Council Juice

I see Robbie Winters is looking to get back to Scotland. Think he'd still cut the mustard? Plenty experience for sure. Had a decent record in Scotland although have no idea how he had done in Norway for Brann.

Its been a tough run of late but to suggest Brewster should go is a touch hasty. Look to last season at this stage we were on a 7 or 8 game losing streak. At least its an improvement. Which is surely what we want. With a club our size, with our budget what really can we expect to do? How much an improvement should we be making? How much progress are people after? I say Champions League winners in 5 years. Really, honestly, without serious investment and a huge fan base increase we are doing fairly well and cant expect fairytales all the time. From what i hear we gave Celtic a real run for their money. This site used to be a fairly bright, optimistic place. Why all the doom and gloom. Is it really that bad?

Its a shame but the premiership is a 50million pound business if you stay up. Its a high pressure job. And spurs are a big team with big players who really shouldnt be in that position. Ramos won the cup which Spurs dont see lots of On Chelsea, where would they be without Roman? Somewhere in league 1 playing Leeds perhaps. They were in a right mess finacially. And in 3 times as much debt i think. They're in something like half a billion of debt now. Hope Roman dont get bored eh. Of the London teams i always preferred Charlton. And roscoe23, what is funny about Redknapp. He's a great manager.

People keep defending Burley with the notion that as he doesnt have the media friends because of never managing in Scotland like the two previous managers he gets pelters and stick. Sorry but Im sure that if the previous two made poor decisions and got bad results they'd get stick from the media, friend or foe. Thats how the Scottish media always work. One minute a God, next an abject fool. My manager says im laying into him because he has a stutter and appears a bit slow. That because he doesnt seem comfortable with the press he is easily picked on. My manager says Boyds a traitor, should get a kick in out clubbing, boo'd at every ground etc. I'd prefer to ignore him. He's made his bed so he can lie in it. His call. I didnt even notice he had a speech impediment. He just seemed a bit drunk perhaps I only critisised his team selection, tactics and general handling of situations. I see it this way. His boss (wrongly in my opinion - another said too much from mr Smith) said it was must win and we didnt. We should have started with two up front in a home game and went with no strikers really. Burley waited an hour to work this out and get more forwards on.To use Burleys words - somethings not right there. Forget Boyd altogether. He had a sub left, why not throw on Hartley to sit in the midfield and throw Brown further up the field? Instead Burley chose to do nothing. Somethings not right there. Also he wants to ignore past reputations. What about current ones. Ross McCormack is the top scorer in the championship and Faddy has scored 1 and hasnt impressed. So why on earth is David Clarkson in the squad?! I dont care how commited he is. He should be nowhere near a scotland squad. On Boyd, the player made one good point, if he hasnt impressed him and isnt playing enough, why is he in the squad at all? I think he's now scored 6 in 8 this season. Similar to Iwelumo. Burley says he has purposly went to see Boyd play and he hasnt even got on the pitch so thats a reason (why call him up) Im sorry but if the national manager wasnt at either the CIS cup final or Scottish cup final then again, somethings no right there. And on not impressing in training, i really dont care aout how he trains. If he is one the goal line to tap in a cross to put Scotland 1 up and we win and then get to a major finals thats what matters. He can sit about and eat pies all week if he does that. If Burley was of the opinion that if you dont play for your club, you dont play for Scotland and yet call him up surely he should pull him aside and say that in order to play he'll really have to work hard to impress in training. You know encourage him. install confidence. I'm really annoyed with Kris Boyd. He's let alot of people down, the fans who would all love to play for their country, especially. I'm not defending his actions. He's acted quite imaturely but from all that seem to know him personally they seem to sympathise with him. He seems to just want to play. He has to earn that though. But he hasnt made a good choice. Im no mr Kris Boyd fan club member, but i do understand what he can do for a team. I just think that Burley has not handled the situation well and am getting sick of Terry Butcher saying he had his nose broken by him to defend him! That means nothing. Some say that he struggles as he aint media friendly. Sorry but national manament is very much media oriented. Every little thing is scrutinised. You've got to be media friendly. On my manager "IF we win in Holland and you'll be on the street singing George Burleys name" Indeed i shall but its a big IF. Sorry but i believe in judging people on their actions and results and george hasnt got any yet to say we'll get anything against the Dutch. Its a SH**e state affairs to be in and all the fresh air wont make any _____ difference! I think im going to leave this matter. At least until after the Agry game. I really hope we get a positive result there as any Scot does, sadly im a realist.

It was to be expected really. Rangers fans are always going to boo someone who has picked Ireland 1st. I dont blame McCarthy. The Irish set up showed clearly they wanted him and he has shown alot of integrity in sticking with his choice. Fair play to him. Besides the Irish Authorities have always been good with young boys, And im not just talking football

If a player has "recreational activities" which are the reason he doesnt play, why have him in the squad? Smith dropped Macgregor and said he needed to shape up. He hasnt done so with Boyd, says he needs to work on his game and he''l play given the right game. And that with the right options he'd build the team around him. Why would he get called up for Scotland and placed on the bench if he had a problem? He was an unused sub in a "must win" game, where we had one sub still available. Burley is egotistical, not arrogant. It doesnt matter now. We're down our most natural goalscorer. and have to look forward. It doesnt bode well tho. And remembering the georgia game, it was a nervy affair in recollection. Fact is Boyds goal was important there.

Its the fact that Burley used Boyd not playing for his club, to justify playing Iwelumo. Yes this afternoon Burley DID say he wasnt interested in reputations. Form and the fact your playing. ie Chris Iwelumo. Why on earth is James McFadden in the team then? 1 goal in his last 14 league games. Struggling for form (said by player himself) Dropped at weekend from starting line up. I'll tell you why. Everyone has seen his goal against France. Its because he can do that he is in the team. Perfectly justified on reputuation. Kris Boyd is not playing week in week out. Has only scored 4 goals this season thus far (probably in as many starts mind) and isnt at the top of his game. Why SHOULD he be in the team, or coming on? Well everyone saw his goal against Partick. Everyone saw what he done in the League cup final. Everyone saw what he done in the Scottish Cup final. Including that belter of a free kick. (he didnt stand about waiting on his team doing all the work there, that was the ability to strike the ball crisp and true) His reputation as a match winner in those big games (cup finals are big games no matter the opposition) is undoubted. In his 3 home internationals Georgia, Lithuania and the Faroes he scored 4. the team scored 11. only conceding 2. In our last 3 home games where he has not had any real playing time. Croatia, Italy and Norway (accepted all better teams granted) we scored 2, conceding 3. Even with the Ukraine win taken into account thats 5 scored 4 conceded. I have no doubt on form Iwelumo was rightly in the Squad. 8 in 6 for a Scot is not to be passed off. Riordan has scored 3 in 3 for hibs yet is not match sharp and he isnt though. David Clarkson doesnt score that much. Not that good. average SPL player. Steven Fletcher hasnt done anything of note this season. Neil Alexander was playing well for Rangers in his two games and at the tail end of last season. Wasnt in the squad. Magregor has suffered a slight dip in form. In the squad McCormack- Cardiffs main man, scored a fair few, In under 21s. The reason why Clarkson was good last season. So if you have to be playing regularly and on form. Riordan, McCormack and Alexander in, Fletcher, Clarkson, and Magregor out. Simple eh? Face facts though. Burley has said to take us forward he wants us to play football. The Norway game was described as "must win" by his boss. The football we played against Norway was the most tedious we have played in a home game since 2005 when Smith took over. Even against France although outclassed, it was very exciting stuff. Norway are very average apart from Carew. Iversen and Risse past their best. If it was must win, we want to be an attacking team, and are playing at home. Why did Iwelumo, Boyd or Fletcher not start? Why with 10 minutes to go, if your trying to be attacking and its a must win game, and still have a substitute to use, not make a change? Sacrifice a defender perhaps? Boyd for the last 10? facts are to be one of the 8 best runners up we need the points. that draw at home against a beatable team, who in the end should have beaten us was a failure. We havent went forward and we never won. Its that simple.

Well it proved important then eh? the goal in a 2-1 win. Killie rarely score against Celtic. Whether with Boyd, naismith or whoever. And as Smith has said before he has to pick the team for the game and Boyd has his uses when trying break the teams down who defend the whole game but against Celtic its different. He trys to ht them on the break alot. Thats Barry Ferguson saying he understands Boyds decision. Says he's disappointed but respects his decision. In other words he thinks he's right. He wouldnt publicly critisise a team mate but he would either back his manager or say nothing. George Burley again used a player to justify himself " i only want commited players" as he's running out the door. Saying like a school boy who's been caught out "aye well i had Barry Ferguson saying he canna wait to play so it shows that players are commited so there" (not exact quote) Burley really took the hump when asked if players were commited to play for him. He really mucked up that press conference.

what your failing to grasp is the FACT that strikers in the SPL will be judged on performances against the BIG teams and Celtic have ruled Scottish football for most of Boyds career. International goals have been scored against Bulgaria ( friendly in Japan x2 ), 2 against the Faroes, 1 against georgia , 1 against S. Africa and 1 against Lithuania hardly Earth shattering stuff FFS. Dont get me wrong either, i'm annoyed at Boyd for turning his back. He should have fought on. No matter how idiotic and egotistical Burley is. It just makes him look bad. Its you country FFS. He has scored v Celtic but doesnt play against them too often. Both we and Bulgaria had experimental teams but we trounced them. Martin Petrov played. We trounced the Faroes when he played. We comfortably beat Georgia at home by two goals We comfortably beat Lithuania at home by two goals (i think) He scored the only goal of the game against a team who no matter how they got there, will be at the world cup. Even if Boyd doesnt score others will as he will be man marked, leaving valuable space for Miller and McFadden. So he does offer more than goals. His mere presense is a nuisanse. When teams played Poto or Galatasaray, they feared Jardel. They feared his goal record. He was the laziest player going. When teams played against Negri, at Rangers, for ahem, half a season, they knew he'd be nowhere. Out of the game. What there he scores. Paul Ritchie at Inverness was always critisied for not scoring against the big teams, but without his goals against the dross we would never have challenged. We would have been relegation candidates. Robson wouldnt have had a crossing target. The amount of times Larsson never appeared to be doing much. The team having him snuffed out. Appearing comfortable. Then he'd score, then again. then again. then he'd set one up. (fair enough boyd cant do that but he's no Henrik Larsson is he) Rangers score more as a team when he plays. Scotland score more as a team when he plays.

Ok Celtic only have 3 but they actively get rotated. Man Utd have Tevez, Berbatov and Rooney and none play every week. It is rotation. You have to keep people on their toes. Keep them hungry. have options. Boyd will never be a Van Basten, Berbatov, Henry, or Torres who do alot of class outside the box. He'll never be the best player in the world, but his goal ratio speaks for itself. He knows how to score goals. His poaching abilty is unrivalled in Scotland. Personally I balme his height. If he were a few inches shorter he wouldnt be expected to run around daft "linking up". He'd be allowed to do his job. He'd be Ally McCoist. I sometimes wonder if the real reason he doesnt always play is simply if he did he'd be the target. He gets injured its like losing your teeth. Ya canna chew! You lack bite. Its the fact is that he is so good at scoring that he cant be over relied apon. But even if he puts the team a man down when there is no possesion. You can have runners like Maloney, faddy, Miller. They can and will go back get the ball, skin a man, cross the ball and without a doubt Boyd would be there.

Burley must go now. I've just watched the live stream and it was pathetic. Its all about Burley and not Scotland. You want a Lion rampant and we get the cowardly lion from Oz. He couldnt wait to get out as he totally couldnt handle it. Squirming in his seat. Fair enough he only wants commited players. How can you commit yourself when you never play. Yes he doesnt play every week at Rangers. Neither does Miller, Novo, Darchville or Lafferty. There is a striker rotation policy there. Heck even we have that at Caley! The fact he has to justify himself, get his side across, speaks volumes. A real man, a real coach would have simply stuck with what was said previously. His decision, and i have to accept it. This just shows he knows he's ballzed it up yet again and needs to justify himself. Iwelumo played not because he is better but because he was Burleys trick card. Fletcher played to justify not being in the under 21s where he should be, honing his talents. Learning his trade. The Scotland job is all about Burleys ego and its not on. When O Conner failed to turn up for the Ukraine game and got dropped Smith said one thing. Apolgise to the team. Not him the team which includes him, the fans, part of this team. O conner didnt do so, therefore it was straightforward, Smith said the same. And that was that. eventually O Conner apologised to Mcliesh and got back in. Easy and effective man managment. Even Brew showed he can do that with Black and now he's the best we have and well disciplined too. I had my reservations about Burley from the start. Everyone blamed Romanov at Hearts but as mad as he is i now feel Burleys ego may have been as much a problem as anything. There is definitely 2 sides there. We're going backwards at an alarming rate. I hope it can be saved in time. Argentina and Holland will run us through. I fear a cricket scorecard. Bring back Berti!

Fact is he's not really just quit because he never played, but because Burley used him to justify his inclusion of Iwelumo."Kris Boyd needs to establish himself at Rangers and he hasnt done that. Iwelumo has done" Burley got his tactics wrong. Never used all his subs for one thing, when we were looking to win. Saying Boyd aint established at Rangers is unfair given the depth of squad they have. Boyd is one of 6 strikers pushing for 2 places every week. and he plays every other week. And scores goals. And the fact is Boyd has and can score at international level. Iwelumo hasnt even played for scotland before. In fact it's his 1st squad as he pulled out to play in championship playoffs 6 years ago. So whether or not he's established or not. Fact is he's proven at that level. Iwelumo hasnt even been tested in a friendly. Even David "shouldnt be anywhere near a scotland squad" Clarkson has that and scored! Its the 2nd time Burley has humiliated a player in a press conference. 1stly with Broadfoot. Yes we all know he is limited but he's the best available right now so dont come out and say it. Put it this way. How many of you, if doing volentary work and got told that you were either limited or needed to show you could manage the job in front of ALL your collegues effectively AND the whole public, would be happy? Most would be enraged, or at least left humiliated. Its effectively the same as Scotty publicly posting that his moderators were no good. They do it for the love of the club and the site (and possibly Scotty, who knows) and no financial benefit to themselves and would probably be a mite upset at that.

I'd do the same. I'd find it very frustrating at not even getting on as a sub then seeing a debutant go on who has done NOTHING in his career other than score a few this season early doors and miss a sitter I would have got to and put away. Boyd single handedly won two cups for Rangers at Hampden with his goals. He was also overlooked instead of Fletcher who hasnt impressed all season. Sure he's got potential but isnt ready for the Scotland 1st team. He hasnt overly shone through in any friendlies and has yet to score. Even David Clarkson has done that and he should be nowhere near a scotland team. Not ahead of Ross McCormack anyway(who incidently has done as much as Iwelumo this season). Why make yourself available when a) the team is crying out for someone to score :thumb04: and not getting a chance to do that and c) be overlooked for a equestrian beast and a "Real Madrid" player!

That was paper talk and at most an enquiry. Ferguson also rebuffed a bid from Everton in the summer. Alot of players would look average alongside Carrick ?18m, Anderson ?17m, Hargreaves ?18m, Ronaldo ?12m at 17 years old, Rooney ?30m, Tevez reportedly a ?25m price tag, Giggs 9 premiership medals and 2 champions leagues and a few FA cups. Id love to look AVERAGE in that company. He's an all round simple football player. Makes simple passes to help retain possession, works hard off the ball and gets the odd goal (probably about the same amount as Carrick in half as many games) He was again posted missing yesterday when we needed him to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Barry Ferguson is impeccable at doing that. He always wants the ball and is always looking make something happen. He is a moaner too. Gee's up players who are not cutting the mustard. But is always 1st to run and congratulate a scorer. A fine captain. I think Mcmanus is a fine deputy in that he is a typical Hendry type braveheart. Leads by example. Not particularly gifted a defender (always thought webster was more gifted) but a die hard give all player. Weir is next choice as captain simply through experience. He reads the game well to make up for all his other flaws. ie old ***. I'd never have Mcfadden as captain. Unless he stops acting like No1. He belives his own hype as a talisman and tries to do everything at times. But Fletcher is top quality as far as Scottish players are concerned but must show more in the games.

Lets face it, Carew is a top quality forward. If Weir had kept him quiet it would have been a majestic performance. Carew is however, Stronger, taller, quicker and generally a much better player of that there is no doubt and alongside him had a goal scorer of proven notoriety in Iversen who couldnt be ignored. Naysmith was good as was Broadfoot who keeps improving. Gordon did miss one dangerous cross with which Naysmith bailed him out but generally his saves were top class and dealt with them well. Magregor is similarly a good shot stopper and not great elsewhere. But he would have to get the top of a top class Gordon. Gordons distribution wasnt always the best. A long throw to Naysmith as opposed to a boot up the park may have helped but it wasnt our downfall. A lack of a proven striker was our downfall. Burley must remedy that for our next home game.

Just back from the game. The papers tomorrow will blame Iwelumo and Burley. To be honest, that's pretty much fair enough. I liked the look of Iwelumo when he came on, and unlike most idiots, think that he his definately good enough to play for Scotland (I don't remember people saying McFadden should not play for Scotland again after he missed an open goal against Italy) but it was a horrific miss. McFadden should not have started. It should have been Iwelumo as the central figure with Boyd picking up his scraps Iwelumo would be good enough to play for Scotland... If Berti was still in charge perhaps. His 1st touch was horrendous even for a guy his size. And as for his two open goal misses. (one which he totally fluffed and put wide and the other he was far too slow in getting to.) Absolute shocker! Burley got his tactics wrong from the start. Morrison should not have started. He's shown nothing to suggest he merits a start and did nothing yesterday. How ironic that Boyd is never trusted in the bigger games and yet he would have been there in the box putting that chance away blindfolded with both legs bound together. 1st mistake (Iwelumo over Boyd) It was right to start McFadden. For the most part he worked hard and was always trying to create chances. He played fairly well but was far too isolated and had to go ball hunting far too often. It was often him trying to get the ball into the box when he as the main striker should have been getting on the end of them. This was not entirely his fault as Morrison was posted absent most of the time. 2nd mistake (not playing McFadden just off a main out and out striker from the start ie Kris 7 in 15 games for country Boyd) Why was Fletcher the one to replace Morrison? What was he really going to do? His form has been patchy to say the least. I was sceptical of his inclusion as his form is not as it was last season, but he definitely should not have come on at that score line at that time. Did little. Darren Fletcher was another absentee and Robsons dead ball delivery, from corners specifically, in the main was not up to standard. The defence were good enough, played against a top forward in Carew. I thought Broadfoot played well again and Naysmith was good too. Weir and Caldwell were occasionally caught for pace by the deceptively quick Carew, but the managed to just about contain him to snap shots and wide efforts. I felt Maloney and Brown were very good, particularly Maloney 1st half and Brown 2nd. Had Brown not over hit that pass for Steven Fletcher, who knows. Gordon was superb. Gathered well and made the saves required. McFadden huffed and puffed but was tactically limited leading the line. Iwelumo has probably cost us our opportunity of a place in SA. That was the chance, and as i leapt to celebrate i banged my leg. Hurt. And he missed it. Had he scored i could have forgiven him. Had Burley went with a 4-3-3 with Boyd up leaving out Morrison, or a 4-4-2 with Boyd and McFadden and either not played Morrison or Robson I in my heart of hearts think we would have won and scored a few. The Line up was fairly negartive. There were 3 supporting players playing as the front 3 with 3 further supporting them. Who was being supplied with this support until Chris "clearly no where near good enough clumsy horse" Iwelumo came on is anyones guess. In fact on his 1st touch Iwelumo made Bert Konterman look silky. Can only look ahead. We must take the points in Norway and maximum against both Iceland and Macedonia at Hamden to have a shout, while aiming for something off the Dutch, Home or Away. Under Burley and his tactics, Im somewhat sceptical. As much as i praise his formation and Boldness if he cant pick the right team its pointless. Also at least the previous two managers got a few results along the way. Who'd be a Scotland fan eh? Euro 2012 here we come then!

Is abusing someone in their place of work not against the law? In a footballers case the pitch. If you went into a shop and started abusing staff you'd be asked to leave. Fair enough there is alot more leeway at a football match. Its always been a place for fans to wind down and vent their frustrations and hand out banter. To take all that away would just be dull and overly heavy handed. But abusing young players at a family club isnt whats needed. If you feel the need to abuse anyone (why i'll never know) why not Craig Brewster for seeing ability which you dont. He's the one who picks him.

Im suprised this hasnt happen sooner with Pele especially after what happened at Aberdeen. But he's taken the major step and admitted his problems and hopefully can get himself on the straight and narrow. And i'd definitely have him on board as a part time scout if it ever was to happen. Found a great many gems. Mr Asterisk, your not a good comedian.

Read in paper, him, fraser and Munro are the 1st three to start contract talks. Saying that with international break coming up now is as good a time to start as any. Sounds promising.

Av got a Bebo! Its generally harmless blogging is Bebo. Alot of "no seen you in like an age" comments on others page or "last night was good" or "why am i not on your top friends section:(" All a bit silly. For the older folks think friends reunited but new and groovy and free. I only looked at his Bebo because everyone here was going on about it. And to my shock and horror and utimate disgust the 21yr old actually enjoys himself. The nerve! :thumb04: I still say the jury is out. Why he manages to impress in pre season, look eager etc and then just lull is anyones guess but unless he looks like he's trying he'll end up out of footie working a real job dreaming of what could have been.

Im sure i was online just after the match and there wasnt anything I noticed. Did i miss something here? Obviously! But im gonna say People know the rules, people should also know the law. People should also know it's the site that gets the rap if any claims, rumours etc were to be investigated. Its a football forum so talk football and transfers and maybe sneak at most to whats going on at boardroom level but surely dont be daft enough to go about sullying peoples names without hard hard evidence. I was clearly too pleased in the result to notice some numpty comments.

Congratulations and Celebrations..... Go on Brewster my son! (He's not actually my son. In fact Im easily young enough to be his) To be fair I was seething when he came back. Thought he left us high and dry at the time after us giving him the chance but to his credit he's made a few shrewd signings and the youths, like Wood Vigurs and Duff, are showing great potential. And we're getting a few decent results. And in the CIS quarters - We never do well in that competition! Keep up the good work!

Oh ye of little faith. Sounds like a good win. Whats more a win at home - finally. Seems like an age! Well done lads!!

Agreed. Not only does it destroy a guys confidence it surely annoys team mates to see a colleague take pelters. They'll try and help him out but that can have a detrimental effect on the teams game as a whole. This just made me chuckle. Im sure some wish he would. I really dont think his Bebo (or whats on it) is a problem. If he goes out on the Saturday after a game (im sure most football players and Caley players do) there isnt really an issue. Players in general usually get Sundays off for rest and recuperation anyway. If he was doing it every day after training it would be an issue. He'd be away by now. If his attitude in training was lacking or he turned up late. He'd be sent packing. So far, as far as I'm aware, he's never been banished to training with the under 19s by any manager or coach. The fact he has a Bebo is probably in that it's not as noticable as an Old Firm player so he's got it as a public profile. He post pictures of him and friends out and about. Fairly normal behaviour for a 21 year old. Maybe he does have stamina issues. If anyone will sort that out its Brewster. Maybe he has a confidence problem or an inferiority complex around the 1st team. Hopefully Brewster can work with him on that. He has ability there somewhere, he just needs to start showing it. If he doesnt he'll be cast off surely.

We changed the team about to give guys a chance. We won. The subs it appears helped turn the game around. Going to Morton isnt the most fun place to play, neither is Arbroath. Both hellish places to play in fact. The cups about upsets. Especially when lower league teams survive on going far. It was a banana skin overcome. Could have been better. But we're though. Im not going to slag of Brew for this. A while ago he never knew what a sub was for. Now he uses them and brings on the right players. Just not always taking the right ones off Some of the young lads coming in like Vigurs Duff and Wood have impressed. Rooney has shown potential too. We've won 2 (in which we scored 4 conceded 1) lost 3 (conceded 4 scored 1) and drawn 1 (Scored 1 and conceded 1) 5 for 5 against in 5 league games. 4 goals in the cup 2 against. Not brilliant but it's certainly not awful. Panic buttons need not be pressed. We badly need attacking pace in my opinion.