Sorted

So we have a Tory government that has significantly moved towards the progressive, with Labour shifting towards the left. Perfect outcome. Far better than supporting right-wing New Labour in a dead duck minority government, with the defeated Tories shifting to the right. I see New Labour as no more left-wing than the Tories. This probably our biggest disagreement. Blair's as much a successor to Thatcher as Cameron. A party that pushed for the Iraq War, let the banks do what they like unhindered and wants to introduce ID cards is right-wing. Whether the LDs chose one or the other is based on how progressive and meaningful a coalition. I think they got it right. And to add, I wish the LDs had gone into a coalition with the SNP. The two parties have probably got more in common than with either of the big two (in fact, I think Labour and Tory have far more in common than either have with the LDs). It's just that one big question that gets in the way... For me, New Labour died when Blair departed the scene. Brown is a decent man, despite his loyalty to Blair over the years, who if given the chance by Middle England (no chance - Scottish and a socialist despite his mistakes) would have moved the Labour Party to a much more acceptable agenda for people like me. We don't disagree on this really other than the fact that you saw a continuation of Blairite governing under Brown as the road forward and I saw a transition back to something more akin to his roots. This is why I would have been comfortable with the SNP joining the rainbow alliance. Moving on to Holyrood, I tend to agree with you but remain content with the outcome nevertheless. There is something quite refreshing about a minority administration having to work with people rather than block vote. As for Nick Clegg, he is immersed in privilege and opportunity, probably of some Germanic aristocratic lineage (related to the Queen perhaps?) and far from leaving the Tory Society of his youth has cleverly moved the LDs to a position that gives him more comfort. Almost genius isn't it? As a side note isn't it interesting that many of the more established liberals have distanced themselves? From a sober Charlie questioning his party's wisdom in public to an obviously flustered Simon Hughes talking to Adolf in the commons about "his government"!

Enjoying this discussion. Have no gripe with the LDs for not joining up with the SNP at Holyrood as the result has been, despite occasional difficulties, pretty much consensual politics with a left of centre agenda. In essence, pretty much what the vast majority of the Scottish electorate (over 80%) voted for. As for the nuclear debate, don't be so sure about Labour's continuing support. If they are to make any serious ground over the term of this parliament (fixed by default ) then they are going to have to reclaim their old ground as, you rightly point out, the ground once the bastion of New Labour belongs to the CONDEMs. As the candidates for Labour leadership, Milliband Snr excluded, have already started to distance themselves from all things military, their may be a strong shift to come. Moving on to the SNP approach, you are right to say it wasn't stated that they were willing to co-operate with Labour in advance. This, as far as I am concerned remained the position as the only offer was to be part of a broad based left of centre coalition which only excluded (SF self excluded) the Tories and the Unionists (wee theme there eh?). This is perfectly reasonable and would be viewed as such by voters in a legitimate attempt to keen Adolf out. I marched against Thatcher, marched for the release of the"terrorist" who's interment in Robin Island she supported, marched against the war in Iraq, supported the miners (despite Scargill) and despite getting older and wiser (OK, matter of opinion!) the hatred in my body for all things Tory remains and always will. It's all very well to say time moves on, but for the communities and generations destroyed by Thatcher reality is considerable different from the playing fields of Eton. This new breed of Thatcherite is just that, Thatcherite. Don't forget. So when the good old fashioned, respectable, well meaning Liberal sit's done and reflects, how do they feel when the realise that the party they bore has paved the way for The New Order? Choking in their green tea me thinks. I sound bitter because I am. Nick Clegg - What A Catalyst You Turned Out To Be?

Dont think we have two physio's on matchdays. normally one + a doctor. Is there any point for the club having two doctors and two physio's? Like having two goalkeepers etc it is essential for cover purposes.

He simply doesn't have the power to do that. With that in mind, maybe he has taken the view that if you can't beat'em, join'em, which is the pragmatic stance the LD's took regarding the coalition. You mentioned earlier that they had choices. They didn't. There was only one offer on the table. Perhaps things might have been different if Brown had accepted defeat and stood down a few days before he eventually did. They had a very clear choice. Quite simply the could have easily refused to enter government with the Third Reich, forcing Adolf/David/Norman to form a minority government with Clegg and Co sitting on the opposition benches, backing a positive legislative programme but refusing to back areas that were clearly out with their manifesto e.g. Trident. This choice had nothing to do with Brown's procrastinating but was a simple one between formal power complete with ministerial cars/titles and real power as part of a balancing mechanism which would always ensure that the Tories behaved. As always with the LDs the need for the former wins! As for Daft Danny, it is debatable if he has the "formal power" to abolish the position but he certainly has the influence to start the ball rolling if he has the political will. It is hypocritical enough to ignore his pre stated election campaign but the sheer hypocrisy of accepting the position defies belief. No doubt this Tory/LD love in will help the LD's to be seen as more acceptable in the right of centre middle/south of England. It does however, ensure that any hope they ever had of winning Labour marginals is gone and that in Scotland, they will be remembered next time round and not for the right reasons. Appreciate it's hardly MORI, but we had a BBQ at the weekend with about 25 folk of voting age. Of the group 17 admitted voting LD, 12 for the first time based on the impact Clegg made on the TV and viewing them as a left of centre option. Of the 12 none had ever or would ever vote Tory. Of the 12, none will ever vote LD again. I think is fairly typical of the reaction in Scotland.

Perfectly fair answers particularly in relation to Clegg saying he would deal with the biggest party first. Stand corrected. For the record I have never voted Labour and continue to seek an independent left of centre Scotland which, by assessing our voting patterns of the past forty years, is what we would have would have should we gain self determination. My gripe with the DEMs is they operate on the prostitute principle. Any party willing to pay the price can use them for the purpose they see fit within reason. Lib/Lab pacts in Holryrood, Lib/Con pacts in Councils now this. The pretense is that it is their desire to see the "liberal agenda" promoted but in reality, their unquenched thirst for power is what drives them. Trident anyone? In other modern Western European democracies such as Germany, the electorate have a very clear understanding of who the political bedfellows are well in advance of casting your vote. This allows you to chose which extremity of the likely successful incumbent you wish to support. A far fairer system. Lastly, I repeat, will Danny Alexander, as Secretary of State for Scotland do as he said he would in his election address and abolish the position of Secretary of State for Scotland? His refusal, and indeed acceptance of the post, would be clear proof to any doubters that the thirst for power is far more important that the need for justice and fairness. I await with interest.

The dust has settled and the programme of cuts announced. Lots of big numbers against, in the majority of cases, populist sectors but, as normal, the detail to follow. I have one fundamental problem with the CONDEM Party, particularly the DEM piece of the jigsaw. Isn't there something quite immoral about going into coalition without advising the public of your intention before they go to the ballot box? Clegg and Co had choices and they chose the CON option. Surely they had considered this in advance as the outcome of the election wasn't a surprise? Anyone with any measure of gumption recognised the scenario that was going to unfold on election night, most well in advance. Accordingly, the right and proper option for the DEMs was to tell the public in advance that it was always their intention to co-operate with the party achieving the highest number of seats which, as we all knew, would be the CONs. With this knowledge in advance, the public could then chose to vote DEM if they so wished. Instead, we now have a huge number of embarrassed voters who have ensured that Herr Flick and his gang of right wing monsters have secured power. If I, as a left of centre individual by instinct had exercised my right to vote DEM, based on many of their left of centre pledges, I would be gob smacked. And, all for the price of a few cabinet posts and a company car. The $64 million question placed to Fanny Alexander, MP: In light of your highly publicised pre election campaign to have the irrelevant position of Secretary of State for Scotland abolished, will you, in your recently appointed position as Secretary of State for Scotland, carry out your desire now you have the power to do so? You couldn't make it up could you.

That would be particularly unfair on Scott Kellacher and Ronnie Duncan who both do a first class job. Can't sack guys just because Baz got his P45!!

Whilst I would have hated to lose out to a moneybags approach from Dundee, I get absolutely no pleasure from seeing a club of their history in this mess. All fans need to take a step back and perhaps change direction in our approach. Perhaps a sensible football fan no has a go at their team for over spending as opposed to the constant harping about lack of funds? Dundee is a worry. A fair sized club with a pretty wealthy benefactor in major trouble. Not good.

Spot on CD. Had the very same conversation with my daughter about a sub for her Rock Ness ticket as she "hadn't had time to save up"!!! Kids eh?

tokelyvictorious 17 harry chibber 26 topsixnextyear 30ish IHE 50 odd Smee 70 odd all hate the C*unty. were you wearing their colours and singing their songs out of curiousity?? I couldn't make it... me and Foran were out having a picnic in Queens Park Never have worn colours at a match as never felt the need. Does this make me any less fanatical? As for the songs, they only have one and no I didn't join in. Can't believe your 26!

Appears there are two kinds of posters on here. One, mainly younger ones who crew up with ICT as a league team and were always, rightly, able to support their local team in the Scottish Football League. Two, mainly older ones who crew up supporting a "big" team as there was no league football and went to support their "wee" team in the Highland League. When ICT got into the league, and for some only when the climbed into the first division and on, a lot of guys switch there allegiance and focused solely on ICT. Category One tends to include the OFesque hatred approach of all things non ICT, fails to appreciate that other people can enjoy other football that may be seen as conflicting with their views and suffers from a severe superiority complex as "we are better supporters than you cos wee hate County/Elgin/Anyone not ICT". Category Two does not have the inbred OFesque disease and subsequently sees things differently. They can appreciate others being successful, enjoy good football and have lives that are not absorbed by hatred. Many of them can even support their neighbours in recognition that any success for the Highlands benefits their team and helps get rid of the myth promoted by the central belt media that we are a footballing backwater. For the record, 12 of us went to the game, 6 ST holders at ICT, 2 ST holders at ICT and RCFC and 4 Highland punters. We were all gutted for County, disappointed for guys on and off the pitch who had contributed to ICT in the past and extremely proud to see so many make the journey. Our lives are not absorbed by hatred. We are not happy clappys. We love football, we love the Highlands and we have no problem saying so!

He spoke with forked tongue then !

Delighted as stated previously. Not sure I can agree with the "plenty of material to suggest there was" though. Lots of "Benny Hill" type innuendo but when asked to give any example or substantive evidence that our new sponsor was so badly treated, the silence was deafening. His commitment to the club would suggest that the "innuendo merchants" were wrong and the his treatment couldn't have been that bad despite pages of posts suggesting the contrary.

Excellent news. All friends again?

Should have checked the Rumoour Mill eh ?

Apologies if this is elsewhere but heard Charles on the radio this morning saying we have a new captain for next season. Granty is being replaced by Richie Foran. Thoughts?

Loved it absolutely loved it! Turned off the overhyped EPL and enjoyed good old fashioned tattie field Scottish fitba. Delighted for Broonie, top guy. Now that's entertainment.

I refer to my answer given on the "West Ham Leak" thread. Have a word ........

What these figures show is that we have to be realistic in our expectations when thinking we can compete financially for players dropping down the English leagues!! We struggle to compete with the English League Two (Division Four as most of us used to call it!) and should remember this when we all shout sign this one or that one! They also show just exactly why the EPL is on the verge of catastrophe.

Was thinking more of players the club released, not left through choice or transfered. I also saw that game !

I repeat: Name me a single product of the ICT Youth system that has been released and gone on to be successful at a level of significance? No one disagrees with your sentiments but most posters are realistic enough to recognise that we have to trawl considerable areas to find emerging young players. It is naive in the extreme to think that the entire population of the Highlands (circa 220,00) over a geopraphical area the size of Belgium will be able to produce enough to sustain a top flight football team. Equally it is sensible to consider recruiting youngsters who have been in the youth systems of other much bigger clubs and been released for whatever reason. The likelehood is that these clubs, with much bigger numbers to choose from, get it wrong sometimes and those released may have potential. Young Shinnie is a prime example and, if he makes it, will be in no small measure, due to the ICT Youth set up.

Don't count on it, the pies are still ***** :D !

The test for me will always be what someone who has failed to make the grade at ICT goes on to achieve. Using that as a benchmark it is pretty fair to say that any youth player that has been allowed to leave has, to date, not proven the decision to be anything other than correct. Rory is probably the most successful, scoring barrowloads of goals at his level. One or two are playing 3rd division football and plenty now play in the Highland League. I would absolutely love us to be able to produce from home but is really difficult at this level. Much bigger clubs have exactly the same problem. Basically, if anyone can give me an example of a success story from our ranks that has come back to haunt us I will stand corrected. Closest I can think of is Vigurs but that barely caused a dent despite my previous misgivings. Name anyone?

Well done to all concerned especially young Johnny for repaying the faith shown in him by the club. Great news.

I'm with RIG on this one. There is a huge difference between "talking the club down" and being realistic. As much as it would be great to see a GA type player coming our way I would be gobsmacked if he did and then question the wisdom/impact of spending so much money on one guy (deja vu?). He was picking up wages in the EPL where (from what I think I remember seeing in a Deloitte Study) has an average wage of ?32k per week basic. The English Championship was the second highest waged league in Europe two seasons ago and guys in English League One earning ?15k plus are ten a penny. It is therefore only sensible to recognise that he is going to get an offer from some club way beyond our means and that of almost every club in Scotland. Unless of course he is a rare thing in football and wants the lifestyle close to his Auntie in Dores ..............