PerfICT

Foran looked pretty chirpy to me and I was convinced by what he said. The story is simple: ICT get to a final and/or 3rd in the league - Hughes makes history as most successful ICT manager ever. Not manage any and he'll probably be seen as a failure (however unjust that may be). By the way, if he wins all 3, I'll personally chisel a statue of Yogi out of Daviot stone with my teeth! Anyway, let's get behind the whole team and see where the rollercoaster takes us - I'm quite chipper now, after the anticlimax!

Sky interview for those who haven't seen it: http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/scottish-football/9056756/hughes-named-inverness-boss I like the fact that he's not indicating that he's going to change anything (He mentions "business as usual" once or twice!) - the players will respect that. Bring on St Mirren and let's see if business can continue as usual!

A good interview with Hughes: http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/1115-its-john-hughes He's done himself no harm with that - bags of enthusiasm. Now let's see the substance!

I hear the 35k compo that Alloa wanted was a major problem. £35k sounds like a bargain! If this is true, then Hughes' job just got harder...clearly 2nd choice with both the fans and the board. He'll need to be a tough cookie to shoulder that one.

Don't mistake disappointment for disloyalty. Of course I'll be at the next game and of course I'll get behind the team as much as ever. I sincerely hope Hughes makes me eat my words! I just can't hide my disappointment at the decision, which I find uninspiring. Over to you, Yogi!

Gutted. So disappointed for the lads. We had to see Butcher's departure as an opportunity for bringing in real quality and/or a man who would instantly command the respect of the players and we get....Yogi! The risk is an exodus in Jan and failure to turn this year of exceptional promise into mush. Please prove me wrong - humble pie is at the ready - but he'd better get off to a cracking start because December-Feb will define our season.

Saturday is massive for him: lose or draw and he'll be on the back foot from the off. Whilst this fixture was by no means a given, Hughes cannot afford to start his reign with the end of a winning streak (others would have been cut some slack). We've got a tough Christmas/January and there is simply no time for him to f@nny around. Next 7 games will shape our league season and then the cup games....yikes!

..roughly 2% of punters who voted...popular!

The team have proved that they don't need motivation - they do that for themselves. They also do not need a "new broom". The only thing missing from the Butcher team was an ability to adapt tactics when plan A wasn't working: Butcher's use of substitutes was terrible. If Hughes sticks with the current team and tactics, can convince the lads to stay in Jan and add a plan B to change games, he could do very well. However, long ball tactics and we're done for. Of all the names mentioned, Hughes would not have been in my top 10...clearly, it is harder to get quality individuals to come here than we had thought. Opportunity missed....

Damp squib!

Not saying Hughes would be a disaster, but he simply doesn't get the pulse racing. Would the crowd be up or down for his debut? Down without a doubt. And for Hartley (or even Hartson) - up, I'd wager! We still need somebody to inspire sufficient confidence in the squad to inspire them to turn down offers in Jan and Hughes is not it. Would be delighted to be proved wrong, but if it is Hughes, his appointment would be unjustifiable, given the alleged competition.

1st half forgettable, especially a couple of shambolic moments at the back. Second half much better, Watkins and Ross were excellent. Final ball let us down at times, but deservedly in the next round. Penalty in 1st half was a clear foul on Draper as the ball came across. Don't care who we get in the next round - just happy to be there, given the circumstances!

Six interviewees?: from - Hartley, Hughes, Sutton, Shiels, Levein?, Laslo?, Alexander?, Burley? Two for 2nd interview?: Hartley, Levein Appointed?: Hartley If these guesses are anywhere near the mark, it would be impossible to justify appointing Hughes or Sutton.... Simples!

Not Yogi, Appleton, Blackwell or Sutton, surely. There are plenty much better candidates in the runnning than that. As for Brewster....

I presume you need permission just to interview? If you're looking for Hartley turncoats: I confess. I was for Levein until Foran signed! Now it's young H for me

For me, Foran's decision has changed the requirements for the job. I had thought that character would be required to keep the squad together through Jan. I think Foran can do that now, so we can be a bit more adventurous and I think I'd now like to join the Hartley harem... Just get the guy who will deliver a trophy this year and secure our future as a consistent top 3 team. Can't be that tricky....

....Shiels down to 2-1 odds...

My guess for interviewees: Hartley Robertson G Burley Shiels Tapia +1 from Sutton, Larsson, Hartson (what's with the septic link?!), Sturrock? Lazlo? I'm assuming that Levein is not interested. I've put the first 5 in order of my own preference. Of the others, Sturrock could do a job (health?) and Larrsson still intrigues me for some illogical reason. I doubt Hartson would be interested because of his media commitments and I think Sutton would be a disaster - how could you justify him over just about anybody else on this list?

Butcher will not be watching anything on Sat: touchline ban for DUFC debacle! Nice start....

mmmmm.......the timing in view of the shortlist having been decided.... http://sport.stv.tv/football/249669-inverness-ct-hope-to-appoint-new-manager-in-time-for-morton-cup-clash/ can't be coincidental! Smells like he didn't get his favourite candidate on the shortlist and threw the toys out the pram?

Draper's the most vulnerable, followed by Tremarco. Hope the new man gets these 2 tied up ASAP.

I feel Marsella had a bit more dignity than the other two - I sense that he didn't think he'd be going until after the game at Hibs and he said on MFR that he was scouting for ICT up to yesterday and passed on info to KC (although obviously takes the knowledge with him too. I have less animosity for him than the other 2 tw@ts.

....in that case, get Ross Draper signed up next - he's been immense this season.

...or he's been offered a hand in making the choice....

If you were to believe the bookies, the possibles with short and shortening/stable odds seem to be: Chris Sutton (4-5!!!) Sutton family obviously backing their man heavily! Craig Levein Kenny Shiels Robbo (believed to be trying to link up with Barry Wilson as assistant) Paul Hartley Henrik Larsson - big mover today Antonio Tapia Peter Houston? Barry Ferguson? Burley is another possibility because he's publicly declared an interest, but there's some confusion here, with Craig Burley at shorter odds that George...doesn't make sense! Sturrock still out at 33-1... Probably shouldn't read too much into this, but perhaps these names are not so far off the short-list?