Renegade

Oh dear a little jealous are we? But seriously, I have no idea how happy or unhappy McBain is just now, but I am led to believe that a certain large SPL sent scouts to the Albion game just to look at Cox. I'll give you a clue, they play in blue.

Some of you may be interested to know that my inside info is that Duncan is very unhappy about not getting his place at the moment. He could be the next to go. And Cox might be away sooner than expected too. A certain SPL sides scouts were having a look at him.

My mistake never saw it :crazy07: Though I am led to believe that Morrison and Sutherland will be away on loan next, with Ross and Allison staying put.

According to the Daily Record, Daniel Park has gone on loan to Keith.

I for one would love to see ICT try out three at the back at home. It worked excellently under Steve Paterson, who was very big on the 3-5-2. It was more entertaining, but what did it win us? 3rd Division Title and promotion to Divison One.

IIRC I put up a link to a Latvian when Bulvitis signed, that said he could play centre-back or left or right back. Don't know how good he is round there though.

I for one would love to see ICT try out three at the back at home. It worked excellently under Steve Paterson, who was very big on the 3-5-2. I'd like to see 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 being used at home a lot more often, unfortunately Mr Butcher and Mr Malpas seem to think that the extremely predictable 4-4-2 or worse the 4-5-1 are the only two formations allowed in football. 4-3-3 is also an option I'd consider but worry with that would be that it might be too narrow for the likes of Hayes, Eagle and Imrie. For me attacking football has to return especially at home. Teams that play attacking football are almost always far more successful than the "punt-and-hope-to-the-big-guy-up-front" style that a lot seem to do with now. I know some will say that games are won and lost in the midfield which may be true in some cases, but if you keep the ball up you the other end, then you don't need as many in defense. Also, if you play one up front, the centre-back can deal with him for the full backs can go forward and attack (if you were playing four across the back), meaning the other team have to hold more back to defend. To me it just makes sense to play attacking football at home, but my only worry at the moment with three across the back is do ICT have the right sort of defenders to do it? Tokely is the only one with any real presense in the defense at the moment and the likes of Djebi-Zadi would be too unpredictable to be part of a three man back line. What is needed in the transfer window is a big centre-half, someone who could play well in a three man defence, a Bobby Mann to slip in between Tokely and Munro.

I'm not trying to justify having 33 players on the books. I just reckon that a decent right winger and predominantly a big centre-half (perhaps as well a sub keeper, though not so deserately) are needed to be brought in for ICT to succeed. Doesn't matter if others like Tokely or Proctor can "play" there, cause a new one is needed. Ok?

ICT may have cover, but are they any good? The other thing with all that "cover" is that none of them are natural centre-backs. They might alleged be known as players wo can play there, but that doesn't mean their any good. And here's anothe thing, Proctor had long spells at centre-back under Brew and was rubbish. Tokely's inability to play there are one of the reasons ICT were relegated. I've no idea how good Golabek is at centre-back and Lionel would just be too nuts. Of those players you put: Sutherland - Plays right back I think, never seen him so can't comment on how good he is. Proctor - Played centre-back under Brew was hopless every time. Djebi-Zadi - Don't want him there, causes it would probably be disasterous. Shinnie - A left back and a small one at that. Can't see him doing a good job at centre-back.

What about Mark de Vries? Played for Dundee United a couple of seasons back after going on loan from Leicester. Playing for a second tier Dutch side just now.

GK - I've seem Allison twice and felt each time he was dodgy. I would like to see a decent and affordable keeper being brought in to compete with Esson. RB - Tokely is obviously the first choice and there's enough to fill in with Proctor, Cox, Stratford and Duncan all able to fill in there. CB - This is a place where someone is needed. Munro is looking good this season, but I'm still no convinced by Bulvitis (or Bull In a China Shop as I call him). Looks clumsy and error prone and has given away both a penalty and an own goal in the space of a week! Desperately need a big, commanding centre half I reckon to go in next to Munro, with Bulvitis filling in if needed. LB - Enough left backs now. Golabek seems to now be the first choice, with Djebi-Zadi slipping in if needed. There's also Shinnie waiting in the wings, who did very well against Albion, and Roy McBain who can also play at Left Back. Midfield - Enough left wingers and centre midfielders at the moment but right footed Hayes-type is needed. Ross is one but he might not be ready for a start yet. Odhiambo can also play at right wing and Foran (who is right footed), but is Odhiambo big enough and would these two be better off putted up front. Strikers - Enough for now, but a cutting edge striker like Dargo is really needed. Someone who can score for fun. Foran could get the goals but he needs someone to feed off. I'm not convinced by Sanchez yet, but Barrowman and Foran up front could be the answer with Rooney waiting in the wings.

Just thinking earlier that ICT have a real lack of centre-halves at the moment. Aside from Munro, Duff (who's now out for the season) and Bulvitis there's really no natural centre-backs at ICT. But here's the thing, if Munro and/or Bulvitis are injured/banned/has a shocker where do ICT go? I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Tokely moved back in to the middle with Proctor or Stratford filling in at right back (Cox can play right back as well but hasn't yet for ICT and I reckon his sort of player is desperately needed in the centre of the park). I for one think that would be a bad move as Tokely IMO ain't a centre-half. Proctor was always poor at centre-half and I can't see Lionel doing well there. The same goes for Golabek. So what do ICT do? From what I can see there's no decent centre-half to fill in from the bench should a problem arise and a big centre-half has to be found either now on loan or a free agent, or someone's going to have to be brought in in January, as this seems to be the one position at ICT where there is a real lack of players. The best thing to do I reckon might be to look at accomplished defenders who are in their thirties and winding down their career, to compete for a centre-back slot. Discuss.

What about the big centre-half from Ayr Kevin James?

I get the whole thing with the Work Permits but ICT and Hibs beforehand signed Thierry Gathuessi, who had only played for Cameroon once. Also Gretna signed Uruguayan Fabian Yantorno, who to date has never turned out for the Uruguayan side. How is it some players get in, and others don't?

I'd go with: ----------------------------------------Esson--------------------------------------------------- ---Tokely------------Bulvitis--------------------------Munro-------------Golabek----------- -------------Cox----------------------McBain--------------------Hayes----------------------- ------------Foran-------------------Barrowman-----------------Rooney---------------------- My advice when it comes to Lionel at left wing and leaving out Eagle. BTW - Has it occured to anyone yet that Lionel might have been left back with Golabek at left midfield as he often used to play in ICT's first couple of seaons in the SPL?

1. Stratford apparently had a shocker against Airdrie. 2. Bulvitis gives away a penalty vs Airdrie and tonight scores an OG. 3. Eagle also apparently has a poor game vs Airdrie. 4. I've been calling for Lionel to be at left wing for ages, tonight against Motherwell, low and behold he appears.....at left wing! Spooky stuff....or do I just have a knack for management?

What are the chances?

Oh well, it sounded like a good try. Sounds like Butcher's taking my advice...about time too!

Even though some folk have put their teams for tonight up on the Partick thread, I'll start one for tonights game. If the Mods want to move some of the posts over from the other thread, then please do so. I'd go with: ----------------------------------------Esson--------------------------------------------------- ---Tokely------------Bulvitis--------------------------Munro-------------Golabek----------- -------------Cox----------------------McBain--------------------Hayes----------------------- ------------Foran-------------------Barrowman-----------------Rooney---------------------- Subs - Proctor, Djebi-Zadi, Sanchez, Duncan, Eagle I'd go with an attacking 4-3-3 for tonight. Bulvitis moves back in as I'd want to play 4 across the back to counter-act the attacking style of Motherwell. Eagle and Stratford are dropped, with McBain coming back in to the middle. I did consider Duncan but I reckon McBain is the slightly better of the two. Tokely should make his usual runs forward with Cox pinging the ball wide to him, and Hayes should make long runs down the left as he usually does. Golabek should also try to get forward at times as well. I'd go with three strikers in Foran, Barrowman and Rooney. From what I've seen Foran has the right idea but needs some one to feed off. He'd get this from Barrowman and Rooney, with this also be an opportunity for these two to prove themselves.

From what I've seen, bar Cox and Hayes, most of Butcher's signings have been pretty poor. You truly are ignorant. Care to explain how I am "ignorant"? I take it though, one of the reasons is that I refuse to believe that Butcher's isn't some God-like figure that you think he is.

Highlights I know it's a bit late but I see the Partick v ICT highlights are now up on youtube.

Is it just me or are half of your posts just digs at me? Please point to where I said I wanted Butcher sacked. I haven't called for him to be sacked, I just feel he wasn't the right man for the job in the first place. No point sacking him. It would be far too costly and I reckon he'll be gone at the end of the season anyway.

Oh aye that's right. If Butcher was the man for the job, he'd have gone into the final game of the season, the relegation decider and most important game in ICT history, playing an experienced and accomplished goalkeeper. Did he do that? No. He went, due to his own ego, with a mediocre keeper in Michael Fraser. A goalie who was already essentially away, poor at coming for crosses and horrific at distribution. He also stuck with him for a number of previous games where his lack of ability not to concede goals cost ICT immensly, a number of goals that chances are wouldn't have been conceded had the better keeper, Ryan Esson been in goal. These are not the acts of a "man for the job".

I don't, not anymore. I was actually quite keen on bringing Butcher in before and when his name was being touted both before and when Brew was booted out, but now I wish someone else had gotten the job. If Butcher was the man for the job, he'd have kept ICT in the SPL. Did he do that? No. If Butcher was the man for the job, he would've tried to keep the best players, especially the best younger ones that ICT had. Did he do that? No. Vigurs played about 10 minutes during Butcher's first game and then disappeared. Duff seems to be another one who was one for the future and a decent player just now but seems to have disappeared under Butcher. He now has a bad injury and I won't be at all surprised if he's the next one out the door, with this injury possibly being the excuse. If Butcher was the man for the job, he would've made some decent signings. Has he done that? No. If Butcher was the man for the job, he would've offered a very capable player a contract. Did he do that? No. Pavels Mihadjuks was a very capable centre-half from the little I saw of him and was very highly thought of by the fans. He was also a capable player in a position where ICT had desperately needed a capable player in that position, since the departure of Darren Dods. Whether he would've signed it or not is one thing, but not to even offer him one was madness. If Butcher was the man for the job he'd have a proven record at other clubs showing how good he can be. Did/Does he have a capable record? No. Observe - Sunderland - SACKED. Coventry City - SACKED. Motherwell - Finished bottom in his first season, and was only saved by Brockville. He may have finished 6th and 8th in the coming seasons ahead, but would he have kept his job had Falkirk had the capablities to replace Motherwell, the team that should have been relelgated? Perhaps not. Sydney FC - SACKED. Brentford - SACKED. Do you see a pattern arising here? Doesn't even look like a mediocre record to me, rather a pretty poor one. And last and certainy not least, if Butcher was the man for the job he would've gone into the final game of the season, the relegation decider and the most important game in ICT history, playing a simple and steady formation and team selection. Did he do that? No. He played Tokely out of position at centre-half, and played Mihadjuks, a very capable centre-half at right back, a position he had never played before. Utter madness. One things almost certain in my mind now though, and that's that ICT will probably not be in the SPL next season and should that be the case, I highly doubt that Butcher will not be here next season, should ICT not be promoted.