Scarlet Pimple

And, Alan, maybe you are a wee bit behind what I am thinking. If a player just doesn't have it quite yet the worst thing, I say , is to highlight the weaknesses unless you also comment favourably on the strong points and offer encouragement to this player at every opportunity. Hopefully this will allow the player to face up to the realities but know that if he does have some more experience then the boss will help him along the way and maybe he does have a future after all. Unless you just want to keep him on until you let him go, of course.

If the money is not there then JR needs to use encouragement to ends the season on as high an emotional note as he can. He has to think over and deliver at least one or more inspiring speeches without a hint of failure being added and he should be seen as a positive , "onward and upward" thinker,. If the current set of players can't make it into and beyond the play-offs they will still probably be here for next season so they have to have something inn their hearts and minds to spur them on. Depression, or just having a sense of failure , will serve no useful purpose for either JR or the club. So he must have the players leave for their end of season break with definite positivity ringing in their ears. Then, at least, they can grit their teeth and look forward to next season. And hope that a very wealthy backer will appear from the mists of time before that season begins...………………………… EH?

That's what I like about you IHE. What a guy! You rarely seem to take up a posture of bitter defence, woe is me, after criticism, some of which is very iffy and nasty. You have developed a "ride with the punches" composure that seems to weather any storm. Are you that easy to get along with at home after 3 p.m. or do you just get into a very mellow sauce which paints you in a wonderful light -- one that even a disappointed mother could love...eh? I think that you would make a formidable Mountie, unflappable but on-the-ball and your horse would love you to bits ...

Just a wee correction. At no time have I said that the club, ICT, should bring on POM-POM girls. The comparison of North American entertainment techniques to what is offered (as it seems ) at Tulloch C. Stadium was suggested to draw attention to the fact that the North American modes of entertainment with marching bands and Pom Pom girls is not related at all to ogling spectators but to precision drilling and girls who all love to perform in front of their very large and appreciative audience. These young ladies work and train very hard at their techniques and moves and to suggest that wearing short skirts is a set-up that is nothing more than a sexy turn-on is far , far from the truth. The finished product is colourful and unbelievably spectacular and represents a reflection of the effort put into training and mastery of singular move precision. Honestly it's awe -inspiring sometimes. And, let's face it, if the girls wore granny dresses instead of small costume skirts then they would hardly be able to kick as high as their shoulders now would they? And, to please IHE , I must suggest that if the crowd likes their legs as well then so what? . Circuses show lovely gals as well but nobody complains. It all adds up to a great afternoon of entertainment including great music , colour and moves. And what's wrong with beauty on show? We all like beautiful things don't we IHE? And THAT IS really what I think might be missing at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, entertainment that is different..I suggested a well-schooled pipe band but nobody wanted that apparently. "What's up ? Too costly? Then do without and watch the crowds dwindling and /or face reality. But please try it first before condemnation raises it's ugly head I say.

Old age trumps misunderstanding. - You are wrong! If the poster to whom I am replying has not been adjudged to be off-topic then how can a direct reply to what he or she has said be off-topic? Because, to this point, the adjudicator has therefore clearly affirmed that the original poster's remarks are within the tolerances of being "ON TOPIC and so any reply to what the poster has said MUST therefore also be within the realms of that poster's thoughts and statements and therefore must not be "off topic". Effectively, in this scenario, the suggestion that replies are off-topic are actually a misjudgement or an attempt to curtail free speech because the adjudicator does not know what further thoughts the person who is replying might have about then personally addressing the issue under discussion more fully. And, in fact, needs to say a few words up front so that everyone understands where he or she is coming from and what he or she sees as to what might happen in the future.

I hope you realise that I did not suggest that anyone think of sacking JR. It's far too close to the end of the season to even think of changing horses in mid stream. Apart from that, he must be allowed to see out the season since he has the right to expect backing all season long. Last, but by no means least, the team must be allowed to play out the season without the very damaging situation that might arise if the manager is kicked out. at this point in time. Total chaos and disruption would surely follow such an event.?

Sad as it may be there does not seem to be a way out of the dilemma since the Scottish Football Authorities would probably never change t to summer football. THAT would make a huge difference but how do you persuade people ,who appear to have no flexibility in their thinking, to make the changes that would possibly help several clubs survive and prosper? The other suggestion I've made may have been looked upon as joking -- I,e bring on half-time entertainment-- but I am deadly serious and the lack of forward and dynamic thinking here is pathetic and discouraging. This is not just a game of football , it's SUPPOSED TO BE a well-run business enterprise---if for no other reason than that of the future survival, of the club, which nobody can deny. People come to the stadium to be entertained , not frozen stiff and frustrated and bored to bits. And if you don't treat the client as at least of equal importance to that of the team itself then Management is crazy because it's just common sense, dearies, that if there are no fans in the ground then the team has no purpose for being in existence! THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE !! So what does the smart business do apart from advertising their wares? Why, INNOVATE for goodness sake. Bring in something new and fresh to ENTERTAIN the paying, and apparently often suffering, customer? So what does ICT do to entertain the customer these days. Same old tannoy music at half time? Again, NOTHING! Boredom and freezing bodies trying to convince themselves that coming back in two weeks' time in this weather is a great idea? Unless some bright spark does something to start a new trend at Tulloch Caledonian stadium then you are doomed to Same old, Same old.

See what you have done Dougal? Welcome you back from somewhere and immediately there is controversy. Och! I'm just kidding. What it does show, however, is how little of real chat value there is to mention at this time. Depression is about to raise it's ugly head. Based on the views expressed today, promotion does not seem to be an option that would result in anything but more depression at this stage. So what is the antidote for ICT? Persuade a wealthy backer to join the set-up? Or might releasing J R from his contract solve all our problems? In any event, the terms of his contract may negate that idea or be too costly for the club to absorb apart from anything else, such as loyalty etc. or the question of who would likely take the job...…? Maybe just sitting tight and hanging on is the answer at this time....?

Love to see the video of the match?

As you know, there is more to Dougal than meets the eye. I think that the sudden (as it appears) staff clearance is most likely to be related to finances and so on. Have any staff mentioned that they have not received their money on time, or at all, recently? I really hope not but that would be a killer if it has happened...?

That goal he just scored in Ireland a day or so ago was a very neat lob from the wing which he latched onto perfectly before it even touched the ground.Tmed beautifully. No hesitation, caught it and belted it towards goal in one beautiful movement and there you go . . Wow! I am very hopeful that Darren will not onl be a good player but will fit in perfectly with the boys in the squad. i.e Now we have a great group of lads.

The games I've seen on my computer between Caley and Ross County have been great and very good entertainment . Have a great evening and enjoy. And that includes Moray Jaggie..... Cheers,, S.P. ............… in a very cool Wild West of Canada.

Yes, It could be that our offer will not be sufficient to lure him away from his home berth. Looks like Derry will get him. However, if you really want to get-on in this world then you often have to make brave and bold decisions about leaving home and moving on in the world. I hope he feels that this is an excellent opportunity for him to move to Scotland and once again be favoured by a possible future try out for a bigger team than Caley as he progresses. Timidity + Derry will not be good enough. If he fails again in Scotland to impress then he can always go back to Ireland and spend his days there. What an opportunity for an aspiring lad by coming over to join ICT. If he is as good as is reported then when we get back in the Top division his prowess will shine and he could get a big move..But it's entirely up to him now.

Meaning?

For us in Western Canada it's mostly rain and rain and rain. However when it snows it can be deep and then the ski -hills owners are cheering. I hate driving on the roads when the weather turns bad since the frost turns these roads into skating rinks. Once you start to slide it's game over and you search for your wallet because you just know it's going to COST you ….!

Well , Moray Jaggie , what makes you think that I know what is going on in a fan's head before a game? If that is my opinion , why is that arrogant? If a fan is interested enough to go to a game occasionally does that not show he or she is a fan? Maybe he is an old fan but maybe a new fan or maybe an 80 year old codger like the Scarlet one who is very interested in the fate of our team but might not be so sure that making the journey to Dingwall is a must for him? For them it might turn them into not a real fan but a surreal fan? Who knows? Just enjoy the game.

looks like our regular commentators have run out of steam. I am an even bit more stoic and just let things unfold. A return to the Premiership , though, does seem a bit more remote this season. However , having defined the problems then perhaps we can devise a way out but probably this will be a very gradual uphill climb.

Moray Jaggie., I don't usually question members about their expressed opinions. ...to which they are definitely entitled, But Just what do you find negative or denigrating to ICT in my above last post?

Some negative comments on here from the odd person/fan. Look on the bright side chums. This could be a cracker of a match. If it is not on the telly then it will be their loss not ours.-- our real fans will be at the game. If we want to go much further in the tourney then we have to beat them somewhere along the line. Look on the bright side.... this is going to be our day and a big win from our team of young lads who are playing well with good ball possession and passing.

Bride--the name is in my memory somewhere from way back in history. Something to do with King Bride . Was he a Pictish King and did he live up at Craig Dunain , or both, way back when? Where is IHE when you need him? . You lived up at Craig Dunain did you not? I am sure I am on to something here.

Maybe they eat oysters to improve their saxophone drive..?

If the Board of ICT think that changing horses in mid-stream is not a good idea then "Sit tight and pray" may be the answer this season. All newer Managers need to be given time to "bed-in" and really get a grip on their player roster, and the actual state of the financial picture re the club, before they make a dynamic (and possibly costly) move. Oh, and loyalty should surely play a part in any well-run organisation ? People need time to weather storms , bed-in, invest and try out new ideas. With the apparent lack of money available at ICT these days surely the best strategy is to sit-tight, back the Manager and spend wisely rather than in desperate fashion. And no more contracts like that made available to Richie Foran who was a great player but apparently had little or no experience in Management whereas John Robertson does. JR is also calmer and more of a thinker than I believe R F was. Stay the course appears to be the best strategy for ICT at this time . But they must bring on the dancing girls, or SOMETHING , at half time !!!!!!! -----because this is ENTERTAINMENT folks and if they want more fans to come to games then they must cater to families and bored bodies freezing on the terracing. EVEN Summer football would be an advancement. Standing in freezing weather and chittering is never going to be a recipe for success.---- IMHO at least.

And, if I am not mistaken, Yogi left us under questionable circumstances? Here today and gone tomorrow, like? .

I like you, IBM! Ha! Ha! Thank you , you are a real gentleman. Golly Gosh --I'm rumbled. I already knew the score by doing exactly what one of you likely lads suggested. And I was so discombobulated (in a nice way , mind you) that I thought I would just remind you that you just have to be nice 'cos you will have to meet me on your way down when I am still mindlessly drifting upwards. I was just reading the BC world news online and drifted into an article about Ross County and found it really interesting. However, frankly, speaking, I did not expect that score line, bejabbers. The next three games will decide our fate and just to show you how nice the Pimpernel family can be ,here is a nice read for you lads and lasses to weigh up en masse. We are going places ..Yes! . https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/scottish-championship/table

W H. In case you are still not aware of it I live about 5,000 miles away from Inverness and if you are up for it can you please advise the COUNTY scoreline . Thanks!