Sneckboy

Apologies for the poor graphic I posted - it didn't appear as it showed in the 'preview'! Anyway, the 8 Scottish boys in our squad are all from the North - it's good to have that local element within the squad. Esson, Cheyne and Shinnie are from Aberdeen. Polworth, Christie, Ross and Ferguson are from Inverness. Cooper's from Macduff.

1GKRyan Esson 2DFDavid Raven 3DFGraeme Shinnie 5DFGary Warren 7FWBilly McKay 8MFRoss Draper 9MFRichie Foran (club captain) 11MFNick Ross 14DFJosh Meekings 17MFAaron Doran 21MFLiam Polworth 22MFConor Pepper 27DFDaniel Devine 32DFMatthew Cooper 37FWCalum Ferguson 38MFRyan Christie -MFJay Cheyne -MFAdam Evans -MFBen Greenhalgh -MFJames Vincent -MFDanny Williams With Reguero away, we currently have a squad of entirely British Isles players.

Yeah, I too have been alarmed at the expectation levels surrounding this guy! This really needs to be tempered. He's still very much unproven. Show-reels of players can be very misleading. Even the dullest of Big Brother contestants can be made to look sparkling when their 'best bits' are highlighted at the end! I'm sure Claude Gnakpa's show-reel would make him look sensational. They showcase glimpses of skill etc. but obviously don't address things like fitness, work rate and attitude. Many managers have lived to regret signing a player on the evidence of a DVD without properly assessing a player's potential. He's maybe got a 'big time Charlie' attitude (Richie Foran will be pleased!) due to the Ronaldo and Inter Milan links which is why he maybe hasn't greatly progressed as expected since winning that reality TV series on SKY. Indeed, the Inter Milan link maybe a curse for the boy, fuelling expectation. However, it was largely a SKY gimmick as he didn't actually 'play for Inter Milan' as some seem to think. The truth is, he trained with their youth team before being sent out to Como on loan who were in Serie C. Again, he wasn't with the first team, instead turning out a few times for their U20's. On his return, Ben's highest level of football has been with Welling in the Southern Conference. To put it in perspective, It's strange that little excitement surrounds recent capture, James Vincent who's played 3 levels higher (League 1) than Greenhalgh...but then again Vincent hasn't 'played for Inter Milan'!

Signed up till the end of season 2015-16: Aaron Doran Signed up till the end of season 2014-15: Josh Meekings Nick Ross Gary Warren Graeme Shinnie Billy McKay Daniel Devine David Raven Liam Polworth Ryan Christie Signed up till the end of season 2013-14: Ross Draper Ryan Esson Richie Foran Conor Pepper Matthew Cooper Jay Cheyne Calum Ferguson Ben Greenhalgh Danny Williams Adam Evans James Vincent (Butcher, Malpas and Marsella are also in this category)

Good article from Duncan Shearer about Robson's 'wild' days at Inverness in the Record. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aberdeen-icon-duncan-shearer-reckons-1925443

Manure

Our former 'keeper, Kyle Allison was at Linlithgow Rose until he was snapped up by big-spending Ballingry Rovers last summer. Kevin Byers is also at Ballingry. I love the Juniors and I really hope they can be accommodated into any future pyramid set-up.

Signed up till the end of season 2015-16: Aaron Doran Signed up till the end of season 2014-15: Josh Meekings Nick Ross Gary Warren Graeme Shinnie Billy McKay Daniel Devine David Raven Liam Polworth Ryan Christie Signed up till the end of season 2013-14: Ross Draper Ryan Esson Richie Foran Conor Pepper Matthew Cooper Jay Cheyne Calum Ferguson Ben Greenhalgh Danny Williams Adam Evans (Butcher, Malpas and Marsella are also in this category)

What about Matthew Cooper? No mention of him in the latest list...I thought he'd maybe another year to go. There's also Jay Cheyne and Calum Ferguson but they may be more youth team.

Not sure how valid this is as French Guiana isn't a member of FIFA. It's a bit like Guadeloupe! Marc-Antoine Fortune (Celtic). Obviously French but born in French Guiana.

I'm surprised that Richard Hastings didn't get any of the awards, considering how many seasons he was with us. Another player I was a big fan of, missing from the list is John Rankin.

I'd have Spain's La Liga as the best league due to the strength in depth. The worst would have to be San Marino's League! Although, with Gibraltar having recently been accepted into UEFA, they might prove to be worse at football, having a slightly smaller population than even San Marino to draw on. Their clubs will also compete in the European club competitions in time!

Probably that one!

It's mentioned in this article. http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Foundations-in-place-for-future-success-at-ICT-20052013.htm

Yeah, the car park at ICT is easy to get into....it's the GETTING OUT!!! lol I disagree lizi that Perth has a bigger population than Inverness. Certainly, Perth has a huge hinterland due to its location but the cities themselves? I think Inverness slightly bigger. What are we now, 70 000? When are the census 2011 results out? That would settle it!

Since the beginning of calendar year 2013 I've been keeping a spread sheet relating to betting on Caley Thistle. Every game played, I put a hypothetical £10 on the best odds available for all 3 possible outcomes. ie Home-Draw-Away. Now that the season's finished, here is the outcome. At Caledonian Stadium: Backing Inverness CT to win you'd be DOWN £0.70 (seventy pence) Backing the draw you'd be UP £29.20 Backing our opponents you'd be DOWN £25.80 Away games: Backing Inverness CT to win you'd be DOWN £36.00 Backing the draw you'd be DOWN £30.30 Backing our opponents you'd be UP £45.90 We had one neutral venue game in the League Cup which counts as a draw for 90 minute betting purposes. Including that game, the final state-of-play is: Overall: Betting £10 on ICT to win whenever they've played in 2013, you'd be DOWN £46.70 Betting £10 on ICT to draw whenever they've played in 2013, you'd be UP £32.90 Betting £10 on ICT to lose whenever they've played in 2013, you'd be UP £20.10 I'm not trying to draw any conclusions here or make any points, I just thought it would be interesting to do over an extended period, as I've often found myself wondering, "why don't I just stick a tenner on ICT every week"!!

How many names is that! I just love the close season speculation- I think it could be in overdrive this year..

I absolutely hate that celebration a lot of players do nowadays- the 'cupped ear'. As RiG says, it's totally a GIRUY gesture. Looks like Vigurs was doing the 'double cup' here. Other celebrations that rile me are the equally provocative finger over the mouth 'Shhhh' directed at opposing fans. Done to incite, of course. Strangely, the removing of the shirt in a moment of elation is the one that attracts a yellow card! And while I'm at it, another 'celebration' that can grate is the arrogant pointing over both shoulders at their name on their shirt!

Yeah, I saw that on North Tonight; it was good to see him looking so pleased!

I think this is how it's looking now: Signed up till the end of season 2014-15: Josh Meekings Nick Ross Gary Warren Graeme Shinnie Billy McKay Daniel Devine David Raven Liam Polworth Ryan Christie Signed up till the end of season 2013-14: Ross Draper Ryan Esson Richie Foran Conor Pepper Matthew Cooper Jay Cheyne Calum Ferguson Ben Greenhalgh Danny Williams (Butcher and Malpas are also in this category) Out of contract: Owain Tudur Jones Aaron Doran

Great season for Inverness. I cant find any reason to be despondent. However I find it a bit odd that some people consider it a 'successful' season if we finish ahead of Ross County! Surely we're a big enough club now, with nothing to prove to anyone. Must we preoccupy ourselves with what they're doing? I would far rather finish 3rd behind a County side who are runners-up to Celtic than finish 4th ahead of a 5th placed County. Anybody who disagrees is effectively saying they'd rather finish 4th than 3rd! But there will be some... To me, this parochial attitude smacks of small-mindedness and old Highland League-esque bragging rights. Both clubs have moved on to bigger things. We've 'cut each others throats' this season, denying European football for the Highlands - much to the delight of the central belt brigade.

I heard some folk are even walking! (hat-tip to the Highland Marchers)!

Go to the Red Pepper...it might be a good omen for tomorrow...a red-hot Pepper off the bench could swing it for us!

Saturday 18th May Highland League Lewis MacKinnon (Buckie Thistle 1-1 Inverurie Loco Works) Ross Tokely (Brora Rangers 12-1 Fort William) Dale Gilespie (Brora Rangers 12-1 Fort William) Zander Sutherland (Brora Rangers 12-1 Fort William) Andrew Greig (Brora Rangers 12-1 Fort William) Hard luck to Steve Paterson whose Formartine United team missed out on winning the league today, but a 'well done' to Barry Wilson in his debut season in management. Wick Academy finished an incredible 3rd in the Highland League. Easily their best ever campaign and they remain unbeaten in Caithness in a year and a half, with a remarkable home record this season of played 17; won 17!!

Such a shame for Shane. I'm sure he'll do well elsewhere. Good luck to him.