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Making distinctions between fans based on your prejudices is the sort of attitude that will only result in potential fans staying away. Anyone who pays their money and cheers the team on is a real fan and should be made to feel more welcome than at times seems to be the case judging from previous posts. Time to ditch these chip on the shoulder insular attitudes. And yes I was born in the central belt but my kids are born and bred here have been brought up to support ICT. Is that not what we want?

I could obviously post this in the SACKED thread...but I hate seeing negative thread titles about managers (in capital letters!) so here goes So we had a bad run in March...but we had a great run in February; when we were unbeaten, why doesn't that count?, if everytime a club has a bad run they sack the manager that would see a couple of changes every season (like Fulham this season in the EPL) Managers have to be allowed to work things through sometimes, getting out of a hole is often more instructive to a manager than a run where nothing goes wrong....sadly this too often isn't allowed to happen (in the EPL especially, yet Norwich and West Ham probably will stay up because they didn't panic and sack the manager) Many posters on here have said that Terry Butcher didn't have a plan B..... given that our entire striking option for the last two seasons has been Billy McKay, and the board haven't provided any alternative, and most SPFL clubs know what to expect. Hughes is trying something different, but getting this to work consistently wont happen overnight The likes of Marley Watkins and Ryan Christie (and Williams to a lesser extent) are being given their chance under Hughes. In additional Aaron Doran seems to be thriving under Hughes stewardship Under Hughes we will surely finish in the top six for a second year running, which I think is a massive achievement. He does seem to have be able to maintain the team spirit. We got to the League Cup final, and in my opinion did very well against the club second in the country (in a great run of form), I think Hughes can take some credit for that All our key players seem to be very keen to extend their contracts, Vincent in particular was a good result along with Draper...the players must have some faith in Yogi? A couple of 0-5 reverses are disappointing, but don't discount the fact we were so close to a Cup Final (does strange things to the mindset of a player), the manager can't do too much if key players who have been playing well all season make a couple of mistakes...it's a long season for a small squad. The same can happen to more fancied teams (Like Arsenal in the EPL, 0-6, 3-6, and a 0-5) We won yesterday so surely everything is alright again....but seriously; stability is a good thing for a club to have, and provided the club do something about getting a decent alternative/additional striker to McKay (preferrably one who is taller, and can also hold the ball up) then I think Hughes should be in charge for next season and we will see what he is capable of. We should only consider a change if there is evidence that 'all the wheels have fallen off the cart', and that Yogi has 'lost' the dressing room There rests the case for the defence, M'lud

Certainly weren't there to move the Aberdeen ballboys during the penalty shoot-out.

I hope John Hughes sticks with set up that ended the game against Partick and that we line up as follows: Brill Raven Warren Meekings Shinnie Draper Tansey Watkins Vincent Doran Mckay Foran appears to have gone on some kind of psychotic rage recently and seems to be trying to get himself sent off by flying needlessly into challenges. Wouldn't be adverse to seeing him dropped. Hopefully Doran is back in with a shout of playing and if so I would have him on the left with Shinnie and Watkins on the right. Keep Vincent in the middle please. If Foran does play I would move Tansey up behind Mckay and drop Vincent.

I may be wrong but I think it was Peter Lorimer who said that he would see someone in the crowd behind the goal in row G or whatever, focus on them through the net and then try to hit the ball as hard as possible at them. Had Greg and Billy aimed to knock the head off one of the Aberdeen lads, things might have been very different. But back to the OP. Very good question to which nobody seems to have come up with a remotely plausible answer yet.

I've just given dalneigh caley a like. This threads officially gone mad.

He's been booked seven times. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=37206

Brill Raven Devine Warren Shinnie Draper Foran Williams* Christie Watkins Mckay *If Doran is fit then start with him if not then keep Williams Williams and Watkins can switch every now and again so they can't be man marked

Celtic players I think. Allowed to sit there to give them a feel for what it's like to be on the pitch at a cup final.

Beastie i saw u at the final wearing the 96-97 home top. That top is by far my favourite as it was the shirt of my first full season supporting ICT! Would be quite willing to pay full price for an XL if anyone has one that they want rid of ;) The 2000-2002 home top was a cracker! Please oh please ICT bring back the stripes in the summer!!!!!!

All the teams except the old firm will struggle to get supporters to go to the game for various reasons. We have to thank all who attended the cup final and encourage them to attend more games if they can. Some people make various excuses for not supporting their local team when they are just not interested and that won't change. Last week I was speaking to a neighbor who was asking if I was down for the final. He watched it on TV and was moaning about Charlie Christie talking about Caley! He added that is why Inverness people don't support ICT, he is from Inverness and supports Ross County but does not go to games . We have to build up our young fan base and hope that will help in another 20 years.

Don't want to get into an argument with you again Renegade but what a question to ask! Of course Kenny is going to give Hughes time as he was Kenny's choice and hasn't had long, I really don't understand this anti Hughes after only a few months into job. That's problem nowadays, managers just don't get time!!! Yet more wise words from Mahonio from a month ago !!

With all due respect this season has already outdone last year in terms of success - against bigger odds! Get behind the whole club to see if we can secure a place in Europe or beat last year's points total - 6 to go to equal it. In retrospect, we lost our way because of the pressure of the Cup Final.

Hughes should stay becos Butcher has gone.

At last some sunshine in amongst all the doom.

Russel Latapy left the sunny climes of Porto and a cushy number at Boavista for inverness, all at the behest of one man. I'm looking forward to seeing what this group of self-policing players can achieve with a managerial set-up that respects them enough to allow some freedom.

In all seriousness.......as long as ICT keep their place in the SPL then Yogi would be meeting my expectaions. if we finnished 10th....then he is still meeting my expectations.....if we finnish top 6 then he is exceeding my expectations. ICT are no longer a big fish in a little pond.....we are in with the big boys. We need to be realistic about our expectations. For that reason, id have to say that just being able to stay in the SPL each season is sucsess for me

Sometime after they have consulted Celtic to establish where and when they would like their remaining fixtures.

So basically, we had: Hibs want to sign high-flying ICT manager Butcher heads to talks Despite being ICTs manager, he sits with the Hibs board Butcher signs for Hibs as he can achieve his ambitions there Hibs don't seem to realise Butcher started with a relegation at ICT and near-relegation with 'Well Results don't go as well as planned Hibs fans show their usual support Now all we need is relegation and we're back full circle

05/06 Season.......................13/14 Season 7512 v Rangers....................No Games 6704 v Hearts.......................4034 6809 v Aberdeen,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4810 7382 v Celtic.........................6384 7017 v Hibs...........................4261 7380 v Rangers....................No Games 5027 v Hearts.......................3392 7368 v Aberdeen..................Only 1 home game 05/06 was very much a novelty trip for many away fans. I've said it before and I say it again. Our home gates will always average a little over 4000. We have a core support of less than 3000 and the visitors can't afford to travel. Thats the reality and no amount of discussion is going to change it. Highland region is an area where football is not the be all and end all of spectator sports. Professional football in the region is very young and other interests were chosen many years before. Nobody can suddenly change attitudes and expect mass involvement overnight. One day in the distant future we may well exceed our current averages but I dont see that happening by very much in my lifetime. It is also a fact that gates are down at every other ground in the country barring the two faced with extinction.

I will continue with the Batman theme, some people just want to watch the world burn. It was a fantastic video - it was not so long ago that ICT was in splendid isolation, nothing came out of the club, good news or bad. I find it more than a little annoying that this has not got positive recognition across the forum, I don't get it. The movie Nixon perhaps was on TV recently? Anyway, I hope the media team don't go under the parapet, as some would like, and keep going for the vast majority of fans for who this is a rare chance to learn more about the goings on at ICT.

Fair play to the guy, he's doing his best to ensure they still have the Edinburgh Derby next season.!

Would love a top like Crystal palace/FC Basle, red and blue on either side, failing that then the stripes back. This seasons top is honking, needs more red in there!

The first half was very poor and we were very fortunate to go in level. The second half and the change of formation and attitude was a clear improvement and credit must go to the manager for the change although it could perhaps have been done earlier. Not the most convincing of wins but very welcome at the current time. That's effectively three monkeys off our back. The manager's first home league win, the end of the collective goal drought and, from the point of view of his confidence, the welcome end to Billy's personal barren spell. Special credit must go to Dean Brill today. There is no doubt that he has been enduring a sticky spell but today he kept us in the game in the first half while Partick were in the ascendancy. Finally, regarding Richie Foran, there's no doubt that he is not as sharp and consistent as he was before his injury lay off but I think those who are suggesting that he's past his best may be just a tad premature. Just because he's 33 doesn't mean that his loss of form isn't temporary. Personally, I would not be surprised to see him back at his commanding and inspirational best next season. Vincent has, for whatever reason, not been in the best of form lately and is maybe in need of a spell on the bench.

Richie, well he is a battler so it is understandable if he is a bit cheesed if he gets hooked, possibly more cheesed off with himself rather than anything else for not playing up to his own high expectations. He will not, I fear, regain his past excellence, too many injuries in the last two seasons for that to happen, too much frustration because he knows there was a time when he was that much quicker and that much more accurate than he is now but he will always do the best he can for the team, Even cameo appearances and super sub moments may be upon him before long but whatever his future he will give a valued contributing performance for ICT whenever called upon. He is a players man but can take a seat along with the management as well. Great he is on board the SS Sneckie

He's following the ICT model. Get relegated. Bounce back up. Spend a season establishing themselves. Begin to improve. Get somewhere, then leave. 'm sure the Hibs management and supporters are fine with that

First half was a complete non starter. The only player going in at half time with any credibility was Deano, 3 fantastic stops from Taylor, 2 from open play and one from a free kick. We could barely get out of our own box at times, let alone our own half. Tansey did have one ambitious effort from distance when it bounced up nicely, was unlucky with his effort. Boys came out fired up for the 2nd half. They were fighting for the ball more in midfield and Billy was starting to get in behind their defence some more. Before breaking the deadlock we passed up a couple of guilt edged chances. Tansey going clean through and lobbing it over Gallacher...and the bar, the next up was Billy who was found at the back post with just the keeper to beat, he took the touch, steadied himself but put it well wide when it seemed easier to score...even if it was his weaker side. Well taken set piece for the goal, struck in by Shinnie, knocked down by Draper and headed in by Billy. Rest of the game seemed to peter out. Partick had a few set pieces but Deano seemed to be on hand for most of them. Christie got on again and again looked tidy on the ball, we need to see more of him. To sum it up a win, a clean sheet, a goal and a home win Yogi...cant ask for much more than that after the week we have had.

Ach, Ross and Christie not starting again. Top 6 is guaranteed, cup business is done and to be blatantly honest I don't really care about Europe. If we get it great, but I wouldn't be too dejected, Like to see the team freshened up to be honest and get them a run. When Ross plays I feel we keep the ball better and Christie may as well get some good game time against the bottom 6 teams. We created plenty of chances versus Well but again our profligacy in front of goal showed up again. Always knew we'd struggle to score if Mckay had a barren run and we need to look at other options.

Really good interview and insight into what goes on behind the scenes. And if further inspiration is needed then look no further than the big man behind the media operation. Someone with a true passion for the club and appreciation of our situation. Someone who, though a falling out resulted in him being relieved of his duties as announcer some time ago, persisted in his quest to give the fans what they were screaming out for as far as transparency and information output were concerned. I'm also sure the big man hasn't yet achieved the full potential of what he's aiming for and that there's a lot more to come. A big well done and thank you to Caleyd and his media team.

I think Hughes will last a lot longer here than Butcher will at Hibs. Hibs have only won 1 of their last 11 and that includes being bundled out of the cup by Raith. If the Hibs Board are not considering getting rid of Butcher with that record then there is no way our Board will be getting rid of Hughes. If we are struggling after the first round of fixtures next season then it might be worth talking about. But before that, discussion should be about what the manager should do rather than whether he should be here at all.

Seeing how we all had a successful gathering last weekend and also had a fantastic support from out with Inverness. I was wondering if a few fans had thought of getting together to form a supporters group from different regions, It would look pretty cool seeing all the different flags on display at the games. I think they would be surprised how many fans there are in their area and could perhaps organise transport to matches, or have a mini get together, give them selves a name and an identity and get yourself a flag. For example the ICT Vikings from the North. ICT Aberdeen, Moray, Strathspey, ICT Loch Ness and Im sure that ICT have a few extra admirers in the Invermorriston area from the generosity of a certain fan, ICT are all well supported in these areas, Im sure there are plenty others too, even Chorley has a supporters club. Lets make our 20th season a great one.