Caley Mad In Berks

We've had so-called arrangements with English clubs in the past, eg Sheffield United, which have come to absolutely nothing, as far as I can see, so I'm inclined to think that this will be a non event.

I know the lack of atmosphere at home games has been discussed on here many times, but Saturday was the worst I've seen. I had three English friends with me and they simply could not believe it. I agree with those who say a better announcer would help. Surely it would be worth investing in someone more professional, (perhaps with a DJ background) who could help motivate the crowd before the game and at half time. Also, how about information about our youth team and reserves (results, fixtures etc).

Changing dates is a real problem for us exiles who have to make our travel arrangements weeks in advance. Fortunately I wasn't intending to come for the Aberdeen game, but I am up for the Dunfermline game with three friends. Our flights, hotels, car hire has been booked for at least two months, so if that game had been moved at only a few weeks notice, we would have been well screwed, and out of pocket by several hundred pounds. I don't know what can be done about it, but it certainly doesn't make it easy for us long didtance supporters

I too am coming up for my first home game of the season, and will be in the Innes before Dunfermline game. I'll be accompanied by three English friends, none of whom have even been to Scotland before! So be gentle on them if you hear their funny accents.

Have you noticed how well he is doing at Wycombe Wanderers? I've not seen them this season, despite living only a few miles from them, but a pal of mine supports them and tells me Lambert's got them playing good attacking football. Despite his Celtic and Livingston past, its good to see a Scottish manager doing well down here.

We have a perfectly good left back in Hastings. He was solid most of last season. Can't understand why he wasn't in the X1 v St Mirren

Suspicious mind. I obviously rattled your cage in supporting another poster's criticism of your hero, Zidanne. However, I find your 'closet bluenose' remark offensive. I'll overlook the 'institution' barb, as I suppose that was an attempt at humour. You know absolutely nothing about me so I would be obliged, if in future you disagree with one of my posts, you keep your replies to the facts and not personalise them

Good for you metalgecko in putting Zidanne's 'greatness' into perspective. I always thought he was a dirty player, but couldn't have given you the chapter and verse on his red cards. Quite an eye opener. What he did against Italy was outrageous. Duncan Ferguson was jailed for less!

In my opinion the award should be taken away from Zidanne. Had the vote closed at the end of the game and not at half time) many of those who voted for Zidanne would, quite rightly, have changed their minds. You shouldn't honour thugs! Cannavarro was easily the best player throughout the finals.

This must be about the longest running transfer saga ever. I, for one, am heartily sick of it. I hope the club stands firm if Rankin, or his agent, is being greedy.

Good, yes, but give me Dods and Tokely!

Were France much better? Soft penalty!. Henry certainly made the most of it. Hope Italy hump them in final. They will if they can repeat their performance against Germany. Best game I've seen in a long time. In my opinion, England wouldn't have lived against either Italy or Germany even if they'd scrambled through against Portugal and France.

Can't say I'm sorry that the Rooney hype over the last few weeks burst with a bang. England looked far better with Crouch up front. In my opinion Rooney always seems to be a 'sending off waiting to happen', and so it proved. England can have no complaints. They never seemed like a World Cup winning side to me in any of their pre cup build up matches, or in Germany.

Maybe this was not shown north of the border. However, with some misgivings, expecting a real non event, I was pleasantly surprised with the standard and competitiveness. Gasgoine and Maradonna and Schemchcal (most of the time) were brilliant, as was Zola in patches when he came on. Also quite impressive were a couple of the so called celebrities, Jonathon Wilkes for instance

I agree that the refereeing was poor, but not particularly favouring one side over the other. He could easily have allowed Barca's 'first' goal, therefore avoiding the sending off, and the free kick for Arsenal's goal was a clear dive. 11 against 11 would have been interesting. Arsenal looked the better side in first quarter of an hour. Larsson looked very sharp when he came on and had a major hand in both goals

Excellent post KB. I echo your sentiments exactly. Good luck to them both.

Hastings for me. He was well worth his place last year. Unless he has a dramatic loss in form he deserves to continue.

Yes, bad luck Peterhead. At least Realjags will be happy!

I agree. Catch them young and you've got them forever. I started supporting Caley when I was 10 and here I am over 50 years later, with not only my two sons as supporters, but 5 grandchildren as well. OK, distance (and cost) from Scotland means we don't get to as many games as we'd like, but nevertheless, the spirit is willing!. I paid the princely sum of sixpence at Telford Street in 1951 (2.5 pence in today's funny money). Even allowing for decades of inflation, I'd be surprised if it computed to £15 today. I'm sure my local club here, Reading, has days when it reduces prices for kids to just £1. Mind you, now they're in the Premiership it might be different.

Just out of curiosity, why is this ICT football related thread in 'Anything Goes' and not in 'Off the Park'? As to my own opinion, I can see no reason for delay in commencing the 4th stand. I am sure a financial model could be worked out where it would be seen to pay for itself within 4 or 5 years based on filling it say 5 times a year in matches against the OF and Dons.

What about the Scottish cup semi? You dumped us there all right!

What a great post split. 5 straight wins and 5 clean sheets. Couldn't be better - what a change from last year's post split anticlimax. Congratulations all round. Lets hope the good news continues post season with the retention of our key players and maybe the acquisition of one or two others

I suspect Walter Smith still sees us as just a Highland League team. As others have said, for Brown not to get a shout bearing in mind our defensive record and number of clean sheets, is disgusting, and Miller before Dargo is just a joke. But what can we do?

Yes, congratulations all round. A much better end of seson than last year already. BBC Sports Report at 5pm showed us as 6th, and BBC Teletext as well last time I looked. I know its wrong, but it looks good!

Inverness certainly was a football town (as it was then before gaining City status), at one time boasting 4 Highland League teams. However, as it has doubled in size over the last 40 years or so mainly by an influx of professional or retired people, the traditional grass roots working class football supporters are now proportionately fewer in numbers. Also, it takes time, maybe generations, for newcomers to form a strong allegiance to their new area, let alone football team. So, maybe there is some truth in the suggestion that Inverness is not a 'football' city.