snorbens_caleyman

Thought we were playing Westlife? Big crowd guaranteed, and a chance of a win cos there's only four of them...

That's just what I was looking at. At the moment, our home and away records are almost identical, which is unusual enough. (Ayr's is about the same.) But we've all seen previous seasons, with different player and managers, where the away record has been better than the home record. I am more confident of a result when we are playing away from home. So what is it? Lack of atmosphere at home? Spending time together on the journeys travelling to away games? Maybe they should go on a bus tour before every home game.

So he's unlikely to go to Hearts then... ?

That's what BBC text says. Their match stats suggest that ICT haven't turned up today.

You're right! As I was typing that, I was playing the three versions - first time in many years - and was very amused when I heard that.

Just noticed in the Courier that David Balfe has died: "David was a successful songwriter penning amongst others, Chelsea Football Club's "Blue Is The Colour" and "Beautiful Sunday"." He also wrote ICT's first club song, "Bring It On Home". I am aware that a lot of folk used to slag it off, but it's a catchy, memorable tune. Not at all bad. An airing at the next home game would be fitting. With condolences and sympathy to his family and friends. (And, for those a wee bit younger than me, no, he was not in The Teardrop Explodes - that was another with the same name.)

The Gallo rosé in the picture at the top is currently £3.75 at Asda, and £4 at Tesco (in England).

BBC says we have had 15 shots, but only three on target ? Morton have had 4, with one on target.

BBC says so, too ?

And confidence. Winning it was pretty much the start of the great end of season run-in in 2018.

Bit worrying, isn't it? Quite a few players knocking on the 1st team door, yet beaten by a team three tiers below. Or am I being too harsh?

I've been wondering how much a part of the current problem that is. No criticism of anyone intended - it's just the way it is. Yes I know you can't simply manufacture local players of the required standard. And yes I know that we have a few who might become first team regulars. I'd start by suggesting that Charlie Christie asks Ryan to do some motivational talks in local schools, but I guess that may be impractical for a number of reasons.

I can't see any (responsible) insurance company wanting to go near that. Or the premium would be so high that they would effectively be saying to ICT "For 2-3 years we will take care of that money that you have raised". I reckon that an extra 1,000 fans through the gates would bring in maybe £400,000 per season, based on the current price of a season ticket plus profits on whatever else they buy during a season. That's about half the current annual loss. So while it would make the loss more manageable, it's still not the answer, and wouldn't be sustainable in the long term. Yes we need more fans, but that can only be a long-term project achieved by improving our place in the community. We clearly need to look at expenses and running costs, and make cuts as necessary. And a good fairy with oodles of cash would be welcome too, but must not be relied upon for the long term.

Roshie and Dave played in the same Jags team at the end of the 60s. Roshie also managed Clach for a while, so, with Dave Milroy and Billy Urquhart also at Dave's funeral, that means that all three Inverness clubs were represented. I would guess that there would have been others there from before ymip's time. The Courier also carried an article about Dave yesterday - https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/tributes-to-inverness-football-legend-183734/

9 teams the same as today, with another one only missing because they were working their way back up from liquidation. Shows how hard it is to win promotion from the Championship, and then stay up.

BBC text: " Mark Ridgers (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half. " ???!!!!

Said it before and I know I'll say it again - how many goals have we lost immediately after the break? I usually blame it on Mogadon in their tea...

I am sorry to read in the Courier of the death, on Friday 20th, at the age of 82, of Dave Christie. "Former Highland League player, manager, and privileged to captain all three Inverness teams." There can't be many who have played for, let alone captained, all three. I didn't know he had been with Clach. I remember him playing for the Jags in the late 60s. He was Caley manager for a while in 1973-74, and the picture above, from that time, is from page 75 of Alex Main's "Caley All The Way" book. Dave is also in the Caley side in a picture (p50) from 1959, when a Celtic-Rangers Select travelled north for a match to inaugurate the Telford Street floodlights. Alex recorded that the Select was in the charge of now legendary Rangers manager Scot Symon. What he didn't say, or maybe didn't know, was that Dave's middle names were "Scot Symon". My late father noticed this when he was Secretary at Thistle and dealt with the players' registrations - his understanding was that Dave was Scot Symon's nephew. Dave was born well before Scot Symon's great managerial career, so I think this was simply a family name. I didn't really know him, but I do remember him as a good player, and as a good-natured, decent man. My condolences to Dave's family, and to his friends, of whom there will be many.

Interesting. I was thinking about this earlier today, and, prompted by Scot Gardiner's remark about kids coming from Wick and Elgin to train, it occurred to me that maybe ICT, County, and Elgin should pool youth development resources. I couldn't see, however, how you would resolve the question of "which team should a promising player move into?". Would be good to know if the Fife Elite Academy has an approach for that. At the moment, Ross County has the money, and the whip hand. But it won't always be like that. Maybe a good fairy with lots of money will emerge (next week?), and we will be top dog for a while. But in the longer term, the sustainability of two Highland clubs on top of each other (12.8 miles apart according to Bing Maps) and near the top of Scottish football - with the expenditure required to stay there - has to be in question. Two things which the lower 30 clubs should be fighting for are an enlarged Premiership and/or better distribution of money throughout the leagues.

As I understand it, administration (and subsequent recovery) does not necessarily involve closure of the company. A rescuer could invest in the existing company. (Or the administrators could sell it off, as a whole, or in bits.) Liquidation, on the other hand, is the closure of a company and sale of its assets, as happened with Rangers. If I'm wrong, please someone correct me.

And no bookings. BBC match stats suggest it was comfortable. Is that right?

Shankland has scored in the 88th and 92nd minutes ? Back to 3rd.

Utd 0 Arbroath 1 - we are currently in 2nd position ?

Well, if Dundee Utd don't score, that would take us above them on goal difference - or on points if Arbroath can beat them. But I'd settle for a 2-0 win.

Surely ICT have an employer's duty of care with respect to their players? Time to start considering the costs of a minibus and professional driver. Or a couple of taxis? And if I was one of the lads, I'd be having a close look at what my ICT contract says about travel. You'd surely normally expect a club to cover this - either by providing transport or by reimbursing the players' travel costs. ICT should also ensure that their players' car insurance includes business travel, and should pay the extra for that. Should be sorted out as a matter of priority. A bad accident and ICT subsequently being found to be in breach of their responsibilities could wipe the club out.