bdu98196

Minimal midweek travelling to disrupt our league campaign, local derby so hopes for a bumper crowd and the chance to get into another LC semi. Great draw, incentive and hopefully be a great occasion and in a month we will hopefully have more players back.

yeah I wondered what that was all about, statement really came from nowhere on the back of singing forans praises for a 7 min cameo off the bench. Maybe yogi is already planning planning to planning to go realising he's taken us as far as he can and the board need something back for the 18 months and counting they pay foran when crocked.

Well done to the lad if he is called up, thoroughly deserved - he has no control over the criteria the SFA use but he moved to Aberdeen for reasons he could justify and right now that team is top of the league and he may get the call up to the national squad he wanted. I would suggest from his personal perspective so far its been a successful move helping meet his aims only helped by his excellent start to the season and numerous MoM awards. I do wonder if the perception of the quality of players we have does make a difference, he always looked the best player in our team but has now moved to a squad with more quality and internationals yet still looks a cut above. The biggest surprise for me still is that Celtic never took him afterall LB is clearly their weak position, his stay at Aberdeen may be short if he continues this kind of form as its only a matter of time before bigger clubs notice him further.

I kind of agree with the above, I posted up a good while back stating that if we were patient the players who are higher quality will be available for less as they dont get clubs to meet their demands so face time in the wilderness or take contracts for less at lower level clubs where they really will have to work to prove themselves and get back where they want. Hard working bargains desperate to prove themselves - but with Europe and the rush for signings such as Lopez & Wedderburn have we actually blown our budget already on players who may never deliver rather than hold fast for quality?

No changes, our team from Sat, the team that seems to be slowly getting it together. We can already see that the league will be much harder this year and top 6 isnt a garunteed its a maybe so we need to focus on the cups - with players expected to be back later in the season winning against Livi gives us the chance to get a run going. I dont want knocked out by fielding a weak team to concentrate on a league game which we are favourites to loose.

HT: 0-0 FT: 0-2 1st ICT: none 1st Opp: maclean Time of 1st Goal: 48 min

HT: 0 - 2 FT: 0 - 3 1st ICT: Storey 1st Opp: none Time of 1st Goal: 20 minutes

HT:0-1 FT:1-2 1st ICT: Christie 1st Opp: McKay Time of 1st Goal: 26 mins

While we are struggling, is it really that bad? We competed over 2 games with Astra, away draw with St J at a ground where we historically have struggled, lost at Parkhead against the best team in the country by a long way. The Hamilton game was a disappointment and the display poor but they put 4 past Dundee Utd only the wk before and for 20 mins we were all over them - if given our makeshift team we can compete and narrowly loose to a team fielding its strongest 11 who look crap then I think there is hope. I think we need to get Draper back alongside Tansey in the middle as both look out of sorts in their current roles. Bringing in a new keeper is difficult but with a contsntly changing defence there is no consistent back line to build on. We need to settle for Raven - Tremarco - Devine - Williams until Meekings recovers and Tremarco can go into LB and Williams further forwards. Goals are the problem, we dont have mobility from Lopez like Mackay or Watkins gave to chase the game and he isnt physical like Ofere was to hold the ball up. Perhaps we need to put Wedderburn up front, use his strength to hold up the ball and allow Christie, Mutombo, Roberts to get forwards and support or gather knock downs. Polworth gives nothing and should have gone in the summer with more effort on keeping Nick Ross. Even with the limitations, I think we have more to offer with a few changes, its going to be a tough season but every team who has large number of changes struggles after the summer, those doing well - Dons, Hearts have last years squads, so given time it will improve afterall we are only 5 points off 4th place!!!!

Nicky Clark, seems to be out of the picture at Ibrox, the loaf is bringing in all his own guys and doesnt seem keen on those still there. If Clark isnt interested then what about Dene Sheilds - not my first choice but scores goals and proven at SPL level.

Celtic is an obvious one based on the Delia signing policy - GMS, Armstrong, Ciftci, Allen - all players already used to Scottish football, ambitious, talented and ready to step up who can be bought for little in comparison to similar talent levels from elsewhere. If Ryan goes there he will get more game time than moving down south, possible European football and with Commons aging and becoming more injury prone a position Ryan can slot into that role.

HT: 1-0 FT: 2-1 1st ICT: Mutombo 1st Opp: Stevenson Time of 1st Goal: 12 mins

HT: 2-0 FT: 4-0 1st ICT: None 1st Opp: Sutton Time of 1st Goal: 16

How about that even in the midst of an injury crisis we competed over 2 legs with a team which has decent European pedigree over the last few years - and in all honesty we could have won that tie. We played a Motherwell team who had an awful season last year but in the end showed what they had to take a part a Rangers team, which knocked us out of a cup earlier in the year. Not considering Motherwell as a team who will be closer to previous year rather than last is highly dismissive. So yes, not an ideal start to the season but not in any of the 3 games have we come close to putting out our strongest 11 due to injury........take 2 or 3, never mind the potential 9 we have now from any SPL team and they will struggle.

Avoid relegation is the primary aim. Top 6 should be an achievable target Top 3 or 4 & a Euro place I think is beyond us A cup semi would be another great bonus but cant be seen as expected

Esson Raven Meekings Warren Williams Tansey Draper Doran Christie Roberts Lopez Thats our strongest team for me, although I suspect that Yogi will put Fon Williams in goal for some unknown reason and ict247 probably has the most likely line-up

While I'm happy to give players a chance at our club, given the lack of striker options his goal scoring record is hardly inspiring as solving our problems. I shall await to be proven otherwise though.

Exactly my point, if its not ideally where someone believes or wants to be they will work hard to prove that and elevate to their percieved level (whether we agree thats where they should be or not) If it means we can get a higher quality of player then we would normally be able to afford because they have had to downsize expectations - then yes. Isnt this the exact same approach we take when we have signed risks who have failed to make the grade elsewhere or had a history of injuries - we are the highest level offering an option?

HT 1 -0 FT 3-1 1st ICT - Doran 1st opp - Clarkson Time 23 mins

Window is open while yet so no panic, I always believe there are good players out there who will currently be pricing themselves out of ICT's budget, wait another few weeks til they have the choice of no club or dropping demands and expectations - that way we may get someone who is better value and desperate to prove themselves to get a move to a bigger club/salary.

As per post one, although whether Foran is ready to start a game I'm not sure - maybe have to keep with Lopez, or given his size Wedderburn, could he win in the air and hold the ball up for Christie, Roberts and Doran to run in onto knock downs? Astra could go at us and have us pinned back so a big strong player to hold the ball and allow us to break would be an option - much like Ofere did for us last season at times

HT: 1 - 0 FT: 3 - 1 1st ICT: Doran 1st Opp: Budescu Time of 1st Goal: 11 minutes

Sometimes I'm disppointed as a group we dont stand more, last years league cup final was great to all be standing as are Scotland games, on occasions like last night standing would have been apt.

Other than Dortmund this is the tie I was hoping for. This has to be great motivation for the boys and a chance for ICT to be put on the stage in the UK.

Astra are no mugs and I think could easily hold their own in the SPFL, they came with a game plan of not to loose and sat in well - I do think that they have more to offer and can up their game. That said I think last years ICT team would have won that by a few goals. Overall impressions Williams - surprising inclusion, but I do wonder being an 'international' keeper if he is looking for game time heading towards the Euros, in which case has he accepted a lower wage to fit our structure in the basis he will play? Wasnt impressed overly with him, perfer we'd played Esson and got a younger loan keeper as back up. Meekings on the right doesnt work, he doesnt press on enough down the wings Danny Williams - he is our LB I'm sure but doesnt want to use his pace and skill to take on and pass the man, he will get better from that position though Tansey - first half was totally ineffective, 2nd started to influence the game a bit more Wedderburn - huge unit of a guy, but very immobile and clumsy, I'd have rather seen Polworth play or Tansey back in his natural position. This level is too high for this guy I think, or its too soon he isnt ready. Lopez - poor service didnt help but he doesnt run deep or move a lot like Watkins or Mackay did and isnt strong like Ofere - he will need time but not sure where his strengths lie yet I thought both Doran and Christie had a good game and tried to move it forward and take Astra on, Draper however had a bit of a howler last night with a few errors. Next wk will be tough, I think that Astra will be much better but we can be too, its not over or anywhere near it - I think we can score but its if we can remain solid at the back is my concern