PerfICT

I just don't get our retention policy at the moment. We've been stung with guys leaving on frees before - fine if our squad is buging at the seams and a player is "surplus to requirements", but we have precisely 5 players (one of whom is permenantly injured and another who might well attract interest again from down the A96), and a goalkeeper coach signed for next season. I understand that, to an extent these things have to be done one at a time, so that the budget is kept under control, but we're in danger of needing a massive rebuild next season, which carries enormous risk. I know Draper and Warren are good, but they can't beat 11 men on their own! Give Polworth an offer ffs!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I would prefer Raven to Horner if fit, but otherwise go with what we had against Aberdeen, with Mutombo coming on for the last 10 to spice it up a bit.

A few interesting ideas on this thread... IMO, there should be a distinction between the Scottish Cup and the League Cup. I'd be open to the idea of the league cup semis involving 2 legs, but not the Scottish Cup - it should remain as striaght knockout, possibly without replays. November completion for the league cup is a good idea. I agree that Hampden should be kept for finals only. This is probably a hangover from the times when Celtic and Rangers regularly made it to semis and theerfore only Hampden was big enough, but I think there should be some latitude for common sense decisions over semi-final venues. There is a chance, for example, that we could get through the quarters to face Ross County, Brechin, Dundee or Dumbarton - any of these games at Hampden would be laughable.....but it is the SFA!

No compliance officer involvement over the Draper penalty incident, so no dive. McInness can get back in his box!

No doubt that play off place is still a risk, there are now only 6 points from 4th to 11th. Monday night's result now looks even more important, especially with Celtic away to come. It's a dogfight! I'd prefer to think we're only a point off 4th, with games in hand!

I know you should beware what you wish for, but Hibs without Cummings is not a bad outcome! Shame The Rangers snuck through.

I'm not surprised by this. We really struggle to break teams down when they come and sit deep. Last night showed how good we can be on the break when teams have a go....and how sound we are in defence.

...also a word for young boys - superb throughout and 10/10 for "sheep on fire" chant when that chimney puffed smoke all over the pitch!

Are you Sneckboy in disguise?!

15 points before split for top 6 or 15 points by end of the season to avoid 11th? Either way, getting in the top 6 is THE way to avoid squeaky bum syndrome. I was hoping for Killie to be adrift by now, but it hasn't happened, so we need to get the finger out ourselves. On the positive side, 4th is still not impossible! The key fixtures for me are the two home games against the Lanarkshire sides and the two away against the Dundee teams. 8 points from those four games is essential - a few scraps from our games against the top 3 would probably see us safe and then the games against RC and St J might determine top 6 or not! It's the order of events that's the concern for me - would prefer points in the bag to games in hand v Hearts!

Yes, the coefficient is a thin veil to try to hide a cunning ruse to keep all the big boys at the party, but it can have a modicum of effect if a nation performs poorly for a few years (listen to the bleating South of the border about the possibility of "losing" their 4th CL spot (as if it were a God-given right and another Italian team will dilute the quality!) I agree with DD that a return to a straight knockout for champions is what this should be, but those days are long gone now that the cash return for a league system has been realised. Ruminigge's plan is simply stage 2 to close the shop completely and make sure Bayern et al retain an even bigger piece of the pie. Doncaster's hypocrisy (colluding to help Rangers return to their "rightful" place at whatever cost, while criticising the CL plan) is laughable, but you don't expect anything different from our corrupt footballing authorities.

Ooooh, this is a tricky one! I don't think any club should be criticised for going plastic. The financial benefits are obvious: Regular use for training, concerts, other sports makes it a no-brainer in a country where winter weather leads to fixture disruption. Use of artificial pitches is encouraged for youth football, meaning that installation of an artificial main pitch can negate the need for training facilities and pitches for youth teams. All of that said, and despite massive improvements, I still prefer to watch and play football on grass! The bounce is still different and I sense a reluctance to slide tackle - it just feels somehow too "sterile". There's also the risk that footballing authorities reverse their decision and insist on reverting to grass, which would be expensive. On balance, I would prefer ICT to retain grass, but would understand if the business case required us to go plastic!

Agree. My son (lifelong ICT fan) came home from secondary school the other day indicating that he needed to choose a Barclays Prem League team to "support". The reason was that the chat at school was all about English football; Scottish football hardly features. Some are off to watch Arsenal this week and others have been to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge this season. It's hard to compete against this juggernaut! For me, that's the best argument of all for genuine summer football - avoid the competition for exposure.

True, DD...except, they still need an atmosphere, which means punters turning up. I'm interested to see what the Chinese dimension will bring - you mention big markets, and there are none bigger. It seems that their present strategy is to try to buy the product and site it in China (by buying players). Personally, I would prefer to watch wholesome part-time football than contribute to an exhibition (which is why I'll never have Sky or BT).

I don't know if anybody else was as alarmed by this as I was: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35557830 So, the concept is that certain teams from a small set of European countries essentially get a bye into the Champions League on the basis of their size and pulling power, to the exclusion of those who would ordinarily have qualified. What??? That surely is the beginning of the end - why would the likes of Lecester and Spurs bother, if only Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool were getting CL places anyway??? And what does that mean for the Scottish Champions - it is the "Champions" League after all! Coupled to this, there are suggestions that, with the soon-to-be majority of foreign investors in the Prem League, that they might wish to protect their investment by demanding league restructuring so that there is no longer relegation and promotion from and to the Premier league. Again, the suggestion is that this would be an invitation only league, creating a 2-tier system. Surely, that is the start of the end? Somebody somewhere is beginning to lose sight of what excites the paying public about sport - it is the very uncertainty about the final result that makes it exciting. It just so happens that ICT are a shining example - who would have thought that they could have beaten Celtic 3-1 away in the cup? I don't usually agree with Doncaster, but in this case he is spot on - this is sinister with the potential to genuinely destroy the professional game, with a few invitiation-only exhibition leagues around the world and then national "diddy" leagues below them, with no opportunity to gain promotion ot the big time. You might argue that Scottish football is already in that place, but for me the money is strangling the game and I hope the fans continue to exercise their power to shove these money-grabbing initiatives back where they belong. Yours disillusioned.... Thoughts?

Yes, I think this is a strong possibility and there are others, too. However, that does not solve the major risk that exists: if Storey gets injured, we have the sum total of nil strikers to choose from, especially now that Foran, Ferguson and Fisher are all FFFing crocked and Sutherland is out on loan. Risky! Likewise, should we need a goal in the dying minutes of a cup tie and want to go 2 up front, what do we do? I'm sure a few of the guys can do a job up there, but that isn't the same as being able to bring a recognised striker on alongside Storey. Compare our situation to that at County - they now have 5 strikers to choose from: Boyce, Curran, Schalke, Graham and Goodwillie. Galling!

...Despite what the media might lead you to believe, Rangers aren't through yet!

Fair point....except, if he knew that why didn't he just say "it's against the rules" instead of "he's not the kind of player we need"?

Don't agree with him there. The alternative is to have no striking options except Storey - I know he's after a number 10, but beggars can't be choosers! I suspect he either knew that he'd be out of our price bracket or wouldn't want to come. Shame - he'd have scored goals but not to be.

It's a fair point you make.....but you have made the usual mistake of crediting the SFA with common sense and the necessary skills to run Scottish Football! Let's give them time to sort out how to draw eight balls out of a hat before burdening them with the four for the semis and tough logistical questions!

Looking at Hibs' fixtures, I'd much prefer them. The following Sunday, they have the LC final and they are scheduled to have a game against Rangers on the Monday. That would have to be rescheduled, but is a more important game for them (whenever it happens). Hearts will be secure in 3rd and would be able to give the tie their full attention. C'mon the Hibees!

would prefer Hibs tbh, if for no other reason than it would avoid 3 games against Hearts in quick succession! I also think they'll have more on their mind with league cup and championship to focus on.

Awful draw. The defence will be the hard way!

you could not make this stuff up! How difficult could it be? SFA are just an embarrassment!

Doesn't stop them bleating about it before every cup draw, though!