Sneckboy

Coincidentally, an item today suggests that Charles Kennedy is under serious threat from the SNP. Lord Ashcroft's latest polling is summarised here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31738358

Have added Kink, and for the purposes of this list, elevated Calum Ferguson and Ali Sutherland into the first-team squad. Not sure on their contract situation, but am assuming they're up for negotiation at the end of the season? Signed up until the end of season 2016-17: • Gary Warren • Richie Foran • Greg Tansey • Josh Meekings Signed up until the end of next season (2015-16): • John Hughes - Manager • Russell Latapy - Assistant Manager • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Ryan Christie • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent Signed up until the end of this season (2014-15): • Daniel Devine • Graeme Shinnie (going to Aberdeen) • Nick Ross • Marley Watkins • David Raven • Liam Polworth • Lewis Horner • Edward Ofere • Ali Sutherland • Calum Ferguson • Tarmo Kink • Jaime Wilson (Development Squad) • Kane Hull (Development Squad) • Jason Brown (Development Squad) • Struan McArthur (Development Squad) • Blair MacLennan (Development Squad) • Calum Howarth (Development Squad) • Chris Brown (Development Squad) • Stephen Rennie (Development Squad) • Cammy Mackay (goalkeeper) (Development Squad) • Chris Blackett (Development Squad) • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) (Development Squad) • Ryan Baptie (Development Squad)

Good news! Am pleased with our two new players. Not sure he'll be match fit yet but we've certainly got options now. A much healthier looking 23-man squad.

I watched the Scotland innings last night before having to go to bed - they put in a great shift and had recorded what I thought would be enough! Sadly, I was mistaken and Bangladesh reeled in the runs quite comfortably. I heard the Scottish boy, Kyle Coetzer, who'd made 150+ being interviewed and was pleasantly surprised to hear a Scottish accent, despite the name. Seems he was born and raised in Aberdeen and his name is from his South African dad. I assumed that most of the squad, as CB alluded to in an earlier post, were likely 'passport Scots' but it's really not the case. 12 of the 15-man-squad are either born here or have a Scottish parent. Unlike in international football, there's no grandparent rule for cricket - the ICC scrapped that a while ago, but there is a 'residency' rule. That's where the other 3 members of the squad become eligible. They've all lived in Scotland most of their life and indeed still live here. So, there are no ringers in Scotland's cricket team!! Although not in this case, the residency rule is possibly a bit dubious as it's only a 4-year stipulation. That's too short in my opinion. Studying a four-year degree at a Scottish University would therefore allow that person to be eligible for Scotland at the culmination of their course. I remember there was talk of this type of thing in football a few years back, with Nacho Novo stating he'd love to represent Scotland - but I do prefer a bloodline. Interestingly, 4 of the cricket team are from Aberdeen!

Account

Didn't we get about £250,000 from Dinamo Bucharest for Niculae? That's correct - but I was just 'correcting' the 'second highest fee received' entry! The £400k on the site for Niculae is maybe a bit on the high side!

It'll be interesting to see if he's kept his place in the Northern Ireland squad for the Hampden friendly and Euro qualifier v Finland. Most national managers tend to only pick players who are playing regularly for their club - and Billy's lack of game time for Wigan may cost him!

I see that Knox is now at a career high of 77 in the world rankings!

It's not the composition of the players in the team that matters, but the fact they'd still be competing under the 'GB' banner.

It used to be 5 subs, but 7 are now permitted.

An unfilled bench - yet Nick Ross and Danny Williams are sitting in the stand?

Inverness have just missed a penalty!

There's still a budget on 18th March to come (which will be full of 'bribes'), but after that there will only be 7 weeks until the General Election, when I'm sure the 'real' campaign will kick-off. It's going to be fascinating. I agree about your 'momentum' analogy - there's a lot to be said about 'peaking' at the right time. From a position of approx. 35%, the 'YES' campaign incredibly came within a whisker of creating a seismic change in UK/Scottish politics but, arguably peaked 7-10 days too early in the referendum!

A few 'outdated' records that I've noticed Scotty. I've not looked at it 'in depth' yet - but, i'll happily post any 'updates/corrections' that I discover, using this thread. Record home SPL defeat 1-5 v Motherwell 18/11/12 Record away SPL defeat 6-0 v Celtic 27/04/14 Highest Cup defeat HOME 0-5 v Dundee United 09/03/14 Most league goals against - 6 – from the Celtic game from above (equals the Airdrie game already in place) Record transfer fee receive – the reputed 150k for Billy ‘beats’ the Rankin fee as second-highest.

There's always a dumped shopping trolley in this type of photo!

Game tomorrow (Tuesday) Rangers v Inverness CT - Dumbarton Football Stadium, 2.00pm

Warren's suspended!

I'd always thought Hercher scored in the opening game. The official website has him as a scorer that day, so I'm counting it!

Yeah, an ICT legend. But not cut-out for managing. He conceded in an interview that he found the Elgin job just too pressurised. Fair play. Barry would certainly make my all-tome Inverness team.

...beating Partick Thistle 'away' in the top flight, still to be 'ticked off'! If County can do it, surely we can!

Alex pointed out* that it seems Warren is unavailable for this game *(on another thread, I think). Although I can't see Daniel Devine 'splitting up' the Meekings-Warren partnership any time soon, I don't 'dread' when he comes in. I think he's capable. Very much under-the-radar when it comes to signing-up for beyond this season, but we need him to remain at the club - we'd otherwise be struggling for a natural centre-half to cover the inevitable breaks in that partnership which will occasionally arise during the season! He did have a 'shocker' at Perth last season at right back, I seem to recall, but he's really pretty decent when called upon, when playing in central defence. Would be disappointed if he wasn't kept.

^^Great find, Alex. A bit of clarity. So we've nobody on the 'tightrope' but Drapes is two bookings away from a two match ban and Shinnie & Raven are also two cautions away from a suspension (although only for a one match ban). Scottish Cup this weekend - Shinnie and Draper will miss the semi if they get booked - but obviously we must win for it to be relevant! And, of course, a sending-off would mean that player missing out.

It was only Devine's first caution of the season so he's ok. Tansey's on 8 yellows, so still a wee bit off any danger but Draper has 10 now - he must be close! I think it's 6 bookings before a suspension, but I'm not sure if it's then 'another' 6 before the next one! You're absolutely right about Warren missing the Raith game. I posted somewhere that he'd be suspended. I had looked at that SFA document last night and could swear it said 'Two SPFL games' for Warren - but I obviously misread it (or they subsequently have amended it!) and indeed it's 'Two First Team' matches. So, yeah, he'll miss Raith, but be back for the following league game.

That clean sheet stat must be a record for ICT, at least in top flight? Yeah, it's an all-time club record - regardless of playing 'level'! As Alex states, there could be an abundance of records falling soon! Fewest goals conceded in top flight, best goal difference in top flight, most points gained in top 6, most points total in the top flight, first Scottish Cup semi-final as a yop flight side! On that last point, it's amazing that this will be our 9th Scottish Cup quarter final in our relatively short history. And as, I mentioned we've managed 2 wins, both as a Division 1 club, under Robbo. History everywhere! But we must take care of Raith - it's a golden chance.

^^^Yeah, Marley will be available for next week's cup tie - his was just a one game ban. I'm sure Warren will be eligible too, with the second game of his ban being the next league game.