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The whole point of the possession game is to physically and mentally tire your opponents as they're pulled from pillar to post trying to win the ball back. It doesn't work if the opposition sit back and let you knock it around in front of them. Particks defensive players won't have a much easier afternoon than they did today. We didn't stretch them at all. To quote one of the tactical masterminds of 'tiki taka', Johan Cruyff, "When you get the ball, you make the pitch big. When you lose the ball, you make the pitch small." We're doing the opposite! When we start a move everyone drops deep and runs back towards the man in possession. Our shape is too compact and narrow. There's a chronic lack of space, movement or options for the man on the ball. Little wonder our moves go nowhere and precious few chances are created. At times today our half was more congested than the proverbial 'Sauchiehall Street on a Saturday night'. Hardly a recipe for free flowing football or individual flair. The players are grafting hard but the gameplan isn't working. All in all a dreadful game of football.

Surely this evidence tends to suggest that we do have the players to match the better teams in the league, but are tactically inept against the poorer sides.

Here are some more stats to add into the mix, inspired by this comment from the Partick thread. Here are our points out of the possible achievable against each team so far: Celtic 0/6 Aberdeen 4/6 Hearts 3/3 County 6/6 St J 1/6 Dundee 2/6 Partick 2/9 Motherwell 3/6 Hamilton 3/6 Killie 3/9 D Utd 2/6 Now, splitting this into performance v Top6 and Bottom 6: Top 6: 14/27, achieving a very credible 52% of points available Bottom 6: 15/42, a mere 36%. This would appear pretty consistent with what PerfICT shows earlier in this thread, whereby the more possession we have, the fewer goals we score and the less likely we are to win. It also reiterates the importance of getting into the top 6, because given our apparent inability to beat the poorer sides, 5 post-split games against those sides and you can see how we might easily slip into serious relegation contention - unless something changes or we adapt our tactics against weaker sides. Hmm.

Cant be the green brigade - there were no spelling errors !

Yes I'm pretty sure Don said the same about both clubs a while back. Not wanting to miss out on a bargain I left my season ticked book at home and paid a fiver to get in.

I actually see where Bughtmaster is coming from as many times when I have heard Barry Wilson (one of my all time faves) on the radio he does seem rather negative towards us about crowd size etc and rarely seems to promote us. Maybe with his business being in Dingwall he's being a bit cagey. Though there wasn't a lot to be positive about on Saturday unless you were one of the half time draw winners

Instead of neg repping my post I would be interested to know why certain posters seem to think Devine has 'acquitted himself well' this season. He has been culpable of errors resulting in goals on something like six or seven separate occasions this season through the concession of penalties, losing his man or giving the ball away. He is not good enough for the first eleven and that has been shown in the vast majority of games this season sadly.

I think I agree, we seem to be able to sit in and keep possession deep letting team play infront of us, but when we have to step up against teams who sit in we lack a cutting edge or creativity to open them up. When the 'better' teams come to us they try to go for the 3 points where as the 'poorer' teams tend to be more defensive and dont want to loose - with our lack of width, no overlapping runs and slow approach play its easier for them to stiffle us and hit us on the break, where thats what we tend to do against attacking teams.

Nothing ironic in it all. Quite the opposite. These are two very different kind of issues. It is perhaps strange that the club is very reluctant to release certain information which one might think should be in the public domain, whilst the manager makes public criticisms of players which should best be kept behind closed doors.

We started very brightly and a lot more positive than normal and I was thinking that we could be in for a really decent game of football. Then when we didn't get anything from that early pressure we steadily reverted to the more usual negative approach to the game. There was a bit of ambition in the last 10 minutes but by then I was resigned to the view that if we could hold on for a draw, it be more than the performance as a whole deserved. Hughes talks about looking for a player in the transfer window "to unlock the door and come up with a bit of magic". That sounds fine, but his actions and tactics seem to reduce the chances of anyone we currently have unlocking the door. Having Williams freed up from left back duties should allow him to play a freer more attacking role but it just doesn't happen. Time and time again when he does receive the ball wide, he steps inside and plays the ball across the park or backwards. He should be taking players on, getting behind the defence and getting balls into the box. We used to regularly enjoy the sight of the full backs steaming down the flanks to link up with the midfield on the overlap but that is now a rare, late in the game, chasing the game tactic. Last week after Mutombo's excellent performance Hughes criticised him for show-boating. Yesterday when several players were not contributing much to our attacking play, he left Roberts, Foran and Sutherland on the bench rather than mixing it up a bit. It is all so depressingly negative. What really frustrates me is these tactics might be OK in a team that lacked skill and flair but we have players who do have skill and flair. This skill and flair is being consistently stifled. The lovely team goal Vigurs scored against Stirling was a great example of what we are capable of when we get the ball wide and move the ball with pace. But how often do we do that? Time and time when the ball is moved wide and we see the space in front, our brief pang of anticipation of a break down the wing is stifled by a foot on the ball, check back and pass back inside again. We should be playing to our strengths but instead our play is dictated by a philosophy that wants to pass the ball through the middle of the park. It isn't working and it's boring.

A pie and a bovril is very much part of the matchday experience and it has been for generations of fans and long may it continue. Doesn't surprise me the likes of Bannerman can't get his head round it but when your munching your way through free sandwiches and guzzling cappuccinos he never will Our neighbours seem to have the right idea using a local baker for their pies, you only have to look at threads on P&B to see how highly they are rated by away fans travelling north Dougal

Could it be that, although nobody can or would want to deny his successes, he is not infallible and is prone to some significant and sometimes costly misjudgements ?

I was speaking to a Partick fan earlier. He went up to the match because it was pay what you can. He said he paid a fiver to get in and wouldn't have gone if it hadn't been pay what you can. He said other Partick fans were paying 10/15/20 quid. I took a season book this year to help the club - especially in the hope of seeing replacements for Shinnie and Watkins (a tall order). However I won't be renewing next year as I've barely made it to a match. I can't justify spending £300 on a season book I've barely been able to use. I wish the clubs would approach Scotrail to see if they could introduce supporters services. For example, for the match against Hearts next week, people travelling from Edinburgh Waverley would either have to catch the 0633 service or the 0833 to make it to the stadium on time. Coupled with the fact that it's £52 return, it's not feasible on top of paying £20+ for a match ticket. The implications of fixtures being televised is also a major headache. ICTFC fans who live in other cities have to plan travel in advance but it's difficult to do this when fixtures can be altered only 6 weeks before the original date. Could the clubs thrash out which games they want before the start of the season and then publish the fixture list? Lowering the price for all fans (home and away) for televised matches would also be good. Hypothetically, let's say we have 19 Premiership home matches. 5 are shown on BT Sport / Sky Sports and they have been selected before the season starts. (Working on the basis we get rid of the split at the end.) Season ticket (adult, North stand): 14 untelevised matches at £18 each = £252 5 televised matches at £8 each = £40 Total of £292 Non-season ticket prices could be set at £20 (untelevised) and £10 (televised). I'd follow Partick's example of U16s go free. I'm unsure if pay what you can is effective or sustainable. I heard someone paid 7p to get into the home end yesterday. From my perspective, knowing the prices for match tickets in advance would be a big help. There appears to be simple solutions to combat falling crowd numbers but nobody seems to be bothered about doing anything.

Our most consistent, reliable performer has been Danny Williams IMO. No-one works harder. An unsung hero IMO. Should be the first name on the team sheet.

You know you're living in strange times when Inverness literally play like Man Utd - and get booed off the park. Who'd have predicted that 3 years ago?

To pick a best performer is difficult as nobody has been consistent to date, due to injuries or just poor form. Warren since return from injury has been solid at the back and Fon Williams has performed well although is still think his distribution is questionaable - long punts loosing possession regularly needs improvement. I think Danny Williams has done ok in the roles he is given, but do feel he would give more further up the field and playing him at LB is stiffiling what he can contribute. Tansey has found form and in some games if you watch his passing its pin point across field whit accuracy that would be lauded if he was at a bigger club, but he started poorly this season, as did Draper. Polworth is the most improved and has been getting better but still needs to work on his control, distribution and consistency. Storey has worked tirelessly up front and over the last few weeks has become a more isolated figure than ever as we seem to be getting more and more negative in play. On balance its between OFW, Storey & Tansey so far, but whats easier is the list of those who need to really up their game.

If these outlets are franchised out the club get a lump sum upfront and have no control over price, quality or delivery. if the price and quality is to improve the club need to run the outlets !

Whilst Storey is a great find he is not an out and out striker as he obviously likes going wide. If Fisher had come through perhaps that triumvirate of storey wide ,fisher through the centre and Vincent coming from deep would have worked but yet again this season injuries dictate the set up and shape .Hughes does not have the choice! Looks like another striker needed before the end of the month failing which it is a bottom 6 but hopefully well clear of relegation !

Cannot disagree that the game was poor but............. we scorned 3 gilt edged chances, Storey, Draper and Polworth. Had the first two been scored, this would have been a different game. Goals change games and we need to score first and get the team playing more confidently. That is the difference from the County game where we scored 2 goals and the football was better so yesterday could have been so different had we got one of these chances. Partick came for a draw, no doubt of that and tried to make us play through them which we could not do. We did have width with both Mutumbo and Storey providing it and Raven/Tremarco as well at times. The player we are really missing at the moment is Vincent as I think he compliments Storey well and we look much better when he plays. Some of the postings on the game are, as usual over the top, we had a bad day at the office yesrerday, but let's get over it and support the team against Hearts. So many ficklefans on this site. Finally, and this had little bearing on the game, I thought the referee and stand side linesman were amongst the worst I have seen. Linesman seemed unable to make a decision and when he did, invariably got it wrong. Referee was simply dreadful missing so many blatant fouls, or simply saying they were not fouls when the clearly well. Storey in particular was being fouled every time he challenged for the ball yet the defender was rarely penalised. The referee also got some decisions wrong for Partick as well so at least he was consistent. Booking for Vigurs was shocking as either Osman or Amoo totally conned the ref for the booking. Some of the antics of the Partick players was very poor as they seemed to be hit by snipers at times the way they went down. A worrying trend in football as Stirling Albion players did the very same on Tuesday and generally the referee fell for it.

Between Miles Storey and Liam Polworth for me. Tansey was really poor at the start of the season and hasn't been anywhere near his best. Literally every other player has been injured/inconsistent, hence the underwhelming season so far. Danny Williams has probably been the most consistent alongside OFW but neither have been anything spectacular.

Bughtmaster - I have to laugh at ur usual dig at former players - i.e. Barry Wilson & Ryan Christie. Barry was spot on today as that was absolutely dreadful fare and simply not acceptable for a team aspiring to finish in the top six .As an ICT fan from day one I would have loved to have Wilson in the team today. As for your disparaging comments regarding Christie it is quite pathetic that you don't wish a young man who did our club proud in his time with us all the best! You seem to have an awful lot to say on many matters - you must have played/coached at a very high level or are you just another who has much to say with little football experience to support your 'gifted' opinions!!

With the display on the park v PT the Club should have been paying us to watch it. Another 94 minutes of torture.

Perhaps, I had a Chicken Balti pie and it was Baltic in the stand.

I was also searched at that Derby game in Dingwall, in fact everyone at that game was searched. But today what I witnessed was different!. It appeared the younger Caley fans were singled out by the stewards. I hope I'm wrong because anything that could make our future supporters feel unwelcome can't be a good thing. I agree with IBM that the singing section's enthusiastic chanting/drumming should be applauded for the positive atmosphere they create. Keep it up lads!!!

I would have put it at around the 3,000 mark, even less for a full price match in January with a Cup game a few days prior and another home game next week. So 500-600 up. I know only 100 extra full-time adult fans could generate £40,00 pa year on year but I honestly expected more. With all the dormant fans getting in on the cheap, all those people on twitter, Cup final fans and all the publicity regarding the promotion for newbies. March and April, Hamilton and Motherwell, would it be worth replicating for the likes of pensioners, secondary schools further education and apprentices for Easter holiday. Even pensioners for a pound. Pound coin with the crest on it. and TFI Saturday £5 for under 21 Holding up a card display with the info across the cards.

That cream and blue jacket does look like a crime against fashion to be fair

Sat 23 Jan 2016 Scot premier S Armstrong (Celtic 3 - St Johnstone 1) J Rankin (Dundee Utd 5 - Kilmarnock 1) Highland League G Munro (Turriff 1 - Brora R 3) EL 1 S Winnall (Hat trick) (Barnsley 6 - Rochdale 1) M Watkins (Barnsley 6 - Rochdale 1)

That's one goal in 9 games for our star striker only striker - it's not that he's playing badly, it's just a symptom of the way the team is playing. We will slide down the league until the goals start to flow again for him, you can't rely on long range efforts from midfielders finding the target as frequently as they have done during this time.

Bottom line is this.....whether you agree with the law or not, if you break it then you run the risk of a police record, fine, fbo etc. Your actions also place the club at risk of sanctions from the SFA, Police and Local Authorities. The upper end of the scale for fines from the SFA alone is £100,000....and Local Authorities can remove safety certificates (closing stands and/or stadiums). Obviously that's the extreme end of the scale....but even a much lesser fine would hit us heavily. The club don't set the law, but they do have a duty to ensure they play their part in maintaining it....so if you think the law sucks, take it up with the law makers.

Signed until the end of season (2018-19): • Gary Warren Signed until the end of season (2017-18): • John Hughes - Manager • Brian Rice - Assistant Manager Signed until the end of next season (2016-17): • Richie Foran • Greg Tansey • Josh Meekings Signed until the end of this season (2015-16): • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent • David Raven • Danny Devine • Ali Sutherland • Liam Polworth • Lewis Horner • Calum Ferguson • Cammy Mackay • Nat Wedderburn • Jordan Roberts • Owain Fon Williams • Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo • Iain Vigurs • Alex Fisher On loan until the end of this season (2015-16): • Miles Storey ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Development Squad players available for this season (2015-16): • Calum Howarth • Jason Brown • Jaime Wilson • Kane Hull • Struan McArthur • Blair MacLennan • Chris Brown • Stephen Rennie • Chris Blackett • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) • Alasdair Stark • Andrew Macrae • Cameron Gilchrist

Who's proposing namby pamby stuff? If there are players who are not pulling their weight they need to be told and I am sure Yogi does just that. But lets keep it in the dressing room and on the training pitch, please. Personally I get a little cheesed of with Yogi saying that he's an honest guy and then using that to justify some criticism of the players. A bit of honesty in admitting where he's got it wrong himself from time to time would not go amiss. He's the manager and the buck stops with him. He should shoulder the blame and support the players in public and give them a rollicking in private when appropriate.

Some have an obsession with supermarket cafes whilst for others the pie and hot beverage has long been and always will be part of the match going experience. We are well aware that pastry encased meat and gravy has few health giving qualities. All the more reason why the experience should be as pleasurable as possible.

Not for lack of passion, it is said that this NEVER happens in the home end at Pittodrie

Spot on. Harry Gow for a fresh roll before the match and take it in with you.

#firstworldproblems.

The exact same question could be asked about your experience/knowledge prior to 1994 Regardless football has become a lot less enjoyable in modern times, no longer the working mans game the middle class moved in and the game is slowly dying Dougal

Surely long overdue that that article be removed! What purpose does it serve now, 22 years after the merger?

Young teens protesting against "Modern Football" does rather amuse me. What experience/knowledge do they have of any other kind?