Scarlet Pimple

too much.

Was that ANOTHER poor decision from the ref today when the press and other fans seems to suggest that the ball was not over the line when Fon Williams scooped it up? If that goal had not ben given then ICt might have won that game? At least according to Martin Dowden--see below. And I have had a sneaking feeling for some time now that the power brokers who run Scottish football have not exactly been overjoyed at the success in recent times of the jumped up little team with heart from the north whose courage and hard work have put the major monied teams such as Celtic and Rangers in their place. And have these feelings somehow trickled down to their appointed referees accompanied by a nudge-nudge, wink-wink do you think? Mmmm? Based solely on some of their decisions against our team that I have seen, which were absolutely unbelievably wrong, who knows? http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39536661

Wel,l Row S, in this environment and at this time we need positivity that's for sure.. So keep it up.

anti-bacterial mouth wash

The difference in referring to a special meeting, compared to a standard weekly Board Meeting, as being highly suggestive of the fact that the members of the Board are wanting a decision to be finally made about firing him (or finding another position for him within the club) is like suggesting that they have never previously communicated and discussed the whole issue between each other prior to this point. Which is really rather ridiculous. Right this minute it evidences as much indecision and severe hand-wringing as much as anything. And, if they did have this special meeting, they would most certainly have to have another manager's name in front of them on which to make a decision wouldn't they? After all, they can't sack Richie if they have no one to put in his place? IF they did have this other potential Manager agreeing to take over what incentives did they offer him to do this? On that point it does seem likely that there are few really attractive things on offer though? Therefore, if they did have a special meeting we might reasonably conclude that they were finally very seriously about to make a decision as to whether to release him or keep him on. But the absence of that at this point might equally suggest that they are still desperately hankering to find a way out of sacking him or changing his duties from Manager to ...what? And, if they do fire Richie, who are they going to put in his place? John Hughes? That's the $60,000 question and no mistake. This Board seem to be in a cleft stick type of situation in which they have a very unenviable decision to make and it has to be be taken sooner rather than later. And drifting to the end of the season without having made it Is as possible as the reverse and could be fatal for the future progress of ICT. Clinging on in the Premiership might well happen but what about next season and the one after that?

To the fan who decries and downplays Richie's past performances with ICT you need to take a close look at past videos. If you put the shirt on, your performances might pale into complete insignificance compared to what he has achieved in his career as a player. He scored some absolutely incredible goals and was an inspiring figure when in full flight--.i,e to those who were willing to learn from his example! Whatever has happened after his appointment as manager we may never really find out but I'm sure that if he DID get a strip back on he would not be making the mistakes made by some of our current team and would still be an example to his team-mates. It looks as if that will never happen so it's "grin and bear it " time. No wonder Billy looks totally exasperated, since he rarely ever seems to get the ball...... As for the Canadian brew, Molson Canadian is a very good one but now I find Ironhorse somewhat more pungent and it's brewed in British Columbia which helps.

What Scotty said, almost word for word. The St J. manager is smart! In one stramash in their penalty area it appeared as if all their players , minus the goalie, was in there as well. Meaning little chance of any strike getting through that mass of legs, hence no score, In parts ICT played very well but had no penetrating power of any note. Cole was carded unfairly but let's hope he learns his lesson not to throw verbal dirt at the ref...can't win. Score against ICT was higher than St.J's overall stuffy play deserved. Penalty against ICT was, well, soft.

Richie does not appear, at first sight anyway, to have the managerial presence to be successful at inspiring the team at this juncture of the season. It also appears as if he is very unlikely to quit. For one thing he has a family to support ! ...... 'Nuff said. To prove to the current playing staff and the fans how much bottle he really does have, however, he should get the match day kit on and join the troops on the field. Even for one match, as I have suggested before. He can then shout encouragement and advice to them together with showing to them his undoubted hard work ethic and fantastic skillset which always was dynamic. In short he will be back in his element where he can inspire and impress. On the assumption that he is still physically fit, what does he have to lose? Very little, except that he does have a lot to gain. Richie doesn't seem to have much support, so..... " turn the tables on them!, old chap!" Even if he is not so fit as he used to be, maybe he could stay the course for at least a very hard-working first half. Then no player, or management, could accuse him of not having the courage to strut his stuff and prove to the players how much he knows about the game. And set an example, too, of how to take the bull by the horns when the chips are down. i.e. An inspirational leader who can fight with extraordinary measures when ordinary measures have failed. His stock will rise, his words will be heeded and the troops should respond in kind. There is NOTHING like leading by example. Someone to look up to and emulate........ In real time, NOT in hoity-toity hot air and hyperbole. However, If he were to turn down such a suggestion because "managers don't do that because they might lose face", then the club should seek another manager immediately. Why? Because nothing is going to change and the clock is really ticking now.

To release Richie now would cost the club a lot of money. And from what I see as to the sparse crowd in the stands there just can't be the revenue stream available?

Got you going though Guys, didn't I? ........ But, undeterred, if battle scarred, I'll be at my normal place tomorrow looking at Don's video in front of my computer. Unless the Donald lobs over another Cruze missile and it goes off course due to the hot air generated in this thread that interferes with it's guidance system. Could happen ....

earned

Well, it looks like it is over to you Caley D. for an adjudication. I've used up my "last word". The video I saw was the one for the overseas fans which showed a view from lower down the park on the left side of the players. Doofers Dad said earlier that angles from the BBC show different scenarios. Doofers Dad is a very reflective gentleman and doesn't go in for histrionic remarks, remaining calm and factual. Thus he doesn't claim, for example, as some have done earlier, that Brad "never even touched the ball." DOH! Some folks on here, some of whom should know better, make Smart Alec, abusive comments at the remarks I made but no one has specified the rules regarding penalties and detailed conclusively why it was, in their view, a clear-cut penalty. Their comments are more histrionic than explanatory. Manfer, my specs are fine thank you and my last trip to the ophthalmologist a couple of months ago elicited the following remark "considering your age your sight is remarkable." and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So I now invite you to explain the penalty rules that apply in this case since you clearly feel that my knowledge base on this issue needs updating. Maybe you are right and I look forward to your detailed comments. My point was that he went for the ball and my video shows he got it fair and square and in the way I described it. The other videos on here also show, in plain sight, that Brad did get the ball and then the other player's momentum made him fall over Brad's legs -- NOT his feet which had already passed the Killie player's legs. The Killie boy was not injured in any way so there was NO direct contact, nor deliberate intent to injure, from Brad. These are facts, not emotional reactions. This was an impetuous and harsh decision from a very poor referee and it might easily relegate our team this season. So think about that, true non-swimmer fans, before jumping into a very deep pool without your lifebelt.

Tooth (fairy)

This is my final word on the penalty incident V Kilmarnock. I finally found my match password in the wastebasket and used it to go to Donald's video again, the video for overseas listeners, and reviewed the incident SEVERAL more times just to make sure I didn't miss anything.Here is what I saw :- In the outfield, quite close to the Caley end of the pitch, Kilmarnock dispossessed our player fairly and then passed the ball forward into open space for his player to get. The Killie player quickly latched on to it and started his run towards the goal. At which point in comes Brad at speed and deliberately went directly for the ball, NOT, the player. In fact, had Brad stayed upright on his feet instead of doing his thing, that player would by now probably be a flat pancake and, yes, that WOULD have been a fair penalty. Brad hit the ball BANG-ON. It bobbled and immediately got tangled up in the Killie player's boots with force and went OFF him and out for a bye kick to ICT. Brad did not appear to hit the player's legs at all with his boots since by then the Killie lad was already airborne AND if the ball had not hit the Killie player at all then it would have gone straight out into touch for a throw-in to Killie. To the doubters :- There is too much at stake here... 2 lost points is a massive downer and this goal could completely ruin our season and relegate us to even think of this being an April Fool's joke. There was no intent whatsoever showing on this video by Brad Mackay to stop, or injure, the Killie player and the tackle was actually fair and well executed. Unless the rules say that a SHORT sliding tackle which is specifically directed at, and gets, the ball is a crime then he is not at fault. Why Brad Mackay is being pilloried by some folks on here is ridiculous and unfair. And so is this penalty award to Killie. Remember that the ball was so close to the moving Killie player's feet that any tackle against the ball would have upended him, regardless. My blunt assessment is that the referee made another blunder just because the attacking player fell down despite the fact that he was never actually touched. I suggest that a link to the incident on video should be put up here so that others can judge the issue for themselves. It's not at all like what some folks imagine. It happened very quickly so, for me to fully appreciate it, I had to focus on different points in the frame each time I re-run it to get the actual full picture. So I have written to Mr. Kenny Cameron asking him to please review the video very carefully and if necessary request the SFA to rescind the goal. I believe this video clearly demonstrates what I claim, above. If you agree you can do the same. Thank you.

12th man. .....Thanks for providing the video shot of Brad's tackle in which you say he got to the ball first. I tried to open the video link you provided but each time it closed immediately before I could see anything happening. The heading above the link stated "Advertisement" . Go figure.

Och! IHE. Scarlet has had brain aneurisms for most of his life. Saves him from facing up to the realities, miscommunications, prejudices and intolerances of this unholy, greedy world on many an occasion. Because of these conceptions, and his impending death in the not too distant future, he is desperately trying to see the bright side of things and people before he goes. Which no psychologist or psycho-analyser has ever been able to understand, thinking as they do that he is already a complete, inane, lost cause. Sigh! C'est la vie. Keep up the good work and opinions, old chap! Someone out there may be listening. Kind regards, Daddy Pimpernell.

Oh , golly gosh, you are so good at sewing the seeds of doubt ..GRRR!

DD. Unfortunately, in order to have a wee look at that video, you would have to emigrate to an overseas location, register on Caley Jags , get a User name and P/W (very easy) and pay 5 pounds which IMHO is very good value all round. My recollection is that he went through the ball and took out the player in the succeeding long sliding tackle. Maybe you are right and he never actually touched the ball but I cannot believe that. However, at least one other poster commented that it was never a penalty ...! So.....it's water under the bridge now isn't it.

I'm glad to see Fisher in the team selected by IHE which I like. But Tansey should play because it's just possible that he may have deeper feelings about ICT than is inferred by negative denial of his effort today. And he may well want to really impress his new club. If he did not want to show them how good he is he would have to have suffered a brain aneurism. So put him in because his work today was special.

Not a problem,Hawkeye. We are just seeing it from different angles. Last word from me is basically that the ball WAS at the feet of the lad but he probed it forward, or lost control, and Brad saw an opportunity to get in really quickly to stop any further chance of the other player getting it back. He hit the ball fair and square AHEAD of the Killie player. But also note that the player saw him coming a mile away, knew he was in the penalty box (!) and made NO move to jump up in the air or avoid the lunge in any way shape or form. It seems with all that is at stake these days players have become very smart at expecting and encouraging, or just NOT avoiding, tackles to get a decision. And, as I mentioned, I am very suspicious why this ref was SO biased against ICT in this match.....the references made above by other fans to his often ludicrous decisions, as seen by me as well, are uncannily accurate. Madden's display on the day was a disgrace. And don't forget, sitting at home looking at my video I have the BEST VIEW IN THE HOUSE of all angles. And Don Johnston is one very special commentator who has done his homework I can assure you. He displays passion and knowledge, along with accuracy of assessment and clear enunciation and brings in Liam (who?) frequently for additional comments.

First off, how can you win when a very poor referee named Madden (call me mad for short) awards fouls and a penalty against ICT when the other team comes out looking like Angels in his book. A totally poor performance on this referee's part today and left the indelible impression that he was definitely biased against ICT for some unknown reason. The penalty--maybe my advancing age is stopping me wondering why that was a penalty? It looked bad all right but If the defender goes for the ball first, and gets it strongly as he did without the attacker being near it, then takes the legs out from under of the opposing player because he is going so hard he can't stop please advise me in my dotage why that is a penalty? As for the game itself : Tansey had an outstanding game with real effort all round and he tried so hard to get things going. Cole has ability for sure but was largely ineffectual on the wing with his final ball and maybe his supply from other players was sadly lacking. McNaughton worked hard and gets full pass marks from me for effort-- showed his experience and coolness under pressure on a continuous basis. But, with his hair being greyed out nearly, how long can he last..? Fon Williams did very well too and seems to have recovered his agility and self confidence. But the latter part of the second half almost sunk us and by then the writing was on the wall. Fiddling and faddling with little on the way of hard running and the direct approach right into the face of the opposition we could not get a shot on goal. Billy was well nigh nullified by some good hard work on the opposing side and that was that.

tooth

2nd Row--thank you!! That is very interesting. But I can't remember the houses being at the bottom of the Bumber's Lane on the opposite side of it from the Caley Park At that time I thought that Howden's nursery went from Fairfield road right down to at least opposite the entrance to the Caley park. So what year were these photos taken?

Accurate. His knee injury will heal, but not tomorrow and of course depending on just what parts are affected. He is so lucky to have such expert advice and treatment from top Doctors available. Good luck to him, anyway one way or the other. I doubt, however, if he can make it to be fit to play again this season?

A fresh Mulraney and Billy must stretch the defences, swinging balls into the goalmouth consistently at every opportunity. Both guys are fast and furious and have the ability to torment and exhaust the defence. Hopefully the forwards will be in the box waiting.....? With all that's at stake in this game it could be a cracker. Looks like Richie is going to play Greg Tansey as much as possible before he departs. It's "get points time" so that strategy is smart and I doubt very much that Greg will not respond. In short he has everything to gain by playing his heart out in the remaining matches. If he takes a penalty and scores everybody will be sooooo happy : the fans, Aberdeen, Richie Foran and Kenny Cameron.