Laurence

Now for the other mob from the 2nd city of the empire 2nd round of the league cup I mean ( not Patick who ICT visit shortly)

Absolutely Brill

so dont !!! any more politics - from either perspective - on this thread will be deleted Sorry mate , but delete away if you want

Won't be a BBC if there is a Yes vote. Licence fees are decided at Westminster. Don't want to derail this topic onto politics, speaking from a footballing perspective only/

Well thankfully I have to eat humble pie. I have not been John Hughes greatest fan, but I have to take my hat off to him Not having conceded a goal and 7 points in the bag and 5 away goals. As IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER touched on earlier it is to be hoped that our away form is not going to dominate the season. The negative outlook is that teams may park the bus at our gaff, but not on their own grounds. I didn't go to the game so I can only comment 3rd hand , but I raise my glass to JH well done.

Regarding booing I took it not to be aimed at the players or the ref other than the instance mentioned above, I agree that the Ref should have played the advantage. ( It would be nice if the law was in line with Rugby Union ) . I think the booing I certainly heard was discontent with the tactics , not the players. The players where just following orders. As I was half asleep with boredom at the time maybe I got a totally wrong impression. I have seen great teams in the past , for example I was at Old Trafford when Cantona was playing I saw short passing employed. The difference was a through ball to Giggs and a run down the wing a centre to Canona and the ball in th back of the net all in a flash. Short passing has to be connected to a lightning break or there is no point in doing it Another time on the box this time Italy playing England , Italy passing short , but then Costacurta the Italian Centre Half suddenly hit the ball the length of the pitch and Zola rammed it into the net When I was in France I watch immaculate short passing from Lens ( In their championship season) but the Lens defensive back four could hit long balls to the winger and set up great attacks. Even our own ICT towards the end of last season, I forget the match when our left fullback sent the ball right across the ground to our right wing the centre came over and Christie scored again in a flash. The credit for the goal went to the scorer but it was made by the back disobeying orders. ZOLA goal for Italian speakers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcDEOYWu80E Cantona scores https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j8S7S4xoH0

Well I am not so sure but if you say so, of course I BOW TO YOUR SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE, MY PERCEPTION WAS THE REF HAD A VERY GOOD GAME.

It is early season so don't judge too soon, or should we? I am sure the players realise they have to work on the final ball. We seem to be working on a wing back principle without the 3rd centre back If a fullback is in attacking mode he has to get in a more challenging position and get goal side of his marker To make myself clear not much point in passing to an unmarked fullback who is on the wrong side of the defence. Surely the inside forward ( showing my age)_ has to draw the marker then pass inside to the winger or wing back. There was booing last night from sections of the home crowd , I didn't hear a single song not even the mandatory cat calling of the referee ;something I don't like but it shows we were all but going to sleep. I thought after the Hamilton game Hughes had got his message across , he may have, but I now think the players are afraid to express themselves, I feel they feel hidebound to follow instructions to the letter. Professional footballers should be given licence to adjust to the situation and do what they feel good at, without fear of a rollicking from the head coach. This is most apparent with the goalkeeper, who seems to be under duress to feed a short ball out every time. Surely an element of surprise would be an occasional thump up the field. Often opposition centre backs miss head the ball and .attackers can latch on to it. I have been watching football matches since 1949 and I can't believe what I am seeing, it is neither fish nor fowl as they say. No wonder Hartlepool were relegated under Hughes's tenure. We have played two promoted sides - what will good sides in the division make of our style ? I am sure the coaches of Motherwell and Celtic will see the videos of the game and will work on a pressing game to cut down the room for short passing . .

My perception of the game was a typical early season match. Nobody really wanted to dominate the proceedings. Caley seemed content to rely on a slow build up, which allowed Dundee time to fall back and park the bus. Hughes is obviously trying to make his mark on the way ICT play, but somehow a mix in the passes was lacking i.e a reluctance to get forward was very apparent.. We seem to be playing a half way house, short passing that is but without the killer through balls that is normally linked with that approach. Dundee played well, content to fall back, tackle hard, but when given the chance got forward on the counter, Dundee had chances to win the game and could with a bit of good fortune done so. Caley's finishing was not good, the few chances they had were squandered by rushing the shot. Why try to blast the ball? when it would be simpler to pass the ball into the net. I thought a rush of blood was in evidence when shooting. Hughes has certainly changed the style of plat, time will tell if for the better.

Oh dear !

My first home in 1969 as a married man was in Edgbaston Birmingham way back in 1969 My birthday today 71

Check the Olympic table Time will tell

I like Flower of Scotland I do not like Land of Dope and Tory I would like Abide with me ( albeit I am not religious ) The way England is getting medals I think "Teddy bears picnic * might be in order To read the Scottish press You would think Scotland was way out in front with the medals It looks like Yorkshire will get as many

I will sign off as I'm accused of being infantile - To say one last and final point About attendances at football matches They have dropped throughout all leagues eg. In 1971 or so Bury played Bolton at Gigg Lane and 35,000 souls turned up Rochdale entertained Bury in a 3rd Div North match and had about 19'000 there so to compare historical attendances with modern day crowds is pointless

You've made a pig's ear of that reference. Boer - boar - bore. Simply off topic and infantile. Infantile - Brilliant I so wish, 71 I am two weeks Friday. Oh to be Infantile !! Bombs dropping on London on my birthday - now that is another topic and definitely off but not simple - oh for quiet times and the infantile references that fill our days.

I am worried we will go to Hamilton unprepared for the barrage that newly promoted teams always start the season with, besides Accies are a bit of a bogey team I think we will not be ready? Chelsea could play their own reserves and get a better try out than most teams Most of Chelsea players have been to the World cup and are as fit as butchers dogs

Raith Rovers Fleetwood Birmingham Seem to me the only friendlies that will give the team a proper work out The rest against part timers and non - League teams with the possible exception of Elgin are nothing more than mild training sessions are ICT having enough pre-season pressures ? Unless I have missed something

Give the bloke a chance he is by far the most knowledgeable of all the posters on this aspect It is getting very boring ( someone mentioned the boar war earlier) to keep taking the Michael out of Charles

Why the ek dust keep babblin on with a mock Lanky accent. Its all bunk da nose nobut just a mock fake, stick tu scotch lad. before da mecks a reight clown o' thi sen yoof would in my lanky days be yung uns or nobbut lads bowton probably better written as boughton as bowton sounds like a womens hat band attiwemi lad or agin mi Hey Lanky Lanky Lanky - Lanky Lanky Lanky - Lancishere

Does it matter? As long as Bury don't merge with Bolton? Now that would be sad

Rugby Union have National teams , albeit the Irish have a united team for their whole Island They also have the British Lions for some reason Scotland don't have many players in it Maybe in soccer for championships like the world cup a British team would be a good thing ( A good way of getting Gareth Bale into the next world cup ) Rugby League have had a Great Britain team for years Sorry if off topic ?

I have read this topic from beginning to end AND IT reminded me of a job I once had at the British Museum in London Although I was on £12.50 am hour I packed it in All that history was getting me down The same with this thread Let it go and support the team as it is now. History tramples on the brain and stops clear thought We have - and I say we advisably as a new comer ( maybe I have no right) but I know history will count for nothing if the team goes backwards Next season will be tough with Terry Butcher gone. The Fans of ICT will have to pull together and give all this Mumbo Jumbo a rest - There is a team to support.

ha ha - that's so funny - I was working in Blackburn they couldn't get rid of him quick enough. Hodgeson is not fit to lace Rednaps' training pumps

ha ha - that's so funny

If the Rangers are laughing it certainly won't be all the way to the bank unless it's to hand over the keys to Ibrox and Murray Park. I meant laughing because Butch going would make their task easier in their quest for promotion