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Some of us may disagree with the reasons, but there's no denying it's our worst SPL season ever. In fact, I don't remember enjoying any other season in our history less than this one. I do fear that some of our players view the season as being over and have switched off....a very dangerous mindset when we are not yet safe.

An event to honour two ICT Legends and all you seem to be worried about is using it to score points in some kind of Butcher Witch Hunt. Give yourselves a shake, ffs.

OK guys & girls. All posts with references to The Gaffer not showing up bar a couple that have also got other discussion points in them have been split into a new topic, Butchers No Show. Any further post about Butcher on here will be deleted. This thread is to show our support for a pair of ICT died in the wool players, keep it that way please. Rossco was like a man on a mission. It was like a throw back to the olde days with him and Barry overlapping each other and covering for each other seamlessly. Rossco was like Usain Bolt on speed yesterday, quicker than Mapplebeck's whippet out of the traps. Unkucky not to score three or four goals. Great to see the silky skills of Charlie and the eternal possession passing of Bobby Mann, even at 40 stone, now that is a defender. Jimmy Calder did his legendary dribbles to the halfway line and even came up for a corner, think he took a taxi to get back to his own goal line as County cleared the danger. Best entertainment this season at Caledonian Stadium and a decent turn out considering, and well done to County fans for turning out in bigger numbers than most SPL sides have done this season, credit gudgies. And Nessie the mascot was an absolute star at half time, brilliant choreography to entertain the crowd at the break And to Grant and Russell. Thanks guys, you have given plenty to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, I hope they give you plenty in return.

I don't often get time to post on here but I do like to keep up to date with my fellow fans opinions and I can more than identify with the frustration that is filling all of us at the moment. I'm not the first and I certainly won't be the last to say that this has quite possibly, with exception the relegation year, been the worst season that ICT have ever experienced. With expectations raised by our current manager at the start of the season, we went into the campaign expecting a lot. The season has been marred by serious injuries, like no other ICT squad have ever had, a lack of consistency but the bottom line is that the reason we're sitting where we are is down to a lack of fight, passion, desire and quite frankly ability within the current squad. It truly has been a miserable season but while many may chose to turn their back on ICT, I for one am trying to look forward to next season. Our SPL status is almost certainly secure and we now have a very important few months ahead of us as we try and re-group as a club and build a squad that is capable of challenging at a higher level next season. We as supporters may feel that criticising Butcher is the correct thing to do but the bottom line is that he will not be leaving in the next few months and it's time that we suck it up and get behind OUR CLUB and choose to support the team whatever it may look like. Whether people want Butcher here or not really isn't the issue as late Dundee United chairman Eddie Thompson said "Directors, managers and players come and go but the supporters stay with the club forever". This is OUR club and our loyalty shouldn't depend on who is managing the team or playing on the pitch. We're about to be joined by our Highland neighbours in the top flight for the first time ever. This is the time that we must unite and back our club (including manager and players) to make sure that we stay the Highlands top and most successful team. That starts with the supporters continued loyalty! So where all seems dull and bleak, let's look on next season as a fresh start for the club and an opportunity for further Highland success. Who knows maybe just maybe we'll be pushing for a European place this time next year!

Graeme Shinnie not good enough you having a laugh Nick ross is easily the one of the hottest prospects to come through our youth system Aaron doran can you prove what he said Greg tansey is a very talented player just needs time to settle so Jay what are you on cause i want some

Because the team as a whole, simply is not good enough. If it was, do you think we'd be looking at a points tally worthy of relegation? I think the team we were relegated with was better than this one. You saying that squad wasnt good enough? Considering the current crop of players have more or less seen us safe this season? I'm not going to take this debate any further. It seems like you won't be happy until everyone in the current set up is gone. All i will say is transition takes time. Dosen't always necessarily click straight away. Butcher deserves another chance to put his own plans into motion. If we had played like this all season with a fully fit squad then i would've probably called for him to go. But like i said we have fallen foul of just about every disadvantage you could get in a season which have severely hampered any chance of us making progress and i will carry on saying this till im blue in the face. Its at the point now where like the fans, the players probably just want the season to end. This has been a derailed, disrupted and underachieving season but time can be a great healer and who knows what another summer can bring. Roll on 2012-13.

Had a great day out yesterday, really enjoyed the game and it was great seeing the old legends on the park again I do agree with the posters on here who are disappointed with Butchers no-show, i was personally disappointed he didnt show. A lot of the current first team squad were there, in the hospitality suites and they had no role in the proceedings of the day, quite rightly so, as it was a day for Grant and Russell. Absolutely no reason why Butcher couldnt have done the same. No reason why he couldnt have made his presence known but as a spectator and to show support for two outstanding servants to ICT. Yesterday was not a day about feuds or personality clashes or the fact that it was Butchers choice not to offer Grant and Russell new contracts it was about honouring two loyal players who have been outstanding servants and IMO vastly under-rated players for ICT. I have been a staunch supporter of Butcher for the majority of his tenure here however there have been quite a few instances this season that have left a sour taste in my mouth. While i still have some faith that he can turn our fotunes round after a dismal season my patience wont last forever

No sorry dont buy this! He is ICT manager and its his job to turn up as it was ICT v Ross County in the first half. He would not have got booed and I doubt he would even have got much stick. He could have watched from the hospitality area if he wanted. He missed some good performances from the younger players by not being there. BTW in not giving Russell and Grant new contracts Terry Butcher was just doing what he felt was right at the time ie his job. and although I dodnt agree with him I respect his right to make it.I think the damned if he did option was the one he should have taken in many fans eyes.

Given the fact that this thread is in the danger of, or has succeeded in, turning into a kick Terry Butcher one, rather than a praise Munro and Duncan one, maybe Butcher had an inkling of the way some ICT fans would react if he did turn up and decided to spare everybody at the testimonial the satisfaction of of making their day by booing him and possibly spoiling the day for Grant and Russell...and took the sensible course for the benefit of all......particularly of those who did the hard work of organising all the Testimonial for them. As CaleyD said, damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

Not at all. Terry Butcher is the face of this club and should have been there. Even if someone had asked him why he was there all he would have had to say was "I'm here to represent this club, to watch some of the young boys for next season and to see some of next season's opposition as well". But of course, no-one would've batted an eyelid. Heck, even Brewster turned out for the legends team in Roy McBain's game!

Grants goal v celtic last season. The look on his face after scoring said it all and it made Lennon mad always a plus point.

Some of you really need to get a grip. Excuses, excuses.......injuries, suspensions, posts, crossbars, referees, linesmen etc Bottom line........not good enough, not organised enough, not coached well enough, not entertaining enough and not committed enough (absence of many today confirmed that). Suggest that it is those who continually excuse, justify and blindly follow that needs to get a grip eh?

Some of you really do need to get a grip. This season has been a disaster for just about every footballing reason under the sun. Injuries, suspensions, harsh decisions, no penalites bla bla bla. Butcher may be at fault for all but not for everything. He changed the team yes. But most of his signings have all shown how capable Doran, Shinnie, Tade, Tansey, Jones, Golobart have all been very good signings but there has been no continuity because all of the above mentioned plus most players in the squad have been injured. Theres been no continuity and no chance to build an understanding. This is also a really young team so mistakes are going to be made as they may not cope with the pressure as much as others. I'm not saying that Butcher is faultless. His recent tactics have been woeful and one or two purchases have been less than effective e.g former players Gnakpa and Aldred. This also ties in with the idea of continuity and stability and has to stop. If he signs players i sincerely hope that most are with a long term view. Experience is required too and fast, the young lads need more help out there on the pitch. Personally i dont want him to go. You all seem to forget that this is the manager that got us back to the Prem at the first time of asking and also gave us our nearest push to the top 6 we've ever had. He deserved a chance to make his own mark on the team and he cant stop players getting injured or suspended so bog off and give him some space, there is no point in asking him to go at this stage of the season either cause you guys aint gonna get what you want. He deserves another chance to stamp his authority on the team and surely surely we won't have another season as hellish as this one.

Stand back everyone, I'll handle this one. Ummm... He signed the absolute dross that aren't fit to pull on the shirt?? He's responsible for the tactics from which he attempts to get the best out of the crap he's signed? He absolutely will not, nor will he ever accept blame for his part in the worst season in recent memory? (To clarify, as harrowing as it was to be relegated, this season is much, much worse than that one.) Quite why you feel the need to defend the guilty party in all of this is bewildering. I was listening to TB's post match interview just now and was actually suprised by how often he said that he must take the blame. It was almost a season's worth of accepting the responsibility. He was also saying that whilst he takes responsibility he is pretty bewildered by the lack of cutting edge in the final third because he sees day in and day out in training what the players are capable of but they don't produce it on a match day. He made the point that in a lot of games we have had good possession but have lost games because we have not been able to create and take enough clear cut chances and because of errors at the back which have been punished. That is probably true but it is his responsibility to sort it. There appears to be the first public recognition of that but perhaps a lack of knowing how to. Personally I feel that many on here are being harsh on the players. In general they may be playing poorly but I don't think that means they are poor players. I would be more worried if we simply weren't getting the possession. To me the big thing that is lacking is confidence. At the moment all the players seem to be on edge and as a result they either snatch at opportunities or lack the confidence to shoot. And they are on edge at the back because they know if they make a mistake the lack of goals up front means it is likely to be an expensive one. Things seem dire at the moment but If we could just find that spark to bring back the confidence then the goals will come players would be less on edge and we would find the football flowed a bit more. The key questions for me are whether it is TB's management style and tactics that are contributing to the lack of confidence in the first place and is he capable of finding the spark that is needed?

Please yourself who you watch next season but do us a favour and don't call youself a supporter. Supporters stick by their team through thick and thin

The same starting line up as Sunday and even add Christie, Wilson, Macbain, Wilson, Mann and Calder as Subs! :lol:

Quite right Luke, certain people think they know it all and nothing will change their minds. There also seems to be a certain element within this forum that seem to want to stirr things up all the time and yet they call themselves supporters! I've always thought the word support meant to prop up, uphold, to get behind in a positive manner! There is a a nucleus of players in the squad with real potential, not quite field wise yet but that will come sooner rather than later. When it does I wonder if these guys will be as quick to eat their words???

Meekings - Not seen enough of him. Far too prone to seeing red for my liking. Graeme Shinnie - Not good enough Nick Ross - Talented, yes, but too lightweight. Not good enough. Aaron Doran - Can kindly GTF whenever he wants. I know what he thinks of this team and what he's prepared to do given the chance to LET his boyhood team win. Andrew Shinnie - Not really seen enough of him but seemed ok once he settled in. The real question will be how he comes back from this injury. I'm not holding my breath. Greg Tansey - Absolutely, never in a million years good enough for this club. Perhaps the investment money will make its way to the playing budget, I really don't see it though. Butcher and Malpas might have learned what from this season? And what are you basing that assumption on? They had their chance to make changes in January and didn't. They didn't learn much from the first half of the season. I very much feel that you are blindly grasping at straws in order to defend the indefensible. Best yet to come? The best has been and gone. Kille game 6-3 was as good as it got. That's it. One game this season. wow you realy have to just dismiss anyones view diferent to yours as garbage what do you mean aaron doran will do anything to make sure his boyhood club win? he was fecking brilliant against them when we beat them 3-2 here and effectively lost them the title. you seem to base your view on every player good or not on one mistake. you say you havnt been at many games but you make all these judgements on the players. meekings to prone to a red card? hes had 3 yellows all season 2 in the same game which led to his only red graeme shinnie not good enough? well hes just got a call up to the under 21s he must be doing something right nick ross talented but lightweight? id like to see you get the ball off him. hes superb on the ball andy shinnie will he be the same player when he comes back? yes its a broken toe not a cruciate and greg tansey. the player who can spray 60 yard passes for fun with deadly accuracy, the one player in our team with vision, he plays for the shirt week in week out. and hes *****? cant say i agree what youve done is name weaknesses of certain players. were not gonna sign messi any time soon so get used to having players with flaws in the side

wish you had been harsh...she beat me :(

*waits on the happy clappers* Fully expecting to see absolute tosh regarding injuries, luck, no continuity, phases of the moon, planetary allignment, solar flares... Um... Look over there!! Rangers are in administration!

We can agree to disagree then. The club can announce over 3000 all they want, it's sadly not the case. Not really given that i worked the Turnstile gates for the last year and part of my job is counting what i take in So you're the guy to blame regarding the inflated attendances which has been quite evident this season You wouldn't be the same guy that's done the counting in Dingwall for many years too? Dougal

On a slightly different note I found it quite interesting that in his speech given before the meals in hospitality Mr Sutherland said that although he makes a point of not interfering with the managers decisions it was a massive mistake to release Munro and he didn't agree with it. Was quite surprised that he came out and said that publicly, would have made it even more interesting if Butcher was there! Edit- Spelling, Doh!

Hang, on, I'll get a seat

They were ICT "skillseekers" together but Neil was released and went to Clach. Moved to Edinburgh a few years ago and turned out for Edinburgh Uni in East of Scotland leage. Don't know what he's doing now.

Neil MacCuish, used to play for Clach and is Grant's best mate, was filling in for someone who dropped out. Did well considering what he drunk the night before!

As folk have said poor show but I don't think the lads were too bothered! Well done to Scott Kellacher tho for masterminding the best home ICT performance in some time. ;)

He'll probably blame the players again....or maybe even the referee!

Seeing as it was Doofer who started this topic and he obviously feels so strongly about it, I thought I ought to find out what he was on about as I've been a bit out of touch with the news recently. I'll perhaps be a bit controversial here but I think Evans has a strong case for appeal and it would not surprise me to see him get acquited in due course. For those who don't know, the story goes like this. (Children and those easily offended should stop reading now!) Evans and friends of his, including another footballer, Clayton McDonald, booked a hotel room and went out seperately looking for a girl to take back there. They were not together at the time when a very drunk young woman literally fell out of a kebab shop into McDonald's path. McDonald seized the opportunity and took the 19 year old back to the hotel. He texted Evans to say he had "got a girl". McDonald then had sex with the girl whilst 2 other men watched and videoed the events through the window! Evans then arrived and claims he asked the girl if he could join in. He says she consented and McDonald backs that up. The girl says she can't remember what happened. McDonald then left and when he had finished with the girl, Evans left the room and then left the hotel by the fire escape. The girl awoke in the morning to find herself naked in the bed and with little recollection of what had happened during the evening. She was distraught and made her way to friends who encouraged her to go to the police. Both Evans and McDonald were charged with rape. McDonald's verdict was announced first and he was acquited. Evans shared his friend's jubilation at the verdict but then was shocked to hear his own verdict of guilty and the judges sentencing of 5 years prison. Now, Evans is clearly a nasty peice of work and his behaviour on the night in question was dreadful, however, that does not stop us having some concerns about the conviction and sentence. Remember, that we live in a country where to be convicted the prosecution needs to prove a case "beyond reasonable doubt". There is no room in a legal decision to moralise about someone's behaviour. Let's look at some facts here. The girl could not remember whether she consented or not. The girl was not physically harmed. There was no witness to suggest that the girl did not willingly go to the hotel with McDonald. Whilst she was clearly drunk, there is no suggestion that she was too drunk to speak or otherwise indicate that she did not consent to sex. In sentencing Evans, the judge said that he should have been aware that the girl was too drunk to give consent. In other words he is saying that even though she may well have told Evans that it was OK for him to have sex with her, that does not actually constitute consent. And if there was not valid consent, then it must be considered as rape. The judge may have considered Evans should have been aware that she was too drunk: but was he? Whilst Evans' behaviour is totally reprehensible, I cannot see how the evidence proves beyond reasonable doubt that the sex was non-consensual. How many vodka and cokes does it take for "yes" to mean "no" regardless of how willing the person appears to be? Even if the judge is correct on the matter of law and Evans' actions were technically rape, there is no evidence to suggest that Evans had any intention to do anything without what he understood to be her consent. In that case, a sentence of 5 years seems harsh to me when you consider similar sentences are handed out to criminals who set out to rape and deliberately hurt and terrorise their victims. Many perpatrators of vicious pre-meditated assults which leave victims disabled and scarred for life get sentences less than 5 years. The bizarre thing here is that if Evans was guilty, then why was McDonald adjudged not to be? After all, he is the one who took advantage of the girl and helped her tottering back to the hotel. He, much more than Evans would have been aware of how drunk she was. A further twist here is that Evans is white and McDonald is coloured. Just to add a little more controversy I wonder what the equalities groups would be saying if it had been Evans who had picked up the girl and McDonald was the one who got 5 years? From a morality point of view you may think Evans got what he deserved - but have we got justice? By the way - liked the joke Bauhaus!

It was a good day, I left it with happy memories of our club, our players of old and their ability to do a job well. Please dont turn it into a Terry Butcher topic as there are loads of good things to comment on. Hes the reason why they were having a testimonial in the first place so probably thought it was for the best staying away.

Feck me - we are making excuses for TB now !!! Like I said his personality would not allow it and there is undoubtedly a refined excuse coming up in Tuesday's Courier.

Dunno about that DD. Personally I feel that as ICT manager he should have been there regardless. It would have made him look like a bigger person.I think probably all should have moved on.

Granty and Russell already knew what Butcher thinks of them but not turning out just proves he is just a big English barsteward without any respect for anyone other than his own little jabbies :werenotworthy: Thanks for all you did to make this club what it was before he got rid of you - shame on him

OK - Cards on the table ....I am an ICT fan .. full stop! I feel that the above comments are very harsh and indeed I went onto the historical sites to offer some support to the management team .. I'm afraid there is little facts to back up Terry's ability to get the best out of HIS players this year. We have little money and are remote from the footballing hub and this makes us THE candidate to be relegated every year and we, so far, have nearly always defied the pundits!l. This year is reflective of our expected position, league struggler. We get a new manager and he does what?? Move Inverness into Central Scotland? Pay big wages to super players from a gate of circa 3000 every fortnight? Take on the current squad and improve their playing ability? A big ask for any manager and especially for one willing to come away up here on limited resources. I think this is a bad year for our Tel... his professional pride, I hope, is hurt and already he is making plans for next year with a brilliant start to the new season. Maybe I am dreaming and Terry has limited management skills but taking on board his all round results - I vote ... PLEASE STAY and, like this year, keep my wee team once again in the top league!!

I really enjoyed it. It was a good game for a friendly with actually some quite entertaining performances. Some of the players obviously still have it in them and Bobby Mann's passing is still something to behold. Their was even some niggles between Adams and Christie, but special mention must go to the still great Jim Calder! Still the showman and pulled off one really good save as well. Going up for that corner made my day! Sadly, one thing though did dampen it somewhat. If Terry Butcher missed that game on his own choosing, then that is really a disgrace. This was a game for two legends of the ICT team throughout the years and two players he managed. He's the face of this club and should have been there and in doing so also missed some performances from reserve and youth players who could make the step up next season - particularly the 1st half ICT number eleven Kyle White, who looked very dangerous at left wing. If all those ex-players, fans and managers can make the effort then so can Butcher.

Good games in both first and second half. Shane up front caused no ends of problems with Tansey, Ross and Gavin 'bossing' the midfield even when County changed to pretty much their first team. Rossco was a man mountain and showed how much the game meant to him even if only a friendly. The day has unfortuantely been tarnished by the failure of Butcher and Malpas to make an appearance. In the past I have tried to stick up for these guys, however they have disgraced the club, shown a lack of respect for loyal servants to the club and embarassed themselves in front of many of the fans. After the joke that his second half tactics were yesterday, perhaps we should ask out goalkeeping coach to take over for the next game

Butcher hasnt had a great season but it is one season. He has not taken us backwards as we were never much higher in the table apart from 7th. Some of the signings havent made the impact we would have hoped for but give him the summer to make a few changes and hopefully we will keep the majority of the squad fit and then we can push on. We have lacked a striker and need a poacher but on our budget we may struggle and defensively we have got stronger and if we can keep golabart then that is a plus. Butcher has done brilliant in his time and one poor season can be excused, we are going through a transition but we are a better side than what we have shown this season and with a few changes next season hopefully will be better

If that is the case it shows very poor taste. Total and utter disregard for two who put in a huge shift for the club that he is supposed to lead. Very shabby indeed and another example of ego over substance.

Hi Tug....I took it as you'd posted before i.e You then The Wife. Technically speaking I should have only included yourself but I couldn't be so harsh On the subject of 1st scorer - if there is no 1st scorer there can be no points. Its been a subject for debate on a few occasions as many thought that predicting 'none' for the first scorer would gain points but that is incorrect. Basically - no scorer = no points. From the moment the NPL was born its been a somewhat confusing affair but we're all stuck with it now until decide I've had enough.

Haven't voted, but I think there's a fair chance it will be. He's bound to be in charge going into the season unless he chooses to leave for some reason, but if we're really struggling, say, three months in, then the board will have a decision to make. At the moment I can't see any team that is going to be weaker than us next season. Of course he could add a few new faces, find a settled system that works, get lucky with fitness and have us safe by Christmas, but there have been far more negatives than positives this season.

This season was his team with his players and his tactics. If this season is anything to go by, I hope it will be his last.

Good, we don't want 'fans' like that. CHEERIO! W@NK

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