Stirling Observer

Nobody wanted to buy tokes, golly or Munro because of their limited technical ability but they gave 100% as individuals and for the club. However Ross, Shinnie, Christie and polwarth who were developed here and our technically very good which means other clubs will want them. It's a credit to our youth coaches but also more likely they will move on. Our problem which I hope we can change is tying these promising players down early on longer contracts, even if it's a somewhat risky strategy. We don't necessarily need local players, but it's important we keep the leaders and clubmen, Warren, Foran, drapes etc and it seems it's what we are trying to do. These are the few of the few guys who are tied down. It's a natural cycle in every team as you pointed out. A small club which has sucess will be cherrypicked (see Leciester in the near future). Its impossible to sustain. Let's be happy our previous cycle brought so many highs but be prepared for a rough ride until we bring the next mixed batch of youth or gems from nowhere. But in the meantime we may suffer. I have concerns about Hughes ability in transfer market and our season next year but he has earned himself time in my book. I shall judge him after the summer recruits have settled next season.

The +3 to our goal difference on Saturday could be crucial come the 9th of April

Yup. We must beat Motherwell or its all over. A very in form Motherwell... A draw is useless for us but fine for them. County or Dundee will drop points, hopefully 2 each. We need the top 4 and bottom 3 to help us out. Patrick have the easiest run in on paper.

Yessss Kingsmills, that the spirit! Get into this mob

Ofw Horner meetings Warren tremarco Polworth draper Williams Roberts storey Foran

I felt Josh was well off the pace to begin with but gradually got upto the pace of the game. I'm desperate to see our centre half's back together again, hopefully Hughes puts them together for the derby. Danny is simply not good enough, he's had this whole season up until now to prove himself but has not reached the required standard. I like the idea of storey and Roberts/williams as wide men and Richie as the target man, hopefully this happens for the Derby.

Our history shows a successful story. One which by and large has seen our managers given time and eventually being headhunted, not often have we wielded the axe unless it has been the only option available. Under Brewster it was clear he had lost motivation, he was out of ideas to change things and the players werent playing for him. I dont see that in the current situation. Surely a third place finish and a Scottish cup buys him at least a season. Its naturally a relatively small but successful side will see its squad cherry picked. I see a team that is missing some key players due to injury and lacking in confidence. Fair enough, the manager has a footballing philosophy of possesion football but its not the manager playing the pass. The players need confidence to attempt that risky pass that may lose possesion and have the whole stadium sigh or dribble at a player and get tackled, or make a run beyond defenders and perhaps be caught out of position, the easier option and safer option is the sideways or backwards pass or stay in position. It doesnt all come down to what the manager says, we have essentially squad players in the first team due to injuries (we would all love a squad of 22 equally good players but am afraid it will never happen at this club) and players lacking confidence due to lack of faith in their ability and the current run of results. Hopefully we can do enough to stay in the league sooner rather than later, give Hughes a opportunity to find some gems over the summer, then see where next season takes us.

You do release buying a striker isn't like buying a tin of beans at the supermarket. We have a small budget and struggle to attract players. A tin of beans full of juice and no beans is no use, may as well keep ur money til you find the a quality Heinz tin which has a dent but you have found behind all the other white beans. I don't even like beans. Should have used tuna as an example. I like tuna

Yup, with a back you can't allow any of the defenders to push forward at all really. One recurring problem was the lack of midfield runners. Guessing polwarth will take tanseys position so hopefully we can play a more attacking minded player in wide midfield. Before the replay I'm really hoping vincent, meetings are available and mutombo gets some game time. Can anyone confirm its just tansey suspended for the replay. Hibs in Spain focusing on their cup final. It's a good time to play them. We're lucky to have a second chance after that performance. Let's take full advantage of the opportunity presented. Profitable and winnable semi final awaits the winner

Its a difficult one...Should you always fill the bench with youngsters so they gain matchday experience or should you have that place derservedly earned and used as a reward for effort and performances It would be a motivator for a youth player to join the first team on a match day for sure, however if its then expected you or another U20s player will be in the matchday squad because the first team are short again next week then it devalues the whole experience. I think perhaps the young man has been given this opportunity as a reward on this occasion. Hopefully inspire him to achieve when the odds are firmly stacked against him.

Maybe going a bit off topic, but when the FBO where introduced, i thought finally here is an opportunity to legally take action on the almost accepted secretarian/hate filled bile coming from the droves of Old Firm fans on a regular occurence. Instead we are seeing the fans of smaller clubs being singled out for their behaviour, easy option rather than tackling the real issue within Scotland.

Perhaps if Greg had a week to decide. He would be playing for Aberdeen. But to be forced do decide within a few hours without the opportunity to speak to missus/close friends/family he decided to stay where he is a guaranteed starter (he would need to earn his place in the Aberdeen first 11) and content. If the opportunity comes up again in a literally a few months he will have more time to make a decision and probably move. ...Maybe he had a stinking hangover on the deadline day and couldnt be arsed talking to anyone, well thats i feel when im hungover, just procrastinate and decide something when im normal again.

To be fair to McInnes he might be a bit out the loop, he prob just told the directors he wants tansey. I doubt he would be involved with the negotiations, and maybe all he heard from the directors was about big bad ICT not letting the Dons talk to him, rather than Tansey wasnt interested. Sometimes the truth hurts and the directors didnt want to pass on the info. Just a theory for McInnes comments.

Brewster the manager - nothing Brewster the player/ manager - His playing skills Pele - His 2 wingers, that was entertainment

Apparently, the firhill pitch isnt in great condition for wells game tonight, hoping for the game to be on, with a very heavy pitch. A few wee niggling injuries, (nothing serious) would be nice

The 'tansey tussle' should be brought before Judge Rinder. Its the only solution!

Wifie first right wants to be on the gellions bus!

It must have been a crazy day for Tansey yesterday and i do feel sorry for him, he may well currently be very annoyed with certain people within the club for denying him the opportunity to move to Aberdeen. But he is a footballer, and he will want to play football. If he doesnt put in a shift in training, he wont be on the pitch on a saturday. If he doesnt play games, he wont be happy, but also he limits his chances of a move in summer, as it stands he has another year and a half here unless some club want to pay for his clause (the correct amount). His only option really, however pissed off or not, is too knuckle down, impress potential suitors and he can leave in a few months. If he sulks, hes playing a very dangerous game for his own short career. If Aberdeen had come in with the bid a day earlier, they would probably have Tansey just now, but they dont.

Following examples from other countries i guess. Just like other countries followed our casual culture. Its gone full circle. When i mention old school, im talking about football fans who were usually drunk, male, aggressive, defending territories. Times have changed obviously but i feel their is a divide amongst the way fans want to behave at a ground, and i feel their is room to accomodate both. Football is about your matchday experience, some prefer safety and a good view, some prefer being intoxicated and attempting to wind up other players, fans.

The smell...and £25

Problem with SPFL is again self protection. Simpliest way to solve this issue is strict liability. If the clubs were punished with points it would very quickly stop pyrotechnics. Cost is nothing. I can think of 2 clubs specifically who may lose a lot of points due to the behaviour of their fans...However, because of this they skirt around the issue and instead talk of introducing face recognition at a cost of almost 5 million apparently to catch less than probably a hundred people (hardly hardened criminals, probably some teenagers wanting to show off in front of their mates) to stop this. 5 million...Bit pathetic really. There are clearly two types of supporters, both should be welcome at the club. There are the fans with families, older fans who just want to watch the games (new school). And ones who want to vocally encourage, have a more energetic matchday experience (old school). Personally i agree with some posters, the fans who want to create an atmosphere and have fun (singing, jumping, occasional smoke bomb) shouldnt be criminalised. We have a small enough support as it is, they should be accomodated as much as possible within the laws, whilst not annoying the new school of fans.

Lack of width was a bit problem, middle of the park was way to congested with Ryan, Aaron and Tansey on top of each other, would like to see some Aaron and maybe Roberts play as wingers in the second leg and run at them and get behind them, with Ryan in the middle

My goodness, people standing up, whatever next. I think we should enforce cages in stadiums to control the hordes of unruly scallywags

Been in South America this last year, been to quite a few games and its quite a different match day experience. Anyway was thinking of songs which could easily been transferred to ICT. Alot of the songs are love songs for the clubs which are 3-4 mins long. The only short chant type one was this - follow the link Hope that link works. Basically the rough translation into English would be Ole ole ole, ole ole ole ola ole ole ole, every season i love you more Ohhh Caley Thistle Its a feeling I can not stop repeat over and over Im happy to repeat it over and over at hampden on my own but it would be nice if other joined me PS - love the 'scenes of red and blue'

In Colombia now but flight booked from Panama. Can't wait!