Laurence

With my Caley hat on the match I thought was not a match of two hales , but a match of 20 minutes and the rest . The game until we scored was all Caley shot after shot came from the team, but no reward. Probably the worst thing we could do was score. It just led to complacency , players I fell began to think the job was done. With my football watchers hat on , I felt the game was not a classic but good entertainment , end to end stuff. Morton's 4 4 2 line up seemed to be working two quick lads up front for them never stopped working. Towards the end of the game Morton were unlucky to not score as they piled on the pressure. The old song , " you are supposed to be at home" , came to mind Having said all that Morton finished 4th last season and beat St Mirren 4 .1 this season , so they are obviously a dangerous outfit, . I thought the referee was none to bad, he gave a lot of the doubt and early on let the game flow. We seem to get frustrated with decisions and paid the price for bad mouthing the Ref. Poor psychology an issue the manager must address. If we get suspensions during the seaso for such behaviour the players are to blame not the Ref. Not a good day at the office for the lads, they must work on their composure.

Good news , is there light in this never ending tunnel, or will be all wake up and find it is all just a dream ? They say water finds if own level but NAIRN COUNTY . Is that our level?

I went to the Historic Scotland day at Fort George on Sunday The Ice cream man told me he was a Falkirk fan, We talked about our season so far , He ( not me ) blamed Yogi for sowing the seeds of the demise - but putting that aside he said as a Falkirk supporter the one team he feared was Greenock Morton F C . He said they were quick youngish and good passers of the ball , unbeaten this year with a good 4 '1 win against St. Mirren under their belts. I began to worry. They have a cup game against Livingston a few days before they meet us so hopefully they will be tired

I believe in France - Laurence is Nom du fils - My son was once going out with a French girl, called Laurence - He remarked " I once told a girl you have the same name as my Mum, - but my Dad ! "

Goodness me ! I feel really depressed after reading the above. As a blow-in to the Highlands ( I arrived in 2009 ) I probably don't hurt as much as many of the very loya ICT l fans do. I remember a long time ago how my boyhood team Bury went through a phase not much different to now at ICT , Selling or losing good players to neighbours Bolton. The owner losing all his wealth speculating on the stock exchange. ( his creditors seizing his financial assets in payment ) ' The High court saved the club by ruling that the ground could not be sold to Tesco or anyone else because of a 19th century covenant ) , The fans bought the club which was later re-sold to a consortium who had enough cash to acquire the famous Carrington training ground. My only highlight on Saturday was going downstairs at half time to the bar behind the stand to see the top item on the TV , Bury 1 Walsall 0. I ask you all to as The Buddha-Said, "“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”" - It is the only way. True ! season tickets cost a small fortune, about 30p short of £280 - and that is a concession for a very senior person. Now in his 75th year. If like someone said , ICT will be out of the big time for years, I probably won't be around to see the improvement, so I will live for the present and hope the gaffer can turn things around to make the 50 mile round trip from my home in Boat of Garten worthwhile I still feel very depressed - I thought the original post on this topic by ictchris to be one the best diatribes I have ever read on this forum, s/he is the be complimented on the way s/he has presented the situation for people like me who do not follow events at the club very closely, who just like to see a game of football, and do not understand exactly what is going on at the club in general. added later - I now realise ictchris is male, only when I read his profile did it dawn on me.

Cheers folks - How things change.. Water and bridges over such a small amount of time.

With one or two exceptions Neymar is probably as good as it gets in a footballer . I can see where he is coming from . I would love to see him play live if I ever could get the chance. Worth a trip to a big City in the UK if I could get a ticket.

Lineup: Brill, Tremarco, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Doran, Draper, Watkins (Polworth 90), Ross, Foran, McKay Subs (not used): Esson, Raven, Devine, Greenhalgh, Pepper, Agdestein Scorers: Ross (pen.14), McKay (18) Booked: none Sent Off: none I was wondering after I saw Johnny Hayes in a Celtic shirt , Where is the last Terry Who ? team today , some I know but some I don.t - Also there are other Butcher finds like Christie and - James Vincent would be a squad player I think I think Tansey came later. Anyone care to elaborate and the size of any transfer fee , I would find interesting -

I can't say the match was a world class exhibition , but a lot of good play was seen from both teams , disappointed yes, but we live to fight another day. I was not in a position to note whether the penalty was rightly called but judging by the way the United unit on the bench immediately jumped up and appealed it looked like the Arabs had a good case. United started with 3 centre halves and no fullbacks as such giving ICT a free run especially on the left with some superb play on the left wing and on the left mid field . Quite frankly some great crosses from the left were fritted away by some poor finishing I can' t understand why corner after corner was floated in only for the goalkeeper in Orange ( strange to be allowed to play in the colours of his team ) collected the ball with some degree of skill. Why not a shrt corner or two which can be worked into the box A word about discipline , so many bookings , is not good , I lost count, this will only result in suspensions in the later part of the seasons. After the suspensions of last season we really need to be more careful in not arguing with officials . I was taught when talking to refs in my day. It was yes Sir, no Si,r 3 bags full Sir. . I thought on the whole there were quite a few positives in the game for ICT. Talking to some D U supporters after the game many of them said they though Caley was the best team/ I think we can only get better as the team get some co-ordination up front

I am an old softie I think I would just try and save the Rhino If I had enough cash I would buy the plastic bottle factory and close it down. That would help sea pollution . I am not a Green but some features can't be ignored Regarding football I wouldn't know where to start ( I think we need loads of ball boys/girls so quick throw ins would be the order of the day. Have you ever watched how Chelsea have the ball back in play so quick it is unbelievable.) Getting the ball back into play can be worth points at the end of the season. the opps won't get the ball until our players are in position. AS Charles said " tongue in cheek maybe " , maybe football would not really be a priority . Do you really want a Celtic or a Rangers system ? It would be pointless - Making Europe as we did with small resources is in a way was more satisfactory then any money bought success Charles - at bridge club I have been partnering an old mate of yours , Richard he has been waxing lyrical about your past and abilities. .

Caman See you at walking football ? No need to bring boots 1 By the way in my day the feet used to bleed as the nails of the studs wore through the leather soles . Joking apart - Things are beginning to look very serious. I think we are getting towards a watershed match. A poor result against another " part time " unit , will be very bad for team moral and also us beleaguered shell shocked fans I am not hoping to pull up the Dundee United tree or even the trees of the top rated Falkirk' or the underrated bush of ST Mirren , but we must produce against the less powerful outfits in the league. I have fingers crossed - My new season ticket awaits it's first use, Hopeful and anxious - regards to all the fans Laurence

I really don't know what to do, I am nor phased by relegation, In England I saw plenty with my boyhood team " Bury" , the other side there were plenty of promotions, what goes up sometimes goes down syndrome. The last time I saw Bury play was against Bournemouth in a league two play off match. Now look at Bournemouth?. Life goes on. My years watching Calley have not been all rosie but interesting. I have never seen a Scottish football match outside the top floght. I am not sure if to buy another season ticket. I will be 74 on the 1st of August , my fight against cancer I seem to have won, but my wife says I am not fit to drive up and down the A9 at night. On Saturdays my wife drives she drops me off at the ground and picks me up after the game. This last year I have not enjoyed the games much. I suspect we will hold our own in the lower league and the games will be less intense. Thinking back to my life watching football times have changed dramatically, my first game was an away game at Bramhall lane Sheffield in 1949, I only remember it because it was bonfire night, there were no motorways then and as the coach travelled over the Yorkshire moors to Bury, I remember fires all over the place, The coach was full ofr "old" men, no replica shirts in those days, but guys who worked 12 hour days In Cotton mills who moaned about the players conceding 4 goals, the match ended in a 4 4 draw. My next memory was Bury lacing Southampton 8.2 at Gigg lane. Bury was virtually the first club in the North of England to install floodlights, I can also remember an inaugural match against Vienna Rapid. Gates used to be getting on for 20,000 in those days. Disaster came around 1959 when the Shaker's dropped into the 3rd Division North. They were in the main much better than the other teams, but promotion was limited to one club. Bury did not get promotion that year as a formidable Scunthorpe team was far too powerful. The reorganisation of football and the emergence ot a national 3rd division did the trick, as Bury with an array of Scotsmen and the new manager " Bob Stokoe", swept all before the and they went back to the 2nd tier , with a record points win, with every member of the 5 man forward line scoring at least 20 goals. At this stage my hard drive failed I had to quickly save and rejoin, before I could check the spelling in my diatribe which I was writing because I cant sleep. My point is do I stop watching football >? , or do I risk life and Limb driving to a Inverness . The strange thing is it is easier to go to away games because I just catch the coach in Aviemore. Maybe I should just go to the airport and fly to Manchester and see my last game at my beloved Gigg Lane. and call it a day/ . I usually sell a lot of books over the week-end so I will be busy anyway. I am now signed up for walking football on Sunday mornings. I was surprised to find I still have a powerful shot in both right and left sides . I have a problem with balance though and I landed on my knees when I fell off the gazebo roof. recently some ex firefighter I am?

I seem to have a lot on my shoulders, being blamed for relegation What next the stocks, or the ducking stool, or been tied to a tree and set alight All I tried to do was point out that a young man in his first job was given no cash. How many other managers would have done better with a boracic club. You can't get blood out of a stone

I can understand that a lot of people are getting on my back, over Richie Foran. I seem to remember he was a popular choice on his appointment. What do I know, but lynching the manager is a popular remedy for failure. It can work look at Leicester City, But not Birmingham City. Managing a football club is not easy especially with no cash. Guys have left the club for pastures new , usually Aberdeen or Dundee because of one thing cash. Hughes left because he couldn't pay his players the going rate. Managing in a lower division , who can we attract ? I am not jumping on the sack the manager bandwagon . I realise it is just my opinion, but I am not convinced he ( Foran ) is incapable of managing with the proper resources. - Have another go at me chaps, I can't help the way I feel. As in the last line of " Gone With the Wind " Tomorrow is another day " We have nothing to lose in the next few games, let's blast the hell out of the opponents.

Well - What can one say? - totally depressing for me and I have only supported the team for 8 years . I can't begin to understand how long time fans are feeling. It may be a double whammy for me as my boyhood team needs to get a result tomorrow at Southend to keep their status. I have seen many promotions and relegations in my time - I have lost count. Alright it is not a mathematical fact that Caley are down but it would take the " Lucky Man's ", bracelet to get to the play -off . They ( whoever they are ) say the league table doesn't lie - I think "they" are right. Only one real performance of note , was the home game against Celtic in my opinion. Caley will have to regroup , they have done it before , they can do it again, With Hibernian and possibly Dundee United out of the way , it is possible. I don't know who to blame , several candidates and events come to mind, But it wont help to dwell on spilt milk. I certainly don't blame the manager. Many years ago when I was a teenager Bury were relegated from what is now the championship. The board sacked the manager , the Bury fans demonstrated at great length against the decision, outside the ground , to such an extent that Shannon was reinstated , the following season the team gained promotion back to Division two as it was . Shannon resigned having made his point. I hope Richie Foran stays and shows everybody what he can do.

According to all the Scottish news bulletins and interviews with the players, the wheels were due to come off the chariot. We ere told that the record would be a problem and the English players would get a bout of nerves, and the Scottish team was on a superb high. Could they not have been more wrong? and what ? The Calcutta cup stays in the south The unbeaten record goes on Quote "Six Nations 2017: Winning run could 'paralyse' England - Scotland's Nathan Hines " - from BBC sport England 61 Scotland 21 Mind you the men did better than the women England 64 Scotland Women 0 Sunday 26th February 2017

My next door neighbour was a native of Ipswich and he travels there quite often to visit relatives. He told me he recently met Butcher in the club shop in Ipswich, he said to Terry , "wished you stayed in Inverness", Butcher "replied I do too"

In 1993 I retired from the Fire Brigade in Lancashire and was offered a job in the deep south in Kent A work mate of mine was a Wimbledon fan, he took me to matches .and I soon got hooked. For many seasons a I watched Wimbledon play Premier league football on Crystal Palace's ground Selhurst park. 14 years ago the club was stolen off the fans and franchised to Milton Keynes. The Fans formed a new club themselves, ( sitting on hay bales on an amateur ground ) they joined the 9th level of English football, determined to fight back their rightful place now they are in the 3rd tier of English football, Fantastic spirit of Neil Hardley who I watched play against all the top sides . Now AFC Wimbledon are in the the same league as MK Dons, What a game that will be next season when the teams meet on level terms. My memories of that period of my life returned today. Unbelievable feeling I can tell you.

I suppose being a manager of a football team in a highly competitive football league is just like running any business First of all you have to have a viable business plan It means identifying your long term goals You need to talk to your business section identify how to manage the financial side of the club Look at your non playing side , sort out how it can be improved 1) What do the fans want , what is their minimum requirement ( I suspect avoiding relegation ) ? 2 ) Make sure your youth system is as good as you can make it. Non playing staff are vital in this role, you should be able to leave it to them. 3) Make sure the players contracts are as good as you can afford ( taking into account injuries ) 3 ) My opinion is we have been paying too many players who have long term injuries . Get them off the books if you can 4) Adopt a playing style that is not difficult for free transfer players to understand, Change the style every now and then so opponents do not get familiar with it , Fans also like to see a bit of aggression in the game. I speak as a former Wimbledon fan, A team know as the crazy gang, the fans loved it. 5) It is not easy being a manager, but you have to keep a smile on your face , you have to be able to take a bunch of rejects on, and install a sense of belonging and teamwork , look no further than Leicester City see how the manger there has galvanised a bunch of no hopers into a viable unit 6) John Hughes as great enthusiasm,, but he really needs to be more flexible in his approach and his tactics. In a Division of only 12 clubs anything can happen, There is little room for complacency, just look at the demise of Dundee United . 7) Look at what has gone wrong at Dundee United , and Kilmarnock, and make sure at best we don't make the same mistakes 8) Sure we will lose the best players , when their contracts , expire, so the club has to know about this and make sure , the next man in can do a job. I am a great follower of the NFL, and their great slogan is " The next man up " , has to step in and do the job 9) Complacency has to be avoided, I have seen many relegations and promotions in teams I have followed since 1949, Most of the problems have been caused with a lack of forward planning 10) All I can say to ICT is good luck you will sure need it.

Willett wins Masters By 2 shots ( Leader gives up 5 shots lead over final back nine ) First British player to win at Agusta for 20 years Celebrations in Rotherham I suspect Agusta becomes Disgusta for McElroy

I don't want to get into a row here, my perception is we should not press when one nil up, in a vital match. This is only one example of poor tactics, the barn door is left open time and time again. The great Brian Clough once said that if you are winning you ," make sure you win. One goal is enough", . Never give the other team a chance in sport that's my motto. If you don't have players as good as the other team, you have to win by using your brain, We don't even have clever tactics for taking a throw in, Watch a top team take throw ins, They don't play a version of the kids game, musical statues, they whip the ball into play like grease lightning. We don't even have enough ball boys/girls , available to make sure our guys get the ball back straight away and the away team have to wait. I could go on all day, I perception is we are not well organised, it is not altogether the managers responsibility,

Injuries are due to our style of play. ( Good English may be owing to our style of play ) If you dally on the ball and kick sideways the opposition know what you are up too and close you down. This means they catch you with heavy tackles. If you play Butcher style and get rid up field quickly defences don't press but retreat to cover the long pass. Hence you don't get caught with the ball . So I feel the style of our play is contributing to our many injuries. Teams have got used to our style this season, last season they were taken by surprise, now they know we we won't punt up field they are on to us like a ton of bricks. With regard to Hughes he has passed his sell by date. Maybe not this season but he will eventually take us down. He took over from Butcher ( a dirty word ) but he inherited a decent squad, That squad has started to disappear, and the replacements are not as good. It can be seen at Newport too, which after Butcher with the new manager has started to win games, true the new manager has turned them around, but the salient test it is the players Butcher left and sorted out. Some replacements like Tansey and Fon Williams are good , but others are not. Another point I would make is the tactics are poor. I will give one example. We were winning one nil in the cup final, with a few minutes left. We got a free kick on the edge of the box, what did we do?. We attacked, virtually all our players went up field . Well you know what happened the free kick was cleared we had one man back, Falkirk broke on the counter, professional foul, resulted and we had a sending off. Bad tactics in the extreme, never criticised because we got the win. It happens all the time. The team is not trained to shut the stable door. Sorry for the diatribe, but I am fed up with the way the team are playing.

A Few years ago more than I wish to remember . Stockport had a banner " Go Go County " I am reminded of that today As a newcomer to these parts I have no history of bitterness to our Northern rivals. I can congratulate Ross County , and feel that both cups residing in the Highlands is a dream that years ago would be totally unbelievable. It is up to Caley to extend that by more than the 2 months or so left.

Quite nice to live in the passed , At my age that's all one can do. At the end of the day as the Americans say " Nobody likes a sore loser " ( to put the champagne on ice, we're going to Hampden twice, ) Funny we used to sing that when I supported another bunch of Dons, ( crazy gang ) but got knocked out of both semis by Chelsea. Except it was Wembley not Hampden

Hi I see you are interested in fishing as most of Lancashire is under plenty of scope for practising your hobby.