Scarlet Pimple

Well, if he follows T Butcher's lead at Easter Road it won't be long before he looks really spiffy. At Tulloch Stadium Butcher often looked the opposite. I mean, getting a "real job" always adds to the panache doesn't it and one must look the part. Cynical? - Och, I suppose so..

You mean ....with the intention of peppering the opposition goals? If he is as good as Richie at scoring crackers with his head then , after you claude.

So long as it's not Johhny Come Lately......

How about Jimmy Calderwood with Hartley as assistant? Experience plus savvy and energy? Encouragement from jimmy and respect from Paul. Ideal Then, when Jimmy inevitably moves on or retires, we have an experienced, energetic Manager just waiting in the wings for his big chance. That's assuming that Jimmy does this within a maximum of 3 years though. I think this might prove to be an interesting challenge for Mr. Calderwood what with ICT in the driving seat for a great season. He might think that Paul will enable him to coast within a short period of time. Paul is going to need effective help if he is appointed the sole manager, so who could be his assistant in a very supportive role but not so intrusive that Paul feels he is being crowded?

Strongest team available please. There's many a slip twixt cup and lip and this is a very important tie for ICT...money, prestige and confidence booster for the team.

Mr Butcher is starting off in style I see...new shirt, brave new tie and a brand new haircut. A bit different from the cap, duffle coat and featherd boa he wore at ICT for much of the time,. eh? Or, as they say in Auld Reekie, especially East Restalrig Terrace (Leith) : "Ehm olright Jack now thet ehm a somebody. Me and my pal Rod, who came out of a Petrie dish, will show all you heelan' codgers a thing or two." Really!? Well, Terry the Trickster, you may feel tickety -boo the noo but just wait 'til the end of the season, To you I say..."takes time to take a tumble, Terence and we'll see if you are on the same tack then. So, ta-ta for now."

Probably frozen to their seats too. Here in Western Canada the weather has turned distinctly chilly for June. Um ......I think it was -33 degrees C up in the North and only -5 down here on the West coast--feels like double that though..we have had such a great summer that I don't take kindly to Winter's sudden blast. I.m off back to bed and after I get yup again I will have to check out the brass monkey to see if he is still intact....

Butcher himself was probably as much a catalyst in the making of contacts in Englandterre. Managers down there were definitely calling him wanting him to consider their players since they saw it as advantageous for them to get the experience of the Northern tribes without (probably) the expenses of keeping them on the staff at the home club. Butcher's reputation clearly preceded him and he must have been an obvious target for these clubs to contact. So he made the most of the mutual opportunity offered and benefitted greatly from these contacts. What role Mr Marsella played in all this we don't exactly know but, had he stayed here without the ex-England captain still being at the helm ,what influence do you think that he alone would have had in England as to obtaining morep players coming up here? He is only a scout after all and if the new appointed Manager of ICT did not approve of his choices then his bottom might well have been out the window big-time with a waning influence too. So Let hm go and hopoe thet the tyhree Stooges at Hibs will have a modicum of success but not enough to dislodge Caley Thistle from their perch as ***** OF THE NORTH. Wheeeeee!

Right. What makes one think that any of the current successful players would want to move to Hibs anyway? ICT are on the crest, despite a smaller budget, area great proving ground for all newbies and have integrity. That's a pretty powerful stance to encourage players with character to stick around. At least you have the feeling that you will get a fair chance to get into the first team and a fair assessment of your character and ability at ICT. But, since T B will now be under intense pressure to perform, then if I were a player under him I would be feeling really uneasy about my future at that club. Further, with the cloud over his head to the effect that , IMHO, he must have been working on this move for months, how much would a player trust him now anyway? Let's face it, if the reservations we have on here about Mr Butcher's move have any justification, then would the players not also have the same feelings. I think Mr B's day is over and he will just have to get on with it without attempting to raid our larder... You know, if you make your own bed then you have to lie in it .

Updates are few and far between --any gen , please?

Some wag on the ICT V St Johnston commentary thread on the BBC said that if Levein is appointed as the Caley thistle manager he plans to sign Kenny miller up front--lone striker, like. Well, that is certainly a very intriguing thought and worth a try since he was doing very well with the Whitecaps as the season was winding down and scored some fantastic goals and he looked very fit so I think he is a dedicated man who speaks rather well (for an western type . Ha!) who might even be good coach material later on. We will see....

Not him if Harley will be offered the assistant manager's job. Unless Mr Hartley is very flexible indeed I can't see him subjugating his personality and ideas to another strong manager like Shiels--unless they know each other well, of course? Soon?

Not quite sure that a lack of money will be the bugbear for T Butcher in his quest to build the team. Rod Petrie is hardly likely to have spent the money on three coaches at the expense of getting in the right players. Maybe Collins will be transferred out to save some money if he doesn't perform to a high standard? And T B and Marsella will be relied upon heavily to bring in more good prospects from England--just exactly as they have done at Tulloch stadium. Why not--it's a no-brainer, surely?

John Hughes? Passionate and committed--yes,. But might not quite be the fit for Inverness Caledonain Thistle who might be looking for a slightly more sophisticated and hardened individual. eh?

It would be difficult for Hartson to be the Manager with a more experienced individual as his assistant. But the reverse situation might apply very well indeed. Especially for the future ......

Mainstander Do you mean on the pitch or in the stands or in the Boardroom?

We don't wish them both any harm but, if their boss gets the boot after 18 months, where WILL they go...back to ICT? I doubt that very much since it is unlikely that ICT will not have fully adjusted to the change by then.

WELL, IF WE GET THAT WOMAN MANAGER, THE WORDING of VICE-CAPTAIN WILL BE CONTROVERSIAL WON''T IT?

Watch out for IHE, Cardo...he wears a kilt. Be nice to Donview 'cos he lives in Aberdeen and is a closet and passionate ICT fan. Be nice also to Charles Bannerman 'because he will get your name in the papers. And Dougall really tries hard on here and gets a lot of stick from some guys just because he is different--- which is good....eh? And for Scarlet Pimple, by the time you can make up your mind either as to what he really means, or what he is saying, he is off at the toot. And then re-appears disguised as someone else to tickle your tonsils. And he doesn't wear a kilt these days. But a "coat -of many -colours" is often his garb of the day. In short, be nice to everyone and keep your powder dry. And a big Highland welcome.

And finds him sobbing on the floor.

Quite a few people on here don't want Mr Sutton and are going about town pronouncing his name backwards. Nottus.

KIngsmills---guys sitting in their prams...Ha! Ha! ha! IHE.... How do you spell Narciisisissimmi again?

Calderwood, Sheils, Robbo and Barry Wilson , Paul Hartley etc. My head is spinning. But Paul Hartley is an up and coming , dynamic and successful younger man with a very bright future and he appears to be thirsty for success but he is also popular with his players who admire him and apparently look to him for guidance. And his recent past record speaks for itself. And how !!! Reeking with determination and ambition, he also appears to be a very good strategist with a very hard-headed, visionary mind and approach to doing business. From what I have read, his success has not (yet) gone to his head and he has that down-to-earth character that attracts compliments and loyalty from his players. Whoever is appointed will be under intense scrutiny and appraisal until he proves himself. Hartley has undoubtedly proved himself at the lower levels of Scottish football but a step up to the Spl with the now, also, ambitious and dynamic Caley Thistle team is a significant challenge and would either be one step too far for him or two steps in front of everybody else. But football is football whether it is played in a back street in Glasgow or the Longman at Inverness and once someone gets a grip on his new job then he either is a determined winner or not. I like him and he gets my vote, because I think he is a winner and has the ability to fit in seamlessly into the Caley Thistle set-up. And, hopefully, the team will grow along with him. However, the choice of assistant coach will be critical for him to achieve the peaks.

Very decisive action by Mr Kenny Cameron and a very smart move. Richie is an articulate and intelligent man. And,as someone else said, an inspirational and skilful workhorse and an example of true professional dedication to the club and the cause. Thank you Mr Foran for your sense of commitment. I don't think you will be sorry and the future is bright for you at Caley Thistle.