starchief

I struggle to think we could do much better under anyone else, so I've gone for excellent (whaddayamean this is a secret ballot). Not a perfect run for the team but given the little time he's had (especially in the transfer market), Butcher has improved the squad no end. Only Renegade could have done better!

From the Record: "Burley rang the changes at the interval with Ian Black, Jack Ross and Brian Easton replacing Hammell, Cuthbert and Arfield. And within two minutes of the restart Inverness playmaker Black helped Scotland break the deadlock with his first touch of the ball. Black's cross, whipped in from the left flank with pace and purpose, was met perfectly by Webster and while Tuffey did brilliantly to block the initial effort he was left helpless as the Rangers defender crashed home the rebound." Nothing much in the other papers.

Thought it was a great tackle. One of the highlights of the game in fact. Striker straight through. Last man makes an amazing last ditch saving tackle. One thing is for sure, skill should not be punished.

I've no idea who Gillian is but she seems to know a lot about Ian Black. If she says there's a chance, then I'm pretty sure she knows there is one.

Yes he was. He was the best player in Holland for years. No easy feat. A quick browse on Wiki reveals a few other things: "Litmanen spent seven years in Amsterdam, winning four Dutch championships and three Dutch Cups. He is the club's top scorer in European competition with 24 goals in 44 matches. Litmanen owns the honour of being one of just three players presented in a special video featurette at the Ajax Museum. The other two are Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff." "The Association of Football Statisticians' (The AFS) compendium of 'Greatest Ever Footballers' listed Litmanen as the 53rd best footballer ever" "In 2008 he was invited to represent the Rest of the World in the 10th anniversary charity game, arranged in honour of French 1998 World Cup winning team, along with players like Gabriel Batistuta, Luis Figo and Davor Suker." I can only think you doubt he was a great player due to his injury-plagued time at Liverpool and the fact he played for a below average international team.

I don't think Renegade is trying to guess the team Butcher will put out (pretty damn sure of it in fact), instead, Renegade's saying the team that he would put out if he was the manager. And you have to get used to Renegade's teams. They're a little different to the norm. In fact I'd love to see us safe and Renegade be made manager for the day, so we could see just what would happen with some of the player selections he usually makes, especially Tokely and Djebi-Zadi. It would be an interesting experiment, if nothing else.

Same team for me apart from one change (Morais, who would probably have started at Paisley had he not been injured anyway). Fraser Proctor - Tokely - Munro - Djebi-Zadi Imrie - Kerr - Black - McBain Morais - Foran McBain's been unlucky to have not featured much under Butcher as he's been one of our players of the season. I'd look to McBain to do a dampener on McCarthy a la Dorman (possibly switching to McArthur depending how the game progresses). Mhiadjuks is unlucky to be left out but with our centre-backs having both scored and been solid against Saints, they stay in. I'm not sure it's the right decision for DZ to stay in but I'm also unsure whether a non-match fit Hastings should be brought in at this stage either, so I go with the man in possession. Duncan and Vigurs to be important players on the bench. Look to bring one on depending whether we need to mark up or attack.

Is that the right decision though?

Yep, a damning indictment (although Foran - our only real striker - had one disallowed)

A derby?

Getting closer to safety with every game now. The Butcher bubble is well and truly still intact.

Getting closer to the drop with every game now. It would appear the Butcher bubble has well and truly burst.

Morais injured during the warm-up.

Doubt Wood would add anything significant.

Now is the time to bring on Mihadjuks for Barrowman. Defend. Defend. Defend.

Morais injured AGAIN?!

Maybe they should have to do an Inverness - one merged team from Glasgow! That would be heaven

Quite injury prone for a keeper. I've said before I thought Alexander leaving Cardiff for Rangers was a big mistake but it may well work out for him. Always a decent keeper. Not spectacular but safe.

I have to say, I think that's a pretty awful B team. I don't see any of those players (except maybe Naismith) making a break in to the first team except as fringe players. The likes of Hughes, Clarkson and Wallace may get in but only with injuries to a few players. Not exactly inspiring.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McPake Some goal ratio during his time at Manchester United

I expect a few naysayers as he's been just about everywhere but I like him. Could do well up here.

Billy Mehmet He's English but has an Irish U21 cap through a grandparent With a Turkish surname aswell.. :thumb04: :018: I think you might be missing my point here...

Why no players from the Top 6? Is relegation any less vital? Wouldn't Burley prefer to see how the likes of Mark Kerr, John Rankin, Lee Wallace etc play rather than Dougie Imrie, Bob Malcolm or Billy Mehmet.

I hate it when the OF score early. Game is over before it's really begun Waste of admission money for the Saints fans.

I also doubt it will happen but even more doubtful is heavy investment when the OF are no longer in the SPL. It may be a closer league but the money will be substantially less. I know some people will say the OF take care of themselves but ask any club in the First, whether they would relish the chance to play the OF more. Like it or not (not) they do bring in all the money. (but it still might be good for Scottish football - could it get much worse?)