Caley Stan

When i asked the question for a second time and proposed a cordoned off smoking area outside the main stand, they said they would look into it. That was about 6 months ago and nothing's been said since but i find that it's reasonably easy to get out for a smoke if you really want to. I think discretion is the key. I understand that in today's hysterical anti-smoking climate that it may be difficult for the club to expressly condone the half-time fag but if they are willing to turn a blind eye then that's good enough for me.

When the team aren't playing well i tend to just fall into silence. I find it very difficult to get up for singing when i'm not encouraged by the football i see before me. With that in mind, i have complete respect for the boys at the back of Section G who continued to sing throughout the game on Saturday. Most of moaning and booing came from slightly older folk who should know better. Maybe it's a Highland thing - i hear County fans talking about how moany and impatient some of the older fans are at Viccy Park. Back in the Telford Street days, Caley were regularly booed of the park at half-time and full-time and certain players were singled out for some pretty intense abuse. I remember Alan Smart being called a "middle-class Perth c*nt" or something along those lines. As if Perth were the of epitome of bourgeois society!

I hope they do. Then people would see just how petty and pointless it is to prevent people from going out for fag at half-time.

The back 4, goalie and Richie Foran pick themselves - so at least we've got half a team. --------------------ESSON-------------------- PROCTOR--BULVITIS--MUNRO--LIONEL HAYES-----DUNCAN----COX----MCBAIN ------------ROONEY------FORAN-------------

I'm a bit late on this thread but here goes anyway. I thought we held onto the ball well on Saturday. We were very patient against a defensive Ayr team who created virtually nothing from open play. With the exception of Narius, everyone in our team looks comfortable on the ball and Grant in particular distributed well from the back, even attempting to drive us forward at times. But then he didn't have much choice, did he? Nobody in the midfield took responsibilty for taking the game to Ayr in an aggressive manner - they were far too happy to stroke the ball about in the hope that a space would appear. This is where we missed Imrie, Morais, even Blackie. Any of those three would've created a bit of spark. The midfield quartet concerns me greatly and on Saturday's evidence, we won't get close to challenging for the league with these guys. HAYES - STRATFORD - COX - EAGLES..........all clearly decent footballers but how many first team games have they played between them? Very few and it shows. It's inexperienced and it's lightweight. Stratford made basic errors all afternoon, Cox didn't impose himself as we might've hoped and Eagle just ran up blind alleys. Only Hayes seemed to have the neccessary aggression and directness to create something at this level but he's clearly not fit. Sanchez wants too many touches and wasn't making decent runs - also not fit - has he ever played first team football? Richie didn't even have scraps to work with. I think we could've been more direct once it became clear that weren't going to pass through the Ayr rearguard. This all sounds very negative but i'm not quite as down-beat as some folk on here (or the majority of a very moany Bridge End). I enjoyed watching our passing at times and if we can bring a bit of dig to the midfield (Roy?) and directness going forward (Imrie, Odi?, Andy!) then we might find it easier to break teams down.

Things seem to have calmed down a bit in terms of stewarding at TCS now so if you, like me, enjoy a half-time cigarette or three then door is open. You just have to be discreet.

I can't think of anything positive to say about Andy Barrowman so i'm just going to keep quiet.

I really hope so, but unfortunately we don't tend to bring many folk to Dundee whether it be Dens or Tannadice.

So with that in mind, does your user name refer to Barry or Wilsie?

Our away support has feckin brilliant since the shoes. Long may it continue.

Thanks for that Charles. As a central belt exile i don't get to hear your local bulletins very often so i'll just have to settle for TB's stream of consciousness contributions to the official website.

No it hasn't and er, no it hasn't. First point, it didn't in any way overshadow what was a great win, a great atmosphere and a great response to relegation from the players and the fans. Second point, i don't think this is infighting, it's a pretty decent, progressive discussion. That's that then. Point made, line drawn, movin' on. I'm glad we all had this healthy discussion.

I think this is an important point. I hope Butcher noticed and brings Russell back in, if not next week, then at least for Dens.

What can we expect in terms of interviews with the manager this season, Charles? Going by this week - nothing at all on BBC Sport and a quick line in the newspapers. Will you be recording post-match interviews at TCS?

The most exciting game i've ever seen on teletext. I think we were 3-1 down going into injury time and won 4-3. Only under Pele!!!

-----------------Marshall---------------- Hutton----Caldwell--Caldwell----Whittaker ----------- Fletcher----Hartley----------- McCormack------Brown------McFadden ---------------------Miller---------------------

It's not as simple as that. The numpties you refer to are central to the great atmosphere. They can be seen home and away, always trying to get the singing going, always having a laugh and always getting behind the team on the park. I'm not sure if they contribute to this forum but i think it would be handy if someone came on stated exactly why they have a problem with Kyle Allison. If what i heard yesterday is true, then Allison should not be playing for this club.

Great day, good game, perfect result. The performance was patchy. I thought we were very good in the first half, playing some decent football on the ground and creating some good opportunities. We definitely looked like a better footballing team than Dunfermline. We lost that foothold in the second half and defended deep as Dunfermline got more direct. I thought that we looked at bit flimsy in the centre of the park in the second half yesterday and i'd like to see Duncan in for Stratford. While Eagle and Imrie weren't as involved as they could've been, i think that they showed enough to suggest that we will create chances from wide areas this season. Sanchez clearly wasn't sharp enough but he had a few nice touches. We defended reasonably well, although i felt we could've cleared our lines quicker at times. I felt sorry for Rooney. His confidence must be completely shot now. The support was fantastic - let's do that all over again at Dens in a fortnight. With regard to the now infamous 'Allison Incident', i think a few folk on here are being a bit harsh with the boys who were shouting the abuse. It's easy just to write them off as eedjits, morons etc. but if the allegations about Kyle Allison are true then he shouldn't be playing for this club.

I think you're probably not far off Alex. Proctor though, hasn't had much of a pre-season so we could see Stratford in the right-back position. What is the story with Russell Duncan? Is he fit? I ask because he wasn't in the squad for Annan. I also found it strange that he travelled to Golspie with the youngsters last week.

I think we're reasonably strong in midfield and in wide areas, but the defence is worrying. Who will play with Gary Caldwell in the absence of McManus and Weir? Who will play at left-back?

Tomorrow lunchtime. I want Albion away because i've never been to Cliftonhill.

Songs for County games Just click on SONGS

Me too. Nice easy trip to start with.

It was mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Butcher anticipates bids for some of our players as the transfer deadline gets closer. Having signed a few players, the focus may now turn to moving on some of the players Butcher doesn't fancy.

Apparently Eagle and Haynes can play on either side as can Imrie. Stratford and Proctor can both play on the right as well.