CC Comments Misinterpreted

[RiG]

CHARLIE Christie has revealed comments about his players led him to criticise a minority of the home support following Caley Thistle’s victory on Saturday over Dundee United.

Barry Wilson’s late winner had given Inverness a much-needed three points but manager Christie was unhappy at the backing given to his players in the post-match press conference afterwards.

Christie, however, feels the way in which his comments were reported in Sunday’s newspapers could be construed as being more negative than he had intended.

“I read the reports in Sunday’s newspapers and I was a little bit disappointed because I felt it was done very negatively.

“The point I was trying to get across was simply that the supporters need to give the players their full backing, especially when it’s 0-0 in games.

“It is a well-known fact that players can get a huge lift from the crowd and we needed our support to do that on Saturday.

“At times I think it’s too easy for a minority of our support to have a little go when things aren’t perhaps going well, but they have to realise it’s at this point that the players need them most.

“Because the stadium can be a bit quiet at times, I heard certain comments from a few individuals about one or two of the players and it really left me very disappointed.

“The players know that they didn’t play well on Saturday, but in general our home performances this season have been pretty decent.

“I just felt they had given so much to the cause against Celtic the previous weekend that when they needed a lift on Saturday they didn’t get it.”

Mairi MacLean, secretary of Caley Thistle’s supporters’ club, was in her usual seat in the North stand for Saturday’s encounter and while she has sympathy with Christie and the players in terms of some of the criticism they receive, she is also worried his comments may have done him more harm than good with supporters.

“Any manager that has a bit of a go at their own supporters risks them turning against him,” she stated. “Fans pay a lot of money now to go to games, both home and away, and they will not appreciate comments from their manager criticising them.

“Their probably are some supporters who are critical of the team and Charlie Christie, and always will be, but I don’t think there’s much you can do about that.”

MacLean confirmed preliminary talks have taken place between Caley Thistle fans and the club’s chairman, Alan Savage, about the possibility of having a section for fans who want to sing at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

The idea has been mooted for some time and Christie admits he would welcome any move to improve the atmosphere at home games.

“I know it’s something that has been discussed within the club and I think it would be good if you could get all the fans who want to sing sitting together,” he added.

Meanwhile, Christie has confirmed Caley Thistle will decide later this week whether or not to appeal Grant Munro’s sending off against United. The 26-year-old, who was making his 200th appearance for Inverness on Saturday, received a straight red card in the final few minutes for a late challenge on Barry Robson.

Christie has seen the incident on television, but said he wants to see it once more before deciding if it is worthwhile making an appeal.

“I’m still a bit undecided and I will study it more in-depth,” he said. “We have seven days to appeal, so there is time to make a proper decision.

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fu...nder_fire_.html

Given that CC says he heard what some people were saying about the team sounds like his anger is directed at one or two folk in the North Main Stand.

Interesting bit about another one of these signing singing sections. Will be interesting if anyone actually takes it up this time!

[L_G]

I sit in the main stand section lower C.  CC can clearly hear some of the comments from behind me and they must be really annoying.  Some very negative regarding individual players and some very nasty towards Charlie himself. When and who to sub etc.  You can tell that it annoys him and to be fair there are not many of us who would take such direct critisism without retaliation.  I think he just has to learn to be a bit more clever when the press are involved as it's their job to get stories and they just need a small thing to fill the columns.

There was one game when Charlie actually turned round and told the guys behind me to 'shut up' or words to that effect.  :015:

[maimie]

RiG - i suspect that it would be difficult for Charlie to hear what is said from the North Stand and know that what he is hearing is coming from a small section in the Main Stand who are critical of the players and Charlie at every opportunity.

As for the singing section there are some logistics to iron out here but at the end of the day it will be very much reliant on the supporters taking it up..

[+Gringo]

Bring back the terracing and the atmosphere will look after itself. Out of the clubs hands I know, but that is the main cause in my opinion.

[RiG]

RiG - i suspect that it would be difficult for Charlie to hear what is said from the North Stand and know that what he is hearing is coming from a small section in the Main Stand who are critical of the players and Charlie at every opportunity.

I actually typed North Stand, thought that's wrong it should be Main Stand, then never actually edited it!  :017: :015:

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Fan power and feedback appear to be exerting an influence fer once.

Just read the text in CC's comments and feel the reflection of self - criticism seeping in. A fairly equal combination of taking a portion of the blame but also, quite rightly, giving a clear rationale fer his frustration with the fans and players - put in a far less evocative fashion and in a manner NONE of us could argue about. I could be available to help him take his communication skills to a higher level. - BUT WELL DONE CHARLIE CHRISTIE.  :001:

And WELL FECKIN DONE MAIMIE. It must have placed ya in a rather sensitive position to give such a strong quote to the press - and again the content was fairly divided between constructive criticism and support.  :022:

But being a born cynic - Please assure me that this was NOT a contrived combination of quotes from two "influential" individuals.

As fer the "singing" section - has that ever been formally and "professionally" put forward as a structured proposal or has it always been a hot air / reactive type suggestion? I feel that we should get a SMALL cross-section forum of fans to put together a structured , thought out proposal to the Board. Although I am a distant "influence" my work ensures me that I am adept at writing up protocols, policies and proposals at a senior management level ( my other personna should I add  :001:) and I would be happy to draft up a structured proposal - easy enuff in the days of e-mail and fax.

But one more thing Maimie - If ya had said " And he fecked the Cellic game up totally" - it may have induced an equally rational response?

[maimie]

Thanks Boss! :001:

As for being born a cynic - I'm hardly 'influential' and imo I said what I said (and probably a bit more... :004:).  How the paper puts things together is a different matter...

The Singing Section...  I'll see what you've got in your other post before i put an answer here about where it's at

[hrw1]

CHARLIE Christie has revealed comments about his players led him to criticise a minority of the home support following Caley Thistles victory on Saturday over Dundee United.

Barry Wilsons late winner had given Inverness a much-needed three points but manager Christie was unhappy at the backing given to his players in the post-match press conference afterwards.

Christie, however, feels the way in which his comments were reported in Sundays newspapers could be construed as being more negative than he had intended.

I read the reports in Sundays newspapers and I was a little bit disappointed because I felt it was done very negatively.

The point I was trying to get across was simply that the supporters need to give the players their full backing, especially when its 0-0 in games.

It is a well-known fact that players can get a huge lift from the crowd and we needed our support to do that on Saturday.

At times I think its too easy for a minority of our support to have a little go when things arent perhaps going well, but they have to realise its at this point that the players need them most.

Because the stadium can be a bit quiet at times, I heard certain comments from a few individuals about one or two of the players and it really left me very disappointed.

The players know that they didnt play well on Saturday, but in general our home performances this season have been pretty decent.

I just felt they had given so much to the cause against Celtic the previous weekend that when they needed a lift on Saturday they didnt get it.

Mairi MacLean, secretary of Caley Thistles supporters club, was in her usual seat in the North stand for Saturdays encounter and while she has sympathy with Christie and the players in terms of some of the criticism they receive, she is also worried his comments may have done him more harm than good with supporters.

Any manager that has a bit of a go at their own supporters risks them turning against him, she stated. Fans pay a lot of money now to go to games, both home and away, and they will not appreciate comments from their manager criticising them.

Their probably are some supporters who are critical of the team and Charlie Christie, and always will be, but I dont think theres much you can do about that.

MacLean confirmed preliminary talks have taken place between Caley Thistle fans and the clubs chairman, Alan Savage, about the possibility of having a section for fans who want to sing at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

The idea has been mooted for some time and Christie admits he would welcome any move to improve the atmosphere at home games.

I know its something that has been discussed within the club and I think it would be good if you could get all the fans who want to sing sitting together, he added.

Meanwhile, Christie has confirmed Caley Thistle will decide later this week whether or not to appeal Grant Munros sending off against United. The 26-year-old, who was making his 200th appearance for Inverness on Saturday, received a straight red card in the final few minutes for a late challenge on Barry Robson.

Christie has seen the incident on television, but said he wants to see it once more before deciding if it is worthwhile making an appeal.

Im still a bit undecided and I will study it more in-depth, he said. We have seven days to appeal, so there is time to make a proper decision.

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fu...nder_fire_.html

Given that CC says he heard what some people were saying about the team sounds like his anger is directed at one or two folk in the North Main Stand.

Interesting bit about another one of these signing sections. Will be interesting if anyone actually takes it up this time!

Not sure that a signing section will really help the atmosphere :014:, however a singing one might!!

[RiG]

Ammended.

[Jay_7]

Singing section is a good idea, I'd definately be interested.  Is this actually going to materialise for next season though?

[DJS]

Ammended.

Should that not be "Amended"  :015:

So much for a university education!

[Jay_7]

Ammended.

Should that not be "Amended"  :015:

So much for a university education!

I thought he went to learn how to count squirrels!  :015:

[RiG]

Oh bloody ****!  :015:

I'm going in a huff and locking the thread at this rate!  :008:

[DJS]

Ammended.

Should that not be "Amended"  :015:

So much for a university education!

I thought he went to learn how to count squirrels!  :015:

which he could have done in the press box of TCS.  :015:

[dead_ball_specialist]

My estimation of CC went up when I read the Courier this week, but this diplomatic olive branch doesn't change the fact that ICT are still a non-fan-friendly club. Inverness is not a particulary wealthy town, and large swathes of the population are virtually excluded from supporting the club on a regular basis by the financial burden imposed upon them at the gates. With the cost of property and renting sky high, thouands of us are really feeling the squeeze.

The club should introduce means testing for ticket prices. Sunderland have a scheme like this and get HUGE crowds despite being absolutly tosh. Working class fans on lower incomes should be given some leeway... Snobs and presbeterian eberneezer-geezers might be unhappy at the prospect of the less well off getting in for a bit less than them, but surely those of us with a social conscience wouldn't object?

It makes better business sense than the current 'one size fits all' pricing system, and the thousands of empty seats that it's responsible for. Working class fans also tend to be louder and less reserved than the much maligned 'sweetie rustlers', so it also makes football sense.

[RiG]

The club should introduce means testing for ticket prices. Sunderland have a scheme like this and get HUGE crowds despite being absolutly tosh. Working class fans on lower incomes should be given some leeway... Snobs and presbeterian eberneezer-geezers might be unhappy at the prospect of the less well off getting in for a bit less than them, but surely those of us with a social conscience wouldn't object?

Sunderlands crowds have fallen by some 13,000 in the last few years. Also they aren't doing as badly as you might think. They are looking good for a return to the EPL on current form.

[mainstander]

dead ball specialist - are you having an especially bad night or what? Im wondering if its even worth replying to your last one about MEANS TESTING its so absurd. Lets see, how do they organise this? Pay by post code? Pay by car engine size? Better still you produce your tax return at the turnstile and the guy says "Well, your a poor sod to be sure. You only earn 150 quid a week. Ill let you in for a fiver.. lets make it £4.50. NEXT! Now your a rich *******. And a snobby "eberneezer geezer" into the bargain. Two hunner notes or p!ss off! NEXT! Oh dear me. Yove only got your benefit. Tell you what we wont charge you at all. In fact theres a couple of quid for a pie. Hang on tho! Ive seen you do homers as a windowcleaner so on second thoughts lets say you hand over 20 quid..... oh dear theres half time and Ive only managed to let let 20 people in. And no, we dont accept Giros as part payment."

Try that one at Tescos.

And what do you do to prove you are "working class" to get a further fiver off? Produce your Labour party card? Sorry! Forgot they dont do working class any more!

Lets get a grip here. I know a lot of people think the prices are steep but as I saw somebody else posting on here the other week, what we pay is still a fraction of what it costs to put the team on the park so were getting a pretty cheap deal as it is.

Why are so many ICT fans so miserable? We get SPL football up here and some people just seem to have moaned like b***ery about it ever since.

Power to the People DBS!

[dead_ball_specialist]

Welcome to the forum Baroness Thatcher!  :024:

Of course I'm not saying you do the admin at the turnstyle, but for season tickets I'm sure a simple system could be set up. Sunderland manage it, so it's not rocket science. Imagine a supporter, Mr Jones, who is earning £11,000 a year, he has 2 kids who he wants to take along to the football - as things are he simply wouldn't be able to afford it.

If we want to get more people coming to games and supporting the club, we have to make it more accessible.

You'd really begrudge Mr Jones and his kids a reduced-price season ticket, and would rather have empty seats in their place?

[reefinweedallday]

Just another example of Charlie Christie showing his contempt for the fans,the man needs to get the chip of his shoulder :023: :023:

[ictchris]

Let's hope Charlie does a Brian Clough next time and starts battering any boo boys  :015: