Kingsmills

Good to see Byrne and Kerr get a game under their belts.

Like Foran, match fitness is likely to be an issue, we don't really have the luxury of allowing him a month playing in the reserves to get up to speed. John Collins has an eye for a playerv and the fact that he saw fit to sign him for Hibs is encouraging.

Needs must.......

I know nothing of what went on behind the scenes but that first season in the third division was largely unentertaining despite the novelty of league football and results show it was also the least successful season in the history of the club. Even if there hadn't been internal problems I suspect that he would not have been retained for another season. I was sure then and remain sure now that the appointment of the Caledonian manager to be the first manager of the combined team haf much more to do with politics that with footballing merit. After all, despite his undoubted pedigree and international high profile, hed hardly set the heather on fire during his season in charge of Caley in the Highland League.

I agree with that and the same goes for Black.

Just what I was thinking. With Cowie away to Watford we should keep Black unless Hearts make us an offer we simply can't refuse which I would have thought unlikely.

Smith would be an asset in defence.

Disagree, yes not saying to offer long term contracts to all the new signings, but you also have to calculate who is likely to bring us income in the coming years through transfer fees regardless what division we are in, something we have been to slow to realise with the likes of Black, Cowie. Not sure what wage Pavel is on but we have a sqaud of 27 to 28, worth getting rid of a few that are not up to it to keep a player that seems to have it. Lets face it after 6 or so games last season we knew then that Cowie was an asset and should have said then lets give him a long term contract. After 3-4 games most of us seem to be the same opinion of Pavel so lets get him tied up as if not somebody else will. I agree with that.

In my view, Liverpol's victory today has probably handed the title to United as, in my opinion, Chelsea were their most serious rivals.

He and Rooney are both great prospects but neither have the experience we need at present.

I was concerned, to say the least, when I saw the starting line up but that was the most spirited ICT performance since the opening day of the Season at Pittodrie. Imrie had one of his best ever games in an ICT shirt and Mihajuks gets better and better. Despite Falkirk's shock win over Aberdeen we will escape relegation if we can keep up this level of commitment until the end of the season.

To be fair to Craig Brewster, his last signing for the club may well turn out to be his best.

I know that demotion to the first division would be a huge reverse for the club and a financial disaster after a decade and a half of general upward progress but does anyone else share my view that the relegation battle itself is actually not entirely a bad thing adding much needed spice to the final third of the season. Our first season in the SPL was a huge adventure and the fact that we'd more or less secured our league status by this time didn't diminish the novelty especially after returning to the Longman from Pittodrie. Since then, however, until this season, we've been so consistent that by this time of the year, apart from a couple of occasions when we've had an outside chance of a top six finish, there's been little or nothing to play for other than pride. No prospect of relegation, absolutely no chance of competing for the title or even a UEFA Cup place and a succession of fixtures where only place money is at stake. Important for the club treasurer and the players' bonuses but hardly inspiring for the fans. Frankly, for the past 4 seasons the tale end of the season's been a bit stale but this season has the potential for every game to be critically important until the very end. If I'm honest I've not looked forward to the end of a season so much since our promotion year. Does anyone else feel the same ?

I think one of the problems with the Brewster/ Malky combination is that most successful rookie managers have an experienced assistant whereas in Brewster and Thomson we had two people who were equally inexperienced in their respective roles. In my view it's no coincidence that our form deserted us and results began to turn once Donald Park departed and was replaced by Malky.

Bring back the cheerleaders !

To get Steven Smith until the end of the season would certainly bolster our hopes of staying up.

I'm tempted to go to the bookies and put a monkey on an ICT win !

That sounds like the sort of astute management we've being missing.

They are our two best midfield players. They have no axe to grind with the new manager nor he with them. He should play them although Black may be short of match fitness given his lack of action of late.

I'm sure, if picked, Cowie will be just fine and so will Black. Neither of them have any problem with the new managers.

Yes and 2 players I believe we could have kept if they had been offered a decent deal at the right time, thats Black, Cowie and Fraser all gone for nothing lets hope we dont make the same mistake with Vigurs. Quite so !

I can't see Butcher being anyone's yes man.

With Black and Cowie both gone next season we will need to aquire at least one experienced midfielder.

Neither Brewster or Malky were ogres as people the problem was that togetrher they simply made a very poor management team.

For the first time in a very long time, I BELIEVE !