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While it wasn't a bad performance against Celtic, I see we had our first real taste of the John Hughes Signature Tactic Spectacular! You know, that tactic he used at Falkirk and Livingston (and probably others), where we earned the title of playing 'good football'. That tactic is as follow - Goalkeeper passes a goal-kick along the ground to the full-back......who passes it back to the keeper.......who passes it to a centre back....who passes it back to the other centre back.....who passes it back to the keeper......who passes to the other full-back......who passes it to a centre-back......who passes it back to the full-back.....who passes it back to the keeper....who launches it up the park! Not really 'good football' is it, and we knew it was going to happen. We all want to see the ball on the deck, but I really was on the brink of pulling my hair-out at times, with this going nowhere passing, particularly when we were a goal down and needing to be a bit more direct.

Ryan deserves his chance, and I'm not basing this on 5 minutes against Celtic. I don't know how many under 20s games you've seen this season but I've been to quite a few. In a team regularly featuring Williams, Polworth, Pepper, Greenhalgh & Agdestein he often stands out as the class act. Besides, County are shyte. Never get a better opportunity to blood a youngster risk free.

John Hughes and Stokes? Is that the same Stokes that he broke off his interview (with Ian Auld?) Saturday to rush over and exchange hugs with. Called him a big doughnut in a very friendly way...ha! ha! John--just a wee tip if I may. In the middle of an interview I am sure you could leave the pleasantries with a player on the oppposite side of the bed until after you have finished...eh? You are the Manager now old chap not a pal player, and I am sure Ian was ...dumbfounded.

Statement for League Cup semi Final 2nd February 2014 Caley Jags Together are pleased to announce that we reached a conclusion on the semi-final saga. It’s the best deal that we could have got for our fans under the circumstances, and we’re happy to tell you that because of help given to us by the Scottish Sun, ICTFC and the SPFL we will be able to offer transport on ten D&E coaches to the game for £10 per adult and £5 per child. We plan on-board events that will make this an enjoyable trip for any Caley Thistle fan. We’re also happy to tell you that ICT fans will be allocated the famous five stand, in response to a request by the club so we will have our own end of the ground. Ticket prices are £ 20 for adult and £10 for under 16’s. Under 12’s get in for £5. This makes for a really affordable day out to help our team to their first national cup final. We’re sorry that we couldn’t change the time or the venue or get rail transport, but we do think that we got the best deal we could and now we need you to support it. Book your seat online at [email protected] or by phoning 07951309504. You can also book and pay for your seat at the CJT desk in the sports bar at the stadium at any home game up to the semi-final date. We’ll give more details nearer the time.

HNY peeple! We are going to tonk County and demolish Dud Utd. and Yogi will be January manager of the month. You heard it here first!

Man up and get on with it, or pass it on to me Amrut is good stuff. Mrs Mantis and I are spending New Year in Broadford where the bar has a signed ICT top on the wall. We got back after being out all day and discovered a couple of complimentary miniatures of Drambuie in our room.

Well I'm bravely sitting down with the bottle of Amrut (Indian single malt!) that I got for Christmas. Unwrapping it was actually a bit like the moment I found out Hughes was to be our manager, in that my initial reaction was, of all the fine malts there are out there, why've I been given this one?! The tasting notes that come with it are rather ominous. The best words and phrases their marketing people could come up with include "complex", "confusing", ".....hammers home", "a slight struggle" and the intriguing final sentence "The spices, rather than lying down and acepting their fate, rise up and usher this extraordinary whisky to its exit". Wish me luck.

It'll be a walk in the (Highland) Park...

Lay off the Whisky! It's only 6pm

I did not expect the SPFL to change the stand allocations. Delighted that they have. The prospect of getting < half of main stand split over two tiers was not enthralling at all. Really happy we have the Famous Five again. Good work :)

Unanimous support for Raven to come back in and i totally agree. Really hoped we would have seen him against Celtic. I think Tremarco is doing a solid job where he is and while Shinnie is by far the better player in that position, GS is very versatile and i think he'd do a great job alongside Draper. GS has presence, is great on the ball and has the experience. Christie to start is a bit premature but would like to see him get some playing time over the next few games. Williams playing where he is just now is detrimental to those around him, not to destroy the lad but there far is better options. JH must be seeing an absolute superstar of Williams in training if he is picked in the starting slot there tomorrow.

A lot of County supporters do not like spending money at ICT FC. If we can get into beating them this year, they may get their wish next year. Should we get a result tomorrow, and should Hearts win the derby in the capital, young Adams might be worried that he is in a hole that looks quite dark. They key for us is to wrestle the points onto our board tomorrow.

I blame the merger.

Thought Christie looked very good for the short spell he was on the park, but honestly not long enough to judge how he would be for a full game or even for a 20-30 minute runout. Having said that, reports coming from the youth ranks do indicate he may turn into a quality player ..... As for his father, great servant to ICT but wholly irrelevant to this thread.

Dougall --what the other posters are saying is simply that , even if all you say is/was correct, why say it if it's negative? You have a choice: either post negativity which is depressing and inflammatory..... or.... positivity which is uplifting and contributes to camaraderie and a feeling of wholesome-ness, goodwill to all men and promotes solidarity. So, in the new Year ... be nice.

Don't let's be too hard on Toby, remember Oor Billy's first season with us and the chances he missed, yes I know he got into the right positions, at the right times but those glaring chances missed when he was in position as our prime striker were shocking, Bless him he persevered and is now reaping the rewards for both self and team. Patience was the operative word there and I wish some of our posters could just find some of the patience shown by the then management team, this man could go on to great things if given the opportunities and backing that Billy did. We also have great potential waiting with Polworth, Christie, Pepper and Greenhalgh all readying themselves for first squad involvement, be encouraged by that but don't rush them on to the park until they are really ready to cope with the pressures of the SPFL. Foran and Vincent to come back in too so plenty time yet to pick up the points for a place in the top three. Again Dave back to his rightfull position feeding Doran and Shinnie in left midfield as per second half Dons game and we can get back to goal scoring business.

People that are against Ryan Christie starting vs Ross County - Ryan Gauld. He has the potential and will do really well in the first team.

I am amazed at the number of posters promoting Ryan Christie to the first team already and especially against Ross County. He has no experience at this level yet but by all means have him on the bench and bring him on later if required to get experience.

Yogi's first real test is likely to be finding a replacement for McKay as it is only a matter of time till he leaves (will be surprised if he is still here after Jan). We need to work on the basis that we have to find a replacement now and hope that we have till the summer to bed the player in. At the moment if Billy goes we are likely to have to play Foran (if fit) up front or rely on untried players. Toby has shown nothing to suggest he is good enough for the top flight I'm afraid and Curtis never worked out.

Absolutely not. He was released because he's a fat, lazy, useless, little moron, who was absolute rubbish against us a few weeks ago. We should stay well clear of this wee troll.

A three and a half year deal for young Mr Christie and a derby victory would be a fine start to 2014

I suspect we will start as we did v Celtic however I wouldn't be adverse to the following: Brill Raven Warren Meekings Tremarco Draper Shinnie Doran Ross Watkins / Williams Mckay I think Shinnie is a better option alongside Draper than Williams who I would prefer to see deployed further forward. I know that when Watkins has played he has done so on the right hand side but I would be keen to get the Doran / Raven link up going again.

For a thread about Ryan Christie the promising youngster coming through the ranks at ICT this thread has very little about Ryan Christie the promising youngster coming through the ranks at ICT.

Get a photo of him and stick it up on here.

With my critical , over critical hat on I suspect, if you play 5 across midfield with a little chap up front against a very experienced Dutch centre back twice his size, and pump long balls up to them., what do you expect?

Typical negative garbage from you Dougal. CC couldn't break into a talented 1st team at Celtic and came back north to reinvigorate his "stuttering" career. Not a bottler, but a wise man with the balls to start over after it hadn't quite worked out at Celtic. Missing in big games - like his MotM performance in the 3-1 cup win vs Celtic? I think I'm right in saying that his stats as manager are actually quite good. Also, if rumours are true, one of the determining factors in quitting as manager was the impact it had on his family. A real man, putting his family first. Bottler my arse. Dougal, I think you should consider the impact of your posts before sharing them. Mr Christie jnr is likely to read this thread following his first team debut and your unwarranted, inflammatory and misguided comments will do him, his family, the players at large and the club no good whatsoever. You have, as RiG said, managed to turn what should be a positive thread into a sideshow of Dougal Negativity. If Mr Christie jnr turns out make half the contribution to this club that his father did, then he will have been a real success in his own right. He has the potential, and now needs EVERYONES support and encouragement to assist him in allowing it to materialise.

Even for the most tedious troll on here that's absolutely pathetic.

Trust Dougal to inject negativity into a positive thread. CC was outstanding for Thistle, for Caley and for ICT and even managed a wee cameo at Clach. Mr Inverness Football if ever there was one.

Harsh, unnecessary and somewhat inaccurate representation of 10CC in my opinion. One of ICT's greatest ever players and you portray him as a bottler - substantiated explanation required please.

That's the worrying thing, although we have a good strikeforce that comes down to Billy Mckay. Say Billy gets injured or suspended (touch wood), then where will the goals come from. We really do need more help upfront, a tall goalscorer would be nice!