The Mantis

Here’s one of the Loch Seaforth arriving in Ullapool in February. I was a bit late arriving so hope to get better shots next Friday. 

A lot depends on how settled Billy is up here. The only way he’ll get more money is by moving back to England. The opportunities are limited up here. He’s 36 in October so when you look at the options (Elgin, County, Peterhead plus the likes of Brora) maybe he’s as well staying here.

Wakey wakey guys 

5 hours ago, Jack Waddington said:

Also have to remember these are wonky playoffs compared to the playoffs that we should've been chasing. No two week break while the seasiders batter eachothers lights out for us to pick up the pieces at the end, we're thrown into the mixer as well.

But I think its 11th v 4th and 2nd v 3rd in the Semis, and all seem to start the week after the leagues finished and end around the 20th

4 hours ago, ICTPaisley said:

It think it’s the midweek right after the weekend. Hopefully not and it’s not until the following weekend as I’m away. 

11 hours ago, The Mantis said:

Couldn’t find anything when I looked a few weeks ago. I’ve just posted approx dates on the match thread based on last season. In any case, they always come right on the heels of the last league game. 

11 hours ago, The Mantis said:

Approximate diary dates based on last season:

Following the Morton game, we’ll face an away trip, possibly Tues 7th, to club 4, say Montrose or Cove. Then at home on the Sunday afternoon. If we survive that, it’s rinse and repeat the following week against the winners of the other tie, say Alloa or Hamilton, away first. 

Far too late now to make any difference. With hindsight Dunc should have been gone round about the QPFC home defeat on 3rd Feb. Charlie and possibly Robbo could maybe have salvaged something. 

10 hours ago, ICTPaisley said:

Is anyone able to confirm dates for the playoffs yet? I’ve had a look around and can’t see anything. I’m sure I have seen these announced before in previous seasons. 

Couldn’t find anything when I looked a few weeks ago. I’ve just posted approx dates on the match thread based on last season. In any case, they come right on the heels of the last league game. 

10 hours ago, RednBlackComeback said:

For a team that doesn't score goals, what chance have we got in the playoffs?

I hope we're practicing penalties cos it's the only way we'll get through with Ferguson's tactics aiming for 0-0 each game!

Approximate diary dates based on last season:

Following the Morton game, we’ll face an away trip, possibly Tues 7th, to club 4, say Montrose or Cove. Then at home on the Sunday afternoon. If we survive that, it’s rinse and repeat the following week against the winners of the other tie, say Alloa or Hamilton, away first. 

8 hours ago, Fraz said:

WTF. What a bizarre load of tripe. Must be getting interview tips from Richie Foran. 

That was my impression. Also seemed like a carbon copy of last week’s interview at Tannadeechay.

21 minutes ago, buckett said:

Now we have to accept that the best we can do is get a result against Hamilton or whoever in the playoffs.

I wish it were that simple. It's not like the Premiership playoffs. We come in at the semifinal v club 4.

4 hours ago, Duke of Inverness said:

I would now take 9th place tbh. I fear that Arbroath will beat us next week and we will be overtaken by them. There is nothing in our coaching staff or current squad with any capability to halt the continued downward spiral. 

You think that, even if we take 0 points from 15, Arbroath can take 10 from 18? I’ll have a bit of that action, what odds are you offering?

10 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

I was there. If we played till midnight we wouldn't have scored. After the non pen then their offside goal we never looked like doing anything 

Yip, another ‘fine performance’ without any goals. 

2 hours ago, CaleyCanary said:

Without a shadow of doubt next week is a must win game if ever there was one!

If we do win it, and it is a big if, then hopefully that will give them some confidence to take into the QP game and beyond.

All we can do is hope, I think the believe ship has already sailed.

We’re Donald Ducked. 9th it is, and 4 cup finals to save the season.

Spartans v Forfar DRAW @ 3.60 please

25 minutes ago, Ronaldo said:

A point is good under the circumstances, well done to all. Reckon our goal difference could make the difference as we head for the finish line.

The other results haven’t helped at all. Could have done with Ayr taking at least a point against Queens which would have reined them in. Instead our nearest rivals are Ayr with a game in hand. Also the Pars winning at Morton has stretched their lead.

Looks like I’ve only had 1 win since week 13. Beat that, Dunc

Ehhh, I’ll take Alloa @ 1.80 thanks.

Well I was on board with it but the Dunc experiment has been a total failure. Listening to his interview on the iPad while still in bed this morning. Mrs Mantis starts using the hairdryer. So one lot of hot air drowning out the other.

Stranraer @ 2.00 please…

1 hour ago, STFU said:

Lots of people disagree that the world is spherical, doesn't make them right.

It’s not a sphere, it’s an oblate spheroid.

Prof Pedant.

Doesn’t get any better for us. Pars 2-0 up at ht, Utd absolutely honking.

24 minutes ago, Robert said:

Thanks as always for the preview.

You can add Chilokoa-Mullen to the long term list.

Tomorrow is the first home game (league, cups and even the Elgin friendly) that I am missing this season due to a family birthday.

I will be listening for goal alerts in the BBC Sport app, and am hoping every alert is a home goal.

With the off field issues, the players and Manager need our support more than ever. Let’s get behind them from the outset and he’ll them win three points.

The BBC are always about 5 minutes behind. Free apps such as LiveScore let you choose favourite teams and inform you instantly, so fast that they have to correct the score if the goal is disallowed

Got a better chance of staying clear of the playoffs than ICT…

6 hours ago, IBM said:

Tm4tj, IBM, Robert, Yngwie, Rig, Scotty, Mantis, jagster, caley100, IHE and possibly Dougal 

Needs more defenders.

59 minutes ago, Robert said:

TBF we’ve been well warned about not parking on the verge.

However, I wish the same attention was paid to parking on double yellow lines on the road at full time as cars park to pick people up. It is a hazard and causes chaos. 

Can’t see what anybody can do except move them on and they’ll just move along the road a bit. Surely they’re not parking, just waiting which is different ?

Btw I picked up a £100 fine (reduced to £50) at Tannadice this season. They’ve set up an exclusion zone around the two stadia on match days as residents were complaining. So watch out for the signage when we’re back there on the 23rd.

Elgin @2.1 please…

1 hour ago, RiG said:

In terms of raw talent loaning Scott Allan and Ryan Christie are probably up there as the best players we've loaned. Thinking about popular players in on loan I recall Martin Glancy being a bit of a fan favourite ("He's short, but he's fancy").

But then, the young team even have a song for Wallace Duffy...

Never rated Glancy at all, even in tier 3, although my only good memory of him is an equaliser against Clyde in 1999 which more or less kept us away from them and we went up along with Livi. The ICT supporters' bus never got past Drumochter that day and I remember feeling obliged to post probably my first ever match report on CTO as very few of us were there.

Special mention to Logan Chalmers. Apparently 12 starts including subs, and 5 goals, notably the two late strikes away at Starks Park which had most of us dazed as we left the ground

Dumbarton @ 2.15 please…