Tichy_Blacks_Back

Some photos from his first few games....

A recent review of the SPL pitches has given the Inverness pitch only 5/10. I don't think the pitch is that bad - ok it is starting to cut up a little recently in the goalmouth areas but overall I thought it is still in good shape considering the recent weather.....and wouldn't say it is uneven and partly worn.... Daily Record web-site - We run the rule over the SPL's pitches and discover best and worst surfaces Feb 26 2009 RANGERS 9/10 Top of the league and top marks for the standard of their pitch. Rangers spent fortunes during the summer relaying a surface which has been troublesome in the past. It has paid off with Ibrox still resembling a bowling green. CELTIC 9/10 Celtic Park has been the best playing surface consistently over the past decade. The SPL champions have maintained their high standards again this term and the pitch remains in immaculate condition. FALKIRK 8/10 Jim Dawson was presented with the Scottish Groundsman of the Year trophy for the second time before last weekend's game against Hamilton. He came out top in a poll of SFA referees who score conditions before, during and after matches. ST MIRREN 8/10 St Mirren's carpet was only laid three weeks ago so there is no excuses for it not being up to scratch. So far, so good with visiting teams quick to praise the standard of the surface. HEARTS 7/10 One of the best grounds for atmosphere and a well maintained pitch. Tynecastle has a few bare patches appearing through wear and tear but the surface remains true. HAMILTON 7/10 Just one point behind Motherwell in the race for a top-six spot but light years ahead of their Lanarkshire rivals in terms of preparing a surface that allows decent football. KILMARNOCK 7/10 Traditionally, Rugby Park has always been one of the better surfaces in Scottish football and this season has been no different. It must be the balmy Ayrshire weather. DUNDEE UNITED 6/10 The Arabs lived up to their nickname last year by piling tons of sand on the pitch. This term the surface is much improved and while not perfectly manicured it gets pass marks. INVERNESS 5/10 Following the recent Arctic-like conditions in the Highlands the Caley pitch has taken a bit of a battering from the elements. Uneven and partly worn, it is not conducive to free-flowing football. ABERDEEN 3/10 Looks more like a ploughed field than a football pitch. Rutted, bare and covered in sand. Anyone hoping to play apassing game can forget it. HIBS 2/10 The Easter Road outfit give Motherwell a run for their money when it comes to the appalling condition of the pitch. Resembles a patchwork quilt and there's even one large strip of ground which is about an inch higher than the rest. MOTHERWELL 1/10 Gordon Strachan was being kind when he claimed Fir Park wasn't good enough to play rugby on. It's not fit for grazing sheep. Devoid of grass, the Lanarkshire bog is an total embarrassment to a decent club.

Is that actually a step up?

2-1 full time Tich Cheers Alex.... ;) The ICT soothsayer's powers seemed to have been dulled by the initial supply of red smirnoff vodka that he has received.... :thumb04:

as was bing crosby.... :thumb04: so mystical one are you suggesting another 1-0 ht - 2-0 ft game as not put my bet on yet....

Clyde v QoS - Draw @ 3.40 - ta muchly....

Interesting item on TB & MM on the BBC web-site - looks like Tel has raided the club shop again.... BBC - Butcher Lifts Highland Spirits

Probably not any of that Eastern Australian stuff anyway - I believes it leaves a bad taste in his mouth....

Happy Birthday....and don't down not too much of that Rīga Black Balsam stuff.... :018: :thumb04: ;)

Through to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup where they will play AaB - it may be their only route this season to European football next season....

The Wee Red Book..... how appropriate....

Best current odds available - SPL odds have changed quite a bit after the Hibs result: Relegation from SPL ICT 6/5 (Extrabet) Falkirk 13/8 (Coral) St Mirren 9 (Extrabet) Kilmarnock 12 (Extrabet) Hamilton 20 (Extrabet) Motherwell 50 (Coral) Decent odds on both St.Mirren and Killie.... Scottish Cup Latest Odds Celtic 11/8 (Various) Rangers 11/8 (Various) Aberdeen 9/1 (Ladbrokes) Falkirk 28/1 (888Sport / Blue Square) Inverness CT 33/1 (Extrabet) St.Mirren 45/1 (Extrabet) Hamilton 80/1 (Extrabet) Dunfermline 100/1 (Ladbrokes) Looks like the bookies have Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen as bankers for the semis with Falkirk as slight favourites to win our game....interesting.... ICT v Motherwell - 28/02/09 The best odds for a home win v Motherwell at the weekend is 6/4 (various) but Coral are offering 7/2 for a HT/FT Inverness and 5/1 (Blue Square / 888sport) for HT draw FT ICT....tough choice this week but the HT/FT still looks a good bet....

Recent photo taken of TB at TCS but what is the book that he is holding?

Hibs A - Lose - 0 pts Dundee Utd H - Draw - 1 pt Inverness H - Lose - 0 pts Rangers H - Lose 0 pts Celtic A - Lose 0 pts Kilmarnock A - Win - 3 pts Hearts H - Draw - 1 pt I reckon a potential 5 points from that lot so should get just a little interesting after the split - I think we will both be hoping for the poor Killie form to continue.... :thumb04: PS - thanks for tipping us for another SC semi day out....

I believe the tickets for the Falkirk game have been selling really well over the last few weeks and I too would expect the crowd to be between 5-6,000 and possibly 6K+ if the weather is good on the day....

Indeed but one of the other wee SPL teams will be going down this season....

I think it is a good idea. In Germany all the bigger clubs have a reserve team in the lower leagues and if I remember right cannot get into the top two leagues so can only go as high as the top regional league or liga III as it is now as I think the German league pyramid system has recently been revamped with 3 top leagues and then the regional structure below that. A lot of the lower regional teams in Germany are semi-professional as in Scotland and their system works well. It works both ways as it allows the large clubs to field young players or squad fringe players and allows the smaller clubs to get extra revenue from the visits of bigger clubs. For example in Germany Weder Bremen's 2nd team is just called Weder Bremen II and they have a squad which is announced at the start of the season just like any other club. Some clubs like Bremen also have a 3rd team that plays in the regional leagues. As I remember there are quite specific rules for those involved with those teams. In addition these teams do not play in the Pokal Cup (Scottish Cup equivalent). If we were to have a fixed number of top level teams wishing to enter reserve teams (i.e Celtic II) then the lower leagues could be restructured accordingly possibly on a regional basis that may also help the finances of the lower league clubs with lower travelling costs when they are in the lower leagues. It is definitely an avenue that should be explored further.

Are YOU sure....

I'd tend to go along with most of that.... Rossco :thumb04: ;) Not a great day at the office, too many stray passes. A long time since I have seen so many air shots by a player in a match also.... :018:

Rangers Away in the semi-final....

Totally agree - let's take all the awards and the Scottish Cup in the last month....give it to Hamilton again or even better Falkirk or St.Mirren.... :thumb04:

Was the booking not for blocking the hibs free-kick....didn't look like much he could have done about it as they took it quickly and it was pinged right into him....poor decision in my opinion. I am though looking forward to seeing the shoulder charge/push in the first half on proctor - how none of the officials saw it I don't know and how long did they play on for after Pavel got his head knock....

Good one Bob - ht/ft was even being offered at 13/2 earlier in the week - seems like easy money now since Hibs didn't turn up - I bet some of those who made the trip up north from Edinburgh wished they hadn't also....

21-Feb - ICT v Hibs (SPL) - 2-0 (3 points) 28-Feb - ICT v Motherwell (SPL) 7-Mar - ICT v Falkirk (SC) 14-Mar - ICT v Kilmarnock (SPL) 3 points from the first game and if we continue with the current performances we could well be off the bottom by 16:45 on the 14th March Alex - only 16 more points before the split and you will be spot on with that prediction.... :thumb04: