Tree

We will just ignore the deflection from McGuire then?

Having just seen the goals I am perplexed as to why Fraser is being criticised :024:. Some people must indeed be looking for scapegoats for the poor start to the season.

Watt looked rusty (not surprisingly) and could do with some Brewster style fitness training, but otherwise showed signs of being solid (a younger version of Bobby Mann). Roscoe seems to be trying to set a new record for the number of headed assists for opposition goals :017: Caff looked very suspect in the first half, but I thought for the majority of the second he was more solid - Probably down to Tosh being tired though. Up against the more potent threats from the SPL he just is not up to it unfortunately. Cowie's mobility again was good and Black was also good.

Fraser playing behind a defence which is all at sea (neither Roscoe or Grant show any trust in Caff whatsoever), Utd score with a cross which should have been dealt with by the defence long before it got near him (he had little left other than guessing whether Robson would get a touch or not) and he then gets blamed for narrowing the angles well before Rankin and Caff dive in and take the player for a penalty. I fail to see why any of the above if Frasers fault. I would agree that he needs to be more dominant at crosses and take the ball at a higher level, however I would ask whether our goalkeeping coach (who has yet to convince anyone that he is adding value to the team) is teaching him to stay on his line. Why are some looking to have an undeserved go at the keeper?

Roscoe is one of the players who wanted Brewster back the most (he is still on talking terms with him)

In light of the sometimes over the top reaction (both positive and negative) to the replacement of CC it is time for a bit of calm and for everyone who supports the club (which is and will always be bigger than any one man) to put aside reaction to this issue until after the game tomorrow and get behind the team. The one thing that is certain is that winning tomorrow's game is important irrespective of who becomes the mangager and the less distractions there are for Donald and the team the better. Come 5pm on Sat evening the furory can re-commence. In terms of DP staying, I would suspect that he will make the final call irrespective of whether Grassa et al say that he is staying or otherwise.

Its been said by many before, but until we replace Caff we will continue to ship goals. This reminds me of our first season prior to Dods coming in!

Has the date for the game been confirmed as the 28th or 29th yet?

Everyone knows that we are CALEY when we win and THISTLE when we lose :023:

In deciding whether a work permit will be issued a number of criteria including international appearances, etc are normally taken into account to decide whether one should be granted. This includes consideration of the impact the person would have in the chosen vocation (i.e. is he better than most in that field). Very often this initial 'ticking the box' exercise leads to an initial refusal due to some of the criteria not being met. As DJS mentions, an appeal then is made with further background information being provided and any extenuating circumstances being advised, which leads to a tribunal being held which considers this information. In some cases (hopefully this one) the tribunal is a matter of procedure and simply delays the permit being issued. A number of players in both the Premiership and SPL have been through this process before and their teams have been equally as frustrated. Unfortunately much of this is new to ICT and we may not be quite as sharp as some teams (hence the phonecall to the local DWP Office last week asking how the clubs goes about these things!)

The frustrating things with Rory is that every now and then he shows something in a game that makes you think that he could make the grade. Unfortunately it appears to becoming clear that these moments are few and far between and some of the performances are mediocre at best, with elements which are not acceptable at this level (including at times appearing like a headless chicken). Wood in the pre-season games has shown a surprisingly good understanding of the tactical side of the games for his age and has the ability to score goals, hold up the ball and link. I don't think that there are many people who do not wish that Rory makes the grade. Indeed he comes across as willing to put the effort in. A spell playing out on loan may be beneficial to all sides in that he would get regular football at a higher level than the reserves and this should hopefully allow the Management Team to decide whether he is an asset or not.

CC not moving for Marsh or Austrian Clicky

Black in Daily Ranger Clicky

Typical pre-season game not helped by a very slow pitch (cutting half an inch off the length of the grass would have helped). Kerr looked the part, although was not under much pressure from the Clach attack for most of the game, and Vigurs/Zander also looked good when they came on. Movement from Wood was far better than from Rory (who had some good touches but many more dire ones). Difficult to learn too much from the game. Tackle of the game came from Morgan who tried to kick the ball and the player inot orbit but managed to almost miss both :015: Obviously has been working too much with Black in training!

Suggestions are being made by some County fans that Leitch was told that he would have to take a wage cut if they dropped to the 2nd Div and was not willing to do so. I would imagine that this combined with Adams not willing to back him on Saturday is more than enough reason to leave (oh, that and getting your team relegated :015:).

In determining whether Scotland's permit should be extended, the panel took into account that he was not an exceptional player in relation to his peers within the SPL (their opinion). In dropping to the SFL, the ability level of his peers reduced and the criteria for determining the extension changed (for example there is a general quota for non-EU players in the SPL but not for the lower leagues).

I would agree with CaleyD that Dods is not showing a lack of loyalty. He has consistently stated that he wishes to move back closer to home and has seen out the term of his contract (even when there has been options for him to move). It is his right to look elsewhere for better terms, personal reason or footballing reasons. Whilst we would all have wished that he stayed, we cannot call him disloyal. I would however dispute the view in relation to him moving his family up. His girlfriend has commented to the other 'WAGS' that she would not move up from Edinburgh under any circumstances.

Why is CC still being critised for taking Black off when it was the player himself who signalled to the bench that he was out on his feet and not able to continue. Comment on the player is coming on is valid, however the options on the bench were limited after Roy coming off injured and whilst I also would have chosen a different option. This may not have changed the outcome of the game at all. In the last home match against Celtic we suffered as a result of the defence sitting too deep at the end and bringing Caff on would have increased the likelihood of this happening again. At very least there is logic for keeping attacking minded players on the park and moving the game forward as a result. The biggest issue in the game was the failure to get a second goal.

It was confirmed in the post match interview that Black had signalled to the bench that he was 'knackered' and needed to come off. In terms of taking Caff on, we suffered in the last match from sitting too deep and to keep some form of balance in moving the game forward I would imagine the decision was takent o put some attacking minded people on.

The decision for the prices is not just the clubs. As has been pointed out, when the game involves SPL teams the prices are set at the normal match prices unless the opposition agrees. The options in this regard are therefore limited. The are other ways in which the club can reward loyalty however, and it would be nice at some point for the club to make a realistic attempt at giving something back. In particular the efforts to increase the number of younger supporters (who will be the paying supporters of the future) has diminished greatly over recent years. For clarity I am not talking about reducing the tickets or allowing free entry for under 12s for the last meaningless match of the season as has happened in recent years!

I would agree that Duncan was playing very well yesterday and Roy was poor (lots of effort and very little end product). However the substitution was to provide some additional energy in the deeper part of the central midfield, which was where Russell was playing. Roy was much further forward. Also, to try and suggest that the manager allowe dthe team to sit deeper is nonsense. Just about every top manager I can think of has at some time expressed their frustration that their team sat deeper as the match went on. To critise CC on this is clutching at straws. Tactically we were excellent yesterday with septic limited to only a couple of chances other that the two comedy defending moments which led to the goal! Equally, some of our forward play considering we had two very similar players up front was excellent.

His form has definately come on, which may be down to his confidence improving. Somehow he has also learned to tackle and get stuck in! He definately looks more at home out wide and when he moves in field the opposing defences are struggling to pick him up.

Just heard a nasty suggestion that CC is currently in discussions with Rab Douglas :010:

Clearly Mark is just wishing to join the long line of ex Ranagers players who are plying their trade at Celtic :003:

After everything that has been said regarding Inverness being out of the shop window for the Scotland team it is a bit odd that he is choosing to become a bendch player at Celtic. Unless Boruc is planning moving on in the summer I do not really see Mark being able to become a first choice keeper. I suspose money talks! In any event, Michael Fraser has the potential to be an even better keepr in all round terms (dealing with crosses, kicking, penalties, penalties and penalties....). Consistency and concentration will surely come with games. Hopefully we will get a nice £50k or so.