davie

Again.

Banter. Get on with it (except Adams. What a sanctimonious walloper)

Let's get back to the OP's observations, because they seem to have provoked a bit of a sh*tstorm. There does seem to have been an increased police presence at the home end on tuesday (the difference from home/ away in terms of hi-vis jackets was noticeable) and this had nothing to do with the Club. as CD says, it is the police who dictate the terms of their operation to the club, not the other way round. It's clear that the increased security was made on assumptions about the likelihood of a repeat of chucking smoke bombs or fans getting onto the pitch. As it turns out, those assumptions were wrong although the police would no doubt contend that their actions potentially prevented any disorder. What is clear is that the club could have faced sanctions over the smoke bomb at the start of the Dingwall game as it caused the start of a broadcast event (which is subject to a contract) being delayed. Just as well it was the BBC with no advert breaks to schedule. Fans on the pitch is just a massive no no, we used to have fences to prevent that sort of thing and we don't want them back. So the causes of the increased police presence were our own fault and we need to just accept that, move on and keep supporting the team. Another matter altogether lies around fans being filmed (I personally find it disturbing that the police can film me, without my consent, without any reasonable suspicion attached to my actions. This is at least the 4th time that I can think of that this has happened at TCS, so it's not a training/ readiness thing. It's intelligence gathering. If you don't like that, ask the police why they did it through a freedom of information inquiry and take the matter up with your MP. I have. In terms of being asked or warned (as some have put it) that any chants about gypsies would be rewarded with a night in the cells, it is curious that the match recording clearly has County fans singing about rather being gypsies than tinks. How you would then enforce calling something racist or dicriminatory when those subjected to the songs were singing the same thing (and clearly accepting the name) is beyond me. The match commander (the senior police officer present) needs to brief his officers properly and unequivocally about their approach to enforcing certain laws and I would bet that, because this relatively new law is as yet unclear and untested he would find it difficult. It's a question of context. What we do all need to keep in mind is the good name of ICT and it's supporters and do everything that we can to preserve it. Does anyone think that a couple of "fan ambassadors" attached to this section of the crowd, who could liaise between security/ police and fans in a non confrontational way be useful? I would also say that, if the matchday experience is diminished for fans because of this stuff, get CaleyJagsTogether to seek a response on your behalf from the club. police or security company. It's what CJT is there for. Sorry about the length of this post.

understood that perfectly heilandee. must be the upbringing or something, eh dinna ken. BTW if you still need info about the sports bar, get in touch with Peter McCallum at the stadium ( although CD might have sorted you by now)

Yep, there will be.

I'll get Auldie to send him the tapes. It's the same ref, so I imagine he'll be dead chuffed to be called incompetent and then told what to do. Derek, yer an eejit.

TerryMo, it's something that the club and supporters groups (not just at ICT) have though about long and hard this year. Our attendances, like every other club in the SPL, have been hit hard by the fact that there's a recession on and money is tight. The latest SPL figures show an average league attendance of 4032 for this season and these are at the bottom end of the scale. However, they are not way out so it doesn't appear that there is something unique about us ( St Johnstone, C*unty and St Mirren are much and such) so outside of the main population centres there's a definite loss of attendances. Forget the stuff about the Rangers, that's a smokescreen and has made no difference at all to our overall crowds this year. Forget the stuff about the SPL being boring and substandard - we certainly can't subscribe to that this year! Away supports seem to have suffered greatly this year as well, so what evidence there is points to finances being the problem. So what can we do? The club can (and will) subsidise admission prices in an effort to get people in (£15 for the replay). Caley Jags Together will bang the drum and continue to fundraise and work our a*ses off in support of the club. The players and staff deliver a really cracking product week in, week out. We will continue to raise our media profile so that more and more people know about ICT and how good we are this year. So we do what we can, and will continue to do so but we need individuals to make the decision to come to TCS. We need you to persuade your partner, your mates, your neighbour to come along. We can't do that for you. My real fear is that we reach a point where the players who have reached historic highs for this club decide that their stock is sufficiently raised to go to places where bigger and noisier crowds will value and encourage them, and that would be a real shame. The solution is in the hands of the fans - and now they need to step up to the plate.

Scotty, I don't know. I thought he was singularly talentless. Who's dogs are they anyway?

I'll plug the podcast as well here! It's been really unfortunate for Simon King, but him being injured has given Josh Meekings a real shot at a partnership with Gary Warren and he has delivered. I also think he's learned more off Warren in three months that either Munro or Tokely could have taught him in three years. People also forget - he's only 20! When he matures, he could be a defensive rock at this (or any other) club for years. He's already proved beyond doubt that ipswich were mad to let him go, and I wonder what else he's got to prove?

Ritchie Foran's nose.

Gazebo. It would fit in my garden and look just as ridiculuous.

It's a certainty that the club will be fined for the first smoke bomb, because it held up kick off. I can see why you'se wanted to do it, but please - no repeats, it will only cost us.

Can't blame them, it's the only way Charlie Greens getting his money back.

Elbowed, kicked and pummelled his way through the game and was booed by better than me. Matter closed.

What a game! I'm glad we don't have to interview Adams every week - I'd jump off a bridge. Foran's goal- Tokes has both arms on Foran when the pass is made, so how can he be offside? Brittain's goal, NEVER a free kick against raven for the chance in the first place. Also, Craig Thomson said that the extra time that was added was because the "Ross County player celebrating the goal left the field of play and 30 seconds was added on. Hubris? Definately.

I agree it's a big game, it keeps our hopes of the treble well and truly alive, after all only Celtic and us can realistically do it!

Dougal, I've read your posts and alex's posts and I can't see where Alex is being either medieval or, as you term it, wrong. Your continual telling of half truths, innuendo and just plain rubbish is tiresome. Take it somewhere else.

Listen up here. Ross Tokely is a professional. He will play to 100% for any team that pays his wages. He knew that he wasn't going to get another season at ICT except as a squad player, then saw an opportunity to get another pay day and squeeze another season out of the dregs of his career without uprooting or dropping (arguable ) standards. Of course he couldn't do that wihout blaming ICT because he knew damn well how it would be recieved, like your wife going off to shack up with the next door neighbour (for those of you that insist on romanticising the issue) What do you expect. - to be welcomed back with open arms? I am completely indifferent to Ross Tokely.

Well done boys. From the main stand, that wee away section looked bouncing and was certainly the place to be. I thought Phil Roberts was good in the first half, and we miss the width he gives the team when he's not there. Of course he doesn't have the steel that Draper has, but he's not that kind of player. Also thought that he found the ploughed bits that Tonga had created whilst pummelling Scotland down his wing didnae help. It would, a la Butcher, be unfair to single out anyone, but Tony Reguero was immense, especially after his injury. Roll on Saturday in what could become THE week of this or any other season. My "buddy" mate in the office tells me that County were "tedious" in their game, so it's on, it really is.

Manfer, I'll build a catapult. That'll do it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now fully subscribed for this match, so applications are closed. The fan squad, sponsored by The Castle Tavern, is: Jamie Fraser, Davie Brown, Paul Johnstone, Ross Paterson, Dominic Thomson, Lewis Kellacher, Struan Balfour, Alan Mair, Rob Wilson (captain) Jack Davis, Colin Clelland, Michael Martin, Iain McCallum, Davie Balfour and a special guest. The Legends squad, managed by Mike Noble is: Jim Calder, Alan Hercher, Charlie Christie (captain) Daisy Ross, Colin Mitchell, Bruce McCraw, Mike Sanderson, Barry Wilson, John Robertson, Ross Jack, Mo MacMillan, Steve Mitchell, Graham Bayne, Danny MacDonald, Dean Bowern and David Bingham. The match will kick off at 1:30, and we would love to see you at the game, so come along and cheer on your heroes of yesteryear and get a good laugh at the fans who try to match them. Entry is by donation, and all of the proceeds from this game will go directly to Caley Thistle through Caley Jags Together, improving facilities for the players and fans. Whatever you contribute will make a real difference on and off the pitch, so come along and give us your support, have a pie and a pint and join in the fun. Caley Jags Together are also looking for some volunteers to help on the day and if you can help, give Davie a shout (PM me here, or call 07884 224423, or e-mail [email protected]. Now, where did I put these boots......

That's an interesting response all round. Aye, you are right about the smoking - I couldn't see or breathe at half time when I went for a p*sh. How I missed my shoes I don't know. Standing, aye that was OK as well but they were feckin hefty with anyone they decided was going out. I never bothered with humour (or intelligence for that matter!)

Just be careful lads. Was at the C*unty game on saturday in the away end with relatives and SSN and updates by text :( The stewardry was, to say the least "challenging" and there appeared to be a willingness for them to instigate problems rather than deal with them. as an illustration, saw one steward ejecting someone with his arm twisted up his back to restrain him. Steward claimed to definitely have "delegated power of arrest" and was adamant he could use force. It wasn't isolated and there was a definite atmosphere. Please do not allow this sort of thing to happen on saturday. If you have to be polite to a fault, obey their instructions and do not get caught up in it. You know it makes sense.

Its no often I'm speechless

Was at Dingwall with the arab supporting family, and chose a cracker of a CaleyJags game to miss :( Never mind, had the ICT shirt on, patted the badge when United scored and when chalkie texted me at full time in the Mallard. Happy wee mongrel the night!