Scarlet Pimple

What he needs to do is keep driving forward at speed and do a lot of wee flicks at the right time in or near the box. What the team needs to do is not to isolate him on the wing but give him plenty of the ball--'tis the only way to build up his confidence because every time he does something right, or upsets the opposition, his confidence in his own ability will increase . Just a thought from the Ruminator. ;)

Weir , Manager of Hamilton Accies, is on the radio today singing the praises of Richard Hastings, That illustious Canadian who did a good job for Caley thistle for years. Funny isn't it how ICT under a certain Manager did not favour him and he was let go when Weir says he "is doing a great job and is a true professional.I hear they let him wrap the red Canadian flag around his shoulders to kep warm on the bench. Adds a touch of class and colour to the proceedings methinks. ;) Anyway I saw him a couple of tims at Tulloch Stadium and was impressed by his work rate and non-flashy but effective play so...any comments? Bit of a terrier at times too. Was it a mistake to let him go then? Conments....? :)

The benefit of scoring goals against weaker opposition is that it boosts the confidence. Or it goes to the head and in due course has the effect of undermining it. Let's see what happens :angry:

Ross County is going down.

Good morning, al; Got up this morning at 7a.m.Pacific Time but found that no game was being broadcast. After'phoning Gordon Brown In Westminster I was advised that U.K. had been put back one hour without my being informed.There was the relief of knowing that I had not changed my name to Ripper Van Winkle and that I was not operating in a time warp. although Manfer might disagree !! :025: So the rare event of being the second poster on here has happened. And in one minute we will be off at the races. Hmmmm,,, C.mon the Caley thistle.

It's not dealing in negativity to face up to what Caley Dr rightfully said about the much stronger position that ICT developed in the past few years -----on every level ------compared to the current situation he describes simply from looking and seeing!!!!!!!. Going down and down on every level. Reputation, respect, league position, whatever. Allowing this to drag on for much longer, which it will, IMHO, will damage ICT greatly.As I have said on here recently, Goodwill is important in any busines and this whole affair had apparently degenerated into a mud-slinging, very unsavoury affair which probably (not possibly) will end badly. Anyway all we can hope for is that some kind of compromise will eventually be worked out.

If he can use that pace to drive to the goal-line and cut a hard cross across the face of the goal then he would be great for this team.

Truthfully it's all about money--i.e the lack of it at the club. There is no desire to fritter it away on fruitless ventures like this which do not produce a profit. (their view, not mine). As a community based club, the question of doing it for the community of fans, wherever they may be , should be a concern for this club as well . Should they be willing to at least try, it would go a long way to erasing the sometimes very negative and somewhat jaundiced view of the Management held by several well-meaning fans whom one can only assume are not considered important enough by the said Management to even bother responding to their emails. Scotty has said in the past that he has not received the courtesy of a reply from officials of the club on different issues and that is also my persoanl experience too, so I am left scratching my head wondering what the good and loyal fan has to do to initiate a genuine communication to explore such matters. Dead ends rarely contribute positivity to anything. My view is that their attitude is extremely short-sighted and negative and should be consigened to the dustbin forthwith. Goodwill is important in any business and if you never ask the customer what they think of your service because you are too complacent enough to want to hear their answer, or are equally afraid to face up to the suggestions and constructive criticisms, then you are missing ouit on a opportunity to leearn from your mistakes and imrove your service to the paying client. If I am not mistaken, this question was raised in a past issue of Boardroom Banter and the answer was short and sweet- "we do not have the available funds to consider this as a viable option at this time. Period." All it needs is for these executives to say, "well, if you want to arange something that will find favour with the fans and it will be at minimal expense to us, ICT, then we would be willing to give it our review and possible sanction" and the odds are that this could be got off the ground. There seems to be a groundswell of opinion on here from not only overseas fans but from all parts hat this would be a very welcome and positive step. Hope springs eternal in the human breast And folks who don't answer your communications are not getting in my nest. SIGH! :023:

Sandy--imagine that. I found your book so funny that I nearly died laughing in parts. OBVIOUSLY it was written as a satirical plug for the Ferry and Inverness and was designed not to be taken VERY seriously. Shoot! And I thought it was all about real characters too. :023: Yet we have more whining and negative criticism like the last post.Must be a wee bit dispappointing for you. Folks, if you want a l;ight read to settle down your High Blood Pressure this one will do it. Superb book for me. :( Er....in your next novel will yopu feature the adventures of Scarlet...... :016: ?

Scotty All your comments are good and all noted. On reflection you could be close to the truth on several of them.However, I am all for trying, that's all I ask of our team. And as far as player loans were concerned my ideas were also about getting up-and-coming youngsters involved primarily. Some might have come over to the U.K. and dcided to stay and ICT youngsters who could be sent over to North America would benefit greatly from the experience for them, bringing back a dfifferent perspective on life and football and with new ideas about this and that. However, I was stunned by your references to 4,000 pounds per week, etc. Are you quite sure that you don't mean dollars? It was about a year ago since I wrote the first time and I remember looking up the online list of MLS salaries for all the players and the yearly totals came to nothing as high as $7,000 a week or $370,000 per annum. Much less than that otherwise I would have realised that their salary was way above what Caley thistle would be willing to pay. I think I figured that it might just be in the range of 2,000 pounds per week or about $3,600 per week. I know that the exchange rates have dropped a ton since then so it is difficult in such an unstabkle exchange market to judge any values accurately nowadays.

Is that a foregone conclusion or a forlorn conclusion? :005:

I dobt very much that he is very happy about his current position at ICT. If he fails here and is transferred, his career may be winding down. Meantime it's not his fault that Brewster paid so much for hima nd he can spend his money any way he pleases. Puts money back into the aliing economy does it not?

Only two hamburgers eh, Caley D? Of course, one for you and one for that nice lady you met down at the Herbertstrasse no doubt. Figures. :023: So in Hamburg the submarine sandwiches have now been replaced by hamburgers have they? Huh!! Like..the U Boats have been replaced by Newtco Diving Bells then? Oh, and one other question ..Frankfurt--was that Frankfurt Am Main or Frankfurt An der Oder? It's just that the frankfurters are different in each city... Just asking :005: Now back at the ranch... A negotiated settlement would have been the best option all round. But if ICT continue to try to win this case it will have to have documentary evidence to back it up, OR statements backed up by witnesses who have signed legal afficdavits to the effect that they heard whatever is supposed to have been said. One wrinkle, however, is that nowhere on this thread do I recall any report by any ICT official as having said categorically that "We will not be able to meet his salary next season"or "We cannot meet his salary next season" which is a different matter to something like " We might not be able to .....". The latter is just a speculative statement and supposition whereas the former is much more definitive. A speculative statement cannot be defined as one which automatically would put the "For Sale" sign up because it relates to a future event which is not currently known to be a fact and which also might never happen at all. So they may have a strong case on that point, saying in their court affidavits that that cannot be held against the club since in fact it was stated merely as an opinion , conveying nothing relating to actual definite future intent. The statement by the club that Marius was entitled to the percentage is a different matter and cannot now be contested by the club since it is on record. Apparently it is also in the contract. End of story. I believe Stevico when he says that an offer of a negotiated settlement by either party could have resolved the dilemma amicably without all this rancour and name calling. Yet it appears that Marius gained more from his association with ICT than the club has now received in NET benefits from their association so an offer of a negotiated settlement by Marius would appear to me to continue to be an appropriate and generous course of action for him to make and for the club to accept graciously. If the club remained obdurate and refused to negotiate, their case could be weakened but for Marius , although an offer from him could be perceived as a weakening of his position, I think that in the long run his approach would be seen to be in a much more favourable light and be to his ultimate benefit. It might also allow the club to save face because, right now, worrying about that that could be leading them down a dangerous path that could prove to be very costly in the end. Cutting losses, and allowng each party to come out of this with some dignity, seems to me to be the best way to go for both parties. Will it happen....maybe, but IMHO not likely. What do you think Stevico? Is that an option now in your view or have things gone too far to be turned round? :023:

Steady the Buffs! These are only the bare facts and coming from a man who has just lost his kilt darte we say a Bare Buff?

I sent videos of Dwayne di Rosario , formerly of Houston and latterly of Toronto F.C. ,with strong recommendations to view and consider. Why? Because the man is a dynamo!!!!And his scoring record is writ large. Further suggestions were made to the club to establish a connection with one of the North American clubs for a whole variety of reasons, all rational. all good and all likely to promote the interests of the club. The outcome....all missives were ignored by the recipent to whom it was addressed. There is no doubt that the club does not value suggestions or advice from overseas residents or have the slightest intention of expanding their visions or horizons in this connection by adopting one or any of the these suggestions. The question of an exchange of promising players on loan was raised which seemed to me to be a logical component of the framework of such a connection. Again , ignored. The question of the playing of matches in North America (Celtic made a fortune from this the last time they were over and they only played one or two matches) was highlighted as a worthwhile spin-off from the making of such connections, designed to make money for the club, to improve their worldwide visibility and encourage young players to consider a spell with the club in the future. Again, ignored, as was the implication that they might learn something about advertiusing and club promotion from the Americans and Canadians but the club appreaently prefers anonymity, stoic and pedestrian promo attitudes and a reluctance to think outside the box (for want of a better analogy). So this thread may be amusing but ICT are missing out on immense opportunities to increase their profile and act positively to enhance the strength of the club by treating suggestions like this from overseas fans as valueless. And they should answer all communications from well-intentioned persons with at least a courteous acknowledgement within a day or so because it is not only good mamnners but it makes perfect sense in terms of club public relations and it does not make perfect sense to antagonise well-intenmtioned and polite persons.

Early days the noo. He will not resign and why should he , so relatively early on in the season? He will not be sacked because he is on a contract and would cost too much to buy out. Further, the club must persevere with him for at least one season and will renew his contract at the end of it unless the situation is horrific. Now, methinks, end of thread.

A good team should bounce back Captain but this team does not have the pexperience or the players I fear. But you never know.......?

Yes Hart had heart! But the Club will never bring him back. But he was a driver and a worker. ICT always had a flair player in their ranks. Now ......? Well, hate to be too pessimistic but maybe them thar days have gone.

If he works as hard as you say then he shpould be in the team as an example to the other players of what effort, determination and application can achieve. Well done David.

Smart man is Caley D.

Bidog You deserve applause for the best post on this forum for a long time. :021: :021: :021: :021: :021: :021: The modern game has lost it's way with player permutations that rival stale bread for edibility and excitement. 4 players up front should be the minimum. Five would be better. Everything that has been said on this thread so far is true :---- Bottle it up, defend and pass back is the order of the day. No thought of playing flat -out attacking football and leaving two full backs, one centre half and two half-backs to cope with the opposition. Like in the "old" days. What was wrong with the old permutations anyway--show me what all the modern blackboard changes have accomplished in terms of entertainment for the fan that is so great. Rarely do you see a game with more than two or three goals at the most ..and so on. But....it will not happen until there are no fans left so don't hold your breath. Terry Butcher has only one salvation available to him --play flat out attacking fottball and have a minimum of four forwards up at all times. At least if the team goes down he will have given it his all. :025:

Johnboy If you want flair and players like Jimmy Johnstone and Georgie Best in the modern game I am afraid you are going to wait a long time. Tactics, and what you rightly said are the killers of the entertaining game, are the reason. It's all about one "striker" up front instead of five forwards. It's all about 4-2-4's and 2 for 1's and on and on about boxes and permutations of players and personally speaking I don't see what positive difference has been accomplished when you compare the modern game with the "old" much more fluid and flowing game. I once saw East Fife versus Stehousemuir many, many years ago in a lower division and remember it as a very exciting game. All five forwards were charging down the field in a line across the park with the ball flowing from one to the other , as in a rugby game. The final shot nearly cracked the cross bar in two. It was beautiful , skillful, flowing football and a joy to watch. Guys like Georgie Best would probably be slaughtered by incompetent full-backs these days where falling-around and cheating and crying the blues to the referee at every tackle is so prevalent in the modern game.Some players have developed feigning injury and executing various pained expressions on their faces after a tackle to an art form these days.But watching the likes of George Best or Lionel Messi is worth the price of admission alone. So if you want entertainment then T.B. will have to bring back Lionel and put him in the middle of the park and just "Tel" him to be......Lionel. And if Ross is anything as good a player as you say he is then he should be in the team because football should be about entertaining the paying customer who go there once per week to forget about the boredom and sorrows of their daily lives.Otherwise , sigh, I am afraid that................... THEY WILL STOP COMING.

Dear , dear! No killer instinct. Terry, where are you when we need you ?

I am afraid that Rooney will take a while to mature. Has touches but not dynamic enough for ICT. IMHO

Scotty USL final game in Toronto (or is it Montreal) today. Winner takes all for thius season. Montreal versus Vancouver Whitecaps. Can you check it out on the TV> and see what you think of the Whitecapstalent and pace. 3 p.m. in Montreal i think. Cool and wet here in the West.