caleyboy

I believe that but he must have taken the reigns from you last Friday!

Let's waken up and smell the coffee - we can't afford to qualify for Europe - so let's just concentrate on finishing as high as we can. I don't know how much each place in top six is worth but the money can be spent on better things!

Seemingly County spent nigh on £700k getting their grass pitch sorted.

I've never got the impression that Yogi wants to abandon the attacking game...far from it. He just views the squad as having the potential to play it on the deck with a bit more pace and style than his predecessor. He's been saying for weeks that it's all about finding the balance and that balance was found in the match in Dingwall. The challenge now is to use that to build confidence in the squad and have them believing they can do that on a regular basis. I don't think he has tried to change things as much as some people make out...although he has had a lot of change forced upon him through injury, suspension and schedule. The exact same thing happened to TB and will doubtless happen to us again in future. The difference now is that we have almost a full squad that has some match experience and is ready to take to the field when called upon. We also have a manager with more than one idea as to how the team can be set up to either overcome problems with injury/suspension or counter opposition tactics. Did anyone else see the fixture congestion coming back at the start of December? That is when Yogi would have been forming his plan for the remainder of the season. Not saying you can't/shouldn't deviate from that plan to react to stuff that comes up, but there's little to be gained from doing a complete u-turn on it. All that does is put doubt in the mind of your players...especially if you have their buy-in and belief of the new stuff your introducing. We don't know that playing any differently would have yielded better results...in fact the only evidence we have on which to base any real thoughts on that is previous seasons and massive dips in form at the turn of the year were a regular occurrence under TB using the "don't change a thing and keep shoe-horning players into unsuitable positions" philosophy he adopted. If anything, logic shows that without change a dip was highly probable...on that basis, is not better to at least try something different in an attempt to achieve a better outcome? Had we not had a managerial change we could very well have been sitting in the exact same position as we are now. Some would be arguing that TB had run the course with us and couldn't take us any further, others would be hammering him for failing to adapt/change to the situation, others would be defending him on the basis that we're punching above our weight and were in top 6 for second year running....blabbidy blabbidy blah. (Slight tangent in response to remarks on negativity/criticism and not at all in relation to the quoted posted) All that discussion around are the team playing the best, are they set up the best, should the manager do this or that, the manager is the best thing since pre-sliced bagels etc is all fantastic stuff...and it;s what I used to enjoy about partaking in the forum. These days there's an almost constant underlying tones of vitriol, abuse, personal digs and damn right nastiness which is either aimed directly at other posters or at the manager, players, club, CJT...everything basically. Anyone who thinks for one second that such things fall within the bounds of constructive criticism is seriously deluded. We seem to have slipped into a world where people don't know the difference between abuse/critique and CTO becomes more and more of a cesspit every day as a result. I withdrew my assistance as a moderator/admin on the forums partly because of pressure of work elsewhere and the difficulty from trying to wear too many hats....but what to give up was made easier because my conscience and personal standards meant I was no longer comfortable supporting the direction that things were heading in. I don't read and/or contribute to the vast majority of the forum any more because it's not a nice place to spend any time. I find it quite literally sucks the life from me...and I say that as someone who used to get a great deal of motivation and encouragement from a lot of the discussions that took place. Very interesting CaleyD. From one who seemed to spend most of his time on CTO to one who feels "it quite literally sucks the life from me" is sad to say the least. I honestly believe that people should only criticise if they have the knowledge to do so and have a valued solution to the problem. Football is a subject that people feel they know but in reality there will be very few, if any, qualified to pass the comments they do. It makes me laugh, and sometimes annoyed, when I read some of the comments made by people who probably never kicked a ball in their lives at any reasonable level let alone at the level this club is now at. It's time some should really wind their necks in and let the professionals get on with their jobs!

As far as I'm aware, Spartans have a hybrid at their new complex and Rangers have one at Murray Park. Must be soft and flexi if rugby can be played on it.

You're right Dougal. They're all wooses nowadays. Can't beat the old days of playing in mudbaths with a 50lb wet leather ball and boots that came up to your ankles. Interesting, did you actually play then Alex?

I think Yogi is the ideal manager for our club. He's a down to earth guy, he doesn't like the long ball, he NEEDS this job, he has inherited a squad who seem to get on with him, he has given first team football to another TWO youth products (three home grown players in our squad is a massive achievement for a club which does not have the money to contribute to the programme) he's the man we can afford financially. he doesn't carry any obvious baggage by the end of this season he will have a squad playing the way HE feels is the way forward - with or without wingers money permitting ( the boards responsibility) he will do his best to sign players HE feels can do the job HE wants done. I really have confidence in this guy, I don't expect him to achieve overnight but I do believe he will get there. I also have realistic targets for our club - regular top six placing - anything else will be a bonus! Please stick with this guy - support him - make him feel wanted - make him feel a part of the family some say we are. We used to chant Butcher's name ( a man who kicked us in the teeth) and he responded in his usual way - wouldn't it be a nice gesture to treat Yogi in the same way? I'm sure his grin would be even wider!!!

No wonder, what a size he is!

Brill Raven Devine Warren Tremarco Draper Tansey.(Polworth) Watkins Christie Shinnie McKay

Tremarco In at left back and Shinnie wide left.

I always feel sorry for the kids with the good attitude but are not quite there on the skill front. They get binned toot sweet and the posers get the breaks!

Not good enough for this level

I really don't see why you bring the Old Firm into this. It's got feck all to do with our Shirt or Shirt Sponsors! As a so called Mod, I thought you could have stayed on thread.

Always thought thi was our best strip! Bring it back with a modern collar

As you state, the current Red and Black stripe away shirt "is the best selling we've ever had and the home shirt is up there amongst the top sellers as well," Maybe we should be looking at "sellability" rather than must be x% blue, x% red x% black. I personally feel Blue, White and Red stripes is most attractive!

As in every business (and don't say football is different) it is the directors responsibility to sell the product to the paying public at a price they are willing to pay. Are they achieving this? No. Can they maybe tell us what exactly they are doing about it? Don't get blinkered by this old Caley and Thistle nonsense, it's a smoke screen, I will always refer to the team as Caley but there is absolutely noting stopping ex Thistle fans calling the team Jags or Thistle! The product needs funding and sold at a cost affordable to the public.

Let's take the BEAR by the paws and re-appoint Brewster! What absolute SHARN some people talk!!!!!

Get Christie in

Well done Drapes - brilliant news!

I like the way Yogi conducts himself, I like his enthusiasm, I like his defensive setup but I'm still waiting to see how he is going to create GOALS. Give the man a chance, he seems a nice guy and deserves it.

Dave26 speaks sense. A full North Stand would be such a bonus to the team. £10 a seat for the next 3 games. If that doesn't work god knows what will!!

I think Yogi should now give Draper an ultimatum. We not only need a good finish to the season, we need to know who is here next season. If Draper is moving lets forget about him, I would even go as far as offering to cancel his contract if he is moving. That would save us his salary and let him find another club before the season ends - that will show how good an agent he has!. Christie looks to be the future so lets start him and see how he does. I'm not convinced about Polworth. Ross has a lot of good attributes but he really does need to toughen up and put himself about - then we really do have a player! I don't think we should be despondent, we have a very good choice from 2 decent keepers, 6 proven defenders and a good choice of midfielders to fit various shapes. Our problem is up front. We have a striker who can score goals but we have absolutely no options. I honestly think the future looks good but now is the time that Yogi and Latapy have to show how creative they are.

All Caley Thistle fans should be proud of what these players have achieved. OK we didn't win the trophy but defensively we were fantastic. Yogi must now concentrate on developing our attacking system and personally I would use Christie in and around Billy. Having watched him in U20 and the limited first team minutes, he is certainly good enough - he only needs the chance to prove it.

well done ocg, mikey will be looking down with pride. good to hear that some stewards are willing to assist when needed.

Christie is a must for the bench. Not so sure about Williams.