Renegade

I think we'll almost certainly see a defence of - Proctor-----Tokely-----Bulvitis-----Golabek For Cox, I (sadly) think that Stratocaster will keep his place.

Telt. :D I see you have nothing to say again. I don't really know what you'd describe as "cracking" about it. A lot of the time it is long ball football, and still a somewhat defensive mindset for large chunks of games. The only time ICT play good attacking football, from what I can see, is only (like the last game) in the last few minutes, or in the second half when a more urgent style of play is being brought in and ICT are going all out for a winner (or equaliser if the case may be).

Where's the clutching at straws smiley? Anyway, as I said earlier these are two different scenarios. If ICT went 4-4-2 today, and it didn't work, then yes by all means the formation can be changed back, but that is a very different scenario than the team selection for the last game of last season. Of course that won't be good enough for though will it...? :D Not always a case of something "not working", but when something has run it's course. I am firmly in the "if it aint broke dont fix it" camp too ...... 4-2-3-1 may not be the most orthodox formation, and it may not be easy on the lone striker for much of the game but in our case it is working and that striker - the division's top scorer by a country mile - is not suffering too much as it is easily adaptable for the attacking players to get up and support him. If we were actually losing games or not scoring goals then maybe you might have a point Renegade but quite frankly this suggestion seems ludicrous in the extreme as we go into the last 5 games especially as we all know that it takes time for players to get to grips with any new formation or system. True, but things do run their courses, and IMO it has now happened with this.

That's an apples and oranges scenario. There's a bit of difference in the shape a team are fielded in and playing Pavels Mihadjuks out of position. Say a 4-4-2 was played against Morton in the next game, and in the first half it clearly wasn't working, then of course, as I said earlier, a formational switch could be made to something that the team feels more familiar and comfortable with. After all, there's still something like four or five games left of the season. Comparing a belief that a formation has run it's course with four or five games to go, and the incident of puting a centre-half in at right back for the most important game of last season, are two very different things.

Of course, if that was to happen, it could always be changed back. I don't always go along with that range of thinking. Just because something isn't "broken", doesn't mean that something shouldn't change. It's really all a natural part of evolution. Look at it this way, in the olden days people used wagons pulled by horses to get their goods from place to place. It did the job, but when the lorry came, the wagon was stopped being used. Not necessarily because of it being "broken", but the fact that something better came along, it was time to move on and use something else. And so it is with this. At times, the 4-2-3-1 formation being used by ICT is seen to be ineffective. Rooney at times is ineffective due to being completely isolated and a lack of support. I read an article a couple of weeks ago about Johan Cryuff (who obviously played and managered using a straight 4-3-3). I recollect him saying that in the 4-5-1 if the striker gets the ball, who does he pass to? And it's the case here. I've seen Rooney pick up the ball many times and lose possession, by no fault of his own, rather via a lack of support. This formation has been used by ICT up until now, but it's time to go out and win this league through courage, attack and determination to score as many goals as possible. That isn't as possible to do, using this formation. It's time for a change.

HT - Morton 1-1 ICT FT - Morton 1-2 ICT Morton 1st scorer - Simmonds ICT 1st scorer - Cox Attendance - 1,615

Does anyone else feel that the 4-5-1/4-2-3-1 thing has run it's course? Personally I think it has. Despite the recent successes on the pitch for ICT, I feel that for the final push for the title, something fresher and more attacking has to brought out. (Remember the last time ICT won it, Robbo commonly used the 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 that season). Does anyone else feel it's time for a change, and if so what?

There you are

That's not Butcher, that's John Doherty!

Despite my views on the recent performances of Odhiambo, by no means do I think he's a bad player. He's just being played in the wrong position. From what I can see, Odhiambo is one of those players who need space to run into and to attack. He's a quick player, but he can't use that to his advantage in the midfield melee that he is placed in. It doesn't help matters for him too that he is a somewhat small and lightweight player. If it were the case that Hayes or Eagle were put in that position, the same calls and problems would come up. Both of those aforementioned players are not built for, nor feel naturally playing in that position, and it is the same with Odhiambo. Put Sanchez back in there, as he is more accustomed to playing there, and use Odhiambo where he can used and use what he has best, either partnering Rooney as another striker, or out on the right wing.

There really is no pleasing you! Yes there is. I'm always happy. :D And anyway, just because someone's slow, doesn't mean they're bad.

Not at all. Just because once, he has beaten a couple of centre backs and scored doesn't prove anything. I've even seen Tokely hit the gas!

It was good, but it wasn't that good!

Match Highlights There you go. B)

I see someone's actually given five points to Odhiambo! Unbelievable!

Did anyone else think that Tade looked quite a player yesterday? He was big, quick and looked pretty skillfull too. There was one moment as well when he ran down the right wing in the second half, weaved his way round the ICT defenders, went into the box, weaved about again, skipped over a tackle, then lost the ball, and then got it back again. Sign him up please.

When this new company started I was quite eager to try them out and see what the hype was all about. I personally have bought a pie before matches pretty religiously over the last few years, but after the rip off price I paid for it and the shoddy product I received, I haven't had one since. I think since then I've bought one bovril a few months ago, and a Coke against Motherwell (which tasted about 90% old water). Haven't had anything since, and nor will I until things change in a big big way.

The 4-3-3, that's the way forward. :finger03:

I agree with you to a certain extent. After seeing most of the teams in the division this year, none look really outstanding. Dunfermline are now out of the running and county - who I thought were going to be our main challengers latterly have the distraction of the cup and the four games in a week at the end. Did you see the Dundee v QoS game? Dundee were dire. I didn't, but even if that were the case I still wouldn't right them off yet. It's not over till it's over, or so they say.

Aye that's him. Could still do with a back up for Esson mind.

Well let's put that to the test with Odhiambo - Eric has a good touch - No Eric had a good touch in the opposition half - No Eric can pass - No Eric can pass in the opposition half - No You say about goals, well sometimes scoring goals isn't everything. When Sanchez is playing, ICT always play better football. ICT is also one of those sides where usually if they play good football and keep the ball down, they usually create more chances. Maybe Sanchez doesn't score as many, but he certainly plays more of a part in a good team display when he's in the squad. Odhiambo does nothing but get clattered every 10 seconds.

I am thinking positive. I'm very optimistic about ICT's title challenge, for the record I think the club has an unbelievable chance. Saying "I BELIEVE" and all that is fine, and creates a positive mindset BUT saying that the club has already won it, when they quite clearly haven't, comes across as being extremely arrogant, and more often than not, is the kiss of death. Saying "I think we've won" - fine. Saying "We've won it" - big no no.

I went - Foran Hayes Cox IIRC

Will this mean that Munro is banned for next Saturday? I thought I heard somewhere that he was very close to being suspended.

I thought he got off lightly. Munro had his hands all over him.