Council Juice

I think that perhaps when people call Brian Rice a good coach they must be confusing him with Pat. He's evidently not. There is no evidence to support this claim. It's complete hear say. Probably spread by friends in the industry. Old boys act. And then fans hearing that he's supposedly good spread it without question. Even on the chance that he is good (he's not) he certainly isn't a good fit at Inverness. He's the one common denominator in our fall since arriving. It's not a coincidence that 3 separate managers have struggled alongside him. Get rid. As for Latapy, perhaps he wasn't a significant reason for our success, but even if he offered nothing it'd be a hell of a lot more than Rice. Hughes wasn't exactly happy to see him.leave so I am going to side on the notion that he offered a little more than some claim (again through rumour).

Scored today I see...

Normally I'm not one to hit the button and call for a managers head and on several times I've said we need to give Robbo time to bed in the 13 new signings and cope with a similar number of departures however it's starting to appear more understandable why Robbo was out of the managerial profession for so long. Now I'm eternally grateful for the job he did last time around but he inherited a very good nucleus of talent and was able to find the right players to supplement that (Bingham, Keogh and Hislop etc). He hasn't had that luxury this time around and I'm not sure if he's capable of building from scratch. I also think that we've been on a complete downward trajectory since Rice came in and he seems to have avoided any accountability for the failures of the last 3 seasons under 3 different managers. So it's unfortunate but I'm beginning to think that Robbo might be coming to the end. And I don't think there's many who continue to back him. I'm sure most would rather he's able.to turn it round but that might not happen.

Given how the club seem to have announced to the press that players were being released prior to telling players themselves (Meekings) and the poor management of the Draper transfer to save face I'd be tempted to side with OFW Re who's not being entirely up front in regards to his situation. If an appearance bonus is the problem sit him down and ask him to either remove it or defer it in order to play. It's not exactly something that hasn't happened before.

Updating the squad list to filter players into contract length...

Boohoo all the older boys and girls are picking on us. It's totally OTT. They swear too etc..... Suck it up and don't be so dumb as to get caught and you won't get the bother. As to what Old Firm fans think of our club statement, perhaps if their own boards actually did something about their own support instead of trying to shift the blame onto "them as well" then their fans wouldn't continuously drag Scottish football through the gutter on such a regular basis. Our board have acted strongly to both a complaint by Brechin and noise from SFA. They didn't have much choice anyway. Perhaps the tone could have been different. Maybe it was a little condescending and tarnished all with one brush. But they had to, realistically, say something.

The 2 goals we conceded were absolutely horrid and amatuer stuff. Something to tighten up on the training ground. Reminded me of the worst of last season. The chances we created showed that we might be clicking going forward and Liam Polworth is looking like he's gaining confidence again.

Quite simple really, the law and match conditions clearly state no pyrotechnics. Any ground in the country. Therefore if people choose to use them at grounds then they should accept the consequences of breaking the conditions (and henceforth the contract accepted on purchase) such as being ejected or banned. It's their call. Don't do the crime if you can't take the time. It's the same as sneaking substances into festivals. Feel free to try but if you get caught it's no one's fault but yours. According to the most recent statement on the official site, damage was caused to the ground for which Brechin have billed our club. If you're doing that, then you're a walloper and good riddance. You're giving the other fans a bad name. You're giving fellow "young team" and "ultras" a bad name. Those that know the difference between fun and vandalism. Atmosphere and loutish. You're not a "lad", you're a goat. As to drums and singing and banners and flags, the more the merrier. The more noise the better. Pyro has never been needed to create atmosphere in grounds in the UK before so, unless you're just crap at the aforementioned, it's not required now. Get behind the team, make all the noise, be creative, come up with songs and drum beats and chants. And icelandic style claps or Highland war cries. But follow the fairly reasonable rules and you'll not get bother. And if stewarts at away grounds ask you to stop, ignoring them or arguing won't work. Wish it would sometimes... And as for Rangers and Celtic fans getting away with murder. It's not about them, it's about us.

Just because a player, or indeed any employee, seeks to leave their current employment due to a change in circumstances as per their contract they are under no obligation to accept the first offer that comes along. Who's to say other offers haven't been on significantly less money, mean moving a considerable distance that isn't favourable, at a level that he feels he can do better than (He may still have international ambitions this summer so being 2nd choice or at a low level may not enhance those). Just because a person wishes to leave one job they generally won't jump into the first available if they think they can help it. They pick the best for their own circumstances.

Half way there and 4 points after 4 games. Reckon we need 2 wins from the next 4 to get us rolling. Try and get to 10 or 11 points and go from there.

It's a lovely hedge tis true...

Well he's played centre half before and left back and gets up and down the line a lot so I would imagine he'd be suited to wing back as well. A formation in which he could perform several different roles where required.

Neither do I really, however it can often be useful to gain a sense of perspective by looking at others.

Falkirk, a team I'm sure many would expect to be top half this season, are 4 nil down at home v QOTS! The championship will have many twists and turns especially in the early part of the season. I don't expect them to be down there all season though.

If Robbo doesn't fancy him that's fair enough. It's his prerogative as a manager who is paid to win football matches and is in a profession where he might be only a few bad results from the sack. He has to make the calls that he thinks are best. However if Raven is fit and available he should really make the most of him while he's still here. He might not have the legs to canter up and down at full back but perhaps he could fill in at centre half or in midfield if required as Ross Tokely did towards the end of his time at the club. I for one think he'd be quite suited on the right as part of a back three. He's started today and we're 4 nil up at the time of writing.

I believe a relegation release clause basically just means that he's free to leave without compensation if the club get relegated and another club offers him a deal. It's not a contract termination. He'd be perfectly entitled to sit out the rest of his deal unless the club choose to release him, and they'd probably have to give him a severance package. At the moment it seems he's essentially placed himself on gardening leave. His contract is being paid but hes not really involved. Mind you, I don't know how that sells himself to other clubs as a model pro.

Alex Cooper gets his first for ICT!

It's still early days. Sometimes players don't automatically show their best from day one. Billy Mckay took about a year to become our go to goal getter. Remember Eagles and Hayes were signed at the same time. Most in pre season thought the former was the one going to be the one to watch. Turned out Hayes was the star. He might find he's better suited in time to being a left sided centre back than a full back. Sometimes a players best position only becomes apparent through trial and error.

Coll Donaldson confirmed. 6 Months.

Is he injured or is this just until he learns how to play?

Not too downbeat. Certainly an improvement on last week, even if that was probably one of the worst displays perceivable. Morton have had a good run of form as well so today was always going to be a tough encounter. I'd have obviously liked the win but if it's the beginning of a turnaround then I'll take it.

I presume that's in the print edition because they only have him as on trial as of yesterday online

Maybe we should start up a new thread and post any questions there? Take the most popular questions along. If any overlap merge into one question etc. Also as someone above asked regarding other Q and A formats. We did used to have an ask the board segment on here (think it ran the last time we were in 2nd tier) but it fell by the wayside. It always seemed to be something that the admin and mods, like Scotty, used to have to chase up the board. I'd like to see the board actively ask fans forums and fan groups for their opinions and questions. Even if only bi annually.

Interestingly 15 players (including loans) have now left the club and 12 new signings made. That's a huge turnover of playing staff by any means. I think we all need to give the new boys time to settle in. So much for keeping the squad together Eh?

Charlie Trafford signs on a three year deal. Reportedly a 2 plus 1 year contract. Reports that Coll Donaldson is on trial but no word on any contract. Ivory Lawton not to be offered a deal.