Harry Chibber

Sorry for the moan but those smilies are awful mate. I don't know what made you guys decide to change them, the old ones were fine and didn't have the white box surrounding them... looks ugly & don't really want to use them anymore.

Huge loss yes but we've won games without him before and Saturday will be no different. We've got players who can trouble Celtic just as much as much as Foran. Bring it on!

wow :_phone:

on catch up

Queens vs Raith draw @ 3.5 for me pls

ffs worst news we could have had

I must be needing glasses because I see no mention of Tuffey in that article. :piano:

I think that it is others who need the glasses, the squad is listed as-

N Ireland: Taylor (Birmingham), Little (Rangers), Evans (Manchester Utd), Craigan (Motherwell), McGivern (Manchester City, on loan at Walsall), Clingan (Coventry), Baird (Fulham), Davis (Rangers), Brunt (West Brom), Paterson (Burnley), Lafferty (Rangers).

awful small squad that with only 11 players... don't even need subs !!!

... think that might just be the starting 11 ;)

Chiber - were you not wearing a shirt with Teasdale on it or something? I seem to remember blaming you for the defeat because of something you were wearing!

lol nah I remember getting the blame somehow but not sure what it was for... maybe said he didn't look confident before he missed it or something like that.

I forgot the Tuffey factor.

I'm making this prediction on basis that many of the teams which finished in the bottom half last season would struggle a little in the first division.

Which SPL teams are better than us? Celtic are in turmoil (at least until they can get shot of Lennon), Rangers are still fairly strong, Motherwell will be buoyed by their European exploits. Hibs are poor - no doubt Yogi will be gone before too long. Killie are bankrupt, Aberdeen = lol, St Midden - pretty fecked after big cutbacks, Hearts, still will pose us problems - as will United. Hamilton have lost their wonderkids - Imrie is now their star man! St Johnstone obviously won't have the bounce effect this season. On paper there are 5 teams which are stronger than ICT but I can see a good season ahead - especially if we can win on the 14th and get a draw (or win) away to United.

On paper we were relegated from the same division apart from Falkirk.. on paper we are the 12th worst/best team in the league. Any position we reach higher than that come May is an over-achievment.

I have high hopes for this year but your having a laff if you think there are only 5 teams stronger than us.

BELLS CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 4 (Wilson 29, Sheerin 46 pen, 56 pen & 112)

Fridge, Tokely, Hastings, Teasdale, McCulloch, Sheerin, Wilson, Xausa (Bavidge 104), Wyness (Glancy 105), Christie, Golabek (Byers 72)

ALLOA 4 (Clark 20, Wilson 33, Cameron 48 & 104)

Cairns, Boyle, Clark, McAneny, Beaton, Valentine, Little, Clark (Christie 67), Cameron, Irvine, Wilson (McKechnie 65)

Sub ? Donaghy

4-4 after extra time. Alloa won 5-4 on penalties ?

Alloa penalties ? Irvine scored; Beaton hit bar; Boyle, Cameron, Little & Cairns scored

ICT penalties ? Sheerin saved; McCulloch, Tokely, Byers & Wilson scored; Teasdale saved

REFEREE ? J McLuskey ATTENDANCE ? 4043 MAN OF THE MATCH - Martin Cameron (Alloa)

Bitter disappointment for Caley Thistle as they lost their first ever senior cup final on penalties. They came from behind three times in normal play then again in extra time to take the game to a penalty decider. Alloa took the lead in 20 minutes when Gary Clark hit a low ball past Les Fridge from 15 yards. Barry Wilson equalised in 29 minutes with a neat chip over the ?keeper. A defensive error let in Mark Wilson to score Alloa?s second in 33 minutes but Paul Sheerin equalised from the penalty spot just after half time. This lasted 2 minutes before Martin Cameron made it 3-2 with a 15 yard angled volley. Another penalty goal by Sheerin made it 3-3 in 56 minutes. 14 minutes into extra time Alloa again took the lead when Martin Cameron beat the defence and ran on to score. Paul Sheerin completed his hat trick 8 minutes from time with a 16 yard shot. It was 4-4 on penalties after the regulation 5 attempts each. Alloa ?keeper Mark Cairns was the hero when he scored to make it 5-4 then saved Mike Teasdale?s penalty. The Cup was on its way to Alloa after an exciting match.

that's not how I remember it :107:

Unfortunately for McBain he's been played out of position for the majority of his career... happens with most left footed players (sob)... he is not a left winger, hasn't got the pace or skill to play in that position but he is an excellent centre mid and every time he's played there he's impressed. He keeps possesion, good first touch and great composure on the ball. I don't know what role he'll have this season but I'm glad we've got him in the squad

I'm a huge fan of young Nick Ross, but I'm not sure that I'd want to see him on from the start against Celtic.

Butcher's Thoughts

We might not have any other option... if others aren't match fit or injured then Butcher might have to use him.

It would be a great match for his development, if he can handle that sort of pressure then the rest of the games this season would be a breeze.

momentum is important and hopefully we can bring that into the SPL but we have to earn our right to compete, avoid relegation and then look up the table.

although blind optimism did work for wilson on our wing last season so.....

Bells Challenge Cup 1999/2000 v Alloa which we lost on penalties after a 4 - 4 ET draw. Gutted at the end but it was some game!

Yip that would be mine.. Martin Cameron for Alloa turned into Pele for the day and bagged 4 goals. Possibly the best performance I've ever seen from an opposing striker who then disappeared down south to become a nobody

The way the goals went as well 1-0,1-1,2-1,2-2, 3-2, 3-3, F/T, 4-3 then finally 4-4.... even the penalies were tit for tat.. until Rossco (maybe Teasdale) missed his and lost us the match

Truely epic game and probably has a lot to do with why I love football so much.

Subs

Mark Brown

Stuart Golabek

Darren Dods

Ian Black

Barry Robson

Iain Stewart

Craig Dargo

I've tried not to look at others teams before typing up mine so this might change lol

that is tough ... we've had some real quality players at this club and I feel bad leaving out the old old school players

good thread... take a green dot.

I'd probably go for Sheerin because he's still my favourite player to wear our blue and red.

If I was looking at things more tacticly, Bobby Mann because of his passing from defence and orginisation or a prime Barry Wilson to play in the hole behind Rooney because I think our 4-2-3-1 formation would have suited him perfectly.

:_thumbup: welcome aboard.... hopefully another Butcher gem

freekick taker as well.... a better Bob Harris??? lol

Pub, club, strippers, casino .... in that order.

From a 'want-Scottish-teams-to-do-well-in-europe-perspective' it's another embarrassing result when you think they are really representing us..... but... from a GIRUY 'weegie-Celtic-supporting-work-mates-that-know-absolutely-feck all-about-football-perspective' ha f*cking ha

thing is did anyone actually expect them to get a result? Braga finished 2nd last season in a competitive portugese league and are no mugs... Celtic on the other hand were throwing in players with little, or no, season preperation and some only met each other 2 days ago...

as alternative says I still think they'll win the league with the players they have unless there is a monumental f*ck up from Lennon... I just hope their embarrassment continues past the 14th of August.

3-0. Lol

Bookies are being pretty generous offering 6/1 for us to win on the opening day...

odds must have been sliced after last night's result.... we were 7/1 a couple of days ago

I'll take that bet.....

If you're looking to throw away ?50 on United you'd be as well heading down to the bookies and getting at least 10/1 for it.

Could be the perfect signing... someone who can cover left back and centre half. Can't remember ever seeing him play for St J but if he's even 1 8th the player Lucas Radebe was then we should be doing all we can to get the guy.

That's me placed ?20 on a draw at 7/2 and ?10 on draw first half/ICT second half at 18/1....

probably money down the drain but as I said "if you were ever going to put some money on ICT this is the game"

...

HT: 1-0

FT: 3-0

1st scorer ICT: Rooney

Crowd - 2489

Alex has already given his list of how we'll mastermind our way to top six but in line with reality please provide your expectations for the new season and how it'll end. I'll go for:

Celtic

Rangers

Hearts

Dundee United

Motherwell

HIbs

Aberdeen

Inverness

St Johnstone

Hamilton

Kilmarnock

St Mirren

I'll bookmark this for the end of the season and anyone who predicts it exactly wins a golden egg. (layed by one of tm4tj's ducks)

I've added a poll for extra effect.

Cant argue with any of that. very good summary and analysis. (take a plus dot ;))

thank you sir :)