Laurence

I really don't care about win percentages Just read Doofers Dad analysis of the situation about record defeats I can see relegation fodder when it jumps out at me I can see Messrs Warren , Meekings, McKay, Doran and maybe Ross heading to Hibernian in the summer The scenario is grim and the outlook is bleak unless the board make some enormous decisions. So lets have no more stats and a little more realism. I have watched football at all levels for the best part of 8 decades so I know a little bit about teams going downhill.

If we get relegated next season, because we don't sort out this mess now. It will cost ICT far more than compensation. If as expected Rangers re-emerge from banishment. A major drop in gate money especially in the now unlikely event ICT remain a top 6 club. The board have to act now or the club will be joining Ross in the lower league, that is for sure. Do we need to pay compensation?. ICT can make Hughes Director of Football or a Scout, or send him out to help the grounds man Or work in the kitchens . Compensation is only paid if he is sacked, or am I wrong again? Take notice of Doofers Dad he puts a perspective on this far better than I can?

If Fans are getting abuseive, then they do so because they care. The problem goes far deeper than the smooth running of this web platform. We have a serious situation here. An ostrich in the ground approach will not work. Fans have a right to vent their feelings. If their command of the English language is so poor the only way they can do it is by using pit face expressions than so be it. However I do realise the moderators have a job to do. But having said that feelings are running deep . Nobody wants to be fighting relegation next season, or our best players asking to leave. If contributors are put off by pit talk I am sorry for them. But we live in a world where such behaviour is commonplace

A passing game ? I don't understand How can you teach free transfer players to outpass Celtic? Against better players you have to adapt your style. I don't understand A team like ICT is not built for passing, I am sorry John Hughes, When I see our once superb goalkeeper trying to short pass the ball to fullbacks who are obviously uncomfortable in not only receiving the ball under pressure , but unaware how to first touch then play then lay, I shudder. Real Married, don't play a passing game Atletico certainly don't, Maybe Milan do, I want to know which underdog team these days actually play a short passing game. What is Hughes trying to prove? Our only hope with players of the calibre we attract is to thump the ball into the channels and chase it. If we are more physical than the other side we would always have a chance. Maybe years of watching the Wombles in Croydon have coloured my judgement, I don't know. But to throw out the long ball game with the bath water, willy Nilly really is the pits.

Following the Ryan Giggs example Why not give Foran 3 matches?

More like Rocket salad Maybe this should be under the title Lack of players on the pitch >

Speaking as a supporter who has seen many managers come and go for a few various clubs I have followed over many decades my perception is that changing the manager should be a last resort. As a young man I supported Bury when they were relegated from what is now the Championship in England. The board sacked the manager Les Shannon. The spectator's , Fans, supporters , whatever you want to call them, where incensed and congregated outside the ground and made such a racket the board reinstated Les. The following season Bury lost the first 3 games of the season. The board once again wanted to sack Shannon, the fans said "no" , Bury went on to get promoted. I say this because sometimes a manager just needs time. It was great to see the fans get involved and tell the board what they felt. I did wonder how long it would be before Hughes went at the time of his appointment, I also wondered if he would last longer than the Man U manager. Well he did. I reluctantly feel unless they are prepared to gamble on Richie Foran, they should stick with Hughes. Although I would not riot outside the gates if he got the boot.

If we can't compee with St Mirren how do you expect to compete with Motherwell who are a top 3 or top 4 team, messing about with kids. We need to park the bus

Lets play wing backs We haven't enough class to compete with Motherwell using the usual formation, which is loose and puts our defence under pressure.

Is he your Dad or Uncle John maybe,? sounds like it- Come on go on the Hartlepool United web site and ask them? Maybe they have forgiven him for the relegation

The long ball or direct pass ( route 1) is not always bad. It has been played by Italy, Manchester United. Costacurter beat England passing 80 yards to Zola who banged it into the net. - Long ball s to Giggs and then to Cantanna where the order of the day. I don't like this condemnation of the long ball it can be very effective.

I haven't exactly got a team But we seem to be putting round pegs in square holes So not being a person with super management skills I feel I will leave that to the experts. I do however think our formation is two loose at the back. I feel our superb goalkeeper is taking a lot of flack for weak midfield play which is putting our defence under too much pressure. So I suggest we play with wing backs. Devine was superb in the cup final and he should be in the team. this would be perfect as 3 centre backs would be needed , I am sure Shinnie and Raven would enjoy the room to attack as wing backs. Vincent and Foran when fit would do nicely in midfield in front of the centre backs with McKay up front with Doran and Ross behind him No need to play wingers with wing backs. I have seen this formation played under Neil Warnock and it worked well. I know we have a lot of up and coming youngsters but I feel they should be put on the back burner and used next August.

If we get poor results against Ross and St Mirren well what then? . Put it like this Hughes is in the last chance saloon in my book, but who am I just some old couch potato ?

I did some back of an envelope stuff might not be 100% accurate but somewhere near Since John Hughes took over the league table if the season started then is like this PLD Points Celtic 17 46 Aberdeen 16 35 Dundee U 15 27 Motherwell 14 26 Kilmarnock = 17 23 ST Johnstone = 15 23 ICT 16 20 Hibs 16 17 Partick 16 16 Ross 15 13 ST Mirren 16 9 Hearts 16 9 I submit my only comment if we take form like this into next season we may well not make the top six Especially with Hibs and Partick on the up and up

With my critical , over critical hat on I suspect, if you play 5 across midfield with a little chap up front against a very experienced Dutch centre back twice his size, and pump long balls up to them., what do you expect?

In the "guardian" match report it mentions Calley deserved a draw It also mentions Billy McKay is a Burnley transfer target

It reminds me of Hearts and the George Burley fiasco Owners are not God

Team Awards my Team is in the Play offs Won 13 out of the 14 match ups http://fantasy.nfl.com/1532065/league

England will definitely lose to Italy The goal difference will be a major factor A win and a draw in the other two matches may not be enough. If Italy and Uruguay draw England are out/

Got to be Boo Boo Or the Park Ranger

I spoke to my daughter yesterday on the phone.( she lives in Brighton) I mentioned ICT had signed Hughes as the new manager. She said that's a surprise, he hasn't been at Stoke long" I had to smile

Well we have Yogi now who will be Boo Boo?

Ender - I was down your way this week end gone - Ormskirk Southport ( To see the 60s bands The Searchers and Jerry and the Pacemakers amongst others ) , glad to get home though, It's nice down there , but not as nice as here.

The Internet being down ( not able to process my Xmas sales) , I decided to play my football manager game The first headline I saw was Hughes sacked by Torquay , I hope it is not an Omen My wife says a 70 year old should not be playing games. But I love it Who cares I think Hughes is as good a choice as we could get. I don't suppose we pay the big wages. needed to get a really big star. In the game Aston Villa are paying me £49,000 a week. ( If only ) I bet that's fairly standard in the Premier League down there. Hughes will be lucky to get that for a year. The Celtic match at the end of the year will be a big test for John I am sure he will rise to the occasion. I am sure we will all be helping the team from the stands.

Or bonfire night when your expecting one last massive boom as you know its coming to the end and then.... is that it? Or when you strike up an online relationship with the girl of your dreams, for weeks you spend every waking moment looking forward to the time when you can actually meet up and fulfil your relationship, then when the time comes it actually turns out to be a fat middle aged man called Nigel with a combover and poor personal hygiene, but you kind of feel obliged to go along with it and make the best of the situation. No wait..... Fantastic post ( Ronnie Barker will never die )