RCCC

Made it to the game yesterday. Was a thoroughly mediocre performance. Defence looks like it needs to play a bit more together, just to get used to playing with each other. That being said, Proctor had a nightmare. I think he missed a tackle in the run-up to their goal and was skinned numerous times in the rest of the game. Won't be too harsh on him seeing as its just the one game and he's usually reasonably solid, but if he continues in that form, he'll need to be punted. Attacking-wise, we had some good moments and nice link-up play, but it was largely ineffective, and the final-ball wasn't there at all. Our goal was pretty lucky to be honest. A lump up the field which fell right to Nick Ross who, in fairness, took it really well. Hayes looked a bit out of sorts, Foran didn't do much, Doran didn't get going. Tansey's passing looked pretty decent, Stevenson did feck all. Gillet has a few trademark wild tackles, Aldred and Tokely, as said above, look like they need to play more together but did nothing overtly wrong. Esson was good, apart from one dodgy moment. Shinnie looks good on the ball, but doesn't seem to take notice of where he's actually going and runs into trouble a lot. Other subs were decent.

Not to rain on everybody's parade, but I must say, I am less than overwhelmed by this signing. I've seen Tade play quite a few times as I quite often attend Raith matches, and he's not all that. His speed is considerable, though he tires after 30 minutes, and he is very awkward to deal with when he is in full-flow. That being said, for a striker, he misses a hell of a lot of chances and his composure in front of goal is non-existant. He has the touch of an antelope and his technique isn't much better. Also, not sure how he'll fit into the team, can't think of an obvious role for him. If Rooney were to go he is CERTAINLY NOT an adequate replacement and he's not better than the other first choice attacking players we have. Only role I can see him having is one where he comes on in the last 20/30 minutes and wreaks havoc with the opposition defence. Even Raith fans treat him fairly ironically, they love him and chant his name but that's only because he tries hard and occasionally pulls something out of nowhere, not because he has any semblance of skill about him. I dunno, maybe Butcher's played a blinder here, and I will happily eat my words if he has, but I don't see Tade doing too well.

What would be the problem with playing it at 3pm? We're going to lose the tv cameras anyway (most likely) in a midweek game, celtic are going to have a huge fixture pile-up and its more than likely that the pitch will dry up in time with the rain stopping and the tide going out. Ugh

Good win. B) Will this mean the Raith game on the 3rd will be postponed due to the semi-final being on the 4th, or the other way round?

Hastings clearly wasn't popular with Butcher or his fellow players so really isn't all that surprising. Would take Golabek over him any day, I've never seen a more incompetant attacking full back than Hastings and he wasn't all that in defence either!

On what planet is Hislop 'A very good player'????

He's a hot and cold player. Can be brilliant, but also woeful. Yesterday was his worst but I would still play him before Richard Hastings who, apparantly, isn't the most popular in the dressing room and who besides that is pretty useless. Give Shinnie a try I say.

I have to agree. He's added nothing to the team so far. Perhaps he has the makings of a decent player but he desperately needs to get his passing sorted, and he has a horrible habit of ballooning the ball right over our front line straight to the opposition players. I'd still give him a chance, but he needs to improve desperately in the next few games or he will be dropped.

No guile, no guts, no passion. Lionel, Stratford and Sanchez were all abysmal with everyone else barely much better. One of the worst performances I've ever seen. Why Stratford gets picked above Mcbain and Duncan truly baffles me, same with Sanchez, who is the most ineffective striker I've seen in a Caley Thistle shirt. All I can say is the sooner we get Odhiambo and Barrowman back the better, at least Ross is back now.....

Looked a lot better tonight and played some really nice stuff (Apart from Sanchez). They were a lot more direct and took a lot more shots from outside the box. Though we squandered LOADS of great chances (Is it just me or did Sanchez miss an ABSOLUTE sitter with his header that came off the post???) but to be fair if it weren't for the Stranraer keeper playing a bit of a blinder, we would have won about 6/7 - 0. The lb Shinnie, looks a good prospect as well. All in all a decent performance, some great moves, but I would punt Sanchez for the game on Saturday.

I think today showed just how tight the league will be with 4 teams drawing and the so called 'smaller' teams of Raith and Ayr getting draws with the favourite's. I thought we really missed some pace down the wings today and the sooner Imrie and Tokely get back the better! Even though Hayes and Eagle were poor today, we should definitely give them a chance to impress, they also seemed to tire a great deal towards the end, might be lacking a bit of match fitness. However, there were a few positives. We played the sort of football we want to see and even if it didn't quite come off today, one day it'll click. Also the defence looked very solid, with Ayr having nothing but speculative long shots.