Scotty

confirmed: http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/inverness-ct-v-hearts-postponed/

THE MATCHDAY THREAD Discuss ICT & other games in this thread as they happen Inverness CT -V- Motherwell PREVIEW 2nd April @ 3PM, Caledonian Stadium Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Go to the Chatroom Media Coverage AUDIO BBC Sportsound Open All Mics [UK Only] TEXT ESPN BBC SKY Sporting Life VIDEO SPL YouTube Channel ICT Official YouTube Channel TEAM LINEUPS

Yes, Dan Stratford played a whopping 5 games for DC United in MLS before being 'waived' at a time when the league was not as strong as it is now ... a term akin to 'contract termination by mutual consent'. But for every Dan Stratford out there there are also plenty more like Dario Zanatta or Doneil Henry ... see this page for some of the better players: http://www.mlssoccer.com/series/24-under-24/2015 and then here for the publicly posted salary details https://www.mlsplayers.org/salary_info.html . Hughes bangs on about squeezing the best value out of every penny but I think european supporters, and UK ones in particular have a particular snobbery about MLS and the quality that exists without ever witnessing it first hand. Its like everywhere else, there are certainly duds, the salary cap sees to that, but its an emerging market with lower wages right now, and in the last few years a blossoming lower league system that is developing and expanding now. In previous years TFC would draft kids out of college and they would not make the grade immediately and would be 'waived'. Nowadays TFC II plays in the 3rd tier and those draftees, as well as some of the younger first team players are signed to or loaned to that feeder team. There's a few in there for the long term that may eventually come back to TFC in the end and a few gems too.

Not sure who County have advising them, but ICT could do worse than to look around MLS for some young prospects or potential loanees. County signed Terry Dunfield and Chris Konopka right out of Toronto FC when they were 'waived' by the club, Perry Kitchen (DC United) is at Hearts, Andy Dorman (New England) came to St Mirren and there have been a few more who have made the journey across the pond to the SPL or SPFL not least of which was Maurice Edu back in 2008. (I exclude Robson, Boyd, Miller, O'Dea etc as they came from UK to MLS and then back). West Ham also signed Doneil Henry who came through the TFC academy and is a beast of a defender and there is a steady stream of both youngsters and established players making the move across either temporarily as loans during off season or on a more permanent basis. Obviously ICT would not get the likes of Giovinco, Bradley or Altidore, but there are definitely a few promising younger players sitting on the bench most weeks who might be worth a look ... the pick of the bunch being Ashtone Morgan (25) who is a decent left back but behind Justin Morrow in the pecking order. The same must be true of other MLS teams but I am not as familiar with their squads (outside of the well known players)

If what I heard is true the demands were not solely financial, although the financial aspect was also far higher than we were comfortable with. IMHO he was clearly trying to use us to put himself in the shop window and valued himself far higher than most here would have thought. ICT was a paycheque nothing more, no affinity for club or supporters so glad we didn't accede to or negotiate his demands. Would far rather we spend that money on hardworking members of the existing squad or younger players who appreciate the club, its supporters, and the privileged position they have as professional athletes even if they are not pulling in wages like Ronaldo or Messi !

Think there was more to us pulling out of the deal for Ofere than "someone" making it public although that provided a convenient reason ... Whether true or not, I have heard his demands, or those made on his behalf, were simply impossible to meet

Dundee just handed Darren O'Dea a 3 year contract too and that wont have been cheap either ......

THE MATCHDAY THREAD Discuss ICT & other games in this thread as they happen Ross County -V- Inverness CT PREVIEW 19th March @ 3PM, Victoria Park, Dingwall Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Go to the Chatroom Media Coverage AUDIO BBC Sportsound Open All Mics [UK Only] TEXT ESPN BBC SKY Sporting Life VIDEO SPL YouTube Channel ICT Official YouTube Channel TEAM LINEUPS Tweets by @ICTFC Tweets by @ICTFC

Agree with what you say - we've talked about media of all kinds and the rules and regs a lot over the years. The red bit is the biggest concern and the biggest annoyance. I posted a long time ago - before KC was chairman - about an experience I had when I was his guest in his hospitality box, where he saw the stewards giving the young lads (at that time) in the north stand a hard time for standing and set out to find out what the problem was and stop them getting a hard time over it. (he succeeded). The club may have a certain viewpoint to applying or interpreting the rules but for those rules that are wrong, stupid or where situations or technologies - like social media or safe standing - has moved ahead of the rules in place there needs to be a mechanism for change, or for allowing clubs latitude in applying the spirit of the rules and being allowed to advertise or publish local policy amendments without fear of themselves getting in trouble for having the audacity to apply common sense rather than some outdated rule or policy (as opposed to law). I guess what I am saying is that the whole thing is over legislated. Fair enough, have a million and one rules in place where its needed, or where its required, but as a society we just seem to dream up new rules for the sake of it, or for problems that dont exist yet but will once we put some silly rule in place !!!

2€ for a Beer at the Bernabeu (or it was in 2012). I simply dont understand why the SPFL / SFA are so draconian with all the media stuff and always have been. I know some clubs demanded that the commentaries and such like were suppressed to enable them to offer their own options but ICT were never too bothered about media rights issues and Hibs were always the model held up on how to get fans involved in bringing media from the fans to the club and they too did not have an issue. Surely no-one can seriously think that one or two folk (shakily) streaming video through periscope or something similar from a fans vantage point in the stands is going to be serious competition to a broadcast feed from a dedicated gantry or camera position? Sure, some folk will watch it, especially if no other options are in place, but its like trying to watch an illegally downloaded film that someone shot on their mobile in the cinema compared to going to watch it in the cinema yourself or via a broadcast on proper TV. Same with photos. The professionals have the best vantage points, and the skills and better equipment to capture truly stunning photos, but some fan photos - including my own - can be just as much fun to view. I joke with mates at the TFC games that I seldom get a good shot of any goals as I am usually getting excited that we might score .... or, because I am in the middle of the stand, there's thousands of arms go up in front of the lens just as I try to take a picture. I might take several hundred pics at a (TFC) game but after filtering out all the crappy ones or ones where I took multiple frames per second and just pick the best, I try to post 50-75 from each game. None of these impact the pro photographers who are down at pitch level. I know this because I know a couple of them and they tell me so. The other important factor about 'fan pics' (at TFC) is that the conditions are such that they are for personal use only. I can display them on the TFCpics website but I cannot sell them or allow them to be used in any publications where they would be classed as being used commercially. The pro photographers on the other hand are licensed to sell their photos and make a living from it. I dont see why this model cant or wont work in Scotland. Last few times I have visited the TCS I can honestly say the experience has been less enjoyable than I remember from the days when I was a season ticket holder even though I was in the same seats as I had sat in for many years on those visits, and many/most of the people around were the same folk I had enjoyed my football with as we climbed the leagues !!! Dont get me wrong, the staff at ICT are great, always have been, and I have a friendly relationship from chairman on down, but the banter, craic, and interaction with the players/managers on the opposition bench (or our own) was gone, replaced with a fear or thought that what you might say would get you turfed out or talked to by the police or stewards. The application of many jobsworth rules seems both stupid and off putting and the 'enjoyable day out' experience is gone. We are going to be back again in May for the last couple of weeks of the season, and to be honest, just cant get excited about it yet ... apart from not knowing the fixtures because of the split, the thought of being treated like something off the bottom of the steward's shoe does not appeal in the slightest. Its not an ICT thing though ... its a football thing, and its not even a Scotland thing, its everywhere. TFC get a lot of things right, but they too have knee-jerk reactions to certain scenarios or stewarding that can, at times get over-officious .... but one thing ICT does have the upper hand with I guess .... is that you dont want to get into it with the cops over here though as they do carry guns !

Its crazy and another example of how the SFA/SPFL and others seem to value their brand fiercely but then do nothing to promote it themselves. 1000 fan pics posted all over social media does more to enhance the brand or show enjoyment than making a handful of professional pics available via SNS or media outlets. The two things are not mutually exclusive and can co-exist very easily. I know this well - both from taking pictures at ICTFC before I moved over here, and when it was allowed, even encouraged, and also from Season 1 to now with TFC. I am glad that Toronto FC has a different policy, otherwise TFCpics would not exist ! 10 years worth of photos on there. I have had the odd issue getting into the ground, mostly because the stewards think the camera (Nikon D7000 with 18-200mm lens) is too big, but some assertiveness and requesting to speak with a supervisor on the rare occasions it happens seems to work.

Hate midweek games !! especially when the clocks here go forward or back ahead of the UK ! .... updates to various pages will be late today as the UK is currently only 4 hours ahead of me and I will be battling through rush hour traffic to get home. Hopefully I can get to it soon after I get home, and hopefully with a smile on my face

THE MATCHDAY THREAD Discuss ICT & other games in this thread as they happen Inverness CT -V- Hibernian PREVIEW 16th March @ 7:45PM, Caledonian Stadium Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Go to the Chatroom Media Coverage AUDIO BBC Sportsound LIVE Commentary [UK Only] TEXT BBC Sporting Life VIDEO SPL YouTube Channel ICT Official YouTube Channel TEAM LINEUPS Tweets by @ICTFC Tweets by @ICTFC

This thread is now on a yellow card. When there are as many posts slagging off multiple posters in the thread as there are about the content - regardless of whether you agree with the point or not - then its in danger of being closed. For what its worth, I disagree with the original poster, but he is most definitely entitled to his opinion. He and others are not however entitled to get personal.

Can only go on the limited comments of Barry Wilson on the radio but it sounded like we pounded them in the last 15-20 minutes but it was our total lack of interest in the previous 70 that cost us dearly. Very troublesome.

THE MATCHDAY THREAD Discuss ICT & other games in this thread as they happen Inverness CT -V- Hamilton PREVIEW 12th Mar @ 3PM, Caledonian Stadium Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Go to the Chatroom Media Coverage AUDIO BBC Sportsound Open All Mics [UK Only] TEXT ESPN BBC SKY Sporting Life VIDEO SPL YouTube Channel ICT Official YouTube Channel TEAM LINEUPS TO FOLLOW Tweets by @ICTFC Tweets by @ICTFC

last line of the Courier article indicates he has been offered a 3 year contract http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Liam-Polworth-handed-first-Scotland-under-21-call-up-10032016.htm

THE MATCHDAY THREAD Discuss ICT & other games in this thread as they happen St Johnstone -V- Inverness CT PREVIEW 9th March @ 7:45PM, McDiarmid Park, Perth Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Go to the Chatroom Media Coverage AUDIO http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_scotland_mw (UK ONLY) TEXT ESPN BBC SKY Sporting Life VIDEO SPL YouTube Channel ICT Official YouTube Channel TEAM LINEUPS Tweets by @ICTFC Tweets by @ICTFC

I see County have signed Chris Konopka today. Konopka was first choice keeper for Toronto FC last year but his contract was not renewed by TFC at the end of the season. 6'5" with an impressive beard. A good guy that is a decent shot stopper. Thats two former TFC players County have signed right out of MLS - first Terry Dunfield, now Konopka ... they must have some Dingwallian over here advising them !

It will not be televised due to UEFA blackout rules that dictate no games can be shown on TV when the Champions League is on. Apparently Inverness CT -V- Hibs and the likes of Accrington Stanley -V- Wycombe Wanderers or Leatherhead -V- Bognor Regis might have an impact on the attendance at the Barcelona -V- Arsenal or Bayern -V- Juventus games ! although this article does make interesting reading despite the source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/scottish-cup-blackout-could-been-7514305#S12qwCLxoU9bJC1p.97

RIP Ross, and condolences to all those who knew him and are grieving at this time. I personally did not know Ross, but I do know plenty of people who did, all of whom have spoken of a good bloke with a huge passion for ICT. Very sad indeed.

replay a week on Wednesday (16th)

nope. Horner chased the lost cause, kept it in, and crossed it for Storey to setup for Mutombo ... 1-1