caleyboy

9 hours ago, Jack Waddington said:

Just wondering, did anything ever actually come from that partnership with Arsenal? I can only recall us taking in one guy on loan back in the reign of Butcher, and that was it...

Partnerships with other clubs was pure fiction. Terry Butcher was the reason we got loan players and signings from England.

3 hours ago, Satan said:

Problem being that there is a huge gap between u18s and 1st team...Really missing reserves now.

maybe we should be looking at a reserve team next year, keep the best from u18 squad and add the best of the u17's. It would also give valuable game time to 1st team squad players not getting a regular game.

1 hour ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

I feel that we were very lucky to do as well as we have done this year which is testament to the team spirit OR have they been playing for a more lucrative move as much as playing for the shirt. We have been a selling and feeder club for years but this season should have been all about consolidation and planning for the future. I have a horrible feeling that the only "entertainment" that we will be facing next season is a relegation battle. Our off the pitch reputation has also been tarnished - and as much from the fan base criticism as it is from the chaotic management. May not be a popular statement but David Sutherland has had the club by the balls for years and has probably been the main savior again this season. I cant however feel that there has been an over possessiveness that has scared off potential suitors.

I think you are absolutely right IHE and the unfortunate fact is there are very few who would work with DS.

3 hours ago, Kingsmills said:

and I hope the fans, especially some of the 14,000 who went to the cup final and haven't seen much or anything of the club since, take the opportunity to fill them.

Surely we can muster at least 4,000 fans for home play off legs and, should we manage to reach the play off final, closer to 6,000.

Time for the fans to rally to the cause whatever issues we have with the running of the club.

I wouldn't think a crowd of 5000 is unreasonable against Ayr and if we get thru that  at least 6000 against Dundee Utd. If we progress from there the team (not the club) deserves a full house.

I hope the club see the play-offs as an opportunity to fill at least 2 stands. 

2 hours ago, lizi said:

Who?   Austin or Macdonald ?    I think there’s more in Macdonald than we have ever seen in Austin.  

 

 

I thought this thread was about Nathan Austin - not MacDonald 

A great pity but the boy isn't consistent enough at this level.

effin better not be.............

53 minutes ago, MrCaleyjag said:

You've missed the main points from my post which are borne on frustration at the number of negative posts I've read especially on this thread. In my opinion there are too many users on here who like to post jibes and criticism of players where on the whole it is unnecessary, doesn't help our cause and who are we to say they are making a mistake.

We are supposed to be supporters but at times I see little support, we are a small club who progress players who then move on, it's happened before and will happen again so why do we feel the need to criticise them for doing so. This won't change so how about a little thank you and appreciation now and again.

Who are we to say that they are right and wrong in what decisions they make? I was once told by an employer I'm making a big mistake leaving their company, 9 years later I'm in a job paying more than double the salary far better off than I was. Players have to make the very same decisions and live and die by them, there was once a time gone by where everyone would wish players who move on the best of luck, unless they were Maurice Johnston or similar.   

I'm not denying anyone their opinion, the phrase I used was possibly a little harsh and maybe could have been worded better but it was to make a point. 

Now that I have managed to firmly go off topic I'll bring it back and re-iterating what I've previously said by wishing Liam Polworth the very best at Motherwell and hope his decision works out. 

I'm sure those who want to wish him well and thank him will do so and those who have other views will either post them or keep their thoughts private.

6 hours ago, TopSix said:

Not a bad shout, in a way. Didn't we used to offer relatively low wages and big win bonuses? 

No. Big wages and Big bonuses and not enough income. That's why we are in the financial mess we are in. BUT we won the Scottish Cup and qualified for Europe and we got £500k for our biggest asset!

1 hour ago, IBM said:

That's right DD and I am just glad we are not near that play off places!

we are but at the right end

2 hours ago, AncientMariner said:

Leaving an above average Championship club who's fans not only hurl abuse but sing nasty songs about his family to join a Premiership club is career suicide?
Yeah good one  

Financially i don't think he had any option but to go however I don't know if his attitude is good enough to get him a regular start. He has the ability but............ 

56 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

Very true but most of us have careers lasting forty or more years to make provision for our future.

Professional footballers have twenty years if they are very fortunate after which they generally have few qualifications to do much else.

But that's life Kingsmills. They get jobs after football so if they want they can still work for 40 years.

24 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

With any luck, we will be looking forward to the next eight.

this game has gone guys let's look forward to the next one.

1 minute ago, AncientMariner said:

And if he turns out to be really good his agent will already have another club lined up and everybody will be greeting about why he wasn't given a longer contract. Catch22

that will be in the minority of cases just as it is now.

46 minutes ago, Scotty said:

Whilst you are basically correct, I do think it is a little harsh.  Lets face it, at 10, 15, or 20 most of us would crawl over broken glass to play for our local team and give scant consideration to our retirement plans. In our own eyes we are invincible and we could play forever !!! We also like to think we could be the next Ronaldo, Messi, or <insert name here> who will pull in millions and not have to worry about life after football.  Its unlikely to happen for 99.9% of players, but it is the dream. I cant fault any player for trying to get closer to that dream .... Moving to a higher paying club in a higher division is one step on that ladder.  You could argue that this is part of his plan to save for the future ... if he stayed at ICT because of loyalty it would be admirable, but could be a foolish decision for his financial future ....  

Don't think Polly will strike it rich at Motherwell but he will surely pull in more than we are currently paying him and certainly more than we can offer him on a renewed contract in the championship. That's not a criticism of ICT its simply a basic fact. Outside of the biggest teams, I don't think anyone in Scottish football could really be regarded as well paid in football terms. Maybe when compared to normal jobs, but not in football terms.

Anyhoo, I wish him well, and as you say I do hope he has his head switched on and invests in his future while he is still earning a decent crust .... 

 

I agree Scotty and it should be remembered that this applies to the vast majority of players as they play for teams outwith the big payers and leagues. At the end of the day they are in employment and it is their own responsibility to make provision for the future just as it is for anyone else.

5 hours ago, Scotty said:

Football is a short career for most,  and as much as it may pain us to say so, none of our players are ever going to be able to make much of a retirement plan on our wages, especially now while we are in the Championship. Add the effect the boo-boys will have had on him (however they want to minimise it) and its a pretty easy decision for the lad. Personally, I wish him well, hope he grows as a person and as a player and is able to bank a little bit of a nest egg for himself and family. It may not be PSG as one poster has mentioned, but we're not Barcelona either, even if the colours are similar !    

 

 

these guys chose football as their career Scotty and they get paid well for what they do. it is their own fault if they don't save for the future. if they don't earn enough to support a particular lifestyle like anyone else they should change it accordingly.

1 hour ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

It is critical that ICT has an image that is genuinely honest. McMullen has been caught out before, and he will be again. It was a blatant handball yesterday and I suspect he was as shocked as we were that the referee saw it otherwise. 

so if the boot was on the other foot and it meant promotion you would prefer "essential honesty" rather than potentially saving this club. not in my book I'm afraid.

what's wrong with offering a 12 month contract with a review after 6 months? we should know by then if he is worth a longer contract.

14 hours ago, Tree said:

He needs to look after his family. Offered a new contract at a fraction of his current salary or move and have a pay rise. Pretty simple decision

aye but was he offered a new contract?

3 hours ago, Phenom said:

Word is he commutes from Edinburgh and we put him up in a hotel during the week so no problem with a barber. 

commutes from Edinburgh - sounds hands on 

what's all this got to do with Polworth?

11 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Disappointed that he decided to leave whilst we are still in with a chance of promotion. I wonder if he first established what wage we could offer him if we went up but found that it was still well short of what he could get elsewhere? Or did he want to leave regardless? Which is worse?!

doesnt really matter. I still think he has made a pretty big mistake as his game still needs work.

5 minutes ago, Super Caley Man 94 said:

 Please tell me this a bad attempt at a joke....

we know the club is a mess so unfortunately nothing would surprise me