Renegade

Here's a good joke for you - "I really want John 'Yogi' Hughes as ICT manager," said three people!

This appointment - Fully expect us to sign some vagabond like Derek Riordan in January, before going on another managerial merry-go-round in the not too distant future.

I've spoken to someone in the past who was at very close quarters with Hughes at one of his previous clubs. He waxed lyrical about his motivational skills and his coaching of the youth players, which I don't doubt at all. Apart from that though, what does he really bring to the table? His record on the whole, is rather poor. Promoted with Falkirk before narrowly missing out on relegation (at the expense of us!) and then rather unspectacular spells at Hibs and Livingston (prior to which he also failed to get the Swindon job), before being sacked by Hartlepool (tough job, but sacked and relegated nonetheless). He essentially got the Livi job (a team in the league below), with a better CV than what he has now, so to get the job with us in mind boggling. Has he brought something to table though, that has put him over the top, such as bringing his Director of Football from Livingston John Collins, with him for example? Has that been the pivotal moment? If he is indeed the new manager after all this speculation over the last few weeks though, what an anticlimax it will be. I'm sure I won't be the only one who'll feel rather disappointed.

The Courier still seem pretty sure it'll be Hartley - http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/ICT-very-close-in-appointing-new-manager-02122013.htm

I think on the whole, Hughes would be OK but nothing more. If he really is still in the running, I'm very surprised he's made it this far, but I don't see how he could take the club forward at all. He's not exactly an appointment that's going to make people jump out of their seats shouting 'yipee!' is he.

I'll guess that Gary Locke is about to be booted from Hearts following their record equalling defeat yesterday. And what young, promising manager who is ex-Hearts would be the ideal replacement? I don't think they could afford to replace Locke with me the way things are with them right now!

Henrik Larsson?

I don't know if they still do it, but a few years ago, Falkirk brought out a subscription thing, where it was something like £4 a month and you could watch all Falkirk league games live online, as long as you were outside the UK. I don't know the ins and outs of how it works mind, but that's what they did/do. Would something like that ever be looked at?

Seeming George Burley has removed himself from the running due to Inverness being "too far away". Must've be told he ain't getting it then!

McBookie are suggesting that the final two are Paul Hartley and John Hughes. Probably nonsense, but it is possible. If it is is true then, Hughes might be okay, but surely it has to be Hartley. He ticks almost all the boxes.

I thought on the whole it was a rather mediocre performance. Ok, we did the job but the first half was boring as anything, and quite often we picked the wrong option, too sloppy in possession and nowhere near decisive enough. The defence was fine (apart from one calamitous moment) and Mckay and Watkins looked dangerous. Doran was good, but I really wish he'd work on his final ball a bit more and his shooting from outside the box is not very good at all. Polworth was okay, but I doubt he is really ready for the first team yet, and too often goes for the "Hollywood Pass", which were often poor and overhit. As others were saying, I thought Draper had a poor game and hasn't looked anywhere close recently to what he was like last season. Morton really did look like a bottom of the table side and their keeper kept them in it. Dougie Imrie seems to have gone backwards as a players, while Nacho Novo probably didn't break a sweat and looks to have gobbled up all the pies he can find! Glad to be in the hat for the next round, but we should of been better I think.

Supposedly Richard Gough is interested in the job. Nah.

Billy Reid's a classic example of someone who stayed too long at one club (did quite well at Clyde prior to that). Got Accies promoted and brought through some great players, before turning down Swansea and then things went a bit sour. His team towards the end of their time in the SPL was rather poor and the 5-4-1 anti-football they were playing was dreadful to watch. Missed out on the Airdrie job lately as well apparently.

Haven't heard either mentioned about since Butcher went. Kevin MacDonald was quite high in the odds for a while and IMO could have been a good choice. MacPherson wouldn't be that great I don't think. Chances are MacPherson has not been interviewed, and MacDonald did not apply or declined to be interviewed.

Supposedly, Hartley was at the Hibs-Accies U20 game on Tuesday. Now I know he used to play for both teams, but I wonder if he checking some stuff out for later fixtures he could be involved in.

Also, after failing big time at Leicester, he took over at Raith Rovers (then in Division 2) and is supposedly statistically one of their worst managers ever (one win in seven games or something). If we go for him and he fails big time, which is not impossible at all, you can't say the warning signs weren't there.

I've heard essentially that it will not be Henrik Larsson.

What about sticking Pepper in where Foran is? Looked good there in the U20s.

His handling of the media was poor as well, which doesn't help the fact he also comes across as one of the dullest men on Earth! I was also routinely horrified by his regular attire as Scotland manager, particularly the time he was pictured with a terrible flip-flop/stubble combo, before taking the match against Brazil, where in-turn he looked in the dugout like he'd slept the night before in a Soho doorway!

After the Hartley excitement earlier in the week, if it was someone else to get the job (unless it was somebody really good of course), I'd be rather disappointed. I think he'd fit this club perfectly, and we could well miss out on a man who could be a great success at a rival club. Levein, Sutton and the like, fill me with dread to be honest.

Seemingly Henrik Larsson is favourite to take over Falkenbergs in the Swedish top league.

Doncaster claims the date and time were the only options, despite Aberdeen offering Pittodrie. For that reason alone, Doncaster is a liar. What an odious, odious man.

I take it Hartley's on the list?

I doubt either of those two would be any good to be honest. Can you give us a hint? Is a certain Swede on it?

I'd much rather Hartley than Levein to be honest. We've got a great attacking team here. Levein's neanderthalic kick and rush tactics are not welcome.