Council Juice

To be fair I'd probably say Killie are a bigger team than ICT...even if they do have to live with the ignominy of having lost 5-1 to Hibs in a national final forever and ever. Oh the shame!

Hughes Must go - trying to annex parts of the Ukraine now - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-26716281

Barry Robson wasn't subbed in the league cup final. He blazed free kick over the bar near the end of ET and his sides 1st penalty in the shoot out, choosing not to celebrate it. I think in respect for the ICT fans. Of the one position we need. Just one, its another striker. Hughes to me has a fairly good record in signing strikers. They might not all be prolific but they generally tend to be good. Where Grahame Barrett was not a great goal scorer, he was a good player. Just very unfortunate with injuries which really impacted on his career. He scored 11 goals in 55 appearances. Daryl Duffy in my opinion was exceptional for Falkirk and one of Hughes best signings. 27 goals in 57 games is near 1 in 2 which most managers would take with both hands no problem. His overall record since leaving in 06 is not that bad either. In 328 club appearances he's scored 95 goals. Most strikers would be pleased with that type of record. Currently playing in India, if he's out of contract in the summer and Hughes were to go for him I'd be quite satisfied. Pedro Moutinho. Another striker with a less than prolific goal record, Moutinho from what I remember was often praised by fans and media alike for his ability. Perhaps more of a Dani Sanchez/Juanjo type with his ability to unlock defences. Anthony Stokes, signed by Hughes on loan for Falkirk where he was a revelation (14 goals in 16 games) and then again permanently by Hughes for Hibs, this lad knows where the back of the net is, despite an attitude problem (though never seemingly prevalent when Hughes is his manager.) Alan Gow, his form for Hughes Falkirk won him a move to Rangers. With 2 of these players having come from Arsenals youth set up (Barrett and Stokes), and ICT having a casual affiliation with Arsenal, I'd be interested to see if hughes is ably to utilise that to good effect. Even if he doesn't I'd be happy with his ability to find a player. Mind you Hughes likes sports science and good training facilities. ICT don't have that. Hughes MUST go! Just when it was all looking so rosy there as well.

I agree with this, however would like to see Shinnie playing in an advanced position. Give it a go. You could also swap Foran for Tansey and put Ross or Christie in the hole. That statement could easily apply to many formations, but I did give many player options. Obviously if Tremarco is unavailable Shinnie would play left back and someone else Attacking Mid Left. But all formations are subject to personnel change and I think the 4-2-3-1/4-1-2-2w-1 or 4-3-2-1 can adapt to this comfortably. 4-4-2 only really works for exceptionally gifted teams (ie Man City) whereby class overwrites the inflexiblity of the formation,

- Brill - - Raven - Meekings - Warren - Shinnie - - Draper - Foran - - Doran/Williams - Ross/Tansey - Watkins/Christie - Mckay - I'd like a good old 4-2-3-1 with Foran and Draper sitting. If Doran is fit, start him. If not stick Watkins right and Williams left with either Ross or Tansey starting behind Mckay. Vincent is still building up match fitness and hasn't shown his early season form, I'd prefer to give him this through a combination of u20 and early sub appearances (for half hour ish) than starting as I'm not sure he's offering a lot at present. Bring Christie on at some point too. He needs game time but I don't think it fair to through him into a start in a tough away game at DUtd. But he could be a good impact sub. I'd prefer Ross in the advanced position to Tansey as I see Tansey as better further back alongside Draper. Perhaps switch him with Foran when our captain gets booked.

We still with Errea? When will that contract end and us get someone good to design the top. Nice adidas Red and Blue strip number with the adidas stripes in black.

smashing!

As long as it's stripes, please let it be stripes again... and i'll buy it.

Just thought over the next few games, with a few people complaining about a lack of creativity and players willing to make forward runs with the ball the tactics could be tweaked a little... I thought maybe go with - Brill - - Raven - Meekings - Warren - Tremarco - - Draper - - Doran/Watkins - Foran - Vincent/Tansey/Ross/Christie - Shinnie - Mckay- I know I know, people aren't too favourable off the 4-1-4-1 but I think thats more to do with the players selected than the formation. If Shinnie was able to do the running forward with the ball, from either wing, that we have seen him do from the full back position he could be a useful wide man. He's also quite willing to shoot when given the opportunity and I think this might solve this. Alternatively we stick with the 4-2-3-1 and keep him in the 3 along with young Christie, Doran or Watkins, even Williams. And play Foran OR Tansey beside Draper. Either way, playing Tremarco along with our other usual back 3 might give us more defensive solidity. With the added bonus of Shinnie covering back. I'm more convinced that Foran is more suited to playing as a deep sitting midfielder now though. Someone else has to become the boy knocking headers down for Mckay to snap up. Watkins has the height. Anyone else have any insights over tactics? Not that it matters, but what would people like to see?

Dougal, you started all those threads ya ninny! No way did we get an average gate of 5000 a week. That cant be right.

Took the words right out of my mouth...

Good result! I'd take draws against United and Well with wins against RC and St Mirren.

3000, that's total attendance though is it not, including the Plastic Whistle lot.

I think it was probably tactics for him to play left and come inside, allowing Shinnie to run down the left. It didn't work. I've never been a fan of inverted wingers except Hayes. Not many can do it. I think a few a pre judging Richie a little early. He's not long back from injury and like Hughes said, still a couple of games away from being right on his game. The same goes for Vincent, him more so, as he was out a while. Neither are fully match sharp and that'll only return through game time.

3092, appears not.

I'll take that. Would have wanted more but great to get a goal and get winning again...AND another home win for Yogi!

Get in! Going by the BBC feed Tansey has been shooting left right and centre... but it's just a little too high. Hope he's not using that league cup penalty as inspiration. Good to see a midfielder eager to get shots off.

I like the fact Hughes is essentially telling John Collins who should be in his Scotland under 19 team. (Christie)

"Pub banter wi Yogi!" Clacher that has a ring to it!

Ahhh Rooney scores for Aberdeen again, would have loved to get him back. *sigh*

Ach, Ross and Christie not starting again. Top 6 is guaranteed, cup business is done and to be blatantly honest I don't really care about Europe. If we get it great, but I wouldn't be too dejected, Like to see the team freshened up to be honest and get them a run. When Ross plays I feel we keep the ball better and Christie may as well get some good game time against the bottom 6 teams. We created plenty of chances versus Well but again our profligacy in front of goal showed up again. Always knew we'd struggle to score if Mckay had a barren run and we need to look at other options.

Seems a bit odd to highlight a loss to Celtic at parkhead as the final straw. It's not like we're the 1st team to be hammered there. From the sounds of it we matched Motherwell for large parts, though some slack defending and a brilliant long ball saw us fall behind, and we never come back to gain points when we go behind. This was the same under Butcher as it was under Hughes. I think we were always likely to struggle if Mckay went through a barren run as we've become too reliant on his goals. Now is the time for others to step up. I'd like to see Ross and Christie start more games.

Was that the snooker club that looked more like a peep show club?

Went to the paradise bar, found it closed (apparently opens at 2), so walked round to the LRT, found a queue of sheep outside. Wandered back around to the Paradise Bar, and then went to the snooker club across the road. Good even split of ICT to Aberdeen fans in there. Seems the "owner" of the bar was probably either a Celtic or Aberdeen taking **** taker. Annoying but dire patter which was easily rectified.

I'd like to see a few taps to the side and straight drives at goal. Some of those attempts, from just outside the box as well, were woeful. Even I could close my eyes and put if fairly close to goal and I've got a broken left peg.