Council Juice

Before Yogi left. Our teams style and performance dipped considerably in his first year and further again last season. Our defence became laughable. The Malpas came in and the whole organisation of the team seems to improve dramatically. Maybe he's just unfortunate in that he's the common denominator but I just feel that a completely fresh coaching team would be preferable. Hopefully being a league down allows us to try our likes of Brown etc in first team. And we are also able to locate a few players released from other SPL teams.

Not exactly inspired by this. Seems like a cheap easy option for the board. That being said he has done the job before. And has an eye for a player. I'd like to see Charlie Christie in the coaching set up in some fashion. I'd rather we move Rice on though. It seems like he doesn't offer that much. Wish Robbo all the best.

Looking for a job as manager was the official reason given. Do you have proof otherwise or is it just hearsay? "Apparently" He was at the club during our most successful period. Ever. Was he that bad. Anyway it was just a suggestion.

It's not been mentioned here yet but I'd like to throw Russell Latapys name into the mix. Whilst he lacks managerial experience he was assistant during our most successful ever period. He also brings with him a wealth of international and big club experience as a player. He knows the club and the players already. He left in the search for a managers job. There's one available now.

Folk continously bang on about new investment and fresh ideas, but these things don't just appear out of thin air. Clubs everywhere would bite your hand off for a cash rich modern businessman with a love of football and knowledge of how to run a club but they are few and far between. That being said, had I won euromillions on Friday night we'd be laughing.

Haha, yeah sorry, that's me making assumptions that everyone knows what FM is.

Just seen this on Facebook. Sports interactive are looking for ICT scouts, amongst others. http://www.footballmanager.com/news/scout-football-manager-scotland

IF Foran was to go, I'd not be too upset having a look at Russell Latapy as the new manager. He's been looking for a number 1 slot for a bit and it could be argued that we had by far our most successful season ever when he was around with Yogi. Who knows, maybe his time to shine. As another "rookie" manager it might be seen as a bit of risk. But you don't get anywhere if you don't occasionally risk your neck. Either way next year we need a bit of a squad clear out. We'll likely lose Meekings. But we have to consider who is worth keeping. If, and realistically it's almost certain, we are a championship team next term I'd like to see the midfield built around Polworth. Give him his chance to shine.

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.