Sneckboy

Congratulations to Ryan! He's just come on as a 72 minute sub for Scotland U21s in Luxembourg!

He'll obviously be recognised more as ICT's first manger than a Caley player! His time at Caley was instantly forgettable! Picture BBC 1's 'Pointless' - "Name the clubs Serge Baltacha played for?" Caley would be a Pointless answer. Ach, hmm...appropriate!

Starting on the bench tonight.

Oooh-too, ooh-to-be, ooh-to-be-a, JAGGIE!!! GIRUY

Yeah, both ICT players - but even back then, I didn't get excited about them. Okay, I'm biased, but when Inverness Thistle appointed Leishman - that was a big surprise. His 'stock' in the game was still high. We (The Jags) also managed to get Billy Abercrombie - now that was something. He was a player who'd gone up the Hampden Park steps to lift the Scottish Cup as his team's winning captain. An honour bestowed upon few, like John Greig at Rangers, Willie Miller at Aberdeen, Billy McNeil at Celtic and Billy Ab, latterly at Inverness Thistle. I don't recall Caley ever recruiting a player of such high pedigree. Umh.....Sergi Baltacha......capped by USSR numerous times including world cup finals and euro champs and Dynamo Kiev Capt!! Besides.....caley didnt sign has beens...they supplied quality to higher league teams....Like billy urquhart (scored in euproe for Rangers, palyed for Wigan) kevin macdonald (Leicester city captain, Liverpool champs lge medal winner....aston Villa and rangers) Steve whathisface...that went to Wolves when they were doing well I'll give you Baltacha, although I consider him more ICT than Caley. But the others were Caley players that were sold on - I could quote Darren McLean for £30,000 to Liverpool. Huge money in those days. But that's not my point. ' Thistle secured a 'big name' signing - Caley liked to think they were the 'Rangers of the North' but like their Glasgow counterparts, who like to still trade by that name, are living on sheer fallacies from by-gone-days!

Yeah, both ICT players - but even back then, I didn't get excited about them. Okay, I'm biased, but when Inverness Thistle appointed Leishman - that was a big surprise. His 'stock' in the game was still high. We (The Jags) also managed to get Billy Abercrombie - now that was something. He was a player who'd gone up the Hampden Park steps to lift the Scottish Cup as his team's winning captain. An honour bestowed upon few, like John Greig at Rangers, Willie Miller at Aberdeen, Billy McNeil at Celtic and Billy Ab, latterly at Inverness Thistle. I don't recall Caley ever recruiting a player of such high pedigree.

No need for a new thread. First competitive game, later today. Huge match against Poland. Obviously they're in Scotland's group - so, let's hope they can produce a shock!

He'll likely start on the bench, but yeah, I hope he can get a goal if he's introduced. Are Northern Ireland not on some astonishing run of not having scored away from home? But even more astonishing, yet another Billy McKay thread?!!! What was wrong with the appropriate 'Billy MacKay (sic) Northern Ireland' thread! That YOU started!

Or, in keeping with your thread title, a big ginger Highland coup!

Highland League Zander Sutherland HAT-TRICK (Fraserburgh 2-3 Brora Rangers) Martin Bavidge TWO GOALS (Inverurie Loco Works 3-0 Fort William) Dachi Khutsishvili (Deveronvale 0-2 Forres Mechanics) (Connor Rennie (Deveronvale 0-2 Forres Mechanics))

'Coup' was certainly the operative word when we signed Marius Niculae. He was a player I was aware of and 'knew about'; a current international for a national team of some repute. He played at the European Championships as an ICT registered player - but for me, he too often flattered-to-deceive. I also view Terry Butcher coming to ICT as something of a statement, at the time. His subsequent signing of his former player, Richie Foran also excited me - I'd always rated him highly when at Motherwell. Aside from coups, there have been numerous 'landmark' moments in our history - the 3-1 win at Parkhead was hugely significant for so many reasons. Also, I always remember when it was announced that we were going full-time, as a significant development. Of course, for younger fans, it will always have been this way, but again, this was another indication of the club's growing stature. *wipes away tear*

Airbus UK have conceded tonight in the Welsh Premier League. That leaves just us!!!

Yeah, Rooney's total includes our season back in Division One.

Tudor Jones has signed a two-year contract at Falkirk.

Rooney scored 14 pens for us and Billy currently has 8. Rooney, certainly more reliable from the spot. But, the again, taking away pens, McKay's goals-per-game ratio would be higher! But why 'take away pens'? They're worth no less than an open play goal! International recognition is surely not a measure of a player's worth? Graeme Shinnie is in a different league, ability wise, to Thierry Gathuessi. Both current/former full-backs for ICT. Shinnie's not yet been recognised at full international level, whilst Gathuessi is 'international class' as you would put it!

They're broadly similar in that they didn't do much in their first saeason, but then had two fabulous campaigns. Rooney left after that, but Billy's still here and will, I hope, re-capture his goal-scoring form soon.

Not sure what your 'getting at' but clearly Billy's ratio of goals-per-game was far better back in September, last year. Indeed, when looked at as hard facts, McKay has only scored 6 goals for ICT in his last 32 games! A very indifferent start, a prolific couple of seasons but currently, by his standards, on a bit of a drought! Hence, why I think It's such an amazingly coincidental stat!

I didn't actually answer my own question - I rate Billy, he's undoubtedly got an eye for goal. He's quite streaky, in-that, when he's amongst the goals, he often goes on a 'run'. That's possibly true of many goal-grabbers, though, who thrive when their confidence is high. Rooney, as I mentioned in the original post, seems to have an instinct for notching. He's certainly not the quickest, but has a knack of being in the right place to bury rebounds or half-chances. it's a tough call, but, and despite Rooney probably being even more experienced after his spell in England, I'm going for McKay (sorry, CaleyD, Mckay)....only because some of Rooney's goal-haul came in Division 1. But I'm biased towards the current team!

A bit quiet on the forum due to the International break - aside from Indy referendum thread. Thought I'd highlight a strange, quirky statistic I've just stumbled upon while updating a database. Billy McKay and Adam Rooney have got identical over-all records at ICT! Rooney, for me was a poaching machine, and I was sad to see him go - and gutted when the Dons snapped him up! But Billy has been prolific, in patches, for us over the past couple of seasons, although is often found 'wanting' at penalty-kicks and one-on-ones with the 'keeper. If you we picking a team with just one striker, with Rooney and McKay in your squad, who would you pick? Billy McKay - League games for ICT 103 goals 45 Adam Rooney - League games for ICT 103 goals 44 Billy McKay - All ICT appearances 120 goals 53 Adam Rooney - All ICT appearances 120 goals 53

Tonight's the night that may see Christie taking a further significant stride in his impressive early career. Scotland U21s are in Slovakia for a qualifying game. They then move-on and finish the campaign on Monday, away to Luxembourg. It would be terrific if Ryan could get 'capped' in one (or both) of these fixtures, but whatever transpires, being away with the squad for these two matches will be invaluable experience for him.

A few scorers from tonight, North of Scotland Cup - Semi-final Stuart Soane (Forres Mechanics 2-4 Elgin City) Shane Sutherland (Forres Mechanics 2-4 Elgin City) Dennis Wyness (Forres Mechanics 2-4 Elgin City) Highland League Adam McLeod (Strathspey Thistle 3-3 Fort William) Andrew MacAskill (Turriff United 2-0 Cove Rangers) Martin Bavidge (Inverurie Loco Works 1-1 Nairn County)

Last night, North of Scotland Cup - Semi-final Zander Sutherland (Wick Academy 1-2 Brora Rangers)

It's Aberdeen (away) for the team today. 6pm at Peterhead.

That's an 'old' link, thankfully!

Any number of 'sneck watering-holes would fit that criterion, CB,.....as a result of the merger! Couldn't resist it! I am only joking, of course! Talking of 'criterion', I used to love the Crit bar in Baron Taylor Street. I like to remember it fondly and refuse to see the ghastly Lauders as a 'continuation' of the Crit. Now that (Lauders) is one pub that few ICT fans are seen in - it's always filled with Rangers/Celtic 'fans'! Yuk. It stinks. Literally and metaphorically! On a serious note, what's the transfer window ruling for loan players? I know free-agents can be signed anytime, but do any loan signings have to be made today?