Although it is a wee bit premature to start worrying about the drop I am heartened that the "honeymoon" period and the slight hysteria has been quelled and a sense of reality is returning. The bubble hasnt exactly burst - It is more like bubblegum which we have to pop back in our gobs, chew a bit more and start blowing up the bubble again.
The only problem is that Brewster and the Muppets have chewed a lot of the flavour and pliability out of the bubble gum and poor Butcher will have to chew like a feckin manic billy goat to get a bubble firm and solid enuff to last till the end of the season.
Butcher inherited this squad with no time to regroup and his "signings" - apart from Foran possibly - were all "panic buys". He simply is trying to do the best with what he has been given. And dont forget that this is practically a new squad fer 2009 and players and teams take time to gel and get to know each other. And dare I ask the question - "Whos' feckin fault is that?".
Esson is prone to the odd bloomer - what goalie isnt ? Who is there (honestly) fer rite back either than Tokely - Zadi is a mare waiting to happen at left back - Granty and Pavels have looked a good pairing this year and hopefully it was a bad day at the office. If anyone can rally and coach the back four it is Butcher.
Personally I would go with Black and Kerr in central midfield and I would hook Imrie back to left midfield - pushing Foran up front with Rooney.
Imrie and Eric may run all day and have pace but neither has the composure, the forward goalscoring instincts or positioning to be regular scorers - but Butcher is playing them becos they harry defenders and can give us time and space behind them - and they make the odd hoof look an effective ploy.
Imrie and Eric may well cause the Huns a few problems with their movement and pace - if only they could score as well.
Butcher is doing as good as he could do with what he has got - Remember this is all about survival this season - no more, no less.