Kmcalpin

Yes I recall that vividly - several thousands were at it if I recall correctly. That was something I found thoroughly offensive. In my book it is a sectarian term and along with T*m is offensive. Time that was all stamped out and relegated to prehistory where it belongs. Going back to Stuart B's post I agree about the blatant time wasting - the worst I've witnessed for many a season. The referee and officials largely condoned it. If I'd been in charge I'd have yellow carded a few more of Accies players and added on about 7 minutes extra time - not that it would have done us much good.

Very much so Haggis. What we've lacked all season is for a strong character to kick backsides and fire up the players when the going gets tough. Now usually thats the job of an experienced player, but not always. What is needed is strength of character. Are there any leaders in the dressing room? Thats the job of the management team to identify the best person for the role. Now that may not always be the obvious choice of fans. On more than a few occasions our heads have gone down at say 2-0 and thats been it. At Hamilton last Friday you could noticeably feel, heads go down (fans and players alike) when an Accies player simply shot past our captain Keith Lasley and brushed him aside as though he just wasn't there. That was worrying.

That could be key Andy. Having watched Ross county twice this season, home and more recently away, I think they could be unsettled. They've had a tremendous run no doubt of that, but that has been based in no small part on continuing good luck. Signs are there that if things don't go their way they're quite capable of imploding. If we get wired in on Saturday or play very well early on it'll be an interesting game. They're a physical team who just won't tolerate a team playing better than them. At Dingwall in their 3-2 win over us the only reason they didn't end up with 9 men on the park was a very soft referee. It'll be very hard to get a result but we're more than due some good luck.

All very well but the majority of those who have had to endure a lot this season are season ticket holders.

Hindsight - absolutely. I expected us to finish in about 6/7 position this season. Hutchinson was huge loss but we knew well in advance he was leaving and did precious little about it. Faddy - not a huge loss. Despite finishing 2nd last season there were glaring weaknesses which Stuart McCall failed to address - a defence which was shipping barrowloads of goals for years and a poor central midfield - weak since Jennings departed. Carswell hasn't turned out to be the player McCall expected and Lasley was showing signs of ageing - why give him a 2 year contract? Stevie Hammell - maybe worth a one deal if he'd accept that? Where was our emerging left back to step into his shoes - ZFA? Granted we've been very very unlucky with injuries. However questions have been asked about the level of soft tissue injuries as opposed to the unavoidable impact injuries. Iain Vigurs? We knew he was a risk when we signed him and Ross County fans were surprised that we did move for him given his back problems - caveat emptor.

St Mirren away will a very very tough game unless by that time they are down and out. They pumped Killie 4-1 yesterday. Not sure about loan players - fine in theory but don't forget a fair few contracted players' deals expire at the end of the season (Law, Ainsworth, Straker, MacDonald, Sutton, Erwin). Character is more important than employment status although the two may be related. We need scrappers and battlers irrespective of whether they're on loan or not.

Yes another huge game for us and surely last chance saloon. Ross County may not be the best football side in the world but they have a ruthless win at all costs mentality and they do whatever it takes to grab the points. It won't be easy and the players and fans have to wise up if we are to take anything from the game. The one thing in our favour is that County will give us, the fans, some ammunition and we have to use that cynically as Dundee United fans have learned to do. The first goal will be crucial.

Make no mistake, most of our problems this year are down to Stuart McCall. Ian Baraclough, for whatever reason, hasn't helped much. It may be that our problems were too deep and long term for any new manager to remedy quickly. That said we've had no luck this season especially with injuries. A lot of money was wasted on bad personnel decisions - Bob McHugh, Stuart Carswell, Josh Law, Craig Reid, Iain Vigurs, Gunnar Neilsen, Dan Twardzik, Simon Ramsden, Mark O'Brien, Lionel Ainsworth, and 2 year deals for Keith Lasley and Stephen McManus. Thats what Ian Baraclough inherited. Stuart McCall neglected our defence and he would have known well in advance that Shaun Hutchinson would move on. He would also have known that our central midfield was in dire need of an overhaul. We also needed a right back. Despite these these glaring weaknesses virtually nothing was done last summer to address them. Thats the root cause of our problems. Ian Baraclough had his hands tied when he came in as he inherited all these problems, with limited scope to do much about them. All that said he hasn't motivated the squad - maybe the causes are outwith his control? He made a number of signings in January, with mixed success at best. Its his tactics though that have been found wanting, as we've seen in the last 2 games. The players though must take their share of the blame for turning in too many flat dispirited performances, admittedly with no onfield leadership.

My thoughts exactly. It cost us big time last night.

I'll be at all our remaining home games and I'll be there next season as well. Have we got a poor team? Been there, done it, seen it and got the t shirt several times.

Don't forget last summer Stuart McCall awarded Keith Lasley a 2 year deal. Pearo is a different kettle of fish - last night he just didn't look fit, but is normally combative and able to make a few good runs at defences.

Very disappointing tonight. The team looked very flat with no fight or desire. In short they just weren't up for it. No matter how good the players are, if they have no fight they just won't compete and perform. Luck deserted us tonight as it tends to when you're down at the bottom. Our big problem was midfield and if you play 2 wingers then you're going to struggle in the middle as we did. Pearo just wasn't in the game and looked as though he wasn't fit. It was scary the way Accies were allowed to run at our defence and nothing was done to stop that. We got what we deserved - nothing.

No I never saw him - who was it? Did we have a right back?

No need to be insulting about the office staff but I take your point. I picked h this up earlier today. I agree it was misleading.

Agreed. I don't know about a sell out, but I would expect and hope for a big travelling support. Its one of our most important games for years.

Good post Alan. Yes we have 5 cup finals coming up but we have to keep an eye on the play off. At the moment we have a reasonably big squad and so a bit of squad rotation may not go amiss especially if it becomes clear early on that we're heading for the play off final. If any game we go a few goals ahead (fingers crossed) then players should be taken off early. We need to use every trick in the book.

I would doubt if this is true, although you have to take into consideration a player's age. Craig Brown was in charge what 5 years ago (?) when Lasley & Hammell would have been in their prime say 27/28. Normally speaking if a player signs a 2 or 3 year contract then his wages increase annually.

If fans are able to go (commitment and money wise) then its a must go. Not a night for our fans to sit in a cosy armchair with a capuccino or beer. I've already had requests for 6 tickets. Whats past is history and we have to turn up in numbers and create as much noise and atmosphere as humanly possible. Not a game for the faint of heart.

More than likely. Irrespective if how fit the players may be one or two may not be risked given that this is the first match after the split. I think thats always been the case on artificial pitches. Terry Butcher and Stuart McCall took the same view.

I raised this topic some weeks ago on these boards and was reliably told that its not an issue for us.

Ok we'd miss Celtic but Hibs and/or rangers would bring a few fans. How many do Ross County and ICT bring currently?

Yes the same thing happens every year. It always will unless, by luck, the TV companies and Police can agree quickly.

John Sutton is a limited player - he is very good at what he does and that is putting the ball in the net in the penalty box. He is not a mobile target player. If we are expected to be on top then he is your man if however we are playing counter attacking football then you play another striker. Horses for courses.

I'm in no doubt that RB is law's best position but I don't think he's done enough to be retained. In recent weeks he's had a hand in quite a few goals we've lost and his positional sense isn't the best.

The root cause of our poor form this season is Stuart McCall's signings, together with an horrendous injury list.