Scarlet Pimple

I feel he may be baffled since he seems to have not expected such a dismal start. Why not? After all , how many players in the team don't come from this area and may not be playing for the shirt?

Because, if we can get back up then we must make sure we stay there.

Yes. Taking two seasons to recover from relegation, get in new players and train and school the latter to a high and repetitive rhythmic tempo is about right. However, If Caley Thistle get in the groove, make considerable progress and again start to look like a Premier league team, then they simply can't let up or they will start to slide and that's when the real rot will set in. I hope John Robertson is working hard in the dressing room putting the fear of death into the team about easing off and letting slack, non aggressive and determined play ruin the season. The question is :- Is this conglomeration of new players up to the task of understanding how vital it is to work very hard to allow us to get back in the groove, regain self-confidence and pride by winning matches successively with great effort ? Because if not, it's unlikely that we will be going up again into the Premiership at the end of this season. I would love to hear JR's view on this, his advising us exactly what his vision is for the reclamation of ICT as a very strong, well trained and determined team --ready for the upward surge and ready to STAY in the Premiership when promoted. Just winning this rather second rate league (compared to the teams in the Premiership)will not be enough, Caley's goal must be higher than that.

Eee ba gum, lad, what a lovely story. My dad, long gone , was born in Yorkshire like my current Doctor in Maple Ridge , British Columbia, She asked me where he was born and I said "Goole I think". And she asked me where that was. A bit staggered, I replied. "well, it's close to the river Ouse and in Blacktoft where his sister is located there is a delightful local pub right close to the same river.etc."-- But she still did not respond! I think she was born up in a country district where her folks may well have had a decent size property but she had led only a somewhat studious but sheltered life. I noticed she did not have a ring on her finger and as the interview came to a slithering halt she remarked "I have to go over to the local hospital to pick up my husband" and this set my Spy's brain in overdrive and I thought "Aha, the plot thickens! This will require overtime, Scarlet, if I am going to be able to protect her from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune when, and if, the play continues on the same course.....or summat? As far as flying from Gatwick to Inverness (when next I visit) is concerned, when I was last over I went Flybe and it was a decent flight. Do you recommend another airline and if so do they use Gatwick also? You must have lots of energy Eagle running around all these far away and far-out grounds but you have to do this when you are young,. Ergo, you must be forever young then? One day you will surprise us all by stating that you have decided to fly to the very beautiful Vancouver in my now home province of British Columbia, the home of the Whitecaps who seem to be doing rather well this season. Interested? You know what they say ..." a change is as good as a rest"? And if you and I are too tired to actually go to the match, why, we can always watch the Vancouver Canucks and their rebuilding ice hockey team put on a show of blistering speed and skill (these pesky Swedes are everywhere aren't they ) on my large screen Sony T.V. They finished 2nd last in the National Hockey League last season so they have a lot to prove this season; just like our beloved ICT, eh? If nothing else, Eagle, it will be a stimulating season as the brilliant new rookies get their chance to strut their stuff on both stages and prove that they are worth a slot in each repective team. Go fer it, I say and ...Cheers the Noo.

You are quite a fan, Eagle4Caley. If you don't mind my asking how did you become so attached to a Highland team quite a ways from where you presently live? Were you born in the Inverness locality perchance?

"Not Good. Maybe fake news on all fronts. New season, new team. I understand and sympathise with your teething troubles. If at first you don't succeed then, secondly, just fire the coach. Never seen a "football" match but have heard that you have a great wee team there. Spirited. Would like to invest in your club but so far nobody has asked. Good luck with that goalie thing, same old, same old seems like. Interesting though. Just fire the Board if they don't come clean. Nice wee city though. Nice salmon I got in the River and it's now on ice being transported back to the White House for all to see. I insisted on the F22 since it's much quicker than the F.15. I'll come back don't you worry once I have settled the Mueller thing. May bring Steven Colbert with me to settle his hash, very tiresome little dude. Sessions won't come with me though 'cos he will have been fired. And Hillary is still in mourning; besides she like Baseball so that wouldn't work. Loch Ness is lovely. Pity I missed your monster the other day. Good gig that though. Awesome publicity. Liked my trip, settled my nerves down very well. Donald Trump. Washington, U.S.A.

Tad harsh on Ridgers methinks. No chance whatsoever with their last goal. Is he being used as a scapegoat for the faults in this team? He was not aided and abetted in the least by our defence which was in a disorganised shambles , poor positioning, etc. Tackling was absent or chaotic with the St Mirren boys running rings round them to score at will. Caley were no match for these young lads who were determined, aggressive, confident, very fit and enthusiastic as heck. Wow! John Robertson should come completely clean on the OFW affair. Remaining silent is foolish and not right. Maybe Ridgers needs an emotional rest as much as anything. He seems to be athletic enough so maybe the Manager and Trainer need to give him more help!!! . How about a session or two with a goalie coach? Oh, I forgot, there is no money for that kind of thing probably. Better to just blame Ridgers instead I suppose?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41133567 Mr. Robertson's remarks in his interview are difficult to comprehend. If the first twenty minutes were all Caley Thistle but. and our defence is as poor as the stats indicate why is this? Is our goalie, Mr Ridgers, so poor or are the other defence players just as bad--or what? If it's the result of teething problems of a new team than the gelling is not fast enough and a touch of crazy glue might be necessary to get the cohesion to harden more quickly. And this crazy situation with OFW must now be brought to a head quickly because if J Robertson is deliberately preventing him from playing then John must be persuaded to forget the past and play OFW for the benefit of the club. His hurt over something that may have happened in the past has to take a back seat. He has to be pragmatic and realistic. If not, then THAT"S crazy as well.

Nae pillae !

'Cos it's summer and they are too busy playing in their bouncy castles with their young kids I guess.

Good to see you are getting responses Eirene. Best of luck in your quest. I will send you some very sobering information, that I have gleaned over the last couple of years about the earthquake/Tsunami risk, by private message since it will be off-topic here. But remember what that huge 'quake did to San Francisco years ago. All our schools in the Vancouver area have been upgraded with anti-earthquake spring loaded buttresses and foundations and the consensus of opinion amongst the scientists is that it will be anytime soon and soonerather than later for sure because it's currently at least 26 years overdue. Cheers. Scarlet

"till you drop.

Confidence oozing out of the Caley Team. Thanks for the video, whomever?

Welcome Eirene. I live in Maple Ridge, just some 35 odd miles East of Vancouver, B.C. Unfortunately I am unable to assist since I have more or less lost touch with Inverness etc . over the many years I have been over here. All my male relatives were in the 1st World War and one was killed and all the others wounded. I wish you well in your quest. I would not live on Vancouver Island for all the money in China. Lovely spot, yes, and Victoria is about as "English" as they come but when the Tsunami comes from the long-overdue earthquake that rattled our teeth some 7 months ago with it's 4.6 tag you know that you are a gonner staying where you are. Did you know that the Pacific Plate is pushing under the North American plate on which Vancouver Island is placed --the experts put stakes in the ground on the Island to measure the movements and found that the island was slowly moving inland. I live way higher up than the River Fraser bank down on the lower levels of Maple Ridge so I think we are safe from the Tsunami but I've taken out the expensive Earthquake insurance for our house all the same since the 'quake will affect us just as badly as you since we are also living in the designated earthquake zone. Cheers S.P.

Isn't he a Canadian? If so then his timepiece is 8 hours behind yours and that can explain it I'm sure. If not, then ask IHE--he operates on MOOSE time....

Yep. the times they are a'changin! But remember, our youths' team went South to Spain or the Argentine recently and won the cup for goodness sake. The looked strong and in control on the videos.Very calm and impressive.

That's great, Caley Boy. But intelligence isn't enough and in our current situation enthusiasm is energising and uplifting. He may be the top of the heap right now but he also surely is hoping and praying that it continues. Sotto voce like and a wee bit under the radar as well. No point in tempting fate, eh?

With a team comprising a raft of new players from all over, this game is a good punt for all concerned. Team gelling, remembering where other players are on the park, allowing John Robertson to continue to assess his options and keeping players active and mobile, in order to help him and them, not to mention allowing previously injured players to get back in the groove, I see/saw this game as a very good opportunity to allow ICT to start to blend as a team and continue to develop. In these few circumstances alone it's also important for fans to assist the club by being positive and so stating that you hope the team will lose is plain nonsensical and rather ridiculous. Every loss downs the spirit of the players and every win raises it , however slightly that may be.......... Large trees from little acorns grow. A win and progress today, I see, plus a boost in confidence for the fans, the Manager, the Chairman and simply the whole club. It's the only way to get ourselves up and off the carpet , upward bound dearies.

at last.

To a fine Donview. Smile

& thank you.

When I first saw Polworth play on video I thought he did well and was one to watch for the future. So I have become confused at the subsequent criticism. In these earlier days he seemed very positive and enthusiastic about getting forward and attacked aggressively. If he has gone off the boil what has caused that I wonder? I know one thing - if John Robertson encourages and supports him then he may become a stalwart in his chosen position.

Perhaps the only other person in the world who could make such a mistake is our finger-waving, buffoon, ........... the DONALD.

Reynard--youse is fired!!