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Esson Raven Devine Meekings Tremarco Tansey Shinnie Ross Christie Williams Draper

Turing a winger into a striker never works ask Thierry Henry, I mean whos JH trying to kid it not like Watkins has scored any goals so far in that new role either Seriously can folks not give the guy a chance, from what I've seen Watkins has done very well in the role, what we lack is an alternative option, different type of striker who can change the game pattern. The biggest worry is that Watkins may be off in the summer (Nick Ross too) so JH quite rightly should try being in players if he thinks they may longerterm options or give them a chance.

If there is evidence can Ciftci not be charged retrospectivly by the SFA, doesnt change that Warren retaliated and has earned the punishment regardless of the circumstances.

Lots of negative posts and threads on here just now about our performances in games, lack of fire power up front and the criticism of both board and manager. So how about looking forwards? 3rd in the table and unbeaten 2015 with 6 games to the split, how do people feel we are positioned. Realistically we will be in the top 6 post split, but can we maintain 3rd? 28/02 - Well (A) TBC - D Utd (H) 21/03 - P.Thistle (A) 04/04 - Dundee (H) 08/04 - Dons (A) 11/04 - Celtic (H) Tough games away to Partick and Aberdeen who are both teams we have struggled with this year, then the home games against a Celtic side who keep improving and Dundee Utd fighting with us for that 3rd/4th place. I think we are capable of wins against both Dundee clubs and Motherwell with the prospect of taking something against PT. In all honesty beating Celtic and loosing to the Dons wouldnt be a surprise. Realistically 9 points from that 18 would be a good haul going into the split.

What on earth have these factors got to do with anyone's opinion on the entertainment value of the game itself? The game is what it is. If it's a dull draw it's a dull draw whether you happen to be top of the table or bottom. Suggest you go back and read these posts again on this thread rather than bite back at me. Not that many comments about entertainment but plenty about the team, us having a poor right back and missing mckay still. If the game wasnt deemed to be high value entertainment to you then thats fine but you could easily go to a theatre or cinema and see a poor product there too. My point is that if fans on here expect that with our small budget and playing squad we can provide barcelona style football every week and win every game then they need to get real snd stop assessing every game through their rose tinted championship manager computer glasses. Win, loose or draw its becoming increasingly hard to find many positive threads or posts on this site demonstrating an appreciation and acknowledgement of what is being achieved.

Had utd won as expected and we won as expected then it would have been status quo, as it is they lost a game many feel was winnable and we took 1 point thus are plus 1 from pre-match expectations. Still unbeaten in 2015, 3rd in the league, cup QF, still scoring goals even after losing our top striker. Why such negative posts?

Hopefully the BBC will have no choice but to give us coverage and acknowledge us when we get a full 90mins of live coverage in the Cup Final.......just like they had to last year in the League cup. Only problem is we're usually crap when its on the tele lol.

Ideally avoid both SPFL teams, but nobody will want to face us either so anyone home or away - I believe we have a team good enough to beat anyone left.

I thought first half we were excellent and Watkins could and should have had 3. We got in behind their defence almost every attack. 2nd half we were sitting so far back and defending too deep letting partick push on, the tempo of our game dropped letting them take control. Also esson punts the ball too much we miss the way brill allows to build play from the back making ball retention and possession hard. but a win will do, lets get a trip to easter road please.

Nobody interested in discussing games anymore? Plenty posts about crowds, players leaving and perceived club inefficiencies but what about our cup game. I'm just about to leave so hoping for a good game and performance to see us through to the next round.

Maybe not, but then neither were likes of Duncan Ferguson, Emilie Heskey or others. Just think he is godo in the air and a big strong guy who could hold up the ball well for the likes of Watkins, Christie, Ross, Doran, Williams to play off. Might also be a tactic change that otehr teams wouldnt be expecting?

Esson (Bril if fit) Raven Warren Meekings Tremarco Tansey Shinnie © Watkins Christie Ross Draper

People said last year that we would struggle without the leadership and drive of Foran when he got injured, however we seem to be doing ok. Football is a team game and as a club we have a squad, it not and never has been a one man team, Billy was an important player but he is gone and with the performances and results this season there are probably at least 11 other squad members on here cited as being great this year so I'm sure as a club we will cope. As posted earlier we were still scoring and winning when Billy went on a barren run after scoring in the opening wknd, so why without him can we not still do this?

Maybe we can keep Tremarco at LB with Shinnie alongside Tansey in the middle allowing us to put big Draper up front as a lone target man. He has the right attributes. Could see foran back yet this season or Watkins / Ross can play up front then theres also Ferguson too. Not panic stations yet for me.

As Billy was out of contract and considering the fees going for players in a similar situation in Scotland we got competitive funds, had he been contracted for another 3 years then I agree its derisory but under the circumstances its ok. Still do wonder if the difference between 2nd or 3rd in the SPL v's 5th or 6th may have offset that.

Ever thought maybe the players approached didnt want to come up to Inverness? Should we pay over the odds for a player of lesser ability like our neighbours just to have a player? Also even if they had a contingency list the players cant be approached in advance as thay would have been 'tapping up' so until we formally go through the process we dont know if a player wants to come to us. I do agree about the GS situation especially as the Dons seem to have spent cash on MacLean, can only assume that they had the loan deal done for the otehr CB and decided that GS can wait. I hope the board didnt reject on the basis its a rival only to then sell off Billy.

^ this a serious post?

Why should the board let or consider letting GS leave for peanuts, he is under contract still. If Aberdeen are ambitious about winning the title (which it seems they are not) then with their injury crisis in defence then we can hold out for the most we can plus as siad GS is an asset in our side and the difference in league places may come into the assessment of value.

I'd pick the only logical team we can with our strongest options Brill (Esson if not fit obviously) Raven Warren Meekings SHINNIE © Tansey Draper Watkins Ross Williams Mckay But if people want to drop players who 'lack' commitment then I guess McKay, Meekings, Ross, Watkins, Raven - oh and Shinnie all better stay home or we can pay them to sit on the bench and watch us get humped and plummet down the league for not using our best quality assests.

The hatred filled posts and general nasty tone has yet again come to the surface when a player (or manager) decides to leave and try something new. Why like in any walk of life do they not have the right to try something new - if anyone on here was to get offered a new job or payrise which they find attractive for career or personal reasons are they not entitled to try it? Also how is signing a pre-contract any different to working several months notice which in professional careers is not uncommon? I for one think GS has been a great servant and I'm sure he will continue to show commitment to our side moving forwards until his contract expires. Perhaps there is a call for the club whether he should feature against the Dons again this season, but I really don't see how his decision deserves some of the posts on here.

Damned if they try something new to get fans in and then damned if they don't bother. #thanklesstask

^ Agree thats probably our strongest and most effective team - perhaps Doran for Ross or Christie but none of those changes weaken us in any way. Delighted how stable and interchangable our team has become.

Brill Meekings Warren Devine Tremarco Draper Shinnie Doran Watkins Ross Mckay

Well an incentive to turn up should be that if we win on Sat against DUtd then we could go 2nd with a win over st j or if Dundee beat the dons again we might even go top......after 23 games to be in either spot would be phenomenal. That's a reason to turn out at least

Problem for the Dons is whether the players have the mental strength, if they beat DUtd in the League cup semi and presumably meet Celtic - will they implode if they loose that final? The Dons have a great chance in the League meeting Celtic just after they play Inter Milan - that is a huge game if the Dons are serious about the title. So to win the league I think they need to beat Celtic twice - in the cup and then the league game, but cant see either happening. I expect that between now and the end of the season, Aberdeen will drop points where they shouldn't and Celtic will grind out results - with possibly us being the only team to beat Celtic before the season ends. Sadly neither have looked overly impressive sides when we played them, so perhaps we still have a chance but I think if we made top 3 or 4 then that would be a massive result for us and our provincial club - especially if it means 3 of the top 4 aren't central belt or west coast!!!