caleyboy

Likewise, I would like to see us get these boys on board as soon as we can afford to but again it's down to how Yogi sees it and how much we can afford to pay: Billy Mckay (Highly unlikely unless his agent fails to find him a better deal) Marley Watkins (A must) David Raven (A must) Danny Devine (Good to have in squad but if he gets a better deal elsewhere we could replace him) Nick Ross (Done well recently and has earned a new contract) Josh Meekings ( A must) I think Yogi has proved to his doubters that he is a very capable manager and I'm sure he knows what areas he needs to boost. Hopefully he has some irons in the fire already.

I agree with you DD and I think we may hear from the dandy dons before the end of he week. However, I don't see the reasoning behind our board wanting a substantial fee mainly because of the following reasons : A fee, no matter how big or small is better than nothing at all - and we need the money! we have ready made replacements at FB and MF so we don't need to spend on a replacement. IMO can afford to let him go now without any major weakening of our team

Maybe so but unless we double their salaries we will not keep them .The money is the motivator -particularly where we have been over the last 3 years as we are a successful top 6 club To pay them what they are being offered we need an extra 2/3000 coming through the gate at home games Much as we enjoy where we are at present keeping our top players isn't going to happen in the near future and at least we keep them for 2 or 3 seasons now instead of the 1 year contracts we used to have Rocky I take your point But the playing field is not level, when we are up against a club which was living on borrowing to a massive amount now living basically on unearned income due to a bail out by a local benefactor. They were taking our players before the local firms cash injection. Where is the morality in that? Sorry to say morals don't sit well in football Laurence

The issue here is not the fact that the boy has decided to move on and better himself - he's quite within his rights to do so and if our contract offer was not good enough to keep him - that's our fault, for whatever reason! The issue is should Yogi continue to play him? Yogi will make that decision and time will tell if the decision is right or wrong. IMO the club has players (still in contract beyond this season) who don't get much game time- players who will never improve without it so should we not be giving them a chance instead of playing someone we won't have next season?

We have one Laurence, he is already playing left back.

It's not a question of "blame" it's a question of who do we play from now on. We have a very capable replacement for him at left back and we have a selection of midfield players wanting to show the boss they are worth their place. I'm sure if we were in his position we would have done exactly the same but personally, knowing the club has ample cover, I would not expect to retain my place in the team.

OK, I see where you are coming from even although you don't seem to see my opinion on the subject. Yes, he is still contracted to this club so why would he sign a PC in January knowing full well that he would be obligated to us until the end of the season? My view is that he and Aberdeen would like the deal done now and they are waiting for our call to bring this forward (Aberdeen don't have a fit left back at the moment.) They are playing a game with us and we should do our best to get something instead of nothing out of the deal. If we had placed him on the transfer list at the beginning of January we would at least have had a little bit of control over the matter. With regard to "willing and able to play to the best of his ability" is concerned I really don't see how anyone can give their all knowing full well that their current employer's success could quite easily ruin his future employer's chances of winning a European place! Let me put this to you - If you are a highly regarded employee employed by company A and give them three months notice that you are moving to one of their serious competitors, how do you think they would react and what action do you think they would take? I can see your point I just don't agree with it. I don't think placing him on the transfer list at the beginning of the month would have made any difference. If he wanted to hold on and go to Aberdeen next season he could not be forced to sign for any other club no matter what they might have offered us. A bit like GMS signing a pre contract with Celtic when Dundee United had offers on the table to pay a transfer fee from other clubs. Absolutely fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion and I'm sure we all only have one objective - seeing ICT do as well as possible. Maybe the outcome of us placing Shinnie on the transfer list would have had the same result but what I mean is this club being proactive in the market instead of us be reactive. I may be totally wrong but I think you may still see GMS move to Celtic this week.

OK, I see where you are coming from even although you don't seem to see my opinion on the subject. Yes, he is still contracted to this club so why would he sign a PC in January knowing full well that he would be obligated to us until the end of the season? My view is that he and Aberdeen would like the deal done now and they are waiting for our call to bring this forward (Aberdeen don't have a fit left back at the moment.) They are playing a game with us and we should do our best to get something instead of nothing out of the deal. If we had placed him on the transfer list at the beginning of January we would at least have had a little bit of control over the matter. With regard to "willing and able to play to the best of his ability" is concerned I really don't see how anyone can give their all knowing full well that their current employer's success could quite easily ruin his future employer's chances of winning a European place! Let me put this to you - If you are a highly regarded employee employed by company A and give them three months notice that you are moving to one of their serious competitors, how do you think they would react and what action do you think they would take?

I, like you have my views on the subject and my only interest is ICT - not individuals. You are stating the obvious when you say it's the manager's decision but I would like to see him give those who have pledged their future to ICT given their chance.

Just how does that benefit anyone ? It will benefit OUR players who are presently sitting on the bench!

I may be blinkered but I just cannot see why or how we can play anyone who has pledged his future to a DIRECT competitor. He should not only be removed from the first team squad he should also not take up the place of one of our young pros in the Development Squad. Sorry to all you Shinnie supporters but IMO he is history!

Never mind benching him - just tell the Dons he will not play at all if they don't come up with the cash and take him now

IMO we should do exactly what Shinnie has done and tell him he is no longer part of our future plans and just get on with our season without him! Why on earth sign a PC in January? I would be contacting Aberdeen now to get a few quid as there is no way he will be focused on ICT

We need the money so lets invite offers before it's too late - as usual!

Pele just couldn't cope with him

Sorry Sneckboy but I can't agree that results are not significant at this level. Yes it is all about player development but these boys need to be measured against similar opposition and results are normally a good gauge on how we are getting on. My personal feeling is that a club of our size would benefit more from a Reserve League which gives our squad players and quality youngsters a regular game. This may mean that we only have one or two boys taken in to the full-time set up each year but these boys would at least be training each day with our first team players which would improve them no end.

I believe the rules relating to agents is/has changed recently. Registration used to be quite expensive and regulative but I am told that the conditions have now been drastically eased and opens the market to anyone without having to lodge a "bond". If this is correct - Look out!

I can see us getting a few quid for Shinnie and McKay in the window and I don't know if the club can afford to refuse a good offer for Christie

Just a wee feeling he may be gone in January cos we need the money!

Brilliant recognition. We all know how much Yogi rates the boy but I wonder what has been done to protect the club interests? I know he is serving his apprenticeship with us and I'm sure he would benefit by another season or two with us learning under Yogi and Russell. I wonder what incentive we have given to him to stay as long possible or maybe we are looking to cash him in during the window in January - I'm sure there are many interested parties waiting to try and get him as cheap as possible.

Doesn't it make you laugh! I don't do walking away but if I resign my salary will go back up to £750k for the next 12 months. FFS I'm now sprinting!!!! (for the first time in my life)

If Brora win the HFL and the play offs, they will take the money and refuse promotion to the SFL!

I am confident Yogi will get it sorted. Yes we got humped but maybe that is a good thing and hopefully it will bring us back down to earth. Thoughts - wee Chrisie back in, Tremarco in at left back, Shinnie pushed forward (before he goes in January)?

A very important part of any players life. Do our "U20" squad have a professionally supervised strength and conditioning programme built into their "education"?

And to you and yours IHE