Renegade

One thing I noticed on Saturday and it's been the same over the last couple of games, is that Roberts looks like a passenger much of the time. He obviously has ability but is he fully fit? As was reported recently, playing at SPL speed is different to playing at Arsenal reserves or U19 speed. There's also been times when he's looked shattered after about an hour of play. Perhaps with this in mind, he'd be better off coming off the bench in the second half where he can go full pelt and work between the lines, with twenty minutes to go than from being on from the start. Also, did anyone else notice the Kilmarnock's mascot's head fall off? I thought it was quite funny!

Interesting that Butcher talks about his change of managerial style this year. If this is something he's going to pursue with, surely he'd be better off sat up in the stand again. After all, you can barely see a thing from pitch level.

Just looked at the highlights, the Dunfermline one wasn't live in the UK as far as I know, the highlights are from the coverage that night.

Not sure. I seem to recollect though that they were both on Sky.

Would I be right in saying that if that is true, it would be the first time ICT have ever been live on "terrestrial TV"? Discounting BBC Alba, Sky, Setanta and ESPN etc. as far as I'm aware, ICT have never been shown live on BBC 1 or 2, nor ITV. That Rangers game at Tannadice in the mid-90s might have been, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Incorrect. Levein had one of the best pools of players since France 98. He was the man who the chose dreadful 4-6-0, he was the man who acted appallingly throughout is tenure, in interviews and what not. And don't get me started on his dress sense! This idea that "Scotland have rubbish players and thus the manager will make no difference" is factually incorrect. Norway didn't exactly have a great pool of players in the 1990s, yet they were at one stage second in the Fifa rankings. How did they do that? Tactics. Greece had a pool probably somewhat better than Scotland's at Euro 2004, but still nothing compared to other countries and were 100-1 to win it prior to the start of the tournament, yet they managed to do it. How? Not by luck, but tactics. And for someone based in New Zealand, I'm sure you also watched the All Whites perform admirably during the last World Cup, despite being classed in the British press as "rubbish" prior to the tournament. They were the only team to remain undefeated throughout the thing and had they scored one more goal would have qualified for the next round. The tactics Ricki Herbert used were one of the reasons for this, and on another day, his 3-4-3/4-3-3 system which made New Zealand an almost impenetrable force would've seen them through. That's what Scotland need, an astute tactician who get results. Ricki Herbert for Scotland!

Not if he's very good at it, and even if that did happen once or twice (as seen in the video of Hans Butt), if the keeper really was a penalty specialist (like Chilavert and Rogerio Ceni), then the amount that would be missed and the opposition then scoring would be fairly low in comparison to the amount of penalties actually scored.

I've watched Esson do something in the warm-up a few times that suggests he might be quite good at the old penalties. He would take one step and whack it left footed into the top corner and he'd get it bang on every time. He might be someone who could place a good penalty better than some of the outfield players.

Funnily enough, I was playing Football Manager recently and Dundee United signed someone called Dave Shinnie or something like that. True story!

No, it's usually the earlier rounds of the League Cup that are seeded, this one's a bit of a free for all.

Going by some reports, Draper is injured, so I'd go - Reguero Raven Warren Meekings G.Shinnie Jones Doran---------------------------Pepper A.Shinnie Foran McKay Subs - Esson, Morrison, Sutherland, Roberts, Oswell, Brislen-Hall, Cooper Roberts looked off the pace yesterday, so I'd have him coming off the bench. Sometimes I feel McKay needs someone along side him, particularly at home games, so I've gone for Foran as well up top.

If Foran isn't on, apart from McKay, I'd wouldn't mind seeing Jones taking them. There's something about the way he hits the ball that to me gives the impression that he'd be one of those players who are good at placing them.

Finishing-wise I would say Rooney was the better of the too, but McKay has a far better work rate.

Bring back Golobart!

That was my first thought as well.

What can I say that hasn't already been said? ICT were excellent. Had it been a horse race, the horse would've fallen at the second hurdle and would have had to be put down. ICT were fantastic. Granted, the first half was fairly even but the second half was pure bombardment. ICT took the game to Rangers and were all the better for it. Gone are the days of hoofing it long and hoping for the best, this was attacking clinical football. All were fantastic; Reguero was good, Meekings and particularly Warren were strong and sturdy, the Shinnies were excellent, Doran was a constant threat, McKay ran himself into the ground, Jones and Draper passed it superbly, breaking up almost every Sevco attack before it could even get started and David Raven played out of his skin. Roberts was fairly quiet to begin with, but came into the game more as it went on. Even Pepper was dangerous in the little time that was left. The momentum is with ICT now. We CAN win the cup.

But the first to beat them. I told you so!

Who'd have thought you get deemed a bigot (or biggot on this case), just by using the word "the"!

But the first to beat them.

Aye I think that's him.

Was he the number 10? If he was (and I didn't recognise him at the time), I thought he was very good. Edit - I'd probably have been able to tell you from the picture in that link, but by the looks of things he wishes to remain anonymous!

The team are on a good run just know, and credit must go the management for the part they played in that. There are though, still many months of the season ahead and many battles still to fight.

Did anyone else see that big flag the County fans unveiled just before kick off? You can see it on the highlights. It's a big demented looking thing, showing what the spawn of an eagle and thistle would be! I thought it was quite funny actually!

The only time I recollect it happening was the Elgin game in the cup a couple of seasons back, when the Elgin keeper got it (to be fair he was very good). I thought at the time though that maybe because it was a cup game, things might be different. Seems about half the time though I don't know which game the choosers are watching!

Reguero can play as both a striker and a keeper apparently.