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Yeah during the highlights on MOTD, the commentator made reference to him scoring 3 professional goals - 2 at Shrewsbury (iirc) and 1 for ICT!!! Nice to see us get a mention on national tv

Hopefully this will act as a good incentive for him to continue to develop and hopefully get to the level of being a U21 regular. Has to be seen as a positive this season for ICT, maybe some of the other young lads may get call ups next year too by improving their performances.

Probably not, but how important is it as a factor, object of the season was SPL survival which we have achieved.

Do you think Celtic, Man U, Real Madrid etc or any others will care if they win the title with less points than previous attempts - will it make it tainted or less of an achievement. Doubtful - they had an aim and achieved it.

Where TB was I don't know but I'd be happier if he was at the Hibs V Killie game doing his homework as we still have to play them both than sitting watching a testamonial. (whether he was there or not who knows)

Even if some of the first team or young players made an appearance on Sun - thats why TB has a management team and they can perform duties in absence.

Simple case of no win situation now with the TB witch-hunt thats ongoing

He attends - over-shadows the players and the day

Fails to attend - shows no respect and over-shadows the players and the day

Without replying on every thread which always covers the same topics these days regarding TB and the team. There seems to be a hardcore of supporters who are so blinkered by the past they thay cannot look forward in any way. Everywhere its posted that the young players are not good enough without giving example of what young players are available that we should sign making us better (apart from the GMS bandwagon). Then it always harks back to is TB worse than Brewster, was Charlie or Robbo or Stevie P better managers, tactically more astutue etc - always looking back.

Fans are unhappy with SPL survival and expect what I do not know - top 6 every season, cup doubles, champions league? Where are the serious and realistic expectations? Survival and building a sound financial base with good cup runs is what we should be looking to and I'd rather see more effort and emphsais on the cups as in Scotland its the only chance us provincial teams have of glory.

Facts are we had an old and aging squad and while many served us well sometime and someone would have to re-shape it and personally I think there is a few positives this season in terms of the younger players and also who we should look to keep and move on (there have been equally as many failings which I'm not ignoring but they seem to be covered by everyone else). Certainly Ross, Shinnies, Golobart, Tansey, Dorrans we should be looking to keep. There are others like Gnapka (now gone), McKay, Gillet, Meekings, Winnall who should be moved on as just not being good enough and then there is Hayes and possibly Tuffey who we may not be able to keep.

Perhaps I'm more patient than other fans as I'm trying to see what TB is looking to do and providing the correct areas are addresses (centre backs, striker) then I'm hopeful for a much improved next season - if in 12 months we are having a similar discussion then perhaps its time to question TB as manager. Unless you are Man U nobody can rebuild a team and remain at the same level teh following year.

^ So you would rather our top goalscorer for this season is allowed to walk away given that there are hardly a queue of high quality players within our budget looking to relocate? Be interesting to see who you suggest as alternatives?

Better to resign him and try get someone else in then at least we have someone who has scored some SPL goals - if not next season we could end up with nobody to lead the line.

As for the long ball, agreed it is a flawed tactic and we need to start playing through the midfield, which means there is an onus on Tade to improve his footwork and ability to hold up the ball which IMO should be better given he is a big, strong player.

Yes, athletes have represented Great Britain through UK athletics etc - not through the English athletics organisation? My point is why is it not run and selected by a British commitee or group - why are the English FA contacting the players (that is what was written in the press) - or because its in London that automatically gives England proirity and the right to run it? In which case that could allow FIFA to argue that nations no longer need an SFA/FAW etc as the EFA can organise it all for us.

If its Team GB, then why are the players notified by the English FA and the team run by an English manager using it as a platform to give an English vetren (who they treat like a national hero) one final shot at a competition as they know hes too past it for the Euro champs?

I hope none of the Scottish players accept the chance or any other nations.

You can buy them online tomorrow from 9am if you go through the website.

Always put on a great performance, seeing them in Manchester but might go to this as well

But I heard a rumour that jonny had recently bought a new house.

If this is true, hopefully its a sign he is happy in the area, so long as there are no local SPL rivals who would pay over-inflated wages to 'steal' him off us..........

TB thought highly of this guy and made efforts to bring a player he genuinely thought would improve our squad, whether its the player and a lack of effort/attitude or its just he isnt up to SPL quality only the player and TB knows I guess. Perhaps TB feels that with the faith he put in him and the efforts in signing him the playerits not rewarded so time to try someone else?

As I said last year when Rooney left and Tade signed, he is not the man to lead the line as the primary striker, but I'm pleased he is being offered a new deal, he is a good addition to the squad - we just need to sign someone to compliment him. He is a big powerful player so needs to work on holding the ball up better IMO. Best striker we have so we need to keep him just incase we cant get anyone else too.

Sometimes his skill and touch shows real quality, other times it looks like he doesnt even know what he is doing.

HT: 1-0

FT: 2-0

1st ICT: Hayes

1st Opp: None

Crowd 3156

How long as the SFA bodies going to allow this man and his personal vedetta against the referres. Not once this season or last since he took over has he ever given another team credit for beating his side - its always a conspiracy against Celtic.

This is a man that himself, the SFA and his club need to take a long look at as his constant outbursts get media attention to a larger field than just here is Scotland and is doing nothing but harm to the reputation of the game (much like the situation with the other half of the OF)

Congrats where its due, I'm sure they will be a better addition that Dunfermilne have been this year. Should be good to get some derbies in the SPL, maybe even get some good money from Sky for them.

Best of all though its going to really pi$$ off the west coast clubs having to travel up to Aberdeen, Inverness and now Dingwallio - I assume Lennon will be bleating about it soon haha

I always find it rather amusing when some fans claim reaching the SPL in ten years is some kind of major achievement

supporters in this who show little or no ambition, they already see SPL status as the ultimate goal and as long as they remain in the bottom six they are happy

So what based on our size of club should be the ambition? Eclipsing the record of 9 in a row, Champions League dominance, Domestic trebles back to back? Perhaps the rest of the fans are realists? SPL survival, cup runs - perhaps even finals and maintaing a finacially stable organisation that should be the aim not just now but for the future too.

Regardless if the club is.was IC or IT do you honestly believe a non-mergered club would have done any better than ICT have? The fans that dont want to get behind the team evern after all this time as IMO being narrow minded and not looking at the bigger picture.

Butcher deserves another season.

One of the most sensible points made on this thread for me.

Who would people like to see replace TB, who do they honestly think would do a better job and what are the expectations (and please lets not see the usual names of Robbo, CC or even Stevie Paterson - its time to let the past be closed these guys have had their chance).

For me its SPL survival every year and 1 or 2 good cup runs, based on the size of club and poor attendances can anyone really expect more?

Is it fair to assume many turned on TB last summer when Grant left? Perhaps the bigger picture needs looked at and that TB is trying to reinvent a team with more youth to move forward - yes stalwarts have left but these players couldnt go on forever. This is why he needs another season to finish his 'rebuild' if in 12 months we dont see improvements and having the same discussions then call for his head.

The strikers were poor - Tade, the guy is so unpredictable even he doesnt know what he would do, as for McKay - why do we insist on playing him and when we do why is it always long balls. Gillet was poor and Meekings not much better. Tokely was out of position for the corner and overall we should have defended set pieces better and when we had corners they were all to predictable without enough variation.

I thought Jonny had a decent game and tried to play the ball, Golabart did well and shows commitment I thought and Shinne had a few decent touches but not enough. Too often though the high and long ball was played missing out the midfield which leaves Foran & Tansey anonymous in the game - we need to change the style of play.

Overall we had enough chances to win but the strikers we have lack the quality required, time to get Tade another partner, but for a big strong guy he is poor in the air (jumps like he is wearing diving boots) and should be better at holding the ball up.

Not sure I can be bothered going to another game this year now - I just hope TB sees what we all see and addresses the issues in the summer, or next year we will be the Highlands 2nd team and fighting for survival :(

Dont think his commitment to the cause can be questioned after the Hibs game, probably our best player on the park - only player willing to take the ball down and use it and move it about. A loss if he goes, but has he actually had talks or signed anything elsewhere yet?

@Granty24 - The issue isnt the nationality - no idea where people get this from, its not like we have a youth Academy and develop players for the cause, we get the odd youth player who has the quality. The team has to be made up of the best players available for the money we have to spend. As for your list of players from 2005 that proves what, you could post the 2010 team which won 4-2 but chose not to as it had at least 3 Irish players?

There are obvious weak links which need addressed. This manager took us up from D1 at first time of asking (not seen many relegated clubs do that recently) - we have all but got SPL survival this year (not sure what people expect - CL football next season and break the OF domination?). TB has to have assessed where he underestimated and will need to bring in better quality everyone accepts that, although that cant be judged til this time next year.

Agreed, although I can only assume any deal will be short term - helps them into top 6 and gets him in the 'shop window'. St J probably wont be paying what he was on at HIbs before where he was highest earner, would expect him to move to England in the summer for more cash.

Player with a lot of ability and I think on his day he can excel on the pitch and be the best player if he wants but often he doesnt perform. Not a player we could realistically afford.

Was just reading about this on BBC. How can a club in administration be still allowed a voting right on the future of Scottish Football, why is it acceptable for them to be in charge of the destiny of others when they cant even control their own currently? Screams of SPL, SFA & OF all sticking together for their own vested interest.

It is possible that Whyte may perfer to see the club die than sell it on, really hope for the rest of Scottish football this is the casse, if not there is no way the 11-1 voting stucture will be overturned and the OF will always have everyone else under their control.

Another option is if the 10 all resigned from the SPL, that would then leave the OF a choice - either agree to the new rules and join or pi$$ off to England/Ireland or wherever they think they deserve to play? Can or would that work - or does the 11-1 vote have to be envoked to allow the clubs to leave the current structure?

The current situation is the best chance the other clubs may ever have to revolutionise the system.

Yeah, but you need to consider 6 of those we scored were in 1 game against Killie - consitency, spread and quantity of goals. When St J need a goal there are options of where it may come from - when we need a goal its Tade maybe or nothing.

Rebuild, probably not although after a season back in the SPL and surviving TB will see where we need to strengthen and where was under-estimated. Its clear we need 2 players - a commanding centre back and a goal scorer.

Look at the table and our opponents tonight - St J, overall the squad isnt much better than ours but they have in Sandaza, Sheridan and possibly soon Riorden players that get goals, the difference in the SPL between fighting relegation and getting UEFA spot is almost as simple as who has strikers that score. While Tade has done a decent job this season - he needs a strike partner capable of providing a similar number and supporting.

We get players on loan as they are here to prove themselves with regular football so should be 'hungry' to get experience and make a point to their parent clubs. Plus the fact a young player on loan may only cost wages or part wages is better than signing players who require fees and are tied to contracts long term. Sadly we have to cut our cloth to suit the finances so if we did get relegated any season we can trim the wage bill easily - which is done by the end of loan contracts rather than a big squad of longterm contracts and wages we cant sustain so how can we critisise the club for trying to manage finances in this manner while trying to remain competitive?

As for players being Scottish, dont see that being relevent unless they are local boys who support and love the club then whats it matter where they are from - Foran plays and gives ful effort every game, as do others - nationality isnt an issue, its player attitude.

As fans we can all see the positives this season (Ross, Sutherland, Shinnie - young players coming through) but equally can see the failings in defence (perhaps he will think letting Grant leave was a mistake now) and scoring - now we need to give TB time to address this for next season and judge based on that progress. He got us straight up from D1 to SPL and now after 1 season back he will see where he has 'understimated' areas of the squad. Perhaps as fans we need to be realistic - SPL survival, 1 or 2 good cup runs and a possible top 6 finish some seasons - is anything more is achievable?