Scarlet Pimple

Loved the highlights...Mannie! S w e e t ! We seemed to be hanging on at the end with a bit of desperation showing. Ibra- from the highlights he does seem possibly to not yet be fit enough for Mr. J Hughes. Slowish like. Or maybe it's that he may not be frenetic enough? However, I did note that he has a rather deceiving loping style which probably allows him to cover a good dad of ground. Big guy, though. Do you think he will fit in ? Does Mr Collum not think that a wee talking to and a warning may be all that he needs to calm down some players as a FIRST STEP eh?

A really thoughtful post by Caley D. Think he should send it on to what used to be the SFA. Smile. Set the cat amongst the slumbering pigeons, eh? Summer football is a must--at least for a try out. What with T V, and all, nowadays the average fan would probably love to stay at home to watch the matches rather than freezing at a match. Why allow obstacles that may be deleterious to the crowds showing up to still be 9in place. It's not working so----CHANGE IT. At least, I suggest we give it a try.

An online report I read this morning states that in Britain the increase in ticket prices for football has outstripped the accumulated inflation rates since 2011.

Have you noticed that the number of posters on here seems to have diminished considerably over the past few years as well?

Gentlemen ==you should try the inverness Museum. 6 years ago I entered and had: 1. A plate of soup 2. A cup-of tea and a bun 3. and my companion had a cup of tea and a croissant or something similar. Total 6 pounds. This is an eye opener I=CT offers best value for money on and off the field.

Right AJS. Doesn't that apply to all of us? In a sense it's like judging a book by it's cover..

That's what his masters are hoping too, I would guess.

So long as it's NOT "Sig Heil"--If I got it right. Shades of WW2.

So, Eagle for Caley, what is your actual opinion of him then. A top prospect, or just another good and hard working player?

If he can stand the Winter cold in Inverness. When I wqas here some 6 years ago in August I nearkly dies from a bad bout of 'flu. Goodness with all the freezing rian I thouighjt I was back in B.C., here on the West coast of Canada, bejabbers.

2nd surprise was to see such a poor crowd for such a game. 3rd surprise was the team's apparent performance in the first half. It's excellent that they appeared to make up for it in the second half but, had County scored one or two more, then there would be no points for ICT at full time. Did they---or just Mr H.---underestimate the opposition? Complacency is a killer.......?

Surprised to see Jock Watt back on again after such a long time without a post. How are you doing, Mr. 81 year old ? Yep, oldest member now. What does it feel like to be an Octogenarian?

Thanks for keeping me up to date IHE. You're a brick.

So, was John's policy to defend in the first half and then come out in the 2nd with all guns blazing?

5.47 a.m over here in Western Canada. Go up for this .Disappointed and gloomy. Streuth! Will this passing back never end. Watching Toronto getting beaten by L.A. Galaxy last night. Tyhey were not bad --just fell down in the final third.

Thank you , Scotty!! That was Fan-tastic!

Any chance of sending me some video highlights of the last game? That wo8uld be appreciated.

Some interesting points made above. Baseball in North America is more of a cult thing than anything else. It is very popular but a bit too slow for me. I was basically referring to the Whitecaps and other NASL soccer games and their ways of increasing enthusiasm amongst the fans to gear up the atmosphere. You always seem to get the feeling when watching these huge crowds of soccer fans on the T V at these games that they find the whole game as a fascinating day out. Rather than diminishing as time goes along it seems that the crowds are increasing, if anything. I've been watching the reruns of the latest ganes and the tempo does seem to have been upped compared to formerly when the players often seemed to think that they were on a holiday or something.The league clubs have introduced a good few former English P League players and they are paid enormous sums of money. Their presence alone , being so experienced, ,perhaps has introduced the crowds to a somewhat higher standard of play and other North American born players may be learning from them and upping their game. I do get the impression that here the clubs are getting more professional. The world cup did the game no harm here also but in Britain soccer is so old-hat that maybe it's started into a downturn in popularity. I mentioned the friendlies with overseas teams just to see if introducing a fresh face or two into the local game would do any good. One thing seems to be for sure--you have to try something.

The world has moved into the future over the past 50-100 years at a pace which has far outstripped all main societal developments that have taken place over the previous, many,many,many years. This presents great challenges to the loyal fans and to well-intentioned owners of clubs who would probably like to increase the comfort of fans and the experience they get when they arrive at the stadium but just don't have the knowledge of what is happening elsewhere in the world viz-a-viz entertaining the fans with other than football. If they did have, or do have, then most likely the thought that emulating these other sports venues is out of their financial league for good reason because the fan base does not generate the revenue to allow for implementation of new schemes of entertainment. This must be very discouraging I am sure and quite a daunting challenge unless wealthy investors can be persuaded to make the investment needed to change things for the better. Then you have the situation that has happened to the once respected club of Glasgow Rangers where their reputation is now cloudy to impenetrable darkness, attracting all kinds of errant people with equally squalid backgrounds wanting to have the prestige of being associated with that club but not having the personal love for it nor the real financial insights and controls nor brains to make it work by imposing the strict discipline needed to get things under control. This reflects badly on Scottish football and must be devastating to current SPL ownership and or shareholders who know full well that without Rangers or Celtic their revenue streams will diminish....just for one thing. So, is Celtic next for shaving within this mess? The advent of advanced radio broadcasts, T V and the Internet have siphoned off countless fans who won't leave their armchair if they are cold or uncomfortable or are just finding that flicking channels is much more convenient and more exciting than attending a football match -- for whatever reason. Fans are more sophisticated and have more outlets for spending their money now than in these days of yore. And things are expensive in the U K compared to Canada , as I have found, so --- go figure. And, if I were an SPL Board member I would be screaming out for Summer football for all the obvious reasons. The former glories of the mud baths of past, glorious Highland League days are over. IMHO, an immediate change over to Summer football is not only mandatory but absolutely crucial to the survival of football in Scotland. Phone David Beckham and ask him why he is investing in the North American Soccer League after his retirement instead of in a team from the English Premier League. ESL is "old hat" and plays in winter conditions. The NASL is forward-looking and willing to change and experiment and long ago saw the obvious advantage of playing in fair weather or bright sunshine. If they played here in Vancouver then, in the winter with so much rain, conditions would soon deteriorate. I attended one game at Swangard stadium in Burnaby (the former home of the Whitecaps) a few years ago and the game was almost abandoned due to the horrific lightning and thunderstorm that descended upon us. My pal and I waited for 45 minutes to allow the threat to pass and finished the match. But we were safe and dry sitting in the stand whereas all the spectators who were outside on the terracing etc. were told to vacate their spots immediately.

But, to get this kind of positive thinking into the world of reality and action, someone has to start a Committee to gather, discuss and implement propositions put forward? I cited North American stadia criteria for pleasing the fans because the sports people over here (i.e the Ownership) are advanced, aggressive entrepreneurs who have long recognized that what has been said above here ---it's a family experience, it's a day out, it's a comprehensive entertainment spectacle, it's what brings in the fans. As someone said on here in an earlier thread it's about encouraging families to have a good day out. Exactly. If dour Scots only think that Yankees are bombastic, all glitz and glitter, over-the -top, razz ma tazz, unreserved nutcases and far too outgoing for their own good then why are they so successful in getting bums on seats? What they are is often not so high-key as you think but proffer genuine, interesting events on the field before the play and during half-time which are colorful, dynamic and highly choreographed, well drilled and very entertaining . They are in fact, within their own genre, very skillful shows which obviously have been worked on very hard by the participants because what they are doing is very meaningful to them. Often they are teenagers who are amazing in their passion and precision and beloved by the crowd. Even at ice hockey games there is loud, blaring music as the teams enter the rink and whenever there is a stoppage in the game on the ice. It never ceases, even if it is only a short burst -- ramp up the feelings at every opportunity is the message. It gets the crowd going and PUTS BUMS ON SEATS. Which is the whole idea. If their blood doesn't stir where is the excitement and a desire to part with their money. North Americans put a lot of effort into their promos and so forth and that's all I can say about creating excitement and a spectacle that fans don't want to miss. They don't just go for the hockey, which often can be boring as heck, they want their emotions to be roused after a week's work. They want movement and action and a feeling that when they leave the stadium they will have had an experience. And been to an EVENT.

MacDuffer, you get a "Like " from me as an encouragement.

Och! Permission to sulk yer honyur? "Well, MR S.P. what is the meaning of all this palaver"? Y.H. I stand accused of boredom in paradise and verbal opposition in mah mind tae the demise of ICT. Like my homesickness is affecting my mind and I think I'm back hame in Scoatland-like. "Aye , laddie, Ah come frae there too and I ken whit you mean. "Will you accept a light sentence Mr. Singularly Pernicious gentleperson?" How light Y.H? 3 weeks living with IHE, S.P. Case closed. No appeal.... If he is still alive at the end of the prescription period then he will be a changed man . Still a SEER .....but seeing double like". Thank you Y. H . A very just outcome, if I may say so.

I see similarities to my thoughts in both Scotty's post and the those from Caley D. Especially the remarks about T V and getting with the modern scene at the end of CaleyD's last posting. if we don't change as we go along ... then what? Thank you for the article on what the club is doing behind the scenes. Remarkable! O.K--IHE--then it would have to be a wee show at half-time. Clearly, thought has to precede the entertainment but there is surely nothing wrong with discussions aforethought. I'm not suggesting a Hollywood Spectacle -- maybe only a handful of kids doing something meaningful to them. It's them and their parents I'm after and an attempt to generate in their minds that ICT is a progressive, human club who are trying to do the right thing and survive at the same time. I don't like the word "quit" I.H.E. Once you do that then everything is off the table--and not before one has even looked into it further. Let's just see what can be achieved.. Remember Stevenson's steam engine ..the "rocket" and his quoted remark ''there is no limit to the speed that can be achieved if the engine can be made to stand it." Let's say it worked. What then? -would you say.."Och, it didn't work as well as I thought it would. Lets furget it, Jimmy" or.. "That wasn't too bad, they are kids ! Let's tweek it and S.P. can show up unexpectedly in a large red bubble to torment the weans, who can throw things at him...like their socks and lollipops. And then when he falls over and can't get up due to his round skull so.... they can play bouncy on top of him. C'mon guys, let's get imaginative. It's all about having fun and relaxing for the cause. If the crowd can get one good bellylaugh and they hear the kids having a good time they will go home happy. I promise.

Maybe you are hinting at the fact that we have a very narrow selection of opponents to choose from and the world has moved on. So it's BO_R_ING. True! Many a words spoken in jest.....but why? Maybe we should then try to get in some friendlies with Sweden or even Germany. How about Iceland?------ something,...... anything.... that's different and novel AND shows that you are really interested in doing something to reverse the trend. It would cost money, but if these home and away ties were of value then would it be worth it? Yes or no. Anyone who bleats piteously and says "no" . just please leave the room. Who knows anything unless you TRY ? The very fact that the club is trying to ring the changes might spur some other armchair critics to act alongside the action-eers. Wringing hands will achieve nothing. Laughing at my POM POM references is undoubtedly amusing, for me as w ell as you, but all you seem to be doing right now is sitting at your computer and doing nothing. If so, why not use your computer to contact local businesses and ask for help? Someone please send me your chairman, Mr. Cameron's, email address and I will contact him myself. I used to have it but lost it. What about a Punch and Judy show run by the kids on a match day? That would create a buzz --and at very least it would start a trend, right? Have at least 3 booths set up and let a player or two decide the winner and present a first prize. And every kid gets something as well for their efforts....every child who participated, even if it's only a bag of pan drops or liqorice Allsorts. I've suggested dancing children, or children involved in acrobatics, or drumming ---great idea --involves the local schools, the teachers, the parents ----- which is the perfect combination to put people in seats and emphasize the community spirit and promote the club's value to the general public. Let them perform in front of a crowd ----it can't fail, so long as everybody cheers and no kid is left feeling empty and unappreciated. Everybody wins. AND it sets up- the stage for future fans to be born and cultivated and the parents are charmed, happy and are fans of ICT for the future. Great oaks from little acorns grow and it will happen . But only if the existing fans plant the acorns.: Form a small committee and bandy about ideas , then form sub-committees to explore the ideas presented and pursue them if possible. Then report back to the main committee and if good ideas are proving to be feasible start planning and making phone calls. Who is going to turn you down..the kids who are already involved in their activities that you want to foster and exploit? NO! If you don't make the effort then this club could sink back into obscurity and so will the community spirit.