Sneckboy

"dancing oil rig" had me spurting coffee over my keyboard!! So funny.

Well I doubt he's making it up... Maybe he did cause he wants to join our team cause hibs are sh*t I agree that Hibs are crap and the relegated team are one of the worst Hibernian teams in recent memory. Having read through two Hibs forums, it seems he's a prospect but was still, at best, 3rd choice left-back in that awful Hibs team for which he failed to make an appearance. His wages, as a non-first team player, at 18/19 years old wouldn't be the reason Hibs haven't kept him on. Why we've signed him is anyone's guess. And on a 2 year contract? Like Yogi, the boy's Hibs daft. Perhaps John Hughes knows his dad? (But that's not Crawford Baptie!).... But in all seriousness, we're well covered in left-back. Graeme Shinnie or Carl Tremarco are our obvious choices with other guys able to play there at a push, like Danny Williams, for example. It seems odd to be signing a player specifically for the U20s. Good luck to Ryan Baptie, however, I look forward to hearing John Hughes' justification for bringing him to the club. Remember, we've got our own youth players in Calum Howarth and our new addition, Kane Hull who tend to favour left-back. But welcome to the club Ryan. Don't be fooled by the first day jape of locating the Subway in Harbour Road - go for the tartan paint instead - it's easier to find!

This is Sub Man. Our 'other' mascot. What a state he's in! 'Dragged through a hedge backwards' as they say. But better than an upright baguette covered in sauce, wandering about the ground with his 2 big meatballs hanging down... Eat Fresh!!!!!

Yep! He's rejected Cardiff's offer and is now a free agent. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if he was lured to Ibrox!

The Sunday home game v Fleetwood is a 2.30pm kick-off. Sat 5th July - 1.00pm (Claggan Park)…Fort William (ICT U20s) Wed 9th July - 7.30pm (Mosset Park)...Forres Mechanics Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Sat 19th July - 1.00pm (Mackessack Park)…Rothes (ICT U20s) Sat 19th July - 3.00pm (Stark’s Park)…Raith Rovers Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale Sun 27th July - 2.30pm Inverness Caley Thistle v. Fleetwood Town Wed 30th July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin (North Cup - 1st Rnd) Sat 2nd August - 3.00pm (St Andrew’s stadium)...Birmingham City ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts

Am I being cynical in assuming that the 1pm kick-off time in Fort William is so the locals can get the football 'out of the way' before their beloved shinty starts?!

A busy night for our former guys at Pittodrie in the Europa League! An easy 5-0 win against the club from Riga. Barry Robson missed a penalty but Adam Rooney netted his and also notched from open play. Jonny Hayes also on target.

Thats an interesting stat ... but wrong .... unless you mean league goals (or goals from open play)? Barrowman - 3 goals in 41 appearances (17 starts) - Killie/Aberdeen in league, Motherwell in Cup. Goal Vs Killie was a penalty! Pepper - 2 goals in 15 appearances (3 starts) - Vs Hibs & Hearts Yeah, league goals!! Hopefully Pepper reminds Barrowman of this stat! Actually, I overlooked the cup goal - or rather, Soccerbase don't seem to have any record of that particular game in Barrowman's stats!

As was Eric Odhiambo for Sligo Rovers in their draw in Lithuania! (unused sub)

Absolutely right! It was in the 3rd tier had his one good season! Plenty of clubs have since tried to get him to reproduce that form. He'll be teaming up with Conor Pepper - who incredibly, scored just as many goals for us (in far fewer games) as Barrowman!!

Hopefully the French trialist will get some game-time against Fort William on Saturday. Will help with his fitness and may even get amongst the goals! Although advertised as an ICT U20 game, I'm sure there's no obligation to field only the youth players. Even officially sanctioned SPFL U20's games allow 3 (I think) overage players.

"Eat fresh" or 'feet rash' or whatever it is, will be adorning our kit - after Subway's debut appearance last night! As much as I'd prefer only the sponsor's name without their slogan tacked-on underneath, It won't put me off getting the new top if I like it. But I won't be buying it out of blind faith. No stripes, no purchase!

Sat 5th July - 1.00pm (Claggan Park)…Fort William (ICT U20’s) Wed 9th July - 7.30pm (Mosset Park)...Forres Mechanics Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Sat 19th July - 1.00pm (Mackessack Park)…Rothes (ICT U20’s) Sat 19th July - 3.00pm (Stark’s Park)…Raith Rovers Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale Sun 27th July - Inverness Caley Thistle v. Fleetwood Town Wed 30th July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin (North Cup - 1st Rnd) Sat 2nd August - 3.00pm (St Andrew’s stadium)...Birmingham City ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts

I am still rejoicing at the news that a major European club are prepared to pay millions for a young Scottish player - Ryan Gauld moving to Portugal is a huge shot in the arm for Scottish football. I can't remember the last time a Scot was signed by a major European club!

Not long now until the identity of the trialist striker is revealed. (if any of us can recognise him!!!) Have the 2014/15 squad numbers been issued yet? I assume they'd be much the same but with Brill getting the no.1 jersey and Christie maybe taking the 'vacant' no. 17? And if Calum Ferguson is indeed promoted to the first team squad, then he could take no.21.

He's doing tremendously well! Wouldn't it be terrific he got one of the 3 'Captain's Picks' for the Ryder Cup!?! I feel sure that if a Scotsman hasn't qualified automatically, then one will get chosen...

A few reports around the web that Andre Blackman has apparently signed for Leeds United!! If true, it would be a remarkable upturn in fortunes for the guy - very likely 'last chance saloon' in the professional ranks. Coincidentally, he'd be challenging Charlie Taylor for the left-back slot.

There haven't been so many performing clowns at the stadiums since County's last visit!

Mentioned in the first post of the thread.

The Fort William game may yet prove to be more than just the U20's although they advertise on their Twitter that it is that. https://twitter.com/FortWilliamFC/status/477069278823604225 As for Brora, I also understand they're upgrading certain aspects of their ground - including floodlights, tannoy system and showers. I'm sure the floodlight upgrade is more intricate than my vision of a bloke up a ladder putting in a brighter bulb! Despite the improvements, I don't think it's interfering with their ability to stage pre-season games. They're hosting Rangers and indeed we DO visit them also. A game I will hope to get to!

Can't see why Killie need a 3rd kit anyway! Indeed, no club should actually need one. It's just sheer profiteering - some of the 'bigger' clubs sometimes even try to flog 'training' kits. Providing that a club's change kit (away kit is a misnomer) is markedly different from their regular strip, there should be no need for 3rd kits. One of my smaller bug-bears is seeing two teams playing in change strips when one or occasionally neither team needed to change!!! It happened at this World Cup when Spain played the Netherlands. Traditional colours Or even the Dutch in all-orange But instead, we got this untraditional combo!

Very lenient, as Kingsmills noted. The guy will be back playing by the end of October! Far too soon in my book! The 9 game ban from Internationals will doubtless be shamefully exploited by Uruguay by arranging a series of pointless friendlies! That would enable Suarez to return for the Copa America Championships next summer. Farce. I'm hugely annoyed that this incident happened. It's tarnished the tournament and distracted much of the attention away from the events on the pitch. It's still a fantastic World Cup and that moron shouldn't (but will) receive many more 'column inches' - the competition goes on - and tonight's games should add to the drama!

Yeah, we've currently got 19 'first team' players which is a little light. Although there's no obligation to fill the 18 player match-day squad, when injuries and suspensions kick-in, we'll maybe need to promote some of the youth players to the bench. Which is probably no bad thing! Calum Ferguson may yet be given a first team number but I really hope we get a more experienced striker in.

Pre-season training has started! Clach's website lists our North Cup game as 30th July, 7.30pm. Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin Sat 5th July - 1.00pm (Claggan Park)…Fort William (ICT U20’s) Wed 9th July - 7.30pm (Mosset Park)...Forres Mechanics Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Sat 19th July - 1.00pm (Mackessack Park)…Rothes (ICT U20’s) Sat 19th July - 3.00pm (Stark’s Park)…Raith Rovers Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale Sat 26th July - ??? Wed 30th July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin (North Cup - 1st Rnd) Sat 2nd August - 3.00pm (St Andrew’s stadium)...Birmingham City ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts

I see both sides here. Scotty makes good points with his recent post, Inverness is very much on the football map due to the success of the merger. 'Success' meaning the club has seen a level of success few could have foreseen. But I also see IHE's stance that there was a large latent support for the clubs before the merger. Agreed they'd fallen away somewhat but it was likely apathy - same old Highland League teams etc.: but Scottish Cup games fairly brought out the crowds. What's annoying is the 'blazers' that ran Scottish football denied Northern teams access to the closed shop of the Scottish League until recently. Scottish Football League places were at a premium and opportunities to join were limited. Thistle famously denied in 1974 by Ferranti/Meadowbank/Livingston - rumoured soon to be re-named West Lothian FC - a joke club, built on shifting sands that's effectively a franchise. Caley and Inverness Thistle had longer, richer histories than that joke outfit. What's particularly poignant is that this season introduces the first year of inclusion - whereby, if you're good enough, you get a shot at the Scottish League via a play-off system. Only minor adjustments are needed to join - such as floodlight brightness, tannoy volume and possibly a match-day qualified physio to be present. Obviously, 20 years ago, we couldn't have forseen the opening-up of Scottish football. Younger fans, who only know ICT, must wonder what all the fuss is about - but, again as mentioned by IHE, It's like Inverness and County now merging to get admission into a British League - as Highland United. Could you support them with the same fervour? It just irks me that other, dare I say, lesser, Highland teams like Buckie Thistle, Deveronvale, keith and Brora can get a crack at it whereas caley and thistle were denied that chance. With the subsequent growth of Inverness over the past 20 years, there's every chance that if we hadn't merged, Caley and Thistle would both eventually be in the SPFL. Derbys would attract huge crowds. The interest would be huge. Both would likely develop into Championship sides with Premiership football the obvious target. Championship games, Caley v Raith Rovers and Inverness Thistle v Falkirk, would certainly, even on the same day, have a greater combined attendance than ICT v Hamilton, for example. If Ross County can make the highest level of Scottish football (top 6 of that, no less), I see no reason why Caley or Thistle couldn't have done likewise. Our clubs would still exist if the blazers had 'opened up' the league to all clubs years ago. I support Caley Thistle because they're my home-town team and are effectively the merger of my team with another, but, I can honestly say that even the League Cup final didn't invigorate me as much as a Scottish Cup game (any round) at Kingsmills! As an interesting side-note; of the 6 guys I used to regularly meet-up with at the Corrie before games, only 2 of us now go to ICT games. The 'refusnik' estimate is always played down!