Sneckboy

Player ratings are such a tabloid thing - one paper gives a 5, another a 7. It's totally subjective. It's all a lot of nonsense anyway. Unless 'ratings' are standardised they have no value. Every football match, whether the Champions League final or the Junior Cup final should have a finite number of points available. Say 22 players x 5 = 110 points. Logically, the total player points should be identical whatever the match.

I wouldn't say he's the first name on the team sheet every week. The likes of Brill, Shinnie, Meekings, Warren, McKay and Foran are almost certainly going to start games if fit. With the options available to us in midfield, it's likely Tansey could find himself on the bench at times this coming month when we've EIGHT games to play - it could very well be horses-for-courses. He's an integral part of the squad, a cog in the machine, but it's maybe too early to be lauding him as the key man. Things can change very quickly in football....Just a few games ago, Danny Williams was a regular starter and a sudden unlikely hero after his goal in the 1-0 win at Pittodrie. He's hardly been seen since and has not even featured in the recent matchday squads of 18.

As noted by Ywingwie, it was Raven's first goal for the club, but the other two goals were also 'mile-stones'. Marley Watkins goal was also his maiden strike for Inverness while Billy's goal takes his tally to 50 for ICT in all competitions - in his 100th appearance. 100 caps, 50 goals...the ratio of a top striker!

Bump

Premiership Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen 2-1 Celtic) Adam Rooney (Aberdeen 2-1 Celtic) English League Two Sam Winnall (Scunthorpe United 1-1 Bristol Rovers)

You should have seen the draft copy!

Although I'm sure County are not under any legal obligation to do so, honouring obvious 'proof of purchase' tickets would have been a good bit of PR for them. An opportunity missed by Uncle Roy! I say that without knowing the SPFL stance on this scenario - maybe they're not 'allowed' to. But I'm eternally fickle - if they were offering free admission to those who produced stubs from the first game, I'd have dismissed it as a cheap gimmick, designed to make them look good in a desperate attempt to deflect some of the attention we're getting with the cup final approaching!

All-Ireland Cup - Quarter-final (1st leg) Eric Odhiambo HAT-TRICK (Crusaders 1-4 Sligo Rovers) - This was Odhiambo's debut for Sligo!

"Okay, I'll have 3 carvery dinners and 3 pints of cider please"!!

I think it's a good draw...could have been much worse. Getting Ireland as opposed to Belgium, from Pot 2, is a bonus. I wonder if the SFA will play the Gibraltar game at Pittodrie? The current FIFA World Rankings (for what they're worth) make for good reading! Germany (2) Scotland (34) Rep. of Ireland (67) Poland (70) Georgia (103) Gibraltar (-) Meanwhile, back in the real world, early bookies prices suggest Poland will join Germany as automatic qualifiers with the Irish getting the play-off spot and Scotland missing out altogether!

A chance for Scotland to qualify for their first major since 1998, which was also in France. Good omen?! The qualifying draw is today. The pots are based on recent previous performances rather than current form so sides like Belgium are in the same pot as Ireland (pot 2), while dangerous teams like Iceland lurk in pot 5. Gibraltar enter for the first time. Top 2 plus best 3rd placed team qualify, with the 8 other 3rd placed teams entering the play-offs. Definite opportunity, but the group draw is key.

Good to see John Hughes talking-up Graeme Shinnie's prospects of a Scotland call-up. Can't help feeling that if Andrew Robertson was our left-back, he would be over-looked. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26292307

"...exploding onto this site like a starburst from heaven..." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scarlet, have you been at that 50 Shades book again!

It's decided on the day - with extra-time and penalties if necessary!

I apologise for my reply to your post, rebelwithoutaclue and am heartened to see you have posted since! I have my settings set to 'first unread post' and viewed your post 'out of context' - I must have still thought I was on the Stranraer match-thread (and you were signing-up a cheap pop at our attendances) as opposed to you referring to the seating arrangements. It (probably) won't happen again!

I remember being at Millburn when Darren MacLean was transferred from Inverness Thistle to Liverpool in the mid-80's. I seem to have a vague recollection of there being TV crews set up for interview in the gym...or maybe I'm confusing the time Radio 1 did an outside broadcast from the school. Anyway, I digress! He moved to Merseyside for around £30,000 IIRC. A huge amount of money in those days especially for a Highland League outfit. I wonder what the club did with that windfall? Did it all go on appointing Jim Leishman and putting him up in the Kingsmills Hotel!

"The Courier gates must remain OPEN - that's the bottom line!"

Congratulations to Davie Balfour for this initiative, demonstrating how effective and proactive CJT are proving to be. Chartering trains to run between Inverness and Glasgow must be a logistical headache so very well done to all involved.

I think you're getting mixed up with the traditions of the Scottish Cup final.

Nothing to be 'hacked off' about, rebelwithoutaclue! I'm assuming you're a troll given it's your first post and the time posted. This is our best season ever - a first final awaits - that can't be disputed. But your comment on Aberdeen can't go unchallenged...I fail to see a massive increase in their support! The proportion of their fans likely to attend the final is the same as ours...ie approx. two-and-a-half-times their average home gate.

Hearts obviously down but 2nd-bottom's still wide open. But I think the team who does finish 2nd-bottom will retain still their place over a two-legged play-off.

Draper's ban for the quarter-final shouldn't be a major obstacle. Plenty options to compensate.

An okay turnout considering the weather and the Champions League competing on TV or in the pub! Cup attendances don't count towards clubs' published 'official' home average gates - so no damage done.

Excellent summary. I'd forgotten about the scoring sequence Stranraer were on! A good achievement for them during which they drew 1-1 at Ibrox. They're no mugs and could well make the play-offs from League One. 'A workmanlike performance' is a bit of a football cliché, but that's what it was tonight. We're really in a great position on all three fronts heading into the business end of the season.

I'll go for an optimistic 1300. Please god, don't let it drop below 1000. We'd get crucified if, in our current situation, played a home match in front of 'hundreds'!