absent friend

Thanks to both Don and Alex for allowed me an insight into this area. I always thought that the old firm had a guaranteed cut of the cake which I suppose they had - due to their 'guaranteed' league positions.

I do not know the size of the CAKE or how it is divided up BUT with Rangers no longer a member of the SPL is their large share now up for redistribution throughout the other clubs??

I tend to agree with the loss of 'team' spirit or loss of ICT spirit as a factor for next year. Look at Aberdeen who have more money, a higher SPL profile and I would submit, looking at last year a much better quality of player than we had, yet their fighting team spirit was never evident. I think this will always be the case when signing players on short term contracts/loans - 'here for the beer' comes to mind - UNLESS a manager can manage and mould, even a rag tag group of players into a team. That will be the managers job at ICT whoever he may be in this new footballing age. Our hope is that our current managers profile, especially in England, will land us some players who would not otherwise travel to this far off corner of GB and play for what they can only consider a bottom(ish) SPL league team but ICT better look out when he is traded in by malcontents for a Munro/ Rossco combo, as the new management team, attracting players from Huntly and Speyside if we are lucky.

I voted ... yes as I thought we were voting re Butcher but I see from the above voting comments it is the board we are casting a critical eye on, not the manager and in that case - I am not sure if the Boards hands are financially tied.

Well having read all 303 posts - my conclusion? I really hope that some of you subscribers are not called up for jury service!! It is wonderful how you are aware that he had his income reduced by 50% - his other half is in Inverness(instead of Aberdeen) - he fell out with the manager and a long rant about the managers mind set and then a degree of withdrawing this point and so many more. There is no doubt you folk are correct, you express it so often - TB to the gallows - guilty party, cannot manage our wee team. As they say in the best jury circles .......................... "Bring in the next victim!!"

So 'TB totally runs the ship' As this is the case I think his bar staff are requiring his input, too few when the pressure is on and don't get me started on his pie making skills. His inability to sell the corporate boxes should be addressed .. what is he doing with his time?. The car park is crap on match days - time he addressed this, it is not as if he is giving his team any advice. His handling of the grass cutters leave a lot to be desired, the stand side cutting is iffy! His ICT site members concerns need addressed - what right has he to ignore them and more so, our well informed contributors on this site talk so much sense, Terry. The players needs and tactics for next year are already in good hands if he just listens to the well qualified, reasoned, presentations on this site - easy peasy - we don't need a football manager at all. That wonderful player Munro, the one ALL the SPL clubs were fighting over when we released him, should be reinstated in the heart of our defence along side Rossco and their speed and ball distribution will bring instant success. Oh, should there remain a wee bit of concern re the tactics etc... it would appear from the above posts.. you should just watch the Tinks. ....they are so much better than us. Now the financial situation... I think Terry that you should set up as a NEWCO ... Inverness Thistle FC (2013) and get rid of all the moaning minnies on here at a stroke! Reclaim the high ground Terry, you know it makes sense, we did come from up the Hill, look once again down on the nerds as we always did and allow them to find their true home, over the bridge with their distant relatives. Oh, and yes you are at fault - the toilet cistern is also iffy and it is your fault!

Well, in my book Mr Starchief has got it spot on.

Reading the offerings on here one wonders if some fans would not have been a lot happier had we been relegated!! For Gods sake we are still in the SPL - we do not know the make up of our team for the new season so why assume the worst?? It would appear that highland negativity is alive and kicking in the ICT fans. "Every SPl team has signed world beaters except US" - "We have the only manager who cannot manage, we can do a better job" - "Our Board are a shower of muppets, they have no idea how to run a football club" - "No renewal of MY season ticket in case we do not play well" ICT fans, I salute you, you are the best in the SPL - not!!!

Now Sir Let's get the facts correct here! The Dons are off - they hope - to a new site .... to clear some of the large debt hanging over the club using the sale of their current site for housing!! It does not reflect their hope of attracting higher crowds. I can confirm, at first hand, the non-renewal of many season tickets for the coming season at Pittodrie. They could end up with a new ground, reduced crowds but a more balanced bank debt. Jonny, signing for the Dons, is a big mistake by his agent, taking a longer term view, as their cash restrictions mean he will be surrounded by players, in his new team, similar to ICT - brought in on loan on lower league hopefuls. You only have to look at Alouka, who blossomed when not surrounded by average or worse players once he arrived at Ibrox. Jonny could be another Alouka, dragged down by the overall teams performance, waiting for a bigger club to recognise his undoubted talent, whilst he endures pelters from the Dons 'fans' due to his 'large' paypacket. Has Pa Broon got a bigger 'pull' than our Terry when it comes to courting English lower league teams for players? I doubt it - so Jonny could be better here where he is at least appreciated by discerning fans!

HT:3-0 FT:6-1 1st ICT Tade: 1st Opp Rossco: Crowd: 2491 Joker!!

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!!

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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.

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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.

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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!!

HT:0-1 FT:1-3 1st ICT:TADE!!!!!!!!!! 1st Opp: Daley Crowd:4941

HT:0-1 FT:1-3 1st ICT:Tade 1st Opp:Kirk Crowd:2941