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Former Ross County manager Neale Cooper has returned to Victoria Park as Manager of the first division club in a shock move after current boss relieved of his duties. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16347508.stm Story from BBC website

Maybe this is the wrong place to post this and maybe it's been discussed elsewhere, but I feel I have to say how much better the site is following the upgrade which seemed to take place a week or two ago. It's fairly widely known among longer serving posters on here that I am no computer expert but the first thing I've noticed is that operating the site, which seemed to have become quite slow, has become a great deal quicker and more efficient. I also like the improved impact of the colour scheme and it in addition seems to be easier to go directly to making a reply right down at the bottom of any thread.

Johndo.... I don't actually believe you can recall ANYTHING from the 70s!

Im satisfied that we havent lost the game but a little dissapointed we didnt take full advantage of Hibs fragile state. Their supporters were on their backs almost from the word go, any pass that went remotely sideways would be met with instant discontent. They need to get their perspectives in better shape or they will carry on dragging the club down. I think tactically we were a bit lacklustre. McKay was being forced to contend with long punts for the whole game but struggled to compete with O'Hanlon and Stephens, no suprise given they are almost twice his size. Tade struggled to make much impact on the wing too, his effort was superb a usual but he falied to be as productive as he has been in recent weeks. Still glad to see Doran back and hoping he will be back in the starting XI soon, Wasnt sure about the free kick but having seen it on the telly ive got no qualms, well struck but Esson seemed to move a bit late when going for it. Still credit to the boys they didnt let their heads drop, Foran had a terrific shot curling onto the post and Jonny curling one just wide, also Billy McKay having a shot blocked when he burst through. Not long after Jonny Hayes scored arguably the best solo goal of the season. Picked it up on the halfway line, Hibs players backed off and Jonny just burned past them with one or two ending up on their erses trying to stop him before unleashing a lovely strike into the bottom corner. The second half was a bit of a no show, both sides huffed and puffed but very little was created between either team, though Foran made a great block at the end. Also Tade seemed to end up in good area to shoot and ended up sconing it across goal when shooting seemed the better option. For me best player tonight was Foran, he has had his critics this season (including me) but he seems to be relishing his new role in midfield and he seems to have added that bite it was missing at the start of the season. If he carries on like that then he may well give Bucher alot to think about in terms of Tansey and Jones's situation. Also i thought Kenny Gillet was outstanding tonight in central defence, some of his tackles and interceptions were game changing and he gave 100% there, despite being a makeshift role for him. Overall pleased that its 2 games without defeat. Looking forward to St Johnstone coming up, hopefully we will have Tokely and A Shinnie back and would be nice to see Doran get a longer run out too. Roll on 2012.

<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="80%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <table bgcolor="#003300" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td scope="col" width="55"> </td> <td bgcolor="#003300"> THE MATCHDAY THREAD Discuss ICT & other games in this thread as they happen </td> <td scope="col" width="55"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="3" width="100"> </td> <td> Hibernian -V- Inverness CT </td> <td rowspan="3" width="100"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> PREVIEW </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 28th December @ 7:45PM Easter Road, Edinburgh </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table bgcolor="#99cc99" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="col" width="33%"> Follow us on Twitter </th> <th scope="col"> Follow us on Facebook </th> <th scope="col" width="33%"> Go to the Chatroom </th> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr bgcolor="#0000cc"> <td scope="col" width="51"> </td> <td scope="col" width="601"> Media Coverage </td> <td scope="col" width="51"> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#f2f2f2"> <td align="center" valign="top" width="51"> AUDIO </td> <td colspan="2"> Moray Firth Radio Live Commentary [UK Only] BBC "Open All Mics" Live discussion and Goal flashes [UK Only] BBC "Live Commentary" (see links on page) [UK only] </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> <td align="center" valign="top" width="51"> TEXT </td> <td colspan="2"> ESPN BBC SKY Sporting Life </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#e9e9e9"> <td align="center" valign="top"> VIDEO </td> <td colspan="2"> BBC Match Highlights (online) - [UK only] BBC Sportscene TV programme [UK only] ICT Official Website Highlights [Worldwide - Registration Reqd (free)] </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table bgcolor="#fefeeb" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td scope="col"> TEAM LINEUPS </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>

Just watched the 'highlights' on the BBC. Shocking 'leg breaking tackle' on Foran...no free kick..no yellow card (or red). That had straight red written all over it. Fantastic strike by Hayes for the equaliser and I'd blame Esson (and Golobart) for their goal. He seemed to far to his left in my opinion and invited the curler into the net...maybe. And the Hayes free-kick that struck the wall - it was never 10 yards. Not even a booking!!! WTF?? In relation to the 6yd and 18 yd box's I'd say the wall is at 7 yds maybe 8yds.

Some people on here have short memories. With 2 highland teams in the SPL it would bring another derby into the sights of TV execs generating more income, more advertising, a general football buzz around the area creating more new fans for both teams. Why would a ICT vs Ross County derby in the SPL be any more appealing than say Motherwell v Hamilton from last season. ICT and Ross county are diddy teams when all is sed and done...with VERY limited appeal..so why people think it would be so appealing outwith the 6000 or so that would turn up for the game, is beyond me

We had years of MacGregor pumping money in and playing a propaganda war to try and make C(o)unty look like a bigger club than ICT. They punch well above their weight but if you ask the real crowd obsessives on P&B like P(a)r(t)ick and Dundee and St Midden they're all very suspicious about how the crowds at Viccy Park are publicised. I love having our neighbours doing just slightly less well than us. But it's a very delicate power balance - if they get up and stay up while we struggle like 2009 it'll be black days indeed for us.

I personally would like to see County in the SPL the money from these games would be very welcome when times are so hard Pretty sure Sky would show one or two of these games live as well which would be a great advert for the highlands There are negatives though losing match hospitality would be definite as they just seem to do it better in Dingwall somehow, sponsorship and investment would also drop with a second SPL team playing from the same area What could be embarrassing though would be the increased gates at Victoria park as they would dramatically increase and would more than likely average out more than our poor attendances sadly The other worrying thought is that of Grant Munro coming back to haunt ICT think most of us know it's going to happen one day and the way things are shaping out it's starting to look like it's going to be next season dougal

My post from P&B Just in from the game. Thought we were unlucky to go in level at the break, we had the better of the first half. Golobart made a silly mistake for the free kick and O'Connor showed excellent technique to get it up and down in time. We rallied very well though, Foran hit the post and then Hayes sent a shot inches wide. Tade also had a chance in the first few minutes but couldn't get a touch on a long ball forward. McKay had a chance that was blocked, perhaps he could've done better with it. Hayes was looked dangerous on the right and it was predictable that he would be involved in the goal but what a goal. Running from his own half, evades a couple of tackles, makes space and slots one in from the edge of the box, absolutely superb. One of the best goals I've seen us score in the SPL, an real cracker. I expected/hoped that we'd continue the second half the way we finished the first but the game died after the break, we didn't have many chances, although Davis got behind the Hibs back four at one point, only to have his shot cleared. We created a few promising positions but never really capitalised on them. Hibs didn't truly threaten us until injury time when they had several good chances from a series of corners, the sort of ending to a match that drives fans mad. In terms of our players, I thought that Foran had a good game in the middle of the park, he was strong, made good runs and had some good passes. Cox was really industrious and busy, he really covers a lot in the midfield area. At the back, I was relatively pleasently surprised - Golobart looked very composed, frighteningly so for someone who is 19. He showed good timing in terms of interceptions and headers and always walked the ball out from the back well. Gillet did OK as well, some flying headers and a couple of crunching tackles. I wasn't as impressed with our full-backs, who didn't distribute the ball that well I thought but were reasonably solid. Hayes was dangerous, especially in the first half, but Tade was poor on the other wing. He just didn't look like a wide player, his feet weren't quick enough and he looked predictable. McKay put in a real power of work up front but, as I said above, could've pulled the trigger quicker in the first half. Overall, I'm pleased with a point. Four points from the two games against Aberdeen and Hibs, we've improved our position against both in the last week and showed progress and a bit of solidity. Not quite a clean sheet yet but no goal conceded from open play.

You will never see a better goal than Hayes got....definite contender for Goal of the Month. Still image does not do it justice.

Has to be good for the Highlands. And will surely put a gag on the big mouths down South who moan a lot about the long journey north.

I thinjk you're right Bauhaus, I would be very surprised if the SPL let us both have a home game on the same day. I'm all for Ross Co. getting up, I would put money on our average attendance going up, It would mean there was 4 teams (Rangers Celtic Aberdeen & Ross Co) where we'd have bumper crowds. It's a no brainer for me.

Cant see how County getting into the SPL will have an impact on our income. Can only see it rise for the season they would be up. Increased interest in North football, icreased compitition between team, more income for inverness businesses, especially the garages ( fuel in inverness is cheaper, and it take more fuel to tow yer house behind you ). Bigger gates than against Dunfermline if its they who go down. Cant see a negative. ICT fans wandering over the bridge to support county in big games, probably wouldnt go to our away games anyway. SPL would also try to avoid ICT and County playing home games the same weekend anyway, same as they do with the ugly sisters, The ednbru two and if Dundee had two spl teams. Can you imagine the train from Perth to inverness with Hearts and Celtic fans, or Gers and Hibees fans onboards, Train station would be interesting place to be. Stadium roundabout before and after games, police up here would advice against stretching their manpower. come on county, dont f up the second half of the season, would love the north derbies to be on SKY / ESPN live, even if it is just for the one season.

So basically what folk are saying is that ICT's support is a false one and that we will lose numbers to County. Personally I believe another highland team in the top league will be good for scottish football. I also believe that the competition for revenue between the two clubs will be no different to what it is now.

I would look forward to it just the same way that Steven Thompson would like Dundee back in the SPL.It willl reignite the interest in football in the highlands and it may even convert some Old Firm pretenders to go and watch a real club where they actually live,I would also expect it to lure sleeping fans back to ICT and County. It also puts a bit more cash into the Inverness economy, I cant see for example a Hearts fan bringing the wife up to Dingwall and saying goodbye to her on the High street, going to the match whilst she does a bit of retail therapy, I cant see fans wanting to have a weekend in Dingwall either so Inverness still makes money off the back of County even on away days. Just to add a bit more, I think hospitality will be worth far more v County than any other previous SPL newcomer. Regarding sponsoring can anyone give an example of a long term County sponsor who has abandoned them and advertised with us as soon as ICT reached the SPL.

Why have I been given red dots for posting a reasonable suggestion? Those who gave me red dots should have a word with themselves. If anyone else gives me red dots I'll have a hissy fit and moan about it for weeks, etc. etc. It's just not fair.. Oh, Merry Christmas everyone by the way. :biggrin:

Santa tells me you have all been very good helping pack bags in a local supermarket, hes pleased with your good behavior, your fund raising, being good ambassadors for the club and promoting ICT in a prominent place prior to a home match. Hes a bit busy at the minute so he asked me to say well done on his behalf, he should be round to see you all by the morning and to have a lovely Christmas.