Renegade

And how do you do that then? That's like putting icing on your caked before it's been baked!

What "goal-scoring" ability? He hasn't scored or looked like scoring for ages. And anyway, it could be argued that if Sanchez (or someone of that ilk) played instead, ICT as a team would score more goals and play better as a team, even with the lack of the inclusion of Odhiambo. Sometimes the best players are the ones who create the goals, not just the ones that score them.

My guess is that before he was getting on the bench (as well as some game time) because there were fewer players to choose from due to injuries and what not. Now that the team is bigger again, it could well be that in Butcher's mind he is now further down the pecking order and thus is not on the bench due to the inclusions of others, Gil Blumenshtein being a prime example.

Esson Duff Tokely Munro Gillet Cox Duncan Foran Sanchez Rooney Sutherland Subs - Tuffey, Shinnie, McBain, Innes, Bluemshtein, Ross, Odhiambo

Holy Smokes!!!

I was saying ICT should make a move for de Rosario years ago!

Whilst all that is true, I would suggest you forgot the bit about how we (and the opposition) know virtually nothing of the player either having not seen him for months ...... Perhaps Butcher saw something in training that we do not hve the opportunity to see and thought he could do something in the final few moments. Not really, if Butcher had indeed seen something then he would've put him on far far earlier than the 89th minute, or started him in the first place. And anyway, with the way the game had gone, Butcher could've thrown Lionel Messi at that point and it wouldn't have made any difference. Had he put Gil and Odhiambo on at about the hour mark, then that would have made sense and possibly changed the game, but by the 80th it was essentially lost.

For me, this game, with the way Kilamrnock play right now, it's important that ICT win this in the midfield. For that reason and the fact that Hayes is out, I'm going to go with a 4-3-3 - Esson Duff Tokely Munro Shinnie Sanchez Duncan Cox Sutherland Rooney Foran Subs - Tuffey, Odhiambo, Ross, Blumenshtein, Innes, Golabek, McBain

And so much for Butcher "unleashing" Odhiambo for the game. He came on with barely any time left and did nothing at all. And bringing on Blumenshtein - what was all that about? Seconds left to play for a player we haven't seen for months and so far has had little to any time to impress and even when he does get a game hasn't exactly set the world alight. I think Butcher's been reading from the Craig Brewster book of football management again.

I think the one thing that could be seen by the game earlier, is just how reliant on Hayes ICT are at times, so much so maybe we sometimes take him for granted. This transfer window, ICT desperately need to sign another player in that mould. Sure, there's a few players here right now that can go there - Odhiambo, Sutherland, Foran and Ross are all good players that can go there but none of those have the wing magic that Hayes has. But who to go for? Gardyne from Ross County - Could he do it? What about a return for Morais? What about making a move (again!) for Gary McKay Stevens? Would any of those players fill the void when Hayes is out? I think Morais certainly would, but would he come back and would Butcher want him? From what I've read, Butcher has noticed this and plans to make a move for a Cox and Hayes-esque playersin January. What do you make of this?

As it's Xmas I'm going with the Xmas Tree formation! - Esson Duff-----Tokely-----Munro-----Shinnie Odhiambo------Duncan---------Foran Ross-----------Cox Rooney Subs - Tuffey, Sutherland, Sanchez, McBain, Golabek, Innes, Blumanshtein

Highland News says he should he fine for Sunday.

I'm not sure on this one, McCann can be a bit hit or miss and his passing is very wayward at times. All this, along with the fact that he is very injury prone makes me less keen to keep him for longer.

ICT for 2nd place 2011!

I'm guessing one of the loan signings will be an extension of the one for Kevin McCann.

For me the biggest problem for Scottish football just now is still our mentality. This attitude some people have of "win at all costs" and worst of all "don't get beat" is something that has slowly ruined and continues to ruin the game here. Spain used to have a similar way of playing but through time, especially with the reformation from people like Cruyff they got rid of the "don't get beat" mentality to playing football in a way that was indeed, playing football. And where are Spain now? Of course I'm not saying that if Scotland changed it's mentality that they'd become world champions but I feel that there's some problem when the manager of the national team sees no problem with playing with no strikers against a rather mediocre opponent such as the Czech Republic. And with that mentality we won't be seeing Scotland at a World Cup for quite a long time. There's a saying in the Latin countries that in Britain you teach players to win by any means, while elsewhere they teach how to play the game, and winning comes later. That's the mentality we should have. Was it not Mourinho of all people who said that when you are not afraid to lose you have more chances to win? I'm quite glad to also say that ICT are a side who try and win every game and not try not to lose, even against the bigger clubs. That's almost certainly one of the reasons that the club was promoted last season and are still on such a good run (it's also interesting to note, that Brewster's "don't get beat" attitude is essentially what the relegated the club in the first place). A 10 team SPL will do nothing to help the standard of football in this country, if anything it'll more likely make it worse. A bigger SPL is the way forward, where young players can grow, teams can not be afraid to have a go and the standard of Scottish football can get back to a decent level again.

Did anyone else spot Beattie's (I think it was him) blatant attempt at getting Tokely sent off in the second half. IIRC it was not long after Tokely had been booked, there was a moment when the ball was in the Rangers half and with Tokely jogging towards the half way line when Beattie ran past and literally went flying, in an obvious attempt at getting Tokely sent off. It wasn't like he tripped over, he went down more like he doing his most pathetic impression of a dying swan. If that's not cheating I don't know what is!

Can't see Butcher going back to Motherwell. It's not impossible but I can't see it myself.

Brown has now officially resigned as Motherwell boss. Essentially he is now the Aberdeen manager.

Looks like he's got bigger fish to fry http://www.mirror.co...15875-22763199/

True, but I was more alluding to the point that it's interesting that two unrelated people heard the same story in two unrelated places. That fact that they both say Butcher wants it is one thing, but what interests me is that both post mention Malpas's feelings. With that in mind I think that the chances of Butcher leaving could be more likely than we would be lead to or would like to believe.

Isn't that what Paterson said when he signed a new five year deal.............and then went to Aberdeen about a week later?

Interesting post here from the Aberdeen forum - Butcher is definitely interested in the job - the lack of a statement to the contrary is proof of that. Compenstaion to ICT isn't too bad due to clauses in his contract (which only has 6 months to go) and that ICT owe some money to Dons (for what, I know not). Personal terms are not likely to be too much of a struggle. Biggest stumbling blocks to this becoming a done deal is that Butch is looking for certain guarantees as to budget for January transfer window and also that out of the two ICT coaches, Malpas is the one apparently having a wobble at the thought of joining Dons. The poster then goes onto say that Brewster is the stand-by.

Oh God, I hope the inevitable doesn't happen and ICT are left with Maurice to run the show! That would be my worst nightmare.

I see Aberdeen have sacked there last five managers as I think Alex Miller got the boot as well.