big cherly

59 minutes ago, mazza20 said:

Tbh I don't think there's a better candidate we could realistically get at the moment, if we're going to change manager then the board needs to have plan and then get someone who's style aligns with that. Next season will be worse if we just let him go with the expectation that there's someone better ready to take the job instead of doing any sort of research prior to this point.

I'm not thrilled about another season of Dodds but he's now got 2 years working with the squad so knows what he needs in terms of recruitment, and hopefully his match management improves with experience.

Luckily next season our bogey team in Hamilton are gone so that could 3 of our league losses turned into points instead

Your explanation in your first sentence mazza20 perfectly makes my point!
I fully understand fans wanting to back the club irrespective how they do, and thats fine if you like what’s on display ( I have no problem with that). 
I simply want to be better and entertained, and whilst we got to the playoff last year and a cup final this season I can’t honestly say what’s been on display for the past two seasons fills me with expectation. I discount the Covid year for obvious reason.
The off the field antics by the board during the same period is directly linked to the retention of Dodds due to the lack of money!

More of the football on display last season at home is simply not for me! 

More of the same both on and off the park seems to be the plan. Can’t help think it’s money driven with Dodds knowing he is only retained cause the board haven’t the money to attract serious talent, cause they have no money to attract title challenging players and it’s loan spells with dodgy injury or past it players brought it!

Don’t see a new horizon, just retread of a tired strategy with unattractive stagnant football!! 
 

Must admit I was hoping for a new direction, but not to be it appears!! 

Glasgow today is in its finest sun soaked glory. George Square packed! A good load of green and white on display, but Caley supporters sprinkled here and there!

All we can ask is the Caley boys believe in themselves, keep together during the tough spells and give everything. (A goal would be great).

Win or loose you represent a people of a great city and region of our small brilliant country. Hold your heads high and good luck!!! 

I am just surprised the number of writers here are surprised the way the fans have / are being treated by the club ‘leaders’. 
The current lot have shown they simply haven’t or don’t care about the fans interests by their actions. You’re only there to buy season tickets and the stuff on sale (scarfs, pies and like).  - They have demonstrated clearly they can’t and are unlikely to change without redress. They are only holding the keys however and ultimately will move on.  - Their period in charge however is in the hands of the fans. It is the fans that ultimately have the power.  If enough fans think more of the same next season is not good enough then they can act where it is most noticed! (In there pocket). Fan loyalty is often abused by just about every club and ICT are no different.

I resist magnifying the case as the club and team are heading into their most important game in years.  Winning would be the clubs biggest achievement in its history and could attract interest from more competent and professional individuals. But it’s a long shot! Maybe the fan questionnaire will manage to be communicated unfiltered and get the message across. We wait with interest! 
 

What happens after the final is for another day, but is more of the same satisfactory?

45 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Glad I sold my extra ones on to some glory hunting OF scum desperate to whank over a treble while premium prices were available 

I’m sure you’re not alone flogging tickets to the opposition fans!! Least you got a good price by all accounts.

4 hours ago, Jaggernaut said:

I agree, the older supporters like me, didn't have a Scottish league team to support, so we always had a 'big team' and our local team that we supported. I was a fan of Celtic since about 1965 and was an avid follower of Inverness Thistle since around 1962, but whenever these teams met, there was only one team that I wanted to win, that was the Jaggies. But I agree that the younger fans have no excuse for not supporting their local team, as we now have a Scottish League team of our own, but if you walk through the town, you see Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and even Man City and United tops being worn by youngsters, but very few ICT tops. I even know a young lad a few years ago that was a fan of Chelsea, and I asked him why he supported them and not ICT, and he said because Chelsea, at that time, were winning everything and ICT were pants, his words. He probably supports Man City now, the young are very fickle!

Juggernaut, You make my point perfectly!

For every kid wearing a ICT top or garb in Inverness you can multiply that by 20 ish for tic,  10 ish gers and English teams. I even see more County tops than ICT tops.  - Maybe it’s just me that sees this and it’s just rubbish??

If my note raised the hackles with some forum fans then I have succeeded (a little), in what I consider one of the most critical aspects of our clubs future survival and development. 
Namely growth of the young ICT fan base!

A successful team will attract kids wearing there strips & stuff. We  have struggled in this matter for the recent past, but it is cyclical.  Over the years I have noticed that as our aging fan base thins out the younger fans are not there in numbers. 
The ‘young team’ are selective and can vary in numbers from under 20 during the winter duff matches up to a hundred or so for big games.

We (the club) has failed to address the decline in young fan recruitment for years. The lack of connection (suit, tie & dram) is generationally and culturally miles apart from youths of today.

Until we bring in new thinking on whether we think this is an issue and how to address it, we will, I respectfully put forward, continue to see more celt, gers, ManC - U and County tops in Inverness.

On 5/10/2023 at 8:01 AM, bdu98196 said:

Its not just fans, I'd consider extending that towards

Nothing wrong with ICT being your second team. Our (sorry, Celtic’s free Highland) youth coach never attends any of the first team matches as his interests and loyalties lie in the east end of Glasgow .  I would expect most ICT fans have Celt leanings with some others having a soft Gers and Aberdeen affiliation. Just the reality of where ICT are in there abysmal and amateur recruitment and nurturing of future ICT fans. Expect this topic will be recycled in 20 years time as long as we have numpties in charge!   
Happy for anyone to convince me otherwise…

I really cringe when the chief representatives of any sports clubs get caught on a photo greeting or glad handing politicians of any party. - They are invariably decried by persons not affiliated to that particular party.

Irrespective of what you think of SG, he has to welcome any guest and to make them comfortable and hope they enjoy their visit to the club. 
 

We have to separate the club (all parts of it), from politics and religion. We have all seen how it turns out when this rule is compromised! 
 

The club has to retain a neutral position on politics and religion. End of story!!

On 5/3/2023 at 10:20 PM, TheCaleyOne said:

I will still be going, as people say you don't get these opportunities for finals often but it just makes things , travel etc more tricky to arrange 

As a genuine question to the rational,  let me ask a straight question, how many ICT fans do you think we have in the following groups 

1) ICT ave season ticket holders for the last 5  seasons - I’m sure ICT know but I do not have these figures.

2) Thea ave home attendance for the same period? 
 

Where I a. going with this is ICT do not in my opinion have a fan base beyond a couple of thousand. We may have a couple of hundred of fans that will come along for an important game, or where the Celtic, rangers,Hearts or maybe Hibs come to town but that’s  about it. 

The romantic and blinkered may believe there is 5 or 6 thousand  dormant ICT supporters just waiting for the return to the hallowed top league. But in the cold light of day we (ICT) have never shown any core support above 3000. Even when we were ‘flying’ in the top league.

We may have fans from each of the previous mentioned (and a handful of the rest) that show up for the odd ICT game, but that’s as good as it gets. 
 

For me if we want to increase the fans base it’s long term (20 yr) and incremental. That means free tickets for local and remote primary schools each home game. The board will boak at the idea of providing such an offer free but that’s where our long term survival (not these jokers) will be found. 

Going to the cup final is really just a day out in the national stadium in Glasgow. Any idea we may catch Celtic out for on the day is I am afraid  for the fanciful, I can only suggest those that fall into this category do not place any of their hard earned money on ICT winning. It’s throwing your money away! You have a better chance of putting money on how few ICT will let in!!! 

10 hours ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

I was expecting someone to say that.   Did they lift their game for last night's crucial match, then?

I have lost count of the number of times over the past couple of seasons that I have said that surely the seasoned professionals on the pitch can see when things are not going well - eg when they are playing hoofball all the time - and that they should try something different, regardless of what the manager has said.  But it never happens.

Conclusions - they can't think for themselves, they don't know each other that well, and there certainly isn't a leader amongst them.   I am going off now to look up the record score in a cup final, because I really do fear for what might happen.

I too harbour concern about what the score will be having attended Friday night’s performance and the fallout. 

My reasons

The team let everyone involved and supporting the team not to mention themselves down. 

Leadership - There was something more deeper than just a bad day at the office for most of the team. It was clear we didn’t have a player / figurehead that could stand up and bring the team together and lead them when needed. From the goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack they all stayed within their own ‘zone’. Thinking back it became clear to me that had been the pattern for pretty much every home game this season. 

This leads me to wonder who is going to marshal the team when things get tough on the day of the final? 
 

Tactics/Style of play - I have seen two styles of play this season from our team.

1) The stock or standard pattern of play-safe, pedestrian square-passing from the goalkeeper-defenders-midfield where playing backward is the plan A. Boring to watch and a disaster waiting to happen. 
Hump high balls continuously at a bantamweight tiny striker!!

2) Fast slick passing down the wings inter-passing between the midfield and striker, inevitably creating a chance on goal.
 

Unfortunately (2) was the exception and a bit part of our season. Style (1) will just bring wave upon wave of attack from the opposition.

Substitutes - I have to raise the manager and his ability to interpret the match and his team’s performance and make timely changes that can influence (positively) the match. 
There has been a lot of words written on this forum about injuries to players and whether B Dodds is good or bad as a manager. 
I can only make my opinion on what I see at the home games as a season ticket holder. Over the piece I have to come down on the side that their has been games where the manager’s uncertainty or lack of vision has cost us points due to either poor timing or players selected when changing them. 
 

Rightly or wrongly I am of the opinion B Dodds expects his players to hack out results without any serious thought on how to counter the oppositions match play. It doesn’t inspire me and I can’t imagine the players get much from the dugout when they are looking for guidance. 
 

So, when we walk out at the cup final we are up against a team that most certainly will have more skilful players, with 4 or 5 patterns of play that they can change at any time of the game. A manager that insists on his players move with speed in a controlled way and strikers that would not be out of place in the English premiership. Throw in a giant loud support, and a month of no games now for ICT it will call on everyone of ICT players and Management to be on top of their game.  
 

Friday night’s performance and attitude against Ayr on one of the biggest games of the season makes it more difficult for me to think this was a one-off.
 

Hope I’m wrong!!!
 

2 hours ago, jed5697 said:

The guy in question was sat near me and was pissed and hurling abuse through the game. At one point guy sat in front of him complained due to spit from his vitriol landing on his head; made no difference and he continued. Completely out of order. As the game was finishing he went down to the pitch where he must have given some of his abuse to Dodds; who in the tense finish to the game has reacted. The abusive individual was 100% out of order; no excuse at all for that behaviour. An extremely bad example to all ICT fans. 

Tell Scotty he can pick a seat next season in the North Stand. They will be plenty of freed up spaces!!! He’ll have some stiff competition thou in the Pi55ed and vitriol contest!! 

Let’s be open and honest here. Big backing crowd, lovely night for football, big game and we didn’t turn up.

The better team won hands down. You can’t play the way we did in the first half and expect anything more than what we got for our 45 minutes. From goalkeeper to front line we could not do the simplest of thing (like control the ball). Ayr were simply competent, but that was more than enough to overcome our efforts and comfortably see them through the game. 
 

Samuels was the difference that changed our fortunes. Still don’t understand why Shaw wasn’t on the left wing from the start, but it’s a moot point now.

‘Fortune favours the brave’. A quote you couldn’t find in the home dressing room tonight! 
 

Good luck to Ayr in there playoffs

No place or excuses for not turning up tonight if you can. It’s time to put all reservations and concerns from this seasons poor performances or whether you believe B Dodds is not the person to manage the team next year aside. 
Tonight falls onto a one-off and personably these are the games is why I love the game! 
Tough match for sure! 

So it’s simple, if you support ICT tonight’s game is the one to turn up and back the team fully.

28 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

Think the cheap tickets suggestion muddies the waters? Think we need to keep pressure up for 3pm and then transport solutions personally. 

I understand the frustration here, but why does anyone think that the fans opinions matter any more regarding the timing of the cup final kick off? 
 

The game, (born and developed from is working class origins) has completely changed in just about every aspect and is now a ruthless hard nosed business industry. Money drives the full agenda and if the fans views of biggest and best club in Scotland are ignored regarding the kick off time, well do I need to go further…….

It’s just the reality of the sport we, (I mean the season ticket holders - not the cup final attendees) choose to continue to watch. Old habits are hard too …….

Just try and enjoy the final on the day! 

6 hours ago, Huisdean said:

Ludicrous post. We should get as many tickets as we can sell. Cup finals are a different game so average league attendances shouldn't come into ir. How many times of Celtic's season ticket holders attended the Morton cup tie for example loo

And using your proposal we sell 1500 tickets to highland tic fans! 

40 minutes ago, DoofersDad said:

With Celtic having such a huge support, that is probably an issue regardless of what our allocation is.  It needs Celtic to warn supporters that if they are found to have bought a ticket from our allocation, they will be banned from Celtic games next season and, if they are a ST holder, removed from the ST list.

Why would Celtic care or want to help Caley on the day! If they have a few thousand tic fans in the ICT end that helps their cause on the day (god knows they have enough of an advantage)! 
Wallpaper talk of Celtic telling their fans to not buy ICT tickets is for the gullible. The Green Brigade heed their every word!! 
 

The reality is highland ‘tic’ fans will be buying up our tickets.  On one of the last Celtic matches in Inverness it was when we scored I found out I had to look round for another ICT fan to celebrate with (another row up). The rest around me in the north stand were stone silent. 

I’ll throw in another direct link - Charlie bhoy Christie makes no apology in declaring where his loyalist are! You could call him Celtic's (free) highland youth coach and eyes. Wonder how many ICT tickets he gets for his group of mates. 

At the end of the day it simply comes down to money. The board simply will flog as many tickets they can get their hands on to any one that will pay for them! Our average attendance for the past few seasons is kicking around 2250. Any allocation over 5000 is the SFA being benevolent to our board! 

I hesitate as a long standing footie fan to say anything that would counter a place in the final and playoffs, however what goes on at the chairman and board level ultimately positions the club identity, relationship with the area, local community and business. The Trump -Johnson approach don’t fit well with me and sometimes you need to experience a Liz Trust moment to get change!

Time will tell……….

Can’t and wouldn’t like to stop the dreamers! That’s all it is - dreams. Patrick was our last real test. Bitter experience won’t let me see past tomorrows match with Hamilton. Artificial pitch, Team fighting to stay in the league, unlike Cove Hamilton has a  core support and will fancy their chances based on the past  results this season. 
So let’s hope we’re up for the fight, carry a bit of luck when we need it and score one more goal than Hamilton. 

10 hours ago, Satan said:

Didn't think he was up to full speed tonight, a couple of runs he made he was never getting close to catching the ball. Almost like he is still protecting an injury.

Yes, tend to agree with this. To be honest couldn’t recall any real contribution Samuals made through the night, couple or runs but never in control or serious about winning the ball. He ‘hid’ in my opinion during a lot of the match and if the bloke wanted subbed he made a good case ahead of Mackay of me.  We’ll need all our players mentally and physically ready for the next two matches to take 6 points and keep the playoffs a possibility. Hope Samuals improves to get to where he can. 

Last comment - observation on last night. Delighted about the win; the first half was dreadful. The continued play safe square passing at the back will come unstuck sooner or later and cost us a goal. It’s a risk we continue to play and we need more emphasis on getting the midfield involved going forward.

Good luck on sat against the Cove.

15 hours ago, ICTPAISLEY said:

Who the Hells DD

Sorry Billy Dodds, if that needed to be explained! To some it clearly does…

You have to consider what would DD offer and be able to provide to the club and team to warrant offering a new (extension) contract. 

I agree you should use facts in any assessment, but it’s not the sole category as facts like statistics (or results if you like), tend to hide key facets like performance, capability to change the team during a game, competence and ability to communicate/ inspire the fans. 
 

On all of the above categories, in my opinion by attending all the home matches DD fails to get close to ‘maybe OK at this’, and should not be considered for retaining. 
 

SG and the board may wish to retain a scapegoat and cover for another season or two to deflect the criticism away from their inept own performance, but that’s not vision, it’s incompetence! 

I would argue the point that if the ICT powers have the desire and (importantly) the Will to move forward, (irrespective of any luck that stays with the team), it is important that a new manager and direction for the team is selected.  If not for that luck (cup twist and results), part time could have been a distinct possibility going forward. 
You could make an equally good argument to ditch SG and most of the board, but turkeys and Xmas ……..

I might as well throw it in, if it’s not already apparent, I will not be renewing and season ticket with DD in the dugout! Couldn’t sit through another season like the one we have just been through to date! 

Well, well,

Here we are again, we have the arrogance and pretence to think we (ICT), are a team of stature, reputation and ability to poo-poo and belittle Falkirk as a Micky Mouse outfit that will be washed aside on to our rightful position against the mighty Celtic in the final. Our only concern is will it by 8, 10 or more goals against us in the final. No matter we will cheer our boys on irrespective of potential Darvel like records being made and all have a great day out!

It’s a Scottish fault fine characteristic failure which is often sorely exposed in sport with football being the biggest exponent of this “wha’s like us” behaviour. 

I don’t open or question whether this miss led bravado is right or wrong, or what other nations really think of us, because I truly believe it is beyond us to change, but forgive me if I don’t join in this way of thinking.

Falkirk, in just about every facet or aspect of their club, be it tradition, fan base, stadium, financial stability and potential are years ahead of ICT. The fact they are currently in a league below us is neither here or there, having watched ICT this season, only the happy clappy would say our manager and players are better than Falkirk’s.  I’ll go further to say our lot would struggle to be in Falkirk's league position if we were in that league. 
 

Anyway, before we start worrying about getting hammered by Celtic in the final let’s give some respect to Falkirk. This will on the day be tough match in my opinion and low behold the consequences to the loosing team! 
 

Sir Roy you mean!!

4 hours ago, tm4tj said:

I get uneasy when the dissenters go all quiet. It's a bit like an olde western when you can't hear the Red Indians at night just before they attack. Quick, form a circle.....

Too late as a burning arrow sets one of the wagons on fire and the horse bites the dust. Women and children first.... Where's the Duke when you need him?

I don’t understand the premise of your point here. Most comments, I believe, of the people that contribute to the forum are ICT fans, turn up and pay their money. From the comments I have read, the bulk appear sincere in the support for the team, but want to be able to comment (for good or bad) on what they see, hear or read regarding the club/match performance and experience. That’s a healthy position I would suggest!! Maybe you don’t and you’re entitled to your view!
 

Just to cemented my point, I have attended all the home matches this season and with few exceptions the team performance has been a hard watch to say the least!
I wrote previously in this forum prior to the Killie match, that to date, I saw no evidence on past performances to see how we could prevail, however we knew on football there was always a chance. (Which we took on the night).

So unlike a few on this topic, I attending on what was a bitterly cold night to support my team. I was delighted and cheering with the rest of the die-hard fans as we matched Killie in energy, effort and no small bit of guile. We should have secured a 3-1 victory but I don’t loose sight of a fantastic result! - Just wish we had applied some of the same attitude in the past games. Spare me trotting out the tired old injuries excuse!! 

Just to pare back a little of the good feel of last nights result, this was at best an average Killie team. The good thing for me was our boys didn’t shrink back to believe they were inferior to a top league team and went on the attack. Dare I suggest the reduction in our usual habit of playing the ball backward from an attacking position helped!! 
 

Anyway - out with the team and manager on the night, credit from me goes to :-

# the young team - awakened and stirred the corpses in the north stand. More flares, tapes upsetting the gentry and general mischief (great),  - crucial on the night I suspect.

# Killie fans - announcer says 2950ish attendance for the match. They brought up over 600 fans in my opinion. (Where were our faithful)? 
On one of Scotland’s coldest days they travelled in numbers at a rotten time, watched and noisily supported their team in defeat to then travel another 3 hours to arrive in Ayrshire around 01:00 Here’s to you Killie fans.

So in conclusion - I turned up and supported and cheered my team onto a fine result! Well done.

I will continue however to express my views on where and when I consider the team, manager, CEO, board or facilities fall short! Unless of course that type of criticism is not allowed here?? 

The biggest night of the season for ICT. In the sports bar 60 min before kickoff. Queue wait 20 min to find no draught drink on tap. Cans or bottles only. Staff behind counter looks like they have never worked In a bar before. Timing for serve and charging snail pace! Does anyone in the broad even know or care just how amateurish it is and it’s lost revenue???