Caley Mad In Berks

Yes, from a wage point of view, and standard of play, I wouldn't be surprised if Conference was about right for us. I wouldn't turn my nose up at potential players from that division. We got Gillet from Barnet who only just missed being relegated to Conference again, this season. Arguably he has been one of our best players. I certainly hope he signs on with us again. So there is every chance that the odd, affordable, gem can be found in the lower reaches of the EFL

I can't agree with the Salesman analogy. I worked in a predominantly sales orientated organisation for years. Sales targets increase year on year and it would never be acceptable to come in with a massive underachievement in year 3 after 2 good preceeding years. So on that argument alone, Butcher would be out. If I were doing his annual appraisal for the season just finished I would definitely score him as having failed. Clearly he had set an objective of creating 'his own' team. The Munro decision was a massive mistake which I'd be surprised if even Butcher would not now acknowledge. So if we now look at who is left from 'his own' team, who do we have left from all his imports, whether they were loanees or signings? Currently, I think it is Meekings , McKay, and A Shinnie off the top of my head - not much to build a team around for the coming season is it? However, I do realise that lack of money is a major factor in attracting new players. But whoever the players are, I just wish he would concentrate on the coaching side and get them playing football. I'm sure we are all fed up with the long ball punting upfield to a loan striker. Also, surely he needs to aim at some stability. I doubt if he fielded the same team two weeks running last season, when all his chopping and changing smacked of panic rather than planning. So for me I'm afraid I think Butcher is lucky not to have been punted and I would be telling him that it is definitely 'last chance' time for him in the coming season.

I think Rodgers is well capable of managing Liverpool, but whether the owners are prepared to give him time is another question altogether. In my view he would need at least two seasons to get Liverpool back to being a top 4 side. I think Lambert at Villa will do OK in the short term. They couldn't do much worse than this season, could they? Money needs to be spent so I think his longer term success will depend on how much he gets for new players. I think both Swansea and Norwich will not do as well without their current managers, but may just do enough to avoid relegation. What happens to Martinez now? Will he be content to spend another season at Wigan? Where could he go? It seems to be only Chelsea of the bigger clubs who could be in the market to change managers. Personally I think De Mateo has done more than enough to warrant that job but who knows what goes on in Abramovich's head?

Says a lot that he prefers Stevenage to us and Motherwell! Good luck to him. I liked him but always felt he had a bit more to offer which rarely came through.

Absolutely no sympathy for him, even though he is Scottish. Thought he was churlish and ungracious all season. The way he handled the Suarez controversy was a disgrace imo.

Just like to add my thanks to Gringo for his sterling work in running another NPL.

No doubt all his many critics on here will be pleased. Frankly I think he could still do a decent job for us as a squad player. I wish him well wherever he ends up.

H/T 1-0 F/T 2-0 ICT Tansey Hibs n/a Crowd 3451

In the list published last Sunday, under the section 'Richest in Football', it has Roy MacGregor with a fortune of £106m, at number 5 in the SPL. Interestingly it has ICT down as being his team! Now that's a takeover that slipped through without much fuss! I'm looking out for a cheque in the post for my shares. Wonder who'll take over at County!

Well done lads. Sounded like a hard fought win. And Craig Brewster leads Crawley to automatic promotion. Well done to him too.

Many of my pals are season ticket holders at Reading. They have been able to renew their season tickets, seniors admittedly, but in the best stand, at £250! Fantastic value seeing they are now in the EPL. Makes ours look really expensive, by any comparison.

H/T 1-1 F/T 1-3 ICT Tansey St M. Thompson Crowd 4101

No fingernails left now. Starting on the toenails. Fortunately I had the foresight to trim them before the game and have them here in a little bowl in front of me.

Will Butcher leave subs till 90th minute as per usual?

H/T 1-1 F/T 2-1 ICT Tansey Dunf. Cardle Crowd 2601

I agree with previous two posters. I cannot believe he would leave us for a fellow relegation contender next season!

It really is a shocking record, one we should be ashamed of. As IHE said a few posts ago it is not just the red and yellow cards themselves, but the impact they had on subsequent games as well. I don't know if the club fines offenders but they surely must do something draconian so that we don't replicate this unenviable record next season.

I think we will probably be OK. Its asking a lot for Dunfermline to win all 3 and Hibs to win 2 out of 3 (including beating us), the only combination that could relegate us if we also lose to Midden. But then again I thought we'd done all the hard work in 2009 with 3 games to go, only for Butcher to mess about with the defence (dropping Esson, Tokeley played out of position etc), and we all know what happened. Butcher still doesn't seem to know what his best defence is (or the rest of the team for that matter), so I wonder what surprises he might have in store. However I'm trying to remain optimistic.

Then he'll he in really good company back here. Seriously, I can't see him coming back to ICT. Englandshire more likely.

H/T 1-1 F/T 1-3 ICT Tansey Killie Shiels Crowd 3881 Yellow Tokeley

I think we'll be safe, not through our own doing, but because Dungfarmland will drop points, although probably not to us the way we are playing. I suspect we'll end up with 36 points. However many we get it must go down as an extremely poor season, for which Butcher must accept much of the blame. Personally I think he should go. I don't really know who I'd want to replace him. Anyone who has a desire to play football with the ball on the ground would do me! It doesn't have to be a big name. St Johnstone are the benchmark for trying out new, unproven managers, over the past 5 years or so, and it has proved highly successful for them Perhaps we should follow their example.

Yes, I've been sorry to watch Hendry slide down the rankings in recent years. He is still excellent 'in the balls' and his positional play is second to none. I see he is drawn against Higgins in round 2. Can't see many folk outside his immediate family rooting for Higgins in this one. I hope Hendry wins 10-0. Mind you, I want all Higgins opponents to thrash him as I firmly believe he should have been banned from the game a couple of years ago. He was a complete disgrace to the game.

H/T 1-0 F/T 1-0 ICT Tansey Dons Vernon Crowd 4151

Poor little Neil! What with Killie beating them in the League Cup Final and Hearts today in the Scottish Cup semi, his befief that there is a conspiracy by everyone, especially referees, against his side, must be full to overflowing! Couldn't happen to a nicer fellow! GIRUY.

Brewster has been deputy there all season. I think his promotion to manager is as a 'stand in' after his boss left suddenly to manage Rotherham, a few positions below them in FL2. A surprising move but admittedly Crawley have slipped badly in recent weeks, after looking odds on for their second promotion in a row before Xmas. Nevertheless Crawley are a decent side and if Craig keeps them in contention for promotion to FL1 he will have done well. Good luck to him.