PerfICT

Finally, some news on tying up some ICT players (BBC website). Tremarco and Williams signed new contracts (Williams for 2 years, not clear how long for Tremarco). Hopefully, Williams will be played in his natural position in the future and will blossom; I look forward to similar news on Draper and a couple of others!

Can't go with the usual formation IMO because we simply don't have any holding midfielders available (unless Vincent is back on the radar). I think we have to drop the "holding" midfielder idea until we have some holding midfielders available (Ross, Polworth, Christie, Williams cannot do this specialist job). We really need somebody to win the ball in the centre too, so I would have Pepper in there somewhere.  So, until Draper and Foran are back, I'd go with:

Brill

Warren Meekings Tremarco

Raven                                     Shinnie

Pepper Ross (or Draper, if available) Polworth

Doran

McKay

Not sure this really solves our problems (still lightweight in midfield and also no height!), but we're a bit threadbare! Annoyingly, if we can get at DU's back four we could get something out of this game, but we have to win the ball to do that!

According to Skysports transfer news, Toby is frustrated at limited 1st team game time and could be off-ski....

It's not the name that's the issue: only a handful really still point to this as the core reason for not going. I think it is more deep-rooted in our population dynamics. Yes, Inverness is growing rapidly, but those coming into the city (and I am one) will no doubt already "support" another club (whether the ugly sisters or any other club from their place of origin. Yes, a few might simply want to watch live football and will go to the big games, but it takes a lot to actually transfer allegiance, particularly within the same country. Would an Aberdeen or Motherwell fan who settled in Inverness really buy a season ticket for ICT? I was fortunate not to have a previous allegiance to another Scottish team and therefore have adopted ICT as my club....and my family have followed suit, but not one of my work colleagues recruited from all over the place) have done the same. Why? Because they already support Liverpool, Man U,Cardiff, Aberdeen, Raith Rovers, St Mirren, Queen of the South, Dross County etc. Growth of the city is not the answer - get at the children! More of the community stuff in schools might help convince Ma & Pa to get wee Jimmy a season ticket (which means an adult one too). This would cost nothing. I agree that upgrading the stadium and the match experience with restaurants etc would be fantastic (and groundbreaking) but the cash is not there.

Agreed: best to just try to hold on to what we've got than stretch non-existent finances.

I'd guess about £125k: buying out remainder of their contracts + a little "pain and suffering" compensation to keep the unruly Highlanders quiet.

Ainsworth needs stopping down the right: Tremarco in front of Shinnie have to be our defence on the left.

According to STV article, Hughes has said he'll have to change formation - my bet is he'll go 4-4-2. Get ready for the long ball...

We don't have any natural holding midfielders available, so I would suggest a radical rethink. Could go 4-4-2, but maybe 5-4-1, using Raven and Shinnie as wing-backs? Got to try to fit the tactics to the players available, not to squeeze guys into a set formation:

Brill

Raven, Meekings, Devine, Tremarco, Shinnie

Doran, Pepper, Polworth, Greenhalgh

McKay

whatever way we look at it, we're really light in centre midfield just now!

As potentially his fiercest critic, I'll say this: he is simply not a holding midfielder, so if you play him, he has to play in his proper position. Right now, he's not what we're missing, which is energy, ball-winning and distribution in the heart of midfield. So, the jury is out on his ability, but I think Pepper, Shinnie or Tremarco could do the necessary until Foran and Draper are back. In the short-term, maybe we go to 4-4-2, given that we don't have holding midfielders available?

Really disappointed that Hughes has not moved to change things once Foran was injured. The only format that has worked since the start of Dec was Shinnie in midfield and Raven back in. Williams is a passenger every game: we lost the midfield battle today and played too narrow. Then it was long ball stuff, which is just p!sh. So, we HAVE TO change it before Mothersmell, otherwise we're in for a real thrashing. Was willing to give Hughes a chance, but he's failed at the first challenge: effectively replacing Foran. Williams has nothing to offer and Raven does; Shinnie has to play on left: get it sorted!

Raven must start, Williams must not (certainly not as a holding midfielder)!

Brill

Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie

Draper, Tremarco

Doran, Ross, Watkins

Billy Whizz

At least DUFC are losing at St J (and down to 10 men).

0-1FT. Sounds like a reasonable showing, but no finish, unfortunately. Raven needs to start and Williams replaced by either Tremarco or Pepper!

Good response to conceding an early goal. Really need to stoke it up for next 45: next goal crucial! C'mon Inverness!!

Oh dear - Williams in again. Brown will make mincemeat of him. Draper can't do it all himself! Frustrated!

Can't believe Williams got a game yesterday - he was mince against Aberdeen! We need ball winners at the heart of midfield: in Foran's absence, I'd have Pepper in there (playing well for U20s in that role). Ross couldn't play in there because he's no ball winner. Got to get this sorted for next 3 games!!!

...English Campionship with a pretty good chance of promotion to the Premiership.....that's my worry, although there's always the risk that he'd get papped if they were to make it to the big time!

£500k for the top striker in Scotland (by a mile) - surely the board can kick that one into touch? Can't we.....please?!

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/invernessct/article5340848.ece

Hopefully just a rag stirring. He's just starting to add something for us, so I'm sure JH can tell Mr Butcher where to go.....and Hibs surely have no cash to spend. NO DEAL!

Watkins had a dead leg. Think the criticism of Doran a bit harsh. True, he's not skinning defenders on the wing so much just now, but it was his passes from deep that launched a number of attacks in the second half. Maybe he's told to sit a bit deeper in tougher games?

Right, assuming Draper and Foran are out and Vincent still not fit, we're struggling in the heart of midfield. Our options are limited:

. Brill

Raven Meekings Warren Tremarco

. Pepper Shinnie

Watkins. Ross Doran

. Mckay

subs: Esson,Toby, Polworth, Christie, Devine, Greenhalgh....?

What a fight back after a capitulation for 30 min. We definitely don't respond well to conceding the first goal. Warren had a poor game and we missed Watkins (Williams was a passenger and should have been hooked instead of Ross. Gutted that we didn't get the draw that our 2nd half deserved. McKay was outstanding and I thought Toby did well (although his presence encourages the long ball). A tricky spell of games coming, so hopefully the comeback will inspire a great performance at PT. Richie will be out for a few games with dislocated shoulder unfortunately!

Apparently now it is a manager outside UK who has been targeted for Cardiff, so this thread is officially redundant!

Malky Mackay's treatment has been shocking - no question. There lies the risk of foreign owners: fans all love the success that money can buy, but can we stomach the lack of understanding of the game here? Badge and colour changes (Cardiff) or name changes (Hull) in the name of marketing are one thing, but the demand for instant success in return for investment is the other. Ultimately, the fans might get their way and Mr Tan could walk away from Cardiff, but look where that left Hearts....