Sneckboy

I thought he had a good game. Will have done himself no harm at all, his work rate was terrific. Didn't get ant clear cut chances but got himself into good positions. He got subbed after 80 minutes but I'd say he was Northern Ireland's top outfield player on the night, although I find it difficult to be impartial when I'm 'supporting' a particular player/team!

I was wrong - it's a made-up trophy by the Uruguayan broadcaster. A bit like the Scotland-Nigeria game could have been for 'The BBC Scotland Trophy'!

I'm wondering if it could be the Unofficial World Championship! I'm serious! Uruguay are the current holders. Normally, the holders retain the 'trophy' in the event of a draw, so not sure why there may be penalties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unofficial_Football_World_Championships

Blimey, the commentator must be on this forum - he's literally just answered my query! Grandparents from Belfast!

Great to see him getting his first start - playing in the number 9 shirt tonight. I've never really thought much about it before but how does Billy actually qualify for Northern Ireland? I know he's English-born but the name 'McKay' is quite common in NI - I assume his dad must be from there?

Check the state of St Mirren's new home kit!

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I see The Rangers are coming north for a week-long pre-season 'training camp'! Not sure if they're staying in Inverness. Thankfully we're not playing them. I don't want anything to do with them until we have to play them. They've games lined up against Brora and Buckie. (appropriate!) Then I read that they're jetting off to the USA and Canada for a 4 game tour! Are they not currently getting-by on loans? Or are they already dipping-in to season-ticket funds? And they wonder where their money goes. They just don't learn.

I love looking at stats and was interested to see this STV link, but disappointingly it's littered with errors! The 'where the goals came from' section has some clubs totals out by 4 or 5 goals. Even accounting for own goals the figures literally don't add up! And the right foot/left foot/header goals also doesn't tally for some clubs. But what I do accurately know is that it's now been 91 games since we last scored from a direct free-kick!

It's absurd to even try to pretend that our league compares favourably against England's. We've got about 9% of their population so can't expect to compete with their strength-in-depth. Our 2nd tier has some part-time clubs in it, while even most of England's top non-league clubs are full-time. For example, Dean Brill walked straight into our team despite being deemed surplice to requirements (as 3rd choice keeper) at a non-league side.

Today marks the start of the 'official' campaign. It will be interesting to see if broadcasters observe strict impartiality, as they're legally obliged to do!

They actually won 2 games at home this year! Hearts were beaten at Easter Road on 2nd January and County lost there in February. Still, a very poor return. But we shouldn't be complacent. We only won 2 games ourselves. Partick Thistle and a St Johnstone team on the last day (a team who had made 7 changes and were simply going through the motions with the Cup final 6 days away).

Still no concrete news on Greenhalgh? I suppose we're like all football clubs when it comes to this sort of thing. Plenty 'fanfare' and triumphalism when a guy signs up....but an almost reluctant silence when they're later moved-on! Reminiscent of newspapers with front-page headlines screaming out that (for example) George Michael and Alex Salmond enjoyed an illicit night of gay sex - then a few months later (after being taken to a libel court) they rescind the claim, realising that at the time, Alex was at a conference in Stirling while the singer was on stage in Philadelphia! Not to worry, a grovelling two-line apology buried at the bottom of page 12 will do. Come-on media team! There's no word on our pre-season games yet from the website - yet the likes of Clach and Deveronvale from the Highland League have our games listed on their sites! Sorry to rant, I'm just a bit frustrated as I've spent the last few hours tediously 'transferring-across' and amending our club's wiki page for next season and have had lots of it 'rejected' by (admittedly correct) officious mods due to my lack of credible sources. However, I managed to locate material and it's all in place now. Sadly, none of it was from the official ICT website, which is still a relatively poor information source, particularly for a top-flight club!

I agree and also think it'll take Hibs a few years to get back up. There's simply far too big a rebuilding job to be done for them to have any realistic chance of bouncing straight back to the top flight. Even the following season, there's likely to be a rejuvenated Dunfermline Athletic side the Championship, so promotion may elude them for a number of seasons. That said, there's a chance they could get 'lucky' and despite being well 'off the pace', end-up in 4th place and scrape into the play-offs where 'anything could happen'!

Matthew Cooper has signed a two-year contract at Elgin City.

I had the fortune of watching the highlights without knowing the score! I'm still trying to digest the ramifications of this development! A stunning outcome.... Butcher looked a broken man in his post-match interview! And Petrie looked dismayed, embarrassed and angry. I wonder what he's now thinking re. Terry?! As much as I loved Butcher at Inverness, I feel no pain for his predicament - a situation that's significantly of his own making. Schadenfreud!!! I loved Terry 'talking up' our club, Inverness and the Highlands in general. He was a boon and certainly increased our profile - I'll always be thankful for that. Steve Paterson went to Aberdeen which was utterly gutting but grudgingly forgivable as managing the Dons was a long-held ambition of his. John Robertson went to Hearts - a 'Jambo' legend! Craig Brewster to Dundee United - Huge United icon (at the time!) But Butcher to Hibs? Absolutely no connection! Sheer greed and a misguided perspective of potential success with a club rotten from the core - so no sympathy from me! I wonder if he's got the stomach to carry on? Or, one day, admit he made a big error of judgement. Rumours that he's going to quit will now grow. His managerial career may well now be in tatters. A job-for-life at a progressive club, with a life-style the envy of many. The renewed respect of his work in Inverness from a football community who still found him 'relevant' enough to invite onto network TV England games. Cowdenbeath and Alloa is now the reality for Terry, If he still has a job!

partnerships

lovers

Latest addition - Deveronvale (away) Wed 23rd July, 7.30pm http://www.deveronvale.co.uk/clubnews.asp?DB=clubnews&sea=1314&cat=1#2023 Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts

I wish I could remember him! Just been reading that Filipe Morais has become a 'free agent'. I always liked what I saw of him. I wonder if he was at Hibs when Yogi was manager!? Wages would be the problem I suppose. Although Tansey has just come from the same club, Stevenage! But, to be honest, any money we've got to spend needs to be for an out-right striker. That's priority. We won't 'get away' with one forward for another season!

Not sure when the team re-groups for pre-season training but I can't help thinking of poor Billy McKay! He played in every game last season and still has to go to South America with Northern Ireland! I'm sure he's buzzing about the trip with games against Chile and Uruguay - the adrenaline will get him through! With only 4 strikers going he's certainly going to get played at some point. You'd imagine that Yogi would give him an extended break and join up later - he doesn't need to be playing pre-season games. Nothing to prove with us but Hughes, understandably might want to experiment with systems that include Billy. But I hope he shows up well if given the chance. Some of the guys normally ahead of Billy in the 'pecking order' are injured, including Kyle Lafferty. Interestingly, the 'other' 3 forwards travelling, for Northern Ireland are also Scottish-based. Niall McGinn, Dean Shiels and Josh Magennis (although he's now a free agent).

Just had a look at the World Cup schedule - 2nd July is day after the last 16 knockout stage - no games! So...we've no excuse! (damn!) It is such an early fixture though - I notice from the 'link' above that County are also playing Clach at Grant Street, but 3 weeks later! Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sat 9th August - Season starts

Clach game confirmed! http://www.clachnacuddinfc.co.uk/club/277827/News/view/842609 Pre-season games so far, (all away): 2nd July Clachnacuddin 12th July Elgin City 16th July Brora Rangers

exclusive

That's true, caleydawson. I'm sure we will get a Clach game but it's probably best to 'discount' that date at the moment.