Leaderboard

Song sheets on the seats and rehersals on the coaches and trains going down?

Very clever comments from Yogi IMO. He puts the pressure on Aberdeen and Motherwell by not going overboard with public expectations, whilst at the same time casually referring to being in one cup final, still in the other cup and being in "the mix" for 2nd place in the league. He is saying in a beautifully understated way that we have ( in Yogi speak) a right good team.

Just read this and it just seems like a throwaway comment rather than mindgames but my fear is that we are in danger of abandoning our league campaign altogether as we all appear to be focussing on one game next month. Strongest squad for years and the best and maybe last opportunity to get in the top 3. Our form is bottom 6 of late and I think we have a better chance of winning the final if we have some momentum going into it. Winning is a good habit to get in to especially at this stage of the season.

Negative no ! We have a higher mountain to climb than last season with this pile up of games but this time we have a leader who is shrewd, supportive and a lot more clever than some people have given him credit for. Underneath his modest façade he is easily as good as any other manager in the SPFL if not the best. Given time he will be the best. The wonderful thing about the ICT set up is the fact that we have a very enlightened Chairman, excellent board, a football wise Manager, great backroom staff, a highly talented squad of footballers all gelling and working together. to say nothing of the loyal core support assistance and CJT..........all on a very tight budget..............It is no wonder that we are the envy of the Lowlands and why the pundits are very cagey about us. They cannot understand our story.

Highlight of the day so far has been Robbo just saying 'Derek Adams is an absolute fruitcake at times' on open all mics.

First of I want to put it out there that I like Strachan as Scotland manager. He's passionate, he's positive and he says the right things. However it dismays me that he can continue to overlook Graeme Shinnie when he's clearly been the best Scottish left back in the country this season. We're in the middle of 2 friendlies which are perfect for trying out new players in the squad. Yet he hasn't even been mooted, despite some excellent performances, especially in recent weeks. Yet a player who hasn't played Scottish top flight football for a year and a half gets in every time simply because of who he plays for. (Note- Lee Wallace is playing well from what I've heard. But he should be able to coast it against plumbers, chippies and sparky's anyway). It's even worse now that Mulgrew is out and Hanley is very doubtful for the Norway game. This probably means a full back like Whittaker or Martin partnering Greer. Shinnie has even shown this season that he's very apt on the opposite side and the way he talks about it shows he has a class attitude "It's just like playing left back only on your weaker foot" (said in a very nonchalant manner). He plays for the team 2nd in Scotland. He's been ever present and good all season. He keeps improving. is it just me or if he was playing for Hibs, Hearts, Dundee Utd and yet in the league positions they are in now, he'd have more chance of a look in?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26307282?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter At this moment we sit seven points behind Aberdeen and have two games in hand over them. Aberdeen have shown today that they will drop points so I believe catching them is a strong possibility.

Don't even bother to watch it now you are as well just watching the few minutes online!

Pile up of games with a small squad of players...its not negative its realism.

There are some mindboggling fixture days and times, like home to Germany on Monday after being away to Georgia on the Friday. Why has 3pm on Saturday been consiogned to the history books? Sunday 7 September: Germany v Scotland (19.45) Saturday 11 October: Scotland v Georgia (17:00) Tuesday 14 October: Poland v Scotland (19:45) Friday 14 November: Scotland v Republic of Ireland (19.45) Sunday 29 March 2015: Scotland v Gibraltar (17:00) Saturday 13 June 2015: Republic of Ireland v Scotland (17:00) Friday 4 September 2015: Georgia v Scotland (17:00) Monday 7 September 2015: Scotland v Germany (19:45) Thursday 8 October 2015: Scotland v Poland (19:45) Sunday 11 October 2015: Gibraltar v Scotland (19:45)

I am confident that that if we can keep our key players fit and free of suspension we are capable of beating Gibraltar both home and away.

Think 12th man is on to something need a song that 6000 newbies know the words or at least chorus of so there is a chance to get them singing. Also need something to counter northern lights of old aberdeen. I'd go with Caledonia. We can claim that as our own rather than copy other club anthems.

Germany has to be favourites to win the group. Of the rest I think results against Gibraltar aren't going to count. The hope is that the Poland, Scotland, Ireland and Georgia will take points of each other and may even take a point of Germany. For us I think we need to win our home games against Poland Ireland and Georgia and hope to pick up something away against one of them. A point from Germany over the two games would also help. Going to be very hard but we do have a squad of players coming through that are better than what we've had for quite a while.

Robin Hood tune is a good un! ICT ICT riding through the glens ICT ICT from our but n' bens Feared by the Dons, loved by the good ICT ICT ICT

And when he has been played out of position, whether right back or midfield, he is usually one of the best players on the field. If he was to be picked for Scotland, Strachan would have a great utility player to cover 2 or 3 positions. Which would be handy to have at least on subs bench. But I don't see it happening until Strachan finds out that a team called Inverness Caledonian Thistle are playing in the top league, are top six, are in 1/4finals of Scottish Cup and in the final of the other major cup competition in the country that he is the manager of.

My Heart is in the Highlands Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. Chorus.- My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer (staggies); Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Good to see John Hughes talking-up Graeme Shinnie's prospects of a Scotland call-up. Can't help feeling that if Andrew Robertson was our left-back, he would be over-looked. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26292307

"...exploding onto this site like a starburst from heaven..." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scarlet, have you been at that 50 Shades book again!

What a difference you guys have made . Tremendous stuff you all.

All mind games, very clever ones at that. We have a great chance.

Very good mind games.

Just got through and pretty sure I spoke to LG. Got ten tickets close to the singing section possibly in a couple of rows of five to squish us in but main thing is the tickets are purchased

Thanks Davie, I wouldn't expect CJT to organise this, you have quite enough on your plates as it is and you are doing a remarkable job for the support already which I am sure you must know is very much appreciated No I just hoped there might be a supporters association or club in the Tain / Dornoch vicinity that might be organising something. Perhaps I am being over optimistic about the strength of support for ICT up here. Maybe one day this will materialise as we progress our way to the Euro final ( How's that for happy clapping ?) Anyway thanks again Davie for the interest you have taken.

Flower of Scotland? Just a thought, no other club sing it, and everyone kens the words? a few other Tartan Army classics are really Highland somgs - Loch Lomond? Killiekrankie? There are a load of great songs from the '45 we could steal back I reckon. Failing that: We'll be coming... We'll be coming... We'll be coming down the road, When you hear the noise of the Caley Thistle boys, We'll be coming down the road. Works for me.