IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

Well spotted and may be worth the risk, although I fear that you are merely pontifficating.

My inference was that the "announcement" of the the Grant Munro departure - which was more of a "shock" in respect of tactical planning - was at least publicised well in advance and allowed Munro to say his "goodbyes" to the support in a civilised and personal manner. Mr Munro also did not therefore need to express his concerns in the media. Mr Butcher even provided a "statement" that suggested that Mr Munro was no longer part of his plans, he was "thanked" and a "message" of good fortune. If what has been written is correct then this appears to have practically have come to the fore on the eve of the last game of the season. Again from what is written, my interpretation is that this is not about money and it is not about Tokely asking for the reassurance of a first team place - Tokely clearly states that he wishes to train and earn his right to a regular starting place. Again, my interpretation is that Tokely has been advised that he is not in the plans to be considered for a starting place but will be utilised as a stand by squad player. It really surprised me that Rosscoe was so verbal via the media, which to me suggests that his "version" of events is correct and he is attempting to show the fans that there is a dragonian regime in place at the TCS - and if he goes then he goes "fighting". Unfortunately this act of "treason" has probably condemned him. I used the more emotive "deplorable" adjective as the manner in which this act has been carried out appears to be reprehensible, condemnable, lamentable,sad and contrary to conscience or moral.

Thank gawd for the moderators - you always get these troublemakers who try and divert the flow of the thread. I would have thought that it was merely polite to respond in name to those who were clearly engaging in a conversation about the manner of Gregory Tade's potential departure to foreign lands - and hence the attempt to bring a bit of humour is yet again turned in to yet another witchhunt and doubt casting on my metempsychosis. My apologies to Mr MacLeod though - another diligent and accomplished moderator. In respect of the squad lets hope that there is some sort of statement provided after the deadline.

Well you have slightly misquoted me there. I have actually raised doubts for the last three seasons in regard to Rosscoe's ability to stay the pace in the SPL, especially as a full back - and I also admit that I was just as unsure about his ability to play as a central defender, as I suspect many others did. But I have also stressed on more ocassions about his saviour performances in certain individual matches and his total committment to the club. If he had gone two seasons ago I dont feel that there would have been such an uproar. But he has simply epitomised the fighting spirit required, has extended his legend status and has even endeared himself more to the fans. At a time that we are going through major change Tokely is the type of character / influence that you need at this club. I admit, as I have alluded to in another thread, that I continue to have my doubts about his stayability but he deserves to be given the chance to stake his claim anyway. And if he has played his last game then he has actually been treated in a more deplorable manner than Munro.

I think that Tansey will be a loss. Prior to coming to us he was a young, untried and inexperienced player. The step up to the SPL was a mighty leap for him. Butcher evidently liked what he saw and actually really perserved with Tansey in manner where he did not go with others. I feel that Tansey got more pelters becos he was viewed as being one of the favoured TB "pets". Personally I feel that playing him beside Foran didnt help and stifled his style. I feel that playing Ross and Morrison beside him would have consolidated our central midfield for this season. I also felt that Tansey matured during the season and I feel that he would have been one of our better players next season, especially if he was allowed a freer role rather than a holding one. It will be really interesting to see where he plays at Stevenage. I wouldnt be at all surprised if he is played in a wider and/or more attacking role.

He plays 4-2-3-1 almost every weeks towards the end of the season he went with a 4-3-3 but other than that he rarely changes from that. Hogg, a.shinnie, and Aaron doran all were injured for a huge part of the season and all wouldve been playing every week if they were fit. No coincidence with doran or shinnie in the side we win more than we lose. I have just realised that CaleyD must write the post match scripts for TB - If you read my post that really should not have affected the usage of any of the players I referred to - BUT - it did effect the formation or should have. My take on that is TB's coaching head has a defined system for ICT and the manner in which he would wish us to play football. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, in fact it is part and parcel of the coaching manual. The problem was / is that TB did not have the players to slot in to his favoured system - losing Hayes,Doran and Shinnie dented that particularly. He tried Ross as a stopgap which didnt work and for some reason he perservered with Tade and Sutherland, even moving on to an intricate interchange plan between two of the least tactical minded players in the team. Gnapke was a woeful attempt to plug the gap and I was surprised that Chippendale or even Winnall didnt get more of a run. Again why did we take those two on loan to warm the feckin bench ? The bottom line in the coaching manual is that you sometimes have to change your favoured system to a system that suits the personnel. TB was too pig headed to do that. And as I am on ma soapbox I may as well add Gillet in to the mix. Personally I feel that he has "sweeper" written in large ink letters across his forehead. But he was chopped and changed - probably to allow Tokely, Williams and Golobart to play and NOT for tactical reasons (and why have two centre halves on loan who clearly were very similar and could not be paired together ?). Anybody who has played as a defender will know that your positioning at left back is far different to a central defender (Tokely struggled fer months and it finished off Tin Tin). If I was Gillet I would be mightily fecked off and I will be surprised if he resigns. What I would love to know is what all these players feel is their best position ?!!

Rather apt when talking about handicaps ?

The "suggestion" in regard to Foran, Tokely et. co were MINE. If you are criticising me then I have raised doubts about Rosscoe, periodically over the last 3 seasons,but I have also praised him when he has regularly turned in performances to prove me wrong. I dont actually think now that he will manage a full season - but hey this is the fourth pre season that I have had that "fear". I have rarely criticised Foran apart from individual poor performances and his indiscipline. I have always praised him for his effort and committment. I still feel that he is more useful out wide on the left or in the attacking "hole" as he was often used in the SFL. I felt that some of his poorer performances were becos he was being played out of position and I did not agree with the favouritism shown to Foran and Tansey, a partnership which did not click. In essence the mere presence of experienced "professionals" like Esson, Tokely and Foran is essential when we are looking at blooding youngsters and untried at SPL players alongside them. I have always tended to laud Ross and again his main problem was that he was played all over the place, in and out of the team and never given a run in a favoured role. I have also been one of the main supporters of Sutherland and Morrison - who I also feel have been in the same position as Ross - and have been both used as bit players - especially Morrison. Why we needed to bring in the likes of Gnapke and others when we had those three - who could have been really tested and blooded - beats me. Finally Sutherland is a bit in the Rooney mould and that is what we should have been concentrating on. He aint exactly the daintiest or skillful of individuals but he knows where the goal is and isnt scared to have a go - not the kind of opportunities that he had wide on the wing or trying to play in intricate feckin patterns with the equal in Tade. In conclusion, as fer Proctor, I criricised him as a player but not as a person or for his committment. He always seemed to amke a mistake that got punished. But again his self confidence was shot by the inane persisitence of playing him as a feckin centre back. It appeared to me that his position was as a midfielder, especially a holding midfielder, and that he would always be a useful squad player if played in that type of substtute role. As I have alluded to before I appear to have been a season behind everybody else - i was looking for the experimentation and consolidation last season. There was an outside chance but the constant chopping and changing fecked that up and - in my personal opinion - has fecked off quite a few of the players who are now voting with their feet.

DOH - the senile owd quine understands the omniscience post but not the three lettered one !! Vive is the subjunctive French interjection for the verb "to live" - literally translated as "Long Live". I used La instead of Le because the attachment to the place, in my opinion, is feminine due to the questionable sexuality of the inhabitants (e,g. Alex McLeod) Perf is a jocular derivative of the town called Perth - the one in Scotland, not Australia. The situation behind the three words was a response to the apparent doubts suggested by Whooshdain and yer good self that the only reason that Tade would leave ICT would be to return to France when the grenouille was planning to go to Saint Johnstone rather than Saint Etienne.

What I would wish to stress is that I would prefer to watch a team with a sprinkling of yoof in it, preferably local yoof, mixed in with the journeymen and the experience - that is why I would have felt that Esson, Foran AND Tokely were essentials to keep on board. We could have / should have blooded quite a few last season instead of all the dodgy loanees. In my book the likes of Morrison, Ross and Sutherland (centre feckin forward) should be "shoe-ins" for next season and with the three aforementioned, the ones on contracts or resigning we have the core squad and then we look at where the deficits are - centre half, holding midfielder and goalscorer and then utilise the journeyman and loanee market.

What a pity we didnt think of this before Jimmy says aye to a Kille Pie !!

'Like a rat deserting a sinking ship' - If people leave a company because they know that it's about to have serious problems, or turn their back on a person about to be in a similar situation, they are said to be like rats deserting a sinking ship 'The grass is always greener' - This idiom means that what other people have or do looks preferable to our life. The complete phrase is 'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence'. "Strike while the iron is hot" - Act decisively and take your opportunities when they arise "Out with the old in with the new" Dependent on your perspective all of the above could relate to what is happening at Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the moment - possibly a mix of all four. I am really concerned that the club is losing its "identity" and the "togetherness" spirit that has served us well for many years. We appear to be becoming a mercenary operative and keeping issues behind closed doors which can only lead to further disdain and conspiracy theories. There is no doubt that the reasons for some to leave are clearer - Tansey, Tuffey - but there does appear to be a certain current of discernment with others. Again I can appreciate that we will always be a feeder / selling club, have to survive on a limited budget BUT this is bordering on the ridiculous this season. The release of some of the local youngsters is also becoming more and more confusing It is clear that, again irrespective of individual views, that we will have Terry and Mo in charge this year but that concerns me if we amass a band of untried / untested loanees, journeymen, the injury prone and the unknown. We are after all a SPL club. How are we supposed to feckin consolidate ? It also gives the dynamic duo the "excuse" for next season and the season afterwards.

Lets get Marius Niculae back.

DOH - we havent got a starting eleven !!

But when you chew on a soor plum you learn a lesson - it is the fact that the lessons, irrespective of the subject matter, have not been learned that is the most annoying.

Am I alone in feeling that the main concern here is the "openess" of the "debate" in the public domain. Rosscoe may well be stirring it a bit but there rarely is smoke without fire.

This was evidently instigated when it became apparent that our current squad was going to be decimated and that we have to start thinking about how we are going to replace them. As for Tudor-Jones I suspect that TB is asking more about his intentions more than anything. I still think that the "management / selection etc." last season has had an influence on some decisions - which makes the stand against Tokely and the release of some of the yoof more difficult to understand.

Now that is summat that I can understand / appreciate. He is out of contract and he is leaving Inverness becos of security. Unfortunately it just goes to show that we are way, way down the attraction list.

Only 1 player (the captain) played more for us than Tade this season. 40 appearances (33 starts) confirms that the manager showed an awful lot of faith in Tade, even during spells of obvious poor form. He might not get played in his preferred position, but at least he gets played, a lot, and his manager here has more patience and more confidence in him than I suspect he'd get from other SPL managers. Exactly my point - so why the feck is he moving on - if it was to go "home" to France - well OK - but to Perth - why ? The Tokely situation appears to be rotting away at others.

Well it would be a risk either way but is this not a move from tradition which again tends to suggest background unrest although it could also show that lessons have been learned from the debacle of the last pre season - or probably both. It certainly puts a fair degree of pressure on the players looking at alternatives as there is no way that they will have things sorted out by that date elsewhere. However the wording does not exactly suggests a club deadline it merely states that Terry wants to know their plans - and again that simply sounds like good planning.

C'est la vie

E - eye - addio - we won the cup

What is the points - we have had a rite pair of tits playing up front for the last year - and that aint worked.

It was the butcher, with an axe, in the dressing room. Hmm This case reminds me of the Munro, Duncan and McBean cases.