Caley Mad In Berks

Yes, this scenario has been muted for some time now, and it wouldn't surprise me, although I wouldn't personally be for it. I wasn't for Brewster either to come back, but now he's here, I believe he needs more than three quarters of a season to give him a proper chance. Robertson was fine last time round but it was his own choice to seek the greener fields at Hearts. Clearly he wasn't given a fair chance there, but he didn't set the heather alight at any of his other clubs either (Livingston, Dunfermline, Derry City). I don't pretent to understand his Orion connection, but it seems a bit ominous.

I agree with both your statement, and your question.

Sounds as if Denzil had another stinker today. That'll be him County bound now for sure, I would think, assuming even they are still interested.

Its about time you studied spelling and grammar!

Exeter City, although I very rarely see them. I think they have the same shirt sponsor as ICT. Why I like them is that their Director of Footall, Steve Perryman, is a friend of mine. They're going quite well in Conference, this season, with a chance of the play-offs.

Let's be serious for a minute here. I liked Juanjo last time round, but wasn't that at a lower level? I don't remember him cutting the mustard at SPL level, or even shining in his spell with Hamilton. Since then he has been playing in some obscure low level Spanish league. Can we really expect him to be the 'messiah'. Wishful thinking I fear, even if this rumour is not just a wind up. I'd love to be proved wrong however.

The week's trial is with Clach I assume!!!

If you move the goalposts much further they'll be in the Moray Firth. There are other threads about Brewster's overall management ability etc. This one's about Black, not the wider issues concerning other players, or problems which you are linking Black to. Anyway, I'm bored with this now. Let's both just hope for an improvement in ICT's fortunes over the rest of the season. Maybe that's something we can agree on, or is it?

Many fewer than you I am sure JB, because of where I live. But to answer your question, only 4 times live, and 3 times on Setanta (live). Plus a few highlights. How is this relevant to the argument? This thread is not about how good I think he is, but about the rights and wrongs of his stand off with Brewster, which you will have noticed I have strong view about.

What I was objecting to was you linking the Ian Black issue to league position and loss of revenue. He has only missed one game, where we played OK without him, and,unless he doesn't play again all season, and we lose the majority of our last six games, then I would maintain there is no validity in this argument. So , despite your poor attempt at sarcasm, you haven't cleared anything up for me.

On the other hand, can we afford not to? If the manager is seen to be weak in a case like this and gives in to a player, only total anarchy will result. It is a matter of principle, not the ease or affordability of replacing the player. With regard to the league position/losing money situation which you brought up, may I remind you this thread is about Ian Black. Unless you are suggesting that we would have won the game with Aberdeen with Black in the side (and there is little evidence to support that, given the energy and determination shown against Aberdeen, as compared with the few games immediately before with Black in the team), then the your rant about Brewster's arrogance is off topic for this thread.

Very well put. And the Fergie example which one or two posters have jumped on was to indicate he would not tolerate indiscipline from any of his stars, no matter who. Nothing to do with his ability to go out and buy replacements. As stated above, within ICT's budget there are players out there who could replace Black, if he does go in the end. Incidentally, I hope he doesn't, but that he comes up with the requested apology, and gets on with things.

Yes, thats the unfortunate thing. If it wasn't for Gretna, we'd be the laughing stock of the SPL (apart from the SPL management themselves, of course), for washing our dirty linen so openly in public. By the way H the G, good to see you back posting again. I've always thought you have just about the best user name on the forum

Absolutely right, Black is not going to win this spat, and the sooner he accepts that, the better for everyone

At last the voice of reason. I'm with you all the way on this. Brewster is the boss, and probably for some time to come will remain so. You can't have players dictating to the manager. Can you imagine Alex Ferguson putting up with cr*p like this , even from one of his stars? He soon got rid of Beckham and Van Nistleroy when they fell out with him! We have all seen evidence on the field as to how hot headed Black can be. Time for him to eat humble pie and get on with it.

I know we keep making excuses for him, putting his petulence down to the fact that he does care. But, nevertheless, my patience is wearing thin with him too

Spot on, I've said much the same on another thread

I agree 100%. And yet I find it unbelievable that there are so many of our fellow posters who can't wait to see the back of him. I guess they blame him for some of the 'so-called' back room unrest, and breaking our wage structure. What a load of bollox. Wyness, when on loan from Hearts was probably on double most of the other players in his take home pay as Hearts were still paying a good percentage of it. But there was no hue and cry about that. If there are any players who grudge Marius his wages they should take a long look at themselves, and perhaps grumble about it when they have the number of international caps he has. They should feel priviledged to be in the same team as him. I would love to see him still with us next year, but I fear pressure to sell him might be too great to resist.

Wait till you see what next week's crowd is! Will it reach 600? About even money I would think.

Yes, I believe we have seen the best of Wyness, but it is odd if Brewster tells him he has to prove himself by the season end, for him not to give him a chance to do so.

I hope you have read the tea leaves wrongly IHE, but I have a horrible feeling you could be right.

Its noose I assume you meant. It beats me why anyone would want to get rid of our best player.

Had to pick up on this and must point out that when we were on our good run Wyness was an integral part of the team. If you mean by our good run when we won 6 out of 7 at the end of 2007, Wyness started only 2 of these games and made a late 10 min period as sub in one other. Hardly integral, by anyone's standards. Imo, he has not been the same since his shoulder injury, and although it saddens me to say it, I fear I'm right and that we've seen the best of him

Delighted to hear that. It shows you what a difference it makes when you have good players and a good coach around you. Some of the nonsense written about him on this forum from certain posters is grossly unfair. What has the guy ever done to deserve it? Despite his international caps and reputation he has done nothing but get his head down and work hard from the moment he arrived and if you speak to any of the current squad they can tell you that he's fitted in well. Regardless of personal opinions etc. Marius is not the problem at this club..... Well said James, I agree with you 100%

I was not for Brewster returning, but not vehemently against. I feel that less than a full season is insufficient time for any manager to make his mark. I feel too many posters on this forum are automatically taking the players side, in every issue, without knowing all the facts. There are clearly off the field problems at ICT, but are they Brewster's doing? I think not. For me, if he continues to blood more of our successful youngsters from the reserve team for the rest of the season and then brings in two or three new players in the summer if necessary, then I'd be prepared to let him have another season. With the demise of Barry and Denzil, both of whom are past their best, and maybe another one or two to follow ( Roscoe/ Granty ??) it is clear that whoever manages ICT has a pretty big rebuilding job on their hands. I suspect this will take some time, and I fear next season may be another struggle to stay in SPL