starchief

I'll be surprised if Levein is interested in sitting around for months doing nothing. Especially with the World Cup next year. I don't think he's right for the job. Levein like Burley, is someone that can spot talent. Really, that's no use in the national game. The player has to be Scottish and there's only so many of them around. I would have preferred someone like Jim Jefferies or George Graham. The right age for the job. They've both done their bit, had a fair share of success, know when to play and when to win. I fundamentally disagree with foreign managers of national teams, although I guess those are the rules we have to play with. Could England win the World Cup with an England manager? Very doubtful. Could England win the World Cup with an Italian manager? Possibly...but then, how can that be classed as an English victory if it's an Italian that made the difference? If the players have to have some connection, why don't the managers?

Mine is: Key Players Ryan Esson David Proctor Grant Munro Ross Tokely Russell Duncan unless we get Gary Mason or Stuart Duff - both much better Richie Foran yes, but I doubt he'll stay Jonny Hayes Adam Rooney Danni Sanchez Dougie Imrie I suspect he'd rather play in the SPL Squad Players Lee Cox promoted to key player. He's still young but could go far. Stuart Golabek only needed as an emergency. Let's look to younger players at lower clubs Eric Odhiambo Nauris Bulvitis Kyle Allison Nick Ross - yes, but give him a lot more games. He looked good pre-season. Jamie Duff Gavin Morrison Graeme Shinnie - should be given more of a chance now Shane Sutherland Free to go? Lionel Djebi-Zadi Daniel Stratford Andrew Barrowman Robert Eagle Roy McBain

I agree with most. Not only do Dundee have to start dropping points, they have to do that, whilst somehow not giving points to all the teams above us too. Do what Rangers did in Walter Smith's last season. Start talking to the next manager now, or offer Butcher a longer contract. I'd prefer the former but could live with the latter. We need long-term planning to get out of this hole. But if we start now, then it's all to play for next season. There's no Dundee and Falkirk will have lost a lot of players.

a tenner is more realistic :P Ten million :huh: are you mad? I'd say we'd be lucky to get 2 million for him :D

How much can the likes of Hayes, Cox etc be on considering they had never played a professional game before they joined us? I sincerely doubt they can be on that much, or that our replacements from the Scottish 1st or 2nd will be that much cheaper. They aren't that good for the the most part. They have potential to be so. I doubt Cox, Hayes, Eric or Rooney would get a regular SPL game (or equivalent), so can they do better? Offer them virtually guaranteed first-team football and at the heart of the rebuilding and you might see a different answer. Which is why the next manager should be speaking to the club about players he'd want to keep on. Besides, every single manger in history has had to work with players from a previous manager. Bringing in an entirely new team is insane.

No, as they were definitely pushing for promotion in a tough league. I thought he was lucky to stay in his job when struggling in the EPL against poorer teams mind you. And yet, only two wins from 11 matches, a 3-0 stuffing by Spurs* and a failure to better what Sven achieved with significantly less cash. If Man City put in modest investment in an attempt to build, then fair enough. But instead, they put in fortunes to compete in the top 4. So that's what they have to be judged against. *I know bad results happen occasionally but Fergie can say that sure he was stuffed today but look at what he has achieved. Hughes hasn't done anything spectacular with that money.

Yes, Hughes has always supported Inverness, even back in the Highland League. He had a Highland terrier as a dog as a child and that sealed it. He did try to play for Scotland but FIFA knocked him back, so he reluctantly went back to Wales, much to his great disappointment. You can see that he never gave his all in matches as a protest. That's why he was so disliked by the Welsh fans. I suspect he'll make Tokely his assistant as he's always said he had a great footballing brain and was easily Premiership quality.

I agree with Rig but I also agree that Sven should never have been sacked.

I never got the impression that they would be title contenders and that's what all the money was for. I detest football by chequebook but that's what Hughes was playing under. No surprise in the decision other than it took so long.

I'm at the giving up the ghost time. It's too late for promotion now. So I'm building for the future and getting onto the board to sign up a few long-term, i.e. Cox, Sanchez, Rooney and Hayes. Decisions on Shinnie and Ross to be made pretty soon too. They seem to be future material but a couple more run-outs might give us a better idea. Esson Stratford - Bully - Munro - Shinnie Proctor - Cox Ross - Sanchez - Hayes Rooney I know Stratford is the biggest surprise but that's to give Proctor and Cox a chance in midfield. Let's see if they can bond as well as I think they will. Shinnie and Ross to be given their chance to shine. Barrowman, McBain and Golabek to be released. Foran to be offered a new deal. If he doesn't accept or it costs too much, then let him go to save money. Similarly, Imrie to be sold too. I like both of them but we need long-term here. Duff (preferably) or Duncan to stay as a steadying force in midfield, although I would also consider Gary Mason in that role. Basically, one experienced midfielder on a decent wage. I realise Proctor's been around for a bit but has never really made a position his own. Pele to be brought in as DoF or some such title, basically keeping a hand on the tiller until the new regime (Robbo) starts the empire all over again.

Foran is probably on a big wage, so maybe understandable. Hayes almost certainly isn't and I doubt Sanchez, Eric (think he's worth it though?), Rooney or Cox are on big bucks (I'd include Nick Ross from what little I've seen of him). Sign up the cheap and the talented straight away. They won't break the bank, they could give a good future and they almost certainly won't go down in value. Or else we could get back Vigurs for free. No? Then why the hell did we let him go for nothing?

Maybe we ought to take a look at this McAllister lad. I mean, when you compare him with Barrowman...

I put 'not sure' as he would be better off finishing this season with a smaller club, then promising him a future in a new set-up with the likes of Robbo, Christie and Pele, with the likely chance of us failing to get promotion and Butcher offski. Then sticking with that vision for a good number of years, through thick and thin.

Brewster - I don't dislike the guy but it was totally wrong to bring him back after the DU fiasco. Didn't have the guile to get us out and, more importantly, didn't have Black, Cowie and Rankin on longer contracts when the opportunity was there. Butcher - Wasn't my first choice but really sparked ICT when he came. He's still finding his way and should have kept both Hastings and Vigurs at least but I feel we may need to go a long-term route to get us back. The Team - We need either a centre-half or a right-back with Tokely moving inside. But until Duff came in, we were so lacking a creative midfielder too. Tactics - The half-time talk isn't working. Maybe we need someone with a bit more tactical nous as an assistant? The Fans - No comment! The Board - Probably mostly to blame for not seeing Brew wasn't the right man, not signing up our brightest talents, then giving Butcher too little time. The Future - St Johnstone mark 2 - there or thereabouts but will we ever get back?

Probably felt with Foran out, it was his turn. Personally I feel Eric and Barrowman are both unproven. In a 4-4-2, probably Barrowman but I think Butcher was looking for a bit more creation with Rooney as the target man.

But there was only one team in the way. We need ALL the teams above us to drop points and that's pretty difficult to do when they're playing each other.

I can't have Renegade giving a team like that. Right, here's mine then! Esson Duncan - Duff - Golly Stratford - Proctor - Tokely - Sanchez Bully - Barrowman - Djebi-Zadi And no, I don't care who's fit or not. Whew, I feel better now.

I think he might well be used as cover for Tokely as he has played RB a number of times for Aberdeen, however... ...he's been woeful in that position. I rate him highly as a midfielder. Aberdeen/Dundee Utd level, so far better than we've got. As a defender though, he sucks big time. Imagine Don Cowie or John Rankin as a full-back, then you might see what I mean. Please, Butcher, stick him in an attacking mid position.

Much as I'd agree he's a terrible defender, he's also a class act in midfield. Easily better than anyone we've got in that position. I'm surprised McGhee doesn't rate him (although that might be 'coz he keeps playing an attack-minded player in defence)

Such as? He regularly plays Tokely, Munro, Duncan and Golabek. Who else was there? Only McBain, who has been criticised on here every bit as Duncan (remember 'the Invisible Man') but is now somehow regarded as a top class player that should be starting every week.

I'm not too sure these players will be so much in demand by SPL or whatever clubs. Cox 19: never played for anyone before. Can't get a regular game for ICT. Odi 20: barely played for anyone before. Can't get a regular game for ICT. Rarely scores for a striker. Rooney 21: in a contract. Eagle 22: : never played for anyone before. Can't get a regular game for ICT. Hayes 22: : never played for anyone before. Can't be be on too much money. Why not tie him to a three-year contract now? And we're still not out of it, so hold the future building.

Sure. He got booed when he first came with Hearts. They are integral parts of our history but we should be able to boo the opposition. Doesn't mean we should spit on them in the street or continue after the game. It's just a sport. I'm pretty sure Phil Neville tries his hardest against Man U but he'll probably end up supporting them when all's said and done.

Pele for me too. Mahonio - you think Ian McCall did a decent job at Dundee United?? They were on their way to relegation with a hefty wage budget before he got sacked. He's done well other places but not in the SPL.

I can't work out what that word is supposed to be.

Really he should have thrown the match. I'm sure UEFA would understand if he said he'd played for the opposition before :)