Sneckboy

That was a very young team! There are names in there I've never heard of. With us having a game tonight, none of the first team guys were included yesterday. I think the lack of 'experienced heads' was evident late on with that collapse from 1-0 down to 5-0 in less than 10 minutes, against a team 2 leagues below us... It's going to be a very steep learning curve for a lot of those boys this season - but that's what it's all about in the Development League - the results aren't too important.

Goalkeeper, Cammy Mackay was sent off in the last minute to cap what sounds like a miserable day for ICT, losing 5-0. Ouch!

Fraserburgh/Linlithgow Rose v Dalbeattie Star Edinburgh City v Auchinleck Talbot Nairn County v Huntly Arbroath v Montrose East Fife v Threave Rovers Spartans v East Kilbride Bo'ness United v Culter Berwick Rangers v Formartine United Brora Rangers v Banks O'Dee Cove Rangers v Annan Athletic Elgin City v Forres Mechanics Whitehill Welfare v East Stirlingshire Inverurie Loco Works v Hurlford United Gretna 2008 v Queen's Park Turriff United v Clyde Stirling University v Albion Rovers A mixed bag of games. There will be at least 7 non-league sides progressing with the Highland League, Lowland league and Juniors all guaranteed representation in the next round.

That's better!

'wee video! indeed! There are only about 200 folk there max! There are almost more countable bodies when the camera quiuckly panned left to capture the bewildered (but) happy unionists chuckling at this inconvenient sideshow! Never mind trhe 1000's of NO voters who don't give a monkeys about this distraction, you block the town centre, costing businesses trade. Us NO's have more forethought and intelligence - and are happily going about our Unionist inspired lives! I thank you!

You'll need to revise that as Draper's out - suspended!

LOL! But, uncanny, surely!..... WOW! Maybe an omen..... Like Fife's completely marginalised and all the women with pointy noses are heading-off to vote NO!!!!! Joking aside, I t looks like the YES brigade will miss out - but only by a NOSE! hahaha But in all seriousness, it's a democratic election and we have to go with the winner - and if it means another minimum 150 years of the status-quo, so-be-it. There won't be a celebratory party as such, but Yngwie and I have painted (in icing sugar) NO on all our grapes to acknowledge the Unionist ideal! One of which has just been popped in my mouth! Thanks, mate. Bowls of fruit aplenty, but If one of us were to leave it would be rubbish. See where this is going? One leaving?? A microcosm of the big picture? But, anyway, I'm certain he'll be dangling his plums for my mouth before the night is out...

Even as a thistle, I love that one! Memories.... And I'm glad you posted it 'cos I was trying to convince someone a few weeks ago that there were actual 'footballs' at the sides of the 'Caledonian' bit!

"I've git mare hair on me bleedin' eyebroo than you've git on yer heid!"

It was interesting to see that Ali Sutherland filled the recent 'vacant' gap on the bench (v Partick Thistle, yesterday). If I'd been told in the morning that an 'U20s' striker was going to be given that role, I'd have certainly thought it would've been Calum Ferguson! I'm sure Ferguson will get his turn, but a boost to Ali and I'm sure he'll have loved sampling the top-team 'away-day' experience.

There's an article lauding the talents of young Christie on today's Sunday Herald website, an presumably in the print version. Written before yesterday's loss but certainly since his Scotland U21 debut in midweek. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/highland-hero-christie-is-revelling-in-the-life-of-ryan-at-inverness-caledonian-thist.25314683 Ryan was in Primary 1 when we beat Celtic 3-1 that famous night! I'm officially feeling OLD! In case the link doesn't work or can't be accessed, here's the article copied and pasted. (courtesy Sunday Herald!) Highland hero Christie is revelling in the life of Ryan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stewart Fisher Sports Writer Sunday 14 September 2014 RYAN Christie seems far too young and polite to go ballistic, but the opposite is actually the case. Ryan Christie's emergence on to the main stage at Inverness Caledonian Thistle has showcased his blossoming talents at a club once managed by his father Charlie. As his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side prepare to converge on Glasgow for another epic cup mission at Ibrox on Tuesday night, the newly-crowned SPFL Premiership young player of the month for August is sitting in Caledonian Stadium, recalling his attendance at the club's famous 3-1 cup win against Celtic at Parkhead in February 1999, when his dad Charlie helped spawn one of the most famous football headlines in history, the night Super Caley really did go ballistic because their opponents were so atrocious. It's understandable if his memories of the occasion are somewhat hazy; he was only four at the time, travelling down to the match on a supporters bus in the company of his mother Sharon, and turning up somewhat bleary eyed when he made it to his primary one class the next morning. Not only that, but he genuinely went ballistic in another sense the previous Saturday, throwing a proper childhood tantrum when the first attempt to get the match played was cancelled some 45 minutes before kick-off due to a broken piece of Parkhead roof. While some players speak unconvincingly of their undying affection for the club that they play for, Christie Jnr is steeped in the history of the Highland club, having been present at every major milestone the club has reached in the last 15 years, even the 18-month period when his father was manager. He is the kind of poster boy every Scottish club should dream of. "I was only four at the time so I can't remember much about that game, just everyone around me being delighted," said Christie. "I quite liked watching Barry Wilson. Dennis Wyness up front, they were all good. Even when my dad was manager here, I watched all the games. "I was in the youths at that time, but it was never really in my mind that I could go this far in the game until I was a bit older. That was when I decided to give it a right go." That, if anything, is an understatement. Christie and Inverness are giving it a go all right. The Highland club currently sit atop the Premiership, albeit only on goal difference from Hamilton and Dundee United following yesterday's 3-1 defeat to Partick Thistle. And a hat-trick of awards this week - John Hughes was named the league's top manager and Ross Draper the top player - are all testament to the excellent start they have made. On a personal level, Christie is approaching 20 first-team appearances already, including a substitute showing in last season's League Cup final. He spent last week experiencing his maiden exposure to Billy Stark's Scotland Under-21 side, playing the last quarter of the match in the 3-0 victory against Luxembourg. "It was a great experience," he said. "It was great just training with guys like Ryan Gauld, just to see how really good they are." Having a famous footballing father can be both a blessing and a curse. While Christie brushes off the inevitable comparisons, he also knows his father - with whom he still lives - can prove an invaluable sounding board. With Premiership sides such as Hull City credited with an interest, particularly pertinent will be his advice on when is the optimum time to move on to bigger and better things. Christie Snr moved from Inverness to Celtic in 1985, but never made the first team. There is a valid comparison between Christie and Gauld, as both have the imagination and technique to play off the striker, and a mature head on their shoulders to take the inevitable fame in its stride. "Right now I am really enjoying playing in the first team. I don't feel it has been too much of a step up," he said. "I haven't felt a pressure [to live up to my dad]. I always knew my career would be nothing to do with what he did in his. I still live at home so he will be the first one to tell me if I have done something wrong. He told me to not even think about transfer speculation until something is put down in front of me." Christie's current manager would love all the hype to die down, but deep down John Hughes knows he has a special talent to showcase, a player capable of getting supporters on the edge of their seats. Whether it is the likes of Scott Arfield at his Falkirk team, he has always gloried in the progression of young talent, and he sees no reason why Christie shouldn't hit double figures this season if he stays injury free. The development of his physique would only make him more formidable. "The scouts coming here are from the top end of the English Premiership and it doesn't surprise me," said Hughes. "I am also getting lots of phone calls. He's still in his diapers, but he's playing a man's football and he doesn't seem overawed." As for Tuesday, Rangers - regardless of off-field woes - deserve to be favourites. "They've got [Nicky] Law, [ian] Black, [Marius] Zaliukas, [Lee] McCulloch, [Darren] McGregor, [Lee] Wallace, [Kenny] Miller, [Kris] Boyd and [David] Templeton so that's an SPL team playing at Ibrox so they are huge favourites," said Hughes. "But bring it on." Caley Thistle famously struggle for crowds, and there was a perceived disconnect with the local area as former manager Terry Butcher enlisted job lots of players from the English lower leagues, but Christie is a local boy made good. He still pinches himself when he is mobbed by kids during visits to schools or youth clubs. "They seem to enjoy it, and I get a buzz too," he said. "I remember being one of those kids."

What an absolutely brilliant report and analysis from IHE, there. Tells me so much more than I gleaned from watching the extended highlights on BBC Alba, last night. Cheers.

At least there's not a 2 week break to dwell on it - more like just 2 days! That's a good thing - we have The Rangers the-day-after-tomorrow; Partick is forgotten, we now need to concentrate on the Ibrox cup tie. It'll be a tough game, particularly with Draper and Shinnie missing through suspension.

Draw is tomorrow (Monday) at 2pm. 'Live' on the SFA's Twitter feed. (although it didn't work too well in the last round!) https://twitter.com/ScottishFA A nice mix of League Two entrants plus non-league sides, which includes at least 5 Junior clubs. Ties scheduled for Saturday 4th October. League Two Annan Athletic Arbroath Montrose East Stirlingshire Elgin City Clyde Albion Rovers Queen's Park East Fife Berwick Rangers Highland League Cove Rangers Inverurie Loco Works Forres Mechanics Turriff United Brora Rangers Nairn County Formartine United Huntly Lowland League Spartans Gretna 2008 Edinburgh City Dalbeattie Star Stirling University East Kilbride Threave Rovers Whitehill Welfare Juniors Bo'ness United Banks O' Dee Auchinleck Talbot Culter Hurlford United Unresolved Linlithgow Rose or Fraserburgh

Ended up choosing Hurlford, thought the odds were still pretty decent for them. Auchinleck Hurlford Formartine Utd Wick Bo'ness Sadly it was Wick that let me down even though they were 1-0 up. No real surprises today. All Junior sides done well with Culter and Banks O'dee proving they are more than capable of playing in the HL. I'm calling for them to open up the trap door in the HL and let in the North Juniors. Totally agree about that. The Juniors have consistently, more than proved, that they merit inclusion in the Pyramid. This is the first 'proper' season of potential demotion from the Scottish League and hopefully, over time, the system continues to expand allowing clubs ('ambitious clubs' is the cliché!) like Culter and Banks O'Dee into the Highland League. The top southern Juniors at present don't seem to be making any noises about inclusion in the Lowland league but once they see the reality of clubs actually reaching the Scottish League over the coming years, they may change their stance. Some of the scores for the HL clubs yesterday were a bit embarrassing - 4 Junior sides eliminating 4 HL sides. I can only imagine the talk last night in Ayrshire Juniors' Social Clubs about the standard of the Highland League after the 5-0 and 7-1 thrashings of two clubs who are anything but cannon-fodder in the HL. Mantis, I'm also seething about the BBCs lack of recognition of this round of the National Cup. Still no results up!

Scottish Cup - 1st Round Stuart Soane (Forres Mechanics 4-1 Civil Service Strollers) Daniel Park (Cove Rangers 9-0 Hawick Royal Albert) Premiership Iain Vigurs (Ross County 1-2 Motherwell) Championship Ian Black (Raith Rovers 0-4 Rangers) [Friday night] League One Andy Barrowman (Morton 2-1 Airdrieonians) League Two Shane Sutherland (Queen's Park 2-1 Elgin City) Romanian Liga 1 Gregory Tade TWO GOALS (CFR Cluj 4-1 FC Astra)

Auchinleck Talbot 5-0 Buckie Thistle Clachnacuddin 1-7 Hurlford United Cove Rangers 9-0 Hawick Royal Albert Culter 4-2 Strathspey Thistle Deveronvale 0-1 Nairn County Edinburgh City 2-1 Coldstream Forres Mechanics 4-1 Civil Service Strollers Fraserburgh 0-0 Linlithgow Rose Golspie Sutherland 1-4 Dalbeattie Star Gretna 2008 2-1 Gala Fairydean Huntly 2-1 Wick Academy Keith 1-3 Formartine United Lossiemouth 0-4 Turriff United Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 0-1 East Kilbride Preston Athletic 1-2 Threave Rovers Rothes 0-4 Banks O'Dee Selkirk 0-4 Bo'ness United Whitehill Welfare 3-1 Girvan

I'll level with you all - I'm not that INTO politics - and only come on here when there's no football topics to comment on. And, when I do, It's usually to wind up the previous commenter by taking a contrary stance! I've tended towards the status-quo in general, on here. So, I'm probably a NO at present. But....as a pro-NO, I certainly have to concede that the 'gentleman's agreement' of journalistic neutrality has been abused! I was at my Mum's last night - and ended up falling out. She is in her 70's (irrelevant?) and a staunchly 'NO'...but she gets the Daily Mail every day and has been conditioned into this non-objective state of mind whereby she believes everything she reads. She literally 'held up' the front page of a paper with a screaming headline and that's when I got annoyed. The garbage the Mail spouts is ridiculous and unfortunately is lapped-up by some folk. Despite currently being for the Union, I know that some of the stuff they're printing is scare-mongering at best and lies at worst. That sort of bollocks pisses me off. I might vote YES to spite my Mum! (and she will never know)!!!!

It's often a problem for discussion amongst ICT fans - crowd figures! I applaud the likes of '12th Man' and his ilk, their enthusiasm is commendable. But it's very difficult attracting 'new' fans. It's maybe naive to think there could be a host of 'untapped' fans out there. By now, folk know about ICT. If they want to attend, they will. Indeed, we used to have average attendances of 4,500+, which suggests to me that some fans have deserted, after the novelty has gone. It's a 'hard core' of 3,000, with a maximum potential of 10,000 for a Scottish Cup Final. That's our lot!

Incredible. There would be a lead article if say, McCoist, Boyd and Lewis Macleod of Rangers had won!

Interesting to see that the bookies have Clach as very much outsiders for their game against Hurlford at Grant Street. Betfred have Clach @ 3/1.

That sounds like Rangers! Crazy spending, heavy borrowing, under-hand tax dodges, then the inevitable bankruptcy, administration, liquidation and death. Okay, a bit off topic, but I couldn't resist a pop after that glorious pass from Yngwie - GOAL!

I saw him as competent and reliable, without ever being particularly spectacular - he was past his best when he came to us, if truth be told. But he did a job in the lower leagues. Decent, but not 'Hall of ICT Fame' material! (in my opinion)

I also wouldn't be too surprised if we are picking the ball out our net - it's a fantastic record of 10 hours without conceding - or 4 months in 'time', but it will end sometime! Partick Thistle, away, is also one of those 'bucket list' things ICT are yet to do - win at Firhill v Partick in the top-flight. Or, indeed, score a goal at Partick, in the top-flight!

I really am confused about football contracts RiG! I do NOT understand how it all works. McIntyre was at QotS under contract - surely a fee is required to 'prise' him away? Like when Terry went to Hibs - he was under contract at ICT, so they had to pay us compensation? Maybe the fact McIntyre resigned from the post is key. Would that terminate his contract? I assume it must. But why leave your current employers in the lurch, receiving no financial gain? To contrast Terry's situation - I certainly wouldn't describe the manner of his leaving as 'honourable' (anything but), but could he have made it 'worse' by resigning, thus depriving us of any financial recompense?