hislopsoffsideagain

Just back...traffic was shocking, much like our defending!  However, I've been moaning about being bored at the last few games, and even though we lost that was an absolutely magnificent football match.  We feared the worst after the Aberdeen opener, and at 3-2, but for the first time in months we had players out there who were sweating blood.  Hundreds of fans stayed behind at the end to applaud the players off and they deserved it.  Our third goal was a work of art as well - Niculae's one touch flick releases Cowie down the right, and his first time cross picks out McBain striding through the centre to score.  Magic.

POSITIVES

Rossco - I was horrified by the decision to stick him on the right wing, and it took a while for him to settle there.  But in the second half he was incredible.  Had to be subbed because he looked like he would collapse from exhaustion.

Roy McBain - also put in a magnificent shift second half, capped with a goal.

Marius - simply a class act.  Held up play well and set up so many of our attacks with clever flick ons.

Hart - did well off the bench

Brew - not his fault we lost.  Tactically we were a bit better today, and the players gave everything second half.

NEGATIVES

Russell b***** Duncan - I think it is reasonable that your teammates receive a public apology.  Whatever you got sent off for, you are an absolute moron.  We're running out of central midfielders fast.  Mind you, in his absence we looked twice the team we were.

Phil McGuire - a wheelie bin would be more useful at centre-half.  Utterly hopeless and a liability.

Grant Munro - I don't care if the referee and standside linesman were completely incompetent (which they were) - if you were sent off after the game then you are a total idiot.

Ian Black (or the absence of)- was apparently in the Heathmount while we were playing.

Anyway, the best we've played in ages.  At 3-3 we had at least as much chance of nicking it.

"We lacked firepower up front" (Interviewer will then fail to point out that he has dropped Wyness and the side keep punting long balls forward that are easily defended)

"We didn't keep possession well enough" (Funny that, with a Duncan and McBain central midfield)

"I thought Russell Duncan was outstanding yet again" (Witnesses will testify to one pass that went in a forward direction that might have come close to hitting a teammate on the backside by accident, but otherwise no-one can recall any other occasions where he has retained possession)

"The fans got on our backs today and that was disappointing" (Despite heavy defeat and a match that could only have been more boring if spectators were forced to watch paint dry at half time)

"I've withdrawn Ian Black's first team place and I'm looking for a reaction" (Explanation for decision to leave out our best midfield player)

Can you tell that I don't fancy our chances tomorrow?

If this is true (and for now, it is a big IF...) then that surely spells the end of Brewster.  I find it hard to believe that, following the Wyness fiasco, the board can support a decision to chuck our captain.  It's easy to believe that Black could have fallen out with Brewster, but Grant Munro?!!  The guy is ICT through and through and has no history of toeing anything other than the party line.  If he's clashed with Brew then there must surely be a good reason.

You need to give me tips on how to write match reports...magic.

Does anyone know how to get IHE into the dugout instead of Brew next weekend - he'd inspire the troops!

It's been time to give Steven Watt a game since about the middle of January.

Just listened to that interview as well.

Brew identified our two problems today as a lack of firepower - "We could have played till midnight and not scored" and a lack of ammunition for the forwards from midfield.  Firstly, Brew, you leave Wyness out of the eighteen, and then you refuse to bring Cowie, our most creative player by a distance, off the bench when you think the forwards aren't getting enough service!

Man, I'd love some of whatever he's smoking.  He also reiterates that he's looking for a "reaction" from Wyness.  If two goals for the reserves in midweek isn't enough, I don't know what sort of reaction he wants - unless it's grovelling on hands and knees.

Any mention of the defence or the bizarre decision to go 3-5-2, considering we just shipped four goals?  Of course not.  Certainly no chance of Brew accepting even the slightest bit of responsibility for a result that can at best be described as dismal.

So, at the moment, we can't score goals (apart from what sounds like a soft penalty), we can't create chances, and we can't stop other teams from scoring.  Apart from that, we're ok though, aren't we Brew?

After spending my afternoon shivering in a blizzard at Pittodrie, I didn't think it could get much worse...

Oh my god.

This is not on.  Caley teams just don't lie down and die like this.  When the going gets tough, we have always got going.  Now we are just going downhill.

Brew, get a grip or get your P45.  Simple as that.  This too is the first time I can ever remember wishing I supported another team.

The worst bunder ever?  Steady on, we did sign Vetle Andersen once...

Jeez, it's not hard to read between the lines.  Article is at http://www.highland-news.co.uk/news/fullst...quit_shock.html

There is a lesson for all the other players here - even if you're putting in absolute guff performances, do right by the boss and he'll do right by you.  Dare to show some backbone and demand the same from others and you're screwed.  (I'm thinking of one player in particular here, can you tell?)

There is not a single football manager in the world who has had success with a philosophy like that.  And I'd bet my mortgage (if I had one) that Brew won't be the first.

Leave Charles alone.  He does a perfectly good job.  As he says, he's not in a position to comment on this, and in fact I don't think he was even obliged to have to explain his position.  That should be the end of these attempts to bait him.

http://www.ictfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News...1268370,00.html

Forgive me if I don't crack open a bottle of Moet et Chandon.

Still, I suppose we can dream that he might find form again now?

My word, I feel like Dr Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories.

So...is the insinuation that Savage has pulled the plug on Wyness' deal?

3 people - Bennett and Brewster...and Savage?

Aaahh!!!  All this innuendo (and it's not even the good Austin Powers kind).  How is he a pawn?  Who's using his contract as an issue, and why?!  Somebody explain, please!

Steady, steady, I hardly think it's fair to slag off Charles Bannerman, who I believe also has a day job as well as reporting for the BBC.  When he appears on this site his posts are a darn sight more thoughtful than most, and if the club don't tell him anything juicy then he's not exactly working for a red-top who want all the dirt dished up.

Isn't it more that the press don't care about what happens at ICT - it's too long a drive to be worth searching for a story?

Also, who believes for a second that Niculae will be here next season?  Surely he will jump ship to a better club - unless of course he has a few countrymen up to keep him company.

So with Wyness joining McDonald on the way out, and Brew pretty much already retired, our striking corps for next season will probably comprise...Bayne, McAllister and Garry Wood.  

If that isn't a reason to think about not renewing a season ticket, I don't know what is.

CaleyStan, I feel exactly the same as you.  Someone feel free to send me a PM spilling the beans!

Where the fudge are we meant to find another striker with anywhere near Denzil's quality?  I know he's inconsistent as heck, but he scores goals and has a bit of skill.  The chances of us being able to find, and afford, another Dargo are slim to nil.

And how exactly can this do anything other than make team spirit worse?

As said above, it's a worrying state of affairs when our creative players are being shipped. Is there anyone out there who seriously would rather have Duncan than Wyness, even when Duncan is at his best?

I can't cope with this much more either.  The team is producing nothing but dross on the pitch, and nothing but dross off it.

For goodness sake...

I was under a surfing flag just before kickoff at Boro v Liverpool in January.  It was absolutely fantastic and it looked magic on MOTD that evening.  Down south fans wave flags at games all day long.

If the team and the club don't give us any reason to enjoy ourselves, either with what's on the pitch or by distracting ourselves off it, then no wonder we moan all the time!

I think my sentiments are much the same as those already expressed. That is the first game I've ever travelled from Aberdeen for that has seemed little more than a chore - I was not looking forward to it at all. To be honest the only home supporters who will have enjoyed this afternoon's "efforts" (in the loosest sense of the word) are those who suddenly found their insomnia cured. I would have gouged my own eyes out, but I couldn't find a suitable instrument.  

Interesting interactions between the dugout and the fans in the main stand today...

1) Just before kickoff someone yelled at Brew, "About time for 4-4-2, we're the home team" , and Brew turned and gave him a rather withering stare. If looks could kill...

2) Someone got into a shouting match with Malky in the second half - Malky accused him of not supporting the team and the fan responded by saying he that if he paid his money he was entitled to see better.

3) A shout of "Don't sign a new contract" as Dennis was subbed did not go down well with the bench.

4) I'm told that Roy McBain was giving me daggers when I yelled "See, Brew, that's a team that actually wants to win the game" when Falkirk scored. I'm treating it as a badge of honour, and I completely stand by that comment.

I go to Caley games either to see us win, or to be entertained (last year's 4-3 defeat to Killie was the best game I saw all season). At the moment there doesn't seem to be a snowball's chance in **** of either happening any time soon.

We couldn't have scored in a brothel today. We are completely lacking in imagination, initiative or passion. I would like to think that the players and coaching staff will have gone home utterly disgusted with the performance tonight. But I wouldn't bet money on it.

As for complaints about the negativeness of the support, here's an open question to which I don't know the correct answer - as paying customers, are we entitled to heckle and slag off our team during a performance like today? Or should we be keeping schtum?

I've been moaning and naysaying about Gretna for months on my blog (http://nareystoepoker.blogspot.com - I'm not going to miss the chance to advertise myself!!) and so, to be honest, I'm absolutely fed up with the whole situation.  The sooner they get relegated/go bust the better as they can stop making a mockery out of Scottish football.

While the point about the same computer being used to cast different votes is valid, the underlying problem with the POTY votes has been constant occasions where someone has, for example, voted "1st - Black, 2nd - Black, 3rd - Black" or the like.  And in recent matches votes like that make up more than half the votes.  In almost all occasions it's for Black or Cowie.

As for whether Brew is rigging it, I suspect that, if he was, Russell Duncan would be doing rather better...

Further to Scotty's earlier post - just to point out the problem is significant enough that in a number of games more than half the votes cast are dodgy.

Unfortunately that means the POTY points for the Motherwell game will be based on just 2 valid votes.

A round of applause for CaleyD who has just put everything that I and everyone else around me thought about the match into an extremely eloquent and entirely accurate posting.

Particularly the bit about the lack of effort.

:025: :025: :025: :025: :025:

That's an interesting point.  Who does the blame for the lack of protection go on then?

In light of today's performance, and pretty much every performance since New Year, I think that, as loyal fans, we are obliged to help Brewster with what is clearly a huge deficiency in his managerial skills, using the expansive experience that we all have (mostly from years of playing "Football Manager").

Firstly, my knee-jerk reaction, after today, would be to send the following team out against Falkirk.

                            Wheelie Bin

Traffic cone    Proctor    Traffic cone    Traffic cone

Cowie            Traffic cone  McBain        Traffic cone

                      Niculae      Wyness

Seriously, though, it is clear that this 4-5-1 system is not working, and has not worked since John Rankin was shown the exit.  He was the key, a guy who could put a foot on the ball, play the killer pass, and get forward quickly to support the lone striker.  Unfortunately Cowie and Wyness have shown that they cannot produce the impact they can in other positions, and Niculae simply can't/won't put in the defensive work required of the role.  In addition, we just don't have a player who can play as a lone striker - Bayne is awful at holding it up, while Marius and Wyness just don't have the strength or aerial prowess. 

Therefore, it seems to me that we certainly need to go back to 4-4-2.  I don't think we have the personnel for 4-3-3 - while Imrie could play on the left wing, who would be on the right? (especially with Barry gone?) - though perhaps 3-5-2 is an option.

So, then, who should be in?  Contrary to my suggestion above, we probably can't just drop two-thirds of the team.  But some need a seat on the bench so they can "think about what they've done".  I think the general consensus is that Duncan is one of these, and personally I believe McGuire is another.

At the moment, though, it is quite clear that there a number of players - Imrie, Cowie and Niculae come to mind - who we are simply not getting the best out of in the current climate. 

Thoughts?