The Mantis

All the same starchief, if you've got time to write that, you don't fancy coming and doing my garden?

Ach that's not a bad side. Everybody knows we never get red cards or injuries so that should do us.

Aw shucks, you're too kind

The Sun! Where's the 'spit' smiley gone ! Aye fair do's, I had a nagging unease that if I posted that, somebody would respond as you did. You'd think with 30+ years in the classroom I would know better! All the same if you hear the same pattern of anecdote from different parents you do start to wonder.... Put it this way, I don't think our Tel subscribes to the 'democratic' school of management..... Not a criticism, just an observation.

One thing about supporting a wee club like ICT is, if you go to enough games, you end up having a pint or two with people like the parents of the players.....

Wait till Barry Robson gets tore into them

As Tichy says.......it's more like a wee village. I was there a couple of years ago. It's one of the highest bits of Munich. They piled all the bomb debris there from the war.

I must admit I liked this tweet from @jonnyhayes7 "haha Snoball your a wind up merchant!! Couldn't sign for county be like goin from man city to rochdale! ;)"

I would like to have seen a merger of Sergei and a decent manager

Ok ymip, can you name any of those good enough Scottish players who'll join us for under £700 a week? There's as much chance of unearthing a gem from Colwyn Bay as there is from Raith or Arbroath. Butcher has brought in some not so good players but then so has every manager we've had. Some of those we've though of as duds are maybe very good players if they get a chance to string a few games together with the same team. Sadly that is something that hasn't happened all season. Personally I aint fussed where our players come from but I'd love to watch the same eleven start for a string of games. Alex it's not the fact he's at Colwyn Bay, it's that he's already had a step down from Tramere surely!

A couple of things worry me about TB. First, he doesn't seem to have a lot of confidence in his players in SPL matches. He has too much respect for the opposition and hence we seem to be discouraged from playing it on the deck. When we abandon the big punt we actually look a decent side. Secondly, although you have to search high and low for players in our financial situation (i.e. skint), and that includes these kind of trials, he seems to have a very low hit rate when it comes to finding players suitable for the SPL. Even though most people think the SPL is crap, that doesn't mean anybody with experience of League 1 or 2, or even the Blue Square, can automatically make the step up. I give you Eagle, Stratford, Aldred, Chippendale, Blumenstein, etc etc etc. Arguably you could add Tansey and McKay to that list too. I appreciate that some of these names have been with Championship clubs but that means nowt unless they were getting a game.

We're the big team, they hate us. Nice try Dougal but no cigar.

As Yngwie says, the worst moment was being mugged by Celtic in the quarter final of the Cup on a day when they rarely threatened at all. Now, best moment..... that's extremely hard. Almost any week while Pele was manager.

Aye we got access to the accounts and AGM, a club discount card, and other stuff I've long forgotten about. I swear I won't mention your tent Yngwie, but a brick is an admirable start

Yes I was always Alan Douglas' favourite mod too Sorry about the mix-up, all these English teams sound the same to me :lol:

What Tug said.

The point about stagnation is a fair one. However any club will stagnate in the joke of a league that is the SPL. Once you are in it, the finance dictates that you must stay there. I would like to see the '10' grow some gonads and invite the top 6 from div 1 to form a league with them, giving the twins of evil nowhere to play except against each other. Aah Dougal, you were doing so well, then you throw in this garbage. Many people might justify one season getting beyond the last 16 of the Cup and reaching the final (and then not showing up), as outweighing all ICT's giantkilling (if I recall, 11 seasons outwith the SPL and 12 teams from a higher division beaten), and 2 semis plus 1 replay. I can just about swallow that, but it's a bit like the County banging on about their big win at our place about ten years ago, as if it mattered amongst all the routine 3-0 hidings we dished out. Then you're saying that 10 seasons to reach the SPL is poor (and then reach it again 6 years later), but then of course those record breakers from OTB did it in 18 so they must be getting something right. Seasons in SPL - ICT 7 County 0 - FACT ***ICT PLAYING in TOP LEVEL FOR NEARLY 40% OF THE CLUB'S HISTORY*** Seasons in div 1 - ICT 6 County 11 - FACT Seasons in div 2 - ICT 2 County 2 - FACT Seasons in div 3 - ICT 3 County 5 - FACT Why don't you come out the closet Dougal. You're not our old pal Buenos as it would be some achievement to make such a great show of hating the Rangers (sorry, 'Orcs'). If you truly are a Notts County diehard and relative newcomer to the fair city then somebody has been feeding you drink and indoctrinating you since I do not believe you have any first hand experience of the events of 1993-4 or the subsequent (Paterson-inspired) seasons. Yours etc The Mantis (formerly anti-merger and definitely not a happy clapper).

Haven't seen the Milligan fella for a couple of years. He seems to have stopped going to away games and at home I think he's in the wrong stand. Remember the Mantis to him will you? John Stewart is another fine guy and you can find him here- http://www.caledonianfc.co.uk/Team%20Photos/7677.jpg

ICT's £39805 is mentioned on there, except seems to be in Dunfermline. Honest, I know I'm a bit sad, but I just clicked it at random

Reminded me of this oldie but goodie: http://www.hark.com/clips/flzpkrzhyr-armagedon

Adam will come good in his second season just as he did with us However feel free to stick him in your hand luggage.

Very sad. Lovely guy.

Sebo - Slovakian?

Yeah I was there and I know what you mean! The Killie fans yesterday were singing 'soon be a Tesco, oh this'll soon be a Tesco' In the old days in div 3 we had a piper at a lot of the games who played Caledonia.

Very sad to hear this. I only met Gordy a couple of times but have great memories of the witty thrust of his posts on CTO. RIP Gordy.