The Mantis

I would have replied in the same vein as DoofersDad so I'll spare you all that again. Oddquine, look, I know there's moaners on here but I've also been accused of being a happy clapper at times so I must be getting something right. By all means have a go at the downright negative posters but people like me have sincerely held views and I try to justify my (realistic) views by what I've seen on the park, week in, week out. We pay our money and we have genuine concerns. Instead of lumping us all together in your lectures which are getting longer each time, and consist mainly of asking us to have faith and everything will be fine, or accusing an entire support of being backward looking - try convincing me using football reasons. Mind you that could be difficult if you say you never saw Ross Tokely play any of his 490 matches? By extension you've hardly if ever seen ICT either then. Big problem here, I think the point you're missing is so obvious. It's about more than talent. Pro football is a trade, just like plumbing or joinery. Apprentices serve their time and then are kept on or leave to find another club. Unless the player is an exceptional talent he will not play in the SPL at 17- most players are in their mid 20s. Ross debuted at 17 in div 3 and worked hard and continued to develop. Each time he has stepped up and continued to learn the game. So even if his legs have gone he has 7 years SPL experience. Compare him to Richard Hastings who at 17 was tipped for great things but seemed to stop developing about the age of 21 as many folk here will tell you. So as I said I will be delighted if Gary Warren proves people wrong at the age of 27 or whatever but I gave you plenty of examples where Butcher has got it wrong in the past. So it's nothing to do with the HL being as good as the BSBP. Although back in 96 when Ross signed for ICT, the HL select WAS capable of giving the English equivalent a game, it was an annual fixture. Nowadays it would be no contest I reckon.

You're probably too young to remember the funding issues when it was built. It was a modular design with the potential to fill those bits in later if required, so rather than shooting them, I would commend their vision You could of course just have left the ends off and reduced the main stand to 1700, but with the wings it takes 2200. Besides, I rather like it. It's unique! Maybe somebody who knows better than I do can comment on this. I agree that it's too far away. I also know that TCS was constructed to a standard where we could host internationals though. I predicted earlier that VP would be worse off after the seating went in. I'll stick to that for now.

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.

What does how long or why I support ICT have to do with anything? If you read my posts, I am pretty upfront with everything and you would already know. And there is a difference between how long anyone has supported ICT and how long people have been members of this forum. (just in case you are foolish enough to think that one equates to the other) , It's a fair point he makes. Some of us have seen ICT hundreds of times. We've seen it all before and we can see what's coming....... If you're not sure, it's got 10 letters and begins with R.

I'm on a bus just now so missing the Dutch game. Wasn't that opening ceremony a load of shyte? Why do they bother? Surely a different demographic - I can't imagine anybody going to a game as a fan and wanting to sit through that garbage.

29 posts in one topic in the same day. OTB record :lol:

Bless them. Somebody starts a thread about league reconstruction and then half of them start arguing about Maryburgh and Dingwall Thistle.......

Well over the bridge they're really impressed by Del's new signing :lol:

Or maybe he'd rather just play for another manager.

Laugh or greet?

Aye but for every one of those, TB signs 3 Aldreds or Stratfords or Eagles. Even Tansey came from league 1 and IMO wasn't really good enough for the SPL. Meekings is another who struggled although granted he's only a youngster. I know he has financial restraints and has to scramble around to get players to come, but how does this guy get to 28 without making it at some point? I think it shows the trouble we are in that Gary is probably good enough to get a game for us at the arse end of the SPL. That's not the same as being good enough to cope in the SPL. Sorry but the SPL is just not as bad as some people make out and I include TB in that. It works the other way too. People like Cowie and Rooney have left us for far bigger clubs. As ever, happy to eat my words at the end of the season.......

Which one's Keyser Söze?

These must be best practice or something. I know few if any Junior clubs which meet these criteria. In fact they resemble the proposed criteria for licensing for FULL SFA members which they are trying to push through at the moment.

Yeah they're all early, the 1st round where my wee diddy club comes in was 24th Sept last year. A month between rounds when it's usually 3 weeks. Then a huge gap between round 6 and the semis.

Getting his own 'Tokely is Superman' thread (is it still around?)

Appearing in 'The Angels' Share' by Ken Loach about 42 secs in :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Scoring against St Mirren in a 4-1 win at Love Street while Hendrie was manager. Scoring the winner against St Mirren the first season at their new place. Both late goals after getting dog's abuse from their lovely fans.

'Let's all do the Tokely' originated at Hampden when Ross scored against Queens Park on the way to lifting the div 3 championship in 1997.

You as well Alex? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You've got plenty time to do your own bloody garden now!!! :lol: What the sage of the IRA is trying to say is that The Mantis is following in the tracks of the great Mr Mackenzie and the almost great Mr McLeod in joining the ranks of the retired

All the same starchief, if you've got time to write that, you don't fancy coming and doing my garden?

Ach that's not a bad side. Everybody knows we never get red cards or injuries so that should do us.

Aw shucks, you're too kind

The Sun! Where's the 'spit' smiley gone ! Aye fair do's, I had a nagging unease that if I posted that, somebody would respond as you did. You'd think with 30+ years in the classroom I would know better! All the same if you hear the same pattern of anecdote from different parents you do start to wonder.... Put it this way, I don't think our Tel subscribes to the 'democratic' school of management..... Not a criticism, just an observation.

One thing about supporting a wee club like ICT is, if you go to enough games, you end up having a pint or two with people like the parents of the players.....