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Sorry to say your best days are behind you. Many wrong decisions tonight, both ways, but it could have been costly. Draper booking was not, Doran booking was not ( he lost his footing and got up immediately without even appealing or looking at ref ), foul before their goal was a brilliantly timed tackle. Thats before I even think of the mistakes against county by the whistler. SPL/SFA Please dont sent Mr Brines back up to ref in the Highlands. Its not his first poor game up here

That could be a result that defines our season. I was nervous about tonight because I wondered if we could string two good performances together - well, we can and it was no mean feat against the strongest C*unty side I've seen. The first half was unsustainably good - I spoke to a SFL manager who reckoned we should have been 4 or 5 up by half time. They had absolutely no answer to us. Second half, they got lucky with goal from an inept decision from an inept referee, but it was well buried by Vigurs. Doran's strike was a thing of beauty to finally tear the last wheel off the caravan. So where do we go now? Dundee should be within our grasp as an away win and Ibrox should hold no fears. as a postscript, if anyone in these here parts still maintains that they want Tokely and Munro here ahead of Meekings and Warren, you want your head examined. In addition to that, if anyone still thinks that these journeyman pro's don't care about the club, have a look at the playback or the highlights. Like Luke and ajsitc92 I reckon we could be on the verge of something here, and if you weren't there tonight you really need to get along - it won't last forever.

Amazing how the BBC can shift TV schedules to show a match involving one of Scotlands biggest embarrassments....yet the mere suggestion that the do the same on Radio for an SPL Derby is unthinkable. Bring on an Independent Scotland and getting shot of the BBC

This COULD turn in to one of our greatest ever seasons. Believe.

Hats off to you guys for making the effort to travel distance to support your team!! You are an example to those ICT fans from Inverness who chose to watch the game on telly rather than help boost attendance.

Forever in our shadow!!! Incredible performance to night from the lads. Rose to the occasion and picked apart a County team that showed very little fight in what was a very enthralling first half hour. From the word go we were in their faces and were creating chances and playing good football in the process. My heart sank when Vigurs scored. Part of me was thinking we wouldnt be able to cope afterwards. Especially when Foran went off injured but the young lads backed by experienced heads like Warren and OTJ held out. Dont know who was responsible for the subs but the introduction of Billy towards the end was a stroke of genius, couldnt cope with his running and height?? Must have risen the height of himself to tee up Doran who's goal was nothing short of masterclass. Words cant describe how pleased i am. There is a real sense of team spirit and bottle in this team that we didnt have last season and this was arguable their biggest test and they stepped up to the plate and delivered when it counted. As Luke said we have what it takes to make top 6, if we keep that level of performance up no doubt about it. Atmosphere was brilliant, felt like a real derby and was treated as such, may it be the start of many more between the sides in the SPL.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: GIRUY

One thing did annoy me about the music. We invited a military pipe band to come play for us. I love pipe bands. Sadly I couldnt hear this one for the stadium music. The stadium announcer introduced the band then cranked up his own music over them. To me that was just plain ignorant. If you realise they are playing and you introduce them then have the decency to let us hear them.

Think its fair to say the boss deserves to enjoy a period of popularity - his plans & hard work are bearing fruit. I also think its fair to drop the tiring references to Tokely & Munro (until the next derby!)

Great game yesterday. Shame we didn't score more! We have been playing well this season (in most games). Hopefully the people staying away because of the 'value for money' will come back Money will dictate how long these players stay for but that is some team Terry and Mo have created. :clapoverhead: :clapoverhead: Many people have been critical of the decisions / signings and I have been critical myself. But Butcher has done well - very well. When I saw Munro and Tokely last night, I saw two good defenders suited to a hoof style of football. Munros distribution was very good I thought. But we have been crying out for on the deck football - something that Munro and Tokely are not compatable with (IMHO). After a leaking lots of goals, our defence are starting to look solid and together. They can also play the ball on the deck. The whole team are together. We have scored the most goals in the SPL so far. We are on the up, and I cannot wait for the Dundee trip! The Highlands are ours. :ictscarf:

Fantastic result and a great, noisy and passionate night. Not your normal TCS experience! Long may it continue and I think we can still improve. The County gloryhunting brigade must be feeling pretty deflated right now!

I posted recently that fans wanted Value for Money and to look forward to the next game. Well, we got it all in shovel loads - Well done guys you showed skill, determination, and for non-locals, bags of passion! What a crowd and what an atmosphere - if only we could get everyone and thier vocals at the next game. :clapoverhead:

That's nothing, 362 mile round trip for me tonight but well worth it. I'm also having a drink to calm the second half nerves. I had a long journey too, to get back for the game, and no comfort of a car - buses all the way, Bladnoch / Wigtown / Newton Stewart / Girvan / Ayr / Glasgow / Inverness (left at 8.30am and arrived in Inversneckie at 4.30pm BUT it was worth it! Thank you ICT.

Personally, I have given up on BBC radio Scotland for sport. The matchday coverage of ICT and other small SPL clubs is nothing short of diabolical. Then they pander to Sevco, giving them the coverage, that should be spent on the major league in the country. MFR for match days for me, or Soccer saturday, or if I have the money, go to the game!

1st goal - Munro beaten in the air by Draper 2nd goal - Munro swipes fresh air to let Foran through 3rd goal - Tokely too slow to react to Mackay's header and Doran nips in to strike it home. Thanks guys, legends indeed.

Good luck tonight to meh Teuchy chums,hope ye's get it up them lot fae ower the bridge 3-1 ICT

I am so looking forward to this one either as a paying fan or as media. Hope it's media, 'cause I really want to reaquaint myself with the knuckledragger in the club deck who nearly exploded in a welter of bulging eyes and spit when I (too loudly) compared Gregory Tade (!!) with Cruyff. I honestly thought he was going to have a stroke, especially when I made eye contact. Should be able to push him over the edge this time.......

I thought the ICT fans would be buying the venison

After looking at the ICT V RC thread post match, and after last wk it seems this thread has died, so does this mean all the haters now accept that TB is building the foundations of something very positive - although still a long way to go, but we have the potential for a very strong season ahead. As a poster and fan who has taken some battering on this thread along with others for being 'happy clappers' its ammusing how after positive performances and results nobody reignites this thread to respond 'yes' and possibly admit they were too eager to call for TB to get replaced - although I still expect after the next poor result the anti-TB brigade will have it back at the top of the 'new posts' list ;)

First class performance throughout the team last night, everyone played their part at some stage. Defence looking stronger as they gel, even Raven is improving. Plenty options in attack, so the prospects are looking good, could this be our season to break into the top six?????

the SBC will be just as bad .... its a Highland/Lowland thing not a Scotland/England one on this occasion !!!

That's nothing, 362 mile round trip for me tonight but well worth it. I'm also having a drink to calm the second half nerves.

Cannae deny it, born and bred peh man, but it has to be said that ICT do rather float my boat.

Tired now after the 240 mile round trip but also elated. Think I'll just pour myself a wee dram to celebrate.

We have a prophet in our midst. Well done Smee!!! (P.S. what are tomorrow's lottery numbers?)

We are top six Luke...........at least until 4.45 tomorrow. That was some game. We totally outshone County in the first half. The look of relief on Tokely's face when his attempted clearance header hit the crossbar was something else. It would have been so funny had that gone in. Can that lad Roberts jump? He beat Tokes to almost every ball in the air. Very impressed with the transformation from the team I watched at Midden. They are playing some good football but we do make things hard for ourselves at times. For a good twenty minutes to half hour of the second half we were under the cosh, especially after they scored, and any forward runs we made were wasted because most of our players seemed frightened to cross the halfway line. All in all though the game was enjoyable and well worth the journey.

Next to the emphatic 3-1 beating of our feeder team tonight, the highlight of the evening for me was the playing of Cher's classic "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" over the tannoy. Magic. The soap-dodging caravan dwellers can't say we didn't make an effort to welcome them to Inverness!! And, of course, the evening was nicely rounded off by the playing of "Happy Days". Well done to that DJ

Loving the 'Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves' just before ko !!

bit pished!

All I can say is Forever in our shadow

I did predict 3-1 to ict!!

Fillu appreciate where you are coming from and your point about players and referees having an off day is well made. However the referees can help themselves in some areas and that is by getting the basic decisions correct in games. How often do we see blatant fouls not given, throw ins/corners given to the wrong team etc etc. I think if referees got the basic decisions correct, this would diffuse a lot of the flak they are getting now. Of course there will always be contraversial decions where the refreee has to call it as he sees it without the benefit of seeing 10 replays but I would argue that if the really basic errors you see week in week out from referess were cut out, the situation would improve. I also think the media have a lot to answer for as, with all the replays they have, they can and do have a go at referees rarely indicating that the refreee could not see the incident how the multiple cameras have caught it. Something has to be done to improve the quality of refrees however and the SFA have to take the lead on that. Just quietly dropping them down a level/grade does nothing. I also think the SFA is hugely culpable with the younger referees coming through by turning them into virtual robots. The younger referees seem to be brainwashed by the SFA that thye must referee in a certain way which takes away the refrees discretion to deal with certain situations. If a refereee did that nowadays, he would probably be marked down hweres in days gone by, common sense would have been exercised by the referee but they are now too afraid to do this.

It's not personal....it's football. If people want to cheer and applaud C*unty players then they should go sit in the south stand.

Grant Munro, Ross Tokely and Mikie Fraser are C*unty players. End of, and treat accordingly. Cheer them? aye, right.

C'mon folks!! Whats the problem. We are the SPL team lucky enough to draw the third div team. Hampden here we come.

I am as nervous as a kitten in a sack about this one. Rationally, I think we'll win. Their keeper is a recurring nightmare, their back four has the turning ability of the Bismark and their strikers by and large couldn't score in a turkish bordello. But I'm still nervous. I don't think I could take the abuse from my staggie colleagues and I've already told one neutral he's not getting back in the office without being deloused if he goes to the c*unty end. For the rest, the shotgun's under the desk. I hope, just hope that (if you'll pardon the pun) the wheels come off for Dingwall's "finest" That's the beauty of derby games.

Got my rail tickets, looking forward to it, never make predictions though. Remember the time we pummelled them and hit the woodwork 5 times then they got a dodgy penalty. I feel we have more to give this season, but County have very little depth to their squad. They'll be well up for it, hope we are too!

Fair comment. I accept it could go either way. It might actually be a positive encounter, but if the game has had contentious decisions then equally it could be a flashpoint. I do however feel managers have a right to ask for explanations of decisions and the refs should not be allowed to hide behind the option of saying nothing and issuing a card in the refs room, or (if memory serves me right) I remember one manager - but cant recall who - being interviewed on Sportsound last season and when asked about a decision he stated that he would like to ask the ref but he had locked himself away and wouldnt come out ! Another fair comment, but from a fan point of view, I would prefer to see things being transparent and if that includes a ref admitting they made a mistake from time to time i would see that as refreshing. I did enjoy the whistleblower site during its short existence as it showed some refs as being big enough men to admit to making errors ... maybe a little humility from some refs might go a long way. hindsight is a wonderful thing and even if scores cant be reversed or goals chalked off some things can be rectified after the fact (like bookings), and a ref doing it where they thought they may have got it wrong in the heat of the moment or from their angle, which saves clubs the £1000 appeal fee might mend some fences and lead to a better relationship... you then build on that in a collaborative manner and try to improve things for all. It doesnt have to be 'them and us', everyone has a stake in repairing the game and its image.

You can follow procedures and make a complaint to the SFA through the referee supervisor instead of through the press. And the end result? The SFA will side with the referees 99.999999% of the time, even if they think they are wrong. There seems to be something 'sacred' about referees and their reports. They are seldom held accountable for errors, and if proved to be incompetent - usually based on numerous media reports rather than the referee supervisors - are quietly dropped from the top tier or given lower league games. I know reffing is a hard job, and they are forced to make split second decisions without the benefit of TV replays, and from an angle of view that may be worse than most of the people watching from the sidelines so it is inevitable that they will make mistakes .... but I would just like to see them admit to an 'honest' mistake from time to time which would be much more palatable than their governing body always putting them on a pedestal as bastions of neutrality who never get things wrong. Given that their fees are now so high, I would also like to see them actually sit down with the two managers at the end of a game and have a full and frank discussion behind closed doors about any decisions where either manager wants clarification without the spectre of the manager being red carded in the referee's room. As it stands, the managers cant really speak freely as the ref can issue a card right up until they leave the stadium !!! As I mentioned before, I have experience of this as part of the IDAFA exec, and a member of our disciplinary committee, (as well as being mentioned in referee reports a couple of times!) I can think of more than one occasion where we had a referee's report one one hand, and the 'offending' player's account on the other both of which were completely different. One at least two occasions I can recall independent (or opposition) witnesses backing up the player's account rather than the referee's, and on one of those occasions it was a fellow committee member who sided with the player as he had been watching this game from the sideline, but on every occasion, we had to take the referee report as 'gospel' and sanction the player based on the recommended minimum punishments under SAFA guidelines, which are of course trickled down from the SFA .... One one occasion where we did not do that, and dismissed the case based on eyewitness reports, the decision was returned to us by the SAFA and we were told to find in the other direction and apply the 'recommended' sanction ....... (never quite got my head round how 'recommended' actually morphed into mandatory punishment, but thats another story).

Rule 68 ... what a crock of sh**. You cannot make a comment that suggests bias or incompetence .... !!! what if the feckers are biased or, as happens almost weekly, completely incompetent ?

Some interesting debate on this but the bottom line is that refereeing performances are getting worse, not just in Scotland, but nothing seems to be done to discipline or improve the referees. I think managers should have the right to comment on referee's performance as it can have a huge impact on games. The referee yesterday was hopeless, easily the worst I have seen at home this season but fortunately we won so not much comment on this from posters. Despite a very very poor performance, he walks off the park smiling, pockets more than a lot of the players and faces no comeback on his many poor decisions. Something has to be done on the standard of refereeing otherwise most managers will be sent to the stand.

The nicest story I ever heard about letting officialdom know of your displeasure relates to the great Yorkshire and England fast bowler Fred Truman. A forthright character and full of agression he was an intimidating figure. The story goes that one day he was bowling at his firey best on a helpful wicket when he got one to skip through low and hit the batsmen on the pad - plumb LBW. Truman turned to the umpire and gave him his usual loud, aggressive appeal. The umpire was unmoved and just slowly shook his head. Truman walked back to his mark giving the umpire a hard glare but says nothing. Fired up by the injustice he sends the next ball down short and fast. The batsman tries to fend the rising ball away but gets an edge which the keeper catches. Truman wheels round and appeals louder than ever, staring at the umpire. Again the umpire is unmoved and shakes his head. Again Truman glares at the umpire on his silent walk past. The next ball is faster still and the batsmen is completely beaten by the pace. The ball hits the wicket; the bails fly over the wicketkeeper's head and the middle stump is ripped out of the ground and goes cartwheeling over the grass. Truman turns and trudges back slowly, looking down at the pitch and shaking his head. As he passes the umpire he says "Nearly got t'bugger that time!" If Terry thinks referees make poor decisions then he is right to express his opinion. He just needs to be more careful as to the where and how he expresses those views.

At the end of the day it is "handbags" and it should be more about closer analysis of referees overall performances.

Jeez, Scotty, I have just been blinded by the colorful stuff at the bottom of the thread. What a nice job you do --- now I am off to click on both these links to see what the Mrs has been doing behind me back,,egad and forsooth, wonders never cease. It's all tricky dicky stuff in our family. No wonder sometimes older Scarlet disnae ken whit the richt haun is doing to the left leg. Never a dull moment .

However, when Neil Lennon complained, Celtic got more than their fair share of pens and dubious decisions. But at the same time so did Rangers. Dubious decisions tend to go the way of the loudest fans, hence why we get a whole lot fewer, and have less divers, sorry cheats.

Why have the sfa waited till now to say this? Could they not have done it last week? Then it would be over with by now and the threat of butcher missing the derby wouldn't be hanging over our fecking heads! It's a conspiracy I tell ya!

Its stupid .... referees are one of the most inconsistent parts of our game ... not just in Scotland, yet the football authorities treat them like they are beyond reproach. Like players, refs can have a bad day at the office too and (all) managers should be free to criticise. If the criticism is too harsh or slips into libel/slander, then refs have the same protection from defamation that we do ! Whatever happened to that referee feedback site (whistleblower?) where they were allowed to respond to criticism ? That was actually a good idea. It was the same in the amateur leagues as well, maybe even more harsh .... basically, if a referee report says one thing, and players and even independent witnesses say something completely different (as happened when I was on the disciplinary panel for the Inverness league), then we, as that panel were forced to accept the referee report as the truth by the SAFA (who get their rules from SFA). I even got a touchline ban for a month from the same committee I was a part of when I had the audacity to question a referee's eyesight and remonstrated with him on the sidelines ... getting 'sent to the stands' in the open fields of the the Bught Park is quite entertaining ... i just walked away from my team officials to another part of the park and continued shouting encouragement to the team as a member of the public on public land.The ref was livid