Be The Boss - Ryan Aird

Today's boss is exile Ryan "bute-killiefan" Aird who may live far away but he is active on the Kickback forums and on Killie social media platforms. Without further ado...

Please forgive my team as I haven't seen the team play live since moving to Canada in 2014. I catch whatever game I can live, and always watch the highlights on YouTube regardless of the score!

Playing a 3-5-2 to shake things up as we are short on options and on a slump just now. I'm going full on Football Manager just now.

GOALKEEPER
Jamie MacDonald - First name on the team sheet for me, and has been since he signed.

CENTRE BACKS
Josh Webb - Hoping that he will make the most of absences in our defence currently.
Will Boyle - Of our current options, he is probably the most senior, so I'd put him in the middle of our back three.
Iain Wilson - Youngster who is also looking to impress in the absence of Boyd, Addison et al.

RIGHT WING BACK
Greg Taylor - I feel that with his desire and energy, he would be a good option to run his legs out up and down the right side. He has a bright future and I hope he stays at Killie for a while yet.

LEFT WING BACK
Steven Smith - The last full game I watched was the game against Rangers (1-1) and I was impressed with his stamina. His booking killed the game for him that day, which was a shame.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
Gary Dicker - Probably our strongest asset in an otherwise fairly weak midfield. I'd be relying on him being the link-up between defence and midfield as well as the guy breaking up play and playing passes forward.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
Adam Frizzell - My idea is that with Dicker providing defensive cover, my two CM's will be free to go forward and be more attacking. Frizzell is a good option to do that.
Charlee Adams - Been fairly quiet since joining us on loan. Waiting for him to contribute with goals or assists. I believe that him and Frizzell would have the ability to add this to their game.

STRIKERS
Souleymane Coulibaly - This season's star man and a great piece of business by Lee Clark. He has the ability to create something out of nothing and is a good option partnered with Tyson.
Nathan Tyson - for someone in the twilight years of his career, Tyson has the legs and stamina to make trouble for defenders, I'd trust him and Coulibaly to torment the Thistle defence all day.

Season Diary - Week 21

As I write this I am sitting on the Irvine Valley reunion bus on the way to Tynecastle, I think this is known as a last minute submission.

Last week was another one of those days, we could have played all day and not scored.

St Johnstone were no great shakes either but they got a lucky break at a corner and duly dispatched it into the net, which sadly wasn't something we were going to do.

In my humble opinion our big problem seems to be a lack of creativity in midfield, we really miss young Kiltie.

When Dicker plays we tend to do okay, but when he's out of sorts we struggle, and I'm not sure that being partnered with Smith helps him.

I'm also in favour of Coulibaly being moved into the middle and Tyson with his pace going wide right, if we are sticking with Clark's favoured formation.

Hope you all had a good Christmas, and let's hope for a Killie New Year.

*The column has gone to press now and we've since been well and truly gubbed by Hearts, there is no other way to look at it.

Over 700 Killie fans travelled to sell out the away end, such a shame the players never turned up.

The Partick game is now pretty important if we want to stay in the pack, using players out of position is not working for us, we better hope that Hendrie comes back for a kick off!

Be The Boss - Graeme Ferguson

Our "Boss" for the Hearts match was plucked from one of the Killie fans Facebook groups (killie fc 1869) and we can't tell you much about him because we don't know anything other than his name is Graeme Ferguson! Short and to the point, here are Graeme's tactics...

I'm going with a 4-2-2-2.

And here is his team and why he is selecting them...

GOALKEEPER
Jamie McDonald - For obvious reasons. He is 1st class knows his role inside and out.

RIGHT BACK
Luke Hendrie - Class act performs well. Doesn't dive in and hard to beat on a good day. (NOW SUSPENDED)

CENTRE BACKS
Will Boyle & Iain Wilson - Both are young and willing to play for the shirt not themselves.

LEFT BACK
Greg Taylor - For obvious reasons. He's fast and strong on the left side.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
Gary Dicker & Stevie Smith - Both play well together. Stronger in those positions.

RIGHT MIDFIELD
Rory McKenzie  - Brilliant player always has been always will be. Knows how to deliver a pass when on form uncontainable.

LEFT MIDFIELD
Jordan Jones - Quality since day one. Fast energetic and loves to attack defenders.

STRIKERS
Souleymane Coulibaly & Nathan Tyson - Both very hungry for goals and attack minded always looking towards goal.

Trust Joins Chamber

The Kilmarnock Supporters Society Ltd joined the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce in December 2016.

The Ayrshire Chamber is the leading organisation representing the business community across the whole of Ayrshire. A completely independent and not for profit organisation, their objective is to promote and facilitate business between their members and others, and so encouraging commercial growth and local prosperity.

Serving the business community for over 60 years, they aim to support every type of business, from sole traders to large corporate companies. The Killie Trust are joining the Chamber to enhance their business relationships and to support a key organisation that promotes the values of co-operation and community to enhance all aspects of life.

With the imminent launch of the "Trust in Killie" initiative, the local business community are going to be key in helping to support the Trust's fundraising efforts to get a seat on the board of Kilmarnock Football Club.

Peter Telfer, Board Member, said: “We are delighted to join the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and we look forward to supporting their events and networking with other members. Our vision and values are well aligned and together, we can continue to support and develop the communities in which we live and work.”

Nicola Sykes from the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce said: “The Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce welcomes our new member, the Kilmarnock Supporters' Society, and looks forward to working with them in the next year!”

Be The Boss - Alisdair Hood

Our "Boss" this week is none other than Killie's own master chef and Coffee Press supremo Alisdair Hood. The former Merchants owner is a busy man, especially at this time of year, but he took some time out to pick his team for this week's Friday night match against St Johnstone. We love a Friday night game here at KillieFC...

With the important Festive fixtures coming at us thick and fast I’ve opted for the following team with a 4-5-1 formation. It is important that we stifle St Johnstone and start picking up some wins to try and stretch away from the rest below us. If we can then I think it’ll bode well for the second half of the season. Due to injuries defence pretty much is all we have got at the moment and hopefully we can keep our composure.

I’ve opted for a five across midfield and brought back Frizzell and Hawkshaw. Their energy could be useful in breaking down play and for back up for Coulibaly. The two guys on the wing will be key for us to get something out of the game. Up front I’ve decided on Coulibaly on his own but this can be switched with Tyson if necessary during the game. Hoping for a nice 2-1 victory to send us into Christmas full of cheer.

Merry Christmas to all Killie fans!

GOALKEEPER
Jamie MacDonald – A no brainer

RIGHT BACK
Luke Hendrie – Been impressed with him this season and is developing into a solid player for us. Hopefully we can keep him till the end of the season.

CENTRE BACKS
Will Boyle – Again another player that seems to be growing in stature as the season progresses.
Ian Wilson – Brought in as we are a bit short in this position but did well enough last week to keep his place.

LEFT BACK
Greg Taylor – Quickly becoming one of the first names on the team sheet and can slot into left midfield if necessary.

CENTRE MIDFIELD
Gary Dicker – A solid and reliable player and probably most consistent midfielder at the moment.
Adam Frizzell – Was really impressed with him against Celtic a few weeks ago. Like his ability to nip away at opponents. Think he could do a decent job for us on Friday.
Dean Hawkshaw – Another young player that was doing well before he got injured earlier in the season. Got a good bit of energy which will be of good use against an experienced St Johnstone team and has been gaining fitness with a few run outs for the development team.

RIGHT WING
Nathan Tyson – Got a good bit of pace which can be put to great effect down the right wing.

LEFT WING
Jordan Jones – Another with great pace but sometimes his decision making lets him down. Been doing really well in the last few weeks.

STRIKER
Souliymane Coulibaly – A fantastic signing and has been chipping in with some outstanding goals this season.

Season Diary - Week 20

So much for Inverness not sitting in, they sat just about everywhere, usually for no reason at all.

The referee not only let them off with it, he booked our players instead!

It was a frustrating game all round and not helped by the opposition or the man in black, but mainly it was our lack of creativity from midfield areas that cost us a couple of points in the end.

Coulibaly scored another goal out of the top drawer and that, as they say, should have been that.

But we gave them a complete free header to equalise and you just can’t do that and still win games.

Despite that defensive lapse it was an impressive showing from young midfielder Wilson, drafted in at centre half.

Clark played a blinder switching Jones and Couli for the goal, maybe bringing Frizzel on as well would have been a good option?

You've Been Served

Prior to the home match against Inverness, the KFCSA Committee arranged to present the petition they have been running, to get director Michael Johnston removed from the board, to the football club. The man himself was nowhere to be seen at Rugby Park half an hour before kick off, as has been the case of late, but fellow directors John Kiltie and Billy Bowie deputised in his absence and the paperwork was served.

James Morrison, Chairman of the Association said: "Many thanks to almost 3,000 Killie fans for signing the KFCSA petition regarding the continued presence of former Club Chairman Michael Johnston on the Board of Kilmarnock FC. The fans have clearly made their feelings known, and will continue to do so. Interestingly the petition has been signed by previous board members including former Chairman Jim Mann, Russel Smith, David Moran and Jim Clark."

He continued: "KFCSA believe it is now up to the Club’s shareholders, and the remaining two board members, to take appropriate action to have Mr Johnston removed from the Board; if Mr Johnston leaves the Board of Scotland’s oldest professional club it is hoped that investors who have been deterred by the current set up will again step forwards."

The Association will be continuing to look at ways to effect change that will get the football club back on the right track and get fans and sponsors interested again. They would like the fans to keep protesting at the 18th and 69th minute of matches and will continue to investigate the feasibility of opening an escrow account to hold next terms season ticket money as proposed at their recent SGM.