Sneckboy

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Rather than starting a new thread each time there's a snippet of news regarding a former player, this thread can be used for such info. In a similar vein to the 'Ex ICT players score' thread. I see that Dougie Imrie has signed for Hamilton Accies. Has he still 'got it' for the top-flight? He's just endured a depressing season with a very poor Morton side. What I'm really surprised about is that he's only 30 - I always thought he'd come into senior football at a relatively late age, being snapped up from the juniors - he seems to have been around for ever! Reluctant to wish him too much luck as he's obviously going to be in direct opposition to us next season!

The fact that she refused to deny Butcher could be sacked suggests he's certainly not safe! What a humiliation that we be for Terry. After a very short 'bounce' when he took over, it's been an alarming slump for Hibs. Relegation from the position he took over is unforgivable and probably deserves the boot. Hibs will likely be looking for a manager who has the proven ability to prosper in the 'Championship' - someone with a history of taking his team straight back up after relegation! That's probably his only 'saving grace' and he'll need to emphasise that during his meeting. He'd probably lost the changing-room a while ago, but with the time to bring in his own men, he could get them up in a couple of seasons - but I'm not sure he's going to be afforded that time.

start

Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Sat 19th July - 1.00pm (Mackessack Park)…Rothes (ICT U20’s) Sat 19th July - 3.00pm (Stark’s Park)…Raith Rovers Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts

Latest addition - Rothes (away) Sat 19th July, 1.00pm Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Sat 19th July - 1.00pm (Mackessack Park)…Rothes Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts

I can't quite get motivated, yet, for the World Cup - I hate the close season! Aside from this excellent resource, what other 'football forums' or football websites/blogs do ICT-Online members regularly visit? I'm rarely on Pie & Bovril as I find it hard to navigate - then when I find my desired thread, It's full of 'in-fighting'! Over-the-Bridge!...It's a site often "quoted" on here, but I've only visited once out of curiosity! Personally, I do like 'Fitba North' and a site called 'Non-League Matters'. Narey'sToePoke is (for me) the best blog going. Certainly, for Scottish football. It's up-to-date, well researched and informative with a subtle touch of satire. That 'Narey' blog is from an ICT fan who posts on here and his observations are always impartial and witty without any bias unless it's clearly tongue-in-cheek! Any other gems out there?

That's the sort of stuff you'll get in the North Superleague next season, lukemackay! Lumbering 6' 4" centre backs from Torry!

All of our managerial departures have left a bitter taste, for me. I wouldn't have been so annoyed if any of them had gone on to further their careers - but none of them have. This assumption that things will be better at a 'bigger' club has been proven wrong every time. Yet none of them heed the warning! I loved Paterson and firmly believe he would have taken us to the 'SPL'. Robbo had a hell of a job taking Pele's mantle but got us there! Plus winning the Challenge Cup and TWO Scottish Cup semi's which we've never since equalled, even as an 'SPL' team! Brewster and Christie both had decent runs in the hot-seat...but Butcher, despite his overall poor managerial record, still seemed to click with us and whether we like it or not is historically our most 'successful' manager having guide us to 4th place in the top league. And archive tables will not have a * next to them proclaiming the financial plight of Hearts and Rangers. We were 4th one season - that's a fact! Maybe that's why the ButcherWatch thread is so popular - and no other "ex-manager-Watch" thread exists!

Scotland haven't had many reds in friendlies either. In the last 30 years I think the only one was 1995, John Spencer in Japan (2 yellows in the 1st half, game ended 0-0). Prior to that it was Willie Johnston in Argentina 1977 (1-1) unless you class the British Championship as friendlies - Joe Jordan got one in a 2-0 defeat in Wales in 1981. Good point, Yngwie. It seems true that frendlies tend not to see so many orderings-off. Indeed, Scotland have only ever had 3. (in frendlies) I suppose nowadays, it's also 'easier' to get sent off with the 'double punishment' (as I see it), of a defender chasing back a striker and challenging him inside the penalty area. If the referee interprets it as a foul, he has to award a penalty - in the 'old rules' that would be a sufficient punishment, but now, as well as the penalty, he has to order the defender off.

Tommy Smith?

Can this be correct? I've just read that, before last night, England had only ever had one player sent off in a friendly match. Ever! Considering Scotland and England contested the first International back in the late 19th Century, that's a truly amazing statistic. The only previous dismissal was in 1977. Trevor Cherry.

Gibraltar recorded their first ever win last night, beating Malta 1-0. They're definitely not going to be 'just another San Marino'! Scotland should get 6 points from them in the Euro qualifiers, any team 'dropping points' to them in our tight qualifying group will rue-the-day. They have to play their home games in southern Portugal as their stadium isn't yet up to International standard. Fortunately, we play them away in the last game, with their visit to Glasgow being their 5th match in the qualifiers - hopefully they'll have been 'softened up' a bit by then! Point of note- they use 'God Save The Queen' as their anthem which will go down a treat at Hampden... (sorry to resurrect this painful thread, Yngwie!)

Glad to hear he had another good outing last night. He should be in the frame for future squads after his performances in South America. And despite losing both games, Northern Ireland have probably enhanced their reputation over the two games. I thought they could have easily taken heavy losses in those games. It's maintained the unenviable record of NI having failed to score away from home (in a friendly) since 2006, but the experience gained will be invaluable to those players - more so than games against say, Malta and Andorra where they would likely have scored. Well done Billy! His season is now over. Have a rest. We're playing Clach in 4 weeks!

Marius Niculae played for Romania at Euro 2008 against France who fielded 2 Barcelona players, Eric Abidal & Lilian Thuram.

cigar

Yeah, I'm sure there'll be more added in the coming weeks. I think there are plans to have a couple of home friendlies. If Barry Wilson had still been at Wick, I'm sure we'd get a game up there - still could be an option!

Much less high profile than Neymar, but a good penalty was netted on Sunday in the Junior Cup final. It wasn't a thing of beauty, but Stewart Kean's shot went in-off the post. Not even Buffon or any keeper can 'reach' as far as the upright, so for me, it was effectively an 'unsave-able' effort! Thinking about pens, when was the last time a penalty was missed wide of goal? It seems to be so rare! Missed penalties (that aren't saved) are usually put over the bar, or hit the woodwork, rather than being knocked wide right or left of the goals.

But, also from today, an article in the Express which (with its direct quotes) seems to contradict the Dons vice-chairman's attempt to pour cold water on Aberdeen paying transfer fees. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/479862/Dons-get-shirt-sponsor-windfall

I'd be disappointed to lose Shinnie even for £300,000 to an English club, but £30,000?! And to our rivals, Aberdeen! The disappointment would turn to outrage if this came to pass... He's our player and we don't need to sell him - there's the argument that we could lose him for nothing at the end of the season when his contract expires. £30,000 is virtualy that - nothing! It's the equivalent of gate receipts (assuming £25 entry) of just 1,200 fans. It would also send out the message that we're 'easy to deal with' ie a soft touch, and would likely encourage ludicrous, speculative bids for Billy McKay, with clubs sensing they could get him on the cheap. We'll get the 'we don't want to stand in his way' patter, but we should play hard-ball - he was happy enough to sign the contract and accept the plaudits for demonstrating his loyalty. It was our club who nurtured him with shrewd integration into the first-team including a timely loan deal to the Highland League earlier in his development. He's proved to be a consistent, versatile and reliable performer for the past few seasons. With his best years yet to come and the fact he is under contract, we should be looking for considerable compensation here. If he is to go, we must ensure there are all sorts of clauses in the contract regarding future appearances, international call-ups and selling-on fees because Graeme Shinnie has an outstanding career ahead of him. I hope the board show some backbone.

That would certainly make more sense. £30,000 would be a slap-in-the-face! Plenty rumours around suggesting he 'agree in principle' to sign for the Dons, before he went off abroad on holiday. I'm reluctantly bracing myself for the worst but the bottom-line is he's under contract with us and he shouldn't be allowed to go anywhere without a substantial fee. The club stood by the player when he was side-lined for nearly the whole season a couple of years ago, with his future uncertain. If he does leave for 30k it would be a terrible indictment of the board .

organ

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/inverness-boss-terry-butcher-says-1488870 This article from only 18 months ago claims we only spend £800,000 on wages! Who knows what to believe?!

£2000 a week in Scotland?! I suppose the Celtic wages bump up the average. I agree with Renegade, £700 - £800 a week on average for our guys. But obviously that's the average as some will earn more than others. I think our annual wage bill is just over £one million. Was Niculae not on some ridiculous amount? partly funded by Orion Group? £2,500 a week or something, which must have been a real blow to the other boys in the changing-room! As much as I liked having him at the club, due to his high profile, he wasn't actually worth it!