ictchris

There is nothing more cringeworthy than playing special music for your opponents. Ugh.

Does anyone have the info for the derby games in 1994/95 and 1995/96? Line ups, scorers, crowds and red cards.

Philip Roberts will not start on Saturday. -----------------------------Esson-------------------------- ---Raven-----Meekings------Warren----ShinnieG--- -----------------Morrison------Draper--------------------- ------Pepper--------ShinnieA-----------Doran------------ -------------------------Foran-------------------------------- I've liked the look of Morrison when he's come on. He's a tidy player, he uses the ball well, retains possession. Foran is needed up front I think. I thought Meekings and Warren were good last night and looked pretty solid on Saturday as well. They are shaping up to be a decent partnership. One thing that I do find concerning is the quiet spell that Andy Shinnie is going through, following on from his great start to the season. He hasn't established as good a partnership with Foran as you'd like and I don't think he takes the right positions to pick up loose balls following more direct hits up to Richie. I wouldn't mind seeing him drop a bit deeper and try and influence the game from there - it might be interesting to see him play in the '2' alongside Draper actually.

When we got the teamsheets in the bar pre-match there was some discussion about whether we would go with two up front, Foran and McKay. It turned out that we stuck with the 4-2-3-1 that we have used so far this season, with Foran sitting deep alongside Draper and McKay on his own up front. Pepper stayed in the XI following his first start at Easter Road and Graeme Shinnie dropped back to left-back, for the presumably injured Blackman. The game started in terrible conditions, with pouring rain and swirling wind. Stenny looked bright, moving the ball well in midfield and looking solid. ICT also did well on the ball but in terms of creating chances we were somewhat lacking. Most of our attacks were based around playing balls into channels for Billy McKay to chase and, while he did well and worked hard, nothing much seemed to come of them. I'd have liked to have seen our wide men getting more time on the ball and trying to create something from those positions. We also misjudged the pitch on a number of occasions, hitting balls for players to chase but then seeing the ball skid off out of play. We made the breakthrough midway through the half when Richie Foran hit a through ball for McKay, the pass took a deflection which took some of the pace of it and allowed McKay to nip in before the keeper and nod it home. It was a decent goal, well taken from McKay who, as usual, was a willing worker up front. Stenny hit back just before half-time when Raven gave away a penalty and was booked, Brown Ferguson crashing home the spot-kick. I was in the terracing behind the opposite goal so couldn't really see what it had been given for but Raven again looked shaky and it wasn't surprising to see him at fault. We don't have another option at the moment at right back so we're going to have to persist and hope he improves. To add to our nervousness, Stenny hit the bar just after they scored with a looping shot. The second half wasn't great from our point of view, we lacked ideas and when we did manage to get into decent positions we didn't pull the trigger. Eventually Pepper was withdrawn for Morrison, who slotted into central midfield while Foran went up front. We looked a bit more dangerous after this, with Foran forcing the Stenny keeper into a good save from a header. Raven also had a chance, a difficult shot that he put just wide. The best opportunity came in injury time when Stenny had a man over on the left, clean through on Esson, only to put the shot wide. It was a real opportunity and you sensed that perhaps that was their best chance of a win. Extra time wasn't great with the introduction of Philip Roberts generating the only excitement. The on-loan Arsenal forward had a couple of nibbles at goal and showed good pace to get free from his marker. It wasn't enough though and we went to penalties. Richie Foran, fresh from scoring from the spot against ABerdeen, stepped up confidently for the first penalty but struck the post. The next three were scored until Bryan Hodge, who had a good game, sent his effort well over the bar. Neither keeper really came close following that with all penalties being well taken. It wasn't until sudden death that Ryan Esson made a good save, diving to his left to deny Darren Smith and send us through.

There is a covered away terrace I believe. http://www.footballgroundguide.com/scotland/stenhousemuir.htm#What%20Is%20It%20Like%20For%20Visiting%20Supporters?

I got goals goals goals In different area codes, area codes

I think a few people here are underestimating our opposition. Brislen-Hall has never played a first team match and Roberts has played twenty minutes or so, on Saturday. To suggest that they will be able to stroll into the first team against guys who have years of experience in senior football and win. Stenhousemuir beat Kilmarnock away in the last round and will fancy their chances. Butcher started with our full team against Arbroath, another Second Division side, in the last round I'd like to think he'll do so again.

We started with a full strength team against Arbroath, I'm assuming it will be the same on Tuesday. I think we'll see a similar side to Saturday. -----------------------------Esson---------------------------- ----Raven-----Meekings-----Warren----ShinnieG--- ----------------Morrison---------Draper------------------ ------Pepper------------ShinnieA---------Doran-------- ----------------------------Foran---------------------------- I think Morrison has done well when he's come on and is a better option than Graeme Shinnie in central midfield. If Blackman is out, and it looked a sore one, then it's an easy fit for Shinnie to drop back to left-back.

Just get TSNY to put a bet on us merging with County and it will never happen.

Thought that was a deserved point for us. Hibs probably had more possession and moved the ball well but we fought hard and in the second half made chances. We started with Foran remaining up front, Graeme Shinnie alongside Ross Draper in central midfield and Conor Pepper making his first start wide. Early exchanges were cagey but we had a bit of the ball and a few half opportunities. Hibs were almost gifted a goal when our defence left a cross to each other and the ball drifted past the far post. Hibs began to take more control of the game in midfield and passed the ball about well and took the lead just after the halfway point when a ball forward saw our defence outpaced by Cairney (I think). His shot was smothered by Esson but he couldn't grab hold of the ball and our defenders couldn't clear and Doyle slid the ball in for the opening goal. We were a bit knocked by that and Hibs began to push the play into our half and control the game. They rattled the post when we didn't close down a corner and a drive came in from the edge of the penalty box. Hibs extended their lead when David Wotherspoon picked up the ball around thirty yards out, took a touch and sent a swirling shot into the top corner of the net. It was a completely unstoppable shot, and is a stick on for the best SPL goal of the weekend. We were a bit shell shocked by this - I don't think we were particularly outclassed but we found outself in a very difficult situation. We rallied and managed to push our way back into the match. A forward ball was headed on by Foran, again the targetman for us, and Conor Pepper showed great strength to retain possession and slot the ball home from inside the area. Considering we picked up Pepper for nothing and he's only eighteen he looks a very good signing. We were galvinised by this and pushed forward for most of the rest of the half. Hibs keeper made a great save from Draper (I think) just before half time and when the whistle went our fans were relatively hopeful of being able to secure something. Hibs fans booed the referee as he went off, unhappy with not getting a decision in the build up to our goal. The second half started with much the same pattern as the first. Hibs had some good possession and knocked the ball about well but we fought hard and stuck our way into the game. We didn't create any clearcut chances but managed to force corners and blocked shots. Hibs had to look lively at the back a few times, with McPake looking hard to beat in the air when we forced set pieces. Hibs did get free on several occasions but, similar to us, didn't force real chances. We brought on Gavin Morrison to midfield for Andre Blackman (big shout out to the Hibs fan who jumped over two rows of seats to gesture and shout at Blackman as he limped off ) and later introduced Philip Roberts and Billy McKay for Conor Pepper and Andy Shinnie. Hibs were urged forward by a noisy crowd and they forced several corners and then made Esson into a fantastic reflex save, didn't see who had the shot I'm afraid. Shortly afterwards we broke and forced a corner. The ball fell to the back post and Meekings turned and fired the ball back into the box, where Foran slammed it home from close range. We spent the rest of the match falling deep and looking to protect our point, although in injury time Philip Roberts picked up and drove into the Hibs box before crossing the ball when perhaps gambling on a shot would've been the better option. Overall, I thought we fought hard and scored a couple of well worked goals. I wasn't that impressed with Graeme Shinnie in the midfield engine-room role, Butcher obviously wanted to keep Foran up front. Gary Warren again looked a solid and calming presence at the back, Ross Draper was forceful in the middle of the park and Foran worked so hard up front and lead the team well. Hibs were decent I thought, they had some spells of possession and looked good on the ball.

Disappointing that Griffiths is out. I've seen how our defence plays against big strikers like Higdon and Vernon and nippy forwards like Paul McGowan, was looking forward to seeing how they dealt with playing against a man with a thumb for a head.

Hospitality! Enjoy your prawn sandwiches.

There was an interview with him in the Motherwell programme from a few weeks ago.

Real fans don't go in hospitality.

How many of them did Tudur Jones boot up in the air?

How will we line up against HIbs? I think it'll be something like this ---------------------------Esson--------------------------- ---Raven----Meekings-----Warren----Blackman--- --------------Draper----------Foran--------------------- ----Doran--------ShinnieA---------ShinnieG-------- --------------------------McKay-------------------------- Foran dropping into midfield is a bit of a no-brainer. He looked good when he played a bit deeper following Jones' red card on Saturday and is the most experienced option. McKay should come in to play up front. This will mean a change of style for us. Foran up front thrives on early direct balls for him to flick on, whereas McKay is more suited to making runs into channels. The best I've seen us play this season was the first 30 minutes against Kilmarnock when we pushed up and got Shinnie, Doran and McKay on the ball in dangerous areas, hopefully we can do thsi again. I would like to see Draper and Foran stepping forward to use the ball with Andy Shinnie, with Doran, Shinnie G and McKay make runs around the box, Foran will bring a lot more drive to the midfield than Jones being an attacking player. If King is fit I'd start him alongside Warren and put Meekings to right back, Raven dropping out.

I can leave my flat at 2:55pm and get there before kick off :)

Neither of the red cards were for foul and abusive language, that's just what they put on Sky and the BBC. As for OTJ, he looks like he could be a good player, the way he moves, his body shape all suggest that he's a good player but he never actually does anything. He uses possession neatly but I think he sometimes slows down play, he always seems to try to play little dinks and flicks when playing things simply is the best option. Ross Draper has shown him up in central midfield, the drive and power that Draper brings to the role far outshines OTJ. Foran also looked very good when he dropped back into midfield following his red card.

The first half was poor stuff, with nothing really happening. Aberdeen had more possession but didn't do much with it and we didn't really threaten the few times we got the ball. Foran had a couple of chances but couldn't get the ball down. A great blocking tackle from Draper on Hughes (I think) was Aberdeens best opening. The second half took off more. Aberdeen forced a corner with the first attack of the game, from which Andrew COnsidine's shot was cleared off the line. We seemed to push up a bit more and tried to get Foran into play more. The match really took off when Owain Tudur Jones was sent off for a tackle on Ryan Fraser. Jones was obviously going for the ball, sliding in to hook the ball away but mistimed it as Fraser nipped in, sending the wee winger up in the air. It's a difficult one - personally I think it should have been a yellow, he wasn't reckless, he wasn't out of control but it was mistimed and gave Fraser a sore one. Teh fact that Jones is massive and Fraser tiny made it look much worse. Terry Butcher was going mental on the touchline and I think he could end up getting in trouble with the SFA for his behaviour. He was swearing and shouting "He's the worst ref I've ever seen" to the crowd. We rejigged by subsituting Andy Shinnie, who had been quiet, and bringing on Shane Sutherland who went up front while Foran dropped back into midfield. Soon after we took the lead, with a ball forward from Shinnie putting Shane Sutherland clean through on goal, where Russell Anderson brought him down. It looked a penalty to me and a red card. Foran knocked it in. Not long after that we broke away following an Aberdeen attack with Foran carrying the ball forward and Doran, Sutherland and Shinnie up against only Mark Reynolds. Foran played in Doran, right in front of goal, but he got the ball stuck beneath his feet and sent the ball bobbling wide. our players seemed to claim for a penalty but nothing was given. After the goal we were sitting very deep and Aberdeen pushed on, having lots of possession but not really creating any clear chances until Hayes made a run to the byline and crossed for Cameron Smith to head home, a pretty simple goal. Perhaps our centreal defenders should've done better marking Smith or Blackman done a better job matching Hayes. I dont' think we can complain about a point and there were some positives. I thought that Foran, Draper and Warren all had good games, Andre Blackman looked decent on his debut and gives us another option on the left hand side. On the other hand, we lost a lead for the third time this season and haven't kept a clean sheet yet. Also, I thought Doran and Andy Shinnie were very poor. ShinnieA doesn't relish playing with Foran up front as the more direct balls don't suit his game, he prefers it into feet. Doran looked one paced and missed an absolute sitter for the goal. He obvously has talent, he's shown that in the past, but he needs to perform consistently. One of the most important things we need to start doing is getting our creative attacking players in possession in the right areas of the pitch. We played very deep and there's not much point in getting someone like Doran on teh ball ten yards inside his own half, we need to push up and get him on the ball in the final third. We also need better movement and runs from our attacking players - often the full backs or midfielders would emerge with the ball and not have a forward pass to make.

TGIs, Nando's and Frankie and Benny's are all terrible.

I'm going to start supporting our Under 20s.

Ross County are riding high, on their best run of form in their history. They are unbeaten in 40 odd league matches, are in the top half of the SPL and, most likely, have the best side in their history. What are their fans talking about on their forum? How many tables ICT have sold for hospitality for a game not involving Ross County. Dear oh dear.

You only need to look at a few comparable nations to see what a different having a good manager makes to a national side. Ireland have Trappatoni (albeit funded by Dermot Desmond) and they qualified for a tournament with a limited squad. They were roundly pumped in the finals but at least they got there. Norway re-appointed Egil Olsen in 2008 and has lead them into the top seeding pot for the current qualifying tournament.

You would have Jimmy Calderwood ahead of Gordon Strachan? Strachan took Celtic to last 16 of the Champions League several times with limited players. Calderwood has a comparable record to Levein and he would be another disaster. Smith wouldn't be that bad an appointment, he steadied the ship last time. They should sack him immediately, we have zero chance of qualifying. Nothing Levein has done in his time in the Scotland job shows any potential for us to turn this situation around.

Terrible performances, timid, negative, one-paced. Levein showed almost as soon as he took the job that he was out of his depth, too negative and lacking in the confidence in himself to do the simple thing.