absent friend

I am so surprised at the lack of criticism of the defense on Saturday. Our young defender makes a bo-bo, we lose a goal, we lose the game, little fuss on here. If Mcguire was the culprit, the board would be humming with calls for his head. It would appear some players can do no wrong and some players can do little right, according to the posters. To put an inexperienced defender up against Wilkie & Co was a wrong decision but that is easy to say in hindsight. However, as a seasoned pro, I feel sure Mcguire would have managed to grab Wilkie by the goolies, ankles, bellybutton or somewhere to provide some degree of resistance for his goal, although I do accept that he is a big guy and outjumping him would be difficult.

Willie never lived on the black isle as canuck says he was in Bruce Avenue when he got married and latterly in Dochfour Drive , and he played in the same team as Ginger and Stootie etc. It could be the wrong JACK. I seem to remember a player called Vince(?) Jack from Avoch, playing for Thistle about that time - a tall guy and was signed by, I think, Bury.

Willie never lived on the black isle as canuck says he was in Bruce Avenue when he got married and latterly in Dochfour Drive , and he played in the same team as Ginger and Stootie etc.

Now two bits of happiness is enough any Friday! You would think we were fourth in the league and won a home game or something to be this happy!

''The Northern Meeting Rooms is not what it was - we wouldn't be standing here in the old days - yon IHE guy would be filling your head with nonsense, have you knocking back the voddies and your nickers would be off in a jiffie! I wonder what ever happened to him? Maybe he got the call, he could be a wee free minister in Back!''

Don't knock it. Provide a bigger Friday smile. :thumb04:

The Glasgow Primary Teacher explains to her class that she is a Rangers fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they too are Rangers fans. Everyone in the class raises their hand except one little girl. The teacher looks at the girl with surprise and says, 'Mary, why didn't you raise your hand?' 'Because I'm not a Rangers fan,' she replied. The teacher, still shocked, asked, 'Well, if you are not a Rangers fan, then who are you a fan of?' 'I am an Inverness Caleythistle fan, and proud of it,' Mary replied. The teacher could not believe her ears. 'Mary, why, pray tell, are you not a Rangers fan?' 'Because my mum is a Caley fan, and my dad is a Caley fan, so I'm a Caley fan too!' 'Well,' said the teacher in an obviously annoyed tone, 'that is no reason for you to be a Caley fan. Look Mary, you don't have to be just like your parents all of the time.. What if your mum was a prostitute and your dad was a drug addict, what would you be then?' 'Then Miss,' Mary smiled, 'I'd be a Rangers fan too.

I saw a young 15 year old make history last night as the youngest player ever to play in England, or youngest since they stopped putting children up chimneys. So his manager must take the view that if they are good enough, why not. It is interesting to watch how Arsenal have not taken this view but have introduced their young jewel much slower into the first team. I suppose it depends on the physical make up of our lad as you do not want him injured/burnt out due to an early introduction to the first team but a taste as a late sub could allow CB to assess his potential at that level.

You have a better memories than me but you are correct it was Stuart's and they also had waitresses with the black clothes and the white aprons. Great spot looking down 'people watching' always lots of movement as there were bus stops outside the Station hotel, now the bar. One bus went up to Raigmore Hospital but I can't remember where the other went. Incidentally, the hotel balcony above where the bus stop was, looking across at Grant's the furniture store, was where Queen Salotte(?)- the reigning Queen of Tonga - came out and waved to us all when she was in the UK for the Coronation. She was a BIG BIG girl with a big big .......... personality and Emundo Ross, the leader of the best Latin American band in the UK, was so taken with her that he made up a song about her.

I do think that had Ian signed for a central belt team, he would be in the Scotland setup. As per the Dodds thinking, nothing very much that is good happens up here with our team, however that is a blessing in disguise as we may hold him for a wee while yet. He is, imo, destined for a bigger stage once his apprenticeship is over. Brew took him to task and we can see the difference on the park, he still goes in like a terrier BUT walks away without protest. It was this protest that made the referees take action in a lot of cases in the past . He may have walked away from a foul, but not without miscalling the ref, his next foul was followed by a card. Referees are only human and we would all do the same if some little s..t gave us a hard time and we had the opportunity to shut them up. Those days are gone. Ian is almost the end product now and it will not be long before the big boys come calling and he will get the recognition he deserves, however, as we need the cashflow, we have to be realistic and hope that we can fill his position from within or by good scouting/signing from without, so that we do not lose too much skill by his waygoing.

I am a Rossco fan and, as I have stated on here in the past, it is the other team members that should be covering for him if he is assisting the attack and this does not always happen unless Wilson is on the park. I did notice on Saturday however that he was even adding his presence to the left midfield at one point and, as my viewing position meant that I was able to look past him at CB on the line, he,CB, was not yelling at him to return to the right side and this did surprise me. Maybe he was man marking the stand side linesman! I accept that we have competition for his place but as of now he is the best we have and indeed as has been mentioned above, he is in the firing line of many postings looking for an easy target, if things go wrong.

Was it not a more 'industrial' ironmongers - I seem to remember that they also did tinsmith work, angleiron welding to make frames and key cutting (before keycutting became part of the shoemakers trade!) Across the road from them was the outside stair that took you up to (??) the restaurant that sat above the curved shop looking down Academy Street or maybe even up to the Carlton lounge/dining room. I was in both of those establishments but do not remember going up that outside steps, maybe the forerunner of Health and Safety was not too happy with tipsy folk sliding down the bannister and closed it.

NO! The Staff Sergeant cap was always worn straight ! Well, that's me returned back home after the weekend in the Sneck - Centenary Dinner for the Famous Forth in Lochardal Hotel on Saturday night and Church Parade, from the hall to the Kirk, in the morning. Not many caps, or anything else, on straight at the end of Saturday night Jock - good company, many stories(you were mentioned at our table Jock, but don't get excited so was Annie Bo Bo and Half Loaf) The only problem was that they were all getting older except me! I did not realise the stalward Peter Home is for the Forth - he has been in the company for 62 of the 100 years Lifeboy at 5 and Captain for the last 40 years. He was saying that 3 Captains covered 96(ish) of the 100 years, with himself and Willie MacLeod covering the bulk of that time. I think there was circa 75 at the Dinner and about the same amount at the Church Parade. Now for the bit for Charles, yes, when I was in the BB we had a large influx from Culcabock, in fact we made up almost 10% of the dinner and parade number BUT 66% of the table was from - I know you said it Charles - South Drive, North Drive, Thornbush Road etc, so mentally I had to eat humble pie along with my sirloin steak! They were the best table companions we could have ever had and they proceeded to entertain us with Ferry stories that had us laughing throughout the evening, it was another way of life down there for a youngster! Many photos were taken and if I get a chance I'll see if we can show a few mug shots of your peers, from your earlier days! In fact that is something that 'young' Bannerman could do for us since he is up in Inverness and the photos are up there too and he will have all the know-how,...... just for all his cheek about the Forth! I do have a Centenary Booklet with photos from bygone days in it, including the one above with your straight cap and if I had an address I would send it to you as I feel sure it would bring memories rushing back

Really? I can't see that myself but if you've seen the thread fair enough. I wouldn't have thought that Brewster would be the name the Aberdeen fans would want there although I am sure they hold him in high regard for his job at Yinited Have not seen it myself but it was the result of a phone call from an Ultra and I have now phoned a golfing chum and he confirmed it BUT it was only stupid talk from a stupid poster! Anyway this lighthearted posting of mine took a funny turn as I was returning from a late lunch just now. My next door hairdresser, a bit like Digger of old, likes to know a'thin, as they say here - came out of the reception area to tell me that ''Your boy is comin' doon here, JC is oot'' I would imagine the original source could also have been that nonsense posting - what is it they say? - repeat a thing often enough and it becomes a fact. In fact I notice on here that it also works - 'CB has lost the dressing room' 'Unrest in the dressing room' 'Unhappy players in the dressing room' - Guess what? CB has a problem in the dressing room or maybe he hasn't and it is one big windup.

Rig, I am told it is on the Red Ultras site

Now it is not difficult, trawling through this threads, to realise that our manager does not enjoy the support of a number of contributors and at this point I am being kind, using enjoy. Well, I have just been informed that a solution has been found for the contributors, above mentioned - the disillusioned Dons fans want to replace Jimmy with BREW! Yes, I know it is only a few Dons fans overreacting but I would like to think that it is only a few ICT fans as well. So maybe (fantasy land) we will have the pocket billiard playing Jimmy and they will have our Craig and this will keep some happy and then.....it will start all over again!

I am NOT pro Brewster but I find the logic of anti Brewster statements or to be more precise the PELE return brigade in place of Brewster, to be difficult to fathom. Take the following two statements from the same person Caley D ''Whenever I start to lose faith in McAllister I just go along and watch the reserves and watch as he performs brilliantly and I go back to having that little bit of hope/faith that he will come good in the first team squad.'' ''.........or what Paterson did when he went to Aberdeen and I'd take either of those guys back in a flash. '' It would appear from the above statement that - Rory is not cut out for SPL football - at this time - a point I would agree with. However I would also make the point that, having watched his management in action in Aberdeen, Paterson is also unable to hack it in the SPL as his record shows. I have never heard/seen any Aberdeen supporter calling for his return. I feel that the passing of time must dull the senses and memories of ICT's rush into the SPL with all the good feeling that went with it, provide a belief in Paterson's managerial ability that does not stand up to scrutiny. If he was in any way as good a manager as is inferred on here he would be still in the SPL, managing some top club.... and, as for playing attractive football and not worrying about the results - go and tell that to the Falkirk fans!

I cannot see how any defender moving up the park does not leave a 'hole' in the defence unless...oh yes I've remembered, the manager has trained the rest of the team to move round into the 'hole' to provide cover. No, no, not Rossco he should go upfield, provide support, make assists AND be back in place at the same time to cover the 'hole' he left, according to the bulk of the 'supporters' on here.

As long as the players and their agents realise we are living in a different financial time, for paying players, now. Just look at Maybury, ex Aberdeen, half a dozen caps and no club just because he did not realise that times have changed or maybe he believed his agent that the grass was greener. I would hope that our players are sensible enough to see that 'a bird in the hand...etc.....'

The Divorced Barbie Doll One day a father gets out of work and on his way home he suddenly remembers that it's his daughter's birthday. He pulls over to a Toy Shop and asks the sales person, 'How much for one of those Barbie's in the display window?' The salesperson answers, 'Which one do you mean, Sir? We have: Work Out Barbie for ?19.95, Shopping Barbie for ?19.95, Beach Barbie for ?19.95, Disco Barbie for ?19.95, Ballerina Barbie for ?19.95, Astronaut Barbie for ?19.95, Skater Barbie for ?19.95, and Divorced Barbie for ?265.95'. The amazed father asks: 'It 's what?! Why is the Divorced Barbie ?265.95 and the others only ?19.95?' The annoyed salesperson rolls her eyes, sighs, and answers: 'Sir..., Divorced Barbie comes with: Ken's Car, Ken's House, Ken's Boat, Ken's Furniture, Ken's Computer, one of Ken's Friends, and a key chain made with Ken's balls

Will try. Here I am thinking you were both knee deep in 4th memories all this time!

If I am reading your contribution correctly, you are excusing a half hearted performance by our players. It is not half hearted money that is being payed by adults with children to come and see the game, it is not half hearted drivers that travel for many miles to get into the park and it is half hearted attitudes that will drive people off the seats never to return!! If the players cannot play in a position allocated to them by their manager why do they put on the jersey? Playing a game we all love AND getting good money for it and then being half hearted!! If that is the case better rid - they are a bad influence on the young players. It is not asking a player to change 'trades' - he is still on the field of play carrying out his role and every week, in the English Premier League, we see players playing a role that is alien to them, without any half heartedness and they could have a price tag on them that would buy all the playing staff in ICT - we are too wee to have prima donnas playing for us who feel they are better at tactics than their manager!!

Can he not see... He needs men in where he has boys.. Munro will add strength and backbone to the defense and Esson will provide the maturity, not only in his goalkeeping but he will command the defense in front of him and will also build up the attack from his distribution of the ball. The confidence that can flow through a team if they are aware that the back is solid, allows the midfield to concentrate more on attack, instead of looking over their shoulder in case they are required to carry out defensive duties. If Brew does not see that, then I don't know what he is looking for. Perhaps Munro is not yet fit, perhaps Fraser has not had the mare of a game that warrants a move onto the subs bench but, I would contend, the end result of giving away goals does require addressing and quickly.

My memory is not that good either and it was late last night when I saw the highlights. The non rossco one! But he could also have been one of the culprits for the other one, as all the defenders appeared to be in a shambles when the ball came over. I take your point about the half way line in my rant but I was trying to emphasis his inability to be involved with the final marking if he was stuck out on the wing. Finally, I am a Gemini and we are allowed to exaggerate - so whats a few yards in a rant.

Now I only saw the Santanta highlights BUT Rossco - he passed the ball, from well within the opposition half, where he was obviously assisting the attack, to gain us the penalty,so this lambasted player did nothing of merit??? The winger skinned him on the half way line and left him for dead - now that's a new trick - I have never seen a winger beating a back for speed before - like only every game I have ever watched! Now the resultant cross passed across the rest of the defense, was missed kicked at right angles by Hamilton and then tapped in - BUT only Rossco, way out on the wing, was at fault! AYE RIGHT!! The defense was a shambles and at no time during this passage of play attacked the ball or moved to block the shot. Duff - load as much praise as you want onto the young lad but he was at fault 100% for the 2nd goal - he lost out on the duel for the ball and we payed the penalty - far too weak! Munro would have hoofed it out of the danger zone, one way or another.