Scotty

OK - I think this has passed the 'taste test' .... It seems to work, although, I did have to enter 1 result to test it so have a 4 point lead on everyone .... that lead will be resolved when the actual result is entered as the table will be recalculated !!! This is how it works ..... Click on the 'World Cup Predictor' link on the left menu (will appear later) You will be taken to a screen that shows all the results and has a list of all games. (as mentioned above, game 1 has points issued already but that was for testing and will be automatically recalculated when the actual score is entered) There will be a menu on the right side that allows you to enter predictions, view results (default page you are looking at) and also view the prediction table. It will also show you the next game and the top 20 predictors. You DO NOT need to register, all users are automatically registered using their site login ID - you can take part or not, its up to you. To enter a prediction, click on the 'enter predictions' link and then on the team names of the game you want to predict. You may also alter predictions in here up until game time. Enter your half-time / full-time predictions. To view the leaderboard click on 'Prediction Table' - you should also be able to click on a user's name to view their predictions (but I havent fully tested that yet !) SCORING - You get 2 points for each part of your prediction that is correct and a bonus if you get the exact score. Points awarded as follows. Predict correct overall result regardless of score - W/L/D = 2 pts Predict correct HT / FT goals for home team = 2 points for each part you get right Predict correct HT / FT goals for away team = 2 points for each part you get right Predict exact score - I can set this one of two ways - a fixed score of say 10 ... or my preference which is to base the score on how many predicted a result and how many got it right ..... I will let the users decide what they prefer (please comment below) ..... If its a set value, then you get 10 points for an exactly correct result however, if we want the potentially more exciting method then the points are shared out between those who get it right and multiplied by a 'factor' !! ... for example, if 100 people enter a prediction for this match and 25 get it right, the 25 'winners' would get (100/25)* 'factor'. We have set the factor to 5 so in this example that would mean all those who predicted the correct result would get (100/25)*5 or 20 points .... if only 10 people got it got it right, they would get 50 points, if only 1 person got it right, then they would get 500 points !!! [*]Table generation - table generation is automatic. One of the admins will enter the scoreline from each match into the system and it will score it automatically. There is no restriction on changing your entries up to game time but the system will 'close' predictions when the game is ready to kick-off. [*]As this is a prediction league for the World Cup, there may be updates to this module prior to the start of the competition - I will install any updated versions that are released until a few days before the start of the WC, so am telling all users this fact in advance just in case any of the updates cause any predictions to go astray or become corrupted. It will be the USER'S responsibility to check their own predictions before the WC kicks off to ensure that they are all recorded as desired.

It was mentioned on another thread .... but one factor in increasing the crowd sizes is to get season tickets available for sale before the end of the current season. If safety from relegation is assured then it is reasonable to expect that the prices be announced 2 or 3 games before the end of that season ... give fans till the end of the season for 'early bird' specials, give them a few weeks after that to confirm first refusal on their existing seat(s), get a package together that is mailed out to existing ST holders or available to new or potential ST holders that not only has ticket prices but also includes details of the hospitality offers available for the next season ... in short, MARKET the club to an audience who are already (in most cases) pre-disposed to take these offers up ..... I would also like to see the club take a leaf out of Aberdeen's book and implement a voucher scheme for non season ticket holders .... attendance at 'lesser' games would then be required to qualify for tickets for games against Hearts, Celtic, Rangers (and maybe even our 'local rivals' Aberdeen !) etc. This would have no effect on the crowd for the 'big' games, but might add a few thousand bums on seats over the season for games against the likes of St Mirren, Falkirk, Dunfermline etc

Personally - if it were me, and I DID suggest this to the club when the photo of the 'alledged' new kit first emerged on the Internet, I would pressure ERREA into supplying 3 or 4 samples of the new strip so that the club could officially launch it ASAP .... OK, they may not physically get the stock until a later date, but they could get it onto the club shop site so that pre-orders could be taken ... if the final strip resembles the photo that was displayed (briefly) a few times, I think it will be our best selling top EVER. Whats my basis for this ? ...... When the original online club shop was launched (3 seasons ago) all that was on it was a graphic representation of the new strip which was to be launched a few weeks later. Within the first 2 or 3 weeks, so many pre-orders were taken that the club had to order a load more from Errea just so they could have some to sell in the shop !!!

I am surprised they have survived this long ... I went to a few games when I first came over but stopped going because they play in the middle of nowhere and it was so hard to get to the 'stadium' on public transport .... When i worked downtown, I didnt need a car and it used to take nearly 90 minutes or more on the TTC to get there and another 90 to get back ... The quality of the football was mediocre, and they played in Livi colours so as far as I was concerned, they had nothing going for them .... except a few of the supporters I met who were sound enough guys.

oh yeah .... cool :drinking08: :drinking08: :drinking08:

not sure if he will sign or not - we will see, but to answer blackieforce's question ... he cant sign yet because the transfer window doesnt open until 9th June ...

USA '3rd' strip is almost the exact opposite .....

Missed that announcement ... knew it was coming, but never heard it mentioned on City TV or anywhere yesterday ..... looks to be a tidy wee stadium that is going to be built ...... Pints before (and after) the inaugural game - sounds like a plan - wonder what will happen to the Lynx now ?

Ok here's my 'prediction' =========== 01. Rangers 02. Celtic 03. Hearts 04. Kilmarnock 05. Inverness CT 06. Aberdeen =========== 07. Hibs (without Mowbray) 08. Motherwell (without Butcher) 09. Falkirk 10. Dunfermline 11. St Mirren 12. Dundee Utd (without Brewster) =========== and if that DID happen, then I think I would have to hope DUNDEE were promoted so as to make it even more painful :016: :015: :016: (although I cant see it somehow)

following on from what I said, I think it would be realistic to set a target of 6th, but I wont be too disappointed if we dont quite achieve it .... so long as we dont look like we will be relegated ! With Hibs/Mowbray speculation, Brewster/DUFC rebuilding, and Aberdeen under-performing then yes 4th is a distinct possibility ... but it should not be the target as that would be far too much pressure on the players ... Getting into the top 6 is achievable so thats what I think they should do ... IMHO :002: :010: :002:

One of the things about ICT over the last 12 years is that with only 1 exception (I think), we have consistently performed better than the previous season. We are fortunate never to have 'enjoyed' the bitter taste of relegation and it really has been a case of onwards and upwards each year .... From now on though, I feel our biggest fear should be relegation and the financial implications that brings. It is great but not realistic to fantasise that we will continue to improve each year and eventually win this division in the same way that we were challenging to win every other division we got into after playing in it for a year or two. I would say that right now we are a comfortable 'mid-table' team and that is fairly re-assuring. If we flirt with positions from 4th to 10th, have decent cup runs, and maybe get into Europe on the odd occasion over the next few years, I will be delighted ... but we need to keep the relegation fear close at hand to avoid becoming complacent. We have no divine right to finish anywhere and have to earn it each year. Cetic, Rangers, and (for the moment) Hearts have the resources to make sure they should always be at the top. Hibs, Aberdeen and Dundee United all have the potential to be near the top year in and year out given their resources and fanbase, but they have not always earned that in recent years. The other 6 teams should by rights be jockeying for position in the bottom 6 ... 7th was good this season, perhaps 6th next season or even higher ? after all, at least 2 of the 3 teams with 'potential' may have issues to deal with in the close season ......

I'm Scottish so its traditional to go with another underdog when we aint there so, lets say, T&T :014:

Dont be surprised if the club give that idea very little consideration .... The club set aside an area last season and some supporters tried to promote the idea but the uptake was virtually nil ...

Didnt Peterhead get something like 10 out of 12 points against them this season ?

I agree .... but unlike the 'temporary' stands it might be a lot more difficult and expensive to do ........ think I would leave this one to the Chairman and his staff ... he is in the right line of work to know if it can be done ! :001:

Think you might find that the uncovered areas of the existing main stand will be covered before anything happens on the opposite side and that will cost a fair amount of cash ..... Right now the club are not allowed to sell season tickets for those areas and (i believe) they are also not allowed to sell match tickets for those areas until the covered parts of the main stand are officially sold out ...

Could he be the answer to Brewster's striker search ? ... another one going back to his roots, and compared to Brewster, he is still young !! mind you, according to soccerbase he only scores about once every 3-4 games

try the 'next season strip' thread in this very forum ..... thread closed

Yes 'someone' painted my pitch before todays game and it cost me 250k to repair it .... but I still won ... my new striker scoring two goals on his debut Good game, but could we get the games closer together like every day perhaps ? and do we have any control over kick-off time as the game is over before i can check my PC at work ? It is certainly better than the current state of the SN Footie manager game which is dying a slow and agonising death because of the constant friendlies and lack of info about how the new ratings, transfers and coaching will work ... not to mention the constantly changing dates for the start of the new season ......

mmm, seem to remember a few hundred Partick fans, Livingston Fans and St Mirren Fans doing it on our patch when they won the league !!!

An unfortunate incident, with devastating repercussions for the St Mirren player. Dram - excellent post. I think there is an element of exagerration on the part of supporters from each camp but I am glad to hear that you saw it as 'clumsy' rather than 'malicious' which is what ICT supporters have been saying for years. Ross is a big lumbering player and although 90% of his tackles are first class, there are days when he can appear clumsy, especially if a player is wiping the floor with him (which doesnt happen often these days thankfully). I do believe that Ross should have apologised to the player, sent a card or visited him in hospital and I dont know if that ever happened. It certainly didnt happen in the immediate aftermath of the tackle and/or at the end of the game. However, in Ross's defence, I think most would tell you that far from being indifferent, he was quite upset at the whole thing as well. As a (very) young player at the time, I think he may have been told to keep his head down by other, more experienced players and also the management. Even if he wanted to visit the player at hospital on the day, the bus probably came straight back up the road without giving him the opportunity .... As a raw youngster he would not have had much say !!! That doesnt make it right, but it does go a little way to perhaps explaining the immediate aftermath. I have no way of knowing what advice he was subsequently given by others or the club after the event, but most ICT fans you ask, who have met Ross believe him to be a decent guy. As far as walking away when it happened, I think that is a natural reaction ... you know you have made a bad challenge, you dont want to see the effects of what you have done, you dont want to get involved with numerous other players baying for your blood, and you perhaps think that the ref might not notice it was you if you wander away !!! Again, not right, but understandable. As for threats of violence towards Ross on other forums, or slanderous comments about his private life, then that is the problem of those who run those boards. If comments such as those appear on here, I will pass the details to the club and let them decide if they want to take any further action. I also do not condone the singing of the song quoted on this thread and will edit the posting if requested to do so.

Yup - they are stars, one and all, whether they played every game or came in as cover for a game or two. Not every individual performance has been great, players have had off-days and one or two are very 'raw' but the overall team effort is to be thoroughly commended. Some people still like to belittle ICT in the media, pat us on the head and continue to treat us like the wee team from the highlands, let them continue to do that at their own peril !!! (To be fair, a few media types are now coming round to the fact that ICT are a decent side !!!) However, some of our supporters also do a good job of running down the team as well .... but there have been a few good comments from Charlie and Barry in the last few days that say things far better than I can ..... Charlie Christie: speaking in the Highland News A few people out there, as you always get in football unfortunately, wanted me to fail but you accept that in life. The good thing is that for every person who wants me to slip up, there about three dozen out there who want to me succeed and I've got to keep reminding myself that. "I do take this club extremely seriously and no-one can question my commitment to this club over the years. I said I'd give this job my very best shot and, while it's still very early days, I think I have made a stamp on the team in terms of our style of play, the change of personnel at times has had a positive effect and I'm really looking forward to next season. "I took advice from a lot of people in the game, but the main reason I accepted this job was I knew the type of players I was inheriting, I played with 80 per cent of them. They are excellent players with excellent attitudes and I'm very pleased overall by how things have gone. Barry Wilson: speaking in various newspapers "The players know the importance of finishing seventh in the SPL table. It's no secret that we are not the highest-paid group of players but the board have been tremendous and have shared the proceeds with us. I think the last few weeks have shown that the boys like a pound or two. Bonuses make up a large percentage of our wages at times and that shows in our play. Everyone is under contract at Caley Thistle so if Dundee United want them they will have to come in and pay money. This club has been great to people and hasn't stood in the way of players who wanted to move and better themselves financially. United would probably fall into that category but I don't think there's any question that Inverness Caley Thistle are a better side than them. I'm not trying to be controversial. It's a fact because for the past two seasons we have finished above them in the league. This club brings the best out of their players and, no disrespect to United, that's not something that has happened at Tannadice for a number of years. am convinced Craig will change that eventually down there but at the moment the guys are getting their chance here. They play for a good club and they have the support of a fantastic board. There was some talk about me leaving but Craig Brewster said to me at the start of the season that if I proved myself here he would extend my contract and he did so in January, just a few weeks before he left. Inverness have also said they are going to give me a benefit game next season. It speaks volumes for the players that we bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on the top six by winning all our games and keeping five clean sheets. We are now established in the SPL and at no stage over the past two years have we looked like being relegated. The aim now is to break into the top six. Last year we finished eighth and this time around it was seventh so going one better seems like the natural progression. We have a very solid foundation and if the manager gets in the players he wants we will get stronger. I have signed until the end of next season and from now on I'll just be taking things on a yearly basis - until the fat lady sings. I feel I have a few years in me yet and as long as I keep looking after myself I can definitely cut it at this level.

mmm - have you had to listen to Brian Irvine, Willie Young or Allan Preston !!!!! At least Chick can be enjoyable at times, especially when that windbag Traynor is pushing all the right buttons and chuckling as he gets the expected response ....

Given that I dont see any TV coverage, or get to read the newspaper reports and have to rely pretty much on Radio Scotland coverage over the Internet, I would have to agree that Richard Gordon is the best pundit. Special mentions also go to Charlie Bannerman and Bill McAllister for their reports from the North or Highland League .... Whilst I immensely appreciate the technology and licensing that allows me to listen to (most) Caley Thistle games, the quality of the commentating seems to be pretty poor, boring and uninspiring unless we get assigned one of the 'top rank' of commentators who can put the atmosphere across over the radio by getting at least a little excited or involved in the game .... most weeks, other than trying not to fall asleep, the thing that winds me up the most is the definite sound of chomping from the 'B' list we get saddled with as they eat their pies for the first 10 minutes (or more) of the second half .......

I think Malpas would be a decent manager ... wouldnt have been too unhappy if he had got the ICT job when he was mentioned in the papers (before Brewster took over).