4ize

A bit more perspective for the statisticians. If SPL survival is our first aim each season, which I wouldn't imagine raises too many eyebrows, then we have to take the points we ought to get - meaning from the weakest clubs - to put some clear water between us and them. This is how our SPL managers have fared against the bottom four: Robbo Played 6, averaged 1.67 points per game with a 50% win rate Brew Played 13, averaged 1.46 points per game with a 38% win rate Charlie Played 22, averaged 1.82 points per game with a 55% win rate Bear in mind that for much of Brew's tenure Livi were pretty atrocious, yet we shared equal spoils in the head-to-head. I don't know how anyone else reads that, but it doesn't fill me with confidence, especially as we're in prospectively the strongest league we've seen since winning promotion. I, like many, was very hacked off at the loyalty's-important-oops-I'm-off thing, but my real concern - like most - is that we're not welcoming back a savvy manager but an aging striker who gets people fit, says 'um' a lot, doesn't know what a midfielder is for and is devoid of ideas on how to play attractive football, change the tide of a game or correct problems in good time. I hope he proves me wrong. I doubt he will.

I'm not about to do a matter-of-principle boycott, but if the football we get is as dire as it ever was during his first assault on the beautiful game at TCS I'll soon be finding better ways to spend 4 hours of my Saturday afternoon, season tickets or no. And they won't be renewed next season if all we can expect is more of the same.

He did then go on to post 'Killie till I die' and revert to his Ayrshire roots - no blame attached, mind - but Al wasn't necessarily on an even keel back then. Nor was he talking about the return of a manager who made a pretty good team look pedestrian and frankly boring (search for WriteOnCaley's lates if you want to see my feelings and those of most I talk to articulated to perfection) - he was talking about an untried manager being appointed to the post. Brew made us look crap, provided me with some of the worst 'entertainment' I've had outside a dentist's surgery and should not come back unless he's been rebuilt by the same guys who did Steve Austin. If we stay up under Brew I'll feed one of my hats to Spiers at half time while playing mee's Peatbog Faeries mix to a disapproving crowd. Possibly :016:

Sorry - North Star (Highland News for tinks) which maybe gets printed after? Beats me. Hmm... just re-reading the article and I'm maybe reading too much into it. Les reckons fans will be happy if Brew comes back and does the job, but it doesn't explicitly state that was after the meeting. Brew, though... just no... please, tell me it's not so.

The Highland News have the fans at the meeting - especially Les, apparently - positively drooling at the thought of old Grey 'ead back in the dugout, but I've only spoken to one fan (who fancies him) who'd be glad to see him back, rather than the back of him. So what happened last night? Did they load the meeting with Brewfans? What a load of *****. With a tactically inept manager who, by the sound of it, practically killed himself in the effort to get his first goal in two years last week, our derby match will be back to County again within a season. Aye, the players will be fit enough to run rings around their team mates - at their new clubs, after we get relegated. Aaaaargh. So, no, on balance I'd rather not have him back :014:

Suggestion was that Barry was one of the Brewites, wasn't it, extended his career with the fitness etc? So I guess they'd gel well enough, but are you talking about a playing Barry or a non-playing one? The Brew we knew didn't exactly seem decisive at the best of times, and with the assistant tearing down the wing, I'd fear for the future. Besides, I thought Shearer was the preferred number two if Brew were number one?

And the 2007 award for stating the bleedin' obvious goes to... <running> :003:

Aye, I'd forgotten Robbo's, Brew's and Charlie's enviable records when they took over :016:

What about our daft number of midfielders? Under Brew we played two ranks of four defenders, apparently under orders to hoof the ball up to him or Bayne then run like ****. I'm sure Black, Cowie, Hart, Rankin, Sutherland, Wilson and any other attack-minded midfielder (the name Juanjo suddenly springs to mind) would be feckin' delighted to see the ball soaring over their heads under such a boring, stilted, dour, unattractive 'system' and watching the gaffer scratching his chin and looking worried because it HASN'T BLOODY WORKED. If they're bothered about someone improving their fitness they can get a personal trainer, and if they want someone to respect they should call their bloody fathers, who probably don't say 'um' anywhere near as much or bang on about loyalty and then feck off two months later. Grumble grumble grumble. And where is TM4TJ's animated GIF when you really need it? :014:

wat was the feckin point in warnock tellin the press that he would willingly talk to any scottish club about a managerial post if hes only gonna knock it back :024: For so many in England a "Scottish Club" means Rangers or Celtic..... :rolleyes02: But Warnock was quoted as saying "I'm dying to get back into the game and if Inverness or anybody else want to talk to me then I would be more than delighted to do so." So was he having a laugh? Sincere? Or aiming low with a view to attracting a bit of interest from higher up the food chain?

Bump - just in case anyone else sees sense :016:

Maybe just me, but I think that for quite some time we've had some good players capable of taking us into the top six. People will remember that SFL Division One is no pushover and there's often not much difference between the bottom half of the SPL and the top half of SFL1 - and so on, down the divisions. Most will remember days in the SPL when we've outplayed so-called 'big' teams and looked like we were having a laugh at their expense. Almost everyone will recognise the commentator's standby - that the opposition were having a bad day - every time we've turned one of them over. Almost everyone will remember, too, that apart from one magical spell when confidence was high - breeding confidence - we've had ups and downs in the SPL but rarely a sustained period of results. With an Arabesque turnover of managers, particularly ones who either don't know the players, don't like the players, or in some cases don't appear to know what a player looks like, I just think we need someone to stay for a couple of years and get the squad back to the state where they know what's what. With the possible exception of another centre back we have the playing staff - now let's have a strong manager who'll mould a team. And not one who starts every sentence with 'Um...'. Remember that Stevie fella...? :016:

Various posts over the last few days point towards responsibility for hiring and firing the playing staff resting with people who are still in their job at ICT. In theory, then, Charlie's departure should make no difference?

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! It's not just me, after all... :001:

Warnock, then Paterson. Or both (one for the league and one for cup games :004:). None of the others float my boat, especially not Elvis. Player managers are beginning to be an albatross. Or possibly a big gull, I've never been too good at seabirds.

Eh? I don't recall Robbo's departure causing anything like the furore that Craigy Two-Faces' brought. The only significant differences between the two splits? Robbo didn't sound off about loyalty two months before effing off; and, in his first ever managerial post, he achieved something: he won the first division title. A little thing, I know... Parky - well, as Scotty points out, he's been offered control of his destiny and turned it down. He's been around plenty long enough to know how these things go and, whilst not pleasant, I expect in that sort of position you've always got one eye on the door.

Same as last time from Mee :009: and from me: Yes please :003:

sounds like a bonus to me :015:

Better him than Brew :017:

I wasn't sure you were doing the right thing in taking the job, Charlie - in the managerial merry-go-round, we haven't exactly seen playing legends coming up smelling of roses when they undertook to manage their own clubs - and if even some of the allegations on here are even partly true you've my deepest sympathy. What doesn't depend on things written here is my respect for you, which has only been increased by your decision today. In forty years few people will give a toss about Charlie Christie the manager, but I bet there'll be a **** of a lot who'd be very upset if you'd been sent to an early grave by the stress of a job. Your passion for, and commitment to the club have been amazing, but the true measure is in getting your priorities straight and realising what matters most. You seem to have got that one spot on. Thanks for everything, best for the future.

I remember a home game against Celtic last season where Rory made a bloody good case for him having what it takes at this level. What he seems to lack is physical courage; Graham isn't the most skilful player in the world but by god does he battle and put it about. Forget a loan spell, send him to Fort George for a month.

Rory, if you happen to read this thread, you can answer your critics by finding your effing bollocks. Case in point, the ball kicked across goal by Cuellar to Macdonald in the second half - you could have put the guy under pressure but did you run towards him to charge the ball down? Nah, you disappeared off up the park. The difference between you and Graham is that he puts it about and stands in the line of fire, whereas you just don't seem to have the confidence to take the fight to them. I've seen you prove that you can play at this level in one game only - but that was against Celtic last season, so I reckon you can. But you need balls to do the job that was asked of you today, and you seem to be missing yours at the moment.

Hmm... Not everyone's quite that blinkered - I remember a lot of criticism of Juanjo before he stopped falling over if someone breathed in his direction. At least with Juanjo I changed my mind when he toned down the diving, whereas for me Robson has always occupied, and always will occupy, a special place in my heart - right next door to Neil Lennon. If there isn't a circle of **** reserved for cheating ginger cnuts I'll be lobbying Auld Nick for one to be set up the minute I arrive: eternal torment's one thing, but having to listen to them bitching about it would just be too much.

<groan> :004:

Tickled me, seeing Dennis's one-to-one in the programme with the quote about Nakamura being world-class, then seeing Rankin leave him dead in the water: my ball, Shunsuke, cheers pal, see ya later. Marvellous :001: