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I have just watched the game on Alba. I have not seen or watched a game fer weeks and I was expecting to come on here in a mega-critical manner. To me - that was encouraging - I thought that we edged the first half. We gave them two truly AWFUL goals - what the feck was Draper thinking. If you go 1-0 down early doors away to anybody it is an uphill struggle. 2-0 and you are fecked. And what the feck was Gary Warren feckin doing fer the second - that was a clearance by foot and he practically stumbled. I will head to the critique later but with a little rub of the green in the first half and a more precise final ball we could have been level at least. I did not see aimless possession in her own half - I saw patient build up most of the time against a very defence orientated Well side. At times I actually thought that we resorted to aimless hoofs too often We totally bossed the second half and the Mckay miss in added on time just summed up the nite. We could have won 6 or 7 - 2 fer fecks sake. We fought till the dying whistle and ya could see the togetherness and the spirit - encouraging to moi in itself. So let me be critical from a wholly personal persepective BRILL Simply does not float my boat. Is not commanding enuff and still feels like he could make mistakes on a regular basis. Plus he is too slow and too erratic in his distribution. RAVEN :smile: I don't think that he is 100% fit but he is a solid defender and can be a fairly accomplished wing back going forward TREMARCO A temporary cover fer me. A solid, rugged and reliable enuff defender but clueless going forward at the SPL level. I am convinced that opposition coaches ignore him going forward and that can cost us. DEVINE Again a squad player and nowhere near the pace and positioning of Meekings. Pretty reliant on Warren. WARREN :smile: :smile: Being asked to take on too much responsibility and misses pace recovery alongside him. DRAPER :smile: Again I like him but we need to decide what position he is more suited to. Pace wise he is a "hole in front of the defence" player but he appears to think himself of being an attacking midfielder. TANSEY :smile: If he is the playmaker which he appears to be he should be played in a system around that and him SHINNIE :smile: :smile: Best left sided wing back in Scotland fer me - and would be a shoe on cap if he played consistently in that position for a BIGGER team. If I was him I would move. if he chooses not to he is either that wing back or a left sided midfielder - not an emergency right back or a central midfielder WATKINS :smile: He played wide all the time and hugged the touchline. I think he suffers from the system but he will only get better DORAN :smile: Some fine touches and suits a roving role but can we stop him roving round the pie shops during the day. So much potential yet so much disregard for his body. Mckay :smile: Simply looks fecked and in need of a rest. But he will come good again but desperately needs support. CHRISTIE :smile: Great prospect and brought life to the team and the game when he came on. Really need to decide where we play him. To me he is an Andy Shinnie type player BUT Mckay and Christie do not equate. Tactically our defence was RIDICULOUSLY deep in the first half and you could have driven Terry Butchers ego through the middle in the first half. Now if Blobby Mann was in there we could play the cultured ball from the back BUT we do not have anything like a Blobby Mann. And we were far too square to boot. And the gap between defence and midfield in the first half was equally RIDICULOUS. If Hughes is looking at Barcelona it is not the possession aspect to me but it appears to be the concept of "total football". It appeared to me that he was looking fer Tansey, Draper, Shinnie and Doran to interchange and cover each other - It simply did not and will not work- that takes real structure, talent and experience - we aint got that. Go fer a compact but higher up the pitch defence - put a Busquet in front of it - or even a Russell feckin Duncan (who cos I don't think none of them suit that) - then we need the Ian Black type in central midfield beside them (I don't think any of them are suited to that either) - and then we have the Rankin type (that is Tansey - or perhaps Christie) and then we have the Cowie type (and that could be Watkins). Then we have the front two. Personally I would prefer a more traditional centre forward (Brewster / Ritchie) with a Dargo (Mckay) in support.

Just seen the 2nd half on Alba the now (can't believe I went and missed MOTD for it, ugh!) and if people are worried about tippy tappy football then thankfully Hughes seemed to abandon it. Don't think I saw more than 2 passes in succession. The standard was deplorable. Chronic to watch. Utter dire nonsense. I know football in Scotland has been getting steadily worse but that ranked on amateur. So many aimless stray balls. I see some comments above about sustained pressure but if that's the best we've offered for a while then I'm really worried at it was terrible fare. The recent County game was ok. But that. I'm just glad there's only 1 game left and I can focus that weekend on the last weekend of the Premiership even though tonight has effectively finished it off barring a West Ham surprise. So glad it's a word cup year. Can erase that from my mind watching Brazil and Germany (Not Spain, it'll bring back bad flash backs). Those of us at the game saw the team put up a tremendous fight in the second half! Did everything bar score again as the Beeb reports says on website. Thought we'd snatched a well deserved draw at the end when Billy's shot rolled back of the post. Of course English football is off a higher standard! Think of the money in the game there! Totally unrealistic comparison!

What game were you watching or are you yogis cousin lol Well his opinion comes from actually bring there! Can you say the same? Excellent second half display from us. Encouraging signs at last!

The day I fell in love with the club and what a dramatic day it turned out to be on and off the pitch. I had only been living in Caithness for 3 years and during that time me and my dad went to a few home games every season and if people think are attendances are bad now then this was horrific with say 50 people standing on the away terrace at most and maybe 1500 and no more in the home ends. That season things got better and better and I remember sitting at home with my sister and parents watching soccer Saturday and even though we were not die-hards to see Stevie Hislop's name come up on the videprinter sent our whole house wild. For the whole week i begged my dad to take us and we did but we didn't get tickets, his reasoning being that with the ground always usually empty it will be fuller but there would be tickets (have to say my dad is a fool). On the day of the match me and my sister put on our scarves that we recently bought from Hampden for the Semi Final with Dunfermiline. We left early and had MFR on the radio and i remember the two presenters were talking about the game and one asked the other "are you going to the game" and the other replied "no I couldn't get a ticket they were all sold out". We pulled in layby and i got so angry at my dad for being so naive to think that tickets would be available in the biggest game of the clubs history. We choose to carry on and there was no chance to get a ticket but we didn't miss out as all 4 of us plus maybe another 50 to 100 people all stood on the bridge side watching the game as cars tooted there horns at us. When the game ended we ran down and got into the stadium as the gates were opened and we watched as the trophy was held a loft. I wanted a season ticket but going to Aberdeen was to much to do but the very first full season back in inverness i got a season ticket and i have supported the club passionately ever since. Even though I was present much more on our return to the top flight in 09/10 (although i missed Ayr ) i will always remember that day best as the atmosphere was great and began my life as a proper Inverness Caledonian Thistle supporter

Really don't know what to make of that. After sitting through the Celtic game, which was a performance of quite unparalleled toothlessness, and the United game, where a promising first 20 minutes degenerated into aimless possession in our own half that invited pressure onto us, the first half tonight made it look like we were doomed to play like that forever. God knows who said what at half time, but the second half was a transformation. Consistent pressure in the Motherwell half, much more direct play (which is not necessarily a euphemism for long ball) and far more pace and effective off-the-ball movement about the side. Graeme Shinnie was at the heart of everything, and it looked like it just needed one player who was willing to take it on and the rest would follow. We were extremely unlucky not to take something out of the game. There's been a couple of false dawns in the past few months, but that second half was the most sustained period of dangerous attacking football we have played since Hughes took over, and if he can somehow keep the team playing like that from now on, and cut out the long periods of aimless possession in our own half that inevitably end up with the ball either going back to, or past, Brill, then I'll feel much more confident about next season. One thing tonight certainly suggested is that Shinnie must play in midfield from now on. Tremarco and Raven are very effective full backs, and we benefit far more from Shinnie's engine and drive in midfield. My last game of the season tonight, but hopefully the team can take it on from that second half and consolidate 5th place on Saturday; while Terry and Mo slither into the play-offs.

Freezing prices for the 4th (?) season in a row is fantastic. Any rise in prices runs the risk of reducing the number of tickets sold. Hopefully they get the same numbers as this season if not more given the League Cup run and people do as much as they can to encourage others to sign up rather than continue to look for negatives in everything like some people on this forum.

Ah the great idea of 10k+ seater stadia, where teams spent millions they never had to fulfil a criteria and end up with 60% of their seats empty every week, in the hope that they may have 4 sell outs per year when the OF came to visit and it would all look aesthetically pleasing on TV. Perhaps its worth considering the status of many of these clubs now who are still in huge debts and fighting at the lower leagues as they cannot sustain player wages due to still servicing the debt that 10k seater stadia created. At least now its based on what a club needs and can sustain - yes stadiums may not all look pretty like the Dnglish ones on TV, but at least ths clubs are striving to survive within their means and invest in the playing squad, would rather see the best quality squad on the park possible than sit somewhere nice watching dross. Just my view though.

From an Inverness perspective the game really summed up what's been frustrating for me this season. The first half I didn't think we played well at all, we sat far too deep and while we maintained possession we were unable to make any inroads into Motherwell. The penalty was the right decision, having seen it now on TV. Draper shouldn't have tried to see the ball out and ended up making a stupid tackle. The second goal was unfortunate for Warren but came from a corner after Motherwell attacked us in wide areas. There were a couple of occasions in the first half when we managed to get into decent positions but we never really got players in the box to support Mckay and a header from Keith Lasley was the closest we came. The second half was markedly different - it seemed as though Motherwell decided to sit back a bit, which happens naturally when you are defending a comfortable lead and that allowed us to take the initiative in the game. The primary reason for this was Graeme Shinnie, who was playing in midfield. He really drove our team forward, was always looking for the ball and, most importantly, was always positive, whether making attacking runs or using the ball. Shinnie really is a hell of a player and I'm beginning to think that we should play him in midfield all the time - Tremarco is good cover at full back and having Shinnie in the midfield makes our play so much more positive. Shinnie's goal was a little fortunate, he drove forward and his shot was deflected in. Following that though we put pressure on Well and managed to create a few chances - Mckay hit a shot wide, Tansey had several set pieces that tested the goalkeeper and Warren nearly put away a couple of headers. The main reason for our improvement was the fact that we pushed forward and played positively - if you are in the opposition half then every set piece is a chance and we can get goals from those, even when we aren't playing well. Right at the end Mckay's chance hit the inside of the post and rolled along the line, agonising stuff and I think we deserved a point for our second half efforts. Our best players were Shinnie and then I'd say Tansey and Tremarco had good games. We had a sparse support down but it was good to be at a game again, finally. The Motherwell pitch invasion was **** though Their section of fans in the 'Keep Cigarettes Away From The Match Stand' were in good voice, no Erasure songs though.

Going to Spain so Nick Ross can do some Andy Murray bulk training

I don't think we have the money or the time to do what Andy did for Nicky sadly Steve May did it himself when on loan at Alloa. Went to them like a pipe cleaner and came back like Stig of the Dump with muscles

I think the chant was actually "We are SPL" but it was indeed a memorable and significant moment. I would say that the majority of fans, or at least the ones being vocal on this forum, were dead against the idea of groundshare when it was first mooted (prior to us winning the league). There were lots of "stop this madness" threads, and people saying they'd rather support their local team in a lower league than have an SPL team playing in Aberdeen. But when the league title was won, that attitude seemed to instantly go away, and the doubters seemed to realise that having earned our place in the top flight we should at least have a crack at it. When we went up, even our own fans thought that, if we could stay up at all, we'd probably end up as one of those yo-yo sides at best. I doubt anyone would have expected that we'd be in the top flight for 9 of the next 10 seasons (make that 10 out of 11 now).

I was one of the 88 Caley fans there tonight at half time I was wondering why I bothered it was grim. Second half they redeamed themselves and nearly grabbed a point. On reflection I'm glad I went roll on Sunday.

I am worse than being an ersehole - I fear that I am turning in to a happy feckin clapper

No, you don't.

Is there not another thread with about 10,000 pages about this?

I noticed David Clarkson has just been released by Bristol Rovers, I think he'd be an excellent signing if we could get him up here.

Am i right in thinking that these stands were only meant as a temporary solution, with an expected lifespan of 10 years? time must be closing in on them?

Dont think we need to threaten Mantis. Doubt many will be there next time. Havent been kept back in for yonks now. Stewarding probably not quite as draconian as in the past but theres not doubt its the worst away day in the premiership. You will be missed at Celtic park -the whole 4 of you lol You bet we'll be missed Georgie Boy. Think how much the average IQ is gonna plummet.....

You will find various supporters clubs in Inverness but sadly none are ICT? Not sure you could class Caleyjagsforever a supporters club to be honest but I will apologise if that's how they see themselves We have like most towns and cities in Scotland both Orc and Septics but also County,Aberdeen,Manchester Utd even f****** Dundee Draw your conclusions from that but it's a sorry indictment on Invernessians Dougal

I'd like to see him play more whatever we may make of his attributes. Contrary to how recent comments may come across I've always been a fan. Yes he's inconsistent, but then he rarely gets a good long run in the team. For his to improve his game he needs to play, and if Hughes is hell bent on his passing game, Ross arguably has the best ball retention of the lot. Yes he'll get shrugged of the ball at times (so will Christie, Mckay, Dorans) but he'll also not misplace as many passes and play incisive probing balls for others to attack. And he is still young, he can still improve a lot. And in time develop his game to deal with stronger players and the brutes/bullies of the game.

As the broker of that bet, I can confirm that this was the case (and you are also correct that it was "We are SPL" - my memory was defective there). The bet was back around 1997/98. At full time one Saturday, when Off The Ball was on air at the time, Dougie asked me if I could arrange to get him on to the programme to challenge Tam. The producer was more than delighted to have him on and the bet was £500 to a pie that ICT would be in the SPL within 10 years of starting in the SFL - ie by 2004. Dougie duly won but as far as I know the bet has never been honoured. Strangely enough I did an article for the Motherwell programme on the rise of Highland football for ICT's visit there a few weeks ago and related that particular anecdote. I went out of my way to thank Tam for that small extra incentive to succeed!

You can "demand" as much as you like, but as you prefer to explode in public please tell everyone else how many times you have actually complained about a post in the normal manner that everyone else does ... ie by reporting it. No? Its a simple answer. NONE. The last time you didn't complain, a mod actually spotted a comment and did it on your behalf. We removed the post and banned the other person from the thread. So you are going to let IHE get off, nice work, he is just going to post more abuse, how can he get away with that ffs and I don't keep my PMs, I delete them after reading them. I am actually disgusted at this action re IHE!! Scarlet isn't letting anyone off. What do you expect him to do as a member of the site just like you? He is not a mod and cannot react to your demands for a ban. I ask again - How many times have you used the mechanism that has been in place on the site for nearly 20 years - regardless of which software we have used at the time - to make your complaint ? If the answer is "less than 1" then you do not have any cause for complaint. Really ? You really are pathetic IMO should we let you away with this in the same way as IHE ... after all he has not complained either (never does actually - he dishes it out and takes it in equal measure). Nothing wrong with this post from Davie, but as you clearly have a specific opinion about those who own and/or operate this site from myself to the mods and to posters who have been around for the 20 years we have been in existence, then it seems fitting that the last word on your comments go to someone who is just a "normal" poster like yourself. I am going to make a final comment on this thread about the "abuse" and "topic hijacking" that seems to becoming prevalent from a number of posters on multiple threads. It is directed at no-one in particular and everyone in general. I am sick of it and I dont have time or inclination to be a babysitter to grown adults (or near adults in some cases) who cant or wont behave when they get behind a keyboard. My 9 month old kid is better behaved than this. My tolerance level for all the bullshit being displayed in the recent weeks is now close to zero and as we approach the 'silly season' with no games and (traditionally) much more antagonism shown, I will be asking the moderators to deal with people who drag threads away from the topic in question for their own petty squabbles. If you hijack a topic - you are going to get banned from it. simple. Topic "drift" is inevitable, but hijacking. not acceptable. If you hijack multiple topics - you are going to get "post moderation". simple If you get reinstated and go back to the old behaviour - you are gone from the site. simple. If you "abuse" other posters and we receive and uphold a complaint you will get warning points appropriate to the incident. This may include banning from threads or post moderation. If you repeat the same behaviour and we receive and uphold more complaints you may end up banned (permanent). if you cause the operators of the site too much work for no good reason you may end up banned (permanent). Banning is our last resort and contrary to popular belief of some we don't do a lot of it. We will remove or restrict privileges on accounts first and only ban as a last resort. I don't have the time to mollycoddle sensitive souls or act as some sort of counsellor. Cause us grief or waste our time and you are gone. All the users on this site and the volunteers who act as mods have far more important things to occupy thier time than the current level of bullshit.

I was at the match too and was reasonably satisfied with the progress being shown. I can cope with passing around at the back so long as there are no hospital passes and we keep possession with the view to eventually getting it forward. In the second half we showed more urgency in going forward - I believe we pegged Motherwell back, not that they sat in. The interesting perspective was overhearing the comments from the Motherwell fans on the way out - most of them were grumbling about their teams performance and quite a few of them came up to us and said we were unlucky not to at least get a draw and possibly merited a win.

I can't make the game unfortunately. Might be in the Killie end on Saturday for giggles tho! I hope it's one of the 5 pointers that win for the obvious reasons.

Was in today's highland news that we are staying within Scotland with the possibility of two glamour home ties against English opposition.

Yes, I know exactly what's going to happen...your bum will be getting its first feel of the South Stand on Sunday!! LOL! Joking aside, this competition is wide open. Beastie in 'pole position' with the correct total as it stands....but as soon as the whistle goes, the 'in-play' leadership goes to Yngwie! If we take the lead then Beastie needs a two goal swing -and if St Johnstone strike first the 'five-pointers' need a two-goal swing. Meanwhile, Yngwie awaits just a single-goal swing regardless of who nets first. He's my favourite for this! Avoiding defeat in this game is important for us - an extra £82,000, 5th place and into the last 16 of the League Cup - it's no 'end of season' game by any means!

OK, let me replace the word "bounce" with "change in fortunes".

Got this pic of the kids with hizzie after game, what a day!!!

Permanent smile since Christmas then, give the guy a break FFS.

Nick Ross offers something different to what has been proved lately to be a very pedestrian side. Agree not everybody's ideal player and can dissappear for periods of the game but still one of our most naturally talented players. For some reason he is the one left out after another dreadful team performance whereas equally inconsistent players such as Vincent, Doran etc are guaranteed starting slots. As for the bullshit about bulking up, what generation of football are you in?

Mahonio don't go. I love your posts. When things are not going well football wise, you always make me smile.

Our run of 2 wins in 14 games runs from 1st March to 7 May, inclusive. You're correct in presuming only Hibs have won fewer games in that period. Partick Thistle, Ross County and Kilmarnock have 3 wins each in that time-frame.

Sums up my 'Hughes is Clueless' post Jagster...............I just really can't be ersed making a full blown case, it's all being said elsewhere but will it make any difference before we're dragged deep into the mire next season.

Although I would agree that mahonio maybe doesn't say things the way that others might like I would like to say in his defence that it sounds as if he is really passionate about Ict and after another defeat (2 wins in 14 under Hughes) he is obviously really upset and it is really easy to say the wrong things . Hopefully he can come back a bit calmer because I enjoy reading the posts from everyone both positive and negative re the wins under Hughes has anyone other than hibs had less wins in the same period

Sorry for posting on Mahonio's "Why does everybody hate me?" thread. Is it all right to talk about the Motherwell game on here? I watched it on catch up in the wee small hours, without knowing the score. Nearly switched off after 5 mins after seeing Draper's horror show for first goal. No quibble with the penalty but plenty with Draper for fiddling around in the six yard box when he had plenty time to hoof a clearance up the park. But of course, that is not allowed in our new system...... Warren's og was a shocker too. When in no immediate trouble, he suddenly produces a diving header to bullet the ball from about a foot off the ground into the top of our net. Maybe he'd forgotten which way we were shooting! Apart from that he had a good game. We had quite a lot of possession first half, but mostly the tippy tappy sideways and backwards stuff in our own half. Second half was a bit better, still with a lot of possession, but a bit more purposeful. Shinnie was magnificent, even if I thought his goal should have been saved. It was not the strongest of shots with his right foot. However, richly deserved all the same. We played a bit more direct towards the end, and looked stronger for it. Mckay did really well to get his shot in at the death, and was really unlucky for it to have hit the post. A draw would have been fairer, and had this game been nearer the start of Hughes' reign, I dare say folks would have been more tolerant of his system and tactics than they are now, coming as it does after a string of poor results. But, hey ho, onwards and upwards, the cricket season is upon us!

Wouldn't it be ironic if Butcher had to battle Falkirk again to avoid relegation. He has a 100% failure record in doing so.

First half we, well we payed the price for giving away a sloppy penalty and we were in the back foot for the rest of the first half but in the second it was like a whole different match we dominated then all over the pitch and Willie Gollum actually gave us some 50-50's. If anyone thinks we deserve to lose or blames someone for the lose they you are talking out your arses cause it was not Yogi who scored the OG or give away a bad penalty. Give it up after pre-season all the Yogi Outer's will be gone cause we will be winning

SP is a old Canadian ersehole and most of the moderators on here - at times - can also be erseholes. That is not abuse it is merely a vote of togetherness, of paternal protectiveness and wise old man advice to a young, enthusiastic yet impulsive and overly sensitive maturing ersehole.

Watched the game on alba and took to counting our first half passing /possession because it was unspectacular with passing across our own 18 yard box the norm. 5-8 passes then to brill and a hoof up for a well header or mis-pass. (maybe didn't help I already knew score). 2nd half much better and possession was still neat, tidy and a little more urgent. We looked the part of a good footy team if maybe still lacking that consistent killer end product for chance creation. JH 23 points from 23 games so far.By my reckoning if we cut out the celtic spankings a season of games could yield 38 points and 7th place next season. I'll take that now with a cup thrown in too. I've sat through worse in the cold and rain under TB tenure so think I'll stick with it.

A born failure? The man was a good player in his day and now manages a team in the top six of Scottish football. I'm sure he'd give it all up for a big winner job like washing dishes or pulling pints at a golf course club house!

No, you don't. It is posts like this that are driving me away from this forum now **** OFF FFS!!

Hughes neither scored an own goal, nor gave away a penalty and by all accounts our second half display was tremendous. Your dispaly on the other hand (and this is NOT personal abuse) is becoming increasingly tiresome. Please give at least some rationale behind what you contend rather than simply rant.

Im buying The Winchester, looking to hire a hot bar maid and bounder...applicants welcome

Barcelona like to go 2 nil down through a penalty and an OG in the first half as that's how the game should be played.

Did you watch it in a byre ?

When exactly was it? Exactly between the 499th goal and the 501st goal, if I remember correctly.

Agreed to the good point that you dont need to be a tank to be in top flight football if your technique can do the talking. He does indeed need to learn to roll challenges off him or swerve them, and when he cant, to draw the foul. He always strikes me as trying to stay on his feet, and while admirable, earns him nothing. Still can't help but compare him to a set of pipe cleaners. Would be ideal playing behind the striker, as Christie should too, but neither can start every game so it's up to the manager who starts what. Both have different attributes. Both can play left if Watkins or Doran are out. Just depends on where you play Vincent really also.

I've got it! Davide Xausa!

Would just like to see them shifted 10 m closer to the pitch and for the gradient of the seating increased by about 30 degrees so that the view and atmosphere is improved substantially!

Seemingly this is very close to what Killie are having next season (they're going to have Errea too). Wonder if ours will be a red and blue version? Might look quite smart actually!