bdu98196

The lack of funds at the club cant be cited to Yogi, he brought us our most successful season ever and an attractive brand of football recieving plaudits everywhere (even the media), yet no more fans have come through the gate. Perhaps people need to look at themselves for those reasons, is everyone doing enough to encourage friends, family, colleagues etc? I don't see how the influence Yogi has on the players can be questioned, our team always looks motivated and committed even if we do fall short in games just now. Before the International break we hit a patch of form and started playing really well, moving the ball and scoring goals but since then we have had a few poor results and performances which suggest confidence is fragile just now. We are missing leaders on the park like Brill and Warren who organise our usually solid defence, Draper who marshalls the middle, Foran our captain has been out long term - injuiries are unprecendented and regardless of what some thing these players (Foran perhaps) along with Doran would get back into the team and improve it. We havent just lost key player, but key leaders on the park and they harder to replace. There is criticism of the signing policy yet even those players have been injured so how can we properly judge Roberts or Mutumbo, while Storey looks good potential. Look at the Championship where clubs like Rangers, Hibs, Falkirk, St Mirren all reside - clubs bigger than us, so we are still over-achieving, how long before fans accept this and a huge part of that is down to Yogi. I for one hope he stays and if not then he can walk away head high with what he has achieved, unfortunately for some fans on here they will never acknowledge his contribution to the club and still rue the day he arrived. Those who think we can find another manager who will bring us the same or more success without significant changes in budget and footfall then they need to bring these people into the club or make the board aware, because I'm hugely sceptical.

Yogi has publicly stated he is in discussions for a new contract, so until then perhaps we should get behind him and the team, instead of already lining up a replacement, afterall even if he does decide to leave and makes that known in the next few weeks - we have 6 months to find the right appointment so why would the club jump into any rushed appointment? Possibility for plenty more candiates to become available over the season from clubs impatient for change, in some ways its refreshing to see a manager run a contract down and leave (if Yogi does) of his own accord than be sacked like a high percentage of his peers. Credit to the club, board and man himself.

I'm glad you enjoyed the experience, its nice to see a positive post on here and that despite the doom and gloom someone can get along and enjoy our fare. Hopefully you and others will persevre because there are times when we click and play well its a treat to watch, just need to get over the sticky patch we are in.

Perhaps the youth players arent put on the bench because there is no chance Yogi will put them on the pitch, I've not seen the development squad but from reports on here, maybe the simple fact is they are nowhere near good enough, so its better to struggle on with what we have in terms of fit seniors than throw a player not physically or mentally ready where it may cause more harm than good. Afterall the management team we have are professionals in this industry so know what makes a youth player ready more than most of us do. As for citing experience of being in and around the dressing room, maybe the youth players are around the senior team on match day - just not sitting for 90 mins in the cold on a bench when they have 0% chance of featuring. I do wonder if a lot of these negative posts that are aimed at the club, squad or management are from the element that still just don't like or want Yogi at the club and see any opportunity to turn events into another session to lambast him.

HT: 0 - 1 FT: 0 - 2 1st ICT: Storey 1st Opp: Magennis Time of 1st Goal: 25 minutes

Such a relief Big Sam took that Sunderland job meaning Hughes wont be going anywhere for now..................lets hope Jose can turn it round if not big Roman night punt him very soon. Best give Yogi another contract now to stave of further speculation and this thread running for the rest of the season, then we can get back to the usual calls of 'time for Yogi to go', and start calling all Yogi supporters 'happy clappers' again.

That comes across a bit negative. We appointed Charlie Christie who was internal, Hughes and Robertson were both unemployed so essentially 'cheap' option there too. Just because our board work within the means of the club and aren't prepared to gamble £100k's on paying off other clubs to take a gamble on a manager when there are free or unemployed options who carry the same risk without the costs this doesnt warrent the negative or criticism that is always lodged. Lets face it other than Brewster has any appointment actually been wholey negative for the club, failed to stabilise, move forwards in some way or keep us consistent with the level we were at - havent seen us employ some clueless manager who decimated the club and drove us down the divisions!!!

Dick Advocaat lol If we need a new manager then I'm sure the board will look at options as they have done in the past and pick the right man, given we don't like paying release fees and we are all about young managers getting opportunities or reviving careers, then someone like Graham Alexander as he is recently a free agent. Names like Kenny Shields, Terry Butcher, even Ally McCoist will end up doing the rounds in the press - none of whom are particulaly inspiring.

In terms of clubs that have potential which we like to use in Scotland the reality is that Celtic & Rangers are top of the tree, below that we have Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs & Dundee Utd for size of club and capability to get large fan numbers in and build a sustained period of success if managers are given time. Below that there are clubs like ours, St J, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Dundee etc who can build teams and exceed expectations short term then fall away. DUtd is a step up in tersm of club ststure but right now in terms of football its a step back or across and only a manager who has huge self belief or likes a gamble would go there from a stable club as the chances of being given time (4 or 5 years) and some money to build a team and create something lasting is slim - clubs want immediate results and with that comes short term success which is what helps stall real progress.

HT: 2-1 FT: 2-2 1st ICT: Storey 1st Opp: Boyce Time of 1st Goal: 17 mins 1st Yellow Card: Tansey

Sometimes I laugh when I look on this forum, now the rush and concern as to why Yogi isnt on a longer contract, why he has to stay when only weeks ago with our slow start to the season even after winning a SC & best ever league finish there were calls to sack him - his signing policy was guff, tactics and team selection wrong and in the eyes of some still isnt the right man for ICT.

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.