Forfinn

I know some people are (me included). Outside of social media, the Hearts game seemed particularly sparsely attended. I looked up the figures and it was 500 down compared to other games against them in recent seasons. I've just had a look at the St Mirren attendance and it's broadly comparable with previous seasons. Maybe a sign the hardcore support is consistent, but fewer less committed fans who would normally go to the big games are bothering. Probably too small a sample size to make such a sweeping generalisation though.

A number of factors, including, but not limited to: it's a long-term project high player turnover in the summer pre-season disrupted by covid tough opening fixtures we're not getting routinely hammered the chairman stuck his neck out on a controversial appointment However, there's no getting away from the fact this is our worst ever start to a league campaign. Ross County managers have been sacked for much less. Unless we see a marked improvement in the next two games, hopefully that'll be an end to Mackay's sorry tenure.

There's a good argument that the likes of Gardyne and Mckay could have been useful squad players this season. However, they were both high-earning senior players so I understand the need to prioritise within the budget constraints that exist (despite what some people think about Roy's largesse). That said, given what we know of ICT's financial woes, I imagine both took sizeable cuts to their wage while dropping down a level. I wonder how much consideration was given to offering similar cuts to stay on at County to aid the transition to a younger squad?

It still amazes me that the very next day Roy went and appointed Mackay. It's one thing abandoning it all in exchange for success but to abandon it all in exchange for our worst ever start to a season?

I don't know his personal views on the issue, but in his defence, he was receiving representations both for and against the appointment so it would have been a difficult thing for someone in his position to take a side on. However, he did pass correspondence on to the club and I know Steven Ferguson followed up personally on some of the more constructive criticism that was received.

There's a strong argument just to leave them to it but I think it's important to provide balance so I'm continuing to chip in occasionally, even if it's not appreciated.

You're probably right. I guess Mr Toepoker's data only goes back that far. I'm certainly not inclined to check back any further! However, it's fair to caveat it with the way the fixtures have fallen. We wouldn't have expected to get a victory over any of the teams we've played so far. The remaining three games of the first round of fixtures are against St Mirren, Livingston and Dundee - arguably the three teams we should be expecting to beat. So I'll reserve judgement on the footballing side of Mackay's tenure until those games are done.

Given his intervention during our last racism-related controversy, probably best not to. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/ross-county/3185332/ross-county-chairman-roy-macgregor-surprised-by-malky-mackay-reaction-from-fans/?utm_source=twitter

He surely has to get at least one win in the next three games. He can make all the excuses he wants about turnover of players, performances being good etc but no victories in the first round of games has got to be a sackable offence, doesn't it? Narey's Toepoker pointed out on Twitter earlier that this is our worst start to a season since joining the leagues in 1994. A victory or two in this next run of games and that could signal a corner being turned. I do believe the backroom set-up needed professionalised and some of the summer signings have promise. As I've said before, and will no doubt say again, it's just a shame we couldn't have gotten someone in to manage that transformation who isn't Malky Mackay.

I'll believe Ross County are "all in" for Show Racism The Red Card's Month of Action when Malky Mackay uses his platform and experience to educate people about how racism is bad. He had an opportunity to show leadership in that regard on Saturday and chose to criticise the guy making an anti-racism gesture instead. Then the club doubled down on that criticism yesterday. Regardless of whether they think Courts was at it, or whether he just hadn't been briefed, don't say that bit. It looks terrible.

Some Old Firm levels of whataboutery going on from @Merkincher Clach & County. Gonna do us a favour and cut it out?

This is a good shout, btw. Thanks. Will bear it in mind for future trips if Cross Country don't get their timetable back to normal.

I was going to head through to this for my first Ross County game since we were in Motherwell in March last year. Unfortunately, Cross Country appear to have gotten rid of the 45mins direct train from Edinburgh pre- and immediately post-match. I don't much fancy 1hr 32mins via places such as Greenfaulds and Whifflet that I'm not sure exist outside a Scotrail timetable. From what I've read about Motherwell's fans worries about having to take the game to someone, I think 0-0, which County will be delighted with.

Ross County fans haven't been able to attend any of our away games so far this season. The Hibs game was fair enough, they were still limited to 5k fans at that point. However, Aberdeen were entirely at it and given how many empty seats there were at Parkhead on Saturday, Celtic were too. As it turns out, our game against Motherwell on the 25th will be our first league away day since we were last at Fir Park last March. Given Rangers were supposedly able to offer Celtic 700-ish away tickets before later rescinding the offer, it sounds like they're manipulating the situation as well. The SPFL rules are quite clear that away allocations need to be agreed between both clubs and can be taken to the SPFL board if agreement can't be reached. Hopefully our clubs are challenging these decisions behind the scenes. I27 The Home club must make provision for the admission of such reasonable number of visiting supporters at every home League Match and Play-Off Match as may be agreed in advance with the Visiting Club and, in the event of their being unable to agree such number not later than 14 days prior to the date of the League Match or Play-Off Match in question, the number of visiting supporters allowed shall be determined by the Board whose decision shall be final and binding.

Part of me would love to see the favour returned to Aberdeen and Celtic the next time they visit Dingwall. However, I'm not naïve enough to think County could afford to do that. The old "two wrongs don't make a right" saying is probably relevant too.

I originally had a degree of sympathy with Celtic on the basis I understood that there were too many displaced ST holders from the red zone to be rehomed in the seats that went on general sale. However...

Looking forward to attending this as an away fan. What's that? There's no away section? OK, I'll just watch it on PPV instead. You're joking? There's no way for Ross County fans to watch this game legally? Celtic are still the only team to be freezing out away fans entirely? I'm shocked.

I've not seen any figures for Ross County banded about, but expect they'll be down on previous years. Whether that's because of COVID-19 reasons, hiring a manager with a "questionable" background or because kids STs have gone from £5 to £60 remains to be seen. There was an angry backlash against the rise in kids prices, but whilst badly communicated, it does make sense. We had hundreds of seats never being used because they were being bought up for kids without much thought. That's one of the reasons you would always see swathes of empty seats despite games against Rangers or Celtic officially being sell-outs. It's also the case a junior Staggies Army membership, which comes with other benefits as well as a free ST, also costs £60 so there's a wider package available. £60 for 18-19 games also still pretty damn cheap. I can't make many home games but I was considering a ST this year as I bought so many PPV games last season it would almost have paid for itself. As it is, we hired Malky Mackay and I've not spent a penny so far this season. Never mind, eh?

Yes. £15 and it features former Ross County star Mark Hateley. Rumours you can pay extra to not hear him are yet to be substantiated. In terms of the score, County will do well to better the result from the Hibs game.

General sale, 1000 free tickets but no away allocation. Aberdeen taking the piss.

Don't worry, he can sign as many more loan players from England as he likes. The SPFL limit only applies to domestic loans.

Weird that the statement at the time said: "The club can today confirm that John has decided to explore further football opportunities and with the imminent expiry of his contract, John will leave the club." Rather like "deciding" to leave a nightclub after the bouncer has told you to do one. Hopefully it was just a ham-fisted attempt to save Hughes some face rather than anything more disingenuous. This hopefully bodes well though. Sounds like they've gone for a quality bid from a local company rather than simply chasing margins. And for "have committed to maintaining some of the popular product range that has served us so well" read "haggis pies from Deas".

Mark Hateley's spell at Ross County was an interesting one, for those who don't remember it. It got a pretty savage write-up in the Guardian. The quotes from Neale Cooper and Hateley are more memorable than his actual play: Cooper: "I had to consider the effect he was having on the team and, unfortunately, there was a negative reaction to his presence," he said. "We never looked the same team in the last two matches. I don't know why. On the other hand teams we were playing were much more motivated and lifted." Hateley: "I think Neale basically just bottled it," he said. "It's unbelievable. I told him it was just a coincidence the team had gone into a lull and he had to give me a couple of more games, especially as our next two matches were at home.

IIRC, it was never selected by Sky in the first place? A rarity for an Old Firm away game, but they do occasionally pay lip service to other teams. On this occasion, Dundee v Hibs.

It's not a name I can hear without thinking of the antagonist in Peter Rabbit. Maybe rabbit pie will be on the menu of the new caterers?