PerfICT

It's quite interesting to see how many replies above suggest that the manager should be involved in the business side of the club. For me, that's for the Chairman and the Board: balancing the books, marketing, youth development etc is not the responsibility of the pitch-side manager. That said, the manager must be in close contact with the Chairman to discuss budget for the coming season and on-field playing staff strategy. With budget and strategy in mind, it is the manager's job to find players, with the help of scouts and contacts, to assemble a squad that will achieve an agreed target. For us next year, the target should be no more than achieving 10th in the league (at least at the outset). The manager's responsibility is to convince existing key players to remain and to recruit wisely around that core to achieve that goal: Where possible, that should include bringing through youth players with the necessary aptitude. Do not underestimate very good man-management in that process - perhaps more important than tactical awareness. He also needs to be able to have excellent negotiating skills to get the best possible budget from the Chairman ( without bankrupting the club!) Leave the business to the Board - they need to carry the can if they either under-invest, resulting in relegation, or over-invest, resulting in administration. A tight line to navigate!

1. Abandon possession football - we don't have the players to carry it off, it's boring for the fans and is risky at the back. Be quicker in transition and deploy pace and width. Only Barcelona have the players to go as narrow as we are. 2. As indicated in previous post: Be more pro-active with regard to contracts. By January it is too late to start offering contracts to players you want to keep - their minds will have started to wander. Make the necessary offers early and start looking to replace those not wanting to stay immediately. Return to offering longer contracts to give valuable players security and ensure a fee if they move. 3. Have 3 or 4 genuine strikers on the books. Stop recruiting midfielders and then trying to squeeze them into defensive or striking roles. 4. Assuming he doesn't have a terminal injury, sign David Raven and get Meekings back into central defence. 5. Stop sucking up to Celtic and Hibs in the media - it's unsavoury. Stop giving these mediocre teams too much respect: They're remarkably poor this season. I think that just about covers it.

I doubt Doran will be among the 6. JH had him on the bench more often than not, even when he was fully fit - not Hughes' favourite IMO. He's also a high wage. I'm sure Horner will be amongst those with offers and I'm equally convinced that Raven will not. I get the impression that Roberts isn't fancied either. If any of these hunches are right, I'll be hugely disappointed!

Said weeks ago that the games against the Lanarkshire sides would define our season....and so it has turned out: 2 defeats at home to cr@p opposition has condemned us (IMO) to bottom six and some unnecessary bum twitching. In fairness, it sounds like we were going for it and got caught on the break, but it's too late for that: We f@nnied about for most of the season with tiki taka and no striker + insufficient talent to pull it off. That's no disrespect to our team, but as I watch El Classico, I realise that only the very best teams in the world can pull that style off. I hope JH has cottoned on too and abandons this boring, risky strategy....assuming we escape the drop! And the recruitment/retention for next season has been a shambles, but I'll keep that for another thread.

The team needs a bit of freshening up, so wouldn't be all that sad if more players from the Butcher era vacate our club. ...this is what JH said regarding Danny Williams in the wake of the Dundee interest: "For Danny Williams to stay here, he has to show us it's not all money motivated," he said. "If it is the case that he wants to be here then it gives us a wee half nudge to try and keep him". That can be read two ways (at least): 1. Danny's chasing the cash and we're not really too bothered about him leaving. 2. We'd quite like to keep Danny, but we've been gazumped by a better offer and there's need to be another incentive for him to stay here, in which case we'd like to keep him, but we're probably not going to succeed. If interpretation 1 is correct, I have no problem with it - this is by mutual consent effectively - everybody knows the score and JH has long planned for him not being here next year and Danny is off to earn a higher salary. Fair enough. But, the second part of the statement indicates that any offer from ICT would only happen now, if Danny were to effectively say that he'd prefer to stay here on a lower wage. That is reactive and too late IMO. Surely, at the start of any season, the manager and the club have the foresight to know who is approaching the ned of their contract and who should be retained, if the player wants to. You then approach those players before January and see how the land lies. some will bite your hand off (3 players have been in the press saying as much), some will say no and some will be willing to negotiate. Armed with that, you can offer guys who both parties want to stay contracts before other clubs can poach them, you can plan for replacements of those who are going to leave and you can negotiate with the ones who are up for negotation - again, some of these will be lost because the ask is too high. That way, by January the manager and the club should be fairly clear who is with us for the next year or 3, who needs replaced and what the remaining budget is. The evidence that this hasn't happened this year is that no contract extensions were announced before January, despite several players indicating that they'd want to stay. Two of those (Liam Polworth and Fon Williams) have since been offered a contract, so presumably was on JH's shopping list, but might well be in the sights of other clubs. Of course we are a selling club - and we will also inevitably lose some guys on a free because they're too expensive fro us to hold on to. If the club and manager are doing everything in their power to pro-actively retain players, then great! My concern is that this year they have been very unsuccessful to date in keeping a solid core to the team and JH's ability to bring adequate replacements in so far has been far from outstanding. I'd be delighted to be proved wrong!

Exactly, RiG.

.....if not good enough, why was Williams made an offer after Dundee made their approach? Not good enough then, not good enough now, surely. Doesn't sound like a conscious decision to offload to me.

My objection is that I don't see any foresight from the club. We all knew at the beginning of the season that we only had 1 or 2 signed for next year. So surely, you get in first and say to the guys you want: Here's the offer, let's start negotiating. Yes, some might turn you down because they want to move on, but at least everybody knows where they stand and the Jan window can be used as the start of planning for the next season. Polworth, Raven and Fon Williams all had to go to the press to get some action, and Raven is still getting the cold shoulder...obviously at the back of that long line of talented right backs that we have! Meanwhile, Dundee nip in and take the negotiating high ground with Williams and Vincent: We might not have been able to compete, but we had the opportunity to try to tie them down before Dundee were in the frame. It all seems a bit disorganised and last minute. Of course financial security is paramount, but there would be nothing more certain to drive austerity in he future than relegation - likely a near miss this season, but much more likely with wholesale changes next year. Refresh, yes, complete overhaul: No thanks.

Agree with RiG regarding our re-active rather than pro-active activity here. Assuming that everything we read is true (BIG assumption), it appears that we only offered these guys contract once Dundee were in the frame. We have known the situation since the day they signed their contracts with us, so why wait to be gazumped before offering decent players contracts? Yes, there's a bit of a risk if a player picks up an injury in the meantime (e.g. Richie Foran), but our budget means that we simply can't compete with any of our rivals if it comes to a shoot-out. The only edge you have as the club in current possiession is the ability to act before the last 6 months and get players you want tied up. I don't get our retention policy and I have no doubt that the others that are out of contract and worth keeping will also receive better offers. 6 players confirmed for next season at this stage is not good enough IMO.

Am I right in saying there's been a welcome return of the Meekings long throw? A dangerous weapon that Hughes seemed to discard, but is back in favour for the more direct style?

"I think you'll find it's 3-0 not 1-1!"

Draper's"celebration" was class. Nothing more provocative than just standing and staring. County fans absolutely hate him, which immediately elevates him to legendary status!

......if it's down to goal difference, we're in good shape. Hopefully, Celtic will put a few past Motherwell and Dundee. If we're to get to 43 points, the worst our goal difference can be is -2. I think that'd be enough. CMON!

Prophetic, Kingsmills - can you suggest the same before every game, please? Now, call me an optimist, but I don't think top 6 is impossible. 7 points from Hearts, Motherwell and United might just about be enough, if other results go for us. Essentially, we probably want top 4 to win all their games (except Hearts against us!) and for there to be a lot of draws between other teams in the mix. Some strategic wins for United might aid the cause too (e.g. Tomorrow). I've got to admit, it would be sweet if we were to pip County to 6th with a last minute Vigurs goal at United!

Boys were really up for it today - shows what they can do if they're at it for 90 min! Amazing that such a huge proportion of our points have come against County and Aberdire. Can we play you every week indeed. Still an outside chance of top six, but need to beat Hearts Motherwell and United. Not impossible, if improbable!

Interesting to note the wide variation in formation and players suggested on here. I think this sums up the problem we have at the moment - not a settled side and continually trying to fit square pegs in round holes. Do any of us really know what positions Storey, Roberts and Hughes are best in? What about Vigurs? How can you fit him in the team amongst Draper, Polworth and Tansey (when not suspended)? What about Horner? He's had a couple of shockers at right back, but a couple of decent performances too - is he better there or in midfield? All very messy and it shows in our play.

I unfortunately could not make the game tonight, so my comments are only opinions from a distance, but here they are anyway: 1. Romantic as the cup is and fantastic as it was to experience last May, there is a much bigger fish to fry in staying up. I'm disappointed in the result, but am trying to see some positives! 2. I've not been alone in crying out for a change in shape and adoption of more direct tactics from JH and, in fairness to him, he appears to have given exactly that a shot tonight. That's not to say that his team choice to start was inspired, but he clearly adopted a more direct approach and we created more chances in the second half than all season. I think this will help to save us in the long run. 3. Foran and Meekings back is a huge positive. They will need time to get back to full fitness, but will be crucial in the fight for survival. 4. Hopefully, there are signs of an obvious first 11. Hughes is not a striker, so Foran and Storey must be an option? Tansey was a miss tonight, but he and Draper in centre of midfield and Warren and Meekings at the heart of the defence has to be considered (has this happened this season yet?) Tremarco is cemented as left back. The right back/midfield is between Polworth, Roberts and Horner. Vigurs and Williams are options down the left. 5. The County game on Saturday is more important than this one. Learn lessons from tonight - go direct and choose players in their rightful positions and we stand a chance. Continue to go with Hughes up front and Wedderburn and we'll be scuppered. 6. Lose on Saturday and we're in freefall. This is our Waterloo. Lose and we're in serious trouble. No time for weak-willed. Choose the best team we have available and go hell for leather for 90 minutes. Tippy tappy and respect are not an option. No excuses, no hiding places.

...thank God Deek isn't still manager at County: The thought of him holding a cup aloft might have just sent me over the edge.

Still think he was the target of the "play through injuries" jibe. If the above is correct, we've probably seen the last of the man who scored the goal to win us the cup! Not the way I'd have liked to see it end, but I suppose when you have a tiny squad, you can't take a risk on somebody who might only give you 10 games a season. However, I don't think JV has been man-managed very well and boy, have we missed him since Jan.

Yup: Vincent is a huge miss - it is no coincidence that our form throughout the season has been dependent on Vincent's presence or absence. What he gives is an option - nobody else in our team has his movement. For the style we play, that is essential, otherwise it degenerates into sideways tippy tappy because nobody is available. Regarding his future - I don't get the sense that Hughes rates him, so I doubt he'll be here next season. The only negative I see for Vincent is his regular injuries.

My big concern is that successfully fighting a relegation battle requires a certain style and mentality: Tigerish defending, quick transition and snatch goals and points from any scraps you can get in the opposition box. This requires good crossing and a decent centre forward. Trying to play passing football and score perfect goals is suicidal at this end of the league. So, will Hughes abandon the "keep possession at all costs" to save our season and would the players be able to adapt anyway? My guess is he won't, in which case I'm afraid we, and he, deserve what will surely be coming our way. Sometimes you have to put principles to one side for the greater good. The time is now - 7 points will be enough, but they'll likely need to be scrapped for and won ugly. Foran might just be the man!

Gash result and pants entertainment. Our only hope of points before the split is if DU have already thrown in the towel: Even then, we'd fail to score. Hibs is an irrelevance - staying up is absolutely vital.

Ryan Williams to get a start or is he on the Raigmore roll call too?

I thought Morris bullied us in the home Accies game earlier in the season (which we lost 2-0) - hopefully he's completely lost form and confidence! Reading the Accies fans' comments on P&B, they are in even more despair than us, lot least for some of the reasons you quote + a lack of attacking football. As for our team - I haven't got a clue for this one! I guess ICTRoughie's option is about as good as it gets unless Mutomobo and Storey are well enough? Not great for such a crucial game.

May as well close this thread - that ship has now sailed. The next thread should be "staying up IMPERATIVE". We need another 10 points from God knows where to be safe from the play-off spot. As I've said for months, the 2 games against the Lanarkshire teams are vital. On this form, the other games before the split look beyond us, which is a good indication of exactly how deep in the sh!te we are. Indeed, I'd take a draw against Motherwell too.