bdu98196

Free agents is a great option out with the window now the season is underway, some of these guys will be desperate for a seasons football and may be realistic to reduce previously unfeasible wage demands into ICT brakets on the basis that its better than being unemployed and getting games at a good level. We could strike it lucky with a determined player out to prove himself and get nticed over the next season, winning situation all round but we need to trust in JH to find that guy with teh right temprament & attitude not unbalance the great bunch we have.

While I would like to see one striker come in and push Billy, having seen the games so far its worth noting there is great versatility. We coped with Warren and Devine out to sacrifice Draper into the backline. We also have Tremarco meaning Shinnie can cover any manner of positions including midfield along with Polworth, Doran, Ross and Foran who can all push to play. When Foran will return he could cover up front for Billy as can Watkins, or whats to say even Draper might do well in that role? Overall the squad has a few very versatile players along with youngsters and providing we dont have a significant injury crisis I think having the small squad we can cope but at points JH may have to make bold decisions such as dropping or resting Billy or otehr key players plus we have to make sure Ryan doesnt burn out. Its clear there is a terriffic work ethic and team spirit in place and if we have to stick with the lads we have until Jan then I'd be happy. Focus on retention not addition is the key right now IMO especially as we all acknowledge money is tight.

HT: 1-0 FT: 2-0 1st ICT: MacKay 1st Opp: None Time of 1st Goal: 20 mins

HT: 1-0 FT: 2-1 1st ICT: Warren 1st Opp: MacGregor Time of 1st Goal: 22 mins

HT: 0-1 FT: 1-1 1st ICT:Christie 1st Opp: Ojamaa Time of 1st Goal: 25mins

ht 0-0 ft 3-1 us McKay them Harkins time 20 mins

Start of season expectation should be the treble Realistic - 1 good cup run (semi or better) Top 6 based on the lack of real quality in the SPFL with teams missing, if we start looking at being relegation candicates with the squad we have (not budget) then we are doomed when the 3 'big' teams return.

Not trying to be argumentitive, but who said that was Yogis job for the summer? People on here, some fans perhaps but have the club, management or board ever come out and said this or any other objectives - if they havent then how can we speculate what Yogi was asked to do this summer? I'm no Yogi fanboy, but I'm willing to give the guy a chance now heading into a new season with the time spent on how he wants us to play and the plaers he wants to use. As I posted before transfer window isnt closing yet so why panic.

A lot of work was done in the latter half of last season securing the services of our established players where for the first time in a long time we went into the summer with a secure 11 in place. Some of these players were fresh intakes last year and have proven well and others been influencial in getting us consecutive Top 6 and soild cup runs. The fact we only consider the requirement for an additional striker the bit of business needed then we shouldnt panic too much yet. There is still time in the window and there will still be available players who may have been holding out for a 'bigger' deal that ICT can offer who may yet come in as their time and options reduce. If we can bring in back up or even solid competition for Billy then its been a successful 6 months in terms of securing a squad. The released players never did enough to show they were going to contribute so are perhaps not a big loss plus we have some good youth coming along. I'd rather be where we are this season than doing a County/Motherwell/Dundee who have brought in a large number of players hoping they gel.

HT. 0-1 FT. 1-1 1ST ICT Scorer McKay 1st Opp scorer Imrie Time of first goal. 35 minutes

I'd like County on the first game of the season as there may be less chance of them getting it postponed or abandoned keeping us waiting til January when Uncle Roy brings out the panic signing chequebook..................

Marius Nicluae

Agree with most posts, its strikers we need. I have faith in Hughes, afterall he found Stokes when he was at Falkirk. I'd look at players that have something to prove as ICT always have. Tony Watt seems out favour at Celtic and is a bit of a problem character but could be worth a punt on loan, Andy Shinnie is one we know and has failed to make it down south, I posted in Jan we should have tried to take him on load and stand by that. What about Rory MacAllister, scores in the lower league for fun, he wasnt hugely successful earlier in his career but now he is a more mature and confident player so might be worth another shot in the higher leagues?

Ah the great idea of 10k+ seater stadia, where teams spent millions they never had to fulfil a criteria and end up with 60% of their seats empty every week, in the hope that they may have 4 sell outs per year when the OF came to visit and it would all look aesthetically pleasing on TV. Perhaps its worth considering the status of many of these clubs now who are still in huge debts and fighting at the lower leagues as they cannot sustain player wages due to still servicing the debt that 10k seater stadia created. At least now its based on what a club needs and can sustain - yes stadiums may not all look pretty like the Dnglish ones on TV, but at least ths clubs are striving to survive within their means and invest in the playing squad, would rather see the best quality squad on the park possible than sit somewhere nice watching dross. Just my view though.

HT: 1-1 FT: 2-2 1st ICT: McKay 1st Opp: May Time of 1st Goal: 12

HT: 1-0 FT: 3-0 1st ICT: None 1st Opp: Sutton Time of 1st Goal: 20 mins

HT: 1-1 FT: 2-2 1st ICT: Doran 1st Opp: Ciftci Time of 1st Goal: 10 mins

But its an away game?

H T: 2 - 0 F T: 3 - 0 ICT: None Opp: Stokes Goal: 14 mins

Half time 0-0 Full time 1-1 Ict McKay Aberdeen Rooney Time of goal 48 min

How much would Hibs have to spend to buy these 2 players? Shinnie - £150-200k perhaps, Ross £100k so thats going to be a minimum of £250k for a club fighting relegation and who have historically not spent money. Really can't see it happening, if anything we should be more worried about a club like Aberdeen who may decide to invest and strengthen and try poach players. Shinnie should stay and try persuade his brother to come back next year on loan.......could even get another Scotland call up if his form was the level before.

Just read the BBC article - everyone is laughing at us, we have gone from fighting against the odds to get respect and recognition for the club this season against the central belt bias to now have this tosh in the media undoing all that work and making our club look like its led by a baffon.

HT: 0-0 FT: 0-1 1st ICT: None 1st Opp: Brittan Time of 1st Goal: 90 mins

I don't want to see us qualify for Europe even if we could do it through 4th, as that would be seen as success and while the players deserve it for the first half of the season, I fear it would 'paper' over the cracks that have appeared since Hughes has come in. Our form and displays have been awful and the 'togetherness' seems to be evaporating. Maybe the bar of expectation has risen after the first half of the season, but on current form we are relgation fodder - a team of good players don't become bad overnight - we are trying to put square pegs into round holes at best.

That was then, now in times of crisis maybe he is the man to take the helm. Loosing games is fine, players tired is fine, loss of form is fine, but the way we are playing is awful. We have gone from top of the league with a team full of players who were together to no what looks like a group of strangers with major confidence issues. We were 1st/2nd for a long time, great cup run and these guys were on a high, that now seems like so long ago the players are looking like relegation candidates - what has happened to the confidence? Hughes has come in and tried to change the style of play yet resign all the players from the previous regime? Why? If he doesnt want wingers then why resign them? He was a defender, yet we now cant defend even though we had one of the best records in the SPFL prior to his arrival. We dont use wingers or creative players, yet his assistant was creative and took players on - all we do is padd around between back 4 and midfield with nothing moving forwards. Guys like Ross and Doran who can create are dropped, Billy never gets the ball other than punted up to him, the full backs no longer try to overlap - I'm no expert in football management but the record since Jan shows its no working. I am worried now that Hughes is going to be stubborn about his way of playing he will not acknowledge the fact it isnt working and slowly kill the confidence of the players and fans. Yes top 6 and a cup final is all good and great for the club, but this is the legacy of the last management team - we were there through player determination (cup semi) and other clubs not picking up as many points as they could, This should all be a lot better and more positive.