Sneckboy

I doubt we could have hand-picked the draw any better! We've played Raith in the Scottish Cup once before and won 2-0 at home - on the way to the (Dundee) semi-final. The only other cup meeting between the teams was a Challenge Cup game were we beat them, before going on to win that cup itself - so good omens!

David Proctor has been released (as a player) from Airdrieonians due to injury - but will remain working for the club in a scouting capacity. Just looked up his age, and am surprised he's only 30. Hopefully, not a career-ending injury as he's a few playing years left. http://www.airdriefc.com/news/2015/02/squad

Yeah, 40320/1 would be correct for correctly predicting the draw exactly. Trying to forget that it's a draw pairing teams for a moment, it's effectively trying to forecast the correct sequence of 8 numbered balls coming out of a bag. (8*7*6*5*4*3*2*1) = 40320.

No wonder the bookies make a killing! 56/1 !!! Inverness alone, have 7 opponents in the draw. 14 combinations!

Don't put any money on that, mate. The odds of your draw occurring are considerably more than just 100/1!

Would take that! But it's sheer fantasy, as Celtic will be granted a home tie tomorrow against Championship opponents. As sure as night follows day!

Then there were 9! I can't remember a Scottish Cup so wide-open! Spartans are technically in the quarter-final draw! Celtic - Dundee United - Inverness Falkirk - Hibernian - Raith Rovers - Queen of the South Berwick Rangers ? Spartans ?

collum has improved- well for that match at least However warren was booked for sure but it appeared to be for dissent It's strange - but none of the 'usual' football reporting outlets have noted a booking for Warren. BBC, SKY, Soccerway, SoccerBase etc. But these 'sources' often get their stats from the same agency, so if one's wrong, they'll all be wrong! It could be important later on, when a player can miss a big game due to earlier bookings.

Highland League Cup - last 16 Stuart Duff (Cove Rangers 6-1 Keith) Dachi Khutsishvili (Forres Mechanics 7-1 Rothes) Stuart Soane 4 GOALS (Forres Mechanics 7-1 Rothes) Martin Bavidge (Nairn County 4-2 Inverurie Loco Works)

Graeme Stewart (31 ICT first-team appearances) and Lewis MacKinnon (1 appearance) have been installed as joint-managers of Buckie Thistle.

I wasn't at the game so can't comment, but the BBC report has Inverness as having no bookings yesterday. Collum seems to have improved!

Just to return to the changed European qualification criterion for cup runners-up, here's an 'official' link from UEFA's website. The 'no place for runners-up' rule will be in place for the next 3 years (UEFA term this a 'cycle') before likely being reviewed. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2137611.html The pertinent paragraph being: Performances in domestic leagues will be rewarded. If a national cup winner has booked a UEFA Champions League spot, the highest-ranked club in their domestic league not already qualified for the UEFA Europa League will qualify for the competition; national cup runners-up no longer qualify.

It's on SKY Sports News - which I don't have! I was gutted when they took it off Freeview. I agree, it would have been much better doing the draw after the Rangers-Raith game this afternoon. Everybody is buzzing for the draw with the Cup so wide open. There's also a real geographical spread in the last 8. 1 x North = Inverness 1 x Central Scotland = Falkirk 1 x South = Queen of the South 1 x Glasgow = Celtic 1 x Edinburgh = Hibernian 1 x Dundee = Dundee United 1 x England (!) = Berwick (probably) 1 x Fife = Raith (I hope!!!)

Cheers Rasczak for pointing that out - I hadn't realised the 'cup runners-up' rule had changed again for next season! UEFA continually alter that - it's little wonder I can't keep up. It's probably fair that the runners-up don't qualify, although it may lessen the chance of a 'minnow' sneaking in. The rule change is certainly beneficial for us given our current league position. But, as well as being an avenue to Europe, I'd love us to win the Cup, for it's own sake.

Yeah, they'd be allowed - but I assume you mean would their ground be suitable? It's too small but they'd be able to play at Easter Road. But, they'll probably get beaten 3-0 in the replay at Berwick! I'd love is I was wrong though!

I was also at that home game v Berwick (in dark glasses a hat and trench coat) and was also at the Inverness Thistle v Spartans game - round about the same 'time' (both 1-1) IIRC. So we can include Spartans as well! (or 'old' Thistle) Two can play that game! Rival, if Celtic win the league and Scottish Cup, the runners-up in the cup get the Euro spot. However, if the runner-up (which could only be ICT or DDUtd) has already qualified through their league placing, then 4th place will get it! With so many lower league teams remaining, if they keep getting drawn together, one of them might sneak the Euro spot!

Fabulous win and what an open competition this has become! Publicly, most of the managers will give it the old 'want a home game' or 'take who we get as you've got to beat them eventually' line. But privately, and naturally, everybody wants Spartans/Berwick!! The draw on Monday is crucial - we're 'due' a home tie - but it rarely works that way! Just had a look at some other fans forums and a recurring theme is that these clubs don't want Celtic or ICT! We're in such a good position on two front's for securing an historic European spot. Obviously, we can achieve that aim by finishing in the top 3 but the cup permutations will become clearer after Monday's draw. If Celtic do go on to win the Premiership...and progress to the Cup final, their opponents in the final, win or lose, will get a Euro spot. I'm getting carried away and should know better! So, for balance, and as a reminder to myself that there's much work ahead, our most recent Scottish Cup outcomes against the likely (I'll go for Dundee United and Rangers) remaining teams are: Celtic - Lost Hibernian - Lost Queen of the South - Lost Rangers* - Lost *arguably not played Spartans/Berwick - Never met either club Dundee United - Lost Falkirk - Lost

Richie Byrne has now signed for Horsham, a level 8, Ryman League club. As mentioned in a previous post by Renegade, Byrne is a fitness instructor but at only 33, he still likes to play football part-time. http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/sport/horsham-fc/richie-byrne-brings-professional-skills-to-horsham-campaign-1-6564578#.VNTkVyxner8.twitter

As nobody was interested able to get the third 'pair' - the answer was David Raven and Carl Tremarco at Tranmere Rovers!

It's a pity our Twitter doesn't cover Development League games. Even if we're the home team, any line-ups, scorers and updates are to be found on the opposition's Twitter!

*quickly deletes comment*

Devine hasn't played for Chester, so...No!

Correct! Vincent and Tansey often played together in the midfield at Stockport County!

Correct, Yngwie! Drapes and Tremarco did indeed feature together in the Macclesfield team!

Pre-Partick Poser.... Which 3 'pairs' of current ICT players have played together at another club? By 'pair', I mean (for example) Ryan Christie played with Gary Warren at Brechin City. Obviously that's wrong - but that's the format! Not just looking for 'common clubs' but actually 'pairs' who played together in the same match. e.g. Esson & Watkins have both had spells at Hereford - but didn't ever play together. All 3 'answers' actually started games together - not just a 92nd minute substitution.