dougal

The question I ask myself but many seem to hide away, where were these so called investors when they were so badly needed around 1994?

Does the phrase "Glory Hunters" apply in this scenario I wonder?

Dougal

Weather doesn't look that appealing this morning but I hope Invernessians come out in force to support one of our own

I will be there and I hope everyone makes the effort as this club will always need players like Grant Munro a true Caley man in every sense

Dougal

Without doubt Butcher has taken the club back the way ,whether some of us like it or not we are getting very close to the days when Brewster got his marching orders

Think it's very unfair on some fans to label all the blame on Terry though what about Malpas? What does this guy actually do or bring to the club?

It won't happen but Terry should issue a public apology to the fans via the press or on here

1 Apologise for the amount of mediocre or pish journeymen that he persists in taking to ICT, ok there has been a couple of exceptions but the majority are and were complete rubbish

2 Apologise for the style of play or the lack of tactics deployed this season, root one football pumping the ball high up the pitch is getting us no-where ok he made a career out of it but football has changed a lot since the 1980's

3 Apologise to Grant Munro, to treat one of our own so despicably was a disgrace, think what this has done to the number of Invernessian youngsters growing up dreaming to play full time football, if anything it pushes them more towards the County radar

4 Apologise for not dropping Foran when this should have happened before Xmas

Even the happy clappers are deafening in their silence, whether we like it or not we are favourite for the drop next season as there wont be a Dunfermline to take the heat of us

One things for certain Hibs will be much improved anyway but even more so if they win the Scottish cup,it could be argued County already have a better side than us but they will also improve so that probably leaves us fighting it out in a relegation dogfight with St Mirren

Should Terry and Mo get another season like I think they will they have one hell of a job to get us out of this rut thet got themselves into

Dougal

Mr Mantis you are without doubt my favourite mod on here and I always take time reading your posts but you've deeply hurt me by insinuating I'm a Notts County fan, I'm a Forest man, Notts County are like Inverness Thistle a totally insignificant club

In fact I'd go as far as saying that's as big an insult as the Ender accusing me of being in the same mould as the local journo

You are correct regarding the Orcs though I've still got my dancing shoes ready for the day they hopefully liquidate

As for the Ross County accusations from others this does not bother me in the slightest, I've said before and I'll say it again I greatly admire what they have achieved considering they were bottom of the highland league in the mid eighties and facing bankruptcy

Whether we like it or not what they have achieved is remarkable considering they never had an INE or local council ploughing the money into them from the off

This season I'm going to start attending both grounds for my fix of football as I'm lead to believe only one highland team will be at home each Saturday, if that suddenly makes me a County diehard in some people's eyes so be it but I personally couldn't give a hoot, certain yokels on here might not like this scenario but there are lots of floating fans in this area who attend games at both grounds at the moment and this has always been the case since ICT came into fruition

However I'll still be in the main stand at the TCS stadium when the pegsellers come calling shouting my advice to Terry

Dougal

As I suspected all along - Dougal is in the same mould as Mr Bannerman - a Tink at heart - O2B.

The only Tinkerville game that I would ever go to that does not involve ICT will be the game near the close of the 2012 - 2013 season that involves the Tinks being relegated.

Oh the irony you are accusing me of being a county supporter yet you are the tattoo ridden,tricolour flying rebel singing plastic paddy who frequented the jungle more than the howden end but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong

I admit I do admire County and what they have achieved so far I think I'm probably even jealous but accusing me to be in the same mould as Bannerman is way below the belt

ICT have stagnated, a top six should have been achieved by now, Terry and Mo have taken us as far as they can, we need fresh ideas and the club taken to the next level

I take CaleyD's point regarding the merger/murder and I won't bring it up again unless provoked but IMO it's up there with the darkest hours in Snecks history along with the massacre at culloden or when the hebriddean bar closed it's doors

One parting shot the Ender knows it and I know it the vast majority of howdenenders never embraced the new club from day one and even till this day they and their families/friends take nothing to do with ICT

Edit : well said Buckett

dougal

I always find it rather amusing when some fans claim reaching the SPL in ten years is some kind of major achievement

Ok it's gone to plan but in my opinion top tier acceptance should have happened even quicker due to the various helping hands ICT have had from day one

There can't be many if any clubs who started out who received substantial monetary handouts like ICT did from from INE and the council

ICT stripped the assets of two former clubs and should have inherited the supports of both clubs however this sadly backfired and this remains a major problem nearly twenty years on

My problem is stagnation, the way I see it is there are certain people within the club and I include supporters in this who show little or no ambition, they already see SPL status as the ultimate goal and as long as they remain in the bottom six they are happy

Whether we like it or not County are a far more forward and ambitious club and their achievements so far outweighs us, Mahonio is right in stating this summer is going to be very interesting to see what new players are going to arrive at both clubs

It could be argued that both clubs will be losing their best players(Gardyne and Hayes) but I would guess they already have a replacement in mind whereas Butcher will still be scouring the Conference in England for yet another loanee

Should this groundshare come into fruition im definitely going to watch both sides to begin with and I may even pop through to Dingwall to check out their new stadium when it opens just to see how much better it will be than the dump

As for Bannerman instead of apologising for one deleted post he should maybe apologise for the other 2250 that still remain an eyesore on this site

Dougal

First off Dougal, the academy does not belong to RC

Second, whats wrong with training at Fort George?

Dunde U dont have fancy training facilities, they use council parks. I believe Hearts use Heriot Watt Uni.

Many of Counties 17000 fans were neutrals looking to see history being made. How many did we take to Hampden for our semi?

It doesn't matter one hoot who owns or part owns the football academy, the fact is it's situated in Dingwall adjoining Victoria park

Now County are in the SPL they will attract the better players as they have the better facilities on their doorstep can you imagine the embarrassment If Terry tried to attract new players to ICT by taking them through to see the facilities at their highland rivals

This obviously does not happen and this is why we continually get these loanees or untried diddies from England, yes there's been one or two successes but most are sadly pish

Fort George pitches are of poor quality in my opinion and the fact that we have to train away from Inverness is a far from ideal

situation

We took less than 7000 to the semi if I remember correctly so I final would not attract many more although neutrals might push it over the 10,000 mark

Football forums are all about different opinions but you keep on happy clapping at least your consistent

Dougal

No matter what you think of the pegsellers you have to congratulate them on what is an amazing achievement

For a diddy non league outfit and that's what they were to reach the top flight really is a huge kick in the teeth to the pro merger roasters within our club who try to tell everyone that without a merger Caledonian Fc would not have achieved the same as ICT

Let's not forget they will be the first ever Highland league outfit to have reached the top tier in Scottish football, remember they also reached the Scottish cup final only two years ago and took 17,000 fans with them to Hampden

I do think one day we could possibly reach a major cup final in the coming years but I know we could not take as many fans, possibly 10,000 at a push but that would still be decent considering our average attendances since joining the SPL

The set up through in Dingwall with the Academy and pitches is really second to none and there can't be many clubs in Scotland that can boast of such facilities

The fact we train at an army barracks is still a major gripe for me and is totally unsuitable and not acceptable for a SPL club

Once they complete their stadium improvements over the summer this will only enhance what they already have in place

As far as i'm aware they were never given any grants or council hand outs like we were when we moved to our so called dream home at the dump which makes their set up all the more remarkable

County obviously have a board and chairman who really know what they are doing and prefer action to words

I personally can't wait for next season mainly due to the return of the highland derbies but I must add I'm also a tad scared that if we are not careful we will be left behind on and off the field

Dougal

A lot will depend on the pantomime playing out at Ibrox, uncertainty over tv revenues. We may need to lose a couple of players with no-one coming in but it'll be a price worth paying if they go to the wall.

It's taken over 4000 attempts but I'd like to take time to congratulate you on a well made articulate post

I think most clubs may struggle initially after the demise of the Orcs but in time I don't see why Scottish football can't prosper

As for rebuilding I think it has to happen in some shape or form we need to be ready more than ever for next season especially as it looks like the peg sellers are coming up

Dougal

Just for the record I have no problem with the article and I agree entirely with it's content

My problem is with the spy's in our camp, the ones who openly have the old firm and other teams as their big team

Snakes in the grass and I don't trust them

Dougal

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2012/03/08/inverness-ct-star-thomas-piermayr-most-locals-support-the-old-firm-86908-23779355/

Oh dear even the players are getting in on the act?

IHE and some mods will be choking on their corn flakes at breakfast this morning while reading this article

Dougal

Why is it frowned upon if you have a negative point to make about the club on this site?

I'm sorry to break the news to the happy clappers on here but that is what a football forum is all about, it would be one boring site if everyone had the same opinion and everyone just posted the same repetitive crap

Not going to name and shame as I don't want to enter into any arguments but it's time they entered the real world

I personally think Butcher and Malpas have taken this club as far as they can, a top six finish will not happen under this duo

One thing is for certain is they won't be sacked as we couldn't afford too, I say let their contracts run out and then the time will be right to change the management so we can get some fresh ideas as I sadly see the club stagnating at present

This might rile some but what about Derek Adams? Say what you want about the guy but he's taken a SFL diddy club to a Scottish cup final and now to the SPL( unless something drastically goes wrong which I can't see happening)

Dougal

Utter pish would be the words to sum up that performance today I don't recall seeing a poorer defensive performance ever from an ICT back four

Possibly the worst ever Orc team to set foot in TCS and to be played off the park like the way we did was a total embarrassment

Can't believe no one has mentioned this but did anyone at the game or watching it on Sky see the sickening scenes I saw as our management team waited for McCoist/Durrant/McDowell and co emerge from the tunnel before the game?

A simple hand shake should have been sufficient but what we got was basically a cringeworthy hugfest which I found quite insulting to the ICT fans who had the misfortune to witness it

Rangers were fragile today and all this pandering niceties should have happened within the stand if they even had to happen at all and not in full view of the paying punter

The fact that Tokely never made it off the bench certainly backs up this alleged rift anyone got more info?

Dougal

I think a few chants is a must as it would be shameful if we never let them know how much we find their predicament funny but I think we should not go overboard as we don't want to enflame an already tense situation

This will be the first away trip for the Orcs since entering administration and no doubt they will be tanked up on their buckfast

In a way I'm glad it's an early kick off on the Sunday as it could have been a lot worse had it been 3pm on the Saturday

Dougal

Wasn't at the game yesterday but from reading this thread it sounds like it wasn't the greatest of games

An ugly point it may have been but possibly a very important point for ourselves

I think the important thing was that we left Dunfermline without a defeat

I personally think relegation is now between them and a very poor Hibernian

Dougal

IMHO the merger is still far too delicate and tender a subject to some and the only thing that an official series of anniversary events would achieve is to re-open wounds that are still not far enough from the surface

The best thing for everyone would be to let the 2014 anniversary pass by and maybe wait till 2024 when feelings are more diluted

I do think the idea of releasing memorabilia strips in 2014 would be a great idea and it could be a real money spinner for the club

Better still maybe ICT could play in the Caledonian strip for all the home games that season and a Thistle strip for away games if they had to if there was a colour clash with the home team i.e St Johnstone,County, Orcs if they are still in existence etc

Maybe the supporters trust could put the release of these memorabilia strips to the club at the next opportunity

Dougal

Do many on here travel regularly to away games and if so what are your prefered means of transport?

I'm more a home bird myself but any away games I've attended have all been mostly by car but on the odd occasion train when I fancy a good swally

I've a couple of relations staying with me next month and they both fancy attending their first ICT match at the TCS but also an away game to sample the travelling experience

Now I know from reading this site there are normally two buses leaving sneck for every away match but what size of buses are they and are they normally full?

I realise that the supporters club bus is for members only so I doubt that's really an option and to be honest i don't really want to expose my relatives to the famous cake baking but the costs for both buses seem very reasonable compared to train tickets and the cost of diesel for the motor

I'm just really wanting to hear personal experiences from fellow ICT fans on what they prefer really before I decide what method of transport to go for

Dougal

Interesting debate this

I think the little clubs in the lower divisions will enjoy the cash from a visit from Rangers

If they get punished like Livingstone ?

I could run a football team using other peoples money

Money could be made but at what cost?

Some of these sleepy villages or towns will get destroyed when thousands of Orcs turn up on a Saturday afternoon

Dougal

Sung to the tune of teddy bears picnic

If you go down to ibrox today

You're sure of a big surprise

If you go down to ibrox today

You'll never believe you're eyes

Coz super ally has no cash

And soon no place to sing the sash

Today's the day the teddy bears have

Their pitch nicked

Dougal

What a bizarre post, you don't want to see any club go belly up and you believe that Scottish football needs it's older clubs????

I suggest you take a look at our own doorstep as the formation of ICT was the result of two clubs going belly up and ceasing to exist

I do agree however that there will be some legal loop hole unearthed that will allow the Orcs to carry on in the SPL without a name change or at the very least a Rangers 2012

I personally would like them thrown out of the SPL and them made to start again in the Third division providing the SFL would accept them in the first place

Better still would be if they were liquidated and this lead to Celtic going off to England

If County go up next season we will enjoy two capacity attendances at TCS something we wouldn't have had with the Orcs

We would generate more money from County and I can guarantee Sky would be televising a couple of highland derbies

Dougal

All very well staggy but are you counting your whippets in that travelling support?

Anyway now the plans are revealed I have been proved right that you lot will indeed have the number1 stadium in the highlands should you get promotion

We need to be looking now more than ever to relocate to a site and a stadium where Invernessians can be proud off

I find it very galling that we sold two prime city centre sites and got a landfill site, if that's not being short changed I don't know what is

We deserve better

Dougal

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=Wq8QcrJCqko

Dougal

Here's the plans for Victoria Park a much changed ground we could soon be visiting again next season

http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=LYB65QIH7R000

Dougal

Or maybe we can continue to try and educate them and make them aware that whilst we appreciate the atmosphere they try to generate with 99% of what they sing and chant, they let themselves down and undo all that good work with things like this?

What's more, you talk about them "growing up", yet you can muster little more than a personal attack by way of childish and petty name calling!!! Pots and Kettles spring to mind.

The days of sitting down and trying to educate the bigots should have happened decades ago

Generation after generation have been brought up thinking this is the norm, you maybe want to sit round the table talking but I'd rather see direct action and at long last we seem to have a government who is addressing the problem and not brushing it under the carpet

Fight fire with fire and if that means dishing out banning orders,fines or jail sentences so be it, they will soon get the message

Dougal

I agree with the doofers as well Caledonia would be an ideal anthem

Failing that heres a wee clip I found on YouTube which might go down a treat with some

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

Dougal