Goal Celebration of the Decade - Rory McAllister's hundredth for the club Best Moment of the Decade - Investing the Marius transfer fee on such promising talent that we eventually got that elusive top six spot. I dread to think what would have happened with a different board.

Yeah, sure, sticking up two fingers to journos whilst accepting being dropped is a lot worse than saying you didn't even want to be on that bench. Even if you accept Boyd only scores against diddy teams (and I don't - his manager plays a headless chicken in a very defensive line-up, so Boys rarely plays against them), then who is the quality striker he's keeping out that's going to score against those teams and the higher ones? Is it the non-scoring strikers of Fletcher, Miller and McFadden? They all NEED a striker to play alongside them as their best work is outside the box. Plus, both Miller and Fletcher were playing in the same league as Boyd - one even in the same team. How do their goal ratios stack up? For what it's worth, I don't feel giving the vicky to Traynor and his cronies is worth a ban anyway (in fact, I'd applaud it), so I'd have Fergie and McGregor back. I can understand Boyd's frustration but he got the call wrong. He should have slated his manager and called for a change but said he was still willing to play for his country. Result would have been he would have probably been dropped anyway. In this day and age, Boyd is the best striker we've got, so plays as it's good for Scotland.

I largely agree with Mantis, although if we get a few young players signed up (Rooney, Cox, Hayes), keep some older ones like Munro, Esson and Proctor (after long pleadings, he finally gets his chance in defensive mid and becomes a key player) along with bringing through Shinnie and Ross, plus maybe others, perhaps in 2-3 years time, we could have the basis of a very good team capable of staying in the SPL. I do think though, Pele needs to be brought in as a scout/adviser now to set the whole thing in motion. I don;t think that's necessarily a wage we cannot afford (quite the opposite in fact) or undermining Big Tel (no involvement in training or side selection) but the sooner a five-year plan starts, the sooner it finishes.

Don't see why. It's only short-term. At 69, I doubt Brown will be looking to make it permanent.

Dangerous line to get such a couple of novices in. Seriously, though, that's one intelligent backroom staff.

And his first post talks sense.

Yeah, but that ain't gonna happen. Still believe if we lose the 6 or 8 players and don't bring in anyone from the SPL? Nope, me neither.

Bit of a strange sacking that. No doubt we'll hear Gannon's story in time. Calderwood would be a good signing but I wonder if the two Jimmies might sit it out for an English or Dutch club?

I BELIEVE TOO*!!!!!!! (*as long as you're not talking about promotion)

Why no Duff?

He probably could but why? Strikers cost a lot more money than left-backs normally for a very good reason. Foran would be wasted there.

Esson Proctor - Munro - Bully - Shinnie Cox - Duff Ross - Sanchez - Foran Rooney Have to find out how good Ross and Shinnie are for any possible new contract. Cox should be a regular and a new contract offered for the long-term good. And if they're not going to be here next season, time to offload Duff and Foran, then use the money for other long-term contracts. I know they're arguably our best players but we're not going to get promoted or relegated so let's get a good long-term team started now.

What's the point if he's not signing for longer. I'd rather use that to get Cox, Proctor, Rooney or Hayes on a longer contract.

Are you winding us up "starchief"? I must have been asleep when the transfer figures were announced! Eh try ?100k for rankin, 100k for Cowie, nothing for black (bosman) nothing for Vigurs (released therefore not entitled to compensation) Rankin Black and Cowie easily worth a million if sold at premium. Sorry, I credited some posters with too much sense of subtlety ...it's like bronzey and goldey, except made of iron...

Quite nice. Even if it's a bit 'shellsuity'!

We should be fine with the money we banked in transfer fees for Vigurs (?75k), Black (?250k), Cowie (?250k), Marius (?400k) and Rankin (?250k). I know we should have got more but rather that than nothing.

I doubt he'll walk. Infact, he probably will still think 'we can win this'. That's how these players reach the top. I would like it made clear whether he's staying or going though. We need long-term planning to get on a sound footing again.

But would you want to keep him or get a more natural central defender like Dods in. Maybe not Dods himself but perhaps someone from a higher up team that's looking for a break. I doubt we can have both. That's the financial decision that has to be made. What do you choose?

so whats bull then? and lets be honest, hes starting to find his feet in a really good way!! Until the last couple of weeks or so, he's been getting criticised left right and centre. Most people's transfer wish is for a new centre-back. Are you happy with the centre-backs? Would you prefer to move Munro out than Bully?

Just like George Burley, who was also a much better manager at club level (took Hearts to the top and got Ipswich into Europe). I think we need a master tactician, rather than a talent spotter or youth development officer. Still, despite the media spin, Gordon Smith has some pretty forward thinking ideas for restructuring youth training and playing summer football, so maybe we'll get something done. Despite the nonsense that some newspapers talk, Smith and Levein have some pretty close ideas.

Is Munro not having a tough time because he's playing with two wing-backs (Tokely and DZ) and no central defensive partner since Dods left? Got to take a toll surely?