dougal

Unfortunately it's just another example of how this City fails to support ICT.

A couple of questions to ponder

1 Do you think Edinburgh would fully embrace a merged Hibs/Hearts side?

2 Do you think Dundee would fully embrace a merged Dundee/Utd side?

I deliberately never included the old firm because that would be too ridiculous to even consider

No matter where you go in the world the answer is the same

The city of Inverness may well fully support ICT at some point in the future but it won't be in our generation sadly

Dougal

Every ICT fan no matter where they are in the world should make the extra effort to attend this one seeing it's the first ever SPL highland derby

Yes the game is being shown live to a world wide audience via satellite tv but I'm genuinely worried that we will see a half full north and main stand

Let's not beat about the bush here had the game been in Dingwall it would already have been a sell out weeks ago

There is a real opportunity that these Highland Derbies could be shown live on a regular basis but I have my doubts ESPN will be back if there are scenes of mass empty seats

Dougal

A couple of catchy numbers that should appeal to all the farmers amongst the away hordes but also the IHE lookalikes

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=tb63PdPweDc

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=DFyg739E2Tw

Dougal

Can safely say that was the first home game I've found thoroughly entertaining in the last few years, a real transformation and it sets us up nicely for friday night

Huge performance from Foran, take a bow son although I can't think of any home player who can be criticised the night as it was an all round solid team performance

Have to say if I was a United fan though I'd be pretty worried tonight as something really seems to have gone wrong at Tannadice as they look a shadow of the team that they were the last season or two

Finally don't really want to put a downer on things but what about the attendance today a total embarrassment to be honest and it's very worrying how many punters are now staying away

Anyway roll on Friday night its going to be a cracker

Dougal

Meanwhile your typical Orc says

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=A2s1awtLdyI

Dougal

I can confirm it was 1-1. Webster for Dundee and Morrison for ICT. Enjoyed my afternoon sitting behind a friendly crowd of 'Lady Hooligans'.

That will be the nationally feared CCBC!!!! Caleyjags forever cake baking crew, let's hope they never left you a calling card or worse still one of their cupcakes

Dougal

Positive move in my opinion I've already said on more than one occasion that the club should be targeting primary schools with players appearances and freebie tickets etc as these youngsters are the fans for the future

Do find it a tad strange that they start with a school in Ross-shire though allbeit close to the stadium, why not Inverness???

Ok there's some areas like Dalneigh,Merkinch,Kinmylies,Hilton,Drakies etc that would probably be a wasted exercise but there are other areas within the city where potential new fans could be unearthed

Anyway a very positive move by the club and good publicity even if it's only in the Ross-shire Journal

Dougal

Must admit I was surprised to see the red card appear at the time but after seeing it since on the highlights it was definitely more a red than a yellow

Don't think it was a malicious challenge by any means but it was badly mistimed, reckless and dangerous so I think the ref called it right

Same could be said about Forans tackle which in my opinion was worse as he had no intention in playing the ball.I'm all for getting stuck in and showing passion but he crossed the line on Saturday I'm afraid and the lack of discipline is a concern especially from the clubs captain

Despite Butcher whinging in the press again I'm not surprised that there won't be an appeal regarding Jones although I'm pretty sure the Dons could be successful regarding the Anderson challenge as he definitely played the ball

Dougal

I thought Dougal was going to the County games anyway. So I guess you'll be happy wherever you sit eh? ;)

I'll be sitting in the main stand now I know that home tickets are on sale and for your info I've only been to one County game this season and that was their opening game at home to Motherwell

I do find this breakdown of communication or lack of it quite concerning though regarding the sale of derby tickets

A bit of an early own goal for the newly merged caleyjagsforever but I can only hope they learn from this and make sure the fans are kept up to speed in future

My fear now due to county being so far ahead in ticket sales is that we will have a situation like we had when the orcs were in town ie a large number of away fans purchasing tickets in the home areas which could easily result in flash points

Let's just hope for once the dormant ICT fans make the effort again and snap up our tickets

Dougal

Are the home tickets even on sale yet?

I don't think so but that's why I think there maybe something in it.

Why would County have sold out their allocation already other than to ask for more tickets?

Dougal

Maybe someone in the know on here can confirm this or tell me a mate was trying to wind me up which I believe the latter I may add

Friday 4th October will be the biggest and most important Highland Derby to date, and if what I'm hearing is correct the peg seller fans will be housed in three of stands in our ground!!!

My mate has told me they have already sold out the away stand even at this early stage as all their season ticket holders 2500 have snapped up their allocation

Fair enough but he also claims they will also be allocated the uncovered wing of the main stand plus the stupid singing stand or whatever it was called

Surely there would be enough interest from ICT fans to prevent this from happening or is this reality and the need to sell tickets regardless to who sits in them a priority

Thoughts?

Dougal

C'mon do you roasters really think the ICT board voted regarding Sevco on the back of a handful of emails from cyber fans?????

I'm not usually one for siding with the board but I'm sure there was a lot more thought put into it than satisfying 30/40 odd anonymous fans that were threatening to not renew their season tickets

Get a grip

Dougal

One things for sure Terry will be in the frame to return to the Scottish International set up should Levein get the punt

Butcher as Scotland's Number1? Stranger things have happened in the past, you heard this exclusive here first

Dougal

Sounds like Levein is going to persevere with Kenny Miller tomorrow night leaving out the form men Rhodes and Mackie yet again

Miller in my opinion should no longer be in the squad never mind the starting eleven, the day he went to play in a diddy league should have been the day he retired from international football

Don't get me wrong Miller has scored important goals for his country in the past but that's where it should remain

Serbia will finish third in the group behind Croatia and Belgium and after the draw on Saturday it means we will now be battling it out for fourth place with Wales and Macedonia

Dougal

The Inverness public will never get behind ICT IMHO , doesn't matter what is tried .

Yeah sadly I think I probably agree with that, I've lived in various towns and cities over the years and I have never encountered so many punters who don't embrace or follow their local team

I'd go as far as saying I'd personally refrain from entering some licensed premises in the city wearing an ICT top for the fear of confrontation and animosity

If it wasn't for the mass influx of incomers to Inverness over the last 20 years I very much doubt the club would be still in the SPL today IMHO

In time I still think the fan base could grow but this will not happen overnight, the club need to be targeting primary schools/youth clubs etc in an attempt to educate the future generations of fans coming through as the current generation is sadly a lost cause

Dougal

Why are people comparing king and raven to Munro on Tokely based on a game against Celtic. It's bewildering they arnt full internationals.

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=305xoy0hKHw

Dougal

Ok I've had a full days drinking in me but I'll try and put this precisely and to the point

One thing that stands out for me is the lack of footballing abilities on show from that two clowns we have at the back Raven and King

Who exactly are they???? Even after ten pints I reckon I could pass the ball and put in a tackle better

I know it's early days for both of them and maybe in time they will improve as they adjust to the SPL but let's face reality they have taken a huge jump from non league football in England to the top flight in Scotland

I'm not going to dwell on the attendance but that must have been the first time ever when an away old firm support has outnumbered ICT fans judging by the number of empty seats in the main and north stands

Finally why does Terry feel the need to get into verbals with the punters in the main stand on a regular basis, not sure what was said today but he got pelters back from a sizeable number, very unprofessional no matter what

I can only hope this was a bad day at the office and I'm not going to judge everyone on what was my first ICT game of the season but I'm pretty concerned regarding our defence and lack of fight

Dougal

Very sad news as the voice of darts has passed away

One things for sure watching darts on SKY will never be the same again

http://news.sky.com/story/971611/voice-of-darts-sid-waddell-dies-aged-72

RIP Sid

Dougal

Butcher having words with those in the stand is becoming a fairly common occurrence. I know he is a passionate man but feel that someone at the club needs to tell him to stop with this. I know it must be frustrating for him with some off the stuff being shouted but I am afraid that's part of the managers job and he needs to rise above it.

Yeah I agree if not he'll find himself watching the games from the stands because of an SFA touchline ban

A wee clip from last weeks game in Paisley

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=gIe0mUHunsA

Dougal

What is wrong with a lot of folk on here! I agree that the attendance today was disappointing

The crowd yesterday was a bit low.

Ok we all know this forum has more than it's fair share of happy clappers but this was SELL OUT SATURDAY FFS

The attendance was not dissapointing or a bit low it was an absolute disgrace and downright embarrassing when the emphasis was to fill stadia across the land yesterday

3487 watched Partick v Falkirk in the league below us!!!! 4485 watched the Newco Orcs at Peterhead in div 3!!!

Whether we like it or not the vast majority of Invernessians are NOT ICT fans and if it was not for the influx of incomers settling into the city over the last two decades I fear our attendances would have been a lot worse

To be honest I think Caleyjagsforever have their work cut out but I wish them well on the journey ahead

Dougal

Instead of targeting solely Inverness which unfortunately has sadly failed in my opinion would it not be good practice for ICT to target the whole of the highlands and islands a bit like County have successfully done

I would contact every primary school in the highlands and islands and ask each headmaster/headmistress would they like ICT to send two first team squad members to take a one off football session for the kids and at the end dish out some ICT goodies

Get the kids involved at a very early stage and in time the fan base will grow

Dougal

I'm lucky enough to have obtained a copy of said publication

"Caley all the Way" is indeed a great read and if I was to compare it on a legendary status it would certainly be on par with the likes of "A Tale of Two Cities" by the one and only Charles Dickens

At the other end of the scale would be "Against All Odds" this I would compare to any Jackie Collins Hollywood novel or at a push Enid Blytons "Noddy and Big Ears"

Due to it's scarcity would it not be a good idea for CTO to get it online along with the Pub on the hill or whatever the Thistle book was called?..

Dougal

If they have indeed sold 3000 season tickets that is a quite remarkable achievement considering Dingwall has a population of 5500

Ok there is the novelty factor like Mr Mantis correctly points out but there is something far wrong when a side from a small town can shift more season tickets than a city team with a population of 70,000+

As the season pans out it will be very interesting to compare what fans both highland clubs get through the turnstiles

Dougal

Shock, horror. I've just received the first email of the season from our commercial folk with the hospitality offer for this game. In checking the itinerary I note that it is a 3pm kick off, on a Saturday. Not that I'm complaining as that arrangement always suits me better.

Is this the first time we have played Sellic at home at the traditional match time on a Saturday? Normally these are governed by the satellite tv company but it looks like they are not screening that game.

Great news in my opinion football at 3pm on Saturday is without doubt the best and most attractive time for fans

Football was much more enjoyable when you could plan your Saturday's ahead home and away with your mates without them being ruined by last minute day or time changes

Having said that It is quite concerning that SKY don't seem interested in coming north to televise it live, could well be a knock on effect from the Orcs now being in the SFL, my guess is they will now concentrate their live games this year nearer the central belt to cut costs

It will please IHE though as he will no doubt have more drinking time in the city with his type

Dougal

1.Celtic

2.Dundee Utd

3.Hearts

4.Motherwell

5.Aberdeen

6.St Mirren

7.St.Johnstone

8.Hibernian

9.Ross County

10.Kilmarnock

11.Inverness

12.Dundee

Dougal