IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

Just when you think an old bulb needs changed it fires into life.

Absolutely - Character building - as long as they survive.

If McKay scores three then Hoban should let in four. If Hoban has a clean sheet then Mckay should not score.

Played 2 Won 0 Lost 0 Drawn 2 For 0 Against 0 Points 2 ? Chorley 0 ?

This Saturday we face Arbroath in our opening home league match of the new season. This Saturday’s game is almost exactly 25 years, to the date, of our first league match, which was also against Arbroath. The match finished 5-2 to ICTFC with Alan Hercher scoring a hat-trick. Along with the celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the club, we will remember, Caley Thistle legend, Alan Hercher. Alan tragically passed away last year and he was the first ever captain of the club. Alan will be remembered in various ways this Saturday, there will be the opening of the Alan Hercher enclosure in the North Stand, there will be a minute of applause before the match in memory of Alan and all the players, Directors, staff and fans we have lost across the first 25 years. Friends and family of Alan’s will be in the P&J Lounge for the match and some members of the first Caley Jags team will be pitch side for the tribute. The Caley Thistle players will wear the special edition ICT25 Strip for this match to celebrate the 25 anniversary of our first match and each player will be wear an armband with the number 4 on it, Hercher’s squad number, as a tribute to him.

It is a coded message to Alan Simpson FFS Good shout.

Sumtimes you don't know what you've got till its gone - It may be utter gash but it may be the complete opposite.

What is life if you don't live dangerously at times.

Jhesus it has been a done deal fer months.

Are you two drunk ?

If I was Robbo I would be considering something radical for Saturday. We now have Brad and Rooney missing to fill the right back slot and are firing in replacements who are clearly unsure of the roles. We are missing Welsh from the important holding midfield and Tremarco and Doran appear to be experiencing the middle aged leg weakness syndrome. Then we are hoofing high balls to a supposed target man who is not blessed with ability to soar in the air. I can wholly understand why Robbo did not alter anything for the very difficult game at Tannadice but surely Arbroath at home is the game to try something different. So here is my starting X1 although I know that it will never happen. This team may have defensive frailities but its attacking potential is clear. RIDGERS HARPER DONALDSON McCART VINCENT CARSON STOREY McGREGOR WALSH TODOROV KEATINGS

I predict that you are going to get a slap.

What - under a kilt ? Will respond by opening a new topic.

Await the Red Dot brigade but I feel that we are in a hiding to nothing this weekend - unless there are changes. Three points (even is scraped) will maintain the present system. A draw or defeat may bring about the needed change that many appear to feel is necessary.

At danger of being a Happy Clapper here goes. Did anyone expect anything else from Tannadump other than a performance improvement ? To blame on fitness is nonsense although perhaps we concentrated more on game time rather than your traditional pre-season torture ? Every cup counts until you get knocked out of it so dropping out helps is also nonsense. How may would have been looking forward to a last 16 tie ? But as tm4j suggests the next two games have become very, very important. But lets not get into the thinking trap that Arbroath are there for the taking - BUT this simply has to be a three point result if nothing else. Then we go back to Dens and although we were bad they were little better. And then there is Robbo. I sincerely hope that the signing of Storey is a sign that we are going to have more of an attacking ethos ? Dundee especially had us sussed tactically so we should be able to turn the tables as they are equally one-dimensional - if not moreso. 4-6 points out of 9 will look a lot, lot better.

Yazz has just contacted me and her advice is - "Johndo, We've been broken down, To the lowest turn, Bein' on the bottom line, Sure ain't no fun - Hold on hold on Johndo, Hold on Johndo, ooh ooh aah - The only way is up Johndo, For ICT now, The only way is up Johndo, For you and me and ICT now."

There's only one Djebi-Zadi

Storey back, Tansey back in a deal taking White to St Midden. Buying Todorov now makes sense.

I would take a point now if offered as I am afraid that Robbo has to adhere to his one-dimensional approach and team selection. My only hope is that players discover the "form" and performance levels that they showed at the close of last season. If we rediscover our defensive prowess ( which will need BIG improvement from Coll and Tremarco) then we are in with a shout. If we develop a firm defensive midfield shield (until Welsh returns) then we may have 2/3rdsof the project done. I suspect that our substitutions (Todorov, MacKay and McGregor/Machado) may be the surprise packages that save or win this game for us. White will start - for the time being but what will our league standing look like when realization hits us ?

But staying oop will be the problem ? AUGUST DATE Bromley Victory Park Sat 03 (3pm) AFC Fylde Mill Farm Tue 06 (7:45pm) Sutton United Gander Green Lane Sat 10 (3pm) Solihull Moors Victory Park Tue 13 (7:45pm) Maidenhead United York Road Sat 17 (3pm) Hartlepool United Victory Park Sat 24 (3pm) Notts County Meadow Lane Mon 26 (3pm) Boreham Wood Victory Park Sat 31 (5:20p

Team for Lossie

Well put lad. But the comments are based on the performances and "gash" is an apt description. But it is early days yet and a point (or more) at the Arabdome and an improved display will be the lift that we need. Personally I fear that this may not happen but hope springs eternal.