Scarlet Pimple

Wanderer confirmed my previous advice about the physicality of Soviet Bloc football. My wife had a friend in Odessa, Ukraine, whose hubby was a player and what I gained from what she said about him was that it was a profession which you did to avoid the coalminesand that he spent a lot of time on the table getting treatment for his injuries. So It woudl appear that if Adam is very serious about this supposed bid from the Russians then he should make a proviso in the contract that at the very least they fly him out to the town to have alook around. He won't know what is about to hit him, however,since the stars in his eyes and the thought of all the lolly will lull him into a false sense of reverie. 12 years ago (and apparently virtually nothing has changed much in Ukraine)I stepped off the plane in Odessa, Ukriane, as a guy with an AK47 submachine gun stood at the top of the aircraft stairs glowering at me as I exited the 'plane and carried my wee bag past him.Then someone tried to steal my case off the luggage carousel in the dingy airport whilst I let out a stentorian roar "HEH! all of which aroused the very noisy mirth of the assmebled passengers whilst said thief made off fast into the night.The next shock was watching parking tickets being handed out by coppers also carrying loaded AK47's, crumbling buildings, parks that looked as if the grass had been mown only once in a few years and so on . Nothing wrong with the people and they might take to Adam but it is he that will need a monumental adjustment in his psychologiocal make-up. Oh and that is not even talking about the corruption. You need a deep pocket for bribes to get anywhere or anything. Taxis are no probl, however, --you just wave down the nearest car and hand him a few rubles (rooblays) and Bob's yer uncle. I ended up leaving Odessa after 3 weeks really in a bit of a state of depression since I was very sad thinking that it is a damn shame that the very poor people anywhere had to live in such conditions. I also thought that it would be a damn good thing if all the children in Canada were sent over there on some kind of exchange programme so that they could come home and appreciate all that they have in this country and how well-off and blessed we have with all our relative wealth and freedom. And that is it from me--$100,000 is too small for ICT to reap a decent amount of money if they have to pay out 40% to the other club but they maybe would be advised to accept a larger bid since for sure he will be offski somewhere else in the not too distant future. Good luck to Adam wherever he ends up --it will at least be a learning experience for him, albeit he may be a bit too young to be thrown into the bearpit quite yet. It might either make him or break him methinks.

I slept in for this one. Doesn't appear to have been a very supercaleyfragilistic performance. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that there is a gradual improvement and maybe some new (loan?) players will come in shortly. I haven't seen Odihamabo too much but from the video that I have seen it may be that he is shy of a tackle and is not too robust--a question of his notbeing too willing to commit himself to going after the ball is it? Pity that he does not have more drive since he is speedy enough and has some skill but methinks the grit may be missing. Comments please. Good for Dani--maybe he has a bit of grit and determination to make a real contribution and to succeed.Should get his chance for sure from now on because something seems to be missing a bit in the team. It's very difficult to comment fairly from overseas because we only get snippets of video to review games and performances.Sigh. Scarlet

Rooney is a big, strong boy and can barge his way through and round players at a fast rate of knots. He is dangerous. But his goal talley would not look quite so impressive if the penalties were taken off. Not to say that it is a sin to take penalties since he usually scores and usually with a brammer of a shot, so I suppose he should get the coal tally credit so long as he can keep putting them away. If the Russians are offering 10K a week then that is an incredible amount of money, especially in Russia where the going can be really physicslly tough snd ..well.. jealousy amongst other players in other teams , etc, may play a part in his diminishing performance. I think Adam would ne be better to consider a good offer in England or just sign the ICT offer and spend another year in Inverness developing his skill and reputation further.

Shoot! Never thought of that.

The time is here for change. The senior officials of the SFA are, however, still clinging to the past but refer to admit it and change, as if it is a beautiful Princess but in reality they really view it as a Cinderella. Their claptrap is for effect not reform. If they are astute enough to actually agree that change is now mandatory then they had better have a renaissance in their thinking because the word radical-about-face has not yet apparently entered their Dictionaries. It's all window dressing and all about money--not player development within the Scottish fabric and not about the fans wishes for sure. And it sure as heck is not about change with the gloves off and a hell-for -leather approach to welcoming change with open arms. It's "well, er, we do want it but ...er, we can't really do it the way they want without having to wring our hands, go bankrupt and we won't be able meet the demands or expectations of the Old Firm ---ad infinitum . I like the post from the lad who says.."who the heck are Rangers and Celtic anyway, this is 2010 not 1956?" He is right, there are more than two good teams in the SPL.And all the teams should get a far greater share of the pie. In other words it's "same old, same old" self-serving attitude from the bodies at the top of the SFA but they want to dress it up in crinoline and lace when they actually see it as a frilly frock underpinned with cotton bloomers which they do not think needs changing yet. The real problem is the Beaks and not Scottish Football. The top of the SFA needs gutting and fresh attitudes and dynamic thought , like what Scotty refers to in North America,is a must.So is amalgamation of all the bodies in football so that there is only one overarching supervisory body. And a minumim of 14 teams and a max of 16.

AS far as A Rooney's goals tally is concerned I think it must be remembered that he's been allowed to take quite a few penalties which have boosted his tally. He is still a young player and he might easily come a cropper if and when he moves on.On the other hand I will be surprised if he goes to a Russian club.By the time he has mastered even rudimentary Russian he may be so homesick that he will be back within a year.

I don't know how old you are but if you have it done at all you are taking a big risk. I am also assuming that you are referring to the "Lasik" surgery where the front of the cornea is excised or trimmed so that you don't have to wear glasses afterwards. You should read up on it online and you will find that it does carry serious risks. I would never have it done and I advised my 32 year-old stepson not to have it done.When he read what I had found online about this procedure he turned away from it. You simply cannot trust Doctors who are profitting handsomely from these procedures to tell you the truth but some are bold enough to at least state the risks clearly online. It could turn out that the results obtained, if apparently good,last only a relatively short time and you would then be faced with another similar procedure. Apart from the cost, which I assume is very high in the U.K. (I have a friend who paid one thousand pounds for one cataract removal and lens replacement which is about a half-hour in time,with the cost of the lens to the physician allowing for a significant profit for him/her). You will also have to put drops into that eye about 3 times a day for probably 6 months. I am also informed by a surgeon that the eye is naturally repairing itself regularly but you have to remember that this op is a radical altering of the normal structure of the eye and they can't guarantee anything. I am undergoing treatment for a burst blood vessel behind the retina. The retinal surgeon told me that "they won't pay for it-referring to the eye injection that is required as the only treatment to inhibit the growth of tiny new veins which themselves exude fluid.The fluid builds up behind the macula and distorts it and the vision. This person lied to me --I started to make enquiries after I was told it would cost me $300 per injection and after having agreed to the procedure I found out from a very high source in the B.C. medical profession that the cost of the drug to the surgeon was $13.13 and the balance of $287 went into the pockets of the surgeons . In addition, the Ministry of Health pays them an extra $175 per procedure. So, for the one minute of work to pick up the syringe and stick it into the eye this person made $462 less ths cost of the drug. According to my research and an article that appeared in the local paper written by a Doctor, under the Canada Health Act all patients who NEED a procedure must have it free of charge. So buyer beware! DON'T mess around with that most delicate and precious of instruments--your eyes.

And I am going to go and hug a polar bear.

If Gil is "pants" what's wrong with giving Sanchez a chance? And, if Rooney doesn't get better service soon, then he may be "pants" too. If these guys don't get a game it will be difficult to transfer them anywhere. I completely agree with Manfer--get out of this totally defensive outlook and start playing attacking football to win. We have lost three in a row and my heart is sair What's wrong? Why,we need impetuous flair And now the Pimple is off back to sulk in his Canadian lair. So there!

Is Duff naturally left footed ?

Bring on Sanchez and give the lad a xhance. Defence is fairly solid so...why not? Comment?

Radio commentary is being heard by us in Canada today despite the blurb below the console saying we are not going to get it unless we are in U.K. Yes! the line-up raised my eyebrows. Although I feeel nervous, maybe they will come on to a game as they settle. That back line has experience. I like Duff because he is a cool head and likes to run up the park with the ball. If Blumenshtein gets a game then maybe he will bloom....... OMG ;Parkin had a chance---just couldn't park it.................

Unforgettable! And Caley D, I have given you a star or a point for a timely reminder of the great work obviously done behind the scenes throughout the year. Some great preview reports there and TMFTj has done an exceptional job as you rightly say Have great New Year. Scarlet

And let's hope that Gillette is back soon for the left back berth and is as sharp as a razor.

Rgardless of whether Esson took him down or not that lad was never going to catch up with that ball before it went over the bye-line.Even if he had got a toe to it where was he going to put it with his back to the goal and stretching out just to nick it. By the time he even would have touched it, I think the defence would have been back. Anyway, it was a real soft penalty and one that ICT did not need at that point in the game. Killed the game for sure and took the steam out of it for the spectators who are paying the bills. Revise Scottish football?--then start with eradicating penalties which would , substantially, also eradicate the other scourge of the game which is increasing by the minute----and that is "diving". In a situation like that what is the point in giving a penalty? No common sense and just slavish falling back onto the sterile rules. Do away with penalties anyway, I advocate. Spoils the whole game--give a foul exactly where the incident happened and leave it at that.The attacking team has a very good chance of scoring and watching a good stramash int he goalmouth is far more exciting than watching an almost dead cert goal. Just suck it up boys and let's keep the team going. Nothing else for it IMHO.

Coggie Bob--was your last question rhetorical, then? :biggrin: A Greek team became accustomed to printing their programmes with the players' surnames first followed by their initials. This continued until one day a new player's name appeared in the list---Mustafa.P. Due to the hilarity that swept the stands as the player raced to the tunnel at half-time, they changed the printers.

Didn't see or hear the game today but note that there are some thoughtful posts above. It will also be interesting to see whether or not Terry will react to what some posters feel is a one-dimensional approach by the team (which also includes the results of his decisions and selections of course--that's why it's called a team) by making significant changes. In short, how flexible and immediate will the Manager's response be?

Juanjo--that's the man. It came back to me a couple of hours after I forgot it. -- see what you have to look forward to. One day you wake up and you are in your dotage. Then I read Caley D, IHE , Manfer, Georgios, Doofer's Dad, Yngwie, Mantis, Pull My Finger and many others and I feel I am back in the land of the living..sigh! I just love my daily fix of text-geratrol.

If we think that the views of the few posters on here, relative to the size of the crowds at Tulloch Stadium on match day, has much of an influence on the players and the total crowd dynamic then we small band of posters have delusions of grandeur. I feel certain that they all pay much more attention to Terry than to any of us. However, I feel that attack is the best form of defense --AND leads to a more entertaining brand of football for the paying patron. Honest endeavour going forward will always be a better crowd-pleaser than deliberate,doughty defending. And that's my tuppence worth the noo.

There seems to be some reasoning on behalf of DeRosario that Toronto FC promised to pay him a salary at a certain level and then welched on the deal. Is that correct Scotty? If the club feel that they really have a big grievance with Dero going behind their back then why not sue Celtic for being an accessory to an illegality. That will sure hit the headlines and maybe stop this kind of farce happening again. If his demands are eventually met by , say, Celtic then if he fails he is in the doo-doo but if he is successful as a Celtic (or other SPL or English League) player then he will finally be able to set himself up financially but will probably restrict hi future playing carerer to British clubs.? Very energetic and influential player that's for sure. Toronto F.C do appear to be in a bit of a shambolic "behind the scenes" state at the moment if we believe all that is being written. I am not sure that the rougher SPL will be to his taste though. When I saw him play over here in Canada he always seemed to get plenty of space to run aboutin and I rarely saw him pulled down brutally. What doi you think Scotty. --think he will survive?

I was about to say..."bring back so and so" but I just had a senior moment! But you remember--you know that Spanish fella that used to play for Caley Thistle a few years ago, but went back to his native land, who could turn on the most wonderful stuff and score such heavenly goals .Diablo or something. A year ago he was wandering about Scotland trying to get a club and rumour had it that he was maybe going to sign for ICT again. ????????????????

Maybe Terry is Terryfied to make chnages that may not work and the team will start to lose and slide down the table. But Sanchez is a ball player is he not with good distribution powers? Seems like a good player to give the ball to in midfield in a stressful situation to steady the team, if that is so.

If we have to rely on Jonny being on the pitch to stave off defeat let alone win or draw then we are VERY vulnerable.If legs are tired and things are not going at all according to plan it seems like common sense to make changes earlier than later. And taking St Mirren lightly may also have been a factor. Interesting that Dargo was well up for it and still has the right stuff in his reservoir . Sigh! Let's move on, though, and hopefully learn from this experience. And, Terry, order the lads to be in bed by 9p.m. tonight and tomorrow night so that tiredness can't be used as an excuse for another loss. When you are fit then you are fit and you don't lose it in a week unless late nights or too much plum pud and drinkies are the real reason for sluggishness. ICT are definitely not out of the woods yet--look at the table. They have to be on form, sharp and ready to play against Killie.... or else. I see Dwayne De Rosario of Toronto F.C. may be about to have a trial at Celtic. I recommended that the Board take a very good look at this fella about 2.1/2 years ago but felt at that time that it would not happen..... more's the pity. Haven't seen De Rosario lately but in these days he was a constant mover and shaker and scored his share of goals.--a really inspiring player who was all over the park. Good engine on this guy.

The team? Too much Christmas pud in their bellies maybe?

Scotty, all noted.