hislopsoffsideagain
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Everything posted by hislopsoffsideagain
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Whilst I wasn't sure he was up to one more season in the top flight, he showed enough at the end of last season that I thought he warranted a new deal. I know a lot of people who haven't renewed their season tickets yet and if one or two decent signings aren't made soon I don't think they'll feel encouraged to do so. Is it time to panic yet?
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Regular readers of the forum will already know this...but the winner of CaleyThistleOnline's Player of the Year award is.....(drumroll please).... ...ROMAN GOLOBART!!!! The Spanish defender, on loan from Wigan Athletic, takes the trophy having been voted man of the match on nine occasions, and earning Player of the Month honours in December and March. Not bad for a player who only turned 20 in March, and who marked his debut for the club in August by tripping over the ball and gifting Aberdeen a goal! As you'd expect from a young man still learning his trade, Roman made a few mistakes along the way, not least his spectacular own goal against Kilmarnock, but his strength, attitude and composure in possession suggest he has a bright future in the game. Hopefully he can be persuaded to return to the Highlands next season, so that once more we have a player named 'Golly' to cheer for! Golobart finished the season with 52 points, thirteen ahead of Graeme Shinnie who led the table for most of the season. Veteran Ross Tokely managed to squeeze into the bronze medal position with a strong end to the campaign. Many thanks to all who voted - we hit a total of exactly one thousand votes over the whole campaign, ranging from 48 for the home win over Hearts in January to the six hardy souls who gave us their opinion on a Monday night defeat at Tannadice. Roman becomes the 12th different player to win the award in the 12 seasons we have run it and the first loanee to have received it .... Not a bad side either if you put all the winners together in a team in a 4-5-1 !!! Esson, Golabek, Mann, Golabart, Tokely, Wilson, Cowie, Black, Hayes, Robson, Dargo with Keogh as the sub ! Player of the Year Points ~ Final Standings : 2011/12 (Player of Month also highlighted in monthly column) Player JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY TOTAL Roman Golobart 0 1 0 0 0 12 15 0 16 8 0 52 Graeme Shinnie 0 18 13 1 0 3 1 0 3 0 0 39 Ross Tokely 0 6 0 4 8 3 0 0 8 0 6 35 Richie Foran 3 5 0 0 0 8 6 9 0 0 3 34 Greg Tansey 5 5 0 5 0 0 6 3 1 1 5 31 Ryan Esson 6 1 3 6 0 0 3 1 0 0 10 30 Jonny Hayes 0 0 0 0 1 14 1 1 0 9 1 27 Gregory Tade 0 8 8 4 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 26 Kenny Gillet 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 10 1 0 1 21 David Davis 0 0 2 3 9 3 - - - - 0 17 Andrew Shinnie 0 0 0 10 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 16 Billy McKay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 5 0 15 Aaron Doran 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1 10 Steve Williams - - - - - - - 3 0 3 0 6 Nick Ross 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 Jonny Tuffey 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 4 Josh Meekings 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 Owain Tudur-Jones 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 Shane Sutherland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 4 Gavin Morrison 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Thomas Piermayr 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Chris Hogg 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Players of the Year - All Time Month Player 2000-2001 Bobby Mann 2001-2002 Barry Robson 2002-2003 Stuart Golabek 2003-2004 Liam Keogh 2004-2005 Ross Tokely 2005-2006 Craig Dargo 2006-2007 Barry Wilson 2007-2008 Don Cowie 2008-2009 Ian Black 2009-2010 Jonny Hayes 2010-2011 Ryan Esson 2011-2012 Roman Golobart -
After a torrid run, Caley Thistle managed to stay unbeaten in the month of May, seeing out the season with two wins and a draw, and no goals conceded. So it's no surprise that CTO's Player of the Month was goalkeeper Ryan Esson. Esson won the award for July, and finished the season as he started - so it's a relief to hear that he has signed a new two year deal which should take his spell at the club to a whopping six seasons. Ryan finished with 35 votes across the three games, and was voted man of the match against both St. Mirren and Dunfermline. He finished just 3 votes ahead of Ross Tokely, and 9 clear of Greg Tansey (man of the match vs Hibs). Observant readers will no doubt be able to figure out who will be named player of the year in our next article ... but until then ... here's the table for May and a list of previous monthly winners Overall quantity of votes cast for each player in May: (Used to decide Player of the Month) Player 02/05 05/05 12/05 TOTAL Ryan Esson 16 11 8 35 Ross Tokely 13 19 32 Greg Tansey 1 3 22 26 Aaron Doran 14 2 16 Richie Foran 1 8 7 16 Kenny Gillet 2 3 11 16 Jonny Hayes 5 11 16 Billy McKay 9 4 13 Andrew Shinnie 5 2 3 10 Steve Williams 8 8 Thomas Piermayr 7 7 Nick Ross 7 7 Graeme Shinnie 2 1 4 7 Roman Golobart 4 4 Owain Tudur-Jones 2 2 Gregory Tade 1 1 Players of the Month - Season 2011/2012 Month Player JULY Ryan Esson AUGUST Graeme Shinnie SEPTEMBER Graeme Shinnie OCTOBER Andrew Shinnie NOVEMBER David Davis DECEMBER Roman Golobart JANUARY Kenny Gillet FEBRUARY Kenny Gillet MARCH Roman Golobart APRIL Jonny Hayes MAY Ryan Esson -
On the one hand, I felt a bit let down by his performances this season - when he arrived he had a reputation as a goalscoring midfield player who delivered a mean set piece; maybe my expectations were too high but he certainly didn't live up to them. When pushed into a more advanced position, with two midfielders behind him, he looked a lot more dangerous to me, so I suspect our system didn't help him. What worries me is that our offer to him was inferior to that of a League One team - whether that's simply in financial terms or there are other issues I don't know. But it's a marker of how much we will struggle to attract decent players to the club.
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An understandable decision by the management team, given that he's very much a fringe player (only 19 starts in the last two seasons) and the budget's been cut. He's just turned 28 and there's unlikely to be any further improvement in his ability - Butcher presumably thinks that he can unearth a youngster (a la Meekings) with the potential to be better than Proctor. That said, I feel more than a twinge of sadness at his departure. He's spent eight of the last nine seasons at the club and made more than 150 appearances. Whilst he's had more than his fair share of bombscare moments, there's no question that he always gave 100% for the shirt. I think he played every position for us except up front and in goal, and, like many utility players, his versatility might have been a hindrance that prevented him making one position his own. No fewer than four different ICT managers - Robbo, Brew (twice), Christie and Butcher - rated him enough to keep giving him contracts, even though he was rarely a first choice; this suggests that he was a player they felt they could rely on. I remember he joined us at the same time as Darran Thomson did - no doubt Proc has turned out to be the shrewder acquisition! His pinnacle in a Caley shirt was surely that 3-2 win over Celtic - not just a goal, but also 'taking one for the team' by getting sent off taking down Scott McDonald when he was through on goal! I wouldn't be surprised if County take a shot on him - a relatively inexpensive but experienced player who provides cover in a number of positions. Good luck to him, wherever he goes.
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The first half was absolutely hideous - I felt embarrassed for some of the players. It wasn't until that absolutely stonking free kick from Tansey that we really got going. As Greg stepped up I confidently announced "this'll end up in the wall or in the stand like all his other free kicks this season" - I'm not disappointed that I was wrong though! After that we stroked the ball about really well, especially with Jones pulling the strings. Much of our play in the final third was pretty disappointing though - of the attacking players, I thought only Jonny had a particularly good game. I was far more impressed with our back four, who looked very slick. Piermayr had an excellent game I thought, though I don't know if it will have been enough to earn him a new deal. I was pleased to see how keen Graeme Shinnie was to get forward from left back too. The big disappointment was Foran, who had a mare. As said above, Tansey had an excellent game yesterday, and I thought that when he was pushed further up the pitch in the last half-hour he looked very dangerous. The million dollar question: Do the back-to-back wins suggest we are heading in the right direction, or are they disguising the problems suggested by our horrendous form before then?
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I'll put together an article when I get the chance, but I thought it was worth making it public knowledge - ROMAN GOLOBART is the twelfth winner of the CaleyThistleOnline.com Player of the Year trophy! Congrats to Roman, who was man of the match in 9 different games and player of the month twice. After totting up the scores from the Dunfermline game, he has an unassailable 13 point lead over Graeme Shinnie. Well done Roman, hopefully you will be around next season to try and retain your title! :clapping: :clapping:
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April 2012 will not go down as a vintage month in the history of Inverness Caley Thistle - only one point from four matches, with two defeats from winning positions and an utterly demoralising reverse to Aberdeen thanks to two own goals. But a few players will be able to take some positives away from those games. Winger Jonny Hayes, the website's player of the year during our 2009/10 promotion campaign, won his first player of the month award since October 2010. Hayes was voted man of the match during the defeat to Hibs, where he scored a somewhat fluky goal, and came second in the polling for the draw at St. Johnstone. He also managed third place in the loss to Kilmarnock despite being sent off! Considering all the rumours surrounding his future, this fan hopes that this will not be the Irishman's last player of the month award from CaleyThistleOnline. Hayes' 45 votes over the four matches were ten ahead of Roman Golobart and twenty-two clear of Aaron Doran, his nearest challengers. Golobart was the other winner this month, even though the Spaniard didn't play in the Kilmarnock match; he was the star performer in Perth and has extended his lead at the top of the overall standings to 13 points over Graeme Shinnie. Barring an incredible turnaround, Golobart will be the first on-loan player to win CaleyThistleOnline's Player of the year award. Though it tells you something about our season when our likely player of the year started only half the games, and scored a shedload of own goals...! Overall quantity of votes cast for each player in April: (Used to decide Player of the Month) Player 01/04 07/04 21/04 28/04 TOTAL Jonny Hayes 29 11 2 3 45 Roman Golobart 22 8 5 35 Aaron Doran 17 6 23 Greg Tansey 14 2 1 17 Billy McKay 8 1 7 16 Graeme Shinnie 5 3 3 11 Ross Tokely 6 4 1 11 Jonny Tuffey 2 4 5 11 Owain Tudur-Jones 6 5 11 Gregory Tade 3 6 9 Steve Williams 5 3 8 Shane Sutherland 7 7 Kenny Gillet 3 2 1 6 Josh Meekings 3 3 Richie Foran 1 1 2 Nick Ross 1 1 Player of the Year Points ~ Current Standings : 2011/12 (Player of Month also highlighted in monthly column) Player JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR TOTAL Roman Golobart 0 1 0 0 0 12 15 0 16 8 52 Graeme Shinnie 0 18 13 1 0 3 1 0 3 0 39 Richie Foran 3 5 0 0 0 8 6 9 0 0 31 Ross Tokely 0 6 0 4 8 3 0 0 8 0 29 Gregory Tade 0 8 8 4 1 1 1 0 3 0 26 Greg Tansey 5 5 0 5 0 0 6 3 1 1 26 Jonny Hayes 0 0 0 0 1 14 1 1 0 9 26 Ryan Esson 6 1 3 6 0 0 3 1 0 0 20 Kenny Gillet 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 10 1 0 20 David Davis 0 0 2 3 9 3 - - - - 17 Andrew Shinnie 0 0 0 10 5 0 1 0 0 0 16 Billy McKay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 5 15 Aaron Doran 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 9 Steve Williams - - - - - - - 3 0 3 6 Nick Ross 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 5 Jonny Tuffey 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 Josh Meekings 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 Owain Tudur-Jones 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 Shane Sutherland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 4 Gavin Morrison 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Thomas Piermayr 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Chris Hogg 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 -
If you have to pay to maintain integrity, then surely it isn't integrity? Scottish football is far too expensive as it is without requesting fans to contribute extra. On the other hand, I would happily pay a huge sum of money if it meant Rangers were playing at Borough Briggs next season.
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What a hideous game, between two utterly dreadful teams. Steve Paterson's ICT side from a decade ago would have walked all over both these sides. This was the sort of match which makes me think that, in the event of a goalless draw, neither team should get any points. I feel ashamed that we felt the need to take the ball to the corner flag at the end, rather than go for a winner - there are 2 games left for goodness sake, it wasn't the last match of the season. So little happened that the BBC highlights will have to show the minutes silence and the mascot's outstanding half-time antics just to make up a full 5 minutes of action. I can't even say that we were set up to play negatively and go for a draw - we're not well organised enough to manage that. It was the same plan as last week, and the week before that, and the week before that...they say a fool is a man who makes the same mistakes over and over again, but expects different results. Well, the punting high balls at a 5'8" centre forward hasn't worked all season, but we were at it again. Doran and Shinnie looked like they had instructions to get to the byline and cross high balls - to our 5'8" centre forward who had to win a header against to 6ft-plus centre backs. I'm pretty sure that we weren't playing on a potato patch tonight, but you'd have though otherwise given the abysmal first touches and rotten passing on display for the most part. Foran had a shocker; Tansey played one beautiful Hollywood pass to release McKay in the second half, but that hardly made up for all the much shorter passes he gave straight to opposing players. Graeme Shinnie, like every other time he has played as a wide midfielder this season, looked like a defender who doesn't know how to play as a wide midfielder. Bizarrely, our Plan B in the first half appeared to be to punt high balls at him instead of McKay! I thought Nick Ross at least showed some good touches, and I was disappointed when he was subbed. I felt McKay offered very little, and Tade caused the defenders more hassle in 3 minutes than McKay did in 87. Our defence were solid enough, but still managed to gift a few chances. None of the back four looked comfortable on the ball for a second, and when Dunfermline pressed high up the pitch we gave the ball away very cheaply. Ryan Esson probably gets my MOTM, simply on the grounds that his handling was assured. So that's one win in fourteen, and no wins in our last eight home games since 21st January. At least this season is over for us. But I've yet to see any reason why next season won't be just as bad if big changes aren't made.
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Yesterday was the first home game I've missed all season...I went down south with a mate to watch Bolton v Swansea. Sounds like I made the right decision! I normally go to four or five English matches a season, it's increasingly tempting to double that number instead of renewing my season ticket. I phoned my parents to ask for their take on the performance - that's the first time I've ever heard my mother swear.
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Butcher really talked up Gnakpa when he was signed and I think raised our expectations far too highly; he then of course looked very slick on his debut vs St. Mirren as well. But I saw him playing at centre forward at East End Park when he was dreadful, and Butcher seems to have given up on him quickly. A shame.
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Bear in mind that the arrival of Ross County at least guarantees two home sellout crowds a season - so, in terms of gate receipts, we wouldn't necessarily take a hit in the same way other clubs would. For what it's worth, I don't just want a liquidated Rangers demoted to division 3, I want them to have to go through the ignominy of reapplying against Spartans, Cove Rangers etc...mostly for the comedy value :lol:
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<style type="text/css"> <!-- .style21 {color: #FFFFFF} --> </style> <p>March was not a particularly enjoyable month for ICT players and fans; it brought us a superb win at Aberdeen, but also some disappointing defeats at Tannadice and at home to St Johnstone, as well as a draw with Kilmarnock. But Spanish defender Roman Golobart can take some positives from those games, in the form of three Man of the Match awards as he earned his second Player of the Month award of the season. In the process, Golobart has managed to displace Graeme Shinnie at the top of the overall leaderboard. Shinnie had been at the top of the pile since September but not any longer - with the season coming towards its end, our on-loan man from Wigan is in pole position to be CTO's Player of the Year! It was also a solid month for Ross Tokely, almost unanimous man of the match against St Johnstone, who picked up 43 votes to Golobart's 59 and moves up to fourth in the overall standings. There's life in the old dog yet! The lack of votes for the Dundee Utd game (understandable for a televised away game on a Monday night) meant that no fewer than six members of the squad picked up points for the Player of The Year standings, as per the CTO Player of the Year rules.</p> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="85%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#FF0000"> <td colspan="6"><span class="style16 style21">Overall quantity of votes cast for each player in March: (<em>Used to decide Player of the Month</em>)</span></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> <td><strong>Player</strong></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>05/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>10/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>24/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>28/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>TOTAL</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#000099"> <td><span class="style4 style21">Roman Golobart</span></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">6</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">25</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">14</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">14</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">59</span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ross Tokely</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">28</div></td> <td><div align="center">43</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Billy McKay</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">14</div></td> <td><div align="center">32</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Graeme Shinnie</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">10</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> <td><div align="center">21</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jonny Tuffey</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">15</div></td> <td><div align="center">19</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Greg Tansey</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">10</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gregory Tade</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Richie Foran</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sam Winnall</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Owain Tudur-Jones</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Nick Ross</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Josh Meekings</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shane Sutherland</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ryan Esson</td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Kenny Gillet</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Claude Gnakpa</td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Thomas Piermayr</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="85%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#FF0000"> <td colspan="11"><span class="style16 style21">Player of the Year Points ~ Current Standings : 2011/12 (<em>Player of Month also highlighted in monthly column</em>)</span></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> <td>Player</td> <td><div align="center"><strong>JUL</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>AUG</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>SEP</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>OCT</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>NOV</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>DEC</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>JAN</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>FEB</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>MAR</strong></div> <div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>TOTAL</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Roman Golobart</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">12</div></td> <td><div align="center">15</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">16</div></td> <td><div align="center">44</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Graeme Shinnie</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">18</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">13</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">39</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Richie Foran</td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">31</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ross Tokely</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">29</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gregory Tade</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">26</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Greg Tansey</td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">25</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ryan Esson</td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">20</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Kenny Gillet</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">8</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center"> <p>10</p> </div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">20</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jonny Hayes</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">14</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">17</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><em>David Davis</em></td> <td><div align="center"><em>0</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>0</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>2</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>3</em></div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center"><em>9</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>3</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>-</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>-</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>-</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>17</em></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Andrew Shinnie</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">10</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">16</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Billy McKay</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">10</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Nick Ross</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jonny Tuffey</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Josh Meekings</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gavin Morrison</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Thomas Piermayr</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Owain Tudur-Jones</td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Steve Williams</td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shane Sutherland</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chris Hogg</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Aaron Doran</td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> -
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Sigh. It's not the first time this season that Butcher has slagged off the players, promised wholesale changes and then kept almost all the same lineup. What does Nick Ross have to do to get a game? Good to have Doran back on the bench at last. Winnall's absence from the matchday squad suggests he doesn't have a future at the club.
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This is how things currently sit, in my opinion - this is what I think Butcher will do, mind, not what I would do! UNDER CONTRACT FOR NEXT SEASON Richie Foran Andy Shinnie Nick Ross Gavin Morrison Shane Sutherland Graeme Shinnie Aaron Doran Josh Meekings LIKELY TO STAY Ryan Esson - surely will get a new deal Owain Tudur Jones - has expressed a willingness to stay Chris Hogg - it was stated in January that he will be offered a new contract Greg Tansey - Butcher seems to think the sun shines out of his rear end Gregory Tade - has probably done enough to warrant another year Billy McKay - appears to be first choice centre forward at the moment Kenny Gillet - solid, hard working and can play at left back or centre back UNLIKELY TO STAY Ross Tokely - think he will go the way of Munro and Duncan, however well he does Jonny Hayes - surely will get a better offer from a better club than us Sam Winnall - Butcher doesn't seem to rate him so loan unlikely to be extended Steve Williams - hasn't established himself in the team while on loan FUTURE UNCLEAR Thomas Piermayr - in and out of the team Jonny Tuffey - likely to be offered new deal, but may want first team football elsewhere David Proctor - a long servant to the club, but certainly not a first choice any more Roman Golobart - there may well be a chance to extend his loan, though I doubt we could sign him permanently Claude Gnakpa - Butcher talked highly of him but has so far flattered to deceive
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As regards whether Butcher has a good eye for a player, here are his signings by transfer window according to Wikipedia and Soccerbase. Apologies for those I've missed. I've listed Foran, Cox, Hayes, Duff (controversial, I know!), Gillet, Hogg, Andy Shinnie and loanees Golobart and Davis as hits. That's not very many, considering it's been three years... January 2009 (Gatheussi, Morais and Mihadjuks were all Brewster signings) Richie Foran - HIT at least until this season, now club captain Eric Odhiambo - JURY OUT hugely inconsistent but certainly got a few goals. Now playing for Denizlispor in Turkey Summer 2009 Nauris Bulvitis (loan) - JURY OUT a regular at centre back in div 1 but loan not extended beyond end of season. Now back in Latvia playing for Spartak Jurmala Lee Cox - HIT only 18 when signed but a regular in midfield for two seasons. Left in January 2012 for Swindon Town for about £50,000 Robert Eagle - MISS flattered to deceive in midfield. Now playing for Lowestoft Town Stuart Golabek - JURY OUT clearly not as good as he was in his first spell, but was solid enough at left back Jonny Hayes - HIT even in the SPL, he is still our biggest attacking threat Dani Sanchez - JURY OUT infuriating at times, but definitely showed flashes of ability. Now at Wellington Phoenix in the Aussie A-League Dan Stratford - MISS mediocre midfield player. Back in the USA playing for West Virginia University Stuart Duff (loan in November 2010) - JURY OUT only played a few games before returning to Aberdeen Summer 2010 Gil Blumenshtein - MISS hopeless Israeli midfielder with more hair than ability. Now playing for Hapoel Ramat HaSharon back in Israel Stuart Duff - HIT solid but unspectacular midfield player who gave us versatility and depth. Now playing for Kazakhstan side Kairat Kenny Gillet - HIT missed much of last season injured but has looked good for the most part this year Chris Innes - JURY OUT experienced reserve centre back, but clearly past his best. Now at Arbroath Kevin McCann (loan) - JURY OUT started really well but injury-prone. Now at Livingston Jonny Tuffey - JURY OUT certainly a good backup keeper to have around but has played only a handful of games January 2011 Aaron Doran (loan later made permanent) - JURY OUT looked great initially, but injured for the majority of this season Chris Hogg - HIT when fit, our best centre-back. Cruciate injury has kept him out since November Alex MacDonald (loan) - MISS - just one goal and no better than anyone else we had available Summer 2011 Tom Aldred (loan) - MISS struggled in his first few games, then threw a hissy fit when dropped Aiden Chippendale (loan) - MISS didn't look anything special and his loan wasn't extended past January David Davis (loan) - HIT added drive quality to our midfield - now a first team regular at Wolves! Roman Golobart (loan) - HIT some dreadful blunders but several MOTM performances and in the running for CTO's player of the year Billy McKay - JURY OUT might come good, but 1 goal in 18 games is a woeful return Josh Meekings - JURY OUT a lot of naive defending but he is still young. Long throws are useful! Thomas Piermayr - JURY OUT decent in patches, but rash at times and picks up a lot of bookings Andy Shinnie - HIT after a hideous start he was in stunning form when he broke his foot Gregory Tade - JURY OUT nine goals are a plus but is either very good or very bad Greg Tansey - JURY OUT a regular in the team but so far has not lived up to expectations (except when playing Dunfermline) Owain Tudur Jones - JURY OUT cursed by injury this season January 2012 Claude Gnakpa - JURY OUT a few bright flashes but rarely looks bothered Steve Williams (loan) - JURY OUT looked good initially but made scapegoat for Rangers hammering and out of favour since Sam Winnall (loan) - JURY OUT but has barely got a chance since joining
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Someone give tm4tj a hug!
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As for those folk who keep saying "who would we get to replace Butcher? We can't do better than him" - look at St Johnstone who dared to give the untried Owen Coyle a chance (did very well, moved on to better things), replaced him with the novice Derek McInnes (did very well, moved on to better things), then came up with rookie Steve Lomas who seems to be doing all right... ...of course the risk is that for every Derek Adams (taking County to the SPL) there is a Scott Leitch (who took County to the second division). But Butcher increasingly resembles an old dog who can't learn new tricks. His 'let's get it up 'em' style appears increasingly obsolete in a modern world where the successful coaches are the ones who know how to set a team up.tactically, and who do enough research to know that, if you press our back line high up the pitch, we'll spend 90 minutes punting high balls at our 5'7" striker instead.
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I'm not massively up for managers slagging off individual players - what does it do to confidence? Especially since Gillet has been as good as anyone this season, Tokely had come off two excellent performances against Aberdeen and St Johnstone (and for me is still a full-back filling in at centre-half), and Meekings is a young boy still learning his trade. As regards Meekings, Butcher has more experienced options (Proctor, Piermayr and Tokely himself) but keeps picking Josh, so the buck stops with the boss. If Butcher feels the need to criticize individuals then why not start with those a bit more deserving of the criticism, such as our esteemed undroppable captain, the esteemed undroppable Tansey, or the esteemed undroppable McKay? The latter in particular is clearly so bereft of confidence anyway that you couldn't make him any less effective in front of goal by whinging about him to the media. Or, how about for once TB says "I picked those defenders that couldn't defend worth a damn, those midfielders who can't run, can't tackle and can't pass, and those forwards who couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo, so the buck stops with me"?
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Is it true that Butcher wouldn't speak to the media after the game? Presumably he's trying to work out how to explain to the press that this defeat, like all of our defeats, is everyone else's fault but his. And, of course, he'll tell them that he's going to make 42 changes to the starting lineup for next week.
