bdu98196

Brill Raven Devine Meekings Shinnie Polworth Tremarco Doran Willias Ross Mckay Not sure whether away to motherwell is the best game to blood christie so will stick with williams.

Reading on here and talking at the game it seems obvious to all of the fans we need Raven back, we lack anything down the right and as per my post on the celtic thread the back 4 as is does not work. We have gone from a tight solid defence conceding few goals and scoring with play built up from the back and through the wings to letting in goals from both sides and not creating. This sort of stubborn selection I feared from levein if he got the job, but not yogi - so lets sort this out. Halftime against county I'd have put raven at RB, shinnie to LB and pulled williams for tremarco to sit and win the ball. Now with foran, draper and warren out and such a poor run I fear the next few games will yield little other than defeats.

Its always the case with OF games tho, is it not to avoid 'away' fans buying tickets and entering into the home end, as sadly they sell out and bring more fans to games than we manage. So is it not a security issue directed by not just the club but also the police as it happens at all ground, not just ours?

Brill Raven Meekings Warren Shinnie Draper Ross Doran Greenhalgh Watkins Mckay

Peaks & troughs in football outside the OF in terms of consistency, we are going through a bit of a form dip but we are not playing too bad, first half V dons was awful but we still scored 3 and created others, a point away to PT is still an away point against a team we should be competing at the relegation end against (being realistic) and a narrow defeat to the champions elect. Look at D Utd, 2 wks ago they were the new Barcelona with flair all over the park and scoring for fun, now its 2 heavy defeats in a row and club in crisis. We can start by playing better on Wed and taking 3 points from County, then build momentum again. There were errors in the squad selection and positions which everyone seems to comment on but hardly a club in crisis like the doom and gloom posts on here seem to suggest from some.

Up until now we were playing well with a settled team so leaving younger players out was easy, but I think we will start to see more of Christie, showed some good touches and movement. We still have Pepper and Polworth who can make the step up too - I also think with Greehalgh and Williams these boys need time too - but we are now in the situation where the expectation of getting Europe is so high among fans would people accept it if we start playing more youth and loose games? I say more game time, but never understand the point in making subs with 5-10 mins left, not fair on anyone - either give them 20-30mins to get into the game and make an impact or just not bother.

Fully agree too, we have dropped from league leaders to 4th (with a game in hand), a cup semi final and still in contention for a 2nd cup - personally I think its time to get rid of these underachievers and replace the lot of them with established international stars who are willing to work for the level of salary our huge support of 3k deserve. In all seriousness though I do think we need someone who can score goals to help Billy and give another option. I know there are reports of bad attitude and fitness etc, but I'd think about someone like Tony Watt on loan, good player who has scored at this level and might prove himself? We also need someone to step up and cover Foran when injured but I think we already have players in the club who can do that, its just the right forumla and set up on pitch required. Overall only really need 1 player and keep everyone we have.

Agree with the calls on here for Raven back, whether we keep Tremarco at LB and play Shinnie left mid. Williams looked a bit lightweight but that's the first time I have seen him so perhaps its not fair to judge him against celtic. The defence earlier in the season before Raven got injured was solid, yes there have been some good performances with Tremarco at LB and Shinnie RB but I think other teams have sussed us out with that and we need to revert to our strongest unit. We also need to move the ball faster and as I have said more than a few times this season we need our wide players to go outside and pass the man to cross, thats the benefits Raven gave us overlapping, too often Doran and Ross come inside and we play too narrow.

Brill Raven Warren Meekings Tremarco Doran Ross Devine G.Shinnie Watkins Mckay

2nd in scotlands top league yet last on sportscene yet again. No surprises there and discussion of dons and dutd for 2nd earlier and almost blatent dismissal of us. Plenty motivational material there for our players.

Personally I would have liked Hartley, but I have faith in the board, they have made successful appointments in the past so why not now? As a fan of ICT i support and follow the club and the players and if Hughes is the man in charge I will give him my backing and support. We have a strong team in a good position and the last few games have shown they know what they are doing so this gives him time to settle in and learn the players and club, then hopefully gel and build relationships to move us forwards.

Agreed, we can't even get the KO time in a cup semi final moved with reasoned argument, but Celtic seem to be able to move a whole league fixture to another calendar date altogether. Disgusted.

Just read this, so thats the 2nd time this season they will be allowed to postpone games for more 'glamourous' reasons - surely if the fixtures are announced and there are no extreme factors such as weather etc and a team chooses not to play a game it should be forfited? Its like we are all just supporting acts to fit in around the whims of the OF teams. Celtic have been granted permission to postpone their 11 January meeting with Kilmarnock so that they can have a winter break in Marbella. (The Record)

If Locke was to be booted from Hearts which is incredibly unlikely given their financial state, they would just promote someone from within who is already working on reduced wages such as Billy Brown or even offer it to Robbo, they aren't in a position to pay compensation and bring someone in. If Hartley has turned down the job, it would be a surprise if its financial as we will be offering much higher package than a part time club, if its geography - well he visited us as a player so knew where we were, therefore you can only assume its other personal reasons (family etc). Personally I still expect Hartley to be announced manager tomorrow.

I would expect as Shearer & Kellacher have taken the team and we still have Christie involved at the club, the board will be looking for a manager to come in with maybe an assistant to work with these guys. Someone like Levien strikes me as a manager who takes a whole backroom team with him and would want to change everything to make it his own, possibly Shields too, which I dont think the board and the fans would want. Therefore a younger manager like Hartley or Alexander would make sense.

As Richie is suspended he will be in the stand, he is not allowed on the park and as he is not registered as a club coach or official he will not be in the technical area. If he was a player/coach then he could work in the dugout but not go on as a player in that game. As we have a small staduim he may well be in Row A of Section C lol

After last nights CL result, I expect Celtic to turn it up a level in the league now, we may see a few points dropped but their strength will start to show now and after the critisim last year I'd expect the league to be sown up well before the split. We have a great chance in the League Cup, although we can't underestimate Hearts, considering transfer bans, injuries and suspensions they could be quite weak come January. Scottish Cup is another oppertunity for a good run, however I do think with a focused Celtic and the potential for us to pick up injuries etc and seeing the form DUFC are putting together I think a semi would be a good outcome for us. So in short, League = No, League Cup = finalisist, Scottish Cup = Semi or better.

Why would Hartley leave a manager post to be an assistant as some are suggesting, yes he is with a part time team and achieved success, he was a high level pro at top clubs and played both in European competition and Internationals, so working full time with a squad shouldnt be any issue at all. Based on where he is in his career and this being a step up and oppertunity to prove himself, I'm sure the board could get him and his team from Alloa for less money collectivly than someone like Shields would expect individually.

Hibs wont be paying transfer fees, they will look to try get pre-contracts agreed with any out of contract players here and elsewhere in the SPFL plus deals in England. Wouldn't be surprised to see a few Arsenal loanee's appear at Hibs. TB will also have to work with and assess the current Hibs group, perhaps with a manager change some of these players will improve. Overall now Foran has signed, I'm not overly worried, we have a few players vunerable to poaching, but how much increase in salary will Hibs offer to ICT players when factors such as living costs & lifestyle in Edinburger are factored in.

Agreed, great news - whats the source tho?

Don't forget the cup semi final being a factor and whether Foran believes we can get to the final with the team we have, he could be the captain to lift that trophy - don't think he has won much in his career so a medal would be a big achievement. That makes me think he will at least stay til the summer regardless, but as I put above I hope the board do everything they can to make his decision VERY hard.

I'd rather someone young and dynamic looking to make their way in the game opposed to a manager who has been around the clubs (even at SPL level) and never achieved a lot. We have a hungry team looking for success - lets bring in someone with that same attitude. Hartley, Cameron, Ian Murray, Sheerin all make my list, as would Larsson.

The timing of the match and blatent disregard for the location and travelling requirements for our fans for what is a hugely important game shows nothing but ignorance & by the authorities to smaller (provincial) clubs. In a competition where 3 of the semi-final clubs are outwith the central belt, it shows that this is considered irrelevant when defining times & location - hopefully the combined stance from the club & fans groups will be listened to however I fear that this is more driven by the corporate suit brigade then what real fans think.

Never heard the interview, but if thats the sentiment and attitude shown by the captain, the board need to get his contract tied up now and make him the offer to help him through his coaching badges (if he wants that). This is one guy I don't want going to Hibs and we need to make sure all the steps are in place to keep him as an on pitch influence and assist with asperations moving forwards.