absent friend

OK - Cards on the table ....I am an ICT fan .. full stop! I feel that the above comments are very harsh and indeed I went onto the historical sites to offer some support to the management team .. I'm afraid there is little facts to back up Terry's ability to get the best out of HIS players this year. We have little money and are remote from the footballing hub and this makes us THE candidate to be relegated every year and we, so far, have nearly always defied the pundits!l. This year is reflective of our expected position, league struggler. We get a new manager and he does what?? Move Inverness into Central Scotland? Pay big wages to super players from a gate of circa 3000 every fortnight? Take on the current squad and improve their playing ability? A big ask for any manager and especially for one willing to come away up here on limited resources. I think this is a bad year for our Tel... his professional pride, I hope, is hurt and already he is making plans for next year with a brilliant start to the new season. Maybe I am dreaming and Terry has limited management skills but taking on board his all round results - I vote ... PLEASE STAY and, like this year, keep my wee team once again in the top league!!

Alex, I can imagine Fergie reading your above thoughts on management and scratching his head, followed by (Artistic licence) "Beckam, get your arse in here ... you're for off son. Too big for your boots and that wife of yours gives me the 'heebie gebbies'! Bye!" Each to their own when managing as each person is different - thank God!

It is obvious from most postings above that the answer to ICT staying in the lower reaches of the SPL rather than top six is ..... Mr Munro. You know the one that plays in the SFL, great defender and wonderful attacker - through the middle or wing play - just magic!! Dream on folks!! Grantie is a super team player but if he is/was as good as you make out he would be playing not up with the tinkies, or the Old Firm BUT in the EPL along with Davis. I think the offerings above is a matter of Highland hearts ruling Highland heads. Now Butcher . . my biggest disappointment with him was after this last game. He should learn from the real touchline pros like Fergie/Moyes and Co ... NEVER NAME NAMES IN PUBLIC! A BIG sign of weak management! Compare this to the dying managerial days of Calderwood at Aberdeen and see how this trait of naming players in the press, was resorted to, prior to his 'leaving'. An Aberdeen player who he named as not fit to wear the top was being heralded, by him, as the teams' saviour the following week! Butcher will either have to do this (eat humble pie) or have the players he named sit it out in the next games or end up with egg on his managerial face as they are all named on his next team sheets! Of course Butcher is the man for the job, we cannot get better, even if he makes mistakes, BUT he will have to man up and say his piece away from the press.

I have no doubts we have to rebuild this summer. We have a goals for/against stat that is NOT ICT!! Last year 52/44 this year already after 31 matches 34/50 (projected 42/61 after 38 games) Whilst we are down on the goals scoring front, the rebuilding MUST come from the back. We have a super goalkeeper so the problem is right in the area our management excelled in!! Don't give me Grant was so good we could not replace him, rubbish - he is in a lower division now and should be able to hold his own in there after all his time in the SPL and he has gone. A passing thought on Grant, would you swap him for the current player holding down his position? Anyway, players are just players until they are taught the finer arts of the game and then they become artists. Why are our defenders only players?? We have the best coaches - well, the best players to play in that position, as coaches - so what is the problem? Inability to teach? Players inability to retain knowledge? Players inability to put the training into practice on the day? Whatever it is, we need to revert to what we were doing correctly in the past, defending well and this will give the forwards a platform for launching attacks. Our need is three fold, coaches to get a grip of the defence, a true midfielder, happy with the ball at his feet and good use of wing men to supply our forwards. Simple!

Well Gringo, I was at the match and have just watched it again on TV and I have no idea where Mr Calderwood gets his opinions from! I think he must read the nonsense posted on here at times! Proctor was, along with every ICT player, a hero out on that park. If we cannot be proud of our team after that 'backs to the wall' defending, then something is very wrong with our support. Back in the Bon Accord GC after the match, the admiration for the ICT performance being expressed by the Dons supporters underlined the fact that we played so,so well. Forget Jimmy C, have a look yourself at Proctor and co and be proud of their collective display. At this point I would like to be able to say .. just look at Rossco, Tade or Golobart BUT it is unfair to single out any individual player after that team performance. It was a Calderwood quote not mine. Gringo, you will see that I acknowledged this in my offering.

Well Gringo, I was at the match and have just watched it again on TV and I have no idea where Mr Calderwood gets his opinions from! I think he must read the nonsense posted on here at times! Proctor was, along with every ICT player, a hero out on that park. If we cannot be proud of our team after that 'backs to the wall' defending, then something is very wrong with our support. Back in the Bon Accord GC after the match, the admiration for the ICT performance being expressed by the Dons supporters underlined the fact that we played so,so well. Forget Jimmy C, have a look yourself at Proctor and co and be proud of their collective display. At this point I would like to be able to say .. just look at Rossco, Tade or Golobart BUT it is unfair to single out any individual player after that team performance.

I watched the football debate last night and the way forward was .... play football on the deck and have a team of home grown players BUT be prepared to enjoy the football skills of your team when they lose the game to less talented players as winning is NOT the prime factor, entertainment is.

Isn't it wonderful how a keyboard allows such insight into football management?? I wonder why the club do not purchase, for Terry, the keyboards of Sonam and his backers - let's be fair Sonam and Co are at every training session, advising the physio on the progress of the players on his couch and are so aware of the match fitness, physically and mentally, of all the players? He, with his new keyboard, can also 'magic' a few wizards from Chelsea, Man U or maybe even the Arsenal boy making a scoring name for himself at the moment. Funding? That will come from the keyboard spectators who will rush to the park every week when van Persie arrives. Now, wait, something else is missing? I know the keyboard fly past of the red arrows every time we score a goal. A little team, in a little town, in a faraway place, with very little support who, if you believe the keyboard wizards, are a BIG team, in a BIG town,In the heart of where it matters and have the potential to draw in thousands more into the park. Sonam and co, get your head down on your magic keyboard and .... dream on!!

Is it not also the case that SKY salespeople are hitting their sales targets and therefore more and more past/prospective fans are able to sit in the comfort of their home as an option? Early kick off, adverse weather, make the most of £52 per month Sky payment, may all have taken their toll on the numbers at the match. How to overcome it? Manage expectations - we are a wee club with a wee fan base and are performing like it some games and like world beaters the next - this is part of the romance (not a bad word for the 14th Feb eh!) of supporting this club. Expect great play from them each week? Stand back and wonder why they are up here in the Highlands plying their trade instead of the English lower reaches where they would be paid a darned site more. We are what we are ... magic, crap but always, always surprising!! Not a bad reason to support them!!

Don, I accept your point BUT all the media have used the fact that JH got up and ran immediately after the tackle as PROOF that it was not a red card! Lie down like a wounded soldier and you are more deserving of an award than if you play fair and try to play on. Seems strange to me!

It is so strange how we all view the same game in a different way. I only watched it in Alba and I accept you normally miss players running off the ball on TV but the Alba camera was so far from the action that the full park was covered and any runs were seen. Mind you, it was difficult to see any runs from the team on Saturday or any constructive football, the little we saw of this came from the opposition, we were just what we are... a bottom of the league struggling side. I am normally a very positive ICT supporter but there is a lack of fight, imagination or construction about our play. It looked as if the heads were down even after we scored and that included Jonny Hayes after his wonderful shot. As others have stated .. hearts in the mouths every time the ball came towards our 18 yard box. It is not that long ago when no team and I mean no team, troubled our defence in the latter stages of a game. We looked as if we could play another 90 minutes back then - now? we run out of steam at 40 minutes and hang on from the 80th to the finish.. if we are lucky. Very disappointed but we did get the points.

Against a move Cost of buyout of new contract. (Maybe clause in contract allowing him freedom for reduced amount) Leaving adopted 'home' For a move Bigger club Bigger support Better catchment area for attracting players Support have more loyalty to manager than ICT fans offer ('Sack him' one week - 'magic manager' the next) Hibs post will offer a better platform for 'moving on up' within the game

I also think that this is a positive move by the club BUT for a different reason to most posters on here. We are now entering a more positive phase for ICT, both in players returning after injury and the calibre of the games we are about to face. This could see us propelled up the league and sitting in the attention area for any club board wishing to change their manager. Should this scenerio come about and the money offered attracts him/them, ICT could, due to this extension of the contract, perhaps enjoy a greater financial reward for being forward thinking. Maybe, just maybe, this is a win win situation all round.

I do not feel that TB has to justify himself to any fan! Some changes to our settled squad were for cash, some to strengthen the squad and some to reduce the payroll and yes, our current first team is not TB's current first team choice due to injury, however to state that this is an EXCUSE when it is an obvious FACT, disappoints me! Could it be that we are reaping the harvest we should expect being such a wee club, so far from the central belt and the pundits favourite to go down this year. What top class players can we attract? Perhaps TB should be applauded for doing what he is doing with the players he has but that is not the way of the ICT fan ... they want to shake their heads or ask for an apology or offer a veiled threat 'other fans would be calling for his head' Well here is one fan who is aware that the reduction of money on offer is reflected in the play on the park, for all teams in the SPL. It may be that our manager will create a much better team by managing/training the current squad but I don't see a large ability gap between us and the current fifth place team.

Our management team of course could not wait, like you can, to make a decision BUT no doubt if they are wrong the same pundits that are waiting to pass judgement will offer "I knew that when we signed them!"

Not at the match so cannot comment on our play but I do feel I have a right to comment on the thread content! I always thought that the Ugly Sisters had the most fickle fans, followed by the Dons fans BUT we are top of the league for this. I am almost ashamed to be part of this thread with all the attack on, what I believe to be, one of the best managers in the SPL. It was only a little while ago that 'McCoist failure at Ibrox will usher TB into their hot seat' was being spoken about on this Forum, with a 'woe is us if he goes'. Now ... he is rubbish and we will be well rid of him .. in fact we are so damned important as a team that there is queues, miles long, of better managers waiting to take his seat and lead us into Europe!! Wake up, we are a wee team, playing with players earning wee wages who, if they were any good, would be playing for a club paying them twice as much. It is our ability to play as a team, with the aid of our managers enthusism, that allows us to punch above our weight and to undermine that enthusism with all the crap on here is sad. If I were Terry and ventured onto this site I would be looking elsewhere for employment and thinking ... folk from the Highlands have no loyalty.

Well, for the record, I was at the game on Saturday and I do think Golobart will be a very good player for us. Yes, he was possibly played too early but this can only be known AFTER the event. His wanting time on the ball was not a fault but was due to the lack of movement by his others players and you only have to think of the normal situation that unfolds when we have to take a throw-in, to realise that running off their marker is not an ICT players natural trait, therefore leaving our new defender exposed. This however is why I feel he will be good for us, finding players with passes to create a decent attacking move as opposed to the normal thump upfield that rebound straight back again. Once our players get used to the fact that they will not have to 'fight' for the ball, feed off knock downs by Foran, but will be able to collect a well weighted pass and build up the move from there, this will have them speeding out onto their wings, beating their men, a well placed cross and a tap into the net!! SO EASY! I wish. Our passing, especially from midfield was schoolboy style and that is possibly unfair on the schoolboys. This passing has to be addressed if we are to move up the league but I also feel that the players are lacking in self belief and this is not helping. Lastly, Rossco was a big miss on Saturday and all the Rossco knockers should have been there to see the lack of presence in defence. Result correct? I think so. Down hearted? The fact that it has taken me until Tuesday lunchtime to attack the keyboard, says it all. I was down hearted but on reflection, I saw enough plus points that I have hope for the longer term.

Maybe Smee is not having the best of times at the moment,Don. I see a wee bit more understanding from the Murchison offering and I do accept that the stance does appear to be fluid, to put it mildly.

Just Pure Magic!! Thanks for all the research, time and effort put into this ... the Aberdeen Press are made to look second rate in comparison to your offering!

I read so many offerings stating that we were not in it!! If this be the case ... why did it take two 'iffy' penalties to beat us??? If the score was 5-0 I would accept 'we are rubbish' offerings BUT maybe you are all saying 'we are rubbish' and maybe you also feel that Rangers were as well!! I, for one, have high hopes for a good result at Aberdeen .. even if you call my team RUBBISH!!

Well Dougal, to put the word DUD against any of Terry's signings brings your footballing views into question, in my book! A DUD after watching one game and that on TV where you can only see what the cameras allow you to see! However you obviously have great footballing insight when your 'knowledge' comes straight onto this forum from the numpties on P & B!!

Rig, I found it strange that the studio reason for not giving the Tade penalty was....'he got up and got on with the game, so it could not have been a penalty'!! Now you get a yellow card for diving so maybe Tade should get a GREEN DOT.

I see many comments on Proctor as the 'problem puppy' at the back but having watched the highlights and I accept the highlights ONLY ... number 20 is the player who appears too timid to throw himself into the tackle. Aldred may be new but he needs to show willing and get stuck in for the team. In Rossco we have a player who at times we wish would be less hasty to get stuck in but I hope Aldred is not going to be a player that stands aside and lets the forwards do their best! The Game?? We were beaten by a team with lots of speed, appetite and control, with a plan that worked. ICT?? Reserve judgement.. but some signs were OK.

Due to the content of some of the offerings on here, I went to the Rumour Mill to check out the content of the Rossco thread thereon and HEY!! Maybe IHE could arrange to get Happy Pills to some of the 'fans' as it would appear that we have a lot of 'trouble at mill'! The source for all statements is probably as well founded as their Rossco offerings... their belief in our leader is so weak poor Terry is tried, found guilty and sentenced AND HE HAS NOT EVEN ISSUED ANY DETAILS OF HIS TARGETS YET!! To again quote Mr IHE ... Muppets!

Hi Scotty, I would agree that at no time have you used the term 'muppet' re the board and indeed, if you re-read my contribution, you will note that I only attributed the last of the endearing statements to your goodself! Whilst hindsight regarding and drawing a line under, the affair, will no doubt offer wisdom, I do feel the Board need their moment of 'I telt you so!' If my memory serves me correctly, they had very few backers on this forum when the heat was on. As for the cash, it could have been in both the lawyers and MN's pockets had we lost. It is strange to see ICT support not cheering on a win, even in the court.