Caley Mad In Berks

I think a lot of our fans would become extremely disillusioned if we were to lose this one. After seeing the great start to the season slip away somewhat, a loss to our arch enemy would be a bitter pill to swallow. However, I am optimistic that we are playing well enough to give County a good hiding, if only we are able to cut out the preventable mistakes at the back. Obviously it would be good if Billy can regain his shooting boots, but even if this doesn't happen, I'm sure we have enough firepower to beat County with a bit to spare. Looking forward to it.

From reading the various reports and comments on here about the game, it sounds like our 'tippy tappy' style of play let us down a couple of times yesterday. This is always going to be on the cards, especially when we fiddle about at the back instead of making more positive clearances. But it seems that Yogi is dead set on us continuing the 'possession' style of football, so we will just have to live with the occasional costly error. I only hope it doesn't dent our confidence too much before the derby match next week, especially as County got a confidence boost yesterday with their first league win.

Well done lads. Table looks nice!

Delighted for all three, and richly deserved. Great that a provincial club like ourselves at last gets some recognition. Strachan, take note!

That's probably because you are too young. Off the top of my head I can remember Bobby Bolt and Bill Patterson (both ex Rangers) and Paddy Buckley (ex Dons). These were all big names. I'm sure if I put my mind to it I could think of several more.

Another great result. Well done boys. Some folk were suggesting earlier that Killie could well end our unbeaten run. But 60% possession and another clean sheet makes it sound as if it was quite comfortable for us. Hope the International break now hasn't come at a bad time for us to spoil our momentum. I'd rather think that it gives us two weeks to help get everyone fully fit so that Yogi has a full squad fighting for places.

I'd hate them to appoint someone we might actually like!. Terry Butcher would be perfect. Then we could remind him on a regular basis of how we felt about the way he left us.

Fabulous win. Well deserved. We were the better team by miles in second half. Everyone a hero, but for me I must pick out Watkins, Raven and Brill as my men of the match. I have often been less than convinced by Brill, but today he was outstanding. Well done to all concerned.

Well, that was a pleasant surprise! At this rate there might be hundreds of us lining up at the 'humble pie' table later this season. Sounds like we created plenty of chances today. That was one of my worries with our new style of play, but maybe it was unfounded. Looking forward to seeing the goals on the highlights, they sounded like crackers Getting Tansey back was one of our best bits of business imo. I'm just off to have another look at the league table, it looks so pretty!

Yes, a great start from what could have been a really tricky opener for us. I'm looking forward to seeing the comments/reports from our fans who were at the game. As TBB said above, the table looks very pretty this evening. Long may it continue.

Just got back to sunny Berkshire. Not really, apparently there was rain here too today. Not very impressed with our performance today. I really fear for us this season with our new style of 'tippy tappy' football. Yes, we had lots of possession in midfield, and at the back, but we have simply no idea how to convert it into chances up front, We were a bit better second half with Tansey and Doran on, but bar a few minutes near the end, I never thought we looked like scoring. And, of course, our 'tippy tappy' at the back inevitably leads to the odd mistake and we lose goals. Birmingham had no more than four chances today, and scored three. All from mistakes, first by Tremarco, second by Brill, and I couldn't see who messed up for the penalty. I'd much rather us play with wingers and give them a chance to get a few crosses in. I can't see Mckay scoring many/ (some might say 'any') this season without service from the flanks. I have never seen him so ineffective as today. Did he touch the ball more than a few times in all the game? But, nevertheless, a good day out for one of my few 'home' games of the season.

Yes, I agree with Luke. Whether we could have afforded to buy Winnall from Wolves is irrelevant. The fact is that Butcher badly misjudged his ability in his loan spell with us, preferring Mckay and Tade, and never gave the lad a real chance. And, bye the way, when was Tade ever an 'on form' striker for us,as Alex said in post 56 above? On form, yes, if you're happy with a few goals a season and lots of huffing and puffing. Anyway I'm pleased Winnall has proved Butcher wrong as is now well on the way to a very successful career. I just wish it had been with us.

Thought he might have gone to a Championship side. He is still probably going to earn 3 or 4 times as much as we could have paid him. One of Butcher's big mistakes in not recognising this lad's potential. Good luck to him.

Been away for a few days so just caught up on this thread. A good strong team to start with. Hope the injuries talked about are not serious. Disappointed to see Billy taking another penalty. Surely we've learned our lesson there over the past 2 seasons. Looking forward to seeing updates on the Elgin game later today.

So England are out. No more than they deserved. Unfancied Costa Rica have beaten both the sides who beat England, and in doing so played with a passion and work ethic that England could never match. England have been poor for years imo, only the media building them up to be potential world beaters. They have no world class players, a poor defence, little creativity, and no strike power. Costa Rica and Chile in this world cup, both unfancied central/south American sides, have shown how the game should be played. Good luck to them. I hope they go all the way.

What a great fixture. I'll be there for sure, perhaps with one or two others from this area. I'll try and get the lads who went to Charlton with me last pre season interested. We probably need a Brummie to recommend a good pre match pub.

The article is an extremely one sided viewpoint, portraying Lennon as the victim throughout, and not acknowledging that his own behaviour and attitude had anything to do with the way he was treated. Of course no one would condone the death threats, attempted bombings etc, but nevertheless, he did little to help endear himself to folks throughout his Celtic career.

The Highland curse fulfilled.

Maybe he's going to Celtic. LOL

Good riddance, glad to see him out of Scottish football. Unless he goes to Hibs of course after Butcher gets his come uppance when Hamilton win 3-0 in a couple of days time.

I've been away for a few days so have only just seen this news. Absolutely terrific. I've liked Warren right from the time we were trying to sign him from Newport. His cv read well plus he got good reports from Newport fans, so I got a good feeling about him. And so it has proved. Clearly captain material within his extended 3 year deal, as I doubt Foran will be around for all of that time.

Tansey's goal in semi final Dorans' goal against County 'Away' day at Charlton (really a 'home' game for me)

Good to finish with a tidy win. Just watched it all on iPlayer. Not the greatest display, but a satsfactory result. Shocking defending for Tansey's goal at the end, but a good finish. I know I should be satisfied with 5th place, and a Cup final, but I can't help feeling disappointed and that we let things slip so badly after Xmas. Whether it was the Butcher leaving thing or not, who knows, but nevertheless I feel that we missed a fantastic chance to finish 2nd this year, and I will be surprised, pleasantly I hope, if we are in that position again in the next few years.

Its all falling into place nicely. Just need Hamilton/Falkirk/QoSouth to complete the jigsaw next week and our joy will be untold. The Highland curse at its best!

Sorry for posting on Mahonio's "Why does everybody hate me?" thread. Is it all right to talk about the Motherwell game on here? I watched it on catch up in the wee small hours, without knowing the score. Nearly switched off after 5 mins after seeing Draper's horror show for first goal. No quibble with the penalty but plenty with Draper for fiddling around in the six yard box when he had plenty time to hoof a clearance up the park. But of course, that is not allowed in our new system...... Warren's og was a shocker too. When in no immediate trouble, he suddenly produces a diving header to bullet the ball from about a foot off the ground into the top of our net. Maybe he'd forgotten which way we were shooting! Apart from that he had a good game. We had quite a lot of possession first half, but mostly the tippy tappy sideways and backwards stuff in our own half. Second half was a bit better, still with a lot of possession, but a bit more purposeful. Shinnie was magnificent, even if I thought his goal should have been saved. It was not the strongest of shots with his right foot. However, richly deserved all the same. We played a bit more direct towards the end, and looked stronger for it. Mckay did really well to get his shot in at the death, and was really unlucky for it to have hit the post. A draw would have been fairer, and had this game been nearer the start of Hughes' reign, I dare say folks would have been more tolerant of his system and tactics than they are now, coming as it does after a string of poor results. But, hey ho, onwards and upwards, the cricket season is upon us!