CaleyD

W-W-W-W-W We are capable of beating all these teams and regardless of everything I (still) BELIEVE

Rory stood out as being a great player in the reserves before making the move up. I still think he (Rory) has potential, but I worry that our system isn't wprking for bringing the best of our young players through the ranks. It could be that more will just fail to make the grade because the step up from reserves to first team SPL is harder to make, or it could be our system needs looking at as something is going wrong when so many lads with potential aren't managing to move up. Has our youth development and any other stages between that and the first team moved on as we've gone up the leagues or has the gap between the two grown? Not intended as a dig at the club or coaches, but if anyone can explain what has/is being done to ensure the whole system moves on as a unit as opposed to the first team romping on and the youth development losing ground then that would be cool.

Not enough teams in each league to warrant 2 up/2 down IMO. And with the razy SPL stadia criteria you'd just end up with half the teams being refused entry or going bust in an attempt to comply - which is a whole other argument.

.....More chance of upsets and more teams to steal points off each other reducing the "6 pointer" factor which allows a team to so easily run away with the league.

I agree that a 16 team league wouldn't be ideal, but an 18 team league would prevent a drop in the number fixtures aswell as going a long way towards reducing the tedium. On the lost revenue from attendance argument - playing 17 different teams at home in a season would reduce the element of picking and choosing which games you are going to attend (i.e. no "have seen them already this season, or we'll see them next time"). As a result it would also, IMO, add value to the season ticket as I know of a few people who don't bother buying one for the reasons stated above (can't be ersed going to see same teams twice in a season). The current setup gives people a reason not to attend matches and a move to a larger number of teams removes that. In a climate where itis hard enough to attract people along, the fewer excuses you provide them with the better. Onthe lost revenue due to increased split of sponsorship, it is my opinion that a larger better structured league would increase interest and be of more value to sponsors which would in turn increase investment on their part. I fail to see why people need to try and re-invent the wheel every time this comes up for discussion. The more complicated you make it, the less people understnad it and the less interested they become.....K.I.S.S.

The 10 Team League proposition is old news. David Sutherland (Tullochs) talked about it, and his support for it if memory serves, at one of the Fans Forums held in conjunction with the Supporters Trust. Personally I can't see the SPL clubs voting for it, that would be like Turkey's voting for Xmas, especially with things becoming a bit tighter outwith the top 3 or 4 teams in the last couple of seasons.

I have no issue with doing what is right, what I do have issue with is being told what to say and do and that's exactly how I viewed this thread on first reading it, and that irked me somewhat. It's like all these politicians just now saying "YOU MUST VOTE FOR XXXXX" - Noooo, you just give me the info and leave it up to me as a responsible adult to make the decision for myself TYVM. Now we have that cleared up (and for fear of the wrath of Mee), let me comment on the original point of this thread. Do I condone the comment made by the person in the case being discussed in this thread? No I don't. Will I condemn them as a racist? No I won't. I don't believe a single comment such as this makes a person racist. It may make them ignorant and insensitive, but (on it's own) not a racist. It needs to be brought into check and a warning issued, but I don't think it warrants rolling out the gallows.

I wasn't the one who referred to you as a fascist, I just pointed out that it was a perfectly legitimate statement to make in relation to the discussion and the dictatorial nature of some of your comments. It was a literal translation of events and comments, not a personal opinion. I note with interest that you seem to be well versed on my apparent views on homophobic abuse - presumably from these forums and an earlier discussion? However you do not seem so up to speed on my thoughts on racism which will have received equal, if not higher, exposure on CalyThistleOnline over the years. If you and any member of the "fourth estate" wish to spin my decision not to comment (at this time) on this thread as some kind of support for racist abuse then that is your choice. I am comfortable in my views of such things and I am comfortable that those who know me, and who's opinions mean anything to me, will be aware of where my thoughts on these things stand. I don't buy into the school of thought which reads "if your not with me, your against me", but I do admire your continued efforts at bullying and coercing. I still won't be drawn...not yet anyway. Just because I have a position of responsibility on this site doesn't mean I am not entitled to express myself in the same manner as everyone else. I have the same choices as every member on this site and I can choose where, when and how I wish to reply to any discussion.

Interesting point and one which I have a theory on.... Richie Hart'd ego is what generates this phenomenomenon. A spell on the sidelines starves that ego and drives him to play well to generate plaudits to feed it. Once it's had it's fill it becomes elf perpetuating until such time as it's hidden away on the sidelines again and starved for a while.

Not joking in the slightest - you will note that I said "personal, unrelated jibes". In short the proficiency of DBS's spelling and the level of his education have nothing whatsover to do with the discussion. On the otherhand your comments do lend yourself to being viewed as a fascist (albeit in the opinion of the poster). Regarding the discussion on this thread, I will not be bullied or coerced into making any comment, and just to try and preempt your response to that...just because someone views this thread and chooses not to comment does not make them a racist by default.

All this talk of Hastings and nobody has quoted Clacher yet :015:

Facts:- 1. Eden Court need £600,000 2. Highland Council don't have £600,000 3. David Sutherland pays back £600,000 (buying the ICT debt) 4. Common Good Fund offer up £600,000 to Eden Court 5. Decision is made to use money from Common Good Fund 6. Highland Council now have £600,000 sitting in the bank Everyone's happy... - Eden Court have their money and a lot of egg is diverted from the faces of some pretty powerful people - Same powerful people have some money in the kitty (saving themselves having to explain an overspend if I am informed correctly). - ICT no longer have repayments on a £600,000 loan - David Sutherland has made a "nice" gesture which makes him look good at a time when he is receiving some bad press (and due even more) in connection with a "certain" development which has already been blocked once and stands to net him far far more than the £600,000 in question. I may hate the "political game" but that doesn't mean I don't know how it's played!!!

As per discussions late last week/early this week on this forum. I would request that you desist from crossing the line between the discussion in hand and personal, unrelated jibes.

The Council needed the money to bail out the Eden Court renovation project which was in big time doodoo (still is), and I am sure David Sutherland's "act of generosity" will bode well when it comes to upcoming decisions on certain development projects. Cynical....me...never :015:

Booby Mann - the exception to the rule ;D

Mike Teasdale.....one of my all time favourite players, not because he was the most skilled or any such thing, but I just loved it everyt time he got the ball -he only knew one move and that was head down and straight up the middle of the park. Feckin Legend.

Should I say now that I'll be there, or shall I wait till everyone else says first so I don't scare em away? :015:

From memory of discussions around the time he joined us he followed a similar path to Black. Playe schoolboy/youth footbal in Edinburgh before going to Football Academy doon soof where he was surplus to requirements and headed up this way.

Think IHE bought a new rod when in Hong Kong!!! IMO Duncan has been far more consistant this season than he was last, and together with Hastings have probably provided much of the backbone to the squad this year. We have all talked about the vital rolls played by Dods, Black and Dargo, but I often think we overlook the quiet consistancy of some of the others. They aren't "flare players", they just go about doing their job and doing it solidly. The poorer displays often stand out more and are highlighted more because they don't always have another end of the scale. Only in games such as that against Rangers do they really stand out for doing what they do every week, and thats chasing every ball and making important tackles. They are the foundation upon which Black, Dargo, Rankin, Wilson etc base their game and without these guys winning balls and stopping breaks then the others can't do what they do best in their attacking play.

Poll seems fairly conclusive so far....lol.

Think the SFL teams are allowed 2 (maybe 3) transfers outwith the normal transfer windows.

The days of "playing for the shirt" are far gone for most players in the modern game, and if we are honest, then every player is a mercenary. Some find their level with a club they are happy at and stick it out there for years, but the majority are always looking to move on to better things. Dargo is still a risk to any club, the type of injuries he's had never heal 100% and although he has been largely fine since joining us (other than his shoulder), his knee may not last out at a "higher" level and clubs will be only to aware of that and will tailor any offer accordingly, as we will have I am sure. With the above in mind, would these clubs be interested if he was still in contract and they had to pay a 6 figure fee??? He's been a great player for us and I hope he stays, I don't grudge him looking elsewhere, but if he was such "hot property" then someone would have had him on a pre-contract by now. I think their is an element of Dargo "talking himself up" when he mentions the amount and level of interest from elsewhere.

Here's hoping that never happens :017: :015:

Caff at RB and Rossco in the middle has some merit and could be tested before the end of the season. You also have the ability to swap them back into their "natural" positions if it looks like going plum shaped.

No, that was me in the second post down on this page :001: