big cherly

Quote on P&B ICT posts today: • CTO = main stand weirdos • P&B = The North stand legends I’m fine with the top category as the auld fuss pots around me allow me to blend in easily. I take it the poster in the North Stand has sat in Main stand to be able to make an opinion? Thing is I started out in the young team shed a million year ago but crept ever-so slowly into the gentleman’s arena of not standing in the rain for a Pie & Bovril. I leave it with there’s always a seat available in the Main stand for legends to gravitate too 🤪 bc PS - Wiznae at the match.

Play, repeat !! bc

Watched what I thought was the best advert for football so in this WC. It takes two teams to make a great match and Egypt deserve much credit for their part in the game and their willing to attack with speed when the opportunity presented it! The game was kicked into life when Egypt scored early in the match. A penalty miss by Messi (who despite scoring the equaliser, I thought showed his age and had a poor game), just added to drama and tension. The final 30 minutes of the match were absorbing with the final goal a great cross and header. I feel the thing that got Argentina over the line were the Argentina fans. The racket and support when their team was ‘down’ was nothing short of remarkable. bc

The new away strip looks like what the old lags would be wearing when they are transferred over to the new prison when it opens. bc

Pile the pressure on this cretin Infantino. The Spanish league (La Liga) president Javier Tebas has called out FIFA (or by implication) Infantino with their ‘complicit silence’ on the Balogun CARDGATE shameful debacle. Well done Tebas and the La Liga. They have the balls to call out this crap behaviour for what it is - Simply corruption and the effrontery of the rules. I wonder if our national football executives, President Mulraney and CEO Maxwell have the spine and courage to put their heads above the parapet and denounce FIFA. Well, thinking about that, that would need a stiff drink and something they lack; vision, conviction and spirit! I bet Infantino was secretly praying and cheering on Belgium against the Yanks. His skinny a*s must have been twitching in his seat before Belgium secure the victory. PS - Tried feathers for breakfast today but couldn’t swallow any more FIFA bile. bc

Agreed, I said the post below when the Somalian ref was ‘pulled’ then later the soul of the game was getting taken away from its fans. With the clear corrupt manipulation of the rules, (under the order of Trump), Infantino has simply sold any self respect or reputation he possessed for personal greed and self interest. He has debased the greatest game the world has known and it’s clear now anything pertaining to the rules can be bought. Utterly SHAMEFUL and SHAMELESS. The damage done in undermining the game may be impossible to repair. Ie Arabs, Far East and influencers like Putin seeing what’s possible with corrupt individuals at the top. I can’t express my contempt for this act and individual in proper terms. bc “ What a cretin Infantino has shown the football world he is. It seems the norm now that football authorities put more emphasis on their own image, recompense package and pensions ahead of the game they are supposed to care for, develop and present in its best light”.

Pre season friendlies are ‘Exactly what it’s says on the Tin’. Unless there was a particular player or team I was wanting to see I tended to give them a miss as they are normally hard work on the eye. 0-4 to our close neighbours serves some purpose I imagine in that it’s a clear wake-up call. To use one of Kells post match comments - He’s learned a lot today and we need to be better attacking and defining. Good, that’s the objective! Expected improvement to follow. bc

Scotty rabbits on rubbish most of the time, so don’t feel alone disagreeing about his crazy posts. I put it down to far too many maple syrup pancakes and watching a rich duff big city team with the trapping of privilege. Misses a tepid bovril and rock hard pie of a February mid week game I suspect! 🍁 (glass house bc)

Putting aside he singlehandedly saved England from a certain defeat tonight with two great striker goals (2nd one world class IMO), the art of conning a referee is now part of the ‘craft’ for just about every player without exception. L Sole and big Chanka were at it in just about every game they players last season, so while I would rather it is pulled up by the refs, it is now part and parcel of the game now. Apart from his two goals Kane was a die-vin git and would have been send off had a good upstanding Scottish referee umpired the match! 😃 bc PS The DRC would have gubbed us I feel !

Struggled through the SA - CAN match last night. Dreadful spectacle but pleased Canada won. South Africa’s tactics appeared to be kill the game (for most of the second half with umpteen pass back to their goalie) and draw CAN towards them, then when the opportunity presented itself attack with speed. The thing for me was SA appeared to be the more skilful and quicker team. If they had simply attacked CDN more then I believe SA would have got through. Glad they didn’t seeing the antics they displayed. No wonder a great number of fans were booing SA! Canada were no great shakes however (reminded me of most Morton teams) and they’ll have to improve if they wish to stay in the tournament. I’m not sure if Oluwaseyi was the Canadian centre forward last night. He had the mobility of a broken washing machine IMO and made Chanka Zimba almost gazelle like. Looking forward to the JPN - BRL being a much needed injection of attacking football. bc

I don’t want to criticise the individual as he was just the latest person to have to deal with a almost impossible task, which was to develop and progress a national team that could take the next step of qualifying to the knockout out stage of the Euro or WC tournaments. I give credit to Clarke for having the common sense to know his time ‘had run’. It’s a statement (to anyone listening IMO) we neither have the organisational structure, people running the ‘show’ or players with the requisite ability or skills to take us to that level. When to take in the populations of the major (successful) footballing nations then it’s clear numbers (players -competition-standards) count. eg GRM - 85; FR - 70; ENG - 60; SPN - 48 Million. Of our WC group, BRL-214, Morocco-39, HTI -12 M. Equivalent Euro countries with Scotland 6 million, DMK -6, SWD -11, NWY-6, BLM-12, IRL - 6, PGL - 11. Belgium and Portugal has proved that with the right vision, structure and people (weather may also be an important factor here), it is possible to compete against the ‘big’ countries. The WC has proved that ‘small’ nations can however can provide exciting football, Curacao the prime example with there flair and quick moving football. They came unstuck of course points wise (2), however was an example (to me) that an adventurous approach is more appreciated than a Don’t - Loose one. I think ‘adventure’ wasn’t in the Stevie Clarke training manual. It only happened by luck. So to close, good luck to Mr Clarke if he wishes to continue in football management. There will be clubs willing to use his talents and experience. For Scotland (and more importantly its fans). the challenge and expectations need to be kept in check. Ie what is realistically possible. Thats not to say don’t stop the tartan army having a great time at tournaments when we quality, quite the reverse, their brilliant ambassadors. The only thing I would do is change the model (and leaders) at the SFA has for the development of our young players. The current one (employed for decades) has not worked or progressed your players skill set IMO. I don’t wait in great expectation! Thats it off my chest!! bc

Pretty accurate assessment of our national team’s performance I thought (Just dirt) ! 😆 bc

“The big winners here seem to be the Tartan Army who have really been the story more so than the team”! It looks, for all intended purposes the tartan army has supplanted the Scottish football team as the main feature of any tournament the team manages to qualify for. ie A friendly, colourful, noisy engaging mass of people that party on the whole with the residents of the city or area they base themselves. They have become an extension of presenting and representing our country much better than the Scotland team or any political office. I did not watch any our the Scottish matches, primarily due to the time they were televised. That said my views on our nation football team, manager and those running our game have been mostly critical as we continue to fail that great support. The SFA appears incapable of having the whereabouts to address the malaise and slow decline that afflicts our game. Maybe I (we) have to accept we are unable to copy equivalent second tier European countries in raising the standard and quality of our national team performance? We may scrape through by some mathematical formula having dispatched the mighty Haiti, but it would be a hollow success in my mind. We would most certainly loose (possibly badly) against strong opponents. It would also just plaster over the shortcomings in our game IMO and allow the SFA blazers off the hook, ie they would claim it as some sort of improvement by the first qualifying national team (even though it is easier), and simply continue the status quo. I do feel for all the small children, mums and youngsters that dressed up sporting the Scottish strip and other garb. Certainly they and the Nation got full behind the team. The tartan army turned out in strength and for the most enjoyed the occasion and presented our nation and people in its best light. I just wish our team could have given them more to recognise the super level of support they had. Maybe next time. bc

Jungle drums relaying we are focusing more on trying to secure Alfie S than AB. I understand AB (or his agent) believes he should be playing on a higher stage. I like the idea of getting Alfie S back on loan, however I can’t believe we would be the only admirers ie ones from a higher league and with more money. Fingers X so to speak. Again, can’t leave all our eggs ………! Plan B and C need to be nurtured. bc

Maybe we were interested but our offer was just too meagre? It’s not an encouraging sign for me that it appears our ‘pot’ is ring-fenced in the hope it’s enough to encourage Alfie B (or some Celtic kid) to sign another years loan deal. It’s a risk in that it limits our ability to tie down other potential strikers as we wait on Alfie B & ABN to make their mind up. (Good chance others are interested and they are waiting to see what the biggest pot is tabled). I wish big Jordan well at Cove. He will definitely be an asset for them. Just my tuppence worth, bc

The absence of any recognised striker signing is beginning to play on a few fans minds now as we creep closer to the friendlies and the new season. - I’m sure there are three or four players (out there) that Charlie Bhoy has been negotiating with clubs and maybe some agents on money, guaranteed playing time and expenses (digs, travel costs etc). They push for largest, we offer the lowest to tempt and nudge it on until the last week before the season commences. I expect we will end up landing a couple of loan deals in July. Alfie B may still be in the mix, time will tell. If a Alonge offer is ‘still on the table’ then I wouldn’t be too upset his inclusion as I feel he developed his game in the latter half of last season, knows the club, most players and has height that I feel we could do with in the rigours of the Championship league. bc

Ha. I could’t stop laughing when I saw your posting. It’s one that I will cherish and store for posterity. I don’t want to be overly cruel or mean spirited Satan, but your posting to me seems to be bereft of any coherent argument or recognition there is a problem (ie safety of fans at a ICTFC home matches). It’s content was such that it could have been written by:- # The CEO or any Board Member. # One of the individuals who chose to engage in physical altercations (ICT speak). The simple answer is clear on who stumps up of course. However the desire for some to cling to an ancient tradition of highland league club operation seems comical and overwhelming to me. With a highland (friendly) derby coming up in the near future, the Ned fans of both clubs will be sharpening their appetites and other implements in anticipation of the match pre and post activities me thinks. Goodness knows what local political fraternity and Police Chief will think if any recurrence of 2nd May flares up. The SPFL hierarchy will be in a fizz if their WC jaunts are interrupted with news that problem again has occurred at a ICTFC due to a lack of proper preparation. Someone somewhere said ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’. We only need to know which way we’re going. I conclude by providing the name of Justin McLaughlin as a reference on the matter. Yours, Kier

Well C100, you’re asking the wrong person, this should be put directly at the custodians in charge and responsible for managing the affairs of the club. To me that is the owner, the CEO, the board and the security manager. If you take in any of my earlier posts you will have noticed my thoughts on getting those responsible for match safety and control. For what it is worth here my main views. # Deduct points - as it’s the only way to get complacent, lazy and negligent attitudes changed. # Install cameras at all entrances to assist with identifying profiles, clothing and physical features of all entering fans. # Have match crowd control risk assessment undertaken and recorded for all matches with a police representative identifying the risks and preventative measures required. Include a Supporter Trust member (not on the board). # Provide proper levels of match stewarding (not the minimum cost package). # Have a police attendant as part of high profile (risk) matches to assist the club security manager. # Advise the security manager to take a concealed phone to record all match control meetings, where in the event he is told to ignore any concerns he may raise, he can provide evidence in the event any incident results in any corporate or individual legal action. Any use? bc

I think the SPFL have run away from their responsibilities again here. The disciplinary punishment handed down to the offending clubs is paltry and simply puts this problem into a cupboard under the stair (put it out of sight so to speak), until it happens again at any of the top two divisions in our country. It is all so predictable with clubs pleading “you’ll ruin and hurt us (and YOU) if you fine or deduct us points!”. And the SPFL not wanting to ‘rock the boat’ by addressing the problem and hoping the Police or Scottish Government don’t force their hand. The punishment imposed on Celtic is bordering on the ridiculous. It presents no deterrent in my mind to the mindless thugs that enjoy courtship by these major clubs (Celtic here). Ie they want their money, noise and fear factor and tacitly accept the risk they will invade the pitch now and again. Fingers crossed no one gets harmed or maimed. In my club’s case ICTFC, they have been allowed to get off with next to no consequential penalty impact or imposition whatsoever. - I’m not celebrating this as unlike what was said by Scott Young after our Ned’s pitch invasion that ‘lessons to be learned’, thats precisely what we failed to do from the relegation match against the Accies in 2024! I expect our CEO and board to smile (“we got away with that Hey”) and just carry on regardless! In my book is ‘No pain - no gain’. I will continue to argue the case that until our club show clear steps of acting more professionally both on and off the park we will be unable to progress as a serious football operation. bc

What a heel! 👞. Meant the ‘soul’ or heart of the game 😁

We’re selling the sole of the game we love it seems to me when each WC tournament comes around. The game football was created on the backs of the working class man. It was the outlet where these urban fiercely proud, hard grafting people (mines, shipbuilding and like) escaped and put aside for 90 minutes any domestic, money or personal worries. The rules were simple and both sets of players reflected the challenges their onlookers had in trying to overcome their opponents, (Fairly and on ability). The greed, corruption and commercialisation that infests the game today effective precludes the very fans that created the game are priced out of attending any match. Throw in VAR, water breaks (adverts), players that pride themselves in conning referees (cheating) and finally that the game has become an almost contactless sport! Heck I didn’t mean to rant on so much.🧐 I will attempt to follow Scotland without the hysteria that engulf our people at these times and hope they save face (don’t get gubbed). When I can’t watch the bbc I will avoid the commercial stations pre-match 3 hour build up, the 30 min half time and water break bookie and Christmas adverts. Finally - Hope every fan manages to avoid ICE agents and gets back home alive and safe. bc

What a spineless and sycophantic cretin Gianni Infantino is. The US customs refusal to allow Somali referee Omar Artan entry into the States smacks of Trumps MAGA FU policies. For Infantino to simply cancel the referees involvement in the competition is disgraceful. If this corrupt FIFA president had any spine he should have shuffled three match officials such that Omar Artan could / should have officiated (refereed) in Mexico or Canada. What a cretin Infantino has shown the football world he is. It seems the norm now that football authorities put more emphasis on their own image, recompense package and pensions ahead of the game they are supposed to care for, develop and present in its best light. bc

Chippies, plasterers, sparkies and painters/decorators me thinks. (Maybe a better chance of a good player in that lot than third or fourth team Celtic players being offered and assessed). bc

I wasn’t a fan of Millen as an individual. I felt however in his favour he brought a fierceness and intensity onto the pitch. He was always driving forward when he had the ball. He had more better than poor crosses into the box IMO. The somewhat negative comments from some (fair few) fans may have influenced the decision (Christie’s or Millen) to go different ways. So he wont need much motivation when we meet up with Raith next season. Just feel loosing that hard edge attitude in a player is something we might be found wanting in the Championship season coming. bc

I know this is the norm at this period of the close-season, but I feel a little uneasy if we end up loosing Remi by playing ‘who blinks first’ with a cheap contract offer. Splashing headlines about resigning Shinnie (where decent money is involved), then playing hard ball with Remi on money could backfire badly if he moves elsewhere for a better purse! Remi is a far more valuable asset to have in the team next season than Shinnie in my view. Ie we have player options in midfield; central defence is sorely exposed if Danny has to team up with a new (another) sweeper. bc