IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

Errrrrrrr no. We were under the cosh as soon as Blackie was replaced. Simple as that. We started to lose the midfield battle from that moment. So we should have hooked Marius instead ? Must be some view fom the Ivory Tower :001: CD - Brew is history; Deano is gone - one forward on his way.

That is why the window is soooooooooo important.

Would be the first in my book as well.

Well - there is no feckin way I am singing that in Section G.

Now that I totally agree with and hope I never experience. These fifteen points, fortunate or not, have given us massive breathing space - Prior to be beating Gretna we were a team really at a crossroads. We have actually won 15 out of a possible 21 since the second "round" began. We are fairly comfortably in mid table security already and again we can breathe that it easier as the turkey and stuffing hits the waistlines. I would gladly take two home wins out of the next four games - anything else would be an absolute bonus. Also have to say that the miraculous turn around in Fraser has played a big part, the return of confidence to Granty, Duncan is back in his niche and in Black, Cowie and Rankin we have the best midfield trio in the SPL. Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process.

Yes we can - we should beat Killie and Gretna - we could beat Falkirk and Aberdire.

CD - was it just a coincidence that we went under the cosh at Tannadice and Tynie when Marius began to flag and that led to our midfield being pressed back with no outlet. The other frustrating thing about Marius is that he looks fer the ball to his feet or in his radius. When Bayne came on at Tannadice we began to push forward again. Niculae doesnt win that much in the air away as he does at home - again cos at home we have more time to find him. :024:

So do you all feel that Marius has played as well in the home games as in the away games ? I would have given him 7/10 for Cellic and 2/10 fer Tannadice. From what I have heard that would be echoed v Hibs and Hearts. That is the evidence m'lud. At home - the midfielders/defence should not be so deep and at times even up front supporting the lone striker - or even playing off them if in the ascendancy - away the lone striker is often isolated and has to hold or forage to give the others time to support. Scoring goals and celebrating goals is far removed from being pally. As ever - time will tell.

I didn't see today's game. But I did see last week's on Setanta and the week before's (Hibs) live. Niculae was good, or better, in both. I've only seen him once away from home this season, and thought he did an OK job. I'm not trying to wind you up, so can you explain to me, as someone who sees ICT more than I, why it is you think Nickulae is cr*p away from home. I've not seen him enough to make that judgement, but it seems stange that any player, let alone a foeigner, should only seem to perform at his best at home. I get the impression from the many posts you've written on him, that you've always seen him as an expensive luxury. I suppose that I do view him as an "expensive luxury" but also a valuable squad player - I will simply summarise what I have been saying since day one - Niculae is clearly a talented and skillful footballer. He also uses his experience in regard to positional sense. His control his well above average and he is a delight as he always looks to play the simple pass. His lack of pace is shocking and his general mobility is poor. He plays well at home (e.g Hibs/Cellic) when he is played on the last man. Pace isnt always a necessity there - it is more about awareness - hence the pen against Cellic and again yesterday - but that was a "race" over 4-5 yards. When he plays deep he is still a flair player but he simply does not have the energy to support afterwards. ICT away for home look for attack on the counter - with Proctor,Black,Rankin and Cowie we have that in abundance. But play them and you need a lone striker - a striker who is mobile, harrasses defenders, gets stuck in, holds the ball up, makes space fer the attacking midfielders - Marius has not got all those qualities - neither does Bayne but he has more strengths away than Marius. It always comes across that I am anti-Marius - I aint. He is an "expensive luxury" which adds to the home formation and I can live with that but he is an "expensive luxury" which detracts from he away formation. I would love to see him stay at ICT but as a squad player and as I have said many times before - we have to build Marius around our strengths and not vice versa. I am also informed that the "atmosphere" ON the park between Black and Marius is particularly hostile. :024:

If he drops Niculae fer Falkirk I will be a convert.

Niculae was the consummate professional. He was as slow as ever but poked the ball past the keeper - the ball was going well away from goal and Marius would never have got to it - but he drew the keeper, drew a touch and threw himself. If that was a booking today then Pressley should have walked. Niculae should NOT play away from home - is he still being played fer contractual reasons ?? He is a protected species - Black must be feckin fizzing.

I was always pro Brewster - either he has challenged the Management :001: or he has got a bit lucky :024: or both :023:. We were going down the pan a few weeks ago and he must take the plaudits. :clapping03: :clapping03:

- It was a boring game

It wasnt in the Bucharest Bugle. :019:

I will be there - I aint buying a ticket though - I will buy one of the Polish Marketing "expert" :001:

It simply has to be the same side although this will be the biggest test yet fer Niculae.

If they were singing - "lets all laff at Rangers" - they wouldnt feckin understand. :017:

Agree with that Manny plus he was not at his best today - I would prefer to look elsewhere.

So what train are we getting ?

Just goes to show that jails aint what they used to be. :023: Today Marius proved that he is a good squad player - at home. He was effective NOT brilliant. Playing him as a lone striker and playing on the strengths of Black, Rankin and Cowie make him look a lot better.

He is a useful player but we are going a bit over the top. At Home - yes - Away - NO. Today was his best yet though. :011: If he plays as well at Hearts I will bare ma erse.

Trust blackhead to come up with the stoopidest post of the week. :018:

And some bigger than usual gobs. :023:

Save of the season IMHO - and what about his handling on the crosses. :022:

Good news as Rosscoe has to play a blinder at Tynie. Have to say - why to Cellic play a Zone defence at corners instead of man to man marking ? :024: But thank feck that they do.