RiG

1. Raigmore 2. Balloch (Inverness) 3. Around 1992/93 I think when I went with HislopsOffsideAgain to a couple of Highland matches involving Caledonian or Thistle. 4. Aberdeen ICT will always have a problem retaining a core precentage of its fanbase given that the Highland region has a high level of out migration in the 16 - 29 year age group. A lot of our fans fall into this age group but are likely to leave the area to head off to further education or to secure jobs. Whilst there are people coming into the area they are quite likely to already support a team so going along to an ICT game will not likely appeal to them.

What would the basics be? For me the basics at a football game are somewhere to watch the match (seat or stand), a place to go to the toilet and somewhere to get a drink or food if required. Anything else is expendable and above "basic" in my mind.

Still waiting on Dougal to back up his claim regarding season ticket numbers at ICT and Ross County. I wonder what's taking so long?

Sportscene is bollocks and has been for ages. Watch the highlights on YouTube.

Decent prediction I think.

I recall us having a minutes silence / applause in memory of John MacDonald, who passed away the previous week at Rugby park, before a match.

To be honest I don't think Butcher will play that formation

Very sad news Thoughts are with friends and family at this time.

In my opinion no self respecting Caley fan would ever wear the away top I don't think a Caley fan would wear any form of ICT top to be honest.

What have the club done more this close season than recent years then? The club with its performances and final league position last season alone should have increased season ticket sales, think its a bit off for some to blame the club for not doing enough It's worrying that County will have more season ticket holders than us for the second year running but i very much doubt that it would effect Terry or the players on the park Maybe a recruiting drive by Caleyjagsforever is a more apt suggestion Dougal The renewal forms went out much earlier than previous seasons. There were the wee flyers / adverts about getting younger fans along with free tickets for some and encouraging parents to get their wee ones along instead of watching it on the TV. Maybe not all encompassing but better than recent seasons. Regarding your point about our season ticket sales c.f. Count do you have any figures that support your statement? You have a tendency to make sweeping statements with little or not reference source.

I fully expect this to be our starting 2-3-1 for most of the season: Draper - Foran Doran - Vincent - Ross McKay No reason why Foran can't still do a job as AML and he doesn't need to do too much running as Shinnie will overlap all day down that same side. Also, with Vincent and Draper, in theory, playing as the midfield two, I would expect one to venture forward to provide additional support from midfield whilst the other one sits to protect the remaining defenders. EDIT: Also, If Foran hasn't got the pace to play AML I would surmise that he doesn't have the pace for an AMC role like "Shinniesta" which requires a decent amount of pace to lead quick counters and drive past opposition players into space to create chances. He (Foran) is very much a combative CM now.

To be fair to the club I think that they have done more this close season than in recent years to get folk along. I'd be interested to know how many posters on this site have a season ticket. Not to find a stick to beat them with but it might give an indication (from a representative sample) of what percentage ICT fans do have season tickets.

Contradictory article here: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scotlands-top-flight-football-clubs-given-2097478 Not much to go on for some clubs there though.

We normally play a system that has one out and our striker. I think three is adequate coverage.

That's what I would go with.

No ICT highlights of Arbroath but there are some highlights on this lads YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCV3g_b5yudXUfEoAIT2HCA?feature=

How often do ICT sign players of any pedigree?

Hopefully it wasn't a car driven by David Hannah.

Not really much to add from what Yngwie and RossP have said. Good to see Bayne and Sheerin again. I thanked Bayne for his goals against Aberdeen. He seemed delighted. Nice of the players to acknowledge us at the end of the game as well. An Abroath fan on P & B (smokie bacon crisps) has posted a link to some photos from the game: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotsman_in_hawaii/sets/72157634765874233/with/9352936493/

Very entertaining final game yesterday against Motherwell which ICT eventually won 5 - 4. Mothwerwell took the lead but ICT came much more into the game towards the end of the first half and dominated most of the second period. Well took the lead with a penalty which was initially saved but had to be retaken because of encroachment. The retaken spot kick was again saved but the Well player followed in to score. Harsh on the ICT keeper who made two terrific stops. ICT were soon back in it and raced into a 3 - 1 lead. All three goals were from horrendous Motherwell defending. The first and third goals were the results of free kicks being lifted into the box and, as mentioned earlier, Motherwell simply did not appear capable of defending any crossed balls. Both set pieces lead to very easy goals for ICT. In between those strikes there was some awful defending at the back. One of the Well players, who does not look U16 at all, got into a right mess and played the ball past his own keeper who was now stranded out of his goal which was unguarded. The wee no. 8 for ICT was on the ball in a flash and calmly stroked the ball into the net. ICT scored their 4th when the impressive no. 9 was played in behind the Well defence and although his first shot was blocked he followed it up to dispatch the ball into the net. Well struck back with a superb team goal. Some quick passing down the ICT right carved open the defence and the Well player found the net with ease. ICT made it 4 - 2 with the pick of the goals coming from no. 14 for ICT. He strode onto the ball from just outside the area and unleashed a half volley into the roof of the net. Very good finish. However, Motherwell were able to grab another couple of goals to ensure a nervy finish. Their third came from poor defending by ICT at a corner. Unable to clear the ball eventually found its way to a Well player to poke it into the net. And Motherwells 4th cranked up the pressure on ICT. A superb defence splitting pass allowed one of the Motherwell youngsters to lob the onrushing ICT keeper to ensure a nailbiting finish. Really enjoyable matches to take in. ICT can count themselves very unlucky not to have won the group after conceding a last minute equaliser to Sheffield United. Had they kept them out then they would have gone through as group winners. Some good players on show as well. I don't think most of the guys kept the same numbers throughout the tournament, maybe they did, but on the final day I was impressed with the lad wearing no 16. who I was later told was Ali Sutherland. He looks a bit like Aaron Doran but seemed to play as a box to box midfielder as part of a midfield two. He was solid defensively and had endless energy to get up and down the pitch. His ball control was excellent under pressure and, although he didn't display much skill, he used the ball wisely and kept play ticking over. My pick of the ICT lads from what I saw. Also impressive was no. 9 who I think is called Chris Blackett. He seemed to score most of the goals (based on the information on the Aberdeen Sports Village website). Quite tall, very strong forward. Excellent at holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Hopefully we'll see some of these guys in the first team in the years ahead.

Contemplating it too. Ross how are you getting there?

U16s.

Watched the lads again today as they fell to a 2 - 1 defeat against Albion Boys Club. I think they can consider themselves very unlucky to have lost but it was a lesson in taking your chances in a game where ICT were probably the better side but two lapses at the back were punished with goals whilst some of the Albion errors weren't always taken advantage of. After a goalless first half Inverness opened the scoring from the result of a defensive mix up. Corner swung in and a couple of wild swipes by Albion players failed to clear it and it fell to one of the ICT lads who shot high into the net. Albion drew level not too long after ICT subbed their goalie with the replacement unable to claim a free kick that was lifted into the box. He came far too far out of his goal and was unable to connect with the ball which, after a couple of deflections, ended up in the ICT net. Albion were in the ascendancy and were fired up but it was still Inverness that were creating the better chances. In the end though after ICT passed up another half decent chance to grab a winner Albion broke forward to score a crucial second goal. A long clearance bounced high over an Inverness defender who had just mistimed his jump and the ball skimmed off his head. An Albion player dashed in to coolly lob the ball over the onrushing keeper. A really good finish but a cruel blow for ICT who, as I say, were the better team over the course of the game. They play Motherwell tomorrow at 10:00 in the Consolation 3rd / 4th place play off. Hopefully they can repeat their 6 - 1 drubbing of The "Steelboys"

I wouldn't say Shinnie was a wing back at all. More a modern day full back along the lines of Ashley Cole.

Easy 6 - 1 win for ICT against a really poor Motherwell side who were shambolic at defending crossed balls. I think 4 or 5 of our goals came from headers. We also scored a penalty as well which saw the Well keeper booked and then sent off for handling the ball outside the area. With their other keeper already used in the first half Well ended up playing one of their defenders in goal for the rest of the match. A lot of hoof balls at times but also some good passing play on display from ICT. Sometimes the final ball was just not right and drained the pace from an attack but they looked good on the counter and when working the ball down the flanks. Defence was solid as well with the monstrous number 18 dealing with everything in the air at the back and also weighing in with a couple of goals. Charlie Christie was raging at points during the game, especially with the referee. Good to see he still gets so worked up.