PerfICT

Good possession football, but not enough chances created from it all. Fleetwood were a big side, but were not very good and yet they created as much as we did off scraps. There was also the usual loss of possession deep in defence (Tremarco), which could have led to a goal - too many of them last season. Shinnie and Christie stand-outs in first half, Raven, Tansey Williams and Warren also looked good. My biggest worry is that all we heard from the bench all afternoon was "keep it" - no mention of actually trying to make things happen or quickening the pace. We'll be easy to play against, I fear: just let us have it and hit on the break. You win nothing for possession!

Another left back? Worrying, if you ask me: either Shinnie is moving to midfield or Hughes is taking out insurance. Hopefully not the second option! Let's wait and see when this is confirmed.....

Hamilton away for the opener is tough: plastic pitch + new boys wanting to impress. For me, those first 5 games have banana skin written all over them! Hope I'm wrong - would be great to get a start like last year!

Agree. McKays excellent goalscoring in the first half of the season relied upon really quick breaks, defence in disarray, incisive ball into the 6-yard box - GOAL! Slow patient build-up play is not going to suit his style of finishing and Hughes needs to recognise that.

Don't think its a case of 'can't' have #13, its not banned or anything, think its a case of superstition for some players or teams and they just don't choose to wear the number. I know that, I just think it's silly that people still have these superstitions in this day and age. It's like people who number their house 12A! I think in China number 4 is considered unlucky. People scared of these things need to get a life. Eusebio wore #13 in the '66 World Cup - didn't seem to do him any harm (Golden Boot)!

I see Connor Pepper is rumoured to be going to Morton? Surprised he hasn't managed to do better for himself than that, but good luck to him wherever he winds up.

....that day at Easter Road in November is indelible. He got what he deserved after his graceless exit from ICT.

Would love to be a fly on the wall at ER this afternoon. TB's in the unenviable position of (a) being sacked or (b) having to accept that he'll have no say on the running of the club except the hoofball side. Sacked, left by mutual consent, resigned or staying and toing the line of the CEO - which way will it fall?!!!

I remeber watching highlights of one of the early rounds of the Scottish Cup and couldn't believe how many snthetic pitches were available in the lower leagues. I used to be dead against these (anyone remeber the shambles at Loftus Rd many years ago with one of the early versions - like playing in a car-park!), but having actually had a shot on one of the 3G versions, I think it is sensible. Our pitch was dire last season for a few months and it doesn't suit the Barca style.....

Mr G Shinnie was exceptional this year and should be in the Scotland set-up - no question. As stated, the club is not under financial pressure to sell, so the only driver would be Graeme himself. If he wants to go, it is understandable. However, it would be incredibly disappointing if he were to go for anything other than a big fee (£300k sounds about right). I suppose the risk is that he doesn't sign a contract extension and goes for free after 1 more season. Can't see Hayes back here, sadly. We just have to wait and see, but anything less than £100k would certainly be a rip-off and not a great signal to others who might be sniffing around for the likes of Mckay!

No! ....and I know I need to get out more, but 2% conversion rate from free kicks and similar from corners: maybe time to try something different?! Let's face it, we've got a 0% conversion rate to beat, so it is impossible for a wee bit of inventive trickery to be worse!

STV have some really interesting stats section for the football spod (like me!) The latest looks at the prem season as a whole. As I thought, the stat that really stands out is our failure to score a single goal from a direct free kick situation. In our defence, no team scored more than 2 goals in the whole season from free kicks, which I find astonishing. Assuming 2 direct free kicks per game in scoring positions, 2/76 shots at goal seems pretty appalling, never mind 0/76!!! http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/276915-stats-zone-the-story-of-the-scottish-premiership-in-201314/ Is the Premiership technical ability so low that we can't get a couple of guys, with practice, to hit the target more often than that? You might think so, but actually the best in the world don't fare all that much better - conversion rates in EPL and La Liga look like they are around 4%. I'll not be getting out my seat in a hurry next time Greg Tansey lines one up from 20 yards next season....

...I actually meant the one in the ER stand, but this one is pretty funny too!

Stanton. The rest are absolute gash.

Can somebody please post up that unforgettable photo of Butcher at ER in the dirty old man coat again: the caption should surely read "will the last one out please turn off the lights!". Well done Accies - appearently by far the better team today and thoroughly deserving. So, no war chest for Butcher as promised: will this push Hibs over the edge? They surely won't have budgeted for this and, with the compensation for Fenlon and ICT.....

KC's comments also covered here: http://sport.stv.tv/football/275923-inverness-ct-chairman-issues-hands-off-warning-over-graeme-shinnie/ Well done Kenny - excellent response to underhand behaviour and a crystal clear message to everybody!

Superb. I like the policy of long term contracts. Just look at the year-on-year turmoil over the bridge!

Excellent news

Top 6. We should have an advantage over just about every other team at the beginning of the season because we have a settled squad - get off to another flyer and we could even do better than this year...............much will depend on the manager!

Exactly - the competition needs to be recognised and Scottish Football in general cannot compete with the quality that is available on TV. I never thought I'd say it, but the answer is summer football to avoid the competition altogether. Also, I would be kkener to go to a match on a barmy summer's evening than to freeze my cajones off in mid-February!

Interesting statistics. I don't think this has much to do with cost: when the club tried to attract crowds with cost incentives for midweek games late in the season, it had little apparent effect. As others have noted above, I think we have not been well served by the SPFL "computer" and by postponements this year. First, only one home game against County at New Year - the away support was pitiful for that. Second only one home (3 away) game against Celtic (on a Sunday with TV coverage IIRC). Third, no Sevco. Then came the postponements which meant a series of games in March/April midweek and competing with Champions League QF/SF. That, added to the drop in form was catastrophic for our average crowds: I think less than 3k were at Hibs, DUFC and Motherwell midweek games, for example. We are particularly badly hit by midweek games because the away support is understandably decimated. Sadly. all of this means we were the worst supported club in the Premiership behind St J and County. I think next year will be better because we should have 2 games at home against both County and Celtic: ~5k at all of those will have a significant impact. I wish the SPFL would recognise the competition from televised Champions League + travel issues for midweek games and do everything in their power to avoid them.

Was it an opportunity missed, or an opportunity gained. At least we gave ourselves the opportunity to win the trophy, unlike all but one other team. I am happy enough with our progress, but that is the key word, we need to progress. I suppose my "opportunity missed" comes from the fact that, in the absence of one of the ugly sisters for a few years, the chances of silverware and Euro opportunities are higher. Ironically, next season is likely to be the best opportunity of all (without SEVCO, Hearts and......Hibs?!), so let's take it! If Motherwell are good enough for 2nd, so are we!!!

So, fifth and a cup final - an excellent season, all things considered! .....I just wish I could shake this nagging feeling of an opportunity missed!!!! I'm going to go away and have a scratch at some of the stats, but a few interesting ones will be in there: 100% ability to not lose games that we scored first in; 100% failure to win games we conceded first in; number of clean sheets; number of 4-0 or more humpings; 100% failure to score from free kicks round the box; poor penalty conversion rate etc etc.

One thing is for certain: Hibs will have no cash to bankroll Butcher's recruits after a clear out. Compo for ICT + Fenlon, finishing ~6 places lower than budgeted for, loss of Hearts local derby all adds up to a large chunk of additional debt (even if they stay up). Relegation and a spell in championship would spell real financial woes. TB (if not run out of town) will need to dig in the conference again: I bet that isn't what he expected!