Scotty

Lothar Mattheus played a total of 16 games in the MLS ... 7 years ago ... and I am sure he is not wrong - the quality would have been terrible as the MLS was only formed in 1994 (coincidentally) and was exactly what you described - a dumping ground for past it stars to pick up a pay cheque. Just think of how far Caley Thistle have come in the same timescale ... in our early years we were playing at Cliftonhill, Ochilview and Firs Park and our hospitality suite was a portakabin beside the wooden stand, now its Celtic Park, Ibrox and Hampden and at least some executive and dining suites in the main stand. In our early years we had international superstars like Vetle Andersen but recently we have had the likes of Juanjo, Dargo and now the possibility of Austrian, French or Romanian players of a decent calibre (perhaps) .... in other words, things change !! I have said it numerous times. The MLS does not rival the English Premier League, nor does it match up to La Liga, the Bundesliga or Serie A. However, outside the Old Firm, I think most MLS teams would give Scottish (SPL) teams a good test and unlike the SPL where ticket prices are driving fans out of the game, the MLS is growing in stature and bringing fans in in droves (as i mentioned - TFC season tickets are sold out for at least the next three years because of the waiting list they have for them and the owners are already failing to deny that they will consider building a second tier of seats round the ground or part of the ground). The refereeing is (for the most part) terrible, the commentators are worse, and some of the play can be schoolboy stuff but when you see a decent team playing it can be as good as, if not better than some games in the SPL.

He's played 4 (away) games, scored 1 goal (penalty). He hasnt made his home debut yet as TFC are in a run of 6 away games on the trot due to the U20 World Cup. Home debut will probably be against Aston Villa on 25th, Home MLS debut probably on 29th V Chicago Fire. http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/players/bio.j...tatType=current [note FC - fouls conceded, FS - fouls suffered !!] He was anonymous in last night's 0-0 draw with current champs Houston (and was subbed in 56th minute) but the same applies to all but 2 or 3 of the team. seems that Mo sent them out to play for the draw and it was painful to watch, (and listen to as it was another set of clueless commentators) especially after one of the midfield was sent off and his strike partner was sacrificed to bring on a replacement midfielder.

Have a wee look on Wikipedia at the squads of some of these teams .... and of the former "notable players" ... there's some good names in there, and although a lot of europeans seemed to go over there to retire (much like signing for Rangers or Celtic !) not all of them are retiring to the states ..... DaMarcus Beasley is going in the other direction, and so is Freddy Adu (or so they say) ... Claudio Reyna also headed to the UK before going back http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_...Notable_players

LA Galaxy are one of the worst teams in an improving league. Beckham is going there as part of the 'revolution' that will transform the team .... or so they say. Not to mention the fact that his missus wants to break into hollywood and had lined herself up for a 6-part reality TV series which has now been cut down to a one hour 'special' :rotflmao: As part of his contract he will also have help in setting up David Beckham academies all over the states !!! Beckham will find himself designated as "S-I", or senior international (a tag for foreign players of which you are only allowed so many) and will find a few other names in his team, albeit lesser known names in Europe. In the Galaxy side are American Internationals Landon Donovan and Cobi Jones, and former Portugal international Abel Xavier. The S-I tag means foreign players are limited in MLS as each team has a quota but there are a lot of Canadian and American internationals playing in the league as well as South Americans and players from the Carribean. A look at the 'rosters' brings up a few interesting names and also shows that the list goes from the sublime to the ridiculous !!! Alongside Beckham as an "S-I" (not at Galaxy) there are the likes of Paul Dalglish (ex Livi), Collin Samuel (ex Dundee Utd), Ronald Wattereus (ex Rangers), Avery John (Trinidad 61 caps), Juan Pablo Angel (Colombia 33 caps), Markus Schopp (Austria 50 caps), Danny Dichio (ex Sampdoria, Baggies and Preston), Shaka Hislop (Trinidad 26 caps), Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala 72 caps) as well as Americans Claudio Reyna, Clint Mathis, Eddie Pope and Freddy Adu ..... Having seen most of the teams play either on TV or in person at BMO Field, I would agree that the quality is certainly not Premiership standard but lets not be snooty here, most teams would hold their own against non-OF teams in the SPL !!! However, even the good games on TV seem to be ruined by clueless commentators that make the game sound and look more amateurish than it is when you are watching it in person. Toronto held their own (0-0) against a decent Benfica side (inc Rui Costa, Paulo Jorge, Manu etc) in what was a competitive match considering it was a friendly, will play Aston Villa in 10 days time and next week's "all-star" game will see the MLS select take on Celtic. The gulf in quality is there, but it is closing quite quickly and those who choose to disrespect the league because its "the americans and they dont play football" are sadly mistaken. MLS has had two massive boosts this season. David Beckham and Toronto FC. Beckham has raised the profile considerably and will probably be the best individual player in the league (I will see for myself on August 5th when he makes his MLS debut in Toronto). Toronto FC has also been a revelation, 20000+ at every game, season tickets sold out for the next 3 years, a crowd that has been described as 'rabid', 'raucous', 'european like' and all round a total success (even on the park where new teams tend not to win any games in their first season). I personally put this down to the multicultural mix in Toronto and to be experiencing it in its first season is tremendous ..... The revolution in North American "soccah" as Becks called it has started and even the indifferent Americans are starting to take a little notice of this English guy married to one of the Spice Girls and the Crazy Canucks in the north

The start of the season (Aug 4) is a far tighter deadline than the transfer window (Aug 31 midnight). We do need one if not two central defenders as cover/competition but I guess it depends on how good Charlie thinks the youngsters look and what the trialists are like. No point signing someone 'just because'. Confident he will get one or two in before the season but even if he doesnt then Hastings - Caff - Munro - Tokely are already there and likely to be the opening day lineup and we have time to get the right players in if they are available.

Ok, at the risk of stepping into a hornet's nest, let me give my tuppenceworth ..... Don - I think I see what you are saying, but its not coming across that way and I think you may even be slightly blinkered on this particular event. I too heard that initially it was meant to be a joint venture but from what I hear it is now totally a trust event but as I am not involved in organising it, I can only take others at their word on this. From my own point of view, this event does appear to be catering to the more well-heeled supporters of the club and that applies whether they are corporate sponsors (some of whom ARE huge fans of the club as well) or just those individuals with a little more of a disposable income. At 55 per head it is quite expensive for those supporters for whom money is tight (quite a few I would assume) but given the actual event itself and the costs of getting things like speakers and presumably other invited guests to attend then I would say its fair or even cheap [average price for this kind of thing is about 100 i think is it not ?]. It is certainly less expensive than booking yourself in for hospitality at a match which might be a more accurate comparison than to compare it with the bowling night. [note: a recent 'meet the players' event (drinks/buffet) for Toronto FC had a pricetag of $250 (120 pounds approx) which was beyond a lot of supporters too but those of us who couldnt go smiled and were happy because the club does other things we can take advantage of ...] The Trust is trying to cater to all levels and pockets .... a bowling night that costs a nominal sum, and where the players come along, the boxing night, and the proposed race night ... these all appeal to different demographics and like anything else in life, they will never be able to please all of the people all of the time, but at least they are trying to put on a range of events that appeal to different sets of people ....

I am sure LG, Maimie or DJS can enlighten you and all of them are regulars on this site so likely to respond if I get this wrong .... but according to the letter I received asking me to put information on the site .... "The evening, which is a black tie event, will be hosted by Moray Firth Radio’s morning show presenter Ginno Conti" so its a dinner suit and dickie bow job !!!

This escaped elephant story is funny ..... http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/235562 This happened last week a few miles north of Toronto, and for me, the funny thing is hearing the operator waiting for the punchline when the caller says that they want to report an elephant walking down their street ....

Good article and I think the assesment of absent friend is pretty good. Hopefully, now that Charlie has realised that he was taking on additional pressures that had nothing to do with him, he will be able to handle those he does have and start (continue) to flourish as a manager and also begin to turn some of the naysayers in the other direction ......

5th August indeed, Toronto V LA .. expected debut of a certain Mr Beckham in MLS, ticket now worth 20 times face value :003:

the clue may be in the name ........

Ally McDonald - defender promoted from U19s at end of season.

short answer - yes (alleged) reason why it wont happen .... no rates (or at worst - miniscule ones) are payable while it remains as it is ... the minute its tarred it will cost the club considerably more

ok - maybe 'talking bollox' was a bit strong :004: but practice matches and friendlies never count when it comes to stats .... the first official goal at the stadium was scored by Dave McKenzie and the first CT goal by Iain Stewart. lets agree that the following is true First Goal (practice match) - Richard Hastings (27 July 1996) First Goal (friendly) - Norman Kellas (Highland League Select) / Scott McLean (CT) (6th November 1996) First Goal (competitive) - Dave McKenzie (Albion Rovers) / Iain Stewart (CT) (9th November 1996)

Think its Falkirk for me ... I felt sorry for them when they were denied their rightful place in the SPL on at least one of two occasions that they won the league, the fans are usually decent craic, their manager - while not eloquent - has good banter with the fans, they are at about the same level/size as us and looked down upon just as much and I cant remember us having any big problems with them. here's my table of loathing (top of table is least loathed, bottom is most loathed) 01. I.C.T. (of course) 02. Falkirk (see above) 03. Motherwell - know a few decent fans, no bad history between clubs 04. Aberdeen - went to uni there, another team from the north, just wish we could beat them once ! 05. Hibs - Collins is annoying but know a good few decent Hibees 06. Kilmarnock - no feelings one way or the other 07. Gretna - no real hatred but no real respect either 08. Hearts - two words - Vladimir Romanov 09=. Celtic / Rangers - cant really separate the two 11. St Mirren - Rosscoe is sorry. It was clumsy not deliberate. It happened years ago. Get over it. 12. Dundee Utd - mostly because of the chairman and former manager. Fans and current manager are decent (mostly) However ... if I couldnt be an ICT (or Toronto) fan then I'd be a DoonHamer .... their fans are brilliant craic

I think you are talking bollox. (unless of course you can prove me wrong ...........) Iain Stewart scored the first (competitive) ICT goal at the Caledonian Stadium against Albion Rovers, although Dave McKenzie actually scored the first official one ever when he scored for Rovers 4 minutes earlier. There WAS one friendly match played at the stadium prior to that on Wednesday 6th Nov 1996 (and it was a bloody cold night - I remember, because I was there), but these dont count in official stats. However, thanks to Ian Broadfoot's excellent records, I can confirm that Scotty McLean scored 4 that night with Iain Stewart and Paul Cherry bagging one each in a 6-2 win over a Highland League select. ----- match report from first competitive game at Caledonian Stadium ----- SATURDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 1996 CALEDONIAN STADIUM, INVERNESS BELLS SCOTTISH LEAGUE THIRD DIVISION INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Stewart 74) ALBION ROVERS 1 (McKenzie 70) INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE - Calder, Teasdale, Hastings, MacArthur, Noble, Ross (Tokely 86), Wilson, Stewart, Thomson, Christie (Bennett 86), MacLean Sub - Hercher ALBION ROVERS - Duncan, Byrne, McGowan, Brown, Martin, McKilligan, Clark, Dickson, Watters (Reilly 65), Moore, McKenzie (McNally 83) Sub - McGuire. REFEREE - J Underhill (Edinburgh) ATTENDANCE - 3734 BOOKINGS - Martin, Watters, Moore & Reilly (Albion Rovers) REPORT - An historic day for Inverness with the official opening of Caledonian Stadium by Provost Allan Sellar. The game did not quite live up to the occasion but the large crowd did see plenty of action and two goals. The home side had most of the game but failed to capitalise due to poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Cammie Duncan. It was Albion who took the lead in the 70th minute against the run of play when Dave McKenzie slid home after a John Dickson cross. Four minutes later Iain Stewart touched in the equaliser after the Albion defence failed to clear a Brian Thomson corner. The Inverness side pressed for a winner but had to be content with a draw. Hastings' 2 goals prior to the 2006/07 season came in the following games: Goal1: 14th October 1995 V Cowdenbeath (2nd goal in a 3-2 home CT win) - direct free kick - also got MOTM Goal2: 4th November 1995 V Arbroath (1st goal in a 5-1 home CT win). - curling shot into right hand corner from 18 yards

Falkirk fans dont rate him at all ..... wide berth.

Don't be. We're not. I also believe you are blurring the lines between the site and the site users which are two very different things. To some at the club and a sizeable proportion of the support at large, this site (or any other site) has never had, nor will it ever have, any credibility. We cant influence that very much and we are not concerned with trying to. Now that we are no longer in a position where we are the official site we (the site) will continue to praise the club to the rafters when they get things right, but we (the site) are now in a position where can also criticise them when they get it wrong. As for the users - We provide a moderated platform where those supporters who choose to use the site can air their views be they positive or negative and like anywhere else where people can air views, some of it is all piss and vinegar whilst others talk the talk and walk the walk so to speak. People are entitled to their opinions and so long as it doesnt cross the boundaries we (the site) have set, then they are free to express them. The person who actually made the formal complaint has conducted a lot of his dialogue in private and I can assure you that his criticism has not melted like spring snow, its just not visible to all at this time. I believe you are incorrect. The comments regarding the singing section have been broadly supportive. Most supporters believe it to be a good idea but some have expressed opinions that although they support it, the previous incident needs to be addressed before they wholeheartedly embrace it. We have also indicated a willingness to assist the club in whatever way we can after the chairman expressed the belief that we might have a part to play. The Supporters' Trust is the appropriate body for the club to deal with in this matter. The idea was 'their baby' and as an organised and elected group with shares in the club and who represent a large number of supporters (although not all) this course of action is wholly appropriate. Again, I believe you are confusing the site with the site users. The site has not called for sackings, or boycotts, although some of the users may have. Please also remember two salient points about this meeting - some of those who were at the Dunfermline game live hundreds of miles away and it was not possible for them to attend and also, the meeting was not billed as a session where answers to previously asked questions would be given ... despite queries about that very aspect of it.

Fraser Tokely McCaffrey Munro © Hastings Wilson Duncan Black Rankin Wyness Bayne Subs Ridgers Duff (U21) Sutherland (U21) McBain/Hart (?) Cowie Paatelainen McDonald

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bursaspor

He had scored a total of 2 goals prior to the one last season (both in 95/96). I remember one was an absolute peach of a free-kick. Cant remember if the other was a FK or from open play.

or you could believe this site ..... http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/players/n/niculae_marius.shtml

Rankin for me - scored a few beauties last season. nothing wrong with letting Black or Hastings take the odd one though - mix it up a bit and both can hit it pretty sweet.

Shouldn't the last few comments be in another thread ? This isn't about Blackie wanting away on a free transfer it is RUMOUR about other clubs being interested in him.

It would actually be quite interesting to have a reasonably strong set of teams across the traditional Highland League catchment area , it would annoy the **** out of some pundits and grass roots football people who think the country ends just before Perth.