ALSY

Sorry, but I must be one of the people who isn't seeing this. What are the BIG problems we have? Relegation? Obviously most of us would prefer to still be in the SPL, but equally, most accepted that relegation for a club of our size was likely at some stage and would have seen five years in the top flight as a respectable achievement. Relegation doesn't necessarily represent the start of a terminal decline in the club's fortunes. A difficult title race? The fact that we may not go straight back up should not be blown out of all proportion: we are no more an 'SPL club' than Dundee, Partick or Dunfermline - in fact you might argue that given their histories and bigger core supports they are more 'SPL clubs' than us - and these clubs have all invested in players and management that they hope can take them up, and have already had a few seasons' experience of trying to get out of this league. Absence from the SPL has perhaps meant more financial struggle, but it has not been disastrous for these clubs, and we should not assume it will be disastrous for us either should we fail to go up at the first attempt. The apparent lack of cutting edge in the team? Do we expect a remodelled team to start getting it right on the park straight away? Remember, we have lost a few players, have some injuries and suspensions and Butcher is building on the foundation of a team that failed last season. Why should we expect the team to look like title-winning material straight away? Inevitably some of the signings won't work - the same is the case with every manager and every team. Others, however, will probably become more effective once they are better settled, and the fact that Cox and Bulivitis are already popular with the support and contributing well to the team is encouraging. The structure of the club? Many people may still have concerns about how the club is run at boardroom level, but the is relative financial stability, no drop in season tickets and there seems to be more harmony around the place in general than there was at this time last season. BIG problems, IMHO, are those faced by Livingston currently, or Gretna, Dundee and Motherwell in recent years, and ironically the problems tended to be caused by unrealistic ambition and exacerbated by knee-jerk reactions to fan opinions. By comparison, ICT are in a healthy state. I think we all fear that we could have an indifferent season, but the fact that many are prepared to be patient and continue to support the team through disappointing performances like today's does not mean that they are demonstrating an ostrich mentality towards the difficulties the team may face this season. What, after all, will booing and demanding line-up changes at this stage actually achieve?

FT 0-0. A little bit disappointing. Obviously it's very early season, but I wonder if a lack of cutting edge up front will turn out to be a problem for us? Hopefully Odihambo and Barrowman will provide us with decent options when they're available again.

Really encouraging crowd - really hope the team can score, go top and make people want to keep coming. Need a few more goals across Div 1 or my predictions are going to take a right kicking. Unfortunately Robob can't see where the goals are going to come from in our match.

Heh. County down to ten men - Gary Miller straight red for violent conduct.

Wonder what IHE makes of this? I seem to remember Everton being his second love.

I think that's quite likely if Hayes doesn't work out there: it took Butcher several games to switch Foran from wide to up front last season, and once Odihambo is fit we will have more options up front than in midfield. Personally I'd far rather see Foran up front, but he can still do a job for us playing out wide. Edited to add: I suppose another option would be to play Eagle wide right and either McBain or LDZ wide left.

It's between Whittaker and McAllister for left back I guess, with either Berra or Steven Caldwell in the middle. I'd be inclined to go with Whittaker and Berra.

Tomorrow lunchtime. I want Albion away because i've never been to Cliftonhill. Alloa or Forfar away for the same reason - preferably Alloa because Forfar will be a b*gger to get to midweek. Wouldn't mind going back to Cliftonhill either, but the way Albion have been going in the cups we might be on the end of a wee upset...

Hi K. I know how negative I sound, but it's based on a few factors. First: of all the sides likely to be challenging this season, we know less about our opponents than any of the others. True, they don't know us well either, but I don't think we necessarily have the quality to surprise them. Second: although I was impressed by Cox in particular against Utd, I think the midfield will miss Ian Black badly, and I think the sale of Iain Vigurs was also a mistake. This means we will either be relying on a midfield that is almost enitirely new forming an understanding quickly, or else we will be relying on two of our less effective players from last season - Duncan and McBain. Third: the defence is still a concern. Bulivitis looked strong against Utd, but Lionel is questionable defensively and Grant Munro has not performed as well as he is capable of since Darren Dods left the club. It will, understandably, take him time to form a partnership with Bulivitis, and I don't believe TB is right in thinking that Tokely is an adequate replacement in central defence. Fourth: how quickly will we find the best partner for Foran up front? From what I saw last season, Odihambo is the most skilful striker we have; yet Rooney was our highest scorer last season; and yet, Barrowman has the best overall record as a striker in Scottish football among our players. If we start the season badly, to what extent does TB keep faith with his original choice and to what extent does he mix and match? Fifth and finally: it might sound like superstition, but the fact is that no team has come straight back up after relegation since Hibs almost 10 years ago. Why should we be any different? History suggests that the players in any team need at least a season to reacclimatise to the new environment when they are relegated to Div 1 and I don't think we have the quality to buck that trend. Anyway K, having written all that, I think you might be absolutely right about us having a stronger squad than last year - I just feel that it may take more than one season in the SFL for the squad to realise its potential. And purely selfishly, as a supporter that goes primarily to away games, I'll happily take a couple of seasons in the first to break up the monotony of going back to the SPL grounds.

No, no, no. Would be delighted to have this thrust back in my face next May, but no.

Quite enjoyed their album myself. Saw them in Snafu in Aberdeen about a year ago. Decent. Girls Aloud are a fantastic pop act. Anyone who says otherwise is just wrong. There is no debating this issue. I think we should run out to "Something Kinda Ooh!" or maybe "Long Hot Summer". Tssk. "Biology" is clearly their greatest song. I always felt "Moving On Up" by Primal Scream would be a great song to come out to when we were still in the lower leagues. Why not take the opportunity now during our brief :( return to the first?

Tonight was the first chance I've had to see any of the new signings; took quite a while to get used to watching a midfield featuring three players I didn't know. All of them showed up well at times, but inevitably, with the players still getting to know each other and facing a strong Utd side, there were a lot of misplaced and misread passes. I came away from the game with two thoughts persisting, one hopeful and one a slight concern. Positive: Cox, Eagle, Stratford and Sanchez (assuming he signs) all look like quick, tidy ball-players, which suggests that Butcher has no intention of setting the team up to play long-ball football this season. There were a few punts from LDZ and Granty today, but for most of the game the ball was played patiently to feet, and there were a few nice moves, including the build-up to Sanchez' goal. I think pretty much everyone on here wants to see attractive football played next season, and the signs were there tonight that we might get that. Concern: with the squad pretty much in place, is there a danger we are going to lack strength in midfield and risk being over-run by more powerful sides with more experience in Div 1? Stratford, Eagle, Sanchez and Ross all looked a little lightweight at times tonight. Cox showed a bit of dig, mind you, and once his arm has fully recovered it will be easier to judge whether he could be the new Blackie. One final thought. With Richard Hastings getting fewer and fewer games for the first team, the support is being denied the opportunity to sing one of its favourite songs, viz "We all love Dick..." However, with Cox potentially becoming a lynchpin of the new ICT side, it would take just a subtle adjustment to Richard's song to give Lee his own anthem...

Decided to come up for this one. Sorry if it has been mentioned somewhere else, but could someone tell me whether it's just the main stand that will be open tonight?

Foran, Hayes and Barrowman are all definitely out for tonight, according to the Courier. No further information about the seriousness of the injuries and whether they are likely to miss the Annan game. Imrie should be available, however.

Can we expand this to include album titles? If so: A delicate sound of thunder... Live seeds... Black holes and revelations... Showtime... Three feet high and rising... Independent worm saloon... I'm going to stop now before this becomes addictive.

Unbelievable. I'm going to miss the first game unless I can figure out some way of getting to Aberdeen for 7 pm on the 8th. Have a family engagement that I can't miss, and it doesn't look like any buses or trains will get me there on time. Was going to try for a 100% record for away games this season. Wonder if I could take up driving lessons again and pass by then?... Rest of the fixtures look great though: Dens on the 22nd, Starks on October 8th, just in time for a floodlit second half.

Superb. Think a wee jaunt up to Brechin might be required.

:P Perhaps I'm just in a forgiving mood. Or trying to be optimistic about what we can do with the odds and sods that will be left in our squad come August. Your description of him above is polite compared to what I was saying about him after the Hearts away game back around September. I'm sure that come the fifth or sixth game of next season, when he's failed to score for us, I'll be calling for the display of his severed head on the unicorn outside the Eastgate 2...

Another feckin home draw! One of the things I was hoping to get out of this season and the extra cup rounds was the chance to visit a few more grounds. Never been to Annan before. Now I'm going to have to hope we get relegated again instead...

The honest answer is that we've no idea because we haven't seen enough of Barrowman playing in what seems to be his natural role: goal poacher in a team playing pressing football with wide players who can cut crosses back from the bye-line. At the start of last season Brewster did make some attempt to get the team playing passing football, but he negated the effect by playing Cowie and Imrie the wrong way round, and Barrowman didn't get the finger out half the time. Butcher opted for playing long ball on the break - understandably to some extent, given the necessity of defending well - and this doesn't seem to suit Barrowman. I thought he put in a lot more effort in the last few weeks than he had at the start of the season, but he didn't have the pace to get into the box after dropping back to win and lay off the ball. The problem is, if we lose Morais and don't sign any midfielders or wingers with pace, then I can see Butcher opting for the same tactic again, and Barrowman will probably not be much more effective in the SFL than he was in the SPL. There were glimpses last season that suggested he has a quick football brain in front of goal (e.g. the dummy in the relegation match) and this might get him some joy against Tokely-esque central defenders, but we need to see him given the chance to get into that position.

I know it's pointless saying it now it's already happened, but I hate this development. Both players (Vigurs especially) showed enough potential at SPL level to deserve a chance at SFL level, and they had the benefit of a few years' experience as part of the club. Have we let them go simply to free up wages to try to keep players who are actively looking for contracts elsewhere? And if those players do move on, will their replacements be any better than Wood and Vigurs, and will they settle into the club? Wholesale changes at a club rarely benefit it, IMO - Aberdeen and Utd were messes for years when they kept changing squads and managers. I hope TB proves me wrong, but increasingly I feel that next season could be very scrappy for us.

Very disappointed that this isn't an away draw. A scenic train jouney with time for a few beers, a nice beach and, above all, the fact that a trip to Links Park in July would be the ultimate reminder we are really back in the small time.

In principle, I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to replace the likes of Foran, Morais and Black with 3 or 4 journeyman pros who might enable us to challenge for promotion or, at least, might allow younger players to come through at their own pace and buy the management time to bring in longer-term prospects. Plenty of clubs have done it in the past: one that really springs to mind is Kilmarnock 10-15 years ago, and they are now renowned as a team that brings through excellent young players. The ICT player who was arguably the most important in winning us promotion, David Bingham, was the ultimate journeyman pro. In reality, it's not that simple. As with other aspects of the game, our location puts us at a disadvantage compared to other clubs: pros nearing the ends of their careers and settled in the central belt, for example, may not be prepared to up sticks and move to a club paying first division wages, especially if they could command similar wages nearer home. Also, how many experienced players willing to sign are there who would really make a difference to us? I can't think of too many. Jim Hamilton has been mentioned on various threads, but in the season just past, he made very little impact in a poor St Mirren team with a serious shortage of strikers. If he can't get a game for St Johnstone in the SPL, it might be worth enquiring about Paul Sheerin as a loan signing in January to fill the hole Blackie has left. Still, if TB can identify and attract a few decent, experienced names, I don't think it would be a bad idea at all.

40+ persons pay a tenner each to sponsor a players shirt. Thanks Alex. Certainly happy to be part of that.

I'm in. Someone will need to explain how it works, though - I haven't contributed in previous years.