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This thread will come to a natural end if or when the team on the park begin to entertain and enjoy success again. Should that happen then I doubt anyone will be interested in continuing to post on the thread. In the meantime, I think it is bordering on outrageous that those who don't seem to have reservations about the manager want to censor debate by calling for the thread to be closed. It seems to me that those who have doubts about the manager, while arguing their position, are generally respectful of the views of those who don't. On the other hand, many of those who believe Hughes is doing a good job seem to be intolerant of the opposing view even being voiced and describe reasoned and considered counter argument as vitriol simply on the basis that it does not accord with their own view. There are a range of views among fans but there are no sides or factionalism other than in the minds of those who will brook no opinion other than their own. If anyone is offended by the mere existence of this thread the simple remedy for them is to ignore it at let the rest of us get on with debating what we each sincerely believe to be in the best interests of our club.

Caleyboy if you don't want to see this thread stop looking at it!simples.

You posted an article and took the opportunity to have a little dig at those who have, as you put it, "certain views". My response was simply to point out that those who disagree with those views have also not commented on the article. I have in no way, shape or form defended anyone holding a particular view point. You have then come back and commented on my innocent reply as "just another example of the lack of logic in the manufactured and error strewn "facts" perpetuating from certain people." That's a pretty strongly worded and wholly unjustified attack to which I responded briefly and light heartedly. You have now responded in a way that fair takes the breath away with it's vitriol and rant about things which seem to be completely unrelated to the post you are responding to. "Lazy, spuriously dismissive", not giving "any real thought", talk of things being "branded a lie". Where on earth do you dig up all that from in response to my innocent little observation? And what is all this about the "opposition"? I wasn't aware there were two sides - if there are, can you please tell me what they are and which side you think I'm on. I thought we all wanted what is best for ICT but simply have a wide spectrum of views on how that might be achieved.

Are there really people who think that because certain people didn't want Hughes and/or have reservations about him, they're secretly desperate for him to fail?! Jesus Christ!

I think that some have become to cosy because they happen to have some involvement with the club that that they would never criticise the board/management no matter how bad things might get.

Insightful article in today's Inverness Courier with Marley talking about Russell : http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Watkins-hails-Latapy-impact-14042014.htm

OK, you've had a good look at the post split fixtures, figured that Celtic will be playing kids, Aberdeen will think they're home and hosed, United and Saints will have several eyes on the Final and the Well will be, well...who knows what they are thinking. So how many points out of the 15 available will ICT end up with? As a wee incentive I'll try to dig up the signed copy I have of Steve Paterson's jaw-dropping autobiography as a prize*. Just post on this thread the number of points you think we'll gain over 5 matches and may the best post-split predictor win. Post before the Aberdeen game kicks off please. * I do have this book so this is a genuine prize if the winner doesn't already own a signed copy. In the event of a tie the person who hasn't read it will get it...or a name will be pulled from a hat...or something, crivvens man, it's just a bit of fun...!

ICT TRAVEL CLUB INFORMATION BOOKING NUMBER - 07951 309 504 AWAY GAMES - MAY 2014 versus MOTHERWELL - WEDNESDAY 7th MAY 2014 (KO 7:45PM) Departure 3.15 PM - ICT Social Club (Greig St) 3.30 PM - Stadium Bus Cost £15 per person Match Ticket Info Adults £22 Concessions (O60s / FT Students) £15 Juveniles (U16) £12 Family (1 Adult & 1 Juv) £28 Additional Details TBC Comments Please call or text the travel line number ASAP if you wish to travel, transport will run only if there is sufficient demand. ADDITIONAL INFO Additional Pick Ups and Drop Offs We are happy to pick up and drop off fans who are on the route to games. Unfortunately due to the tight margins which we operate on travel costs we are unable to provide discounts for shorter/one way travel. IMPORTANT: Can those who book seats and subsequently change their minds about travelling please ensure they call to cancel their booking. We have unfortunately not been able to take bookings for people intending to travel as we believed we were full and then had no shows on the day of travel. Not only does this cost us money, but it is also denying fellow fans the opportunity to use the services we provide. Thank You.

Foran, Shinnie and probably Pepper are out for this one, so I'd go with: Brill Raven Warren© Meekings Tremarco Tansey Draper Doran Christie Watkins Mckay Subs - Esson, Vincent, Williams, Ross, Devine, Polworth, Evans

I do hope that the awayday travel is advertised fully, over the loudspeakers on Friday evening, umpteen times, to encourage fans to book to go to the Celtic game. Advertising the bus, the reduced cost of entry, surely should encourage enough fans to fill at least one bus. Come on you ICT fans, show the team your encouragement.

I can't agree more, the result against County was fantastic but going by Hughes previous statements it was not played in the manner that he likes his teams to play. I want him to succeed and hope he has leant his lesson from the County game but I am not so sure.

Or, indeed, make up their own mind based on the drop from clear second with games in hand to 5th, playing players out of position and not to the best of their ability. Something that mirrors Yogi's previous managerial appointments. Where is your evidence that the likes of Renegade, RiG, Kingsmills or DoofersDad, for instance, can't come to a conclusion based on what they see? As for me, I've blogged about Yogi's failings (that are already evident so soon) before he even came to ICT. That is simply an offensive statement. Honest, perhaps, but good??? As for deride anything Yogi does, I think you'll find he got supported, even by his critics, for switching from his disastrous total football to fast-paced wing-play at Ross County. John Hughes will succeed or fail off his own back. To think a few posters will change anything grants this forum too much power. Who is running scared? Which poster wants ICT to fail? Absolutely no-one. Because I think he will. I'd love to be proved wrong but, this time next year, I'm convinced we will be saying 'why did we ever take him on?' I'm quite happy not to keep saying this but the pro-Hughes camp keep posting, often in a quite nasty manner. If Brewster came back, I'd want him to succeed too. Doesn't mean that he will. And there's nothing wrong with pointing that out. If you say you want what is best for the club, why do you keep supporting a poor manager that will drag us down? Simple. You don't have the same opinion as me. The only difference is I don't mind you having an opinion, even though I'm convinced you're wrong.

I have booked my seat on buses to both games - come on people get booking.

What 'views' are we talking about? That some, including me, don't think that Hughes is the man for the job based on results and past history? I still hope I'm wrong. There is no conspiracy. I also don't expect Yogi to be sacked. Even if we're rock bottom at Xmas, I suspect the Board will strongly hesitate. Doesn't stop me (and everyone else) having a view if that's right or wrong. How many can honestly say that they weren't shouting for Brewster to go before the week that he did? It's not disloyal or a conspiracy, just an opinion. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong but we haven't been infiltrtated by a load of Hearts supporters that simply hate Hughes. I quite like the guy. Just not as a manager. Warren might well enjoy training and playing under Hughes. The question is: can Warren play total football? I just can't see it. Results also suggest he can't. Maybe he needs time to develop into an Alan Hansen but I doubt it. He looks more like a Terry Butcher or a John Hughes type of player to me. And that's no bad thing. It's some bizarre argument that those who are worried about Yogi are somehow football inepts. Most of the talk is about tactics, after all. Practical suggestions on how the team should be going forward have been put time and time again. It's not a case of knocking or being dismissive at all. If I was being cynical, I'd say that was being overlooked because it didn't fit with certain views...!!! Do I think ICT will improve with Hughes at the helm? No. Do you? Whatever the answer, I'm sure it's based upon what's best for the club, even if you disagree with me. And all views should be treated as such, instead of this vitriol.

CaleyKidsTogether

Junior Jaggies

Some photos of Murd Urquhart from his Inverness Thistle days....

I think what Roughi has done is to say whether the home or away team will win, but without actually saying who the home team actually is for any of the fixtures. On that basis he does get to 10 points, but in a very unclear and confusing way.

Shamefully extracted from Today's Courier but I thought it may be of interest to some and several of those who frequent this site of an older generation and/or overseas. An article on Murd Urquhart the Inverness Thistle stalwart who passed away recently at the age of 80. Will always be fondly remembered for his passion for Inverness Thistle and later ICT....

That's 13 points...... Yeah, getting 4 home games is a real bonus

Whilst mathematically possible we all know top 3 isn't going to happen. Even if we win all 5 games, we need Motherwell to get a maximum of only 7 points from their 5 games. In addition, our current form is currently the poorest of the top 6. Whatever we do, a top 3 finish is entirely in the hands of others. Much as I would love a little european adventure (even if it did hit the club's finances) I think it is time to cut our losses for this season and start thinking about next with Europe in mind. As I say, I would love a European adventure and in my view, next season gives us the best chance we will ever have. There will be no Rangers and no Hearts to compete with, Hibs are rebuilding and are unlikely to be a threat next season but will return stronger in time. On the other hand, we have our best squad ever and a settled one at that. We may never have a better opportunity for a top 3 finish other than these last 2 seasons when, for various reasons, we have let it slip. If we are going to have success next season it will be vital to get off to a flier and not spend the first round of matches experimenting with systems. By the start of next season we need to have found the right balance between the abilities of the players we have and the manager's philosophy for the way he wants the game to be played. Rather than focus on trying to attain the unattainable this season I think we would be better to use the opportunity of highly competeive matches against good quality opposition to devlop the playing style for next season.

Some won't have seen it, but it really is pretty standard player toeing the party line sort of stuff. It has, of course, also been ignored by folk opposed to those with "certain views"! "Togetherness" has broken out again and it appears everyone sees the article for what it is and sees no point on commenting on it.

Aberdeen have conceded less than a goal per game so what makes you say their defence is a weak point and is easily ripped apart ? What a ridiculous post .

None. It's not left yet.

I very much doubt he was punched twice in the face before defending himself , if that was the case don't you think the aggressor would have been charged and not Richie ? You must have missed the bit in the report that said CCTV footage backed up what he said.

Amazed that some people think that just because you pull on a football shirt you are immune to any sort of human reactions. If somebody punched me twice in the face I would retaliate if nothing more to make sure they don't land a 3rd blow.

Yeh looks as if some local neds of unspesified football loyalty themselves have decided to have a go at a couple of well known lads from the Republic of Ireland. I think Ritchie has been very restreined in this incident which would never have happened had it not been for these neds hellbent on provoking and asaulting Ritchie. Its the neds who should have been arested not Ritchie.

According to the JP: "I am of the view that you were intimidated and hit back." whilst according to defence (and not disputed by the sound of it): "He was punched twice in the face and he reacted to that. CCTV pictures clearly show his head recoiling back from one blow." Reading the whole story as reported (on more than one website) it sounds like there was a bit of hassle, with some neds winding Foran and Doran up after a night out because they were Irish and/or ICT players. Foran tried to walk away initially but these guys persisted and - as apparently shown on CCTV - struck the first few blows. We all know Richie is no shrinking violet so he appears to have done what many of us would do, especially after a few beers, and hit back (defended himself). the only stupid part seems to be the hiding under the car and that seems to have been dealt with by way of a plea agreement ... plead guilty to the fight and the crown will accept not guilty to the rest. As for him setting a bad example? I have no problem with him turning the other cheek and trying to walk away from trouble, and by the same token, when trouble is inevitable, I have no problem with him defending himself ..... shouldn't have gone looking for that pound coin he dropped just as the cops were about to arrest him though.

Yeah - like your choice of Scotch; too narrow! Much better going for a more expansive Highland malt...

Final two away games of the season are now up and open for booking, please contact the travel line ASAP if you want to go as buses will only be run if there is sufficient demand. Cheers.

Alex... four paragraphs above... some comments/questions regarding each...... 1 - I do take it this was also translated into Gaelic? How many other public documents other than "the vision" are translated into all these languages? 2 - Of course there's been a delaying tactic! Salmond (mistakenly) thought that as time went by, people would come flocking to his side. He also couldn't resist both himself and his pet vanity project being in the limelight for as long as possible. And of course there's a Bannockburn factor because far too many people in the SNP thrive on this blend of romantic claptrap and grievance-based rubbish which is their chosen take on Scottish history. Of course they expected loads of people to start feeling all tartanny and blue faced as they pinned on their spider lapel badges and headed for Bannockburn a few weeks before the vote. But the reality is that they've had to cancel a chunk of the Bannockburn celebrations (sic) because hardly anybody gives a toss. It just goes to show what a pathetic, superficial, caricature perception of Scottishness far too many of these Nats actually have. 3 - If it is going to be publicly funded then it would have cost a lot less if it didn't have the verbose SNP manifesto/ wishlist as a substantial part of it. 4 - I know the SNP are keen on dear booze... but ten quid a pint is just ridiculous! So you mean that in the event of a yes vote we're not even going to be able to afford to anaesthetise ourselves to the consequences with a few bevvies Really the "let's be like Norway" claim is quite absurd.... especially since it's only a Plan B after the Ireland and Iceland "arc of prosperity" went t!tsup. But hang on..... you guys don't do Plan B's