Sneckboy

Just one today - I've probably missed someone! Highland League Dale Gillespie (Brora 1-1 Fraserburgh) and one from Friday night, Welsh League Jason Oswell (Cefn Druids 0-2 Newtown)

I agree Renegade. I too, also understand that Wick and Clach were the only teams eligible to 'step up' at the time the Pyramid was agreed. But I'm fairly sure Brora will, or as you say, have addressed, their floodlights issue. I just can't see them NOT winning the Highland League! Despite the rumours, I doubt any club wouldn't want promotion to better themselves. If Brora refused it would be an utter embarrassment to north football after all those years of campaigning to 'open up' the leagues and have a merit based system - and our 'first' champions say 'no thanks'! As I said in an earlier post on this thread, if Brora don't want to be a part of it, then go elsewhere! The Highland League is no longer just 'The Highland League', it's now part of the Scottish football system and I'm delighted at that. There are also 'mutterings' that many Elgin supporters would bizarrely welcome a return to the Highland League! Well...that would be some encounter! Brora v Elgin - with both teams trying to lose!!!

Totally agree. The days of big, bulky, put-it-about centre-forwards are passing. The likes of Kevin Kyle! Limited (understatement) in ability but can 'cause problems'! More recently, Spain have shown that being small in stature is no burden to playing at the very highest level. The following players are all 5' 9" or under and have recently won World Cups or Europeans! Pedro, Iniesta, Navas, Villa, Xavi, Fabregas, Senna, Cazorla, Alba, Mata. And that's just from Spain! I'd imagine that will be the only 'critisism' of Christie (from watching scouts) - that he needs to bulk up. But does he? A word often bandied about for a player like RC is 'mercurial' - and those type, don't need to be gym-bunnies. I know he's often called 'wee Ryan' on here but he's actually not small in stature and it's usually more a term meaning 'young' Ryan. However, I'm not convinced that he needs to be lifting weights etc. - his function is different to that, of say, Nick Ross, who's in a more combative role in midfield and who hasn't quite filled-out for that position - he's been of the same physique for years! Maybe that's why he's drifted out of the picture under Hughes - despite being a terrific local talent. I'd say, we keep nurturing Ryan - this time last year he was making his debut, so we have to be careful not to over-play him. I certainly hope he'll be with us for a few years yet.

It (the Christie in top 100) got a mention on 'North Tonight - STV News' last night. Although I'm sure that Ryan is destined for big things, sometimes these lists of predictions can come back to haunt. The list concerning Christie is by the website fanzine In Bed With Maradona, but STV had a '14 for '2014' list this time last year. The 14 players to look out for in the year just ending. I've never seen such poor predicting! http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/inverness/257293-fourteen-for-14-our-list-of-young-players-to-watch-out-for-in-2014/ And the link to Adam Evans being 'bigged up' as the next great thing! http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/inverness/257611-fourteen-for-14-adam-evans-inverness-cts-new-speedy-forward/ There's just something about Ryan Christie that makes me feel confident he'll become a top player. Although, I don't think he should be considered yet for the full national team.

Thank goodness I restrained myself from posting on the Saturday night after a few beers! I was absolutely fizzing! Perhaps we'll hear no more - for legal reasons - so in I will be returning to the ground for games. However, I don't think I was having a 'melt-down' in any means. I've got more friends who are NOT fans of ICT than I do actual fans.They haven't had much ammunition to 'have a go' at me with recently, so the pitch incursion was easy meat as I've always stated that ICT's stadium is an environment where you are free from the ills of the bigger clubs. We don't do spitting, flares. sectarian chants or throwing coins or missiles - but fans on the pitch, for me, is worse. It just strikes a nerve with me. Too much liberal tolerance. I'm also currently having trouble with 'that type' aged youths in my street - and those on the pitch are of a similar age - I'm probably just frustrated in the 'breakdown in society', and this incident was simply a manifestation of that. I didn't realise one was allowed to run on the pitch with impunity! I must try it - clearly, we've all got one go! A straight life-ban would eliminate it immediately. People need to (literally) know their boundaries. I'm maybe stuck in the dark ages but there are too many apologists willing to give them another chance - so other 'youngsters' who 'know their rights' will be okay! At what age is it deemed un-acceptable to invade a football pitch? Or is there an age when it is acceptable? It's never 'acceptable! Even if I've sunk so many pints pre-game that my mental age is 12, I still know what's intolerable behaviour. I understand the other incident this season was outwith the control of the club, but I imagine this will be 'swept under the carpet'! I've bookmarked this page for the inevitable future when a drunken hooped Celtic fan(s) breaks onto the pitch and approaches one of our players.

I'm a huge fan. I doubt it'll happen for a few years but I think he's destined for the Scotland national team.

Elgin have disappointed since entering the Scottish League. They've only had one decent season of reaching the play-offs in fifteen years. Fair-enough if the jump was too big, but the other Highland club elected at the same time, Peterhead, have proven that it's certainly possible to get promoted - and do it again despite the setback of a relegation from tier 3. For me, Elgin have under-achieved. I'm sure they're heading for the play-off! Maybe some time back in the Highland League would do them no harm. AlexJones - justr to clarify, the Lowland v. Highland play-off is not a one-off game at Hampden, it's a two-legged affair - as is the 'final' between the winner and possibly Elgin. As for Brora. I don't think they can refuse to compete in the play-off. I think they could simply fail to comply with upgrading their facilities, if they didn't fancy progressing. And It doesn't look like the 2nd placed team would simply fill-in. I would imagine if they (Brora) deliberately 'threw the games' against the Lowland League team, the SFA would not be happy and would possibly look at sanctions - ban them from the Scottish Cup ? or some other measure. A more draconian punishment would be to expel them from the Highland League. Frankly, If they're competing in a completion that potentially promotes teams to higher levels, and they have no ambition to participate in such a structure, they should either be removed or remove themselves into the North Caledonian League or the North Region Juniors (West) set-up. The Highland League clubs democratically voted to 'embrace' the Pyramid System. I think by 16 votes to 2. Although some feel their arm was behind their back and they had no choice! At present, there appears to be no provision for runners-up to take the place of a reluctant winner. The Lowland League team (if they meet the standards) would progress to the game against, say, Elgin. And, if either 'Champion' doesn't meet the standards, there's simply no play-off and Elgin remain in the SPFL! Well, that's my interpretation! Here's a good summary:http://www.highlandfootballleague.com/News/Item/434_The_Pyramid_System_and_how_it_affects_the_SHFL.aspx

Interesting to see that Scotland have a home fixture lined-up for March against Billy's Northern Ireland! Obviously, I hope he's still with us - and it would be great to see him line up (or play some part) against Scotland. No doubt he'll open his international account in this particular game - that sort of thing tends to happen in football! I think it will be the first time an ICT player has played against Scotland. (if he gets a game)

Never mind the stewards and this blame culture. What about individual responsibility? Yes, every club has it's scum, but have you, or any of your friends ever thought it appropriate to cross barriers and violate the playing area? The 'abuse' I've had over the weekend via texts etc,because of that incident...and not one comment about the score-line! It hasn't gone unnoticed. So embarrassing. There were 2,700 at the game and a couple of blokes get on the pitch. If that was replicated at Parkhead, there'd be 60 odd guys over the barriers. Awaiting a statement from the club or I won't be going back.

Incidentally, the fans who ran on the pitch...we should set an example and ban them for life. That would certainly make any other morons think twice about doing it and embarrassing the club and likely costing us money and reputation. Yes, they looked 'young' but were clearly 'old' enough to be attending football games unsupervised on a Saturday afternoon - they need to be held responsible for their actions - which it would appear they've not had to do much in their lives. If it had been a couple of Celtic fans we'd be up-in-arms, so no double-standards. We don't want that associated with ICT.

Unfortunately, I think the days of Richie being our talisman are behind us. He's obviously taking a while to regain fitness after what's clearly been a bad knee injury. These things often take longer to recover from at 34-years-old than at 24-years-old! But I feel he'll be a peripheral figure when he's fit for selection. Initially he's going to be so far off the pace - he's going to need a few Development League games, one would imagine. On a different note, has Ibra Sekajja just not been good enough? His contract is up soon and he's hardly featured!

I would regard Partick as a bogey team. If we played Barcelona 6 or 7 times and kept getting turned over, I wouldn't necessarily define them as a bogey team - they'd simply be beating us because they are a better team. However, that isn't the case with Partick. My definition is: a team that you usually struggle against, despite being 'better' than them. By 'better', I mean, you consistently finish ahead of them in the league. It's been a long time since Partick finished ahead of Inverness in the Scottish football 'pecking order' yet they have a superior head-to-head record. That paradox is why I'd consider them a 'bogey team'.

Perspective is required! Yes, it was a chastening defeat but we're in a great position. 16 games is effectively the half-way point in the 33 game 'regular' season and we've got 32 points. The season we finished 4th, we had 25 points at this stage. Last season when we ended 5th, we managed to beat the points tally that secured us 4th place, when our final total was 57. And 57 is a 'handy benchmark' as it's exactly 1.5 points-per-game. We're currently averaging exactly 2 points-per-game thanks to the spadework in the early part of the season - we mustn't let one result undermine that. Those 32 points we worked so hard for haven't gone away - we just didn't add to them yesterday! Corresponding stage after 16 games: 2004/05 13 2005/06 19 2006/07 20 2007/08 19 2008/09 17 2010/11 26 2011/12 12 2012/13 25 2013/14 32 2014/15 32

Indeed! All-Premiership Partick v Inverness is higher profile than the all-Championship, Rangers v Raith. Even QOS v St Johnstone should be a higher billing.

Please don't ask questions like that! You might tempt me!

Do you think he was offered the job but insisted he had Maurice Malpas as assistant, but was refused, so withdrew his candidature? Or could there have been issues around his current 'gardening leave' at Hibs?

Quality Yngwie! But that's an old photo of me!

Next month's game against St. Johnstone - the pay-what-you-want experiment will be ICT's 900 competitive fixture. (assuming no postponements in the interim) Game 1,000 is obviously a bit away but the 1,500th goal milestone will probably come next season.

Gazing into my crystal ball...three-years-hence...a young starlet, carefully nurtured, has developed into a natural predator. Calum Ferguson leads the SPFL goalscorer charts with 17 strikes. Doran and Tansey have 4 each. CaleyD posts "as commendable as it is to see young Ferguson leading the way with the lion's share of goals, it would be preferable, as I intimated 3 years ago, if the goals were shared around throughout the team." Merry Xmas.

Nah...it's just me! But to clarify, I also don't mind where the goals are coming from. If we compare our leading 3 marksman with Aberdeen, for example (both add up to 23 goals) 5 - Mckay, Watkins 15 - Rooney 4 - Tansey 4 - Pawlett 3 - Doran, Christie, Meekings 4 - McGinn Which is 'better'? Well, neither, in my book. Both achieve the same end...23 goals. Most seasons we've had a 'runaway' leading marksman, Iain Stewart, Dennis Wyness, Adam Rooney, Billy McKay etc. and that's absolutely fine - it's a 'pattern' at many football clubs. This season, we're witnessing the goals being spread around - also great. But neither 'pattern' is preferable to the other. So I had a wee 'pop' at what I perceived as an inference that our current spread of goals was an improvement on our more familiar pattern. But aside from that, I was 'due a go' at Yngwie after that picture he posted of me. (post # 7) My glasses do NOT look like that! I'll stop digging now.

I'm very much in the one-game-at-a-time camp! Having a platform of 32 points at this stage is just brilliant. To totally contradict my first line - and daring to look ahead(!), we genuinely are on track to accumulate a record points haul, come the end of season. 58 is the target and we're on 32 after only 15 games!

Revised draw after all completed replays: 6 Premiership 5 Championship 2 League One 2 League Two 1 non-league Dundee v Celtic Falkirk v Brechin City Hibernian v Arbroath Partick Thistle v Inverness Caledonian Thistle Queen of the South v St Johnstone Rangers v Raith Rovers Spartans v Berwick Rangers Stranraer v Dundee United

It's certainly no bad thing. But equally, it's no good thing....We're normally a club who has a leading goal-scorer. So for us to 'celebrate' having goals-spread-throughout-the-team would be strange. Regardless of league, or position in league, every club has either a runaway goal scorer or spread-out goals. Logically. When Billy was grabbing 80% of our goals, I didn't hear any voices suggesting that it was a bad thing! A prolific scorer = good; goals spread about = good. It's the same for every club. So to suggest that having the goals spread about the team is 'no bad thing' is happy clapping to the extreme!

I suppose it comes down to 'interpretation'! And Willie Gollum probably realised he'd not booked one of our players with only 2 minutes remaining! Here's the official ruling on celebrations: Celebration of a goal While it is permissible for a player to demonstrate his joy when a goal has been scored, the celebration must not be excessive. Reasonable celebrations are allowed, but the practice of choreographed celebrations is not to be encouraged when it results in excessive time-wasting and referees are instructed to intervene in such cases. A player must be cautioned if: • in the opinion of the referee, he makes gestures which are provocative, derisory or inflammatory • he climbs on to a perimeter fence to celebrate a goal being scored • he removes his shirt or covers his head with his shirt • he covers his head or face with a mask or other similar item Leaving the field of play to celebrate a goal is not a cautionable offence in itself but it is essential that players return to the field of play as soon as possible. Referees are expected to act in a preventative manner and to exercise common sense in dealing with the celebration of a goal.

That attendance is very much in line with their average gate these days. No wonder with an attacking line-up including Suarez, Neymar and Messi all starting! For me, and much to the chagrin of the English media (eg. Garth Crooks), who are reluctant to admit it, La Liga is the top league in Europe/World.