CaleyD

Technically speaking they don't need to give priority to anyone....but nice that they are, and also good that they have extended opening hours to allow as many as possible to take advantage of it. Trying to sell Cup Tickets before the Hearts game would be a logistical nightmare....taking details (name, address etc) for purchasers, trying to check that off against the database to ensure no tickets are being sold to Celtic Fans (as much as is possible) for the home end, taking credit/debit card payments from a remote location...all that on top of dealing with the game in hand...it just wouldn't work and would end up creating more problems than anything else.

It's a sad reflection on the state of refereeing when not having as bad a game as usual becomes reason to give praise!!!

As fans we often get caught up in the idea of "Must Win" games, and games that "Will Define a Season" etc etc. You could argue that no one game, certainly not at this stage of the season, carries any more weight in that regard than any other...but I wonder just how much of a "Must Win" last night was for the Pars....and maybe also for us as well!!! There's little doubt that the Pars need to strengthen during this window and a win last night and the tie against Celtic would perhaps give them some funds to allow them to do that. As it is, they now appear to be up chit creak and paddling with lollipop sticks. Like most teams, they don't have two pennies to rub together so can't offer financial incentive and their current league position isn't going to have players queuing at the door to go there....even on loan deals. It now looks like McIntyre now has to rely on what he has got and what he can keep and somehow work that into a team that can get them out of trouble....and we've seen nothing of them this season to suggest that's going to happen. Would ICT have found themselves in a similar boat had we lost last night? I don't think so. I've said from the start of the season that we had a squad that was capable, they just had to start clicking. We're now 5 games unbeaten, and not playing nearly as well as we have been in some games. Our biggest problem has been injuries and suspensions...and for that reason alone I think it would be good to add a couple of players. In fact we've already added one with Steve Williams, and although we've lost Davis he played in an area where we have a few options. We don't know how ICT set their budget for this season and whether or not that budget relied on some kind of cup progress and the money coming to us is already spent....but if it's not, then hopefully we can bolster the squad a bit. If the money is already in the budget and none of it is available to Butcher....then I don't think that's the end of the world, so long as injuries and suspensions don't continue to haunt us!!!

At the time, I would have agreed. However, as it seems Butcher instructed Foran to get Hayes fired up then it would be a bit remiss to be dishing out any punishment for it. Granted, it might have gone a bit further than intended and being carded as a result was kinda stupid...but hey ho, we got the result and I think, given the explanation by Butcher and the fact everyone was friends again come the final whistle, then we should just shrug it off and forget about it.

From what Butcher said, it sounds like Foran was given the task of firing Hayes up on the park....job done I would say!!! The camaraderie among our squad has to be the best we've had in a long time, so I'm sure it will all be forgotten by the morning (if not already).

A big thanks to everyone for a great night at the Social Club. The banter and craic certainly made up for not being able to get to the game...and was a far better option than sitting watching it at home.

I was watching a quiz show the other night when they asked the question "What is the most commonly used letter in the English language?". The answer given, and accepted as correct was the letter "E". But is it really? Even setting aside the ever increasing use of text speak and it's tendency to drop vowels the ever increasing use of social networking sites seems to have brought with it new habits which would might mean the statistics might need a little revision. For a start, the letter "X" which is currently ranked third from the bottom can be seen at the end of most communications...several times in some instances. Surely that would move the letter far further up the table than it is currently given credit for? Then you have "LOL" which seems to have a foot on both the TLA and Text Speak camps. Currently ranked mid table (11th place), you would think that the letter "L" must be due a promotion. These are just examples that spring immediately to mind, I am sure others also exist....but nothing I can think of would suggest that "E" deserves to be holding the crown for most commonly used letter....certainly not if you take a true reflection of how the English language is communicated in this day and age. I have no idea where the statistics are drawn from, but it would appear that currently used (and apparently accepted) tables are in need of a bit of revision.

They only do it at away matches that fall on even numbered days when there's a waning moon.

I commented via Twitter during the game that the only noise being heard at the game was that of the ICT fans. The only noise coming from the Motherwell fans were the constant calls for a handball every time the ball hit anything other than a foot!!! Johndo also got a personal mention on Twitter, but that was to do with him having an odd number of eyes or maybe they just took the count while he was showing someone his tattoo!!!

Don't think Esson had much choice with the punching. Lot of height in the Motherwell team and that meant a lot of high balls being played in to the area....Esson's not the tallest of keepers so it was punch them away or stand off and deal with whatever came at him as a result. It might not have been pretty, but it proved effective....and since we're judging performance then that's what counts.

Wouldn't say "boring", but little for us to be excited about. I think we're lucky not to be a couple of goals down, but in saying that, Motherwell aren't capitalising in the areas where they clearly have an advantage....that being anything over the top or anything through Piermayr. ICT started to compete a bit more towards the end of the half and if ICT can work Randolph a bit more with the chances we are getting then...who knows???

Articles like that are worth a thousand of those churned out by the so called "professionals"....nice one.

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY The ICT Travel Club becomes The ICT NON-Travel Club After taking feedback from users of the Travel Club bus and the number of messages we've had and seen from people who are unable to attend this game we have decided that if we can't take the fans to the game, then we will take the game to the Fans. In order to do this we will be hosting a night at the ICT Social Club where fans can come along and watch the game together. No "you must site" rules will be in operation and you can even enjoy a drink while taking in the game. To help try and re-create a bit of the matchday feel we'll even supply FREE half-time pies. (We're also working on a few other surprises...so watch this space) Open to everyone. No Age Restrictions. No charge for entry. No need to book or get tickets. Just turn up on the night. So as nobody misses out on a qualifying trip for the Travel Club Italy Trip Draw then anyone who attends will be credited with 1 qualifying trip (make sure to add your name to the register on the night). CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE ITALY TRIP DRAW if you are thinking of travelling to the game, see for the Travel Thread

It's that time of year again.... http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/367-panini-sticker-album-launch

We're in danger of heading too far off the original topic I think, but as I understand it the deal with the lease was not us selling/giving it over but cancellation and issue of a new 99yr lease to the current holders. I could check for certain, but I locked that file away and promised myself I wouldn't let it haunt me any more!!! Lol

I spent 7 weeks living in the Reebok Stadium (well, the hotel attached to it). Having a hotel room that overlooks the pitch with seats that allow you to sit out and take in the game whilst flitting back and forth to the mini bar or ordering room service instead of queuing for a half time pie is a strange (but good) experience. That's exactly the kind of development that our current location lends itself too....although on a smaller scale obviously.

The whole "going a full calendar year without getting a penalty" thing isn't strictly true...yet. We had a penalty against Celtic in the Scottish Cup on 16th March 2011....scored by Adam Rooney on 44 minutes. Celtic then equalised from the restart and again on 68 minutes to deny us a place in the Semi Finals.

Oh Charles....my concerns over the whole Stadium Ownership/Lease/Sub-Lease setup were settled a long time ago and I have no desire to continue pointing out your inaccuracies on the matter. What's important is that ICT have close to 90 years left (not 81) on their lease and if someone wanted us out then there would have to be some kind of financial incentive (that or provision of a new stadium elsewhere) from the master leaseholders should they wish to move in a new tenant. IMO, relocation could actually assist a great deal when it comes to balancing the books....but obviously it would only ever happen on the basis that the club was not required to provide any financial input to the creation of a new ground....because they ain't got fork all to invest. In regards to the discussion on where. I think it's too convenient to say there's nowhere else based on studies that were done and decisions made 18 years ago. Inverness has changed a lot in that time, opinions have changed a lot in that time, interests have changed a lot in that time and we wouldn't be having to bend so easily to the whims of so many external bodies as part of the decision making process in return for (in some cases) pitiful contributions or being subjected to financially crippling conditions. If/When the subject of relocation because a reality, it needs to be approached with a clean sheet and be welcoming of fresh ideas and input from the current generation. I still think that, in conjunction with the completion of the Western Bypass that the old Torvean Quarry would be the site of choice and one that's agreeable to anyone who might have a say in the matter....especially as the area is already earmarked on the City Plan for recreational use/facilities. It would certainly be a strong contender. Of course, all of the above is dependent on someone else (with money) wanting to get their hands on the ground the stadium currently occupies....and it being valuable enough for them to do the deal necessary to get their hands on it. The sums are not quite as simple as stated above either as there's also the debt that sits with the stadium which would need to be satisfied....and if anything, that would be the deal breaker. FWIW, I don't think the Bught would be the ideal location as it would almost certainly be a part of a community/multi-purpose stadium and all that brings with it....things like tracks around the pitch and stands so far away from the action that it would definitely be a backwards step in terms of improving atmosphere.

Unlikely we would get funding from those same sources again....not directly at least, and not unless it was of benefit to any of them to see us relocating. We wouldn't need it though. I'm still of the (personal) opinion that we will relocate, and in fact had it not been for the economic collapse we would probably have relocated already. The commercial value of the land that the stadium occupies is such that (subject to change of use approval) we would be able to secure more than enough from selling the remainder of the lease to fund a relocation without the need for additional assistance.

...and as I said already, why would/should we spend so much on a Stadium we do not own? We already did that when we built the new stands, but had little option if we wanted to play in the SPL. To do so again for no enforced or positively beneficial reason would be shear folly. The only way I could see the Stadium being developed would be if the owners of it decided to do so to increase rental by way of things like offices mentioned above....but that would do nothing to increase the clubs income.

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SKY + ? Yeah, but prefer to watch it live so I don't have to avoid finding out the result beforehand.

One word book reviews have always been something that baffled me and seemed rather pointless, something that was done by people who worked for the high brow broadsheets that was designed to make those who hadn't followed a specific education path fell inferior.....until last night (well, the early hours of this morning) when I stumbled upon one of my own. I'd just finished reading Stephen Fry's 'The Liar' when I closed it over and saw the "reviews" on the cover and instantly knew they had all got it wrong......wrong because I knew the word they were looking for was "Unexpected". On reflection I found myself being rather pleased that I was able to sum up the book in one word that I felt covered everything from the story and style to the plot. I think I'll give the one word reviews a little more thought in future before being so quick to dismiss them as pointless....they might be wrong, but the will no longer baffle me or appear pointless. I read a fair bit and will happily flip between most genres depending on my mood and whether I crave knowledge, entertainment or just want to escape the world for a while. As much as I enjoy watching him on TV and listening to him on the Radio, I had never given much thought to reading any of his books as I had this misconception that they would probably make for heavy reading, but I got "The Liar" as a stocking filler and, as I said above, it was "unexpected". It's one of those books that can be read on "different levels", and I don't mean levels of intellect, age (although not recommended for kids) or even class. You can pick it up and read it end to end and thoroughly enjoy the plot which slowly reveals itself throughout the book, but keeps on giving until the end. The individual chapters read as if they are short stories within themselves that could stand alone and leave you quite satisfied. The humour is fantastic and carries throughout the book....in fact it takes the idea of stereotype beyond the ludicrous to the point, well to no point really as it takes you full circle and indulges the predisposition we all have to believing in stereotypes. I believe plans are afoot, and may already be under way for turning this book in to a screenplay or film. I prefer to read the book and then compare it to the on screen interpretation. In most cases it allows you to fill in any gaps in the movie/film/screenplay and enhance the viewing experience. Far better that than already having the plot in your head while reading and knowing what's coming next....for me at least. "Making History" is next on the list of Fry's books for me. It's another stocking filler from a family member who took my love of QI to mean a love of all things Stephen Fry....a bit like a mad aunt or gran takes your love of anything and thinks they should knit you a jumper with it on the front. Many such gifts end up as landfill or charity shop donations...but I struck lucky this time.

I never "misinterpret", I just see the world differently :colour:

That's interesting as, unless I'm misunderstanding the area you are referring to there seemed to be no problem with Celtic fans occupying the west stand at 'our' end in the last game. Yes, something which did not escape my attention.