Renegade

Has he been worth since January the ?100,000 offered for him by that Russian club?

Tokely IS signed up for next season. There was a clause in his contract IIRC that said if he played X amount of games last season he could activate this clause. He played enough games (it was something 15 I think) and I seen in the press that he has indeed activated this.

I think it's safe to say that there'll probably be a friendly against Clach at Grant Street as well.

I thought Nick Ross was miles better than he has been at other times of the reason and seemed more like the player he was at the start of it. Obviously that goal against Hibs has given him a bit of a boost. Also thought Aaron Doran played well - wouldn't mind seeing him back next season.

With the new season only just 60-something days away, there is no doubt that new signings will be at the forefront of the mind of Terry Butcher - but what kind of players to sign, is also something of great importance. One of the great successes of last season was the return and eventual departure of Mixu Paatelainen and his Kilmarnock side. I only saw that side play live once last season, but they were a joy to watch. Always working the ball on the ground, looking to attack. I truly believe that this is something that ICT should next season replicate. Would Killie have had such a successful season had it not been for the adoption of this style? I don't think so. History has shown us the an ICT side that tries to attack, keeps the ball on the deck and uses the full width of the field of play, is a more successful ICT side than one that looks to hoof it up the park at every opportunity, often losing possession and even matches in the process. Remember the old adage - "It's better to have one win and one loss, than two draws". Attacking football is the simplist way to victory and it is a style that Butcher must get the team to play if he truly wants to grasp a place in the promised land of the top six. And his signings should reflect this - not looking at players who are big and use nothing but brute force, but those who are swift, skilful and intelligent. This would give ICT a real fighting chance to achieve a top six place next season.

From all the research I've done, the only form of international football Invincibile has playes was for U-20s back in 1999. He was called up for a senior friendly in 2009 but had not been and has not since. he is still yet to be fully capped for the Socceroos.

Richie Hart was a very good player, when played in the centre of the midfield. A bit wasted on the wing in the Christie years, but certainly a good player.

Not if they have a parent who's an EU national, as they could then apply for a dual passport. A couple of years ago, Hearts had quite a few Australians in the Under 19/Reserve squads (Rocky Visconte being one I remember, mainly due to his great name!) and I also recollect Simon Storey at Partick Thistle and later Airdrie. Danny Invinicible is also another obvious one. None of them have ever played at the required international level.

And here's something to add on next signings and where they might be coming. I seem to recollect over a year ago when Boardroom Banter was still on the go, it was mentioned that ICT had a number of links with Australian clubs and we would see a number of young Australian players coming over for a trial. As of yet, there hasn't been any to come, but I wonder if that could change this time round.

Besides the stupid decision in getting rid of Duncan and Munro, there's nobody that Butcher's getting rid of who I'd really lose sleep over. Odhiambo was not good enough, Blumenshtein was always injured and Max Johnson was never going to play anyway. Golabek, Innes and McBain are all getting on a bit. Hogg I would've liked to have kept but if he wants away then that's fair enough. The only one I would put into the "Maybe" category is Dani Sanchez. I liked him as he seemed quite good on the ball and offered something a little bit different. Again though, I won't lose any sleep over it.

Steve Watt was the big centre-half ICT were crying out for after Dods left. How Brewster thought Phil McGuire was better than him was beyond me!

That'll be the season he dislocated his shoulder and only played 16 games and got a handful of last minute sub appearances. The 98 other goals he scored for us more than covers that minor blip....don't you think? Well the majority of the other goals you mention where in his first spell when he was undoubtedly a fantastic player, but the second time round he was a mere shadow of his former self.

There's a few for me really. Obviously the first one that comes to mind is Niculae. What a lot of people seem to have forgotten is that despite about a month over the turn of the year of 2007 to 2008 where he played fairly well, on the whole he wasn't really that good. At times he would show glimpses of class, but a good chunk of the time he either seemed uninterested, unfit, or simply not that great. Eight SPL goals isn't exactly a good record for an international SPL striker. In fact, that SPL record is only three more than Grant Munro got in all competitions in the season just finished! I certainly wouldn't rate him as high as Rooney or Foran. Another obvious one is Dean McDonald. Loved by some sections of the support for some reason, despite the fact he was pretty terrible. All he did was wave at us! Garry Wood was thought to be the next up and coming player, when in truth, he really wasn't that great. This could be said for Zander Sutherland too. A controversial entry perhaps but Dennis Wyness is his second spell was absolute rubbish. IIRC he got one season a grand total of THREE goals! Getting rid of him was one of the few things Brewster got right! Have to disagree about Phil McGuire and Andy Barrowman though. They were never rated by anybody!

Tuffey Tokely Hogg Munro Doran Duncan Ross Gillet Sutherland Rooney Foran Subs - Esson, Golabek, Innes, Odhiambo, Cox, Duff, MacDonald

Nothing to lose, so a 3-4-3 for me and going all-out-attack - Esson Tokely Munro Gillet Sutherland Morrison Cox Doran MacDonald Rooney Foran Subs - Tuffey, Ross, Innes, Golabek, Odhiambo, Duff, Sanchez

Or even better, let me be manager for the last two games! After all, there's nothing to lose!

I wonder if two of those playing will be the two Brazilian boys who were on trial with Kilmarnock last week. After all, it's not unusual for foreign players to have trials with a couple of different clubs when they are in a different country.

By no means a classic. When are ICT going to learn that the long ball simply doesn't work? Duff was the main perpetrator of this, who incidentally I thought lived up to surname today as he was rather abysmal. How Butcher's offering him a new deal I'll never know. I also thought Eric was once again terrible so I won't be sad to see him go. ICT seemed to take a step up when Rooney came and it seemed to add a bit more bite, something that was lacking when MacDonald was playing. Good to see Munro get MOTM, hopefully Butcher changes his mind about that one, and I also thought that Kenny Gillet once again produced an admirable performance.

That geezer took charge of the St Johnstone v ICT game a couple of weeks ago. I thought he was okay that night.

Renegade says aye.

That's interesting as I was told a couple of months ago that Butcher and Munro had fallen out. Something about the captaincy apparently.

Esson Tokely Hogg Munro Gillet Sutherland Cox Duncan Doran Rooney MacDonald Subs - Tuffey, Innes, Golabek, Duff, Odhiambo, Ross, Morrison

That's an apples and oranges analogy. First of all, Vigurs was young player who had only been at the club for a relatively short time. Duncan has played consistently and consistently well for over a decade. ICT weren't always noticeably better or worse, whether Vigurs played or not. It is pretty much indisputable that ICT are a far superior team when Duncan plays. Questions were asked, and rumours surfaced in early 2009, that Vigurs in training was either late, didn't turn up, or simply came across as lazy and uninterested. No-one can doubt that passion and commitment that Duncan has and continues to have for ICT.

With Duncan offski, a new battler is needed in the midfield. Who is available of that sort, I really don't know. As Hamilton look doomed, they'll probably have a bit of a clear out, so would Simon Mensing do a job? Linked to come here before and is a bit of a battler in that region. He can also play in quite a few positions too IIRC. Would he be an acquisition worth looking at?

Sorry but I don't think someone dressed as a bear in a cardboard tank with tracks drawn in felt tip pen on the side would ever set me off, whatever the circumstance. Get a grip!