Scarlet Pimple

What a signature--see you are truly becoming a Canajin more and more--after all it's only been years and years and years since you arrived on this fabled continent. Seen a few changes in that time.....eh? From rags and penury to riches and pennies.. LOL> Happy birthday Bob and many more to come I hope. From S.P, . Mz Moneypenelope, Agent Orange and his neophyte your brother who has just joined us and all the staff at the Hall .

Absent Friend--precisely, just what I have been saying for years ; use the wingers, get to the byeline, maybe get a corner as a consolation prize but hopefully cut a hard low ball right across the goal and anything can happen. A defender mis-kicking in panic, a forward rushing in or a simple deflection off anybody? How else, as someone says, can you break down four stalwart large defenders and get in close enough to goal without being offside? Wingers are the boys.

So it's not about winning or losing or getting points is it? It's really all about the existence or the absence of heart on the day....

Smee are you as old as The Scarlet One? If so do you remember the smoke from the burning Caley Stand in about 1951-1953? I remember smelling it! My , isn't that replacement stand so small? The first time I sat in it was about that time as well and I thought it was huge. Mind you, it was the only stand I had ever sat in so.......

What I am worried about is that the Board will react in a degree of panic due to the recent losses and make a costly mistake by hiring the wrong player(s) which will not do their budget the world of good. What do you think about Dargo returning? I am not a big fan of going back but ..well... are there positive points about re-approaching him? Say for a return until the end of the season--in this case he would have something to play for, a new contract at season's end, and maybe his confidence would return? And Dodds? Strengthening the defence is now IMHO critical to further losses . especially narrow losses. Was Didds also playing hard just for the possibility of a transfer? Why has he not been prominent in the D.U team to date? Why would he not fit in again for the same reasons as Dargo that I suggest above.? Comments?

Maybe Jim Traynor does not want them to talk about their own teams too often. There is too much money to be made on the radio by talking about Celtic or Rangers. And he needs a job--- that talks about monied teams.

He makes good points and any team or person can have a ghastly run of luck where nothing seems to go right and when you are down that is when you get your next kick in the pants , etc. However, if the team scores more goals than the other team then they win. "reasons " for not winning are acceptable in the short term but not in the long term because by then a definite trend becomes established. C'mon the Caley Thistle.

CB--yes I know from his sister in Inverness that Jim Smith is well established in Eastern Canada. Apparently he has been very successful and is now retired. He also spoke highly of the ICT club Management who treated him very well on the occasion of his last visit to Tulloch to ICT. A visit he thoroughly enjoyed .

It's called a parchute payment because it usually comes with a ticket to Arnhem.....

Bad habits Yngwie--can you explain?

Agree with Caley D --a moderate factual post.

Agree with Caley D --a moderate factual post.

I went to P2P for a soccer boost. What's on of interest.? Right now the womwen's under 17 world cup tournament IT's great.And free. Lots of effort, great skill, lots of goals, and of course some terrible howlers, exspecially from the goalies. Overall ...a great way to relax and the feeds are surprisingly very good for colour and definition.

The situation is on a knife edge. If the club are even contemplating refreshing the Manager's position can they afford to pay/buy off Mr Brewster's contract and the big question of who is available to step in at a moment's notice is paramount? One could speculate that little may have been done to review this question ,of immediate replacement, in the past few months so panic could occur in Management ranks if they think that an immediate change could be the only way to benefit the club and there is no viable alternative so to speak. On the other hand, if serious thought has been given to this and replacement is not viewed as a serious challenge sufficient to induce panic, the situation is more positive and likely to lead to a more deliberate and considerd decision.Which hopefully could resolve the financial challenge that sacking the Manager might preciptate? So the question of replacement now hinges on why should the Manager be replaced?--should it be because when crises arise it is the done thing to effect? ...OR, someone has to be a scapegoat?... OR ,well the players won't take the blame so what other choices are there in "this stalemate situation" ? Hopefully, if and when such a decision is made, the Board will openly inform the fans of the reasons not only to be fair to the Manager but to ensure that the fans perceive it to be fair. Many fans have the tendency to knee jerk a decision like this in situations where the team is having a bad run and immediately bray for the Board to take the easy way out by sacking the Manager--which of course implies that the Manager , for whatever reason, is completely to blame for the developing debacle which I assess may not in this case be entirely true. Then, again, the simple question arises--what does that say about the players themselves and what character are they displaying by not taking some of the blame and being happy in their silence to see the demise of a Manager whom they may simply dislike. Nowadays ,young persons in society do not respect authority as a matter of course thinking they are their equals and that may be a sign of the times but it also may be a sign of the gangrene that society is displaying in allowing these disfunctional societal tendencies to develop. In this circumstance it means that balance and proper teamwork do not exist otherwise this disharmony would not exist.And in this situation the club does not appear to have the resources to sack and replace every player who for any reason does not fit in and whose replacement may , or may not, fit in anyway. If Mr Brewster were to be asked to leave at any time in the future no doubt he would hopefully not suffer a long football decline and would gain meaningful employment ,with all his experience, soon thereafter. Also, bearing in mind that since it appears that he gets a hefty salar, one that I have no doubt many of us would take years to earn, it could be said that his financial suffering would not be great. It's not like he is on the Government pension is it? Waving a magic wand tragically will not improve this situation which is a difficult one for the club to resolve for the above, and other, reasons. I have no solution to offer, merely expressing some of the thoughts on both sides of the coin that may and should be considered. With the future health and welfare of the club as the main concern at all times. A person can falter and fall in life but heart, passion, vigour and determination to act correctly can always lead to a rise into better circumstances developing into success. Unfortunately a football club like Caley Thistle may not die to live again if they go down .......................... If push came to shove I think I would already have made my decision but I don't think it would be constructive to state what I would do or think would be the best course. That is entirely up to the Managers of the club to ponder.

Reminds me of the poor Polish (or Czech) sod who was tasered 4 times at Vancouver Airport just a few months ago .He arrived top visit his mother. Did not speak English and they put him into a sort of holding tank room (without food or water so it seems) for at least ten hours. Left him completely without communication with anyone, refused to allow his mother to see him . The man got stroppy and upset and scared and took a chair and slammed it into the window. 4 young strong cops arrived with tasers. Without warning ,as they approached him and he was not being aggressive just trying to communicate, one of them saps him. The effect was to double him up, then he turned away from them and staggered away from them. They then descended on him like a pack of vultures - another tasered him again and he fell. Then another whilst he was on the ground and he eventually lay still. Clearest case of murder that I ever saw. The cops denied that their game plan was to use him as a taser block (same as a chopping block but tasers instead of a sword etc) and the investigation is still ongoing. The footage was sensational and caused a right rumpus in the press and TV. But what happened ? NOTHING except "more reviews".

Hate to say it but this is another depressing thread So I have no choice but go off to bed Oh My! Do I hear the refreshing words ..."Well Said" ? Or are they just ..."Och , your'e a ned".

martinskye--if you are saying that you believe the Dingwallians that barrowman is a great strikerand will come good why do you think he has been so ineffective to date?

Your'e a good sport Stevico 1

Brewster waited a long and patient time to sign Barrowman but so far the player has not been successful. From what I saw of him recently I think he may lack the killer instinct. Runs hard enough if and when he gets the ball and is not good with his head. A more aggressive determined physical attitude might win him more balls and a few more positive comments. This is only my opinion but I think that perhaps he did hang out too long for a better offer indicating that he felt that he was a really fine player and that he could practically pick and choose which team to go to yet he has yet to prove that he is as good as we were all led to believe. I am not saying that he did not have the right to do what he thought was best for himself but the fall is higher from a position on high whereas people have a little bit more time for a player or guy with more modest initial ambitions in his career path....until he proves himself at a higher level. I feel that maybe Brew senses this but he is obliged to pursue playing him now for obvious reasons. But IMHO he has not tried hard enough to allow him come up to expectations. His fault or Brew's ? Whew! I don't know , maybe a combination of both. But compare him to Imrie who is a ball of aggressive nervous energy and you can see my point. The difference is that Imrie wants the ball and is willing to take on a player and have a go , as I saw it anyway? Anyway I hope he turns into a spellbinder but I just question his work rate and passion I suppose. Comments?

If the situation gets progressively worse would it call for decisive action? Only the shadow knows. I would like to be a fly on the wall when the financial report card is being examined prior to a decision like this. I agree basically with what Alex said and the last post is accurate in assessing the possibilities of being promoted quickly from the first Division. The answer appears to be that such a happening is problematical at best. In this situation , without an upbeat spirit within the team and the club it could be the dreaded doldrums ahead-- --because it has been the Highland spirit and persistence that has driven the team onwards every year but we don't seem to win many games nowadays at the last gasp do we? Shiver my timbers, the old tub needs a refit...aaaaarggh. :thumb04: Me throat's all parched , think I'll splice the mainbrace until tomoorow which they tell me will be another day.

Brew should get the togs on and play another game --maybe it will be some kind of incentive to the younger brigade to understand that a chance is a gift and you must try very hard indeed to AT LEAST get it on target ("cowie clean through and he hits the side netting").C'mon Brew, show how frustrated you are and get out on the park ...... I agree that seems to be the sad story this season of repetitive muffed or fluffed chances. Can't win games that way. Players maybe need to put in more work on the training ground and get lethal.On target a hard shot has a great chance of a score or a rebound and score. A hard shot one inch past the post is a waste. Like "a miss is as good as a mile". Do youthink that the next goal scored by ICT will stop the rot and be a great incentive to all the players? C'mon ICT.

So it's Rangers versus Falkirk at Ibrox then? Good pay day for whoever ,,,,,but not ICT ...GRRRRRRR. This is a non-controversial post from the Scarlet Pimple. Comments are optional---- so long as you don't hit me----------------------------------too hard!

OOPS! What have I started? Many good points have been made though. I am sorry but I strongly feel that the weather is not really a major part of the problem but high prices are.I am well aware that expenses of the club must be high but if the fanbase is dwindling is it NOT prudent to look at more flexible ways of attracting fans , with reduced pricing as one. At least try it for a few games , under the justification that you are rewarding fans for their loyalty, .i.e.nothing ventured nothing gained. Bucket--I did get your email and did respond--I'll send you another pm right now. Thanks for letting me know--very strange indeed.

ICT V Motherwell ...attendance down again this week; just over 3,000 East Fife v whoever (slipped my mind LOL) ....677 Remember East Fife were promoted this season and they still won with onbly 9 men on the park. Ross County versus .......whoever... ........... 232. Am I seeing things.. only 232 turn up at a promoted County stadium and the Dingwallians expect them to survive.? Was this attendance a mis-report? These are only 3 results that a sleepy Scarlet stumbled upon this evening. My question is this ...is the the writing on the wall? If money does not come in the door then the writing could be creeping steadily across the floor and the wall loometh. How can ICT DO anything to make this club progress steadily if this continues.Very little unless the wealthy come to the rescue -- like an Arabian Knight? Will the Management reduce prices ..they could, but my prediction is that they will not?--- Outdated policies die hard. Fear and indigent concern will trump decisive action. The disease needs radical cuts and radical thinking--enterprising courageous thinking designed to get more fans in the door, not less. And with the price of sport in general being really high and sport salaries being completely off the wall now and money, as a result, having taken over the sports world like a rapid all-consuming crimping , clawing parasite, is the future bleak or what? You all noticed how blazingly-fast the current economic crisis ballooned completely out of control , spreading rampant fear and panic everywhere.My thoughts are that the fan (aka the money-earner) not only is coming close to having had enough of overblown pricing and overblown salaries relating to overblown egos on the park but is simply finding the cost of living is dragging them down deeper and deeper and no longer can afford it. Going to the football , once a mantra chanted with pleasure at thought of the thrills ahead,.....will it soon become a thing of the past --looks like it my dearies. As a friend said to me recently when I asked him if he was going to buy a seson's ticket for ICT he replied " not with the kind of good English games on the telly like the one I saw last week........." what he was saying I think is why go out in the cold and rain, travel for miles ,have a problem with the parking and then watch a game that is possibly going to leave you feeling disappointed , at a (relatively ) high price, followed by the long slog home ....etc. What are your thoughts, good bad or badder?

Same old, same old...... :thumb04: Neksor's comment .." should seek someone with a more passionate approach and better management skills " is closer to the mark than the frustrated negative comments expressed on here such as "he's an idiot". Actually he is not an idiot in his profession--great technical football skills, experienced in football in general, has many contacts within the game, has very limited resorces to work with and seems to be in a cleft stick as a result thus being forced to play young inexperienced players . It could be that he is not what some people describe as "very smiling and personable" but people under his supervision and charge should remember that he also needs loyalty and support and the players are not there to give him advice but to play their role in the club's scheme of things by making the greatest effort to play their part on the park. An inability to command loyalty and be able to inspire players to perform to their full potential is a gift--maybe he has it, maybe not, but he should be given until the end of the season to complete whatever he is trying to accomplish. But so long as the defence continues to leak goals and not have a zipped-up seam across the park then it could be hopeless. Dods went and he is sorely missed. What happened to fortress Longman? When it disappeared so did faith,hope and charity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.