The Mantis

I suppose I should have known this, as I saved the licensing requirements as a pdf on my iPad and occasionally have a squint at them if I can’t sleep ?

Is that because we’re in the Championship or has it been dropped altogether? I’ve been saying for years that it shouldn’t have been mandatory. The clubs without it should have just been willing to accept a fine if a game was postponed.

PM sent.

https://ictfc.com/club-statement-3?fbclid=IwAR0OHO65OKWYD23yV3j4lbeppAh1sHL3GgUFUYRLE0wJdHXqQ3sSnJY8e1c

I think she's implying it's more than a wee smile you need ?

What Kingsmills said. He's on a good number here despite all the constraints, so there's little pressure on him. Dundee would be a poisoned chalice imo. However if he wants to leave, no point standing in his way.

Starry starry night Paint your parrot blue and grey

I remember everybody laughing at us when we signed him. The first time I saw him was in that awful game at Forthbank when we won 2-0 on penalties - he came on as a first half sub for Mulraney and played up the left wing. I was inclined to agree with the laughers. Also in the team were Calder, Seedorf and Baird, and on the bench were Elsdon and Susan. So we have made progress under Robbo in 2 years. As others have said he was decent going forward and not so good in a holding role. In the first season he was as crab-like and risk-averse as any midfielder I’ve seen although this season he’s been very solid and much more confident. A quick look at Wiki suggests he’s played in all 40 league and playoff games this season, and only missed a couple last year. Of his 142 senior games, 96 were for us, and all 6 of his goals. Coincidentally he made his Celtic and Motherwell debuts against us. He’s definitely developed in his 2 years here but he’s no worldbeater. I wish him well as he tries to further his career but he’s leaving behind a very secure position at ICT and I fear he will be another victim of the Caley Curse.

Can’t imagine the north being full so you actually CHOSE the main stand? Maybe wearing a Peter Gabriel disguise.

Anybody in particular? Season ticket in the north stand perchance? A liking for a pint of John Smiths and a wee Chivas Regal?

Aye, rite enaff. Misread the Wiki table, they should make it clearer, or have a “Seniors Only” version ?

Just shows how much I know. I thought Morpeth were still in the Northern League. But they’re at level 8 and have just finished second. I’m optimistic about Carson’s signing. A bit of perspective though - in pre-season, Whitehill Welfare, who have just finished rock bottom of the Lowland, with a mere 12 points, travelled to Heaton Stannington and won 5-1. The Stan have just finished 4th out of 20 in Northern League div 2 which is level 10.

They certainly are. Their sugar daddy finds the players jobs too, as he has a conservatory firm. They’ve spent a tidy sum upgrading their ground, which was probably decent enough for L2 anyway. Slightly unfair as described above. Also wasn’t it fairly common knowledge that fash wanted a move south?

Or Fashing trip... Glad to see the back of him. He was hopeless. At least you get 100% from big Jordan, even if his second touch is a tackle ?

Golspie don't have lights, so would not be able to join the HL at present. They are SFA members and historically qualify for the Scottish Cup preliminary rounds because of this. Took a dander down to Berwick yesterday as it's only about an hour's drive. Men against boys, although Berwick were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half time.

I'm with Kingsmills on this one. I think Neilson is a great manager so they'd be favourites next year. If it's Hamilton plus Dundee, who are a shambles at the moment, we've got a decent chance of coming first or second. I think Robbo has steadily improved the squad over the two years he's been here, even if he is working with buttons.

Just ignore it. He was banned from the topic about 12 hours ago.

These players have sweated blood this season. You could see some of them weren’t fit last night, Walsh for one, and Coll and Doran probably. Everybody knows the squad was down to the bare bones. But if anything they were the better side in the first half and could have been a couple of goals up with better finishing. They deserved to take a bow for their efforts. And yet at the 3rd goal we have people streaming out of the ground?‍♂️

Haven’t checked this, but I think this is probably just paper talk as any ‘Colts’ entry in the HL would require a vote and a rule change at SFA level. I think at the moment, clubs are barred from having two teams as part of the Professional Game Board, which includes the HL. Spartans of the LL had a reserve side in the EOSL, while the EOSL was outside the pyramid, but they don’t now.

Have a greenie just for the GIF.

At the moment the dividing line is the middle of the Tay Bridge. In theory the likes of Montrose would be relegated to the HL which is causing loads of discussion in non-League circles. In fact Brora came very close to replacing them 4 years ago. If Cove beat Berwick the LL will simply adjust to accommodate Berwick and stay at 16 clubs, as it has the EOSL below it. In any case it looks as if Whitehill Welfare will be relegated and replaced by EOSL Champions Bonnyrigg Rose, subject to them gaining a license. The SHFL can easily run with 17 - they've had 15 recently. Their stated objective is to run with up to 19 after which they would split into 2 divisions of 10. While the pyramid is developing apace in the south, nobody really knows what is happening in the north, as apparently the HL is open to applications from new clubs but this is hardly ever tested. The preferred SFA position is a HL of 16, i.e. 30 games. While there are probably not enough clubs in the north of Scotland to sustain a proper pyramid structure, it means that the lower regions of the HL are effectively just an old boys' club for the likes of Fort and Lossie to survive.

How did that work out for you then?

Really sad news ????????

It was Aberdeen that took Maddison on loan, but yes, he’s a terrific player and I can’t see Leicester hanging on to him.

Try and keep it on track guys. Keep your disagreements civil or take them to PM.