Every jobless manager in the UK; a few 1st division managers; 2 previous managers; a player who left us this month; and an Argentinian!! How did the board manage to narrow it down to just 1??

Firstly let me congratulate Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas on successfully getting the job as the new management team of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. I believe this is a fantastic appointment for the club, considering we have never gone for the experienced manager before. I wish them both well in their new jobs and hope they can keep SPL in the Highlands past the summer.

The task facing them is big, but not impossible. The players are there, and with Butcher taking our January players in to a total of 6 on Friday, we can be even more confident of getting more points on the board and moving up the table. Brewster’s new signings of Morais, Byrne, Midhadjuks and Gathuessi have been added to by Butcher already with the signings of Richie Foran from Southend and Eric Odhiambo from Leicester City. Both are attacking players and will hopefully add some much needed goals for ICT. With Brian Kerr training with the squad at the moment, and another few names mentioned in the press, who knows how many we will add before the window slams shut at the beginning of February.

So, another management change, but it was completely different to the other management changes we have add. All the other new managers have come into a club which is doing well and has just lost a manager because the club was doing so well. There job was to continue the excellent progress the club was making. Terry Butcher has been appointed after the first ever sacking of a Caley Thistle manager; and its up to him to pick up the pieces and improve our very woeful home form. No better way to start than Celtic then!!

Lets give the new management team and the players the support they deserve to push us up the league.

INVERNESS CT v CELTIC

Tulloch Caledonian Stadium

Sunday 1st February, 2:00pm

PAST MEETINGS

The teams have played a total of 18 times (14 League, 4 Cup) with 54 goals (18 Inverness CT, 36 Celtic) between them.

Inverness CT: 3 wins (1 League, 2 Cup) Draws: 2 (2 League, 0 Cup) Celtic: 13 wins (11 League, 2 Cup)

THE TWO FAMOUS NIGHTS 08/02/2000 (Scottish Cup 3rd Round) Celtic 1-3 INVERNESS CT:

This game will always be remembered for all Inverness fans as this is regarded as the biggest result of Caley Thistle’s history so far. The original game was postponed due to apart of the roof falling off. In 16 minutes Barry Wilson headed in Paul Sheerin’s cross to the home fans shock. Mark Burchill scored a minute later but Bobby Mann restored the lead (some people say it was an own goal, but I call it Bobby’s goal!!). 10 minutes into the second half Paul Sheerin slotted home a penalty to the travelling fans delight. Steve Patterson was quoted as saying- “I think this is the moment Inverness arrived in Scottish football”. It sure was with the headline from the Sun reading “Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious!!!!!!!”.

The team for Inverness was as follows- Calder, Teasdale, Golabek, Mann, McCulloch, Hastings, Sheerin, Tokely (Byers 89), Wilson (Glancy 87), Christie and Wyness (Bavidge 79).

23/03/2003 (Scottish Cup Quarter-Final) INVERNESS CT 1-0 Celtic:

Was lighting going to strike twice? It certainly was as even though Celtic had just beaten Liverpool, Inverness always believed they could do it. Even Bobby Mann mentioned before the game that he thought there would be another Highland Fling!! The only goal of the game was when Richie Hart pulled the ball across for Dennis Wyness to slot home. The second half seemed to last a life-time but eventually John Robertson had copied the heights of Steve Patterson. Two people’s performances I want to mention are Stuart McCaffrey for marking Larsson sensationally well and Mark Brown for making good saves and getting the Man of the Match.

TEAM FACTS

• All League meetings between the teams have taken place in the SPL.
• Inverness CT won their first league game against Celtic last season thanks to a sensational game on the 16th December 2007. After going 2 goals down in quick succession, Rankin, Proctor and Cowie turned the game around and even with an extra man advantage (Proctor sending off) Celtic still couldn’t get anything from the game.
• This seasons results so far: Inverness CT 1-2 Celtic, Celtic 1-0 Inverness CT
• Inverness CT have lost 5 times out of 9 to Celtic at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in the 9 matches played in Inverness. Inverness have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 5.
• Inverness CT have been poor at home in the league this season, playing a total of 11 games and winning just 1 against Kilmarnock, drawing 2 and losing a disappointing 8. Sadly only 9 goals in 11 games is less than a goal a game.
• Celtic have the best away record in the SPL also playing 11 games they have won 8 times, drawn 1 and lost 2. 23 goals in 11 games is more than 2 a game.
• Inverness CT have lost their last 8 consecutive games in the SPL.
• Celtic lost their last away game in Aberdeen.
• This fixture produces an average of 3 goals per game.

TEAM NEWS

Inverness CT: This weekend sees the first game under the new management regime and Butcher was quick to add to his squad. Already Foran and Odhiambo have been added and both are in contention for this weekend’s game. However we are nursing a few injuries ahead of the game and unfortunately Hastings and Gatheussi are injured and Roy McBain is suspended which leaves the left back slot open. It will be interesting to see who we put in that position. Morais is struggling to be fit after returning to training on Thursday after a short spell on the sidelines. Celtic: Strachan also added to his squad with the man who helped Celtic reach the CIS Cup Final on Wednesday. Willo Flood missed Dundee Utd’s 12 penalty during the amazing penalty shoot out in midweek and meant Celtic moved through to the final. Flood will not be able to play in the tie as he is cup-tied but could play at the weekend. Stephen McManus is close to fitness again after missing the Dundee Utd game with an inflamed knee.