Scarlet Pimple

Interesting site. Good common sense remarks from some fellas on there.Philadelphia has a lovely stadium right on the water there. Very scenic. Rivals Tulloch fer heavens's sake! The last game I saw last year was Vancouver versus Portland Timbers at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C., in which Portland won 0-1. Their team was unexceptional but managed to absorb whatever pressure that Vancouver threw at them. I remember it was a bit of a towsy game with both teams not looking too likely to score. This, of course, was not the MLS (Major League Soccer) but the next dvision down. There was, and is, a stark difference between the size of the crowds though as I mentioned in my last thread on the subject. Night and day, like. In North America there just seems to be so much money available for sporting teams that owners' ambitions have no fetter when it comes to spending money. But that has always been an American trait--i.e their willingness to take risk and spend a dollar to make a dollar in business--something I really do admire. Steve Nash, the hugely successful Basketball star from Vancouver, who I think was the NBA star last year and who incidentally is also a good soccer player, is apparently involved with the Whitecaps as an Investor as is Arthur Griffiths who used to be the owner of the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team. The Canucks are simply running away with the National Hockey League this year.Their success this year have people finally hoping that this will be their year to win the Stanley cup and well they might. Top of the North American League and win after win just flowing from their brilliant hockey is a harbinger of success in the playoffs, which are about to start very soon. They have the SEDIN twins playing together as one unit and watching their stick handling is pure joy to behold. I guess when you are on $6 million and counting per annum you kinda have to be really good..eh? So the Management consortium at the Whitecaps is putting their money where their mouth is and reminiscences of that great year,1979, when they won the North American soccer league in the last game of the season keep coming back by those of us who were there that afternoon.That was the era of Peter Beardsley and that famous Dutch player coach whose name escapes me. I think that we will both be taking a considerable interest in the MLS season as it progresses but Toronto were more lively a couple of days ago and they certainly were not a bad team when they came here--they just came up against a large, bustling and mighty determined athletic team in Vancouver on the first day of the season and did not capitalise on their first half superiority. Simple. Enjoyed the linky there Scotty. Cheers

Yes it was Scotty--I did see quite a bit of that game on the telly and was pleased to see Toronto has recovered from that frenetic match against Vancouver last week. Your team looked more determined to get the ball up the park and there seemed to more urgency and determination in it. There was some good football on display. And these crowds -wow--I wish we had these at Tulloch. Another 23,000 I would guess. Looks like both Toronto and Vancouver might do very well this season.

A son of the chieftain of the clan MacBean originally came from the South West of Scotland with his entourage as the consort type of protector for the journey North of a princess from a clan that came up from that area who came north to marry a Mackintosh chief as I recall. The Mackintoshes, the MacPhersons, the Davidsons and the MacBeans then formed the Clan Chattan which became powerful and influential in the North of Scotland over a long period of time..MacKintosh was the head of that union for the most part. The MacBeans settled in the Dores area of Inverness where the clan lands , or what is left of them, still remain. The other branch of the clan had the surname of MacBayne and took up residence in the Dingwall area of the county of Ross. There is a famous hotel on the outskirts of Dingwall (sorry the name eacapes me at the present time which now does a lot of weddings, etc, and which has a haunted history from its days as a castle)which was the clan "seat"of the MacBaynes a long time ago. So Roy probably descended from that branch and is in good company. Hopefully the club could find it's way to have a benefit match for him . He certainly deserves it.

Surprised to see the words you use Harry. Who is or was bitter? Why would anyone be THAT bitter about a young man who did not make it at ICT? ICT had the right to move him along because their reponsibility primarily is to the success of the team as a whole and to the paying public. Rory was simply a player who did not perform at the level required at the time he was here. It is also true, however, that from the reading I did he was the target of a lot of ridiculous comments and abuse. Maybe he looked older than his years but he did not deserve the stupid barracking etc that he endured. THAT was unfair and more than a little insensitive and cruel. Maybe Brewster was unable to cosset him and bring him along but.... maybe this and maybe that. I do think he had more than a fair chance in the many appearances that he had. Nick Ross is younger than he was and he has managed to take advantage of his chances. It's always up to the player what effort he puts into his play and how he performs. It's all about character and hard work and determination and at that time he did not fit in so he moved on. So?? We all wish him well and if he develops into a greater player well done to Rory McAllister. Hope you are very successful RR.

Just another c-ck and bull story.

Oh, and I completely agree that Terry must now adopt a more attacking formation and action. But I have been saying that for ages and it never seems to happen. If he did, at least he has a chance of getting into the top six but pure defense, or close to it, will bore the fans to death and probably not get a win. The fans surely come for entertainment and deserve this and more. Vancouver Whitecaps started their journey back into Major League Soccer in North America yesterday by winning their first game, in Vancouver, 4-2 against Toronto. But they won big. And wide and handsome. Having scoured the world for talented players they seem to have produced a very good, aggressive and determined team. Sure ; this was a huge opening game for them with a lot at stake,the pitch looked great, the sun was high in the heavens , the backdrop of sun-drenched and snow-covered North Shore mountains looked spectacular, the 22,000 crowd was in roaring form and enjoying every minute of it, but the players were keyed up and nervous energy oozed out of them. So, it was hell for leather right from the opening whistle and it turned out to be a cracking game where no fan was bored at any time. And the pace was just frenetic,the tackles sometimes crushing and excitement boiled over more than once. I have to say it --the ref was also great without being over dramatic and allowed the play to flow rather than blowing for every tin-pot infraction..Very impressive performance. In short, festive, dynamic football at it's best with a standard of pace, ball control and skill that frankly surprised me. And the goals were cracking too with some great moves spiced up with some terrible howlers in defence. The bottom line was that the players put a great deal of energy and fizz into the play and the big crowd had a ball, creating a terrific atmosphere by cheering and cheeringn the players. So, maybe ICT is a team that is just tired and jaded and all these winter worries, delayed games etc is simpoly too much for the SPL> Time for Summer football folks--long ovredue. from Western Canada.

Does anyone think Terry could be pushing the players too hard. That sounds odd doesn't it? But, the expectations have been high all through the season and he certainly knows how to rave and outwardly express both his negative and positive emotions volubly. Maybe inspirational and rousing speeches could now motivate the players better than admitted half-time rants. I am not suggesting a lack of firmness, which undoubtedly some players need to get them going, but is it possible that some of the criticism is personal in any way? The counter to these thoughts is the roasting that Hearts Manager gave his players yesterday at half time which was indtrumental in rousing the players to get the win and keep running at Saints until the end of the game. Go figure. It's puzzling . Comments ?

Is Terry trying out different players and combinations for some unknown reason? For next season perhaps? Finding a settled team may be difficult when injuries have severely impacted the team and he may well be trying to decide which player should be allowed to leave at the end of the season. And is just giving them a final chance or two to convince him of their value. And playing certain players whose form has not been inspiring seems to be counterproductive to anything. Unless heis doing this to save another player who is not fully fit or for the reason I suggest in paragraph 2,above? Hopefully he will decide soon on this because otherwise Top 6 may be a pipedream.

Any word of Jonny's progres? Bring on Doran , or McDonald, or both if they feel thet Odi should be ..well..rested . Gillet is not on the field is he?

Especially when your name is Pernis..................

Thee you go. It'''''s the Man Fer The Job on the ball.

Och! When are you U.K. fellas and fella-esses gonna get into sync with North American time changes. Sigh. Old Scarlet canna keep up with all this malarkey

O.K. Just been following the Killie match V Motherwell:= 1. Unjust penalty against motherwell. Killie score and a near riot erupts--3 officials race onto the pitch. Eremenko really tuirns it on for Killie. "He has given a Master Class in silky football today" 2. Ref is Mike Tunmilty--wasn't he the allegedly one-sided ref who had the Caley V Celtic match and never saw a few things. 3. Killie were playing dynamite silky football today--referred to by one adoring fan as "Scotland's answer to Barcelona." "Is there any other team in Scotland that can beautiful football like that?" he asks

Any action yet? No goals I take it?

Yngwie was right. and so was Ginger Jaggie. When Celtic scored just before half time that turned the tide and gave them the ascendancy. Jonny came on too late and like most of the Caley Players was encircled by Celtic players as soon as they attempted to move on the attack and never got out of the groove. On the other hand ,what I saw in the 2nd half indicated that ICT players never closely marked any of the Celtic players who, as a result, had plenty of space to run and pass. And so their passing was very good in midfield but I was not THAT impressed at their attempts to score close in to the goalmouth. ICT did play quite well with some controlled passing but never got close enough to goal to trouble the Celtic defence and their goalie was good too(2nd half) That video link was not half bad though. I only saw the second half but the video was better than nothing at all being available on the airwaves. Oh well, next season beckons.

Drochit Blue ..check your PM's Ta!

So what you are referring to is the Hitler-era HINDENBURG travel balloon. Oh well, that didn't last long either-the hydrogen used to inflate it caught on fire and the rest is history.

Well Caley Stan , at the risk of posting a ribald remark, you know the answer to that one......:----- S F A Or, to put it more succinctly : -- Same old, same old!

I don't always agree with Charles Bannerperson but I have given him a green point in each of his last two posts because he talks common sense and I find his passionate presentations perfectly-polished, polite and proppa. Also, Charlie has a good brain (c'mon people, it's true) and the Pimple has tried to hack into it more than once and has been rebuffed in a state of perplexed confusion. No doubt it is his profession that has allowed him to build up his impenetrable, shy reserve (sometimes grossly mistaken by some of the younger set in the ICT proletariat as snobbery) but one day he will give it all up and finally be able to relax with a wee drammie in his hand and more than a tale of two cities on his professorial,literary lips. I raise my glass to a Man of Letters blue and Stalwart Statistics. A Lad O' Pairts, and no mistake. And to Caley Mad in Berks I seek to make his day by advising that he also has received a green dot for reminding us all of his advanced age and knowledge concerning the Jupie Mitchell, Ginger MacKenzie team which was my introduction to Caley at the even more advanced age of 11 years old at that precise moment in time. Who can forget the worn wooden steps of the tree-lined Telford Street terraces of yore? Yes, CMIB,these were the days and regarding those few remaining fans who still bears grudges about the Merger, I say a pox on all their houses. Just get off your huffy, backward-facing chairs and support the heroic ICT who have done us all VERY proud from the City of Inverness over these 17 long years of unbelievable advancement Against All Odds. Do not bear grudges because you are the ones who are losing out on some great games of football and, sadly, you are the loser not ICT.

But I think that someone should spend a pound or two on some feed for the hoss. He looks like he could do with a good feed, fer heavens' sake. Looks poorly, like. Mind you an 8 hp car probably does not need too much fuel but it's not right to starve a horse just recently arrived from Bergen-Belsen. Shame......

Thank you Scotty --not a problem. I thought it would in all likelihood be something like that. You have too much on your plate I think.! Which probably means that you are not coming through to Fanny Couver for the opening MLS match then? Wanderer--appreciated! I am now onto it--I like Caley Thistle goals Ha! By the way , guys, the Celtic match in Inverness on Wednesday is being broadcast video-wise from the usual place and we are not Prepared2Pay anything which is good.

Physically he is very tall and strongly-built and the one failing that I felt he had when I saw and spoke to him in Vancouver a few years ago when he was in the under 19 team was that he was not determined and aggressive enough. He does have a hard and very good shot but his shooting can be wild and wasteful at times. Maybe he lacks a bit of self-confidence too. What I saw was that he did not impose himself on a game, tended to run around in circles a bit and not just run like hell at the goal, intimidating the defence with his size, to try a shot. I am sure that opposition defences could find him a handful though if his passion and desire could be upped--compare with the likes of Hayes , Doran and McDonald currently playing in our frontal areas and you will get the picture--and he is probably much bigger than any of them. However, I am pleased for him and wish him well in his future career. I can't see him back at ICT though--not quite the spark there that I feel might be necessary for him to succeed at Tulloch but you never know how wrong you can be, so.......

Smarty pants. Grrrr :biggrin:

Kilda Give it to your boss! He will be impressed by your generosity and your accompanying selfless offer to run his business for the day. And, when our boys win the game, he will never forget you. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, you will work like a beaver and increase his sales attracting his eternal eye-opening gratitude. Thus all' well that ends well and -have a nice day.

Not if they arrive , bedraggled and in great discomfort after a harrowing journey, to find that Caley Thistle are already 2 up.