Council Juice

I pointed out the dynamics on population on another thread and divided it all up and I think quite well pointed out that the reason we only get 3000 hardcore is that is all that's currently available. Even if every single person in Inverness went to watch football games (which they don't) After taking Rangers, Celtic, County and even Aberdeen into the equation as well as adding all the small clubs from surrounding areas we'd probably have a maximum potential of around 10000 fans. MAX. As for name changes, nah, not entertaining that at all Inverness Caledonian Thistle is one of the most unique names in football and one of the most patriotic in some respects. (along with Albion Rovers). It is who we are. As for the stadium facilities and condition in and around the ground. Yes this is a major issue and surely there are some things that could be fixed at relatively affordable cost.

In fairness Motherwell do have one of the worst records going for call offs and it's not like it's a terrible area for weather, any more so than say, the highlands. It would probably be fairer if ICT were just awarded a 3-0 win.

Dougal, why do you have to sign every single one of your posts? We know who you are, The Captain.

Oh get over yourself. You really are a doom monger. We might just beat Hearts. Maybe.

For a start, NaughtyBob - Being from Edinburgh but having the sense and intelligence to not support either of their teams or the OF, I know plenty of Hibs fans who loved the appointment of Hughes at the time and were quite happy when things were going well. Though as soon as they hit a bad patch he became useless. This is nothing new for Hibs fans. Collins was the messiah when they had an 11 (I think) game undefeated run at the start of the season and were touting them, genuinely, as league challengers. Eventually the bubble burst and Collins somehow turned into a useless arrogant bully who belittled his players and fell out with the board etc. The only manager that Hibs fans think was any good is Mowbray. Not even McCleish who signed legends like Sauzee and Latapy as well as bringing in stars like Zitelli who was formerly part of a very good Auxerre team. He finished 3rd but apparently he was a manager who was just a Judas who overspent and nearly bankrupt the club (note this is not the managers fault. He works to a budget set by his superiors.) Hibs fans as a whole tend to be a little over ambitious as to their clubs potential and sadly some ICT fans have left their head in the same cloud and expect resounding success now we've had a good run. As for those who big up Butcher at Motherwell. Yes he turned it round there but people conveniently forget the only reason Motherwell weren't relegated, which would probably have killed them at the time, was because Falkirk who won the 1st division did not have a compliant stadium due to the crazy self preservation criteria of the premier league. Before Butcher left the teams performances were starting to wane. Many agree on this. However confidence was high and there was a winning habit. However we've faced a few teams in a very short space of time and a fair whack of them (St Mirren, Aberdeen and Celtic) were either on a good run or going to be very hard to beat anyway. The short spaces between games and the difficulty of them has brought the team to a halt abruptly. Confidence was already hit when the team lost their manager as they were all working together. Hughes is very much an outside man and is not yet part of the gang. Add to the tiredness, most of this team hasn't changed all season and it's not surprising there has been a recent dip in results. Though in periods the team has played quite well. They outplayed Celtic. Did well in the 2nd half against Aberdeen and Hearts. Also it seems expected that the team would just keep scoring and keep not conceding. It's like no one expected a dry patch, or the fact that our defence are not world class and may leak a few goals at some periods. I'm still fairly optimistic we can have a successful season with a potential final appearance (We've had enough semi finals now, lets get over the hurdle this time) and top 6 finish. That for me would represent success. I'd prefer a European spot, just for a chance to have a go at it. However optimism now for Hughes to do anything, even if he wasn't 1st choice is being looked at with smug dismissive "rose tinted spectacle" type remarks and pessimism is therefore the only course of realism. Great drinking company you lot must be. Or maybe we got really lucky with butcher and no matter who we chose they wouldn't live up to his recent success. He had been manager for near 5 years which in football is a very long time at 1 club. And as for Hartley.... look at him. he's a bloody hobo. I'm not too upset he didn't get the job. At least Hughes is more likely to stick around nowadays if approached. Young managers are 1st choice for English lower league teams. McInnes, Coyle, Davies, etc. Maybe Hughes has had his fingers burnt and would only leave for a very good offer. Or Hibs again. Hibs daft so he is.

And any player coming to the end of their deal does not command a high fee. The buying club can very much make a take it or leave it offer. Even offer the player the contract, have him accept which gives his current club little option but to seriously look at accepting any bids thereafter. Very ruthless way to do it, but how I would if I wanted to get ahead. You can't be a soft touch,

So it does happen quite a bit then, irrespective of who's in charge?

I am without any logical reason coming round to the new gaffer. I judge on what he and the players have said since his appointment. Especially our captain. In a few weeks we'll kinda know how things are panning out. Until then its wait and see as this is the part of the season we generally tend to have a slump. I aint #teamyogi yet but am definitely more open minded onwards and upwards and lets keep it goin and lets be honest if we remain in a good position top 6 and hump the dwellers on the 1st then ah'll be fairly convinced it was the right choice after all. Finally after seen the sceptic destroy everything in their path domestically recently probably best to discount any humping we may receive from them in our analysis of hughes as our manager" That's a quote from when he was appointed from another fan, who fully expects the mid season slump. One we've come to expect no less. Yet it seems to have shocked everyone and it's all due to the inability of 1.

My worry is that he can talk to any of them without permission as they'd only have 6 months on their deal. Terry himself doesn't like his players signing pre contracts, but thats no reason to suggest he won't try and nick a couple of out lads on 1. Vincent, Draper and Tremarco are the main risks to this. I'd hate to lose Draper. The others are easily replaceable. He isn't necessarily so.

Probably safe to say the honeymoon is over then. The thing is, I fully expected a slump in form at some point this season. It happens to pretty much every team, even title winners have sticky patches. I also thought that we were perhaps in a false position. Now it only takes something minor to knock the train off track. We lost one of our longest serving managers and builder of this team. Terry Butcher was always going to be a very hard act to follow. Thing is at the moment I am slightly concerned yes. It's natural when you haven't won in 5 games and lost 3 of your last 6 under the new manager (all by a single goal though I must stress). In every game we've lost we've given the opposition a stupid head start and not been able to recover. However had we won yesterday, that would have been a second win to add to 2 draws and 2 defeats against quality opposition. 8 from 18. Satisfactory. It shows the fine line in games. I'm still happy to give Hughes the rub of the green. He wasn't my 1st choice. I thought we were getting an old head from England. That was the route the board implied. I was quite happy with that. For those who have taken the hump because Hartley never took/got the job I say get real. Just because a manager does well in the lower divisions does not mean he will in the top flight. See Ian McCall. Sheils had to settle for the Morton job. Was that our other choice? The main problem I see with Hughes is his unwillingness to upset Terry's boys. He appears as though he doesn't want to step on anybody's toes. He has to get tough with them and get them working hard to rectify the issues we've seen in the last few weeks that have cost us games. As said above it's his team now and Butchers legacy counts for nothing. You're only as good as your last result and that was a loss to County at home. Therefore things need sorted. I don't think he'll be a great gaffer, nor a terrible one. I can't see us becoming all conquering but I can't see us falling down either. I'll take mid table, and so would most realistic ICT fans. We'll have ups and downs and yo yo. I can take that.

This has saved me a lot of trouble. I'm going with this. Stick Christie on the bench I'm sure, but he's not ready to start. Throwing him unnecessarily into a derby game is maybe a little too much too soon. That said, if he has a blinder in training this week and gives the gaffer little option then on ye go son!

Perhaps it will help dispel the notion that some people have that for whatever reason Yogi is going to see players clamouring out of the door to get away from him. He's obviously a fairly popular gaffer with players. Someone that for the most is honest and friendly but would quickly turn nasty when required. Stokes would surely be a prime example of this. Clearly he's kept up a friendship which saw him rejoin his old loan gaffer at Hibs, when leaving Sunderland and still be friendly with him years on from then. He might be a doughnut but Hughes also managed to get the best out of him, form which earned him moves to Sunderland for £2m and the to Celtic from Hibs. Again as for signings. A striker on loan would be nice but aside from that, unless we lose anyone, or someone exceptional becomes available then there is no real demand for someone. I'd rather see our exciting crop of youngsters given a go at backing up the 1st team.

He looks like he has a very assured deft touch and good movement from the tiny glimpse in the highlights of the Celtic game. Though he did miss a sitter, even though he was incorrectly ruled offside so it wouldn't have counted anyway. I think i can forgive him at his age though. Here's to many great years as a ICT Star and potential Scotland star!

I wouldn't have an issue with the Police using them. They've got work to do at the ground and queueing for the able bodied toilets is a waste of time. So long as they are not impeding their use by someone requiring them I wouldn't have issue. Rudeness and aggression should not be tolerated in any walks of life. Whilst I do believe that perhaps your elderly friend could have said thank you (this was the blokes gripe yes?) he shouldn't have been waiting for the use of the toilet anyway. Though if he felt he has gotten out of the way for your friend then I'd understand irritation at a lack of courtesy, though would not excuse such behaviour. Such as when I'm on a bus, and I see an obviously impaired or elderly person. I'll offer my seat if I feel it's required. I don't automatically jump out my seat (more often than not I wouldn't even be paying attention to who else is on the bus and see no reason why I should) though if asked I would quite happily give the seat up. I'm not a mind reader. I don't know whether that person would require the seat. I still would expect a thank you for giving up the seat, even if, quite rightly, it is expected of me. It's common courtesy. Please note I'm not he of whom she speaks.

He's done the right thing in my opinion as the ref is in his road, but he's lucky not to see a card. I very much doubt he'll become a "target" now though. That's a little laughable as a suggestion

Dougal, strikers are not my worry when it comes to Yogi signings. I believe it was he who brought in Stokes, Moutinho, Duffy and Steve Lovell and at the time I'd probably had any at ICT, so I am fairly confident with his ability to pick out a goal scorer if required. And none of them could possibly be described as cart horses. In fact of the top of my head I can't really think of any true cart horse types who he signed. I do think we need back up, up front. Perhaps a loan signing. Aside from that we're fine. I think the likes of Christie and Polworth have the required quality along with a few others to fill any gaps brought about b injury or suspension. The rest to me is a player out/ player in scenario.

I'm saying the results attained are not out of the ordinary and both are not easy places to go. As you can see from our own stats we do draw often against St Mirren.

I'm sure Jose Mourinho would have a thing to say about longevity being a requirement to be deemed a success. You also implied that CC was a failure as a manager ("Eh, no"), but surely by your reckoning he wasn't around long enough.

He wasn't on the verge of breaking through at Celtic though. He was like many players before him, made the jump but found himself marginalised. He became unhappy so put his happiness 1st. That showed bottle. He was quite successful as manager in my opinion. Team played some of it's best football in the SPL with him in charge and he helped make a great team. This was when we had one of the best attacks in the league, the meanest defence and had it not been for the split finish 4th going by our points total. I believe it was our highest ever total achieved at the time. Good on young Christie though, hope he can make an impact soon. He has promise.

I wouldn't think it would matter too much if tynecastle or Ibrox are scheduled to be used that weekend. Games can easily be re-arranged for the sake of a cup final and i can't see either club having much of a problem with that due to the hire costs they'd receive. I'm just speculating of course. The players like David Guetta? Well that's something the new gaffer needs to sort anyway. Seamless transition or not.

I agree with you overall, but we have a dire record against St Mirren? Never. We've dished out a few hammerings to them over the years and I think we've only lost once at their new place, last season in midweek. Tynecastle a very unhappy hunting ground? Hearts are a huge club who would see us as a minnow and yet over the years I can hardly ever remember going there and getting humped. Nothing but happy memories in fact. We don't seem to pick up a great deal of wins against St Mirren down there. At home yes we've had a good few results but away its pretty even and I always remember draws. Hearts have a fairly good record at Tynecastle against us, though in recent times we've perhaps changed that due to their struggles. I'd still say going to Hearts at any time and getting a 2-0 win is a good result. Just as getting a draw at St Mirren is nothing unusual.

Shocking.... these lads would all be in the 1st team scoring 30 a season each if it wasn't for John Hughes... Appalling manager.

I blame John Hughes. Imagine letting him get injured. Terrible manager. We're going to the pits.

Errrr he wasn't my 1st choice (or 2nd or 3rd), but can we not give him to the end of the season at least before declaring him as the devil incarnated. His record shows nothing to suggest that he will immediately destroy any team he's at. In fact if anything the team he has left behind at any club is usually a far stronger one than he inherited... in every case, no matter his personal success. People are acting like we've re hired Brewster. It's downright barmy. Yes he's not the most articulate, but it's not top of my agenda when he's involved in football, especially given that intelligence is evidently not a qualification required to critique football managers 3 games into their job Lets look at those 3. 1st one St Mirren. Draw. Good result. Has anyone seen how dire our record is against St Mirren. It's not that good. I was fairly satisfied with a point as it was one on the fixture list that I had marked as a banana skin. Hearts Win 2-0 away. Good result, though expected against an inexperienced much weakened Hearts. tynecastle is still a very unhappy hunting ground for us. Aberdeen 4-3 loss. He must have said something worthwhile in the dressing room to change it round because we were dead and buried. Aberdeen however have been flying of late and are another team we tend to not get many point of. 4 points from 9 is fairly good from 3 tough fixtures and some people really need a realitiy check.

I think it's the case that if we receive a reasonable bid for any of our players they'll be off. Just the nature of it. We can't, as a small club, afford to turn down decent money. a £500k plus bid for Mckay would probably pay wages for 4 new 1st team players for a couple of years and pay bills. It sounds a little dull but books need balanced.