Incredibly, this technically starts tomorrow!
We don't enter until the 4th Round (which is now in 'back' in its traditional January slot), but the draw for the opening stages is being held tomorrow at Hampden. Davie Moyes drawing out teams he'll never have heard of!

Interestingly, no 'first time' winner has retained the trophy since the 1870s.

To my knowledge, this seasons competition will have the most ever clubs with 92. And with 2 preliminary rounds scheduled, there are effectively 10 rounds of competition - again a record.
In the old North of Scotland Qualifying Cup, if I remember, the 16 Highland League teams had to win two games to reach the semi-finals, and qualification to the Scottish Cup.
Then (the Scottish Cup) had 4 rounds before the quarter-finals...so a total of 9 matches to win the whole thing! (sometimes even a bye in Round 1 was a possibility).

But this season's marathon means that when we enter, 5 of the 10 rounds will already have been played, and 60 of the 92 clubs will have been eliminated!

The 2 preliminary rounds are drawn tomorrow with the Scottish Amateur Cup winners involved for the first time - apparently a team called Harestanes from Kirkintilloch who play on a public park!

4 hours ago, Gabby said:

That seems complicated, they way I figure it all options are 50/50. They will either happen or they won't.

The trouble there is that if you've got over a million options, as we do here, then by that reckoning they would all be certain to occur over half a million times each! See Sneckboy's explanation.

5 hours ago, DoofersDad said:

I guess there's no Celtic supporter who can do the maths or they would have been whinging even more loudly about how unlucky they have been with the draws in recent years.

On the other hand the outcome Celtic have actually had is no more or less likely than all the other possible outcomes. Think of the lottery. With the 49 numbers there were something like 13,982,000 possible permutations of six numbers and 123456 was no more or less probable than any of the others. (With the 59 it's even bigger than that.)

Here's hoping not too many Celtic fans read this - it might put them off doing the Lottery!

Watching some of the livi V hibs game tonight, I'd be happy if they see off hearts, don't think they look that great other than stokes and Cummings which I think our defence can handle. Certainly look light in midfield and suspect at the back. No fears going down there if we have to.

 

 

2 hours ago, bdu98196 said:

Watching some of the livi V hibs game tonight, I'd be happy if they see off hearts, don't think they look that great other than stokes and Cummings which I think our defence can handle. Certainly look light in midfield and suspect at the back. No fears going down there if we have to.

 

 

It was a bit like us against Stirling

Tuesday's replay sold out very quickly I'm hearing. Quite fancied going but glad I never got a ticket as I have to dash off to Lewis tomorrow at short notice. 

Hibs winning 1-0 at moment. both teams down to ten men.

Cummings scored and now been sent off

So if hibs hold on that's Cummings and Stokes missing the quarter final. Radio scotland said Stokes would miss quarter final??

Looks like we will be going to Easter Road

Pleased that we are going to Easter Road rather than Tynecastle not because I feared Hearts but because it will make a refreshing change.

I know you should beware what you wish for, but Hibs without Cummings is not a bad outcome! Shame The Rangers snuck through.

Cummings will be suspended but no reason stokes cant play against us

Hearts are my second team, but im buzzing that Hibs win, especially seeing as Stokes and Cummings can't play. Dreaming of another trip to Hampden!

I've persuaded my wife to go to the game, only her second after the final last year!

just wish we knew the date and kick off time!

I'd expect Hibs v ICT and Rangers v Dundee to be the televised fixtures.

1 hour ago, Yngwie said:

I'd expect Hibs v ICT and Rangers v Dundee to be the televised fixtures.

I'm still confident we'll be playing Dumbarton in the semi's

Hibernian 1-0 Hearts
Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers

(Tuesday 23rd Feb - 19:45)
Dundee v Dumbarton

Quarter-finals (currently 5th March - 15:00):
Celtic v Morton
Hibernian v Inverness Caley Thistle
Rangers v Dundee or Dumbarton
Ross County v Dundee United

No reason why Stokes wouldn't be playing

29 minutes ago, Alex MacLeod said:

No reason why Stokes wouldn't be playing

I agree! They must have made an error on Sportsound.
He's clearly eligible, as he featured for Hibs last night - and he obviously isn't cup-tied. Granted, he's on one booking for the competition, but he'd need another yellow card to be suspended. So, unless we hear otherwise, we should assume Stokes is available for the quarter-final.

I'm in agreement with Yngwie's anticipated TV games...I think it'll be our match plus Rangers v Dundee/Dumbarton.
Certainly, one of the Glasgow games will be switched anyway, for policing and logistical reasons - so will almost certainly be a Sunday TV game.

Wouldn't be surprised to see both Old Firm games televised on different days.

7 minutes ago, ictchris said:

Wouldn't be surprised to see both Old Firm games televised on different days.

LOL! Don't go there!
Next week, I'd ordinarily be hoping Dumbarton beat Dundee, as I like to see the 'underdog' coming through, plus it would be another Premiership club eliminated and out-of-our-way!
BUT, on this occasion, I want Dundee to win, as I genuinely think they could go to Ibrox and give Rangers real problems...certainly more so than Dumbarton.
Rangers v Dundee has a lot more appeal than Rangers v Dumbarton. I wonder if the TV companies will wait for the outcome before 'committing themselves'?
The quarter-finals games aren't far-off (just 17 days away), so hopefully we'll hear something soon - fans have to make plans!

According to Hibs Fans website due to yellow and red cards in their Derby match with Hearts  Hanlon ,Bartley and Cummings are all suspended for ICT cup match at Easter Road

That's it. Highland derby for one semi final, Glasgow derby for the other. Final, repeat of last year's semi final. lol

Getting past Hibs to achieve first but if we do, a repeat of our very first semi final against Dundee please but with a different outcome and a different venue. ICT v Dundee at a near full Pittodrie rather than at Hampden with getting on for 40,000 empty seats.

The hibs game will be undoubtedly a hard game, whether they have 3 or 4 out! At the moment, so do we! But I think we could go there and counter attack! Their fans will be wanting them pushing up the field and there's weaknesses in that defence...for a start both full backs push high up and leave no cover! 

If we have Raven and meekings back then we will have a strong back 4! We just need to hope that these 2 plus Williams and at a push Vincent are fit and we'll have a strong squad! 

Also, Hibs might be doing well in that league, but like some of us seen in their game vs livi, they can be pretty p*ss poor! So theirs no reason we can't win this tie! 

I think in the semis I'd take anyone but Celtic! I wouldn't be screaming for a Rangers game but again I don't see why we couldn't beat them! More favourable would be us vs Dumbarton semi (at mcdermitt park) then pumping the not so noisy neighbours in the final! 

It's gone now for Dundee United! (in terms of survival!) I can see no way back for them - relegation!

Have checked the 'stats' and no Scottish club has ever been relegated and still won the Cup in the same season!
Wigan Athletic were the first team to do it in England - and that was just a few seasons ago - but it's never happened in Scotland...

However, It wouldn't be a shock to see them turning-over County in Dingwall, but I just can't see them then going and winning another two games to lift the Cup.

Hibernian in the Cup? We've played them just once before... in the 2008 Cup (Also at Easter Road, but that was 'only' in the last 32). This is much bigger!

We lost 3-0 that day! BBC report http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7181084.stm
Although not mentioned in the report, I've a recollection that Marius Niculae missed a penalty? Or am I confusing that with another game?
Anyway, I think we can beat them, BUT...I'd happily take a replay - they've a dreadful record 'up here'!

Being cynical - If celtic and rangers progress although dundee will be tougher than kille id expect some warm balls. The form of the OF this season it's too big a risk for the SFA to chance them both making the final against any of the 4 other potential opponents, sohaving them play in the semi wouldn't be a surprise. An OF and Highland derby set of semis would be great.

 

When the feck do we actually find out when the feckin semi final is going to be feckin played ?