Sneckboy

Highland League Stuart Leslie (Forres Mechanics 1-2 Nairn County)

Richie Foran X X Y Graeme Shinnie Y Y Y X Aoran Doran YY Ross Draper Y Billy McKay Y Y Y Y Y Y Y X X X James Vincent Y Nick Ross YY

You mentioned you were unwell, I hope you feel better soon. x

The observation I made at the end regarding Draper and Warren not being out at the same time, is now no longer applicable! Assuming the next 2 games go-ahead, Drapes is now scheduled to miss the Dundee United and Aberdeen games, with Warren's suspension being for the Aberdeen game.

I couldn't get it to play last night due to rubbish internet connection - but from what I can gather, I've saved myself 4 and a half minutes. Off to make a cup of tea in the free-time I've gained!

That's the very definition of the word, 'hypothetical'! (but, yeah, I wonder If he would?!)

Even our Official website has Warren on 'only' 5 yellows from league games. Similarly, Soccerbase has him on 5. However, on closer inspection, Soccerbase haven't counted the booking in the abandoned game. And the official website has completely missed a booking on the opening day vs. St Mirren. So, a combination of the two sites does give the total as 6! As noted, he'll miss the Aberdeen game, which is when Draper's allowed back after his ban. They won't be missing at the same time.

It was never announced. But cup gates don't count towards official attendance statistics. It seems only league games are included.

There were far too many folk on this forum 'talking-up' Hughes when he came here. Artificial, fawning over a complete managerial journeyman. It's interesting to look back at the 'New Manager thread' to see just who was apparently, 'actually quite pleased' (or more!) at his appointment. Obviously won't specifically name the posters, but the thread's there to view. It's strange how it's gone silent - those folk who lauded his 'motivational skills' and 'work ethic' and 'good record'(!) etc. aren't quite so vocal now in expressing their faux ("must support the club whatever") delight at JH's appointment. I kid you not, but some 'happy clappers' would find a positive in ANYTHING the club did. That's not being a fan, but rather naively trusting blindly and unquestioningly the choice of a businessman who knows little about actuall football. No wonder Bennett wanted to distance himself. Say,Hughes appointed Tich MacCooey as assistant manager but didn't tell us until much later it was a wind-up, I guarantee there'd be support for MacCooey on here! 'Good local contacts' and other meaningless sound bites. I was scathing from the off, but am now convinced he doesn't fit here. He's somehow struggling to impart his ideas onto the players - maybe he's lost them already. But we've got Hughes for the season and for all of next. And the season after that! Let's get used to mediocrity.

Good luck to him. A prolific scorer in Northern Ireland's top league before coming to us - I'm sure he'll re-discover his form back 'home'. Ironically, he's got a good chance of playing in Europe next year!

Why do so many folk refer to Polworth as Polwarth!?

Obviously a red-card means an automatic suspension for Ross Draper. But, I'm not sure about Gary Warren. Yes, that's 6 cautions he's now on, but only 5 of them have come in league games. He may still be available for Motherwell! Even if the total of 6 is taken into account, doesn't the suspension 'kick-in' after the next game? .... allowing him to play on Saturday? I think he'll be available, but then again, there's still a lot of sherry swimming about my body. (from the trifle)

I'd be very surprised if Butcher didn't make an approach for an ICT player in this transfer window. Fortunately, a lot of our guys are in contracts beyond this season: I don't think Hibs have money to throw around, so hopefully we'll be okay on that front. However, players who are out of contract at the end of the season, could be 'vulnerable'. i.e., James Vincent, Carl Tremarco, Ben Greenhalgh, Conor Pepper, Matty Cooper, Danny Williams and Ross Draper. He's hit-the-ground-running in Edinburgh and will be looking to add more quality. Obviously knows ICT inside-out and will know exactly what player(s) from us will compliment his team. I think Draper might be the guy he's after - to link him up with Tudur-Jones again...that was a fairly effective partnership for us.

I can't see what writing to the club's going to achieve. They have no control over individuals' ignorance. It's society to blame. Disabled parking spaces are abused all the time.

Nothing wrong with 4th, Theeagle! We've never finished higher!

I think we're actually well placed in all positions except striker. Not sure what John Hughes will do with Toby? It would probably be wise to give him a deal until the end of the season. Our next top scorers after Billy are, (jointly), Doran and Foran on 4 goals! If Billy got injured we'd likely have problems finding the net without overhauling our system. There are, of course, two players of potential in the U20's - Calum Ferguson and Ali Sutherland. But realistically, we do need to bring in a forward with experience. Not even wanting to contemplate Billy leaving next month.

I was only counting our away record against St. Mirren, Alex, to 'counter' the poster who felt we had a relatively poor return in Paisley.

ICT's record in Paisley against St. Mirren is more than decent! All-time, all competitions... Played 22, won 9, drawn 8, lost 5. (averaging 1.6 points per game) More recently, since our return to the 'SPL', Played 7, won 3, drawn 3, lost 1. (averaging 1.7 points per game)

League Two Garry Wood (East Stirlingshire 2-2 Montrose) Rory McAllister TWO GOALS (Berwick Rangers 1-3 Peterhead) Shane Sutherland (Annan Athletic 2-1 Elgin City) Highland League Richie Hart (Brora Rangers 2-1 Wick academy) Martin Bavidge (Formartine United 1-1 Inverurie Loco Works)

Merry Xmas Renegade. I liked your post, there. Articulated much of what I've been thinking and feeling. I spent Christmas down-south in the company of (amongst others) a Dundee fan who roundly mocked ICT's backward step in appointing Hughes. To be honest, I found it hard to justify the board's choice despite my best efforts. I'd argue black-was-white when it comes to 'defending' Caley Thistle, but I eventually conceded that JH was certainly not who I had in mind as the man to take us forward! Interestingly, as an outsider, he was aware that a "long-serving, senior director" resigned during the recruitment process...maybe something we've not given enough credence to. Yes, we're all loyal to our team and defend them to the hilt, but it's also okay to acknowledge a catastrophic error. I'm sure most 'diehard' Cardiff City supporters are, today, disgusted by their Chaiman's decision to sack their boss. Being a fan doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with every decision your club makes. One doesn't have to toe-the-part-line to be 100% behind the club. Managers come-and-go. The club is the constant. It's unrealistic to expect us to get the managerial appointment right all the time. Beating Hearts in the League Cup semi is a very realistic expectation but won't 'prove' Hughes is the right man. He'd simply be in the right man in the right place at the right time. Pass the sherry...

Boxing Day English League Two Sam Winnall TWO GOALS + SENT OFF (Bury 2-2 Scunthorpe United)

Just have to hope we give Partick a good stuffing so that you don't look a right turkey for going!

A few comments regarding Doran being a bit 'off-the-boil' again yesterday. I wasn't at the Aberdeen game so can't justifiably comment but he has maybe lost a bit of his early season spark. I wouldn't like to level an accusation of a professional player being in a comfort-zone but maybe it would be beneficial to rest him for a few games as it would also demonstrate that nobody can be guaranteed an automatic pick. Again, not wanting to cast aspersions but has this dip coincided with his signing of his 3 year contract? Maybe it's just taken away some urgency or hunger and as mentioned has resulted in hi slipping into a comfort-zone.

League Two Rory McAllister HAT-TRICK!!! (Peterhead 3-1 Stirling Albion) Highland League Martin Bavidge TWO GOALS (Inverurie Loco Works 7-0 Rothes) Don't want to highlight Barry Robson's goals for obvious reasons....!

That's him with 5 bookings now but I think it's 6 before incurring a suspension. I know he's also got 2 cup bookings but I assume these only count towards those competitions. So, I will tentatively say that I think Draper will be okay for the Partick game!