absent friend

'No one has an issue with the team, just the way they are played by Brewster' My point is that the team did not get the recognition, for their improved performance, that they would have received had they a new manager in charge! 'against a below par Rangers outfit.' As good as you are allowed to play!! 'At the end of the day one half decent 45 minutes doesn't make a season and most of us can see the bigger picture' Are you so blinded by the cause that you feel that people like me, who feel Brewster is not the best for the club, but can appreciate when the team puts on a better show, do not realise the plight we are in? You are so wrong! ' but can we really put out the same performance against Hamilton?' Enough said!

I have come in today, having watched the match on Setanta and I am really disappointed at the negative views being expressed on here! To say that the team played above their normal is not a vote for Brewster, it is a fair comment on the game. We were slow at the start but we then played excellent football - the paper talk is that Rangers were not playing well, they only played as well as they were allowed to! It was the 47th min when the folk watching with me remarked 'I did not realise that Ferguson was even playing today?' Our team, from the back(and that includes Proctor) to the front(and that includes Barrowman), showed no fear, played football, hit the bye line for crossing and gave them a torrid time. I accept that after the second goal, heads went down BUT this was a super improvement over recent performances. Yes, we can point to errors in specific play or players but that does not mean that the TEAM, collectively, were not vastly improved. If we were against any team other than the OF, we would have had a great result. The moaning minnies will come on here and ask 'Yes, but will they do that next game?' - A good debating point but give them some credit for Sunday!! Just because we want a new manager does not mean we can not praise the team!! If this was John Robertson's first game in charge, all the positives from the match would be highlighted on here but because Brew is still there -neggie, neggie, neggie! .

As a post script to the above, it was refreshing to hear Esson shout "KEEPER" to alert his defence and leave them in no doubt as to who was going to gather the ball! I would think the regulars in the Fluke would have also heard him! .

And your choice would be??(ie instead of negative points make a positive one) I would think that only Munro/Hastings/Rossco would be in the armband option. Unlike others on here I think Rossco looks the part, big and forceful but I don't know how vocal he is. Hastings seems to also get pelters on here but he is not slow at stating his case. Munro, at the heart of the defence, must be in the ideal position for a captain but he must take more responsibility on the park and if required use a 2nd in command to do his shouting for him! In the Aberdeen team of old, Willie Miller, the captain, did not shout at anyone except McLeish and McLeish give out the verbals(I remember McKimmie, the left back, having passed the ball inside twice, was therefore not his captains 'friend' and the hit man, McLeish, was dispatched when play calmed down, to sort him out, resulting in a very heated confrontation) This shows that it can work, Munro recognising the problem and his 'boy' doing the shouting, if required. It may be that Grant is too nice a guy to shout but right now we need all the shouting we can get, on the park, from the dugout and indeed from the terracing but most of all, in the tunnel, as they make their way onto the park for the second half!! .

Were you at the Aberdeen game? If you were then you would have witnessed the fans getting behind the team for the first 60mins or so in what was probably one of the most vocal supports I've heard at the TCS in a long time. The first and second goals were met by chants IN SUPPORT of the team to try and lift them, but it did no good. I'm not saying that positive noises from the stands don't help, but as those who were at the Motherwell game will testify, even with players out their giving everything to the cause it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference...why?...because it's the tactics/setup/formation/leadership that is fundamentally flawed. Not until that is changed will we see the improvements that are needed. CD, don't get too blinded by the cause! Yes, there are managerial problems BUT if you can accept that the misplaced passes, headers, ball control under pressure, finishing and marking are all related to your tactics/etc, I think you are wrong. The problems were related to a nervous bunch of players, lacking in confidence, trying very hard. If we had a player on the park that had the ability to stand on the ball, look and pass, we could have won the game and could also be a great wee team, with little problems. Yes, Bewster is a big problem but do not absolve the players to get at him. They also have to stand up and be counted at this time!

Johnny, I think you should also add a collective stickie for the team, as I feel that both they and Grantie need a boot up the butt for their lack of return on the park and lack of leadership on and off the park. Therefore Grantie should be reduced to 3 and the team given a collective 3! Once they cross the line Brew cannot head the ball in the correct direction for them. Brew cannot pass the ball to opposition all the time from the dugout. Brew cannot run onto the park and make Porter 'face' his man - in fact I think Porter ducks for the goal where he is between the attacker and the line. Surely Brew did not teach him that! The team captain is however on the park and he can take action immediately. That did not happen or was not evident. I watched Ronaldo having his throat squeezed last night, albeit by an opposing defender but I would have been happy to see Grant offering this to Proctor as a wake up call! Watching the punch up in the EPL, between teammates, maybe that is what is lacking in our team - PRIDE in their performance.

just finished watching game on ALBA. yeah we huffed and puffed but we have zero quality and were really all over the place. On this showing im dreading next weeks game!!! could get a real canning I also watched the game on Alba yesterday and I would agree more with IHE's comments, above! I do believe that this current team could be well away from the foot of the table, given a degree of confidence. I do think they were trying too hard, they have the ability but yesterday they could not do right for doing wrong! Passes, headers that on another day could be OK were all going astray. I don't think Motherwell were that far ahead of them and indeed the stats show that. (Except for the goals against!!) Proctor however was so bad and I can not believe that Brew does not give Duff a game. He is already good and can only get better playing with/against the big boys. However, it comes down to the managers ability to infuse that confidence and I would suggest, anyone listening to him after the match, must be aware that the guy is shot to bits. How can he raise the spirits of his team when he is so down himself?? His verbal contribution was rather like a rabbit caught in the headlights, having no plans for any movement to save himself or the team. That is the second week he has praised players in the other team!! He should be praising the work his own players are doing, Esson and Rossco both deserved mention by their manager and this could be seen as some indication of positivity, instead of that, McGhee will be using Brewster's praise to bolster his players confidence.

Fact - His contract runs out in six months time and he can move then and take the cash Fact - He was a ballboy there, his dad played there, Georgie is home. Fact - if he goes now we get money and we need it. Fact - If he has signed with his heart and not his head, like Robbo, he could regret the move. Fact - We are a selling club, this is a good piece of business. Fact - Brewster, for all his faults, probably played very little part in this. It would be Ian and his agent getting the best terms on offer.

Does this mean we can now put this anti Brew thing on the backburner for the Festive period and concentrate on supporting the boys on the park, instead of barracking the guys in the dugout!

Talking for the majority, I see, Smee! All 161 that voted to replace Brewster out of how many! That's all the 161 that goes and watches his tactics every week and come on here passing comment on the play and then gives him the thumbs down and then state that a large section of them, do not even go to the games! That's the 161 that watched the first part of Saturdays game and APPLAUDED their team on for the play and enthusiasm. Aye right!! Now your above point - How in the heck can you defend a position of bottom of the league? I can't , but that is in the past!! We are now in the present. Can we move up the league? Future. Of course we can. Smee, prove to me that we can't! Smee, prove to me that with Brewster out, we will not be relegated under the replacement. Now I am not pro Brew BUT changing for change sake does not guarantee success - you have to provide an non emotional selection that we can afford, that will come and give us a guarantee of staying up. The Board will decide - they will do the best for the club and if that be replacing the manager - so be it. If a change takes place I would like to think that all this hostility being generated towards the club will be diverted into support! Not pro Brew , aye right . Why don't you take the trouble to research past posts and you will find that from the Brewster appointment, I was opposed to his return! What seems strange to me is that you can reply in this way to points I was making. At least the other replies are thought out and offer content for reflection. .

Talking for the majority, I see, Smee! All 161 that voted to replace Brewster out of how many! That's all the 161 that goes and watches his tactics every week and come on here passing comment on the play and then gives him the thumbs down and then state that a large section of them, do not even go to the games! That's the 161 that watched the first part of Saturdays game and APPLAUDED their team on for the play and enthusiasm. Aye right!! Now your above point - How in the heck can you defend a position of bottom of the league? I can't , but that is in the past!! We are now in the present. Can we move up the league? Future. Of course we can. Smee, prove to me that we can't! Smee, prove to me that with Brewster out, we will not be relegated under the replacement. Now I am not pro Brew BUT changing for change sake does not guarantee success - you have to provide an non emotional selection that we can afford, that will come and give us a guarantee of staying up. The Board will decide - they will do the best for the club and if that be replacing the manager - so be it. If a change takes place I would like to think that all this hostility being generated towards the club will be diverted into support!

or just don't ******* turn up??? You aren't representing ALL the fans point of view so I would appreciate if you all kept your mouth shut until at least after 90 minutes. That way you wont affect the players performance.... and you never know we might even come away with 3 points Not turing up would be the best possible way to show our discust. I was never any good at maths, but how would the team perform when over 80% of fans voting brewster out dont turn up. would that be good for the players moral? 161 not being present, from a turnout of circa 5000, is not going to be missed and as was mentioned already this will be put down to Christmas shopping! 161 is never at any time an 80% figure if you are considering the % that want Brew out - just consider the number that were prepared to add their physical support, on this board, when the opportunity was there! Out of 161, can we agree maybe 10 at a push!

I don't suppose it will matter too much this time. Given our current home form, we will already be 2 or 3 down by then ! Well, well, nothing like injecting a bit of positive thinking into the proceedings!! I suppose with this attitude you can only win, if we do get beat it is a matter of "I told you so" - if we win, who cares what was said, it will be lost in the mists of BIG T! (I would hope this would be the dram this weekend, in memory of Big Jock)

This, to me, is when the manager/assistant should be screaming from the touchline to sort it out and maybe therein hangs a tale!! Anyway, tactics for Saturday! Why can we not just adopt the tactics we used at Parkhead? Ball on the deck, quick passing, running off the defender, it was all there to see, so we can do it! I would also like to see our player slinging the ball across, having the guts to carry it another, say, 10 yards to have the maximum effect. A cross from 20/25 yards out is easily dealt with by the defence or keeper as they have time to take action but coming in from nearer the bye line is a different matter. Players getting in each others way having been turned, now facing their own goal....panic! It is not by chance that Man Utd make for the bye line so often and cross back towards the penalty spot - defence confused, possible tap in goal. To sum up - no big punt out of defence to Diamond & Co unless one on one - attack down wings using short sharp passing - feed forwards from bye line - and last, feed Sone to Rossco!! Brew your job is easy! Does this now qualify me as an armchair manager?

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If, as a player, your damn good at your job, taking the hard earned money off people who can ill afford it through the gate receipts, who have traveled countless miles to see you perform - not bothering your a@se - then you are very very guilty!! The players, if you are correct, need to get a reality check - this is 2008/2009 - no-one has the right to a job and if you have one, you had better perform to your best, irrespective of managerial politics. If they are not bothering to put in a shift, move them on! So much for the players! As stated before, I have a problem with this whole black and white thing! Players need a punt up the rear, the board needs a punt up the rear and our manager needs.....to improve! Brew out!! .... Who In?? ( Oh, but he must be better than Brew! He is only taking us one way. Next guy can't take us that way as well, can he??) Beat Aberdeen and Motherwell and Brew will be the Saviour! Aye, that will be right! He will be the same as now but the support, or the current lack of it, will be changed. So much for the fickle fans. Brewster needs an injection of realism - he is only a rookie manager, much to learn and to come on telly and spout like Alex Ferguson is embarrassing. So much for Brew! The silent Board - just silence but lets hope it is contemplation!

At the club AGM, David Sutherland (Chairman of the Supporers Trust - not Mr Tulloch) asked what the roles were of the current board and the answer was that they didn't have any specific roles or areas of responsibility, although that was something that they were prepared to look at. All the board members are successful business men in their own right, so I can't understand the problem when they get together to run our football club. While it isn't their responsibility to put their hands into their pockets (something that some of them do in a lot of different ways), but they do have a responsibilty that we have a business model which is sustainable. Increasing revenue streams and ensuring that all avenues are being explored. Unlike the current situation where things are getting worse and worse, so the crowds will drop and drop, losing revenue at every game. Less fans = less strips, less programmes, etc, etc, etc. I am fully aware that they have no legal obligation to dip into their own pockets, but what some people are missing is the fact that each director is sitting on the board for a reason - one in particular for a very healthy salary - some for business benefits and others for their professional expertise for which they will be paid (finance and legal). They are all responsible for raising funds to operate the business at the level THEY feel appropriate so if they can't support Prem League footie we drop down. Are we then a sustainable business? Are we then attractive to the fans? IMO - NO! What happens then? The club downsizes and relocates! Who benefits then? Please don't give me " It is not their responsibilty". They are responsible for EVERYTHING that happens to our club and the sooner some contributors wake up and smell the coffee the better! Analyse each director and their business interests and make your own mind up. Maybe it is time to lay off Brewster, he is an employee. It is not his fault he is still in a job - it's his employers - OUR directors! Let's direct some heat on them and see how they respond to their RESPONSIBILITIES! They may even decide to keep the current management team! I did not see this posted on the'Is brewster to blame' thread where a number of us did try to indicate that the board had some part to play in this current position we find ourselves in.

Would it not be a better idea to have one seen as one of your 8 each time you post?

You have to be joking. This site is jam packed full of people slagging off Brewster at every opportunity and for every reason. Just about every thread denigrates into Brewster slagging. Some of the criticism is justified. Some of it is unfair. And some of it is plain abuse and utterly ridiculous. If pointing out some of this is "having a go", then 'heat', 'kitchen' and 'out of' spring to mind. I'm dead serious. You can continue to have a go at me and others for having a view, or you can offer an alternative view. You accuse me and others of only posting because we are anti-brewster, at the moment your stance shows nothing more than having a go because your anti-"insert whichever username here". In short, the position your taking gives you very little credibility IMO. I feel that this reply highlights a problem that exists on here at the moment, a very strong worded reply using expressions which almost encourage a like response. It is the case that such is the anti Brewster feeling, that it is difficult to have a balanced thread on here. Even the thread wishing Brew a happy birthday was hijacked by anti posters within half a dozen replies! On another subject - Don, why don't you use the current situation to promote your business by printing 'anti brew' slogans on tee shirts?? (You will have to liaise with the board as that a print does not coincide with Brew's waygoing!)

I've seen those signs as well Harry. I take it you're referring to the controlled passing of Black and Vigurs, and the attacking energy of Imrie and Cowie. Given that we have those strengths, isn't strange that on Saturday we gave a toothless, passionless, just plain flat performance in a crucial game - the kind of game that would've brought out fighting spirit in almost any ICT team of the past - regardless of their other footballing qualities. I think this is the problem, lack of belief, lack of confidence or as you put it, lack of fighting spirit. That performance told me that the team don't believe in Brewster anymore. Considering our position in the league is shared by another 3 teams with Hamilton below us, I can only assume that 33% of the teams in the league, don't therefore believe in their manager anymore. In fact, Brewster's constant chopping and changing of players and formations suggests that he doesn't even believe in himself anymore. The formation played on Saturday, players on their own playing side, Procter at right back, Rooney on, two up front - were all shouted for on here and when he does this you call it chopping and changing! What do they say, damned if you do and damned if you don't! Stomping feet and demanding change is what football fans do in situations like this Harry.

I take it from that statement that it is your opinion, that the board have allowed him to sign all his targets and offload all the staff since he arrived, including Barry Wilson, without their involvement?? I would submit that we are not party to the politics of the boardroom, their need for income by way of transfers or their need to reduce wage bills by offloading players BUT I would say that, had the forementioned actions not taken place, Brewster would have had a better selection for positions, in the team, than he has now. The board MUST be involved in my opinion. However, would Brewster have made a better job of it, with the better squad? I now have big doubts! I think he has robbed our team and supporters, of that ingredient so required in any sport - the belief that comes from confidence! I would also accept that along with the lack of success comes an unhappy dressing room where all minor problems are magnified, this can only be rectified by change of staff or success. I prefer the latter but do not take that as a vote of confidence for Brewster. A new manager does not guarantee success. If I am correct regarding the loss of confidence, can the club draft in a 'Ra- Ra' guy, you know the ones that can convince you you are ten feet tall and God's gift to the opposite sex. If he can do that, then convincing the defence that Aberdeen are easy or the Aberdeen goals are so wide you can't miss, should be child's play. Motivation can no longer be left to the management team alone, at this time! .

Agreed 100%!! Now Spectre, go and convince the other posters on this board that see it as a club/manager shortfall!!

Do you think the board have an input, at all, to the onfield situation. Most jobs have the manager answering to the Board on a regular basis and more regular if things are not going right. How can he defend his tactics on an ongoing basis to them, if, on here, we can discuss areas we are disappointed with? I realise that in training lots of things become known that we are not privy to, laziness, lack of stamina, nigglie injuries and these can all affect selection, subs etc BUT not most weeks! I also no longer accept that he is a young manager, he has been round the block and the previous managerial moves are like car crashes, they should have made him more aware and matured him quickly. This does not, by his utterances, appear to be the case. I wonder if he should be under more pressure or is it too much pressure that is making him have less flamboyant selections, at home. The Board must give direction and quickly! .

While I dont buy it wasnt Brews decision, if it wasnt he as manager should have the balls to stand up against those who made it and fight for it. Aye right! And have this Board AND the ICT Board both gunning for the guy. As has been pointed out on here Barry going is not a black or white situation but very grey. If the saving made by his waygoing allows Sona Aluka to come to ICT you will be disappointed?? (I am only making a point and realise that this will not happen, this is only an example for the posters who are perhaps not standing back from the situation, at this time) Who on earth is Sona Aluka???? Should read SONE ALUKO( got my ooohs and aaaahs mixed up) and if you do not remember him from Aberdeen's last visit here, I hope you don't from this next visit.

I would agree totally, with both you and Scotty, the tactics are our downfall !!!(and successful players are happy players) We, in my opinion, are a super wee team, we need however to use the players where they are most effective and play to their strengths. Brew does not appear to do this. We all know that players can run out of gas, both ours and theirs and therefore you substitute to strengthen our team or to attack the weakness of theirs(using Barry for instance) This should not be done in the last five mins only! Brew does not appear to know this. Do not use high balls against a towering defence with one forward up so that even if the forward does get a head on it, there is no one there to take advantage. Brew does not appear to know this. Now, in fairness, he got the tactics correct at Parkhead so that puzzles me but resorted to his norm the following week! .