absent friend

Fraser is a shot stopper - instinctively superb - but can not handle the pressure! Give him time to think and the lad seems to be caught out each time. His defence, last night, rarely passed back and I believe that they are aware of his uncertainty and therefore this puts them under non required pressure. This pressure can then lead to goals! Against Aberdeen, at home, the keeper was an integral part of the defence and was involved in moving the ball across the field as his defence passed back to him( no doubt some smart ar.e will come on and refer to his dead ball kicking) If they, the defence, had the same opinion of Zibi that the posters on here do, I submit that the pass backs would not have occurred!

From Johnboy ''.... Surely it should be borne in mind that one is earning 3 times as much as the other'' Are you now suggesting that the players run around the park, on a Saturday, with their incomes's showing and we can then compare them ? for ??? Or is it that a player on a higher income must run faster than a player on a lower one? Or maybe he should score more goals? Or by your ??'s for players performance, his goals should be more spectacular!! I accept that I am only an 'armchair/terracing manager' but even I realise that there is more to a player than just scoring goals - if a player assists in 10 goals and does not score himself is he then deemed to be a failure, in your opinion? And, believe it or not, the opposition are aware of a good players ability and will set out to nullify this threat to them but this then leaves the other attackers more free to be shining stars and score the goals!

ET & P!! At 3-1 to ICT it will be - R U T! Right Up Them!!

Well I am going to be boring and not aggressive, by stating that not many teams would have stayed with us on Sunday, if we had a Bayne type player on the park to knock down some of the superb balls that were coming in and being met by a taller defence. I accept that during the first 30 mins it looked as if the Dons had two extra players on the park and someone, I assume Brew, sorted that out. Like you, I fail to understand why Brew subs players so late in a game, unless we were winning and this was then used as a time wasting tactic. How Bayne can come on with little time left and expect to get the service he needs, in that short time, beat me! I see subbing as a graph, as players slow down in a game, ours and theirs, you bring on players to take advantage of the situation or if it is ours, bring a higher degree of life back into that area of the field. Doing it with mins to go does not address either of the the above scenarios and other than giving the new players a run out, I wonder why he bothers.

Perhaps you may be unaware of the strict 'no member - no entry' now prevailing at the golf clubs at Pittodrie, irrespective of past loyalties. I have therefore approached the committee of the Bon Accord(the one nearest the stadium) where I am a member and asked if I could have dispensation to block sign in the ICT supporters, on the night. The answer was YES!! The door person may challenge you and if he does, mention Bill MacDonald and the above agreement and it will be OK. I, of course, have a vested interest in this! To travel all the way from home and be refused entry for a drink, with perhaps no time for any alternative venue, due to stricter controls, is not going to provide the correct attitude before the game AND speaking of game, we need all the lubrication we can get to work the tonsils for 90 mins of Heaven! After Sunday they cannot be so lucky again...1-3, ...1-3,....1-3,....1-3

If Mike has been replaced by a blunderful keeper, even for one game, it raises doubts over his ability(a blunderful keeper is better than you Mike) and of course the ability of the management team, who assess the players on an ongoing basis and not on a media hyped description of the respective players! Who is to say if Mike would have made a difference to the score, if he was in goals? Mike will return, better for the experience, but don't see what was not evident at yesterday's game, the keeper may or may not have made a mistake but did not appear to do anything other than give help to his defence and they required it - and they appeared to have confidence in the 'clown'!!

If Fraser had lost that same goal for us on Sunday would the same cries be on here? As far as the kicks are concerned, I ask anyone on here to defend Fraser's kicking, we all know it leaves a lot to be desired! When we come down to the goal, should Young have been allowed to get into the shooting position, how hard was the shot, how early did the keeper see it, was there spin on the ball. I am pleased that the posters, in the main, are able to answer the above points when confirming that he is a 'clown of a keeper'. I was possibly one the nearest spectators to him and I don't know the answer to the above points! He got down, albeit too late, but he did not stand against the post smoking his Hamlet as the postings seem to suggest. Colours to the mast - I am a MF admirer as a keeper BUT I am not blinkered! Anyone watching our situation with MF knows that Brew should have sent out the sub keeper to warm up behind MF's goal in the past but then the pundits on here would see that as unfair on our young keeper but not when it happens to the 'clown'. MF will be a better keeper by being shown he has to fight to be top dog! Just look at the Dons keeper - kept out of the team for a close season 'discussion' with his manager, until his team was lying 3rd bottom of the league before the manager takes him back AND NOW HE IS IN THE SCOTLAND SQUAD! Who can say that viewing the park from the subs bench warrents a transfer request from a keeper? MF will come back more determined to keep his place and he also may be destined for higher awards in the future but I do not feel that yesterdays keeper's overall performance a) cost us the game or b) he should be dropped because of it. Our defeat was down to defensive lapses - staying off the attacking player for too long and heading into your own net - NOW THAT IS A BLUNDER!!

Well, for what it is worth, my thoughts are that we should have easily won this game! It was a tactical error to have small(ish) players up front and play high balls into them - Aberdeen's defence, as has been confirmed above, were mopping up all of them and there were some superb balls played in from wide. We should have had Bayne on to knock the ball down to an incoming forword OR play on the deck with the team we had. From the half hour mark up to the final whistle I felt we were the better team. The goal was poor defending and poor goalkeeping - the keeper did look very nervous at the start with his initial non-pressured kicks so embarrassing he must have wished he was still on the bench. Under pressure he was no problem and as the game went on he handled the kicking part of his game as well. The defence must have a lot of confidence in him considering the amount of pass backs, under pressure, they gave him.

''He did not slander the club or anyone in it, he did not steal or rob the club of anything.And his standard of football does not show any significant reduction does it in which case surely he is giving the club value for his wages?'' You're having a laugh, I think! He robbed the club of the clean cut image we enjoyed and he was a role model. (Wait until he plays and listen to the opposition support, when he is on the ball and tell me this is what you want to hear directed at ICT players) He robbed the club of his value as a player (whatever his transfer value was has now been reduced - clubs waiting to sign him, don't be daft!) He robbed the club of the innocence of the young(boys and girls at a very young age may be subjected to references to drugs whenever he plays and a football game does not need that) I also feel that the club will be subject to drugs testing in a less random way, to establish if there is a drugs scene within the squad. To sum up - give the boy a chance, give him support BUT don't underestimate the harm he has done to the club, by his actions!!

The dropping of Langfield at Aberdeen from No1 to the bench for a period of time appears to have made him a better keeper! My memory of him last season was not the shot stopper currently on display. Maybe rest Mike for a wee while and try a change - maybe a winner all round!

Heavy day or maybe the Bombay Sapphire kicking in! Of course, I meant Mike and not Mark! I don't know if Mark is now getting a chance to make a tit of himself. It is however kind of you to bring my mistake to my attention. Thank you.

Whilst I accept Brews point that a keepers mistake is always spotted and indeed can be fatal, they should be given a chance, having viewed the goals over and over again, in my opinion, they are all the keepers fault and blatant faults at that! Where was the defence? Who cares! It is the job of the keeper to save the goals when the ball comes into his domain and he did not do this! End of! Should he be replaced? Of course. He can expect no more. He must accept that his lack of goal-keeping skill lost the team two points. If he was a forward who has lost his way and was 'rested' who would complain? He is human and may need his confidence restored and that will not come under the spotlight in the first team- the reserves for a couple of games could produce a more confident player with his mind on the job! It would also allow us and Brew, to see what we have in reserve and that is no bad thing as all we seem to hear is what happened to him in the old days. A run out will allow us to pass judgement on his keeping ability NOW and he may, with his experience, give the defence more confidence than a keeper under stress. Just look back my previous postings and you will see I am a Mark fan and I feel the above will give us a better keeper in time.

I watched Aberdeen against Gretna last Saturday and if they play like that against us, we will beat them out of the park! Gretna ended up giving as good as they were receiving and Gretna were rubbish. The Aberdeen management team hid behind the midweek game that was coming up and used that as an excuse for the poor play - well, it worked, Aberdeen won last night but it does not hide the fact that they were dire last Saturday and we will beat them in both the league and cup games!!

I would have thought that the Black report in the press this week, where he hailed MN as a team player, dressing room joker, etc - should put all the rubbish about dressing room strife due to his inflated income, to rest!!

I noticed that the singing section in Pittodrie moved this year, lower down in the Donald stand and block booked a section with an option on the seats next to this, should demand dictate. The notice I saw was urging singing fans to get in quickly before the option was lost. I accept that this takes a bit of organising by both the fans and the club but, it would appear, it can be done!

Inverness folk are all clairvoyant! Think of that well known greeting - ''How are you dooen, Dan?'' ''Och, you know yersell''

I fancy being a nurse in a Jewish operating theatre - not a lot of pay but a lot of TIPS!

When we were playing at Pittodrie the very same feelings were being aired, on here, at Brown (I'm not sure if he was nutered at the time.!) ''Cannot command his box - Defence unsure due to his lack of confidence - does not speak to his defence - won't come off his line....'' Whilst it is difficult to make comparisons between the keepers, I suppose the manager, at training, is in the best position to judge, I do however feel that the defence problem must be a factor in the goals against and not just the keeper.

Seems a strange subject when we are paying farmers for set aside ( leaving land without a crop being grown)

I think this is the first time that I have put into print my 'reason why' youngsters go off the rails. I feel that there is a number of factors but the main one is the lack of pride/shame. When I suffered the belt, whilst it inflicted pain, the shame I felt at having received it and the dent to my pride, is my lasting memory! In the close knit community we lived in, it was the family name that mattered(pride) and if the police car came to your door, I fancy, my Dad would have gone crazy(what would the neighbours think?) I feel that this pride has now almost gone and with it the adhesive that keeps our living together in order. Old people scared to go out - youngsters scared to play and the culprits, quite often, become the 'big men' in their locality. I often wonder if the old Grannie has children/grand children waiting for the release of the offender or maybe that is just wishful thinking! I do feel that I have too much sympathy with the victim and would therefore not make a very good Panel member but all power to the ones who can do this very difficult job!

Don't delay too long in taking Charlie to the park - it will help Blackie to see eye to eye with someone on matchdays!

I am also disappointed that Brew was taken back but I think it was the speed of return that annoyed me. So many contenders, perhaps, but who cares we will just reappoint Brew! Now that he is here, I feel that any strong criticism of players should be deferred as we all know his training regime improved players and indeed, extended their playing careers, perhaps. If he does attend to the fitness or lack of fitness in the players I feel that we could see some players emerging from the pack that are currently only holding onto their positions through lack of competition. I think McGuire, Niculas(?), Wyness and MacBain could all improve in a big way. Bayne has retained the fitness gained under Brew as has Wilson, IMHO. The main negative, I have at the moment, is a wee bird telling me that Brew/Wyness don't hit it off and I would be most disappointed if Brew was to hold back the undoubted talent Wyness has(It has been clouded by injury/lack of fitness and lack of confidence and requires help from a good manager) A fit Dennis could work wonders for us even as a super sub. Lets hope Brew is now more mature but able to instill fitness into the squad this time round as well. He is here - let's just accept it!

On Saturday he was conspectus by his absence! He hid in his hidyhole all afternoon and watched a true pro at work, taking his team from bad to excellent by pure encouragement.

I think, Scotty, it is called - human nature - don't rat on your work mate. I agree that it would be easily solved if that did happen but little chance, I'm afraid! Am I not correct in thinking that a 'large' section of the singers stood up at the Dundee United match, last Saturday and I did not see them getting harassed, but then again I was watching the match and an animated manager doing what he is paid to do - run the show from the sidelines. Our fellow(s)? I think they were in hiding!

''Ah well, that's the first game over - another 36 and I'm off to Hibs, maybe''