starchief

Open all mics working for anyone yet?

No, it was definitely 20. I applied but was told there was a waiting list of 5000 but that they would keep my name on file should an appropriate opportunity arise in the near future.

Nice bit of work there, mate. I think it fairly likely that we will win the league next season, if we stay up. Rangers have a game in hand but they'll have to sell, so that means it is between us and Motherwell next season. We're too big for this league. It's getting boring. The SPL needs us more than we need them. Can we apply for the EPL next season and leave these diddy teams behind

------------------------------------Esson----------------------------------------- --------------------Mihadjuks---------------------Munro--------------------------- ---Tokely------------------------------------------------------------Hastings------ --------------------------------------Duncan---------------------------------------- ---Gattheusi--------------------------Black---------------------------Morais------ ----------------------Imrie----------------------Foran-------------------------- Subs - Fraser, Proctor, Rooney, Odhiambo, McBain, Duff, Kerr I think Djebi-Zadi may prove too keen to play and do something rash, so Hastings for a more measured approach. I'd love to see Proctor in Duncan's role but that should have happened earlier in the season. I'd normally like to see Imrie at left-wing/Morais at right but I think, against Falkirk, this might be our best bet. Gattheusi and Morais to attack as much as possible. That's how to beat Falkirk. Get them rattled, with Imrie biting their ankles. Foran the out-and-out striker.

I guess what they say is true, football's all about opinions

For me, it's: McGregor Caldwell Broadfoot Wilkie McManus Naysmith Fletcher Brown Ferguson Kommons Miller (not Gordon or Hutton as they haven't played enough)

Best team in the bottom four IMO. Best manager too. Can't see them going down and hope they don't. They've been lacking a goalscorer all season. Kyle's looked big and threatening but can he score enough?

I'm a Scotland (and Canada) supporter first and foremost. For me, the nearest we have to an international class player is the supposedly rubbish Gary Caldwell. I could see him in the upper echelons of the EPL, improving every game. But just look at our strikers! David Clarkson (Motherwell) Steven Fletcher (Hibernian) Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton W.) Ross McCormack (Cardiff City) Kenny Miller (Rangers) I only rate McCormack and even then, not in the international arena. It always seems to be forgotten how many poor games Dalglish had for Scotland. Only in his later years did he play anything like he did for Liverpool. Hansen as well was nowhere near as good as Narey or Miller, as is borne out by both Stein and Ferguson having those players in Hansen's natural position.

See the other thread for comments by Gillian Black. Dunno who she is but she seems to know a lot about Ian.

No Foran or Mihadjuks? Why?

Combe/Esson Fowler/Tokely - Mihadjuks - Wright/Ford - Hay Hammill - Black - Pascali - Taouil Kyle - Foran with talented players like Imrie, Rooney, Fernandez, and Invincible to come off the bench. There's good players in all the bottom teams. Not necessarily all starts mind you, plus all the teams have weaknesses. Until Kyle, all Killie could do was walk it in, plus there were numerous injuries to their back four. For me, they've got the best team out of us, Saints, Accies, Falkirk or Motherwell. They struggle with injuries though and seem to get enough of them.

So was Alan Shearer - biggest diver going whilst everyone harped on about Ginola. Anyway, we've already got Russel-dive-hio for Inverness!

Also Fernandez, Invincible, Wright, Ford, Pascali, Hay and Fowler for me.

Even if we're relelgated, I'd like to see him stay. I doubt he's on much. He could improve so much, I'd give him a chance. Let's face it, we're not getting Maurice Malpas out of retirement for that left-back spot (though how great would that be!)

Dorman I was mainly thinking of. At the start of the season, definitely O'Brien. Trouble is, he's been absolutely woeful for Falkirk and injury-plagued. Not so sure I would be so welcoming to him after all. If it was Killie, I'd take most of their squad to be honest. That's why I can't see it happening.

Yeah, he's been in Scotland since he was 12, so it's not as if he knows nothing about the country a la Matt Elliott or whoever.

:thumb04: a lovely image - flush it down

Well, there's plenty of black defenders who aren't - from Viv Anderson to Rio Ferdinand - but also, what about Kirk Broadfoot, Lee Naylor, Stewart McKimmie or Gary Stevens to name but a few. Aren't they just as clumsy on the ball and deserving of the name?

They did seem to doubt the shoulder excuse though.

Maybe see who goes down and nab some of their players. St Mirren have a few I wouldn't mind.

Killie tend to play on the ground, moving out wide and letting the frontmen drop deep and take men on. So with that in mind: Esson Tokely - Mihadjuk - Munro - Hastings Duncan - Black Proctor----------------Morais Imrie Foran Subs: Fraser; Duff; Gattheusi; McBain; Vigurs; Rooney; Eric Hastings as we need a defender to close down rather than midfield to attack, particularly with Killie. Duncan and Black could really put the wind up Killie with overly aggressive play. Invincible may well rip Tokely apart, so Proctor could be good in there to close down. They also have Taouil to bring on in that position, so that's a big strength to nullify. I was going to put McBain in on the left to protect Hastings from the impressive Hamill but I saw Killie's young right-back last week (Clancy) and didn't think he was much cop. Morais may just be the player in there. Foran is our most natural striker, so get him up there. Imrie a free role behind to terrorise the defence and keep the defensive midfield busy too.

I heard Radio Scotland pundits asking why, when he's still got it, that he didn't play himself when Inverness were crying out for an experienced striker.

Strange post. You point to a lack of goals and the need to sign a striker but criticise someone when he names one of those strikers that you obviously also don't think is good enough too. You also ask who ICT should sign but in the same breath say you think it's wrong to say who should be signed.

I agree with most of that. My point was, he was playing well (to my great surprise too) and shouldn't have been dropped. He was always going to make mistakes but criticising him when he's playing well isn't the answer. It's probably a purple patch (although we can but hope) but he's been far from our worst defender or player in that time. And McBain* (at left-back at least), Gattheusi or Hastings haven't done anything like enough to oust a form player and be automatic picks. *although he has done very well in midfield this season.