bdu98196

Big January clear out with players like Keatings, White, Walsh, Doran, Donaldson and any other sell-able assets away for 5 figure sums and some youth back from FW? Costs need slashed otherwise it'll be administration and the points deduction that goes with it. Lets hope we can hold off to get enough points until then that we won't be relegation fodder. Those wishing for a wealthy investor and radical changes will likely be disappointed as the numbers associated with income to expenditure just don't stack up unfortunately. What we need is charitable donations on an annual basis as there is no return to consider it investments - so unless there's a business person/group looking to use it as a tax dodge like Uncle Roy we will be out of luck. (If they exist then why have they sat on the sidelines for so many years and not struck when we were at the 'peak'?)

One of the biggest issues is that we seem to have people at the club responsible for PR, communications & community interactions yet over the years this has never improved or kept up with social media or come out with new ideas or formats. I get we have made cuts and maybe some multi-task but it has been a dedicated role in the past also, there are smaller clubs or even fan based formats run better than ours. if the board & club cant be arsed to sell the product and market it locally then who will know about it. Unless you are already a fan or avid follower then there is nothing around town to highlight and advertise upcoming games and 1 shitty board at the side of the A9 only seen coming southbound on the bridge is not adequate. There is a whole town & city centre which seems to be deviod of any link to ICT - FFS visit Dingwall and even on the main street links to RC can be seen in shops and outlets.

The city of Inverness does not deserve a Premiership team and in many ways neither do aspects of the club - those who disagree need to review how 'tin pot' we act. There is no model of sustainability. Financially we don't 'cut our cloth' accordingly and seem against playing or developing youngsters for the longterm. We have poor footfall and an inability to expand the fanbase - those who may cite StJ as similar examples, those have at least they have a good off-field business structure to fall back on. On paper ICT is no better than a Championship club (mid table) until things change - if we achieve higher fans should appreciate and enjoy the success and ventures into the top flight as a novelty and not the expected. There's a host of 'bigger' clubs with better stability in terms of finances, sustainability and community roots that have been out of the Premiership for longer than ICT and have never won a trophy in some fans lifetime.

In the current format, yes. With the lack of footfall and inability of the club to attract new fans no matter how successful it is then the cloth has to be cut accordingly. However, it does not eliminate the questions that need asked as to why or what the various PR & communications employees at the club have ever brought to the role and why it seems to be incapable of having a decent social media presence when everyone understands that is the direction for marketing. The continual process of signing senior or experienced players is not sustainable (even if introducing wage bill cuts) - while I like all fans are happy to watch guys like Storey, Keatings, Todorov etc - this summer my expectation was the youngsters would have filled the team (they are now all out at FW) - regardless of whether deemed ready or not. As a club our youth development is horrific with only players given a real chance already had the football family names and many others who could have done a job were dumped in favour or outside options. It can only be assumed this season is a 'final throw of the dice' going for promotion as financially the future looks bleak and its hard to see how the current squad can be considered economically viable to keep together. No point begging for investors, reality is that the baseline is the business needs to be self sustainable with any investments seen as a bonus and spent accordingly rather than as an expectation.

What in 1 game? White, Storey, Keatings & Doran are all good enough to hit double figures over the course of 38 games. Maybe not a Shankland or Dobbie there but easily goals if our team plays well and gets on a confidence high

Interesting. Most I read was that expectations were DUtd would horse the league with Dundee & PT probably taking up the chase. ICT were discussed as play-off at best with maybe a bit of luck. I would however like to see some where these crazy projections otherwise came from and if its some of the ICT 'minters' (and we do seem to have quite a few of them) on the interweb then I discount those sources as the ramblings of delusion and anyone who didn't treat them as that should probably think about spending time in the padded room next to them.

With Storey scoring last wk his confidence will be sky high and I'm expecting him to turn on the style of the future Ballon d'Or winner we know he is. ICT to rip that Dundee defence apart and walk away with a 3-0 win, 3 points and knowledge that we will always get out of this league before a team from Dundee!!!

Everything to suddenly click and ICT turn it on, with the treat of Storey taking someones place they all up their game and its a comfortable afternoon strolling 5-0* with a White hat trick, before Storey getting a cameo to bang in 2. *could equally be both teams are shite and a drab one nil either way!!!

Years of horrific injuries and long periods in rehab have taken a toll. Still has the vision but not the pace or maneuverability from years ago. Still a capable player but given his history there's unlikely a lot of clubs banging his door down to take the risk unfortunately.

Agreed, but over 3 seasons we have lost 3 - Draper, Vigurs & Chalmers - each with similar but different attributes and all to the same club. The likelyhood of finding another to replace again will be a tough task - I think we all had hopes that Trafford could develop into that role but I think its beyond him. But without someone dominant in the center of the park its going to put a lot of focus on our defence - its an unglamorous role which nobody really notices or recognises but as soon as your team misses someone with those attributes its a real struggle.

Of course Del with his limited budget and attempt to stabilse the Dons as Scotlands 2nd team at that point was happy to spend his budget just to 'get one over ICT'' . He signed those players for several reasons, Tansey for his creative play and ability to pass so he could play alongside Shinnie and allow McLean to push further forwards and Storey because he actually had a decent return of goals in a struggling team and had the pace to offer something different in the Dons defence - something all Dons fans will tell you under Del they lack. The reasons for both their struggles at the Dons are different - but some of this is attributed to ICT itself. While I understand fans desire to always defend and support the club, its somewhat worrying the unconditional loyalty and unwilling to criticise as this is primarily one of the reasons over the last few seasons that the board have treated the fans with such contempt and failed to deliver on most promises while introducing spin that has made many fans turn against some of our better players over that time - citing greed, attitude, desire, commitment etc.

Why, I''d be keen to hear some reasoning behind this golden nugget? Honestly its the deluded pish you expect from OF fans.

Amazing how many fans seem to have issue with Tansey, possibly one of the best midfielders in the league when he was with us, anyone who watched him and his range of passing along with set piece ability cant say he was disappointing. Its a shame his ability and contribution is now seen in such a light given his last 6 months or more he played through constant injuries and given his need for a hernia op on arrival at Aberdeen has given him a reputation as a sick note. Retrospectively how much of his injury issues as attributed to ICT and playing him unfit. There is a link that Meekings, McKay, Tansey, Draper all left and needed major surgery and spent many months out of the game with many failing to ever fully recover and get back to previous form. Always criticised for stating these points but it cant be all coincidental.

Clearly clearing space for Andy Carroll - another overpaid, over-rated donkey that will hike up the wage bill on the train to armageddon II

Too many sheep who blindly follow the board and don't like contrary opinions which may challenge beyond the surface. Couple that with the constant nostalgia and wanking over previous managers & players all the time its often tedious. There are some very good users still on there who understand the concept of balanced debate & banter yet don't resort to blatant self-promotion or if they lack the vocabulary abuse of others. Unfortunately there are less of these as time passes, however I will also say that the lack of input form certain users over the last period is somewhat less of a chore to read through as well.

Linked by who? And a 12 year old on twitter or looking on CTO doesn't count!!!! Given the signings so far nobody had 'linked' us with those players, I'd suggest most of the signings Robbo will make wont be based on fans desires.

We really wouldnt end up with any of them. They are Dunfermline, Falkirk, Raith type targets. It would end up either Barry or Kellogs.

Big difference playing one or 2 games a season V's every second week for all home games . if he goes we will see

Hamilton have an artificial pitch, Doran cant play on that surface and has legs made of glass. Doubtful its a done deal even with Rice in charge.

^ Hardly fair, considering he played through most of the relegation season with an injury same as several others like Draper, McKay, Tansey, Meekings and possibly others, Whether this was their decisions, club pressure or poor management from the medical team its clear that all these guys didn't turn mince overnight and that all once they left to new pastures spent wks on treatment tables. OFW has been made a scapegoat for the bad management at the club and a board who signed players on long term deals that we couldnt afford. He's painted as a guy who has been greedy and part of the problem relating to the clubs financial mess when in reality he is doing what he was contracted to do and has every right to wait it out unless the club offered a mutually agreeable settlement to terminate and move on. The way fans have turned on him is very sad and his treatment is no better than that we saw of Draper, Warren & Raven where the club forced them out and played the press to turn fans.

So with this recruitment I'm assuming are we building for the Championship not the Premiership? While its great we dont miss out and get left behind without options for recruitment at a sensible budget we also have to hope we dont spunk all our cash on a squad without having room to being in some higher quality if we gain promotion.

Its odd that some players like Doran if true would look to agree a deal at Hamilton right now before the play-offs are over as we could yet pass each other by and they end up another year in the Championship and us being promoted. Its unlikely as I fully expect if we play Hamilton that Oakley will come back to haunt us

Probably the treatment room. Some will say that's harsh, but while he's a good creative player with nice touches he's lost a large part of his career through injuries. Over this season he has steadily improved but is still nowhere near what he once was and it's unlikely he will get to that level again. The amount of time spent with serious injury it's inevitable he will be out again for a period and a player who will most likely have to retire early - whether he's at Premiership level anymore is up for debate but Polly has been a better player for us this year whereas a few years back you'd say that Doran would cigar the Championship and be an absolute stand out not just at ICT but overall.

All aboard the administration express...................

Well that shows the weakness in our club at blooding youngsters - we could have 6 play-off games plus a cup semi & final yet - with a thin squad and potential 3 games a wk coming up soon we could really do with reliable and tested players to deputise.