Scarlet Pimple

Caley D I have no idea whether this man played half decent or like a goon. But I DO like YOUR attitude and, if his attitude was as bad as you say it was, then I fully agree with you and would not waste a minute before sending him packing s a complete failure. Not having ability is irritating but a no fault situation; but not being willing to try is a sin and a half. Do they think the money fans pay when they enter the park costs them nothing to earn?

Testing season. Deferred judgement so I am also in the Neither sat or dis sat column. We will all get our chance to judge his performance next season. Hopefully (on my knees ) he will stop going for the loanees. Concentrate on spirit and ensure the defence becomes settled and stoic-- that is, resistant to all attacks. And the rest will take care of itself.

At last the long ball stuff has an upside--it stops the full backs constantly passing to each other instead of trying to get the ball up the park. Doesn't that just gall you --looks either cynical indifference to the theory of attack or just lazy, safety first stuff or get the responsibilty of losing the ball off my back? Back and fore like yo-yos sometimes. -- is that what the fan pays for?

Well I can hardly imagine that it's to do with poor wages England and these Eastern moguls are bringing in huge sums of money to try to buy success. But back to the main thrust.- in Canada almost all parents in a family are working. Unless the mother ha several kids and can't trust a nanny . Therefore when she comes home frazzled because she has to go shopping after work etc, she is too tired to worry about what the kids do. Mostly she just wants some peace and quiet. I don't know what it currently is like in Scotland re football but I still see quite a few kids out in the street here playing mostly street hockey.

That's dead right---Caledonain and Thistle survived for many a long year without T.V. But they did not spend huge amounts of money on players either. Their stadiums and facilities were modest and they had few, if any,about winning the Scottish Cup. If they started to win games in the Scottish Cup, then the fans got really excited and attended matches in droves. They existed on providing honest endeavour and the odd few thrills. What is so blinking great about being in the SPL anyway? Come on! Be very honest. Where has it got most teams? Why, into debt, of course and living beyond their means, for sure. The glory that SPL membership brings is illusory at best. Few major, if any, English,European or Spanish teams (for example) have ever come to Inverness on serious football duty and are immediately forgotten about afterwards. TV deals have simply allowed underfunded and under-achieving teams in Scotland to survive, get the idea that they are able to compete on a par with the Big boys (Old Firm), and one day will be on some kind of a par in terms of the number of spectators thay they can attrcat. Ity's a house of cards buiklt on a weak and dangerous foundatyion of little more than dreams. People don't attend matches because of, IMHO, four factors.: 1.Too high a price for tickets in the current economic atmosphere. 2.Games are played in miserable conditions when fans are physically in distress and the incidence of injuries is much higher on the field of play. All games must be changed, rationally, to summer footballl. 3.T.V.-- Stop the broadcast live of SPL games and attendances should go up. 4. Boredom and lack of emotional satisfaction and little in the way of supporting entertainment. The Americans and Canadians go all out to provide this kind of attraction whether it be cheer-leading, drum corps, high school bands , or the Cirque de Soleil in miniature. It all adds up to a sense of going to a game for a total fun package. and a real day out for the family. So, the clubs don't have the money to put on this kind of show, you say? Exactly! Which must mean that something is radically wrong, right? In short, it's a self-perpetuating scenario with no obvious means of escape and the clubs are deluding themselves into thinking that they can attract fans by pretending they are a big cut above the Highland League or Division 1 or 2 so to speak. I will summarise these feelings this way, Rangers problems are a chance to re-vamp Scottish Football right across the Board, bringing in more equality by distributing the overall income MUCH MORE FAIRLY. Then some clubs may start to flourish. The attendances at home games involving Rangers and Celtic for the clubs are down so these two clubs no longer are a guarantee for the other clubs to survive. By contrast, the negative influence asserted by these two large teams is disproportionately higher on the SPL in particular, and on Scottish Football in general, compared to their positive influence. Getting rid of one or the other offers a chance for fresh air to blow in and release pent up frustrations and energy which are currently being battened down and fostering the above delusions that the clubs below these teams are in a League where they can compete on equal terms with them. Will these suggestions be adopted in the short term? What do you think?

Manfer has a lot of good pointed arrows in his quiver. Right now I am quivering that this team does not have a lot of points nor arrows pointing in the right direction. Based o his contract Terry has to stay for another year or his departure and settlement will bring ICT to their knees financially. Unless we get relegated and he resigns voluntarily, of course. Looking at the highlights, admittedly only a tiny slice of the game, one cannot but be impressed with the comparison between the two teams. Dundeed Utd looked confident, determined, had accurate and effective passing, seemingly with a purpose, and knew where the goal was. Meanwhile, ICT appeared to be doing a bit of standing around in admiration --or desperation. or a little bit of befuddlement. Where was Tade's vaunted power and aggression? With his size and mobility he should have been able to carve through that defence and at the very least terrify them to death consistently but he looked like a moth on a mothball awaiting his orange juice to be brought to him on a platter. Leisurely like. Nice strike on goal I suppose but never likely to trouble the goalie so why did he not run into the goalmouth instead...? Don't you just get the impression that each player seems to be waiting for another to win the game? I would rather see younger , very energetic and aggressive players trying hard than the more experienced players just flitting around doing what they feel is all that they need to do to get by. So, in the absence of any constructive suggestion in present circumstances I just have to agree with the post that says Terry should concentrate on the local boys and the Highland Academy etc.

Who would have thunk it?

Oh well, there's nothing like never letting up on a player who has actually served ICT well in past years. Sure makes one feel better about our team doesn't it? And, from all accounts, his last game was much better wasn't it? C'mon guys, as far as spirits are concerned I wonder if the ones you sometimes seem to favour are those out of a bottle? O.K. Last chance gulch. Let's have a spirited riposte to wake us up a wee bit.

Hayes by a country mile. England players may be talented, but positioning and reflexive actions were pedantic (slow) and pathetic. However, great goal by Robbens--energetic and very determined approach and showed great evasive , opportunistic skills. Wheeee.

Settling this team now should be Terry's priority. So, I agree with IHE's post above. The seemingly constant instability means he must be tearing his hair out and going round in mental circles trying to figure out his best options. Now that the injury thing seems to have settled down, it also seems as if we have too much talent available and too many bewildering choices with few standouts which would otherwise allow for a no-brainer team selection. Hopefully things will continue to gel. Hate to say this, but if some (but not all) of the loanees were recalled to England etc. it might help him. OH! If only we could get some younger Scottish players in, preferably Highland lads, and had the time to train and develop them.......Sigh.

Robbo was not ever going to be a permanant fixture in Methil and I remember he was more of a caretaker manager than that. Does nayone think that he and Terry would get along...

With gates a slow as 600 at home, how could any team at their level attract someone who could make a real difference? Apart from his wages how could he make changes that would ocunt without the financial backing he wold need? ] And what player of real calibre would play in Methil unless he was at the end of his career or was a very determined youngster who didn't care where he played, just so long as he got a game. The closure of the nearby coal pits did not help in any way. I once lived across the street from the Manager of the large Wellesley pit just up the road from Methil and everybdy in that area felt the draught after they faded from the scene. Keep poking away John. You are an interesting charecter., so hope you manage to stay in the game in a meaningful way.

I am frightened almost to post anything after what I have read on here today. Scotty was up at 7a.m. but I would have had to get up at 4.a.m for the start of this one. But I can't help thinking about what Terry did to this Caley Thistle team at the end of last season and I honestly just have that remaining nagging doubt that this is a serious contributing factor in all of this. At the time I was shocked at his wholesale clearout , especially when many of the players he culled had sterling records as far as their commitment and loyalty to ICT werte concerned. AND experience to boot. Regardless of how well Mr Butcher felt that he was qualified to build a team of world beaters, I could not ever see how his hell-for -leather and "de'il tak the hindmost" approach to the obtaining of success for "HIS" team could ever succeed without being accompanied by the huge risk that he was taking in doing this. It was not prudent, at least IMHO, to have practically no experienced players left in reserve . It did not leave any room for manoever if things went wrong, since he could not ever now call upon a backup of proven players who would have the established team spirit to hold it all together and show the right example to the younger players that Terry felt that he could bring in. Apart from Foran, who can these younger players now turn to for guidance and support and/or inspiration? The injury situation suffered by the team has helped to bring out all the weakness in his strategy to date and the fact that the players who are on loan must now have one eye on their futures elsewhere only serves to exacerbate the challenge. Why should they play their hearts out, and also possibly risk injury, when their loyalty surely can hardly lie with ICT ? And, lastly, players on loan to the club are not the answer to anything as far as the future development and stability of the club is concerned. They are too young and inexperienced to be relied upon for one thing --at least not for several years. And Terry must be relying on the word of Managers who are hundreds of miles away on the matter of their play and their personality traits, which essentially means that he will always be faced with the uncertainty of his bringing them in "sight unseen" as it were. Not exactly a recipe for possible success is it and but it IS a drain on club funds whilst this process is being pursued? I would love someone to contradict my views with powerful arguments that would convince me that I am wrong but, alas, I just dont see it or get it at the moment. So, using this strategy is stop-gap at best and a recipe for league places which are likely to always be close to the relegation zone at worst.

Well that was neat. post still beng constructed and it posted itself without my telling it to. Now I wonder why. Hmmmm?

Great difficulty in getting this site to open up today. Trying to use the new UK connection but doing so means access is very slow on all accounts, However, in now and listening to the match on Sportsound. Five minutes to coffee time which is 7.45 a.m. here Sounds as if you are having snow or cold and poor weather ...very cold and wet and genertally not great for the Arthur-Itis.

Luv a Duck. Had a couple of deer come to my back yard today. Ma Deer looking good and hert much smaller wean, also looking not toto bad.The 4 squirrels, two black and two grey, wre nowhere to be seen and when my cat Matilda saw the Mother deer from our rear deck just below her she foze in fear since she had given her a real scare last year . No ducks here but pher wildlife aplenty. Goshawks going like the clappers and up to no good, at that speed. usually preceded by a few second before they flash by my incredulous gaze, by a small bird alsp gping as fast as he oe she can towards the safety of the trees.and a coyote gave me a baleful look as he stopped to have a good look at me on the deck--really arrogant and cocky litt;le blighters they are. They hunt in packs and so we don't let our cat pout under any circumstances at night or they are dead meat, literally. Oh,the eagles soaring above the townhouse look good very high in the sky. Lovely sight . Smee, I do hope you are joking with your talk about setting fire to the seagull chicks. Behave yourself lest someone might put some gasoline on you. Now that would hnardly be a nice fate for you would it? I can't stand gratuitous cruelty to animals so please review your thoughts on such inanity. O.K.? I think that people who would seriously consider doing such a depraved act are very retarded . I'll stop whilst I'm ahead.

FARCE.

IHE --you kill me! :hahaha: Scotty--over the hill.? Maybe his waistline is wasting away but he still looks fresh enough doesn't he, even if he looks as if he has passed the 30 line of no return...eh what? Regardless, there doesn't seem to be too much wrong with his very active and clever brain at this time does there? Reminds me of my hayday! You know ...Rosemary Clooney's song ."Heh there, you with the stars in your eyes" that's when the flipping eyes actually did work....eh? See what your'e coming to IHE? Better ease off on the "stuff eh?" Vancouver's gain is some other team's loss. If he is what, 33, how much gas does he have left in the tank to offer? The MLS is not a slow, carthorse league. Many of the players are fast and furious but if we get one or two good seasons out of him maybe it will be worth it for the Vancouver's new( and previously very successful) manager who has been hard at work upgrading the Whitecaps. Looking for big things this next season from them. O.K. Back to the couch, the pipe and slippers. Not long now for you IHE ! It's coming round the corner . Just phone Uncle Scar when in happens--a friend in need is a friend indeed. ..especially when he is good for a fiver.....

Neat piece of writing, Ross.

Oddquine It's perhaps a little unusual for a lady to express such passion for the male youth teams but you certainly did it very well indeed. All power to your elbow and if you tick off a few mighty males slightly in the process then be grateful and be commended for your spirit. One of the benefits to me of my interest being pricked is that I visited your website. I was most impressed by the variety of your interests and your curiosity and your apparently endless capacity to explore. You must be a very active girl and I think that you will always try to bring out the best feelings that you can relating to whatever you engross yourself i,. No half-measures with you, eh? Great to have you on this site--a breath of fresh air and no mistake. And keep after these old fogies on here. They are so "in a rut" from time to time. Just give 'em "laldy" I say. :hahaha:

And I will bet quite a few of their very highly-paid players will be having a few nightmares at this time. Come to think of it, in what way are they sellable and how much are they now worth to the club. Let's say that they sold off every player currently on their roster would the total pounds received be sufficient to clear off all the debs I wonder? That would surely put them right out of business but would pay off all the hard working, and no doubt more honest, businesses and folks which/who have serviced that club over the years. Not to mention the unfortunate employees of Rangers F.C. Is anyone really thinking about the small businesses, and other folks mentioned, at this ? If they lose their livelihood can you blame the HMRC for being punitive when the ownership of the club has deliberately been avoiding the payment of ongoing and legitimate debts to the Taxpayers' representatives? Answer , IMHO, ...NO!

How many times have you seen business entities holding back on monetary items or goods in similar circumstances whether it is against the law or not. If the law in these kinds of matters is unfair then why not just decisively act....possession is 9/10ths of the law after all and ICT could open the gates to any other fans that may want to come in; cash over the turnstile gate and first come ftrst served. It would be very difficult to sue ICT successfully over such a decision because they are guiltless in all this and could plead poverty and dire straits. All of which being the the mother of invention, like.

What is clear is that the run -up of such a huge debt debt had to be deliberate. Their assumption was that they could wriggle out of it eventually in some way, shape or Form. For their sake I hope they are right but for the sake of all decent people I hope the Tax men do mthem in mightily and teach themn=m a lesson they will never be able to forget.But the fcat that Rangers pre-emoted tmje from doing the Sdministration business is suspicious The top brass of Rangers must be cynical to a fault, and basically dishonest, if they knew that they stood a good chance of getting away with a lot of the debt either being written off or reduced. And knowing that ultimately screwing the tax man and getting away with it so easily is lttle more than screwing the British taxpayer deliberately. Cynical may be flattering to them; perhaps depraved and criminally-minded might be more appropriate. Time will tell. Although I do find it odd that Rangers appears to have pre-empted the Taxmen by doing the Administration thing before the Revenoors got to the club first, don't you? It could appear that the all-knowing taxmen got caught with their pants down--something that , frankly, I just don't believe! It would make much more, rational, sense in the circumstan to believe that they did some kind of a deal with HMRC because the Revenue guys hav all the money and power in the world to have this long-running feud with rangers sewn up long before now. And their apparent lack of direct actionagainst the club to date could easily be interpreted as reason enough for the Rangers Brass to have acted with such impunity to date--almost as if they knew that getting off was not only likely but a foregone conclusion. How many would mourn their passing?

He shoots! He Scores!

At the brink one tends to suddenly face up to the financial gravity of the situation and the ultimate effect on all of Scottish Football. If Rangers did go to the death their fans , wherever they may be in Scotland, have to find a team to support so the selected team will surely benfit and some may do so mightily . This is as true in Inverness as in Glasgow and I would wager that the majority of current rangers fans would have little difficulty in switching over to the local team, ICT. Celtic would suffer financially--how could they do otherwise? If the effect of that was to cut them down to a lesser size then such a humbling excperience for them and their fans may not be the worst thing that could happen to either them or to Scottish football. And, in general terms, my belief is that it would result in a breath of fresh air flowing through the Scottish game which must have beneficial results. As for tradition, ultimately everything dies, unless we, the fans, are immortal. So, one tradition is replaced by another and we all move on. Change, like death, is inevitable. So live with it, adapt and flourish. Unfortunatel,y Rangers demise has been brought on not by the natural decline of advancing age but because of the irresponsible financial transactions done by an owner(s) and Board who are probaby too big for their boots and too wealthy to care that much about the consequences in the final analysis. But, taking on the HMRC is a very dangerous game because that institition is not known for their leniency, empathy, or the level of human kindness flowing through their veins being very high....more like it being akin to lower than a skunk's belly. If they let Rangers F C off the hook in any realistic way then you will at least once in your lifetime be privy to a miracle and the undeniable fact that money talks and influences them as well. However, I don't believe that will happen and Rangers could be facing the end of the road.