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I for one can fully understand the common despair throughout this topic and several others. The reason being:- I was unlucky enough to miss only one home game last season. There were times where I was in dire need of the number supplied by Kingbeastie. We managed to survive to the end of the season but enough is enough. Either several of the posts on here are from people who don't attend games or their pain threshold is extremely high. I too despair if for one minute someone had ANYTHING positive to say about last season - other than it is over. We truly had all optimism well and truly beaten out of us throughout a very painful season. The games against the old firm were dreadful - the team didn't turn up. The games against Aberdeen were so poor, mirrored by the dismal attendance at the last one. This will continue as long as the entertainment value is so low and dropping. I have posted before that to my mind if we were to source local talent this would encourage more loyalty both from the players and the fans, and rebuild the team spirit and performances that we enjoyed in previous years. This was mainly due to the good work of Pele (now with Rosscoe leaving that era is gone). It doesn't have to be lost forever though. I would use St Mirren as an example, lauded for playing attractive football with a manager prepared to shop around the lower leagues of Scottish football and take in experienced journeymen. This will continue to pay off in the future as they will attract more crowds and retain their squad. I don't see shopping in the lower reaches of English leagues as being the foundation on which to build a steady ship. There is no doubt that some of the players brought in have been good, but where are they? They are not here for the long term and neither are we. But unlike them we hope to return.

Obsession with the past? Because we would take Blackie back? A man who's just picked up a Cup winners medal? You must be Dougal at the wind up.

The tale of two wummin !! CallieAnne is presenting the "middle ground", realsitic post with a rationale for expressing for her concern and apprehension (not pessimism in my book). It quite clearly comes from the heart. Oddquine - some more advice from a professional and personal perspective. I am finding that your posts are as negative as others. You are the perfect "target" for the fishermen but you tend to provoke argument and more heated responses by practically highlighting the negativity and feeding the anger and frustration. You are also answering questions with questions in an avoidant manner. If anyone is projecting pessimism it is in your innocently "inflammatory" responses. If I was Warren and read through this then I would be thinking that I would be doing my uptmost to prove everybody wrong. If I was Terry Butcher reading this forum I would be reflecting on some of the "middle ground" posts and taking on board the actual level of frustration that is held by ICT fans - and then using my undoubted charisma to "change" and attempt to bring the "togetherness" back". I also don't think that it matters how long that you have been a supporter or how many times that you watch the club to have an opinion. BUT if you are not witnessing the ineptness of some of the performances and the didtinct feeling that the "togetherness" is dissapating then you dont get the same feeling. I wholly admire season ticket holders as they are paying good money to watch dross. I am sure that many are forking out mainly in hope that things will be changed around. The "events" that have been happening recently have not exactly strengthened the "hope" factor. Their opportunity to voice their fears to an "audience" are CTO and I suspect that when they are challenged back by a "happy clapper" that it only fuels their frustrations and ups the anger value of the probably reactive response. There is no way on god's earth that any fan could profess to feeling comfortable at the moment and having whole faith that it will be turned round, taking in to account finances as well. I concede, with a degree of embarrassment and guilt, that I deliberately avoided travelling to several away games at the close of the season because I was beginning to find it difficult in holding back my anger and frustration of, in my opinion, seeing the same "mistakes" being made over and over again. The increased viewing on Sky and Alba only added to the feckin pain. In conclusion - Tokely is a fine example - He got lauded last season because he always showed 100% committment and was one of very few who looked like he was playing for the shirt, appeared at times to show anger and frustration and always found time to pay "homage" to the travelling support when others trooped off the park, albeit being sometimes reminded to go back by Butcher. Tokely was extolled becos he was "one of us". The other example would be Esson and does he get pilloried other than for making mistakes. If Foran was more personable then he too could acheive such status.

If he reads this forum, he'll be off down the road running as if all the banshees from hell were at his heels. If what I have read from so many has been produced when he hasn't yet pulled on a football boot and placed it on the hallowed turf of the Tulloch Caledonian stadium, what the hell is he going to be subjected to if he misplaces a pass, as many legends have, or punts a high ball to nobody, as many legends have, or skimmed a ball over the crossbar, as many legends have, or been red carded early in a match as many legends have? If you all want to do pessimism and misery, take it to P&B.....that is the place nobody with an ounce of intelligence takes seriously. This place represents Inverness Caledonian Thistle on the internet...and it does not give anybody reading it a good impression of the fans of the club.

Something like this then? (With more ICTish colours obiviously but you get the idea!)

Letting Grant Munro go last year was really hard to take and we paid a heavy price in defence for it (R*ss C**nty's gain). Letting Rosscoe go is just a step too far and totally stupid. These were guys who played for the jersey - not just using ICT as a stepping stone to something else. They were true Caley Thistle heroes and stalwarts. All we can look forward to now are unknowns from the diddy leagues of England who will use ICT for their own career progress. Grant Munro & Rosscoe were fans' favourites and played with the true ICT spirit. We've had the heart of our club ripped out - these two guys were still in their prime and now we can 'look forward' to them playing for C**nty against us in the SPL. I'm truly dreading next season! Will it be a case of more sendings off, penalties against and own goals - which was the story of last season? I hope not. Over to you Mr Butcher to prove that my fears are unfounded. Happy to eat humble pie if you can improve things this season.

Of course it is sad when fatalities like this occur but the reality is that the A9 is not a particularly dangerous road when you look at the stats. The road safety foundation regularly reviews road safety and rates roads based on the number vehicles using the road and the number of fatalities relative to that. On that basis, both the A9 (south of the Ord) and the A96 are rated as low to medium risk. The only 2 roads rated as high risk in Highland are the A833 between Drum and Beauly and the A86 between Laggan and Spean bridge. The 10 most dangerous roads in the UK are all in England and mostly in the pennine area and if you have ever driven on some of those you will realise what a pleasure it is to coast along on the A96. The statistics clearly show that dualing roads significantly increases their safety and so it makes sense to do this. But when you look at the stats more generally the reality is that the dualing of these important trunk routes is unlikely to be seen as top priority from a road safety perspective. It makes more sense to look at specific sections where accidents are more common and campaign for road safety improvements to address these identified black spots. The argument for more extensive dualing is more a journey time issue than a road safety one.

I believe that Frenchman Kenny Gillet is feeling homesick and wants to look at a club closer to home. He is currently in talks with St Johnstone. I also understand that Irishman Jonny Hayes was also feeling homesick and wanted to move to a club closer to his home. Apparently Ross Tokely said he wanted to go somewhere that reminded him more of Huntly.

It is the first one - the other two have fecked Superman

Feckin merger - it has ruined our ambition.

You mean this top Joonya? This has always been my favourite top. My one doen't fit me any more though.

I think there's a bit of an elephant in the room here that everyone is missing. In my mind, the dropping of attendances has little to do with the world's financial problems, ICT's lack of U19s, ICT slashed budget or any other reason. The reason is what the fans are seeing on the pitch. If the club continually goes down the path (and have a manager who seems desperate to do so) of signing players with no connection or interest in the club or the area, sign players that play for themselves and not the club and have a manager who seems quite content on taking a "don't get beat " attitude, even at home while playing a kick and rush style of football, with any direction that is in it, directed towards a man of 5"7. These tactics are an insult to Billy McKay and even more so, to the supporters. You paint up all the reasons you want to try and cover-up the issue, but none as far as I can see, are the whole reasons why. I believe, and always have believed, that if you put a product on the park that entertains and excites the fans, play players who the fans feel connected to and play players that give their all for the club and play for the shirt - the fans won't turn away.

Good point and that is how we ended up signing the wrong feckin Niculae :lol: Now that has given me an idea and a way in which fans actually can actually voluntarily support ICT. We have a fan base which spreads across the UK and Europe. I go to quite a few games around the North West and I often think to myself that a certain player may do a job at ICT. I realise that wages, agents etc. also come in to play. What if ICT came up with a proforma / template for information on recommendations for fans and make it as detailed and professional as possible. Then you open up a postal box to receive nominations - stamp paid by the nominee. You then just have a peek at the content, bin it if felt appropriate with no responsibility to provide any response. If there was a degree of interest shown then Marsella could be sent to have a peek or video footage sought from abroad. Of course there would probably be an initial deluge of dross but the detail in the completion should then highlight who is trustworthy and who isnt. The other "idea" which I am surprised has not been followed up is a "link" with a Championship club in England where we pick up the potentials to come through. At different stages I though that this was going to be Sheffield Utd, Ipswich, Wolves and Wigan. The positive "results" in the improvements in Golobart and Davis must have been taken aboard by Wolves and Wigan - perhaps it has - as my brother in law says that there is rumours that at least two more of their first team peripherary are heading to Scotland on loan deals. The manner in which Wigan is run and the football ethic would make them the perfect foil for a "union". Now that is the type of "news" that we really need to give us all a booster injection of the "Hope" drug.

I've always found the A9 to be a particularly good road with regards to its lay out. There are no bad bends and the signposts are clear and unobstructed. Lane markings are also clear. The only things that make it a 'bad road' is the weather conditions and a poor standard of driving. We don't yet know what caused these tragic accidents - it may have had nothing to do with bad driving at all (a mechanical failure or illness etc).

And that is the problem with Scottish football.......if the refs are getting that, then you can't wonder that the players want more than that and clubs are having financial problems. What sickens me is that an RGN with years of experience is getting half that for a full working week and one helluva lot more responsibility and use to the community. Never quite got my head round the celebrity/sport culture.....paying people a lot for not a lot of any use.

Attendances will always drop when your team repeatedly finish games with 10 men, score ridiculous own goals and give away stupid penalties - the story of last season. These are all about the basics of discipline in defence. I'd rather we lost a goal fair and square than see our guys hack down an attacker inside (or outside) the box to prevent a goal. If we can sort that out for this coming season then we will gather a lot more points - and fans - than we did last season.

Butcher out. We should be top 4

I don't think there's a need for a panic button yet. We haven't even started pre-season. No doubt the management are looking at various players at the moment. Once the team are assembled and start the campaign then we can see if a panic buttton needs pushed. For now, we'll just have to wait and see.

FFS! People moan when we sign inexperienced youth to play at the back, we sign someone older with experience yet still quite young for a player in that position and people still whine. Here's a phone number some of you might need: 08457 909090 Who remembers when this forum used to be fun? Or at least mildly positive? Sometimes!

A.B.E.

I despair. I really do. I see a player who has been playing part time football until the age of 27 as a signing that might be for squad depth. I certainly won't be expecting him to walk into the team and i'd like a couple more players with a better CV at the club looking for a starting place but i will give him his chance to show what he can do. If he performs exceptionally well and earns a regular place then great, if not he'll be the back up player that we need and what we have all expected from him in the first place. Do you? Why doesn't that surprise me? I have never read any football forum so packed with glass half full with a crack in the bottom fans that it is positively depressing. It certainly isn't particularly positive in any other way. what's more realistic? We bring in a player who has played part time football upto the age of 27 to go straight into the starting 11 and put heavy pressure on the lad or to expect him to be a squad player and earn his place. I don't think I'm being negative in thinking he'll be a squad player. Wanting more than 1 other centre back signed up is also not being negative.

What is it with this attitude that if you post something critical or even just express a bit of concern the suddenly you are not a supporter of the club? It's nonsense. Most of those who are expressing their concens on this forum are doing so because they support the club and want it to do well. It seems some folk have lost touch with reality here and any difficulties that they might acknowledge are attributed to the financial position of the club and therefore somehow we are not entitled to be concerned about it. Let's look at just a coulpe of crucial positions in the side - central defence and striker. In central defence we have now let go or lost (however you want to spin it) 2 experienced and long serving central defenders who now play for a rival SPL club. As replacements we have a defender who suffered a serious injury last year and we really do not know how he will fare next year. Other players brought in to that position last year have left (so much for rebuilding) and the position is so desparate that folk are getting terrribly excited by a player who has played 3 seasons with Newport County who finished 19th in the Conference last season. And he hasn't even signed yet. Up front we have a striker who scored just 3 goals in 24 games and another (Shinnie) who, whilst he looked promising before sustaining injury last season is still to prove himself at this level. We made offers to our two leading scorers from last season but were unable to persuade either to stay. Other players have been offered contracts and despite being given a deadline have still to sign. Obviously they would rather be somewhere else too. Butcher promised to rebuild this side. Well he's certainly demolished the old side but where is the new? It's like building a house where you have been given an entry date and turn up a week before you are due to move in and find the roof isn't on yet. But no need to worry, Sir! It's all in hand. It may be that Butcher is the man for the job and will be able to bring in hidden gems from the lower reaches of English football. He has done so before but he has also brought some dross in. But when you compare our squad at the moment with others in the SPL you have to think of us as hot favourites for drop. So, in conclusion. Yes, I am worried but I will still be giving 100% to the team next season.

That's the beauty of forums people get to post their thoughts even if they don't meet your expectations. Here's a thought for you if you don't like someone's thread rather than just be rude why don't you ignore it. Or will we just fill the forum with Butcher is wonderful threads to keep you happy?

I don't think I'll buy one because of the way the club treats it's long serving players... Oh wait, sorry. Just with other threads going the same way I'm in the habit of seeing negativity... I buy a shirt every season and actually liked the design of some of the other clothing range last season. The white tracksuit jacket in particular. Looking forward to seeing this years design. Hopefully it'll be striped again and not a 'swoosh' effect as per a couple seasons back.

Finally some news on new players! Always get excited about this sort of stuff and hopefully it'll take over from all the doom and gloom on this site. Here's a little info on him. Gary joined County in May 2009 after two successful seasons in central defence for Team Bath. He had joined the students in the summer of 2007 from Mangotsfield United for whom he had played more than 200 times, and he captained them to promotion to Conference South. He showed his leadership qualities for County and enjoyed a fabulous first season in which he wore the captain's armband with distinction, earning both supporters and players "Player of the Year" awards, and being chosen for the 'Conference South Select XI' for 2009/10. He has made 85 appearances for County, scoring eleven times. Not a bad strike rate for a defender either.... Also his DOB is Born: 16/08/1984 Bristol So at the start of the season he'll be 28, A bit of experience we've been looking for hopefully.

I mentioned in our last blog that we would be updating the rules/terms/privacy/copyright and cookie policies that we use .... and we now have !!!! The rules, as well as our privacy and cookie policies are now posted and active and can be accessed by clicking on one of the links at the bottom right of the page. We have done away with the lengthy rule set that tried to cover every eventuality that happened on the site over the last 18 years, or may happen in the future because not only were they unwieldy and unwelcoming for new users, but they were also like a lightning rod for the tiny minority of users whose sole function on the planet seems to be a desire to create chaos or discord or to try and get one over the mods by finding something we hadnt covered ... Those guys can continue to play their games somewhere else, but the vast majority of users are not going to be subjected to a huge rule set just on their behalf. We're not playing that game anymore. The new rules are about as generic as we can make them and although we have added a few specific examples based on things that have happened on the boards and which required moderator or admin intervention over the years, we are pulling back a bit and putting the onus on users to police their own behaviour somewhat. Lets face it, most of you know what is appropriate or inappropriate in terms of the words, images or links that you post or the attitude you display. If you have to wonder whether you will get away with something you post, or the tone in which you post it then maybe you need to think again ? Thats all we are asking !!! I know some folk will read this and not bother to click on the link, so for those users, here's a list of a few specific things that will bring you to the attention of the mods. Its not the full list - read the rules for that - but just enough to fill this blog post ! 1. Personal Abuse / Agressive Behaviour: As we note in the new rules, we do have a minority of users who seem to delight in this and in making everything personal. We will continue to take a dim view of this and those who want to carry on doing it will soon find out how the new points system works. Its fine to disagree or discuss and debate the issues with someone, thats what forums are about, but you should be able to do it without making it personal or aggressive. We would also include passive aggressive behaviour in this such as posting snidey comments that denigrate someone for starting a topic you dont like. If you dont like a topic, ignore it and dont post in it rather than again making things personal .... 2. Inappropriate Posting / Swearing etc: Its a football forum with a primary demographic of male users of a certain age range. there's going to be swearing and there's going to be things that are perhaps not totally "PC". We are not going to get our underwear in a knot if someone lets the odd profanity go, or there is the odd image or link that gets close to the edge, but be aware of where that edge is. We have an audience that ranges from teenage to 80+ so bear that in mind when posting. 3. Illegal Content: There is nobody who likes to see ICT on the telly over here more than me, and yes I have partaken of 'dodgy feeds' to get that fix, but please dont post those links in open forum. Also, please try to refrain from posting copyrighted material if you dont have permission. We're not saying this to be assholes, we're saying it to protect the site from even the vaguest hint of action from various organisations or the authorities. We have developed good relations over the years with the club, with photographers, with the likes of the BBC or other media, and with people within the SPL/SFL/SFA and we still work closely with a lot of those folks ... it allows us to post things other sites may not get, or just to get verifiable info and such like. We wont allow anyone to jeopardise that. 4. Topic Hijacking: Topic Hijacking is not to be confused with going a little "off topic". We can all go a little off-topic here and there and thats to be expected and wont get you in the bad books unless you do it all the time and all over the place. Topic hijacking is where you purposely try to bring the topic around to your own different and unrelated agenda by changing the topic entirely rather than drifting into off topic territory ... and is usually quite recognisable as it is done on multiple threads if the poster feels strongly enough about a subject or wants to get a topic across. This is tantamount to bully boy tactics and wont be allowed. You want a topic on your subject, then start its own one ... if its of concern or interest to site users it will gather its own momentum. So thats my personal top 4 .... like I said, there are a few more in the actual rules, but its basically all just common sense stuff ..... With regards to the privacy policy, we didnt change anything there other than making sure you could get to it from the link at the bottom of the page, and adding an additional portion to the end detailing the cookie policy. The next post in this blog will be details of our re-vamped Verbal/Yellow Card/Red Card warning points system, but this will probably be next week now as the mods are still going over the finer points of it ... we want it to be fair, transparent and consistent and I think it will be ...