Could almost have written this myself. Despite a poorer support than us, and playing in a stadium which is probably even more soulless, and pretty much in the domain of the Ugly Sisters, as a newly promoted team they reached the playoffs. Rhys McCabe is an intelligent young manager whose star is on the rise. They have a well-defined style of play where they can pass it out from the back but then when it gets to the midfield, surprise surprise, it doesn't go backwards again and end up with the goalie. As opposed to us where Mark is then forced to kick long and it's now a 50/50, or 20/80 if it's Billy against some 6'5" centre back. They don't score too many goals but they have probably got more out of Toddy than we ever did, and have a bit of a spark in midfield with players like Frizzell. From the games against us plus watching the Friday games on telly, they're my team of the year in this division. They won a trophy too.

HT: 1 - 0 FT: 1 - 0 1st Scorer ICT: McAllister 1st Scorer Mon: Hester Crowd: 2167

I understand that argument, but I do think that they have something to gain or lose. Loanees are mostly guys who are looking to develop their career, and thus to impress their home club, or, indeed, other clubs. One way or another, they are in the shop window. So "not giving a sh*t" wouldn't be a great career move. On the other hand, playing your heart out for the jersey that you happen to be wearing would certainly be a good sign, in my book. Maybe I'm just too idealistic. Hope not.

It didn't need fixing as I was deliberately avoiding the 'we can't afford to replace them' or 'well who else is going to do it' merry-go-round which gets in the way of anything happening. Doing nothing means nothing changes.

A bit like working for the NHS ?

"Biggest game in the clubs history" ....we now enter a series of those. As Yngwie says.....its a little scary. Whatever happens I still say that I've enjoyed the extraordinary ride . Our success has been beyond expectations......our name has gone global.......pride in this should see us over the line. But, as others have said......how many of our current jobbers actually give a sh*t? We will find out over the next couple of weeks.

Mrs Gringo HT: 0-0 FT: 2-1 ICT: Alex Samuel Mon: Gardyne Crowd: 2388 Gringo HT: 0-0 FT: 2-1 ICT: Billy Mckay Mon: Hester Crowd: 2335

HT. 1-0 FT. 2-1 ICT. Harper Opp. Hester Crowd. 2084

FTFY.

One question for those trying to defend or excuse those who've overseen the running of the club the last few years. Regardless of where it started and who's to blame, do you trust or think that Morrison and Gardiner are capable of digging the club out of the mess it is in right now?

HT. 1-1 FT 2-1 1st ICT Scorer. Alex Samuel 1st OPP scorer. Lyons Crowd. 2325

HT: 0-0 FT: 2-0 ICT; Samuel Mon: Hester Crowd: 2024

Scotty HT: 1-0 FT: 2-0 1st Scorer ICT: Samuel 1st Scorer Mon: Hester Crowd: 2155 CDN Girl HT: 0-0 FT: 1-0 1st Scorer ICT: Mckay 1st Scorer Mon: Gardyne Crowd: 2501 SOS HT: 1-1 FT: 3-2 1st Scorer ICT: Harper 1st Scorer Mon: Lyons Crowd: 2294

We had a 'Director of Sport' recently. I don't know what other sports we were involved with other than football but he certainly didn't seem to do much of anything other than commentating at Victoria Park every second week and cutting the grass behind the jannies house at the IRA on the pitches we used to play on. I totally see where you're coming from around our lack of direction in terms of a long term vision or strategy. We have never done this well. The club rely massively on the ICT Community Trust to try and connect with the wider community and to promote the ICT 'brand' which is backwards imo. There have been some other steps that have been positive like now having an ICTWFC Academy linked to the club and my daughters are proud to represent ICT but that doesn't bring in any new paying fans. Plus as OCG has explained there's little extra to offer the current fans and in fact, I feel much less valued as a fan than I've ever in the past. Now I see the sports bar is closed for the game tomorrow. We're a bloody strange club.

This’ll either be the last or second last time our home fans see these players, with few exceptions.

My Prediction HT - 0v0 FT - 1v0 1st ICT - Alex Samuel 1st Montrose - Lyons Crowd - 2396 Caleyjags Prediction HT - 0v0 FT - 1v1 1st ICT - Carragher 1st Montrose - Lyons Crowd - 2222 **Joker** if still one left

The majority of our players have nothing to lose either, they’re loanees and will be heading off elsewhere when it’s all over. They’ve also got very little to gain from a win so when it comes to incentive we don’t measure up too well.

Someone once told me that we were trying to sign Paddy Flannery but ended up signing Glancy due to a communication mix up.

They have a lot to gain but nothing to lose.

Montrose do have a lot to lose....win and they could be playing Championship football next season if they win the 'final'. Wrong to assume they have nothing to lose. They no doubt believe they can replace their neighbours Arbroath.

They did some things very well resulting in the success but they didn't put in place anything to make it more sustainable or to deal with future setbacks, to make the club resilient. People are multi-faceted, they can be successful in some ways and unsuccessful in others. Another factor that feeds into all the complaints that I see on this thread and elsewhere when discussions on the state of the club are the fact that we don't have a real plan, a leader, a philosophy around the whole club. The only thing is "we need to get back into the top flight because we can't afford to be in this league". No-one is taking a long term view, about what sort of club we want to be off the pitch or what sort of team we want to be on it. I'm currently watching the Partick v Airdrie play-off game and I think about Airdrie. They got promoted last year, finished fourth this year. They have an identity, they have a style of play, a mix of young players released by other clubs or from their own youth team added to some more experienced players - it's reminiscent of the sides we had that got promoted. They aren't perfect and I think Partick will probably win this game but Airdrie have something that we just don't. Airdrie built this under Ian Murray, when he left for a bigger job, they had a plan in place that continued but also developed. What do we have? The signing and managerial strategy is clearly made pretty much day-to-day. We apparently used to have a Director of Football, who I would assume had to plan these things. I would also almost guarantee that Airdrie's wage bill is far lower than ours, their overall budget will be lower too.

If we get decisions like tonight’s Partick Thistle game anything could happen how the lineman allowed the goal to stand just shows how poor the officials really are

As someone said on another thread, it’s scary when it hits you that if we don’t win tomorrow we are relegated. We really ought to have enough quality in our squad to get the better of Montrose, but they have nothing to lose whereas we are the ones who risk playing with fear and trepidation, which would not end well for us.

I always thought Hugh Robertson was good for us in his brief spell from Dundee