Council Juice

Welcome back Billy Mckay and welcome to Jamie Mccart, a defender on loan from Celtic. Both went into tonight's squad, alas I was working and forgot about the game so you'll just have to deal with the post match team news.

Bring back Russell Latapy as manager and Foran can be his number 2. Punt Rice. All was rosey when we had Russell. It's when he left things started to slide. He's been after a managers role I'm sure. It's a surprise that he wasn't first pick to replace Yogi in the first place. I really want Richie to turn it around though. He's put himself through the wars so often for the team. They need to start doing the same for him. Players like Warren, Meekings, Draper, Tansey and Mckay, those who know him well, need to lead by example. I'd hate to see him leave under a cloud.

I'd be just as well willing to drop Doran. Maybe others are seeing a lot more of him than me but he's not stood out for me in a long time.

A little bit gutted that we couldn't get Christie ourselves but I can understand both Celtic and Ryans viewpoint in that it's better for his development that he has to force his way into the Aberdeen team and play well to keep his place rather than join a team where he'd almost certainly be an automatic pick. Unless Boden (or another forward) leaves there is absolutely no point moving for Storey.

Full time and the win. A narrow win and a bit of a grind. But I'll take the moral boost and relief of a late winner. Seems like we responded in a professional manner to going behind rather than panicking and were rewarded for our patience against a very real threat of a banana skin.

Folk moaning about other teams seemingly being able to find players that are doing the business for them and not us really need to get a reality check. I'm not really sure what is expected. The fact of the matter is that most players we sign, due to their unattached lower league status will generally be punts. We've been very fortunate in recent years with the forward options we've signed. Rooney, Mckay, Watkins, Hayes and last season Storey. We're not always going to have a never ending supply of goal scorers. The task is finding the next one who can go on a run and grab 10 goals that might keep us up. Anier wasn't great at Dundee United but neither were Mckay or Ofere. At least not to the same standard they had been with us. He does however have experience at this level which should be seen as a positive. He's a capable player who with luck could be good for us. In saying that I here a certain Diego Costa wants to leave London. It's an absolute abhorrence that we haven't slapped in a 60m bid.

http://ictfc.com/news/team-news/1764-david-raven-2-year-deal So the Rave had the option for the 2nd year but has opted for just 6 months just now by the sounds of it.

Raven has a 6 month extension to January 2018 by the look of it. I already had thought he'd been given a 2 year deal in the summer but obviously not. Also Cole has loan extended until summer and the Anier and Ebbe deals contain options beyond the summer.

On Summary a squad currently consisting of 24 players. 3 Gk (including Esson) 3 RB, 1 LB, 3 CB, 4 MF, 6 AMF, 3 ST Signed until the end of season (2019-20) • Richie Foran – Manager Signed until the end of season (2018-19): • Gary Warren • Ross Draper • Owain Fon Williams • Liam Polworth • Scott Boden (NEW) Signed until the end of season (2017-18): • Brian Rice - Assistant Manager • Ryan Esson – Gk coach/ player • Aaron Doran • David Raven (Until Jan 2018) • Iain Vigurs • Jake Mulraney • Carl Tremarco (Signed new deal with option of further year) Signed until the end of next season (2016-17): • Greg Tansey - Turned down new deal, set to leave. • Josh Meekings • Lewis Horner • Kevin McNaughton • Billy King (1 Year Loan from Hearts) • Ali Sutherland (Given Pro deal) • Cammy Mackay (Given Pro deal) • Jason Brown (Given Pro deal) • Alex Fisher (Contract extension) • Lonsana Doumbouya • Brad Mckay • Larnell Cole (Deal extended to 1 Year Loan from Fulham) • Dean Ebbe (Option for extension) • Henri Anier (Option for extension) U20’s squad additions: Stephen Foster, Ryan McRitchie, Liam MacDonald and Keir Smith.

Think he is a decent signing for the resources available. What this means for other strikers at the club I'm not sure. And it's really a sitting midfielder and if possible a solid defensive right back we need IMO. Unless the intention is to play him behind the main striker(s) to allow Draper to play further back. Him and Polworth seem to be the preferred fan midfield pairing with neither Tansey or Vigurs looking on it. Maybe play a midfield 3 and have a target man flanked by Anier and one with pace.

Women's home, mens away also available. Women stay at home whilst men play away. Shocking message

I touted him about 3 years ago when he left rangers. Believe he can play as forward and at right back. Which would be useful. As for o'halloran, his wages might be a stumbling block but there's always the possibility of a loan. Occasionally players will have the loaning club stump up X amount in wages and defer the rest as they know they'll likely be getting first team football. Would be a major coup if true. Though I'd be surprised if others weren't interested and able to offer a better package plus remaining in the central belt.

Interestingly reading BBC article about the new Uefa report regarding finances in leagues over Europe. Scottish top flight clubs rely on gate receipts revenue more than any other league in Europe with it contributing to 37% of revenue. So the big challenge for the board is getting bums on seats over anything else. But that comes down to the fans themselves as well. A lot of people would rather spend the day watching games on the TV and such than forking out £100 every weekend to take the family to the football.

If running a successful football club, whilst maintaining a solvent bank balance, never mind positive, was easy we'd all be doing it. Fan take over then anyone?

The club has a MySpace?! Who knew!

Well, it looks like they're available now online...after Christmas.

What I meant by small community club, was more of a positive remark than an attempt to belittle the club. As in a close knit community. We are a relatively small, even by Scottish terms, club but a very successful one of which we should be proud. To do what we've done in little over 22 years should be lauded. I was however remarking on a tendency to become divided and ostracise certain sectors of the club, considering that we would like to consider the club as a close knit family and community club. Maybe it's wishful thinking and there are no clubs out there that are really like that, but in a time when so many bemoan football being a detached business from its fans it's sometimes surprising how much it can turn when the chips are down. At many other clubs Foran would no longer be in the job but it's kinda nice to imagine that we're not like that. I get that the board struggle at times with getting everything right, and there are certain elements folk can highlight to criticise them, but on the whole they've, in my own humble opinion, done quite a good job overall given what they have to work with.

Think Tore Andre has retired now Scarlet...

It's been hard for fon Williams as I believe he's been carrying a back injury of late but has had to play. That's going to make his job incredibly difficult, particularly when the defence are so often posted missing. Our defensive organisation at set pieces is excruciatingly laughable at times. Like every player running to the ball, then again and again. Like headless chickens.

I'd agree. If 3 attacking mids aren't creating for the one striker better to utilise 2 strikers supported by wingers

Technically all teams are "made up" at some point. Anyone any idea how long he's signed for?

There's that as well. He might just not be fit enough at the moment/having issues recovering. Ankles can be problematic at times. To write him off after 6 months without a sustained run in the side, particularly when few others are taking up the mantle, might be a bit short sighted. I'd also hate to see the club have to spend money terminating 2 years of a contract.

Well it might have been a tad much to highlight the whole thing

It's probably a little unfair comparing Butchers use of Winnall and Forans use of Boden. Winnall was a kid signed up on loan for 6 months. He obviously had talent but at that stage might not have shown quite enough at SPL level at that point to start every week and score. Obviously he's since developed into a good player. But it's not our job to try loan players out in the hope they'll develop for others unless it's felt he will offer a significant benefit in the immediate term. Boden on the other hand is 26, had a good goal record at a lower level and has not been utilised, whether it's because he hasn't shown enough, doesn't fit into the current system, isn't fit enough, is no better than others. But there's obviously something he's not showing to give Foran the mind he should play more that he had when he signed.

I imagine, coming from the league of Ireland, he'd have been suggested by a contact of Richie (a locally based coach or player for example) and was given a trial. Rather than through the club's scouting system itself.