Renegade

I saw Hayes today all slinged up. Saw Cox and Proctor the other week too - they looked fine.

Moving from my earlier comments on Butcher and running the course etc. Even if Butcher was to go/be sacked today (which I do not support by the way) or any time in the near future, there really isn't anyone out there either waiting in the wings or in general, who would be better and take the job. Jimmy Calderwood? Nah I'd doubt he'd be much better TBH. The return of Robertson? Nah, he's had his time. There's really no-one out there that would take the job and be better than the incumbent. I'll just add as well, that whenever the time comes that Butcher does move on, I won't at all be surprised to see a foreign manager come in. Don't know why, but that's the feeling I get.

Wasn't Richard Hastings' brother the fitness coach?

I see a few people have Ross as starting. I always maintain that he's a better player when he comes on as a sub rather than when he starts. I'll also add as well, ICT need to keep the ball on the deck for this game, and they should with every one - long ball football will do no-one any good.

Of course a dislocated shoulder is one of these things that only come now and again and can't really be helped (Wyness was perhaps the last - he and Dargo had it at the same time IIRC in '06/07), but Black's record for "regular" football injuries (muscle tears etc) is apparently second to none. Some also seem to be saying that confidence doesn't seem too high at ICT right now - this is the kind of man who could motivate them better than anyone. On the Wilkinson example - while you are correct, presumably you're more likely to get these sorts of injuries in rugby than in football - but he has credited Black with turning him into a World Cup winner.

Not the worst, but not a particularly good one. I suppose technically the worst defeat ever was the cup defeat by Partick Thistle a few years ago (they were in the second division IIRC) - nearly got beat in the first game and then couldn't beat them in 120 minutes in the replay, before losing on penalties. This one is bad but not as bad as that - and that was the Scottish Cup too.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I wonder if the training is the reason for so many injuries. Now, I'm no expert on fitness coaching but perhaps there are procedures and things they are doing every day that are detrimental to their condition. Now, this is where a possible new signing could come in. There is a well known fitness coach named Steve Black who is widely regarded as one of the best coaches and motivators in the world. He's worked with Sunderland, Newcastle, Huddersfield, the Welsh rugby team and most notably he's credited with training Johnny Wilkinson, along with many others. Apparently his injury record at Huddersfield was one of the best in the game and is supposedly due to some of his "revolutionary" ideas to fitness. Perhaps making a move at signing him, would be better than any player.

A must win game. An attacking 4-3-3 for me - Esson Piermayr Tokely Hogg G.Shinnie Morrison Foran Tansey Tade Sutherland Doran Subs - Tuffey, A.Shinnie, Golobart, Ross, Greig, Polworth, Laing

Presumably he's being saved for Saturday.

The fact of the matter is, no he isn't and nor should he be, though he seems to be in some people's eyes. Getting rid of Duncan was daft and getting rid of Munro was particularly stupid and the team is not as good without them. While I am not calling for his head, perhaps with this result and this start to the season, he should ask himself whether he has taken this club as far as he can. Kind of reminds me of the old Bela Guttman adage - "The third season is the killer". Perhaps that rings true in this case too.

Possibly dislocated shoulder according to Chick. Brilliant........

That's interesting. I always thought he could do quite well there.

Presumably - Tuffey Tokely Hogg Golobart Shinnie Hayes Piermayr Morrison Doran Sutherland Foran I'm sure I read somewhere that Piermayr can play as a central midfielder as well as at right back.

That's good. Even though I've only seen him and most the youth players once, he was the one that really impressed me and looks like a player who could really go places (even if he is only about 5 foot!).

That's a shame, I rated him quite highly. Another Steve Watt it seems.

If it were me, while I would wish Munro well, I would stay pretty much neutral, but hope for witnessing an entertaining game.

How to that winger Greig get on? He looked good when I saw him.

While I don't anything about him, his record seems pretty good, as well as what others have said about him. I think though, Butcher doesn't seem to spend money on players, in fact I think the only player he ever paid a fee for was when he was at Motherwell and who's names escapes me.

HT - Ayr 1-1 ICT FT - Ayr 1-3 ICT Ayr 1st scorer - Robets ICT 1st scorer - Hogg Attendance - 948

Gornell actually went to Shrewsbury instead and played for Accrington Stanley last season. He actually did want to come, as the terms were agreed but it was the compensation to the latter that stopped it. Your point still stands though.

What an arrogant ignoramus. First of all you say that you want to see attacking, entertaining football and then go on to say that you supported was Wimbledon - a team known for making their way up the leagues playing a brutal, diabolical style of football. You also say words to the effect that there is no-one more dedicated to supporting teams through thick and thin than you - so why is it when the going gets tough at ICT, you jump ship? That makes the statement you made, obviously utter rubbish. You say the "last team you follow was Wimbledon", but you gave up on them as well - especially when they folded and had to rebuild themselves. Some supporter you are! Your statement seems to suggest as well that there were other teams before that, again proves your statement to be utter rubbish (and Wimbledon is hardly a local club to someone from Lancashire!). Want to see a supporter more dedicated then you? Maybe have a look at the couple of thousand people who go the Caley Stadium on cold winter nights. They are a more dedicated group of football fans than you will ever be. Perhaps a change of attitude a change towards us wouldn't go a miss either - but simply we don't care if you don't come back - no-one will miss you. Goodnight and God bless

I've been quite impressed with Aldred so far TBH.

Technically he is - just not really a goal scoring one.

Tuffey Piermayr Tokely Hogg Shinnie Ross Foran Tansey Tade Sutherland Hayes Subs - Esson, Doran, Golobart, Aldred, Morrison An attacking 4-3-3 for me - move Foran into a dominating midfield role where he did well for a time last season, with Ross and Tansey as the creative men. Give Tuffey a chance in goal with Sutherland playing centre-forward with Hayes moved into the forward line.

I wonder if the problem is that Butcher still doesn't know his best team yet. Players who have previously started every game like Tade dropping to the bench and players like Morrison and Andrew Shinnie who barely featured at all start the game. To me that says he's still not sure who to play and I think that's a problem. All the games so far, all the training, all the friendly matches - he should of known weeks ago - and certainly chopping and changing things in this manner, will help no-one - particularly him.