PerfICT

Excellent interview. I like his "man the barricades mentality" and I'm sure he'll get the right response from the players. I was still hoping that Billy would be here on Sat so that we could give him a good send off, but sounds like there's no chance of that, so let's move on. Not sure who he has in mind for up front on Saturday, But that means he's keeping County guessing too! Would be great if he gets his target by then, but if not, we've got the players to win the game, so let's do it......in style!

Eh? For Billy maybe (financially), but we'll need to see whether ICT even break even on the deal (depending on how many league postitions it costs us).

....I stil don't really get how fees are arrived at. Were West Ham due to pay a fee for development of Hendrie, even if he went on a pre-contract at the end of the season? If so, presumably it would be the same in Shinnie's case. Or was the fee just to sweeten the deal....a gift from West Ham to the paupers? Hendrie for a million on a pre-contract and BMck for £150k now - how does all this work? What about the £3M offer for Efe Ambrose the other day????? Would you swap him for Warren or Meekings (I wouldn't!), but what would we get for them? Buttons. It is certainly a market that works like no other!

McDonald or Higdon would both be great....but I doubt we'd get either. Never say never. ..

Can SeVco afford the wages he is on at SeVco???

It'll be disappointing if he goes before Saturday - I'm sure we'd all like to give him a send-off (after he's scored a hat-trick against County, of course!)

Not sure that is necessarily true. Billy has been excellent over the last few years, but this season, we have proved that we have goals all through the team, even when he was having a lean spell. Granted, some of that was on account of his movement and ability to keep defenders occupied, but providing we can get a similar style of player in that role, I think we'll still score goals. Let's see what the "contingency" is - Watkins? Ferguson? New player in?

I'm sure Wigan can afford more than £150k, but they know that Billy could leave for free in 6 months (or sign a pre-contract), so the ball is in their court. From ICT's perspective, this will ensure another year in profit, but I agree that it is likely to impact on our league position. Put bluntly, £150k is roughly two league positions.

MFR reporting this too - down for a medical today. I hate the transfer window!

MacLennan and Wilson are certainly both very young lads, so some inexperience there. Nevertheless, not great getting gubbed every week at this level.

I think we have to accept that transfer fees within Scotland are a thing of the past. Players and clubs prefer to wait for contracts to run down so that players are free to go wherever they like (without interference from club) and "buying" clubs only have to dangle salaries in front of players instead of salaries + transfer fees. Financially, we are near the bottom of the Premiership pile and therefore have very little pulling power to keep good players here once they feel the urge to move on. This is not the fault of the Board who run a very tight ship, it is the reality of modern football. The tactic has been to get players on reasonably long contracts (2-3 years), which has worked inasmuch as we have a settled team and are not constantly re-inventing ourselves like County (for example). Towards the end of those contracts, players need to decide whether they are at the pinnacle of their career - in which case, they'll take another contract with us, or can earn a better wage elsewhere, in which case they will move on (for free). The success of the last few seasons suggest that this model works. the down-side is that we will continue to lose players who have developed here for nothing. C'est la vie until we can get 20,000 fans through the gates. Good luck to Graeme Shinnie - I hope he gets the international caps that he has deserved. I expect him to retain the captaincy and play even better for a while. Depending on the league table towrds the end, we might need to think about resting him if his performances start to tail off (as for any player) - it has to be distracting to know that you'll be elsewhere as soon as the season ends.

I see where you're coming from! Actually, I think I'd play Shinnie in this one, with a "go and show us that you're still with us" incentive. I reckon he'd have the game of his life. I have no doubt that an opportunity will come in the next few weeks to drop him and, if Tremarco keeps his form up, Shinnie might just not make it back into the team...

I question neither his integrity nor his reasons for leaving. However, as I've indicated on the transfer window thread, there is now an unavoidable conflict of interest, which might become impossible to ignore as the season progresses. Good luck to the guy, but I'm interested in what happens to ICT this season. It seems that Aberdeen are short of a left back right now, so maybe best to deprive them of him until next season so that Watkins can rip them apart in the remaining games against them! That leaves the question of whether he (or anybody) can be expected to do what is necessary to actively damage the prospects of his future employer. For me, it is unfair to put him in that position, particularly in games against the Dons. This will be a real test of JH's man management skills: Keeping GS happy while really wanting to play Tremarco in key games.. A very difficult equation!

Exactly!

My problem with this is that there cannot be a clearer conflict of interest. I have the greatest respect for Graeme as a footballer and I do not doubt his integrity - he always has given his all for ICT. However, he is human and a situation now exists whereby his loyalty might become split. The scenario that I outlined above is not inconceivable - if we had a penalty in the last minute of the last game against Aberdeen to put them out of the European places, would you let him take it? If you wouldn't, you share my anxiety. The point is that he has given JH a headache and, as we approach the sharp end of the season, the headache could get more acute, depending on what is at stake between the teams. GS is a pro and has given everything for the cause, but in his deep subconscious, will he really be able to continue to?

Yes, makes things tricky for rest of season. Should we play him against the Sheep, for example? Ian Black did OK for us after signing a pre-contract, but there must be split loyalties. Imagine if, last game of season, it's between the two teams for Europe: Success for ICT could actively impact on his own success next season! Disappointed that he's going to them - really hoped he would have gone South and earned a packet: Would have gone with my best wishes. Less so now.

JH's interview suggests that Deano's injury might not be as bad as first thought? If there's a chance he'll make it next week, there's hope that the ligaments are OK.

Brill popped knee sounds a really bad one. Let's hope it isn't quite that bad, but it looks like Ryan Esson will get a run in the team for a few months. Disruptive, but In Esson we trust! Get well soon, Deano!

Excellent again and pundits still only looking at Aberdeen as a challenge for Celtic! Perfect - we only want the prize(s) in May! Terrific to hear there were 500+ ICT fans there - well done all!

Slightly worrying that a team containing Vincent, Christie, Horner and Polworth got pumped. Am I right i saying that we seem to fade in 2nd half at U20 level - a few times we seem to have been in the game at half time and then completely gubbed at the end?!

Don't give a monkey's what the pundits say - it's good for us to fly under the radar. Let Celtic, Aberdeen and DUFC take it in turns to be the golden boys, and then we'll steal in at the last moment to take the prize! After that performance, we really must believe that there is nobody at all to fear in this league. What's really pleasing is the strength in depth: a couple of key players out - no problem! And think of those on the bench: Christie, Devine etc! Spare a thought for Liam Polworth - great potential but 2nd or 3rd in the pecking order for midfield. Same could be said of Devine. Smile and wave, boys, just smile and wave...

Excellent initiative from the club: I agree that this was 1000 more than would have turned up otherwise. Well done to the Saints fan who paid £30 because he thought it was such a good idea! Respect...

A masterclass in possession football. Well done lads - tricky to pick a MoM!

Like bdu98196's option, but maybe with Williams on left (only on account of left-footed). Ross has earned an opportunity too, though!

hmmmm, a bit tricky with both Shinnie and Tansey out. some of the suggestions above are OK, but I'd favour: Brill Shinnie Warren Meekings Tremarco Doran Vincent Draper Williams Watkins Mckay Subs: Esson, Ross, Christie, Devine, Polworth, Horner, Sutherland ..........actually, I haven't got a scoobie, so I'll leave it to Yogi! Is that cheat Tom Daley playing for St J?