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Kilmarnock -V- Inverness CT - Preview

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Bring back Bobby, even though he is 12 stone too old!

Inverness travel to the scene of their finest ninety minutes of this season when they visit Rugby Park to take on the team that cheered most of Scotland, deserved League Cup winners Kilmarnock. Looking for a repeat of the previous visit will maybe be a tad optimistic, but there are still positions to be played for before the season ends and Killie have often been good to us in terms of donating points.

Gavin Morrison is off to Iceland, and that's not just for his frozen food shopping, he is on loan until August, when our season starts again and the experience will do his prospects no harm at all. Gavin has not featured much this season with injuries and loanees curtailing his appearances so this will be an ideal opportunity to get off and running before the new season starts.

The lack of home based players has been a hot topic this week as the Inverness branch of the Foreign Legion took to the field against Aberdeen. Not one Scot in the starting eleven. Some of that was down to Injury (Ryan Esson) the rest was down to suspension as Ross Tokely and Graeme Shinnie missed out. Ryan and Graeme are Scottish and Rossco is superman and he is from the planet Krypton. I fully expect the outfield players to be re-instated along with Greg Tansey the third suspended player, but Esson may have to bide his time after his groin injury.

There were plenty talented players on display last weekend at Inverness, unfortunately for the fans, none of them showed up on the Saturday for the game against Aberdeen where own goal specialist Roman Golobart scored his third OG of the season and not to be outdone, Kenny Gillet did likewise. Doh! Quality was at a premium in this game and Inverness ran out of ideas pretty quickly before the inevitable happened. Anyone looking for a new contract better think again, for the effort and passion were sadly missing.

Least said the better, however the fans that turned up on the Sunday for Grant & Russells testimonial witnessed something rarely seen at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. (40 stone) Bobby Mann sprayed 40 yard passes as if they were going out of fashion, Charlie Christie put his foot on the ball in midfield and the little general controlled the play as he owned Derek Adams, and Jimmy Calder pleased both sets of fans as he dribbled his way out of trouble half a dozen times. Nothing changes there. Special mention for Rossco who zipped up and down the wing like Usain Bolt as he scored two goals. All in all it was a great day for Grant Munro and Russell Duncan as Inverness strolled to a 4-0 victory over Ross County, a sign of things to come perchance?

But, there's no point in me rambling on when Capital Caley has been on the happy pills and has this excellent preview ready for your tastebuds.

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Remember remember the 5th of November!

This season has been full of doom and gloom, disappointment and failures. There have been few moments to cheer about, but remember remember the 5th of November. Nearly 6 months have passed since the 9 goal thriller at Rugby Park. Caley Thistle scored 6 spectacular goals that day courtesy of Jonny Hayes, an Andrew Shinnie hat trick, and a Gregory Tade double. Since that game, Kilmarnock have gone on to win the Scottish Criminals Spare Change Cup. Killie saw off domestic treble winners Celtic. That doesn’t sound right. Domestic double winners Celtic. No, still something wrong. Domestic single winners Celtic. That’s more like it. Nothing personal, Neil! However, Killie have struggled in the league and have suffered heavy defeats, even to relegation threatened Dunfermline for Fawkes Sake!

Kenny Shiels appears to play a Steve Paterson all out attack style of play, which provides goals at either end of the park. The problem with this is, that there may be 3-2 and 4-3 victories, but there’s also 6-0 and 6-3 defeats! Kilmarnock have been so inconsistent in the 12 months since Kenny Shiels took over, that they have not won a football match out with Kilmarnock, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Most Caley Thistle fans would be happy with a little bit of inconsistency this season. The 2011/2012 campaign has been consistently garbage for the Caley Jags. But, remember remember the 5th of November.

With Caley Thistle fans worrying what the future season brings and many fearing the drop, I hope the team can show their worth and score at least another 6 goals on Saturday. However, the chances of that happening are slim. Ending the season on a winning run would help ease the fears for next season. Another defeat on Saturday will only increase fears that Caley Thistle will be in a relegation scrap with FC Paisley Road West next season. Of course, there is still the unthinkable but mathematically possible scenario that Caley Thistle will be in a relegation scrap with Cowdenbeath next season.

Last weeks 2-0 defeat at home to Aberdeen typified a poor season. There were some raised eyebrows amongst the Caley Thistle support and the press about the lack of Scots in the starting XI. A team full of foreigners is something we are not used to at the Caledonian Stadium. Hopefully, starting with this game some of the younger players can feature. After all, the more experienced players have struggled all season. It will be a much changed starting XI from Caley Thistles 6-3 victory on Bonfire Night. With Ryan Esson injured, David Davis back at Championship bound Wolves (and a new contract to boot), Andrew Shinnie injured and the back line being changed so often, Killie won’t be playing against the same team. Billy McKay was on the bench that day and had still not broken into the starting XI. Even Aidan Chippendale featured as a late substitute.

Caley Thistle have been boosted by Aaran Doran's return to fitness in the last couple of weeks. Where we have influential players such as Andrew Shinnie sidelined by injury, Doran can step in and create that spark that we have been missing. If the starting XI play to their best potential (and importantly in their favoured positions) on Saturday then there is potential for our ‘foreign’ team to turn on the samba style again (Yes I know, happy clapping to the max there!!!) But having Hayes sprinting down the right wing, Doran attacking on the left and Tade running the Killie defence breathless alongside McKay, then we have a strong attacking team. It is almost impossible to guess Terry and Mo’s starting XI as it changes so often, but there are players available for Saturday that can and have turned on the style before.

One player Caley Thistle won’t be calling on however is Bobby Mann Gavin Morrison. Gavin flew out to Iceland on Wednesday to start a 4 month loan spell with Grindavik. The training facilities and match experience will hopefully help Gavin push into the starting XI next season. Another player who achieved more important experience this week is Graeme Shinnie, who will likely feature against Killie. Graeme came off the bench in Scotlands U21’s 4-1 defeat to Italy.

Of course Terry Butcher won’t be underestimating Kilmarnock who have some excellent players such as Paul Heffernan and SPL player of the year candidate Dean Shiels. This duo have the potential to cause the Caley Thistle defence problems.

I don’t expect a large crowd from Sneck to descend on Rugby Park on Saturday. However, for the small group that do make it to the game, we will be willing and hoping, maybe even praying for a victory. Mathematical safety and pride are at stake on Saturday.

CapitalCaley’s prediction:-

I’d like to predict another hammering of Killie, and another ‘Jimmy says aye to a Killie Pie’ conga. As I write this, William Hill will give odds of 550/1 on a repeat 6-3 victory for Caley Thistle!!! A Kilmarnock victory is at 6/5, Inverness victory at 12/5 and a draw at 11/5. Nothing too exciting there unless you decide to back the 550/1 score line of course.

However, I believe that after more defensive mistakes last week, the team will be extra careful at the back. Kenny Shiels won’t want a repeat of the last time Caley Thistle played at Rugby Park and again he will be cautious. So, at 8/1 from William Hill, if you stick on a line for a 1-0 Caley Thistle victory, you can buy me a pint(s). Kilmarnock 0-1 Caley Thistle. Remember remember the 5th of November. Lets hope that after this Saturday, the 28th April will be a memorable date for Caley Thistle supporters.

***Latest Team News***

Inverness have Tokely, Tansey, and u21 star Shinnie all back after suspension, but Esson may not be risked yet and Gavin Morrison is off on loan. The unfortunate David Proctor injured a hamstring in the testimonial and misses out.

Kilmarnock news to follow......

Great preview Capital Caley, I hope you are right, see you in Fannies.
By PaderbornCaley in Previews 2011-12 ·

Quids in with Supporters Trust

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The Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Trust Board today (25th April) launched thier new “Quid’s In” membership plan. With immediate effect, the Trusts membership fee has been reduced to £1 and the annual renewal fee set at zero.


Membership is open to all fans and the £1 is used to secure the members share in the Trust which entitles them to attend and vote at General Meetings of the Society. Under 16’s are unable to hold a share or vote but are just as welcome to join the Trust. Young fans are the future and we are keen to engage with and include them as much as possible. In addition, we will be introducing a separate Member Benefits Scheme.

The above is in line with the inclusive nature of the organisation and, by seperating the two aspects, the cost of member benefits will no longer be a barrier to those who wish to be a part of, and contribute to, the Trust. It also allows us to deliver the member benefits independenly in a way, and at a cost which is of benefit to the fans, the club and the community which it serves.

Talks will be taking place with the club over the coming weeks to see how best we can work together on compiling a package of benefits, but we are also interested in hearing from any business or organisation who may wish to partner with us.

Trust Members Secretary, Don Johnstone, said “We are constantly evaluating what we do and where we sit within the ICT Community and with some tough times ahead for Scottish Football then it’s more important than ever that the fans pull together and that we are prepared for whatever is around the corner.”

Supporters Trusts are often portrayed as being there to wrestle ownership and control of clubs back from private individuals and corporate owners, but that’s not been the case at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The Supporters Trust do have a 10%+ voting right in the Club and it’s important that as many fans as possible are involved in how that voice is used, however it’s just as important to concentrate on finding ways for club and fans to work together.

Support is a two way street and the club have thrown their weight behind the “Quid’s In” plan by including a membership application with every season ticket renewal that goes out this year.

Club Chairman, Kenny Cameron said “We have a very close working relationship with the Trust Chairman Peter Murphy and his Board and it is pleasing to see this new initiative come to fruition.

We are always keen to develop the links between the Club and the fan base and hopefully in the not too distant future we will see all the fan groups come together under the one umbrella, something that everyone at the club would be keen to see. Strength in depth and continually looking at ways of increasing membership can only add to the voice of the fans in terms of their dialogue with the club.

The club are delighted to assist with the distribution of membership application forms, and I am sure Peter and his Board would be only too happy to provide further detail on the operations of the Trust should this be required by any prospective members.”

The ICT Supporters Trust was formed back in 2005 when a new, more open and democratic, fans organisation was needed to inherit the protected rights of the fans which had been secured by the previous Members Club following the clubs formation back in 1994.

Don Johnstone explains “We are a not-for-profit, fully democratic (one member, one vote) society who operate primarily for community, as opposed to member, benefit...perhaps easier to think of us as a co-operative, where the strength of the group can be greater than the sum of its parts.”

However....representing and promoting the interests of the ICT Fans is only one facet of the Supporters Trust.

Don Johnstone commented “We also work hard to strengthen the bonds between the club and the community it operates within. That might sound a little boring, but the best way to encourage everyone to work together is to get them playing together. We do that in a variety of ways with the different events we run...and that entails having plenty of fun. It also allows us to raise the funds needed to support the various projects we get involved in.”

For those who wish to join the ICT Supporters Trust, a form can be downloaded from the website at www.ictsupporterstrust.co.uk
By CaleyD in News 2011-12 ·

Inverness CT -V- Aberdeen - Report

Despondent Dons better than dire Inverness.
 
Nobody expected much to happen today given the form of the two teams on display and the poor crowd confirmed that the novelty of SPL football has worn pretty thin. Sadly, this game was further evidence, if it was needed that something is wrong with the game in Scotland. Aberdeen are a shadow of their former selves, a team who once had the audacity to challenge the Old Firm in the heady days of the Ferguson regime. Today they were the better of two poor teams on show, something akin to a Highland League, end of season reserve game in the bottom six of their league. Yes folks, apathy has set in and we are just going through the motions, and for us it seems to be slow motions. Dire stuff indeed!
The game was won by Aberdeen in the second half, as once again the unfortunate Roman Golobart, sporting a new haircut resembling a toilet brush, scored for the visitors, and Kenny Gillet confirmed our status as utterly hapless when the ball rebounded off him for Aberdeen's second goal in the last minute to signal a mass exodus from the home fans as they witnessed another dreadfully inept performance.
I have been spared the ignomy of reporting on this couldn't care less performance as ajsict92 will tell us how we went from hopeful's to hopeless in 45 minutes of less than rivetting drudgery.
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The Show must go on......but definitely not this one.
Two goals scored at home by ICT...but in a cruel twist they both went into our own net as the home slump suffered yet another personal low against an Aberdeen side that was looking to bounce back from their Scottish cup semi final defeat to Hibs last weekend.
With Tansey, Tokely and Graeme Shinnie all suspended, change to the ICT starting eleven was inevitable, and it saw Steve Williams and Gregory Tade recalled and also a first start since August for Aaron Doran with ICT having both their main out and out wingers in Hayes and Doran back together in the side. Aberdeen had Jamie Langfield back in goals for the first time in almost a year. Langfield fully recovered following a brain seizure he had suffered. Despite the overnight downpour and rumours of a pitch inspection the game was played in beautiful sunshine with the pitch having held firm from the rain.
It was ICT who seemed to begin the better. One or two neat little passes being exchanged here and there but little to trouble Langfield. You couldn't really disagree with those who described this fixture as "typical end of season" game. Aside from some money and those playing for new contracts there was little to gain from a win today.
The first real chance of note fell to Gregory Tade who had a nice swerving shot parried down by Langfield but ICT did continue to press and almost snatched the lead when Jonny Hayes managed to cut inside and a get a low shot away which forced Langfield to make a smart save. Aaron Doran was the next player to test Langfield's gloves with a powerful strike that was rising and needed charging down from Langfield. Three attempts on target, but all too close to the keeper, however at this stage it did look promising.
Aberdeen were struggling to get a foothold in the game and it was looking more likely that ICT were going to sneak the lead. Doran came even closer. Picked up the ball about 25 yards out and curled a lovely shot that went just over the bar. ICT did have the ball in the net from a corner, which was flicked on and saw Steve Williams swivel and dispatch a lovely volley into the net only to find the linesman had raised his flag for offside.
With half time approaching Aberdeen began to find some openings. Josh Magennis, who was playing in an unfamiliar role at right back found himself on a rampant run towards the six yard box that required a wonderful last ditch tackle from Golobart to stop him in his path. Also just as half time was called Ryan Jack managed to evade Williams and release a low shot that had Tuffey rooted to the spot, but fortunately for him and every ICT supporter in the ground much relieved as it crept round the wrong side of the post.
Half time ICT 0-0 Aberdeen
Those that had headed off for a half time beverage, pie or loo break would have barely made it back to their seat in time to watch ICT fall behind in familiar circumstances. Magennis launched a long throw into the area and Golobart managed to divert his clearing header beyond Tuffey's reach and into the back of the net. A rather damning statistic for the young spaniard who has now made it a hat trick of own goals this season. It didn't seem to dampen the mood of the ICT faithful in the North stand as the Drums were taken out which was inevitably followed by the fans close by getting into full voice.
However the support was beginning to wear thin as ICT's search for an equaliser became more and more difficult. The merrymakers were stopped in their tracks at one point when Gregory Tade was racing through on goal only to be bundled over at the edge of the box by Magennis who recieved a yellow card for his exploits. It was debatable that he could have walked as Tade did appear to have a chance to score but at the same time it appeared that Aberdeen had men covering so the referee probably made the correct call. With the free kick so close to the goal you would have expected Langfield to be tested but Williams curled his free kick high over the bar.
Butcher introduced Shane Sutherland and Nick Ross into the action who replaced a less than effective Billy McKay and Gregory Tade, with Sutherland looking more effective than his predecessor in the centre forward role, especially competing in the air with Anderson and Reynolds but ICT were still struggling to break down Aberdeen in the final third with no one in the box for crosses from Hayes or Doran, the odd pass going wrong here, the odd through ball being overhit there. It was an ever familiar tale that was repeating itself and one that is becoming rather sickening the more it is seen.
Aberdeen didn't offer much of a threat going forward but they had the luxury of knowing they didn't need to as they continued to soak up pressure. ICT's efforts were becoming more and more frantic. Inverness won another free kick in a dangerous area when Hayes was chopped down by Anderson and this time it was Doran who took it, his effort was decent with it just going narrowly wide. Not long afterwards he swung in a free kick that found Williams at the back post and despite not being closely marked his header floated high over.
Shane Sutherland then had what was arguably chance of the game. With time running out he collected the ball, beat his man and unleashed a lovely strike which seemed destined for the top corner but unfortunately and some might say typically his effort was inches wide.
As if the match couldn't have got much more painful, as you can guess...it did. In what was a rather mystifying decision, Jonny Hayes was subbed for David Proctor with injury time looming with Steve Williams being shifted up front in as a makeshift striker. Question marks have been raised throughout the season over Proctor's contributions to the team but he did little to silence those critics as within a minute of coming on he was outmuscled and outfought my Magennis who turned him and raced through on goal and despite Jonny Tuffey making a good save from a 1 on 1 the ball simply rebounded of Gillet and trickled into the net to guarantee where the points would finish up at full time.
What followed was that automatic sound of emptying chairs as it became too difficult for many to bare and the chorus of merited boos as the full time whistle went.
Full time - ICT 0-2 Aberdeen
To summarise:- In all honesty I doubt there were many who looked forward to this game or the run in but that's no excuse. With ICT all but mathematically safe and Aberdeen's top six and cup aspirations out the window it's safe to say that both sides have definitely failed what they set out to achieve at the beginning of the campaign. However with both teams containing players that had futures to play for it was clear that very few players were taking that statement seriously. Josh Magennis is one who is in that boat at Pittodrie and for me he was one who seemed to be intent on impressing his boss, he may have been in an unfamiliar role at right back but his performance was good and his effort was first class as he seemed to make the right hand side his own for most of the game and though he wont get the second goal credited to his name he can be happy with his contribution. I didn't see that kind of effort or endeavour from any of our players today. I don't know what that is down to, but it is very worrying that despite losing they seemed to not really give a toss. They can tweet and broadcast what they want to try and convince people they will change but I'm sorry words mean nothing now, put your thoughts into practice boys, not words and buck up your ideas if you really take playing for this club seriously.
ajsict92's MotM - I'm finding it very difficult to pick anyone to be perfectly honest but I'm going to give it to Shane Sutherland. He did more in the time he was on than McKay did in the entire season and he managed to create for himself ICT's best chance of the game where he was very unlucky not to score. He has been persistently used as a winger this season in a position that is definitely not his strongest. He is a centre forward and there were glimpses today that if he is played there more he could definitely get better.
Thanks ajsict92, that's as positive as it gets for this week folks. Killie next week, anyone for 3-6?
21st April 2012 Scottish Premier League Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness C.T. 0 - /media/images/club_badges/inverness.png TEAM:Tuffey, Meekings, Williams, Golobart, Gillet, Tudur-Jones, Hayes (Proctor 88), Foran, Tade (Ross 64), McKay (Sutherland 62), Doran SUBS: Mathieson, Piermayr, Morrison, Winnall Booked: Foran (82) Sent Off: none Aberdeen 2 - Golobart (og.46), Gillet (og.89) /media/images/club_badges/aberdeen.png TEAM: Langfield, Reynolds, Considine, Arnason, Fallon (Smith 54), Fyvie, Magennis, Jack (Clark 78), Megginson (McArdle 70), Anderson, Rae SUBS: Rogers, Mawene, Fraser, Masson Booked: Jack (36), Considine (39), Magennis (61) Sent Off: none Referee S McLean Attendance 3487  
By Scotty in Reports 2011-12 ·

Inverness CT -V- Aberdeen - Preview

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Desperate Dons looking for pick-me-up.

A weekend away from SPL football and already families are at war wondering what to do. I watched Titanic sink about 42 different ways last week, unfortunately the result was the same. Like Dunfermline, Titanic was favourite to go down, and down she went. The Grand National was won by a short nose; or a long horse, that went by the name of Neptune Collonges, pipping Sunnyhill boy ........... Seabass was in third plaice, (see what I did there). The race was marred by the news that two horses were destroyed after suffering at the hands of the Aintree course, and all in the name of sport they say?

Inverness had a week off with the Scottish Cup semi-finals taking place and the results of those games has given us our first all Edinburgh Cup Final since 1896; that's 116 years for the mathematically challenged amongst us. On the Sunday, Hearts cheered up most of Scotland by enraging Neil Lennon (nothing personal Neil) with a late late penalty winner against treble winning, double winning, single trophy winners Celtic, and that with the help of the tax-man. Mr Lennon will serve a two match ban as a result of his antics at the end of the cup semi-final. Our next opponents, Aberdeen, succumbed to eleventh placed Hibernian the previous day which was another minor shock, but not totally unexpected as Hibs sometimes wayward, but nonetheless talented front pairing scored the goals that saw them through, despite a tremendous effort from Rory Fallon to keep the Dons in the tie.

So, Paw Broon will need to pick his side up after their disappointment, and where better for him to do it than at Inverness, where we seem to have the knack of helping teams out of their depression. We don't do it deliberately, but if shooting ourselves in the foot was to become an Olympic Sport, then we would certainly be amongst the medals.

The weekend off for Inverness meant that some players had too much time on their hands and twitter was awash with tranfer rumours fuelled by a mishievious leprichaun and some gullible followers, meh.

Let's get down to the nitty gritty though, with £80k available for every place gained in the table; that is a possible quarter of a million pounds up for grabs for Inverness, not to be scoffed at in these parts where money is tight, and for an Aberdonian, where every penny counts then it is as good as winning the national lottery. The God's have been kind to Inverness in the post split with three home games, although up till now, we have only four wins in Inverness this season, not a statistic we are proud of, but hopefully it will look better by the end of the campaign.

Injuries have blighted most of our season, but recently we have been able to field an on paper, stronger eleven, although the likes of Owain Tudur-Jones has been eased back in delicately after such a season wrecking injury and Jonny Hayes has had to be careful after hamstring issues curtailed his flamboyance somewhat. Aaron Doran will get his chance soon and Andrew Shinnie is targetting an appearance before the season ends, so all is not lost. Of course Chris Hogg and Andrew Shinnie are still part of the long term list, but progress is good for both lads with Hogg in a positive mood and Shinnie back running on his broken foot.

We have not had our troubles to seek this season, and one area we are definitely lacking is in the strikers department. Billy McKay has played his heart out in most games, gamely trying to hold the ball up when it is not floating high over his head, but Gregory Tade, who most fans are willing to do well seems to have gone into a confidence crisis and little is going right for the big man, it's not for the want of trying though. Maybe even trying too hard. It's a thankless task being an Inverness front man, chasing lost causes and when things don't go right at the back, then chasing the game puts even more pressure on the front men to deliver, and that has not happened often enough. McKay has not exactly over exerted the statisticians since getting fit, one solitary goal against Dundee United is a poor return to be honest. I am not convinced that playing him as a lone front man is the sharpest thing to do, and he does need a foil to help him out, that is the job of the manager to decide who fits the bill, when will we see it Terry?

The good news is that our injury list has shortened, however to counterbalance that, the bad news is that our suspension list has grown. Graeme Shinnie, Ross Tokely and Greg Tansey have all fallen foul of the totting up system and will miss the game against Aberdeen. Twenty year old Spanish defender Roman Golobart is treading a fine line and is one booking away from a suspension. Looking at the season so far, Inverness have had five red cards and fifty nine yellows. We are not the best behaved team in the league, but are by no means the worst. Rangers have received six red cards and Hibs are way out on their own with an astonishing seventy three yellows, although they have only one red to their name. It's probably no surprise to Inverness fans that our fiery Captain Richie Foran is our biggest culprit with ten yellows, most for fouling with his mouth no doubt. It would also be no surprise to find out that former Inverness player Ian Black can equal Foran's discretions, but St Mirrens' Jim Goodwin beats the lot with eleven bookings. Three players have been sent off twice, and yes, you've guessed it, Ian Black is one of them, with Aberdeens Ryan Jack and Well's Keith Lasley.

The post split matches offer players the chance to enhance their CV's ahead of the new season, and Inverness have no fewer than twelve of their first-team squad out of contract:— goalkeepers Ryan Esson and Jonny Tuffey, defenders Thomas Piermayr, Ross Tokely, Chris Hogg, David Proctor and Kenny Gillet, midfielders Owain Tudur Jones and Greg Tansey, and forwards Jonny Hayes, Gregory Tade and Billy McKay. Terry Butcher has indicated that he would like to keep as many as possible for next season as they will benefit from another year together after this seasons squad was disrupted with injuries and suspensions. Too many key players out saw Inverness flirt with relegation for most of the season and Butcher would like to put this campaign behind us and move on.

***Latest Team News***

Inverness are two down through long term injuries, Chris Hogg and Andrew Shinnie. Ryan Esson will need at least another week to recover fully from his groin injury. Ross Tokely, Greg Tansey and Graeme Shinnie are all suspended and Claude Gnakpa has left the building, Butcher ending his contract now to give Claude the chance to move on. He had made eight appearances, with six of those coming from the bench. The shackles have been released from Gregory Tade as he has been offered a contract for next season already. Maybe this will allow the enigmatic Frenchman to open up and let the tricks flow, as he has been a bit reserved recently

Aberdeen boss Craig Brown will shuffle his pack after the disappointment of last week and Jamie Langfield will be starting, with squad places for youngsters Cammy Smith and Jamie Masson. Gavin Rae is back in contention after missing the cup game. Clark Robertson will miss the drive along the A96 after injuring his knee in training. Darren Mackie and Stephen Hughes are out along with Peter Pawlett, Mo Chalali, Isaac Osbourne, Rob Milsom and Yoann Folly. Looks like the Dons have inherited our lengthy injury list.

tm4tj Prediction:- If I had a penny for every prediction I have got wrong, then I would be a rich man. However, this one looks to have a more than even chance of being close to the mark. Neither side have set the heather on fire recently and the Dons are in despondency after their Scottish Cup exit at the hands of lowly Hibernian. Gregory Tade has received a lift with the news he will have a contract for next season and our injury list is as good as it gets for this season. Gnakpa has returned south but will not be missed as most of his eight appearances were as a substitute. If there are two more defence minded managers in the SPL, then I have yet to see them and for that reason, I will go for a 0-0 draw. My second guess would be 1-0 for the home side, but given our suspension list then it's possible that the Dons could sneak an away win. With that in mind, I'll stick to my original guesstimate and go for the draw.
By tm4tj in Previews 2011-12 ·

The Return of Grant & Russell

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Many people made plenty of noise when Grant Munro and Russell Duncan left Inverness at the end of the season after gaining promotion back to the SPL at the first time of asking. There were loud murmurs for them to return to Inverness and once more grace the hallowed turf at the Caledonian Stadium, especially with Inverness struggling defensively as injuries began to take there toll. But these players had moved over the bridge to join rivals Ross County, and they have certainly made an impact, with County poised to make the step up.

Well, back by popular demand the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle favourites will be playing once more on Tommy's turf in a testimonial game for two of the players who were deemed surplus to requirements after lifting the first division championship at the end of season 2009/2010. Between them they amassed a total of 720 appearances in the red white and blue of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. These guys have been fantastic servants to this club and well deserving of a healthy turn out at this testimonial match, where Ross County will provide the opposition.

For the first half of this testimonial, we may get an insight into how the new first division champs will fare in next seasons SPL as both clubs will field their current squad players. The second half will see legends from both sides perform, I wonder if we can spot the difference.

These two players have totalled over 21 years of passionate service to Inverness CT and have been an integral part of the club, helping to shape the history of our team. Grant had captained his home town team for a number of years and when County are officially promoted that will be his third step into the SPL. Russell has recently been loaned out to Peterhead and his battling midfield qualities will be welcomed at Balmoor.
<style type="text/css"><!-- .centre {text-align: center;} .justify {text-align: justify;} --> </style><table border="0" cellpadding="10" width="95%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td width="47%"><img src="/ccs_files/images/player/misc/munro200.jpg" hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left">Grant was signed on an "S" form and was part of the Caley Thistle first team squad for 13 seasons. For his first three seasons he was a youngster attempting to make the breakthrough.

He only made a total of 10 appearances between August 1998 and August 2001 and was also loaned out for part of each season (to Fort William [98/99], Clach [99/00] and Elgin [00/01]) as manager Steve Paterson sought to carefully develop his talents.

However his break came in season 2001/02 where he made 22 starts for the club and by the end of season 2010/11 he had racked up a total of 367 appearances for ICT (352 starts) and scored a respectable centre half total of 17 goals.

As a youngster he developed a good partnership with Bobby Mann and when Mann left at the end of 2003/04 season, Grant became the rock at the heart of the ICT defence, first with Stuart McCaffrey and then as one half of probably the best central defensive partnership ICT have ever had alongside Darren Dods.</td>
<td width="6%"> </td><td><img src="/ccs_files/images/player/misc/duncan200.jpg" hspace="10" vspace="5" align="right">Russell came to ICT from Aberdeen in the summer of 2001 but it was not his first visit to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. He had previously captained the Scottish U-16 team here in a 5-1 victory over England in 1997 !

Russell was a bit of an enigma in terms of fan appreciation. Many saw him as an "unsung hero" who often failed to get the credit he was due, whilst others would bemoan some of his performances and recount each and every missed pass. However, it is a fact that ICT results with him in the team tended to be better than when he was out of it ....

His importance to the team can perhaps be gauged by looking at his appearance statistics. In 10 seasons with the club, through the span of 6 different managerial regimes, Russell never played less than 29 games in any season ... thats someone who the manager knows he can rely on !!!

In the end, Russell made 353 appearances for ICT (318 starts) and scored 11 goals. It may only have been 11 goals but as every Inverness fan will know, Russell only scored spectacular ones, most of them coming from outside the box.</td>
</tr> <tr> <td class="centre">Debut (squad): 4th Aug 1998
Debut (played): 2nd Jan 1999
50th appearance: 13rd Nov 2002
100th appearance: 27th Oct 2004
200th appearance: 3rd Mar 2007
300th appearance: 24th Oct 2009
Last Game: 14th May 2011
First Goal: 16th Feb 2002</td> <td class="centre"> </td> <td class="centre">Debut (squad): 4th Aug 2001
Debut (played): 4th Aug 2001
50th appearance: 28th Sep 2002
100th appearance: 17th Jan 2004
200th appearance: 25th Nov 2006
300th appearance: 31st Oct 2009
Last Game: 14th May 2011
First Goal: 13th Oct 2001</td> </tr></tbody></table>
By CaleyD in News 2011-12 ·

CTO Player of the Month - March

Teaser Paragraph:
<style type="text/css"> <!-- .style21 {color: #FFFFFF} --> </style> <p>March was not a particularly enjoyable month for ICT players and fans; it brought us a superb win at Aberdeen, but also some disappointing defeats at Tannadice and at home to St Johnstone, as well as a draw with Kilmarnock.

But Spanish defender Roman Golobart can take some positives from those games, in the form of three Man of the Match awards as he earned his second Player of the Month award of the season. In the process, Golobart has managed to displace Graeme Shinnie at the top of the overall leaderboard. Shinnie had been at the top of the pile since September but not any longer - with the season coming towards its end, our on-loan man from Wigan is in pole position to be CTO's Player of the Year!

It was also a solid month for Ross Tokely, almost unanimous man of the match against St Johnstone, who picked up 43 votes to Golobart's 59 and moves up to fourth in the overall standings. There's life in the old dog yet!

The lack of votes for the Dundee Utd game (understandable for a televised away game on a Monday night) meant that no fewer than six members of the squad picked up points for the Player of The Year standings, as per the CTO Player of the Year rules.</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="85%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#FF0000"> <td colspan="6"><span class="style16 style21">Overall quantity of votes cast for each player in March: (<em>Used to decide Player of the Month</em>)</span></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> <td><strong>Player</strong></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>05/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>10/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>24/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>28/03</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>TOTAL</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#000099"> <td><span class="style4 style21">Roman Golobart</span></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">6</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">25</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">14</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">14</span></div></td> <td><div align="center"><span class="style21">59</span></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ross Tokely</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">28</div></td> <td><div align="center">43</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Billy McKay</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">14</div></td> <td><div align="center">32</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Graeme Shinnie</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">10</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> <td><div align="center">21</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jonny Tuffey</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">15</div></td> <td><div align="center">19</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Greg Tansey</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">10</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gregory Tade</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Richie Foran</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sam Winnall</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">7</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Owain Tudur-Jones</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Nick Ross</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Josh Meekings</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shane Sutherland</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ryan Esson</td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Kenny Gillet</td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Claude Gnakpa</td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Thomas Piermayr</td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>&nbsp;</p><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="85%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#FF0000"> <td colspan="11"><span class="style16 style21">Player of the Year Points ~ Current Standings : 2011/12 (<em>Player of Month also highlighted in monthly column</em>)</span></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> <td>Player</td> <td><div align="center"><strong>JUL</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>AUG</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>SEP</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>OCT</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>NOV</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>DEC</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>JAN</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>FEB</strong></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>MAR</strong></div> <div align="center"></div></td> <td><div align="center"><strong>TOTAL</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Roman Golobart</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">12</div></td> <td><div align="center">15</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">16</div></td> <td><div align="center">44</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Graeme Shinnie</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">18</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">13</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">39</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Richie Foran</td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">9</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">31</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ross Tokely</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">29</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gregory Tade</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">8</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">26</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Greg Tansey</td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">25</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ryan Esson</td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">6</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">20</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Kenny Gillet</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">8</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center"> <p>10</p> </div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">20</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jonny Hayes</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">14</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">17</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><em>David Davis</em></td> <td><div align="center"><em>0</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>0</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>2</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>3</em></div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center"><em>9</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>3</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>-</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>-</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>-</em></div></td> <td><div align="center"><em>17</em></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Andrew Shinnie</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><div align="center">10</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">16</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Billy McKay</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> <td><div align="center">10</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Nick Ross</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">5</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jonny Tuffey</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Josh Meekings</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">4</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gavin Morrison</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Thomas Piermayr</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Owain Tudur-Jones</td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Steve Williams</td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">-</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Shane Sutherland</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> <td><div align="center">3</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Chris Hogg</td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">2</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Aaron Doran</td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">0</div></td> <td><div align="center">1</div></td> </tr> </tbody></table>
By hislopsoffsideagain in News 2011-12 ·

The Highland Derby is back

Teaser Paragraph:
Who did put the O and the Y in County?

This weekend, with the focus away from Inverness, and Scottish Cup semi-finals being played, I took a look at what's been happening in the lower league, and look what I found. Our friends and good neighbours from 'over the bridge' are coming to join us next season in the big boys league. They have taken their time getting there, but now they have done it in style with five games still to play and an unbeaten run stretching way back to the second game of the season when Hamilton Accies whipped their ass' 5-1. They seemed to learn from that drubbing and have shown the rest a clean pair of heels since then and are now confirmed as champions after nearest challengers Dundee dropped a point in midweek.

The quaint market town of Dingwall will be hearing a new sound sound come August as all sorts of neanderthals will converge on Victoria Park when the football season starts. The peaceful village sounds of cattle mooing their way along the highways and pegs being sold on the High Street will be a thing of the past.

Yes folks, our neighbours have made the grade, moving up from the SFL and into the bad boys league in the SPL. No longer will it be Queen of the South or Raith Rovers visiting in their dozens, but five thousand Old Firm fans will be trying to squeeze into the revamped Viccy Park, at either end of the ground and the locals now have a massive selection and life style choice to make. Follow Follow, Hail Hail, or Ole Ole Ole Ole.....County, County. It's now the time to leave your Old Firm allegiances behind and support your local team.

Like it or not, congratulations are in order. Let's not piss on their parade. Instead, remember the enjoyment we had on our special day at Ayr and how much fun that brought with it, not to mention a seven goal football feast and a sermon from Allah Butcher, from the pinnacle of the Somerset Park Stand. Aye, memories are made of this. Let them enjoy their moment, for soon enough the harsh reality of SPL life will slowly grind them down and the enjoyment and expectation that promotion brought with it will be a distant memory.

The step up to SPL life may not seem like a big one, as most division one teams see the bottom six in the SPL as no better than half of the fizzy pop league. That may be the case in one off games, but the dog-eat-dog SPL quickly absorbs any silky football, any free flowing flair, and replaces it with cut-throat long ball boredom and defend at all costs, where not losing is seen as more satisfactory than winning games. Very soon the adrenaline rush will be sucked from the fans and replaced with fear and trepidation, the fear of losing, the fear of your rivals winning and the very real fear of relegation, a word synonymous with the SPL.

But don't let me put you off. It's not all doom and gloom. There can be days when the world appears to be a better place, days like beating the Old Firm, days like Kilmarnock (3-6) and days like your first win over certain teams, Aberdeen springs to mind for Inverness fans. However, these can be overshadowed by a string of less than favourable results, the January transfer window or failing to beat teams because your own team are simply inadequate.

County's rise to the promised land has not been meteoric, more pedantic, but nonetheless they have broken free this season after 18 years in the doldrums. Their unbeaten run of thirty league games and counting is a fantastic achievement akin to our own winning season, when Dundee's relentless march to the SPL was halted by our own winning streak as we overturned a 15 point deficit to win the league by 12 points. The similarities are uncanny. We won the title in midweek when Raith beat Dundee, County winning the title in midweek when Dundee failed to win. Our next game:- a celebration at Ayr, County's next game a celebration at Ayr. Then the chance to really celebrate at home, against Dundee, County have the same Dundee in Dingwall this weekend. It's all very Deja Vu.

How the Gudgies will cope with life in the SPL is open to debate. They have a winning mentality at the moment, and that will give them a boost going into the top flight, but when you have to perform at your best week in, week out, then it starts to wear thin. A few home losses then the euphoria turns to anxiety, the anxiety to reality and the reality to a relegation battle, where tension takes over and underachievement is boss. It's a vicious circle, trust me, Inverness have gone through this, worn the T shirt got the hat, but as long as you can come out the other end smiling, then the SPL is for you.

There are a few positives to be drawn from County's success. First on the list are three or four local derbies, ye canna beat them for the rivalry and banter, big crowds and a few drams. Secondly, the Central belt clubs will be a bit cheesed off having to travel the A9 twice as often next season. Third positive for Inverness is less travelling to away games (derbies) and the thought of taking 9 points off County is just magic.

I suppose this is as close to a congratulation as Ross County will receive from CTO, but it would be churlish of us to begrudge them their little bit of history, one which like us, they have earned. There has been the usual mix of emotions on the forums inside here, but the general concensus of opinions is that the fans will welcome the derbies and the opportunity to put one over your nearest rivals. The banter created when the two teams meet will be a new SPL experience for both of us and one which should be embraced by fans of both sides. A Highland derby in the SPL, who would have thought that 18 years ago?

ps. I never did find out who put the O and the Y in County.
By tm4tj in News 2011-12 ·

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