Council Juice

Lets face it. Caley and Thistle were 2 diddy highland league teams. With the occasional cup flourish. Nothing more. Now some ambitious figures came along and wanted a team in the Scottish leagues, with an eventual aim of being a top flight team. That was the dream. It would never have happened had either team tried alone. Without the merger there would be no league football. No SPFL, no cup finals. No Scottish cup final wins. No European football. None of that. If you're happy watching glorified pub football then fine, the merger and subsequent success might not be for you, but it was the only way to bring Football success to Inverness. Now if those 12 old men who still have a grudge about it don't like it then fine. Because it's young fans and families and people enthusiastic about Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the city of Inverness doing well that we want to join the ranks. To come along and watch and help the club grow. Some people are just bitter.

Devine has just extended a year so he's not going to sign another soon. I'd like to see Doran and Williams have 2 years instead of one but I think with a relatively small budget you have to priorities who is on longer deals. If it was my choice Christie and Draper would be my first choice. Normally Brill too but if I have to be cold and business like it would be better to see how he recovers from a serious injury first. If he proves he's ok then give him the deal. I wouldn't say Doran or Williams are key or high end promising players. They're important admittedly, but if we could only afford 2 they would not be the 1st 2 given priority in early deal extensions IMHO. Getting the management signed up also needs to be looked at but manager contracts don't really have the same protecting for clubs players do. They can leave when they want, whether a new deal is signed or not.

I thought McCann was decent...just ridiculously prone to injury. Pretty sure he was going to be signed if he didnt get injured again.

In my opinion we've never been a club who've been overly indulgent in the loan market, but I'd be keen for Yogi to dip his toes if the talent is available and willing. After all he did help launch the careers of Antony Stokes and Kasper Schmeichel who were both very successful at falkirk, and current Dutch international keeper Tim Krul as well. Over the years we've had limited success in the loan market. Where most would agree that Golabert was a success, there's also the downright rank Berjam Fetais and the completely uninterested Darren Mackies. So lets have a wee survey thingy. In your opinion, who have been our most successful loans to date, our worst and then the ones that were just a complete catastrophe?

Probably, one of those fund raising sights like JustGiving or something. Imagine what Yogi could do with an extra 25000-50000 in his budget. Anyway, Im sure I've mentioned it before. I'm an ideas man. Not an actual organiser type. Though I'd cough up, and announce it too.

Personally I'd like the club to look at extending deals for the likes of Draper and Christie now. Whilst we'd probably be due compensation if Christie left I wouldn't want to lose Draper for nothing next summer if we can help it. He deserves another year extension also. Maybe wait a few months and then tie up Brill as well. I'd like to see the club be more proactive with tying down key players entering their last year. Aside from that our current squad is more or less all tied up. I'd like Ross to stay. I would love to see him become a regular next term. As I said earlier on Kink, I really have nothing to go on except the management teams judgement. So if they think he's worth it then that's ok by me. I'd like another striker to sign as well though.

I've not had the chance to see much of him myself. Guess the manager will decide whether he can actually offer us anything.

Seems it worked for Grimsby though. Aye its always the case when forking outs involved. Things tend to get quiet.

If we can get Ofere and Ross signed up for next season we'll be going into the pre season in a decent position. Ofere had a good goal record towards the end of the season and I reckon with a full pre season for us could be a very capable player. It's odd that Yogi has so often complimented Nick Ross ability but it hasn't resulted in the minutes on the pitch. With Watkins leaving and perhaps Williams playing more a left wing back role then maybe this could be his year. As for Kink, well maybe have him on trial for pre season to earn a contract, even just a 6 month deal. He's probably not match sharp and sometimes that can really show. But if he was to have a good pre season and show something then why not?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33065314 Whilst it doesn't in itself have anything to do with ICT, this fan raised transfer fund is a novel idea. Would it be worth looking at for a club like us? Funds that could be used for player wage budget. Either supplementing a wage or covering it for one extra player. Or even a bonus fund perhaps? What's our average home gate? Could a fund raising £20 a head thing be set up? Maybe even rope the shirt sponsors into matching whatever we raise as a challenge. Be great publicity for them and a huge benefit to our manager too I'm sure.

Is this not just an idea nicked from Football Manager? The trialist XI teams? Still, no harm in looking. Maybe ask Glenn hoddle if he's hiding any Anya's down in Spain too. Reckon cover at gk on loan. A striker and a winger/wing back to replace Mckay and Watkins/Shinnie. It's probably worth noting that likes of Vincent, Ross, Williams along with Polworth and a few other young lads have been on the periphery of the team last season and this could give them an opportunity to stake more regular spots. And lastly let's see what and who turns up. Sometimes a gem pops up that a manager takes a punt on regardless if its a required position because they look like they can improve the first team.

Chris Sutton never seen the cup final footage of the Celtic player blatantly and obviously kicking the ball out of play (v rangers) then proceeding to take the throw in and whilst rangers are appealing they go and score what proves to be the winner. I also believe that same final ended in a riot which saw a blanket alcohol ban in top flight Scottish football. Now THAT was a bad decision Mr Sutton.

The truth is we'll never be a super band until we get Eddie Van Halen on lead guitar. I don't believe we will get Eddie van Halen until we have a triumphant video. Its pointless having a triumphant video when we don't have any decent instruments. How come we have decent instruments and we don't really know how to play? That is why we NEED Eddie Van Halen. And that is why we NEED a triumphant video! EXCELLENT! Other than that a centre striker man and a left back would be my priority. Meekingst can cover right back currently, as can Vincent seemingly. Whilst we also have Devine. After which we should use the youth team there. A left sided player, either with Williams being more left wing back competing with Tremarco or a left full back coming in who can play both sides.

I see he's been released. We need any cover in that area?

Well given even Celtic are a feeder club for the EPL and even the top EPL teams have their players sought by Barcelona and Real Madrid I think its safe to say we will more than likely have our top players sought by bigger richer clubs. Particularly if they are out of contract.

Doran is still under contract for another year and Ofere has also said he'd like to stay, although it's now down to his agent. Watkins and Ross look like they'll be off but they're certainly replaceable. I'd like to keep Watkins please.

Pleased as punch but we right went and stole that. Weren't in the game 2nd half at all. Was horrid. Then Carl's unfortunate slip and stone wall red followed by the equaliser...I thought it was going to be a long trip to Bruges and I was only in Gent. But a great break by Marley, lung busting late run and Vincent was in the right place, right time. I, for a moment, felt a little for Falkirk... Then remembered they got us relegated.

Reckon we should bring on Ross for Doran and try and regain control of the midfield.

A shout out to Celtic Towers in Gent for putting the game on for me. Life savers!

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/fifa_blattner_en_loc/?sXwOVbb There's a petition going to get Blatter out. Its probably a forlorn hope that it'll have any effect but ordinary fans should have their voices heard.

Hailing from Edinburgh myself. I have many Hibs associations (bit rich to call them friends though eh ;-) ) and it would be a treat knowing we'd have won more Scottish cups in 21 years than they in over 100. I'll be in Gent, Belgium in a sports bar watching the game I hope. (Message to the bar looks promising) and cheering the boys on. To then train to Bruges later, probably a little tipsy, with a joyous smile on my face. Be a great day. I believe.

If I was a millionaire I'd buy the remainders and give them out for free...but I'm not. If we take 15000 we should be well pleased. That's more than double our stadium capacity which even when full takes substantial away support for that to happen. Its a 3rd of the cities population. Given the amount of people who, don't follow football, don't attend games, support other teams (County, Aberdeen, Old firm and others), then 15000 is probably out maximum threshold at the moment. People also forget that we are a young club. Just shy of 21. Can't even drink in the states yet. Therefore our support comes from the fusion of 2 older clubs and then new supporters. We don't have an ingrained generation to generation fan base. Many are 1st generation. Falkirk like many others (even county) have longer history and an deeper historical fan base. This helps boost numbers in small towns and cities I think.

Sunday 24th - The repair shop. Oops.

Maybe the numbers are really low so the club don't want to announce it...

Bjork - Quiet. Its all so peaceful until.... Or just go completely quite. Not a peep. Confuse everyone.