Kingsmills

A bit of respite from the recent dire fare. Hopefully have Foran and an assistant manager by the time it's played.

I do sincerely hope it's not the former...

Given our recent form and injury and suspension worries, a postponement might not be a bad thing.

Maybe more prudent to tuck it away for a rainy day.

I am perplexed at the continuing failure to use Raven and to persist with Williams in the centre of Midfield. Hughes has a reputation amongst Hibs and Falkirk fans for sidelining players he takes a personal dislike to but surely it's too early for this to have happened with Raven.

Sadly, I agree. I think we may have to put our ambitions for our club on hold for the next two and a half years and hope that we are still in the top division at the end of it and that we get the managerial appointment right next time around.

Leaving aside our own poor crowds and recent slump in form, Scottish football seems to be just about scraping by despite the demise of one half of the Bigot Brothers. Some cracking competitive games, an all but capacity crowd at Tannadice yesterday and the first crowd in excess of 20,000 for an Edinburgh derby for years despite the game being live on TV. We might just survive.

To be fair, very few are decrying the team. An increasing number are voicing their doubts about the manager. A different thing altogether.

Far from my choice but I am prepared to give him a fair crack of the whip. However, I am getting more and more concerned with every passing game. We have not had a single convincing performance since his appointment. Even our single league victory at Tynecastle was as a consequence of a couple of pieces of individual skill late in the game against the weakest and most inexperience side Hearts have been forced to put out this season. Something needs to be done urgently to arrest this decline before it becomes terminal to our European and cup winning ambitions starting with the appointment of an astute assistant manager who can help coach and motivate the players who have not gone off form on masse overnight. Preferably someone who is not one of JH's cronies and someone who is able to articulate himself without resorting to hakneyed cliches. It was not inevitable that Butcher's departure would end or even impede our recent upward progress and indeed there was an opportunity to build on that with a man with fresh ideas and renewed impetus. I am afraid, even at this early stage, it's looking like that opportunity might have been missed.

I see no reason why success can't be sustained but, so far at least, it's done little to pull in the punters.

The crowd for the Celtic match was about a thousand down on what they were attracting a few seasons ago. I understand that tickets for the derby are going fairly slowly particularly for the County end. I doubt there will be much more than 5,000.

A three and a half year deal for young Mr Christie and a derby victory would be a fine start to 2014

Raven must start. Apart from his defensive qualities, Doran is a much more effective player when linking up with Raven on the right.

Trust Dougal to inject negativity into a positive thread. CC was outstanding for Thistle, for Caley and for ICT and even managed a wee cameo at Clach. Mr Inverness Football if ever there was one.

Why was it only a matter of time before we slipped from second place ? Sounds like something Chick Young or Billy Dodds would spout. We have no divine right to second place but, by the same token, if we apply ourselves and Yogi gets the tactics right we have just as much chance of finishing the season in second as Motherwell or the media darlings of the 'New Firm'.

You are far from alone in being surprised by Hughes's appointment. You are far from alone in being disappointed by the appointment and very many of us doubt whether Yogi has the experience or ability to maintain our current position far less improve on it and it may well be that time will prove you and many of the rest of us were right all along. However, that said, I fail to see why you, or anyone else, are not prepared to give the man a chance and can't for the life of me see what's to be gained by constantly voiced negativity so early in the new manager's tenure. He may fail and his record to date suggests he probably will but at least give him the opportunity.

So, anything between two and twelve weeks...

For those of a younger generation, the best place Hibs have ever finished is first.

Very true. Owners exist....

Until this news I would have been perfectly happy not to have brought anyone in during the transfer window as long as we didn't lose anyone. Now I think we need to ring someone in to cover in midfield either on loan or a short term contract.

Heard it might be Les Fridge...

Any progress likely ?

24th is a disgrace. Come on Caley D. Pull your socks up. Top six next season

Agree with all you say apart from the last bit. I think County will be well clear of relegation in the Championship next season.

and Ross Draper.