absent friend

I feel sure that this thread started as a protest at swearing in the family section or next to it - this is therefore related to children specifically! Your point re adults therefore is of little consequence as we all like to let rip!! I would like to hear Scotty's thoughts on swearing from the crowd, when he follows his home Canadian team and the comparison with here.

just finished watching game on ALBA. yeah we huffed and puffed but we have zero quality and were really all over the place. On this showing im dreading next weeks game!!! could get a real canning I also watched the game on Alba yesterday and I would agree more with IHE's comments, above! I do believe that this current team could be well away from the foot of the table, given a degree of confidence. I do think they were trying too hard, they have the ability but yesterday they could not do right for doing wrong! Passes, headers that on another day could be OK were all going astray. I don't think Motherwell were that far ahead of them and indeed the stats show that. (Except for the goals against!!) Proctor however was so bad and I can not believe that Brew does not give Duff a game. He is already good and can only get better playing with/against the big boys. However, it comes down to the managers ability to infuse that confidence and I would suggest, anyone listening to him after the match, must be aware that the guy is shot to bits. How can he raise the spirits of his team when he is so down himself?? His verbal contribution was rather like a rabbit caught in the headlights, having no plans for any movement to save himself or the team. That is the second week he has praised players in the other team!! He should be praising the work his own players are doing, Esson and Rossco both deserved mention by their manager and this could be seen as some indication of positivity, instead of that, McGhee will be using Brewster's praise to bolster his players confidence.

Fact - His contract runs out in six months time and he can move then and take the cash Fact - He was a ballboy there, his dad played there, Georgie is home. Fact - if he goes now we get money and we need it. Fact - If he has signed with his heart and not his head, like Robbo, he could regret the move. Fact - We are a selling club, this is a good piece of business. Fact - Brewster, for all his faults, probably played very little part in this. It would be Ian and his agent getting the best terms on offer.

Does this mean we can now put this anti Brew thing on the backburner for the Festive period and concentrate on supporting the boys on the park, instead of barracking the guys in the dugout!

It did not start about swearing in the TCS - it started about ICT fans swearing next to the Family Section in the TCS and how something as precise as that, is not relevant to the ICT board, I do not understand!! As with many threads, comparisons will be made with other clubs etc but that does not mean it is any less ICT relevant. When talking about Brews ability, other clubs, fans, managers are brought into the discussion arena, but the subject matter is not then moved to general topics or non-ICT!!

Swearing at football wouldn't be changed even if a man tried to change it. Its part of football culture and you just have to live with it. I don't see a problem with it. If your offended and you take your kids, then don't take your kids if your that offended. Most parents will easily explain to their kids what its all about and in a few years time if they still support the club their kids will be like that. Swearing in front of woman and children is a relatively new thing and is not part of football culture as you state! I have attended a Rangers v Aberdeen match, at Pittodrie, pre segregation, accompanied by my dad, mam and my wife and not a swear word was used, in our earshot and this was on the terracing, because ladies were present. I would agree that Billy Connelly made a living by swearing and possible introduced it into the adult culture as something that could be said but after the watershed!! I am sorry if I see children as young, innocent and needing a buffer between them and grown-up life, for as long as possible. If others prefer to introduce swear words to young children, I suppose I just have to accept that we all have different standards. .

How absolutely sad! A lady comes on here to express a view held by many of us! Do I swear? Of course I do! Do I swear in front of young children? Don't be silly, of course not! Time and place comes to mind and if you think you can come on here with bully boy tactics and drown out the voice of people, like me, with the use of swear words in your text, to back up your point, think again!! This club needs all the support it can get and if this is offensive, in the family section, and drives the families away, you are no better than Brewster at tactics and indeed, are very similar in reducing the support!.

Talking for the majority, I see, Smee! All 161 that voted to replace Brewster out of how many! That's all the 161 that goes and watches his tactics every week and come on here passing comment on the play and then gives him the thumbs down and then state that a large section of them, do not even go to the games! That's the 161 that watched the first part of Saturdays game and APPLAUDED their team on for the play and enthusiasm. Aye right!! Now your above point - How in the heck can you defend a position of bottom of the league? I can't , but that is in the past!! We are now in the present. Can we move up the league? Future. Of course we can. Smee, prove to me that we can't! Smee, prove to me that with Brewster out, we will not be relegated under the replacement. Now I am not pro Brew BUT changing for change sake does not guarantee success - you have to provide an non emotional selection that we can afford, that will come and give us a guarantee of staying up. The Board will decide - they will do the best for the club and if that be replacing the manager - so be it. If a change takes place I would like to think that all this hostility being generated towards the club will be diverted into support! Not pro Brew , aye right . Why don't you take the trouble to research past posts and you will find that from the Brewster appointment, I was opposed to his return! What seems strange to me is that you can reply in this way to points I was making. At least the other replies are thought out and offer content for reflection. .

Talking for the majority, I see, Smee! All 161 that voted to replace Brewster out of how many! That's all the 161 that goes and watches his tactics every week and come on here passing comment on the play and then gives him the thumbs down and then state that a large section of them, do not even go to the games! That's the 161 that watched the first part of Saturdays game and APPLAUDED their team on for the play and enthusiasm. Aye right!! Now your above point - How in the heck can you defend a position of bottom of the league? I can't , but that is in the past!! We are now in the present. Can we move up the league? Future. Of course we can. Smee, prove to me that we can't! Smee, prove to me that with Brewster out, we will not be relegated under the replacement. Now I am not pro Brew BUT changing for change sake does not guarantee success - you have to provide an non emotional selection that we can afford, that will come and give us a guarantee of staying up. The Board will decide - they will do the best for the club and if that be replacing the manager - so be it. If a change takes place I would like to think that all this hostility being generated towards the club will be diverted into support!

or just don't ******* turn up??? You aren't representing ALL the fans point of view so I would appreciate if you all kept your mouth shut until at least after 90 minutes. That way you wont affect the players performance.... and you never know we might even come away with 3 points Not turing up would be the best possible way to show our discust. I was never any good at maths, but how would the team perform when over 80% of fans voting brewster out dont turn up. would that be good for the players moral? 161 not being present, from a turnout of circa 5000, is not going to be missed and as was mentioned already this will be put down to Christmas shopping! 161 is never at any time an 80% figure if you are considering the % that want Brew out - just consider the number that were prepared to add their physical support, on this board, when the opportunity was there! Out of 161, can we agree maybe 10 at a push!

Yes Alex, and when the price of fuel comes down, as is the current situation?? However this is about the difficulty to raise enthusism for a cause such as the runway extension.

I don't suppose it will matter too much this time. Given our current home form, we will already be 2 or 3 down by then ! Well, well, nothing like injecting a bit of positive thinking into the proceedings!! I suppose with this attitude you can only win, if we do get beat it is a matter of "I told you so" - if we win, who cares what was said, it will be lost in the mists of BIG T! (I would hope this would be the dram this weekend, in memory of Big Jock)

I find it refreshing that you are privvy to the goings on in the boardroom at ICT as a lot of us would also like to be a fly on the wall in there! I thought the board had some say in the above moves but I will accept your inside knowledge that it was Brew and Brew alone.

It depends maybe on Ian's opinion of Ian Black at this time! If he feels he is the finished article then maybe he wants to punt himself, via his agent, around the open market OR maybe he sees an opportunity for making a quick buck, at the moment, with his fee coming to himself/agent and not his club. However others have left ICT and experienced the grass being less green(The Curse) I think it is fish in pools - we are a wee pool and Ian looks good here, put him elsewhere and he may find he has gone from topdog to A N Other within the new squad. Not always easy to adjust to this new life, Rierdon(?), comes to mind but he is in no way unique. Ian could stay here, learn his trade, be seen and noticed and be written about and then, down the line, go to a much bigger club than is on offer now(IMHO) for mega bucks and be a rich man at the end of his footballing days or go now and be a journeyman player, not quite making the top grade, as he will be more money motivated, moving from club to club. His choice!! He is with the best club, for him, at this time. He is staying in the best environment around. He is appreciated by club, fans and public here. He could become anonymous in the central belt. The Brewster thing is a storm in a teacup as far as Ian's career is concerned. He is a young man with the footballing world at his feet in a short time from now! This is the wrong time to move, playing pools being reduced, money tight for clubs, sponsers money drying up, banks maybe calling in club debts - an uncertain time to make a non-required move. Now Ian, I hope you read this and it gives you food for thought!

This, to me, is when the manager/assistant should be screaming from the touchline to sort it out and maybe therein hangs a tale!! Anyway, tactics for Saturday! Why can we not just adopt the tactics we used at Parkhead? Ball on the deck, quick passing, running off the defender, it was all there to see, so we can do it! I would also like to see our player slinging the ball across, having the guts to carry it another, say, 10 yards to have the maximum effect. A cross from 20/25 yards out is easily dealt with by the defence or keeper as they have time to take action but coming in from nearer the bye line is a different matter. Players getting in each others way having been turned, now facing their own goal....panic! It is not by chance that Man Utd make for the bye line so often and cross back towards the penalty spot - defence confused, possible tap in goal. To sum up - no big punt out of defence to Diamond & Co unless one on one - attack down wings using short sharp passing - feed forwards from bye line - and last, feed Sone to Rossco!! Brew your job is easy! Does this now qualify me as an armchair manager?

Teacher: " Good morning children, today is Thursday, so we're going to have a general knowledge quiz. The pupil who gets the answer right can have Friday and Monday off and not come back to school until Tuesday. " Wee Jocky (a typical Scottish nyaff) thinks, " Ya dancer. Ah'm pure dead brilliant at ma general knowledge stuff. This is gonny be a dawdle, come ahead the noo ya radge, a lang weekend fir me. ' Teacher: " Right class, who can tell me who said. ' Don't ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country? ' Wee Jocky shoots up his hand, waving furiously in the air. Teacher looking round picks Jeremy at the front. 'Yes, Jeremy? ' Jeremy (in a very English accent): "Yes miss, the answer is J F Kennedy - inauguration speech 1960." Teacher: "Very good Jeremy. You may stay off Friday and Monday and we will see you back in class on Tuesday." The next Thursday comes around, and Wee Jocky is even more determined. Teacher: " Who said. 'We will fight them on the beaches, we will fight them in the air, we will fight them at sea. But we will never surrender?" Wee Jocky's hand shoots up, arm stiff as a board, shouting " I know. I know. Me, Miss ... me, Miss .... Teacher looking round and picks Timothy, sitting at the front: " Yes Timothy." Timothy (In a very, very posh, English accent): " Yes, Miss, the answer is Winston Churchill, 1941 Battle of Britain speech." Teacher: " Very good Timothy , you may stay off Friday and Monday and come back to class on Tuesday." The following Thursday comes around and Wee Jocky is hyper, he's been studying encyclopedias all week and he's ready for anything that comes. He's coiled in his wee chair, slavers dripping in anticipation. Teacher:" Who said 'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind?" Wee Jocky's arm shoots straight in the air, he's standing on his seat, jumping up and down screaming " Me, Miss. Me, Miss. I know, I know. Me, Miss, me Miss, meeeeee...... " Teacher looking round the class picks Rupert, sitting at the front "Yes Rupert." Rupert (In a frightfully, frightfully, ever so plummy English accent): "Yes miss, that was Neil Armstrong. 1967, The first moon landing." Teacher:"Very good Rupert. You may stay off Friday and Monday and come back into class on Tuesday." Wee Jocky loses the plot altogether, screams - "Where the f*** did all these English b*st*rds come from?" Teacher, looking round the class: "Who said that?" Wee Jocky, grabs his coat and bag and heads for the door, "Bonnie Prince Charlie, Culloden, 1746. See yez on Tuesday!"

"

If, as a player, your damn good at your job, taking the hard earned money off people who can ill afford it through the gate receipts, who have traveled countless miles to see you perform - not bothering your a@se - then you are very very guilty!! The players, if you are correct, need to get a reality check - this is 2008/2009 - no-one has the right to a job and if you have one, you had better perform to your best, irrespective of managerial politics. If they are not bothering to put in a shift, move them on! So much for the players! As stated before, I have a problem with this whole black and white thing! Players need a punt up the rear, the board needs a punt up the rear and our manager needs.....to improve! Brew out!! .... Who In?? ( Oh, but he must be better than Brew! He is only taking us one way. Next guy can't take us that way as well, can he??) Beat Aberdeen and Motherwell and Brew will be the Saviour! Aye, that will be right! He will be the same as now but the support, or the current lack of it, will be changed. So much for the fickle fans. Brewster needs an injection of realism - he is only a rookie manager, much to learn and to come on telly and spout like Alex Ferguson is embarrassing. So much for Brew! The silent Board - just silence but lets hope it is contemplation!

At the club AGM, David Sutherland (Chairman of the Supporers Trust - not Mr Tulloch) asked what the roles were of the current board and the answer was that they didn't have any specific roles or areas of responsibility, although that was something that they were prepared to look at. All the board members are successful business men in their own right, so I can't understand the problem when they get together to run our football club. While it isn't their responsibility to put their hands into their pockets (something that some of them do in a lot of different ways), but they do have a responsibilty that we have a business model which is sustainable. Increasing revenue streams and ensuring that all avenues are being explored. Unlike the current situation where things are getting worse and worse, so the crowds will drop and drop, losing revenue at every game. Less fans = less strips, less programmes, etc, etc, etc. I am fully aware that they have no legal obligation to dip into their own pockets, but what some people are missing is the fact that each director is sitting on the board for a reason - one in particular for a very healthy salary - some for business benefits and others for their professional expertise for which they will be paid (finance and legal). They are all responsible for raising funds to operate the business at the level THEY feel appropriate so if they can't support Prem League footie we drop down. Are we then a sustainable business? Are we then attractive to the fans? IMO - NO! What happens then? The club downsizes and relocates! Who benefits then? Please don't give me " It is not their responsibilty". They are responsible for EVERYTHING that happens to our club and the sooner some contributors wake up and smell the coffee the better! Analyse each director and their business interests and make your own mind up. Maybe it is time to lay off Brewster, he is an employee. It is not his fault he is still in a job - it's his employers - OUR directors! Let's direct some heat on them and see how they respond to their RESPONSIBILITIES! They may even decide to keep the current management team! I did not see this posted on the'Is brewster to blame' thread where a number of us did try to indicate that the board had some part to play in this current position we find ourselves in.

Would it not be a better idea to have one seen as one of your 8 each time you post?

You have to be joking. This site is jam packed full of people slagging off Brewster at every opportunity and for every reason. Just about every thread denigrates into Brewster slagging. Some of the criticism is justified. Some of it is unfair. And some of it is plain abuse and utterly ridiculous. If pointing out some of this is "having a go", then 'heat', 'kitchen' and 'out of' spring to mind. I'm dead serious. You can continue to have a go at me and others for having a view, or you can offer an alternative view. You accuse me and others of only posting because we are anti-brewster, at the moment your stance shows nothing more than having a go because your anti-"insert whichever username here". In short, the position your taking gives you very little credibility IMO. I feel that this reply highlights a problem that exists on here at the moment, a very strong worded reply using expressions which almost encourage a like response. It is the case that such is the anti Brewster feeling, that it is difficult to have a balanced thread on here. Even the thread wishing Brew a happy birthday was hijacked by anti posters within half a dozen replies! On another subject - Don, why don't you use the current situation to promote your business by printing 'anti brew' slogans on tee shirts?? (You will have to liaise with the board as that a print does not coincide with Brew's waygoing!)

I think we have an excellent 'young' keeper in Fraser and I cannot understand this anti-attitude! His areas of improvement can now be assisted by a more experienced keeper and this can only be good for him AND ICT! My fear is that he is so young he will take the bench role as a slight and go off elsewhere, whereas he should look on this time as an opportunity to hone his skills and battle his way back into the first team, a better rounded player. I do not think that Esson is that much better than him but he gives the defence confidence due to his past experience. Fraser is seen by them still as maybe Brown's understudy and has not yet earned his journeyman status. This is the cross of the young and is not indicative of his ability or potential ability.

I've seen those signs as well Harry. I take it you're referring to the controlled passing of Black and Vigurs, and the attacking energy of Imrie and Cowie. Given that we have those strengths, isn't strange that on Saturday we gave a toothless, passionless, just plain flat performance in a crucial game - the kind of game that would've brought out fighting spirit in almost any ICT team of the past - regardless of their other footballing qualities. I think this is the problem, lack of belief, lack of confidence or as you put it, lack of fighting spirit. That performance told me that the team don't believe in Brewster anymore. Considering our position in the league is shared by another 3 teams with Hamilton below us, I can only assume that 33% of the teams in the league, don't therefore believe in their manager anymore. In fact, Brewster's constant chopping and changing of players and formations suggests that he doesn't even believe in himself anymore. The formation played on Saturday, players on their own playing side, Procter at right back, Rooney on, two up front - were all shouted for on here and when he does this you call it chopping and changing! What do they say, damned if you do and damned if you don't! Stomping feet and demanding change is what football fans do in situations like this Harry.

I take it from that statement that it is your opinion, that the board have allowed him to sign all his targets and offload all the staff since he arrived, including Barry Wilson, without their involvement?? I would submit that we are not party to the politics of the boardroom, their need for income by way of transfers or their need to reduce wage bills by offloading players BUT I would say that, had the forementioned actions not taken place, Brewster would have had a better selection for positions, in the team, than he has now. The board MUST be involved in my opinion. However, would Brewster have made a better job of it, with the better squad? I now have big doubts! I think he has robbed our team and supporters, of that ingredient so required in any sport - the belief that comes from confidence! I would also accept that along with the lack of success comes an unhappy dressing room where all minor problems are magnified, this can only be rectified by change of staff or success. I prefer the latter but do not take that as a vote of confidence for Brewster. A new manager does not guarantee success. If I am correct regarding the loss of confidence, can the club draft in a 'Ra- Ra' guy, you know the ones that can convince you you are ten feet tall and God's gift to the opposite sex. If he can do that, then convincing the defence that Aberdeen are easy or the Aberdeen goals are so wide you can't miss, should be child's play. Motivation can no longer be left to the management team alone, at this time! .

Agreed 100%!! Now Spectre, go and convince the other posters on this board that see it as a club/manager shortfall!!