A96

A softness in central defence has been our problem ever since Darren Dodds left. I cringed every time Bulvitis got the ball today. County were up for it, they had a hunger that our team lacked (with some notable exceptions). Quite apart from our weakness in central defence our midfield seemed slow to pick up the rebounds and loose balls pinging off their defence (certainly missing the likes of Ian Black there). C**nty seemed to get much more than their fair share of 50-50 challenges. Once again, too, our players are becoming shot-shy. Why did we pass the ball at a free kick outside their box when we could have made their keeper work? A reliable central defender in the January sales is a priority.

But I would put Richard Hastings, Mikey Fraser and Ian Black top of my shopping list..........................

Yes. Plus we need the bragging rights come Monday morning.

Barrowman is a proven goalscorer at Div 1 level but he's not going to get many chances in the team with the way others are scoring. A central defender is a vital signing for us.

Was getting a bit weary of seeing ICT regularly lose 3 goals at home over the last two seasons (after Dodds left). Thought Div One would be a breeze for us - plenty shut-outs, scoring lots of goals. Not so. We lose three goals against C**unty and then three goals again today against Partick. Oh - and two of those six goals were back-heels! We have been humbled by better teams in the past but what I saw today was truly the worst performance I have ever seen from an ICT side. Truth is, this was not a genuine ICT team. There was no spirit about this team - no heart. ICT have always been a team that play with passion. This lot just don't have it.

--------------------------Calder----------------------------- --Ramos-----Munro-----------------Dodds--------Alves------ ---Ronaldo-----------------Black (Ian/Tichy?)--------------------Kaka------ Messi----------------------Barrowman-------------------Henry Subs: Mark Brown, Kevin Kyle, Terry, Darren Fletcher,Gerrard, Marvin Andrews manager: Steve Paterson

Can't understand why we are losing a talented young player like Iain - especially to a downmarket village team like C**nty. All the best Iain!

On today's showing our priority would be to consolidate our position in Div 1. Pie-in-the-sky if you think we can win Div 1 with our pathetic long-ball game and the some of the players we have right now at ICT. I saw Richie Hart and Graham Bayne at the stadium today. These are the sort of battlers we could be doing with in Div 1 next season. Just a pity they are not still with us.

True. Your lot wanted to win the game more than we did. Mind you it's four matches ago since Falkirk last played 90 minutes against an ICT team with 11 players!!

I was at the game today but would sooner vote for the primary school kids kicking the ball around at half time than for anyone who played for ICT today!!! Can vote, won't vote!

Any ideas what a child ticket would cost? Last time in Div One kids under 12 got into the terracings for free. That was an inspired by our Board at that time - and one that I am convinced reaped dividends for the club since then. Back then it cost me ?9 and the 3 kids got in for free - ?9 for a family of four! I am not optomistic that our current Board will be smart enough to offer incentives to get punters (especially youngsters) into matches. Might struggle to get the old 1800 hardcore support.

Positives? Yes there are a few:- 1. 12 easy points against Dross County next season. 2. Half-price merchandise in the club shop. 3. Matches at 3.00pm every Saturday. 4. More chance of local youngsters being given a game. 5. Less chance of seats at matches being sold twice (happened on two occasions to me this season). 6. No more sectarian bile at the TC stadium (yippee!). 7. Easier parking at matches. 8. ICT Board prima-donnas taken down a peg or two. 9. Cheaper tickets for matches (if the Club want any fans to attend matches). 10. Proabably a better standard of football to watch. 11. Fewer 0-3 thumpings at home. 12. Maybe see some goals being scored at the TCH (for us that is). 13. Won't see Falkirk or Hamilton for a while (but will miss the easy games against Hibs). 14. Lots of our fans won't experience a conflict of loyalty between ICT and their 'other' team. 15. The queue for the shop will be shorter. 16. More opportunities to taunt our poor-cousin Staggie acquaintances. 17. Fewer fat-cat, fair-weather, once-in-a-blue-moon 'hospitality' types taking up space in the Main Stand.

Terry and Maurice have done a great job in trying to keep us up and I salute them for their tremendous effort. Some of our players lack passion for the club while others clearly play for the jersey. But this is not the time to name names. Some of our more recent signings have clearly lacked quality. Today - when it mattered - they were found lacking. Hate to admit it but we were the poorest team in the SPL. The real culprits in my book are the Board. It was plain to see back in November/December that Brewster had to go but they were too gutless to make that tough decision. While they prevaricated we lost vital points, giving the new management a really tough uphill climb. The ineptitude of the Board has cost ICT dearly. While on the subject of The Board - I was disgusted to see the way a number of our young diehards were treated by the stewards at the end of the match, after most folk had left the ground. They sang their hearts out and demonstrated their passion for the club in the empty North Stand. In usual fashion the thuggish stewards did their best to antagonise them by throwing them out in a disgraceful manner. Zero sensitivity was shown at a time when passions were running high. Rather than encourage passion for our club - our Board seems happy to support heavy-handed stewarding with anyone who sings or cheers too loudly for ICT. Hopefully one day they wake up and realise that the ordinary fan matters. But I doubt it.

It was a fabulous day down at the TC Stadium this afternoon. It was a joyful experience to sit there in the Jock MacDonald Stand - sheltered from the wind and with the sun blazing down on us. The only thing that spoiled it was some stupid football match taking place in front of me. I can accept a long ball game when we are struggling in the relegation zone and it gets us three points - but not when it so predictable - we thump it downfield - they head it/thump it back (repeat x 150 times) and we don't get the three points. Hamilton were ruthless and were desperate to win at any price (cheating and time wasting in particular). Our only real talent up front (Morais) seemed to be double-marked wherever he went. I believe Foran is a good player - but certainly not on today's record. Imrie missed an easy header and doesn't look a goal threat. Djebi Zadi is a powerful player who can tackle - promises much but delivers precious little (stray pass after stray pass - although he is far from being the only culprit at ICT). Black was, as usual, a ray of light in the team. He will be a real miss next season. Lucky to get a point today. We didn't deserve anything. There is a desperation in ICT's play with 11 players playing as individuals rather than as a team. Still, in TB's short reign, he has amassed almost the same points total as Brewster did in almost 6 months (15 points v 17 points). So there is room for some optimism.

Ross-Shire is a great place and the more people from there who support ICT the better!! My parents met in Dingwall but moved after they got married (close one). :thumb04: Elvis is from Elgin so coming north would be a bit of a homecoming. But, like Dods, he will get more money with the Central Belt clubs than with ICT, sadly.

Why dont you spell Ross County and County ;) right??? We don't use that sort of language this side of the Bridge! simmer No offence intended Muir-Jaggie - my DNA is 50% Ross-Shire (but don't tell anyone). :018: Now what about getting Darren Dods back? Perhaps Steven Pressley will fancy returning north again if Falkirk get relegated? He already works with Terry Butcher at international level.

Why dont you spell Ross County and County :018: right??? We don't use that sort of language this side of the Bridge!

There's a new guy at R*ss C**nty who seems to be scoring goals. Usual thing, sign any C**nty players that show any promise. Can't remember his name but at 42 I'm sure he's got a few days left in his career.

A successful C**nty player? We must sign him then!

Aye, but IHE's been thrown out of matches for misbehaviour on the odd occasion.

And I thought it was just the Old Firm that got these?!?! Well done Ref. You're either a very brave man .............................. or a Celtic supporter.

That's easy. It was Imrie's free kick. Aiming for the Kessock Bridge when trying to score at the Home End would be allowable - but sending the ball towards MacRae & Dick's was a shocker. The boy is capable of some great things (e.g. his free kick at Tynecastle) but he needs to concentrate 100% of the time. His final touch/pass so often lets him down. Can't fault him for effort though. Not a wonderful football spectacle today but a wonderful three points. This really sets us up for the relegation dogfight ahead. Well done to the Team and Management. :thumb04: Poor Hibs. As per normal they capitulate on their trip north (usually somewhere around Drumochter Pass as they head up the A9).

Maybe you are right, it might not be too late - but only if we get a new manager this week. However as things stand we are doomed. The Board are probably more scared of Brewster looking for a pay-off and then having to pay to take someone else's manager than of ICT playing football in Div 1 next season. They probably thought that a win against lowly Hamilton would do the trick and everything would be rosy. Well that didn't happen. We had the chance to hire Robbo and Barry Wilson as a management team to see us safely through to the end of the season. Maybe not everyone's choice but that would have been the cheapest and most effective quick fix. That option has now gone and time is running out.

I agree that Brew has to go but your comments go too far and are unreasonably personal. He is a decent human being with a great record as a player and a useful record as a player-manager. Unfortunately he is no manager (at least at SPL level). He should have been replaced before Christmas (as I said at the time in another post). However, the Board have dithered and it is now too late to turn things around. We are past the point of no return. The only positive I can take from this situation is that it will be good to have meaningful derby games against R*ss C**nty once again (that is if they don't get relegated to Division Two this season).

In all fairness we were never going to get a point from Celtic If Woods had scored the sitter he missed we would have!