absent friend

It doesn't matter a jot to me if you believe it or not - If you don't like it, then by all means continue to bury your head in the sand. I have a problem with the highlighted areas! I don't understand when you refer to 'IT' and it would also appear than my head is in the sand, regarding what exactly?

Perhaps some of you will recognise the following generalised statements from this boards offerings, the content being very common on here ? ''that i know?? ''unrest in the dressing room?? ''lost the players?? ?? majority want Brewster out?? ??have not discussed contract terms with.....?? ''The fact is he is now strangeling the club, holding us back if you like??. etc, etc. If it is said often enough, not only will others believe it, the poster will also believe it too! I do accept that Inverness is a small place and players (and it would appear, the Board)are on friendly terms, in some cases, with posters but I do wonder can this always be the case for the .. 'i know' .. postings or is this being used to try and substantiate a point which would otherwise carry little weight! I realise that in Scotty's case he is 'in the know' possible at both player and board level but is gagged, to a certain extent, as it may be 'privileged' info.

This, I would agree, getting back to the original point, is not the way to man-manage and instill confidence IMO. However, the game the boy is in, is full of that behavior and he will have to get thicker skinned if he is to go to, say, Aberdeen - I use the case of Sone Aluka on Saturday who was publically 'done' by his manager, as an example. If he goes to Man Utd, he better get practice in ducking, there's a teapot on it's way. So, according to this board, Brew may be a bad tactician, selector of signings, selector of teams, retainer of excellent players, reader of games, substituter of players, public speaker(has he anything going for him?) BUT he is not on his own, as a football manager, when it comes to shouting at players, young or old! Did I not read on here that even the 'perfect' SPL manager, according to this board, Yogi, was shouting at his players last week??

My second well presented, reasoned point merely followed on from the first. If you say the following: You are suggesting that anyone who calls for the manager to leave are less of a fan than you are. Therefore, your "opinion" is, in its entirity, pish. I must, therefore, applaud your reasoning!

I have never ever stated that I want Brewster in charge. Your second, well presented, reasoned point, offers the fact that perhaps you don't quite accept my view - I hope I picked that up correctly - but my views are echoed, at length, by the Aberdeen manager in an extended article in the Evening Express this week and in it he also included managers in the EPL as well as the SPL. But, hey ho, he and I are allowed to have 'pish' opinions, eh! And when we lost they were not even on the park so they are blameless!!

If you play golf, you can be consistent and have a measured consistency, however, in football you can only be as consistent as the opposition allows. If the opposition decides to be negative, it is difficult to be open and flowing in your game and thereby the charge of inconsistency can be levied. The fear factor among the managers, with a call for their heads from a section of almost all the so called 'fans', makes for dour struggles I'm afraid. I suppose Yogi was the exception in his managerial manner but I feel that even he has now forsaken his cavalier attitude in favor of results, as evidenced last night. Entertainment = nil points V Poor entertainment = 1 point.... there is no contest if they wish to retain their job in this league. Just don't lose! If we are to be consistent we have to assume that other teams will allow us to be winners all the time or allow us to play bright football all the time or shut their eyes and not listen to their coaches and allow our good players to play them off the park each week. Some hope! Why did our best player last Saturday have to be subbed last night? Me thinks Yogi watched last Saturdays match before coming up North and took remedial action. Or maybe our player was inconsistent! We are inconsistent amongst inconsistent teams, at this time.

[i expect Brewster to pick his best 11 every week and put it on the park. On paper/training ground and on park can be two different teams! I expect those 11 players to be motivated by the manager as that is part of his job. Once on park motivation must be carried by players or captain. I expect those 11 professional players to act in a professional manner, perform consistently, and get the job done. Funny you say that - could not agree more! I do NOT expect us to win every game but I do expect us to put in an effort in each game. Agreed I do NOT expect everyone to like Brewster, that never happens with managers in almost any field. Another agreed I do NOT expect us to lie down and be rodgered the way we were against Rangers. That is not acceptable. Killie, umpteen places above us, were rodgered the following week, maybe just highlights the ability gap between the halves and halve nots.

Is this year not unusual with 8/9 teams all beating each other on the day? I don't think I can remember a year, with 12 games played and the bottom of the league being so closely bunched, right up to fourth place. If you were in 5th place, 9 points ahead of the team you are facing, you have a right to expect a win - you have proved you are at least 25% better than they were - but now only a small margin separates the 8/9 teams and the result is therefore less predictable but the expectation is still there! Throw into the pot the normal David/Goliath results that crop up over a season and you can see the difference this year. Maybe this makes the stats more difficult, this year.

We now appear to have the fans from nine teams in the SPL calling for the head of their manager. JJ lost four goals to Rangers so he is crap, CB lost five last week so he is also crap BUT CB then beat Hibs this week so MP is crap and so it goes on! Lets agree that we can change all the managers round about, with no fee and therefore keep the fans happy - at least until they realise that this league has a large number of similar teams who can all take points off each other despite/because of, their manager! It is easy to lose faith in your team/manager with relegation being a possibility but it would appear, the teams are all in the same position and it has the potential for a superb finish to the league with goals not points being, maybe, very important! This year being sixth or last may be dictated by a couple of results over the year. Maybe it is time to get the scarf out and add your support. Exciting or what!!

I accept Scotty's 'lack of effort' above BUT the rest being surprised at the result is a load of nonsense. Look at the prediction league offerings, by our own knowledgeable fans, very few predicted a draw never mind a win and the winning score was even predicted. Be fair, we were all expecting to be done over but hoping for a wee result, I predicted a draw with my heart, not my head!!

I would have thought that having our traditional defenders in place plus McGuire, Duff and Proctor -(even Barry excelled at back in the reserve game, by all accounts)- we are in a strong defensive position. Maybe the players are not playing to the top of their abilities but that is a man management thing, we have the manpower. We do not therefore require to spend on defenders, we do need one seasoned forward player, very similar to Brew, to support the younger players, with also an emphasis on attack that hits the bye line and cuts the ball back. Hitting the ball from the outfield into a defense always favours them but we have seen this week, even the best pros have problems clearing their lines from a low ball in from the bye line and this can result in an own goal. I would therefore like to see our players having the confidence to take on their defender more often but this can only happen if they have the encouragement on and off the field. This also puts some responsibility on the fans, as losing out on a tackle making for the bye line, when the ball could have been swung over earlier, is not what the fans want but appreciating the better chance, had the tackle not been successful, must also be considered.

Sums up my point - Rednapp's players come onto TV after their last win and admit they they are now playing with more effort!! Where is their PRIDE when they can admit that they accepted their wages but did not bother to play despite their manager being under the sword and the fans having paid good money to support them!! From your above contributions I can only accept that they are excused, as the manager did not motivate to a level they considered to be correct. Not in my book - they are paid to perform to the best of their ability, as a team and requiring the manager to pat their back before, during and after their performance, if they are going to give 100%, is a sad reflection on their maturity! The manager must, obviously, provide the training, tactics and man management to get a team on the park BUT once it is on there, he has little control other than his management from the sidelines. As stated earlier, his captain should have as much input on the park,IMO, but the buck stops with the players on the park if they are not giving 100%!!

The Board, Brew, Malkey, Wee Chick, Traynor etc, have all had there attacks after Saturday but it would appear that there is something strange about footballers! The staff did not work well this morning, lunch time ballocking, superb production this afternoon! This proves to me that they have no personal pride, ability to think for themselves or self motivation. Why therefore on Saturday are the players absolved from blame(ish) and The Board, Brew, Malkey, Wee Chick,Traynor etc all get attacked? Strachan can not take credit for Moloney's superb goal yesterday and if this is the case, managers can not therefore be always blamed for all of the players poor performances on the park. Why can't the players be more self motivated on the park, why can't the players boss on the park, the captain, be more exposed to criticism, as he can surely boot butt as the game is unfolding. As with any job they should always be aware of the pressure they are under, the manager is under, the club is under and indeed the fans are under and for them to require a half time talking to, to up their game, as opposed to change their game, should be so unnecessary. Where does the Buck Stop??

Was Brewster therefore tactically inept when he put Duff on for the second half not knowing if he was going to have a stinker?? I am saying that that is the way most on here would have reacted should Duff have started and had a howler, not that I personally think that. I'm sorry, I did not realise you were referring to the reaction on here in the event of....., I thought you were making a statement.

Was Brewster therefore tactically inept when he put Duff on for the second half not knowing if he was going to have a stinker?? However as they say in footballing circles 'The boy done good!' The substitution proves that the manager was wrong in the first instance by not playng Duff.

I have now changed my thoughts on the keeper situation. I thought that Fraser was getting his place until he signed his new contract and then Esson would step in. After Saturday Esson should be on the park as no team will want to sign a keeper that lost so many goals as Fraser did on Saturday - not until the memory fades a bit anyway. Fraser Will sign without any problem, probably for less money than he could have negotiated for, pre Ibrox. Anyway, the way ahead, Esson on the park for an extended run offering confidence to the back four and utilising his distribution to build up the play by involving the midfield with throw outs. This way the defense are more solid, the midfield are more creative, the forwards will be fed more scoring opportunities and Esson will be leaning on the post having a Havana moment or two! Easy.

Esson will not get a permanent place until Fraser signs on the dotted line. If Fraser is dropped/subbed at this time he could react and delay signing, this could have a disruptive reaction in the dressing room. With Brew having won the dressing room and the spirit in there being up at the moment, why take a chance.

Perhaps if you take a quick look at the league table and see the 8 teams all within 4 points of each other it will save me the effort!

So the bad is Brew but the good is possibly not him. Hang the guy! Jury is out! He took a childish Black, showed him the error of his ways and we now see the evidence of this whenever Ian plays! Where does this equal disrespect?? Being 4 points behind the fourth placed team does not indicate that he is crap manager.

Gee Whiz!! According to you guys we are sinking fast! 13th September we were 6th in the league and Dundee United were bottom in 12th place(and no doubt you were all complaining on here that we were not in the top 3 and the equivalent 'fans' on the united site would have been calling for their managers head !!) Dundee United are now in 4th place and we are in 10th place - 4 points behind. Hardly a reason for sacking the manager in my opinion. I just hope the sack him brigade are not on jury duty if I am ever up in court! I am NOT a Brew fan but I am an ICT fan and realise that in this years league, movement up and down the league will be more in evidence than normal, as each team seems to be able to take points off each other. Makes for an added degree of excitement with 8 teams bunched up together. Time left - until more than 4 points separate us from fourth place!! Bring on the HUNS!!

I feel that we are in the strongest position, having Esson as back up. In goal or on the bench? I feel he should be given an extended run to gel with the back players in a competitive situation and then we will have the best of him. His experience will rub off on the defense, his distribution from his throw outs will create more attacks on the ground, leading to better football from the team. Why is he not being used right now? We need our current goalie's signature on a contract! Fraser must realise that he has not attracted any attention yet but if he sits where he is and gets a share of the matches, he will then have a chance to showcase himself and perhaps follow his predecessor into the higher earning bracket, in the future.

Just imagine watching, from the terracing, maybe three of the current team plus eight wannabees or over the hill exSPL players, on a cold afternoon playing against another team of 'not made it/past it players'. Relegation is really something to look forward to, eh! But wait, you can stand, mingle with the opposition and enjoy all these wee parks and guess what, it costs less!! Magic!! County meantime are playing in the SPL and we are not a bit jealous because they are having to pay FULL price to watch a sprinkling of international players in the teams they are playing and guess what, we are 6th in the 1st Division and they are only 7th in the SPL. How you must yearn for the OLD days to come back - it was not the excitement of getting up through the leagues into the SPL that was experienced, it was the thrill of attending the games played in the lower divisions. AYE RIGHT!! Water, well and dry comes to mind. Enjoy this moment as it may not last but at least we have made it and even have a chance of upsetting one half of the old firm this week. All the supporters in the leagues below us would love to be in our position as would the players and Boards of each team. Read on here the different posters stating that they long for the lower divisions where it was more friendly - no stewards etc and how they would return and support the team if we were relegated but will not turn out now - and accept it for what it is, the nostalgia of the memory of fighting the way into the big boys league. This is the anti-climax where we have to consolidate for a few years after all our success, feel our way and move forward within the constraints which are indubitably ours. The only way is up!!!

Just to inject a wee bit of fairness The goal is reported as offside We were denied a penalty by the referee who apologised to the players for his error How in the name of Heavens is that Brews fault?? He did not PICK the referee - He did not make the decisions!! Yes, you can miscall the players but he can only train them - when the whistle blows they are on their own BUT on here they have no responsibility, it is Brews fault they mistime a pass, fluff a shot etc. We have ordinary players and we expect them to play at a level they have difficulty playing up to on a regular basis. Yes they are fit, no doubt they are taught tactics but on the park........!! The up side? A wee run of luck will provide confidence and they may settle into a game. However it is the discarding of concentration when not playing 'big' teams that is causing the stupid form - blowing good and bad from one game to the next.

Standard in that the lower the market price you got the player for, the larger % the selling club will receive if he is sold on? ie Buy him for ?50k, 40% from sellon - Buy for ?75k, 20% from sellon - ?!00k, no sellon fee. If this be the case it is only a variation on a loan. The new club pays the full wages/maybe injury costs/training costs and if he is a hit - the selling club could reap a large transfer reward. If he is not a success the buying club have invested in the player to their cost. Win Win for the selling club with no offloading facility for the new club. Rooney however will not be a liability for ICT and we could end up making a few bob when he is moved on. A hattrick for the red haired lad tonight!!

I know you have brought me to task in the past for selective editing BUT in this case to carry all the content down would be unnecessary when I just want to ask you to consider the area highlighted and ask if this could be something you could consider. Now on a broader point,....... of course, we all could have reasons for non attendance, some however will come into the 'facts fit' category and use their none attendance, not because they could not be bother getting off their butts from the front of the telly, where they could sit and enjoy the well prepared adverts, but blame Brew/weather/subs/cost/sweetie rustlers/ car park or our current place in the league, instead of being honest. Will a better run of form bring bigger crowds, possibly ( 'you only watch when your winning' comes to mind) - better weather, I am not aware of a severe change in the Sneck climate - lower prices, don't subscribe to any huge increase this year - change of manager, I suppose if we had the 'Chosen One' this would ensure 7000 at all home games, the other 3500 being the media!