IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

To kick it off I doubt whether any of us, even given the availability of a Tardis, would have changed one bit of the post merger histories of Caledonian and Inverness Thistle - from the agonies and soul searching of the initial post merger years through the unbelievable climb up the leagues, the momentous giant killings en route, culminating in a Scottish Cup victory and a surreal jaunt, albeit brief, into what many of us would have termed the UEFA Fairs Cup. As we progressed we were undoubtedly abetted, financially backed (perhaps saved) by injections of cash by a number of previous Board members and one in particular. But to me the Boards were blinded by the light, they spent in an attempt to try and secure a position which was probably well above our potential without a bonafide Sugar Daddy. To me their biggest downfall was that they were "weak". They rolled over like starstruck puppies when played with by the likes of Brewster, moreso Butcher and again by Yogi. Three very big egotistical control freaks. To me Brewster had many positives but he was aloof. Butcher is a textbook narcissist which augured well at the off. We will never be associated by a bigger name in our history. He became the Mr ICT of the media and he wallowed in it. He brought in players through his name and reputation and was abetted by the one of the best scouting system ever in Scottish football. But he was ruthless and his personality scared the crap out of the Board. He probably started off our rise to the top but he also put us on a perilous financial slope. When the Board had a fit of realism and tried to pull back the reins he fecked off and in true narcissistic fashion didn't give a feck what he left behind. So what did the Board do. They brought in a manager in the same vein and allowed him to repeat the process. Although it was feckin great and he also had his strengths. But we continued to overspend and whos fault is that ? Now that is why I get so frustrated over the criticism of the current Board. Yvonne Crook knows more about Marks and Spencers shopping ranges than football. Graham Rae probably thinks penalties are called free throws and you get three points for scoring a free kick from outside the designated box. They were brought in primariy to sort out the finances which is evidently a rotten and difficult task which probably annoys many at the Dump. But they appear to be getting there. Robbo is forthright and has a more personable and stable personality. He is a true communicator and knows his limits. Why is he still here ? Shure the Board were lacking in the communication skills but they have taken on Board people to carry out those roles for them. They take a back seat and let Robbo and the locally sourced Backroom staff to instill the "play for the shirt mentality". Scotty alludes to the future ambition. Of course it simply has to be an eventual return to the Premiership but stabilizing the finances and solidifying a place in the Championship has to be the initial goal. We have become accustomed to success but perhaps the realization is that a return to the Premiership may take a number of seasons and is dependent on an influx of extra finance. MERRY FECKIN XMAS

According to many Robbo actually created the storm !!

Bloody Aquifer

Lovely to see some wording associated with the Supporters Trust ? Mulraney's contract from the old board was mental; Contract's handed out by the previous board had some mental clauses in them in general; We offered one particular player £600 a week but was told United 'offered double'; Extremely hard to attract established players, we had to approach young, single players with no central belt ties; We are 6/10 in terms of first team budget. Sounds like Robbo has a good liaison with the Board and understands the financial constraints. Looks like Rae and Crook may be actually doing a good job in difficult circumstances.

Really feel for the brave few who travelled. Surely there must be a compensation shout ?

Good - Get it back to 3.00 on a Saturday although I suppose BT Sport will get another Friday evening ?!!

You are beginning to sound like a Glover

Aye there are far too many outspoken olde gits on here

Great news for a fellow Howden Ender.

6 goals should boost everybody.

McGregor and Harper ON

Well that is the way to shut up yer critics ?

Their keeper still hasn't made a save - Surely even we cant feck this up now ?

Well thank feck that their keeper hasn't made a feckin save ?

This is the new start to the season.

And here was me thinking that the "leavers" were going because of the standard of football on display plus frustration of watching (and paying for) lackadaisical team and individual performances on a regular basis. If "affinity" is said to have been lost then I would suggest that it was never actually (truly)been there in the first instance. This is NOT about the Club-Fan relationship. I basically do not give a feck about that and harping on about it (at every opportunity) is driving people away as well. You don't lose affinity because the pies were cold, you disagreed with the water-sprinkling methods or dust on the seats. Get a team on the pitch that plays for the shirt, shows "true fan" like commitment / application and provides a degree of entertainment. And it is happening at practically every club in the lower leagues. People want success not survival and the more that you have been used to it the more you expect it.

Who feckin cares as long as we are winning or performing. The future is bright irrespective of the win, draw and lose figures.

As far as I am concerned Ridgers has been our Player of the Season BUT he fecked up the first two goals and the defence clearly lost concentration and positioning for all three goals. And then Oakley should have netted a hat-trick. Robbo cant give allowances for individual mistakes. We are having a poor season albeit I bet that most of us would have taken our league position and our points tally in pre-season. I recall some positive comments about our squad at the start of the season as well. It is probably as much bad misfortune that we have had more than our share of injuries and some unforeseen losses. It is always a gamble going for the cheaper option of bringing in potential with a history of injuries. I also feel that the "unbeaten run" nonsense was having a negative effect and lets hope that getting the monkey off our back will pay dividends. I would suspect that we had two "goals" at the start of the season - to avoid relegation and to bring back some financial stability. Watching the purse strings and improving is evidently a very difficult task. We have brought in a management team who have been tasked with balancing the finances. That must be both understandable but very frustrating for Robbo. I was disappointed but not surprised that he kept the yoof on the bench yesterday BUT here are my suggested New Year Resolutions. Ditch the "hangers-on" (There must be spondoolachs for OFW ?) - take an increasing risk on blooding some of the Under 18's and look at spending a bit more cash on two journeymen - one with some midfield panache and one with a striking record.

I now expect us to beat both Ayr and the Arabs.

White for Doran and Trafford for Wesh - No surprise - but Oakley doakley nets against the Bairns again !! Its a feckin draw.

Possible feckin draw !!

Fer fecks sake - we are rudden useless !!

Please, please show a killer touch now.