CaleyD

I'm not back-stabbing anyone. I just call it as I see it. Sometimes people agree, sometimes they don't....such is life. What I don't like is this attitude that just because I think supporting people who are, IMO, doing more harm than good...does, in effect, do more harm than good, them I am somehow less of a fan? Go back to my posts at the time Brewster arrived back at the club and you will see that I did nothing but support him. In fact, after the Hibs game following his return I was in the minority on here who were praising him for getting a good performance from the team despite the result (you were also in that minority). I make no secret of the fact I didn't like the idea of his return, but once the decision had been made I did put my effort in to backing the guy....as did many. The fact is, that despite that support things have gotten worse over the piece....so what good is continuing to support something that is clearly not working going to do? I'm not criticising Brewster after todays game, I'm merely reserving the "credit" until he proves that today wasn't a one off and we might have actually moved beyond the dross we've been getting.

Or perhaps you just don't get me? Unlike some people I give my support on the basis of what a person does for the club and not because they happen to be a mate and throw me the odd free ticket for a game.

Was it not a long ball that Cowie latched on to after the bounce and put in the back of the net?

Ralphie pray tell me how we get crowds like that Play the OF every week?

Manny, have you ever stopped to think that the reason some people criticise is because they want the best for the club and don't believe that's happening at the moment? Are we suppose to blindly follow on the basis that we're not bottom of the table? I don't criticise because I want the club to get worse, I do so because I want the club to get better. If you want to blindly follow and are happy with the club showing no ambition other than survival, then that's your prerogative...personally I want more for ICT and I think they are capable of more. I think there's certain things and certain people who are holding ICT back, either deliberately, through incompetence or because they're more interested in looking after themselves. As for giving credit where it's due....I will happily say well done for todays result and performance, but I'm not going to give credit to Brewster because I'm not convinced he played any major part in it. He did nothing today that he hasn't done in most games for the last 10 months from what I could gather. Perhaps it was right to leave things as was and let the "pride" factor play it's part, perhaps he knows no other way and just got lucky. If he can start producing a performance from the team on a more regular basis then I'll give credit. I don't even need to see wins in the next few games, but what I do want to see is a Manager putting out a team who are consistently up for the game, who are out there playing in their strongest positions, who are there on merit and not because they happen to be a favourite and a formation which doesn't constantly rely on putting 10 men behind the ball and then hitting on the break. I want to be entertained and at the end of the game I want to feel like we gave it our best regardless of the score. We got that today, despite the counter-attacking football, and as I said....well done, but I'm not going to start bumming the guy up on the basis of what could be nothing more than a fluke. IF Brewster is given time to turn things around properly and he succeeds and goes on to get the best out of the squad on a regular basis then nobody will be happier than me. I don't want to see him fail, because that means ICT fail....but right now I think he's doing more harm than good and I will not give my support to someone I fell is doing that because ultimately it will, IMO, lead to our demise.....what kind of fan wants to support a regime/personnel who are dragging their team down or backwards? I'd say it's those with the blind faith that are doing more harm than good...so if anyone should be sodding off to watch C*unty, then maybe it should be them?

Catchment is only limited by opportunity, and ICT should be taking every opportunity to promote the club wherever they go or are invited. Just the same as we fans take every opportunity to tell people about the team support, whether it's in a pub in Inverness or one on the other side of the globe.

So Ralph, the manager dishes up crap for the best part of 10 months and one good result and we should all be grovelling for not thinking he's the best thing since sliced bread? Give ma a break, not even you can be that naive/blinkered

I don't think anyone has forgotten last weeks match and the question still remains as to how/why we can produce the mince we did last week and then turn up today as if it was a totally different 11 men on the park. Some will claim it was thanks to Brewster, some will continue to deny just how bad it was last week and put it down to the fact we were playing an on form Rangers team, some will credit the players for having an improved attitude on the park. The fact of the matter is that we went out there today with much the same formation as we did last week and it worked against the team we were facing. Brewster either got lucky, or it was a master stroke to stick with what hadn't been working for the previous 5 games because he knew it would work today....time will tell. Sitting back and hitting on the break may work on the road, but it's not going to bring much at TCS (as we have witnessed so far this season). Brewster has to show he has the where with all to look beyond his "One tactic fits all" approach to the SPL and demonstrate that he has what it takes to make the necessary changes to formation and tactics to get results at home. I'm delighted we got the win today, and I'm delighted the players seemed to be playing with some heart for the first time in long enough. However, it's far from proof that Brewster should be forgiven for the crap we've been served up for the last year. It doesn't take much to get a team fired up when your coming off the back of result like last week, so I have my doubts about just how much of a hand Brewster had in the extra fight the players showed today and how much of it was down to nothing more than them trying to regain a bit of personal pride!!!

Can't believe we're persisting with Duncan and Black in Midfield, when will we learn this hampers our efforts when going forward!!!!

I don't actually blame Fraser too much for the dropped ball, and of a mind that it should never have made it as far as him anyway. If you watch the free kick we had a man break forward (fair enough), but then Duncan steps off the end of the wall, not only does he cover Frasers view (watch Fraser move to see around him) but he created the hole through which Boyd hit the ball.

We've had 2 great "shot stoppers" in Fraser and Brown in recent years, but they've both have a large weakness in not being particularly adept at pinging a quick ball to an open player to allow us to hit effectively on the counter or make a quick attack from the back.....and that, IMO, is what Esson will give us today provided the players are ready and waiting for the opportunity.

I don't have figures to hand but we still have money in the bank and could probably survive a loss the same as last year again without hitting the red. So, things not as bad as some might have you believe, but could easily and quickly get that way if we can't match last seasons income at the very least.

That's 'cos they've all been sectioned. I knew IHE would prove useful at some point in time

- - - - - - - - - Esson- - - - - - - - - Proctor - Duff - Munro - McBain Wilson - - - - Black - - - - Imrie - - - - Cowie - - - - - Vigurs - - - - - - - - - -Take your pick- - - - - -

Yes we can. The situation is not yet dire in terms of points, but unless we make some changes, and make them soon, then we're going to start drifting away from teams above us and come the turn of the year it might just be starting to prove too difficult for us to stop the rot. I'm still of the opinion that survival is not enough and it's that very mindset that has put us in the position we currently find ourselves. I don't want to hear that people think Brewster is "doing enough to keep us up", I'd quite like to see us actually showing a bit of ambition. People talk about us not being able to afford to sack Brewster...the reality is, one league place gained at the end of the season from bringing in another manager would cover the cost of getting rid. Not to mention the fact we could add a few to each gate by actually putting on a performance that's worth watching. Our survival currently sits in the hands of the Board of Directors and every day the leave it before making the decision, is a day closer to the point where we'll be back on this thread saying...."well no, we can't actually survive this season".

Yeah, because Zander brings the much needed experience we've been talking about on this thread.

The ultimate demise of Gretna would have left a bad taste in the mouth of many, but there's no denying he was a character and without a doubt he was a big supporter of the game at all levels. I certainly enjoyed meeting and speaking to the guy and appreciated his "two finger" approach when it came to dealing with the suits. Just a pity he couldn't have left a better legacy and will probably be remembered more for dropping Gretna in the chit than for getting them where he did in the first place....regardless of whether you agreed with the manner in which he achieved it.

I'm Knorr so sure.....I think a few will get it.

Very good point....we don't actually need a manager because, really, he's not expected to do anything and the players should be doing it all themselves. Even more reason for us to get rid....and if nothing else we'll save ourselves a 6 finger sum on an annual basis.

Which is what I said above...he acknowledges that it's not as easy as it used to be, but he doesn't say he can't do it. Unless he's given the chance, then how do any of us know?

Saturday's P&J: "I managed to help the team a little bit when I came back on-loan from St Johnstone. "We turned things round towards the end of the season and if the manager thinks a wee bit of experience is needed then I will be ready. "I am not stupid, I realise it is going to be hard for me to last a game out and for the manager to play me, especially at places like Ibrox." ?I don?t really know if I can last for a full 90 minutes, I have played a few games in the reserves but it is never the same." Which proves my point....nowhere does he say he can't last 90 minutes.

I'd almost blocked the trauma of watching Walker in goals for ICT out of my mind....and now you've brought it all back. I'm nearly upset enough to call you a Canadian.

If he was to get a UK Passport then I fail to see how he could be prevented from playing....and I don't see why anyone should try to. If a UK National (regardless of bloodline or place of birth) can be called up to fight for this country, then I don't see why they shouldn't be eligible to represent us at sport. Time for a lot of people to take a bit of a reality check and drag their ideals out of the middle ages.

I think RiG was extracting the urine from all the "I've heard", "My sources tell me" posters earlier in the thread.

I don't think I have ever seen anything where Barry has said he couldn't last a full game. He's openly admitted that he has to work harder these days to maintain fitness etc, but that's about all I have seen. I've also seen him fairly recently in the reserves where he didn't seem to be flagging any more than anyone else after 90 minutes. I intentionally played close attention to his movement etc during the game as I too was of the impression that he may not be capable of an effective 90 minutes, and after watching him run up and down the wing for 90 minutes and put in a real shift then my opinion quickly changed. He's certainly capable of far more than the 20 minutes and I'd rather see him on from the start creating chances and getting us ahead than see him come on for a few minutes at the end to chase a lost cause.