Sorted

Bad news as far as I can see if the current proposals are to be accepted. Would obviously have a differing view if we were fighting for promotion but now we are back and competing well, I see no benefit. A total revamp is what is required. 18/20 team league with team playing each other twice. A decent winter break even if it's purely for the benefit of the players and their families. Two down, with a play off for the second relegated team and at the top end, a play off involving 2nd-5th for European places. Should mean some competition throughout the season, a little less monotony and room for ambitions teams to climb up the league structure. Never happen as turkeys don't like Santa!

Always amazed me that players have the likes of Drinkell to look after their affairs. It tends to be better to take someone who can read and write into important negotiations. On the other hand, this is great for the club.

Been reading all about Rory's progress since he left TCS and been nothing but impressed. Albeit at a much lesser level, he is making a huge contribution to his side who sit at the top of the league. His goal scoring record is tremendous and week after week you read opposition managers saying that he was the difference between the teams. This has got me thinking if he has another shot in him at a higher level or is his success down purely to the level he is playing at. Is he another Andy Barrowman or a potential Bernie Slaven (for younger posters he left Albion Rovers for Middlesborough and became huge even making the ROI World Cup Squad)? I think someone will take a punt on him and I hope they do. Thoughts?

For me, it's a very difficult call for clubs our size. It's all very well to seek longer term contracts for key players but they come with risks for both the club and the player. For it to work you need two willing parties (which I hope, and think, is the case with Adam Rooney) with the player being realistic about the finances they are willing to accept and the club being prudent in what they are willing to risk. In some cases I doubt if the club could ever have matched the demands of some who have departed. The success of Don at Watford also makes things more difficult for the club as his former team mates will look on with envy at his success and perceived pay packet whilst wondering what if? I think it's harder for a lot of the Scottish clubs to offer significantly more than we can but in England, there is still plenty cash in the Championship and League One. We as fans also expect a hell of a lot from our players at times. All want loyalty and commitment no matter what from those we value and expecting those we don't to bugger off no matter what their contract says. Could any of us really blame a young guy, in the peak of his form, for wanting to sit tight and see what options he has for his future before commiting further? Would any of us put a financial restriction around our earning capacity in the knowledge that without it we may be able to quadruple our earnings still doing something we love? As for Leigh Griffiths, I expect him to go in January to the first club with a six figure offer. The administrator will make sure he does.

From what I read tonight it may be that Rooney is a very cheap (in today's ridiculous terms) option for any interested party. Apparently, the Webster Case (assume it's Andy Webster) sets precedent. Rooney, at the end of the current season, will be able to buy out his contract for the price of his annual salary believed to be ?5 million. At that price there will be a number of takers.

Perfectly put. A gobshite.

Shambolic way to run a tuck shop never mind a football club! The guy who I feel most sorry for is poor Jocky Scott. Sacked when your team is top of the league, albeit on a very poor run, and replaced by the management duo of one of the clubs well below you. Now, thanks to a combination of factors all out of your control, you get not a penny settlement. Chisholm and Dodds didn't give two hoots for Jocky when they took the job. If I recall rightly their words were - "that's football." I struggle to find too much sympathy for them now as they chose to walk out on Palmerston and join the Dens Park Dream Team. The fact that they were incapable of doing their homework properly is their own responsibility. For me, when they took the job they were certain they would get up. They failed. The consequences of failure were well known to anyone who has a clue about the Scottish game and for me, it's a bit rich for Chisholm and Dodds not to take some of the responsibility. Are we really to believe that me of such substance (as they are portrayed in the media by their pals) sat back and said nothing in public whilst all this went on? As long as the cash kept coming they sat tight. Sad for fans of the club. But think that Melville, Brannan, the management team and many of the guys who signed up to big contracts that they knew weren't available elsewhere in Scotland took a calculated risk which failed. How many of them were offered lesser deals that were more secure but refused?

And the nation has some pride back....... A spirited, typically Scottish performance and result which gives some hope for the future and realisation that we are not as bad as some think, particularly our manager. First class effort against a fabulous team who knock the ball about in a manner seldom seen. Confirms, quite clearly, that those of us who criticised Levein's tactics against the Czechs were absolutely correct. We were and still are more than capable of having a go at them. We play (doesn't everyone!) in a far better fashion with at least one striker. Our defenders (don't they all!) benefit greatly from having an "out" ball when under pressure. And so on. Credit to Levein for making the changes but perhaps the damage has already been done. His response to the press afterwards was quite disappointing and, for me, he missed a golden opportunity to win back the fans and, at the same time, really boost the players morale. Maybe a comment like: "Absolutely delighted with the performance and attitude of the guys tonight against a fabulous Spanish side. Bit gutted we didn't take a point but despite that we have some hope. The performance reminded me that we have some really decent players in this squad. Perhaps I underestimated their capabilities and should have shown more faith in their ability against the Czechs. In hindsight I got it wrong and accept full reponsibilty for that. Now my focus is on building on this performance, not dwelling in the past and moving forward with a very capable bunch of guys who proved they can compete with the best in the business." That would have made me happy but Levein and admission of error............no chance!

Spent half the night watching this amazing rescue process which looks like will go on for two days. What amazing courage and spirit these amazing men show as the emerge from a hole 700m underground! Can only imagine the feelings they have experienced over the past couple of months and what emotions must run through their minds as they reach the top. Credit to them all and all those involved in the rescue. Most of us have it pretty easy in our day jobs. :werenotworthy:

Disagree entirely. To set a team up to defend is one thing but this is usually done in recognition of the strengths of both the opposition and your own squad. Starting with our opponents, the Czech Republic are the 37th ranked nation who at the beginning of a complete rebuild process after the end of a golden generation. Recent results, including a home defeat by Lithuania and a defeat at Hampden, did not fill me with fear and can in no way be used to justify playing a 4-6-0 formation. A coach who comes to this conclusion based on the information at hand must be at best completely niave or at worst tactically arrogant. Levein falls into the second tranche for me. Looking at our own strengths (not many granted) it is impossible to come to the conclusion that we are able to field enough defensively aware, intelligent players to fit the managers preferred formation. No Paul Lamberts in this squad. Instead, Levein decides to play this formation and fit square pegs into round holes. For example, show me a game where a debutant international striker is deployed as a wide midfielder? When did Stephen Naismith become capable of playing the role given to him? Bottom line is Levein chose a system of play that we are not capable of playing and ignored systems/formations that players work with week in week out. Indefensible! As for the shortbread and Irn Bru dig, lets just say that I am tired of Scottish national managers trawling the depths of English journeymen (some who are approached time after time and reject time after time) who are not capable of getting a game for their own nation. It is wrong on many levels but two in particular. Firstly, it devalues the honour (and it always should be!) of wearing a Scotland jersey as those selected have no affinity with the nation. It is not possible to turn on and off your national pride to suit the circumstances. Secondly it provides no incentive for young Scottish players in our game who watch continually as any Tom, Dick or Phil is selected ahead of them out of nowhere. Imagine the scenario where a Ross Tokley for example, playing at his peak, watched a journeyman pro with no connection with Scotland jump gthe queue for a full back place following two or three call offs? It is wrong. It woul be slightly more tolerable if they were any good but they're not! People who chose to live, make their home and contribute to the Scottish society are different. I will be delighted to see the young Somalian born kid at Celtic (good player!) finally play for his country, Scotland. He sounds Scottish, he lives in Scotland, he is Scottish. He may not eat shortbread of drink Irn Bru but there is absolutely no doubt that this is his nation. Not something Phil Bardsley can say is it.....,.

Still not over the sheer humiliation of this "performance". The blame and full responsibility lies solely at Levein's door. First of all this is a very poor Czech team. A group of average players plus Tomas Rosicky. Not for a second were we facing the likes of Koller, Smicer, Berger, Poborsky or Nedved but our manager, in his wisdom and only his, set us up in a formation doomed to fail from the start. Sitting in is one thing but to show abject negativity against a side of this stature is worthy of a P45. Levein's supporters (and I'm sure there has to be some?) will blame our lack of quality players for his selection. Granted this may well be the case when facing Argentina in Beunos Aires or Brazil in the Maracana Stadium but not against the poorest Czech side in decades. For me, we have players more than capable of having a go at a side of this stature and it was our manager's tactics that cost us. His decision to omit Miller for Mackie is baffling. Miller, like him or not, has proven his work rate and goal scoring record at most levels he has played throughout his career. Levein picked debutant Mackie and didn't even play him in his position! Don't get me started on the begging to Phil Bardsley! I know full well what we are as a football nation these days but all I ask is to have a go when it's merited, play with a little passion and at least give the poor sods who spend a fortune following their country a wee bit of value. That, and pick Scots!

Are you talking about the Paul McStay who played for Linlithgow Rose in the late 1970s? Seriously, you cannot be talking about the one who played for Celtic? A hugely talented midfielder who through blind loyalty and stupidity turned down every top English club at some point in his career to stay in Glasgow. One of the best box to box players of his era, he suffered from playing in one of the poorest Celtic sides in years (before Barnes and Mowbray granted!) and could hardly be described as a sideways player. For the record he also played for his country with pride and passion, never refused the jersey and despite (commonplace at that time), as a Celtic player, getting considerable abuse from sections fo the Tartan Army in the same was as his peers such as Brian McClair never once criticised or questioned. As for Ferguson (or anyone else who turns their back on Scotland), no thanks.

Fair point about Taylor. He does have the advantage of nearly 400 games in the top two English leagues though.

In the old set up I would have posted this in the Rumours Section, so Mods, please feel free to move if I am in the wrong place. Told today (by someone in the know) that JT has asked to go on loan (wasn't sure he could but apparently he can move to England) as he has been told by Nigel Worthington if he doesn't play he will not be selected for Northern Ireland. If true, this makes you think he was told he would be first choice before coming here. A reduced wage bill and a boy from Drum in?

Not for me I'm afraid. As a player I feel he adds little that is not already more than adaquately covered by Roy. He has shown little desire to be here in the past, couldn't get away fast enough when his loan deal expired (usual excuses and I imagine nothing has changed in his family life now?) and rejected previous signing deals. Now, with him and his agent having trawled the SPL (and Dundee) for a deal without success -"It's an honour and a joy to play for ICT" which roughly translated means - "I have nowhere else to go!" Will get my full support when/if he plays but would much rather TB had taken another punt with a youngster who has potential, desire and most of all wanted to come to Inverness,

Pity Minnie wasn't still alive, they could have played a back three!

The fact they finished the previous season in a higher league seems to have escaped you. Why stop there though, seed by points gained in the previous league campaign. 1. Rangers 2. Celtic 3. Livingston 4. ICT. 5. Stirling 6. Alloa ........etc. That would produce tasty cup ties like Stirling v Falkirk, that's not really fair on Stirling is it? Oh wait..... No, they finished in a non SFL league. ICT are the SFL champions. They are not the champions of Scotland, Britain, Europe or the world. But they are the champions of the Scottish Football League. Go figure. Entry to this competition is not restricted to member clubs of theSFL. If it was your stance would be perfectly valid but as it is not the case it is logical that the seeded teams come from those who finished highest. After all, if the SPL wasn't viewed as a higher standard then why did we all party when we won promotion to it? Granted part of the celebration was winning the SFL Division 1 but for most the biggest part is knowing that we are back in the top flight!!!!

Home to Rangers for me. Big gate, big corporate income and a chance.

I'm not expecting any more transfer activity. Securing important guys like Foran, Hayes and Ryan and bringing in Tuffey (still think it's a big back up keeper!), Gillett, Innes, McCann and Blumer keeps this poster happy and will probably have taken care of the wage bill for the season. But if TB and the board pull out a surprise fine.

More tupperware? That's all my Granny ever had in hers.

If it was any other club other John Boyle's, I would have great sympathy. However, as OCG mentions, he is guilty working the system to deny players the wages they were entitled to. Some of them were kids who were left with nothing. What goes around comes around Frankie!!

Rosscoe could be out for a wee while after Sunday's performance?

Glad about that. Hope your wrong and I'm right !

Only a matter of time before Levein has him in the Scotland squad!

Agree Harry. Absolute joke that Levein has overlooked Esson, Bell and Alexander. Scouting talent and working the system is one thing but surely the objective should be to bring in talent that is better than we already have?