Renegade

Did we not play Gretna away years ago before they were in the SFL? Personally, I'd love a Highland/Lowland League/Junior team, or in failing that, somewhere that we haven't been for a while like Stirling or Clyde or somewhere.

Brill Raven* Warren Meekings Shinnie Draper Foran Ross Doran Watkins Mckay Subs - Esson, Tremarco, Devine, Polworth, Agdestein, Greenhalgh, Williams * If Raven is still injured, go with Meekings at right back and Devine in the middle, with Pepper coming onto the bench.

While Shinnie has been alright since he moved over to the right, one thing that has become apparent very quickly, is that he doesn't seem to have a right foot. At all. Obviously there's times when coming inside can be effective and even if his right foot was just mediocre it wouldn't be so bad, but he seems to need to come inside every time, which doesn't help much when he overlaps the winger. Would swapping him and Tremarco round make a difference? Could Watkins fill in at right back? He's certainly tall and fairly strong. I've also thought about playing Draper there in the past, but I think we'd lose a lot by taking him out of the middle. Cooper is of course, another option. On Curtis Allen (not Kurtis Byrne - he's ex-County player!), apparently he's been struggling with getting up the fitness for this league. I've only seen him play once in the U20s and I thought at the time he looked a bit tubby. He's certainly highly rated in the Northern Irish league, and supposedly is very skilful, but I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him released if he doesn't come into the squad in some capacity fairly soon.

If we get Aberdeen, I think it's own right, fit and proper that they play the game essentially right in the middle between Inverness and Aberdeen. For this reason I think, without question, the most appropriate venue is Kynoch Park, Keith!

I actually saw what happened to GMS. He just went down like a ton of bricks!

I see on closer inspection as well, 'Arabsteed' and this Brad fellow weren't even at the game!

Glasgow again eh? You'd think they'd give somewhere else a chance for once...oh no wait! I certainly don't think Celtic, should they get there, should be allowed to play a final that would essentially be a home game either.

I was quite impressed with Watkins, Williams and Tremarco. The only thing I'd like to see more of though, is doing with Watkins and Doran what we used to do with Hayes and Imrie, and have them constantly swapping. Not a particularly big fan of Doran on the left to be honest, but I think a swapping system could be used to great effect.

If Dundee we were still in it (and we hadn't drawn them earlier) and we got them in the next round, Tannadice would be the 'neutral' venue!

David Moran - Ex-Manchester United keeper who played away to Huntly and then in a home game against Elgin in 2002. Seemingly, he didn't do much wrong and was looked at as a potential replacement for Nicky Walker. Steve Paterson decided not to offer him a deal and signed Mark Brown instead. Seemingly his most recent clubs were Bootle FC and Ashton Athletic who both play in the North West Counties Premier Division. Apparently, he's now a labourer and plays Sunday League football. I see we also had a keeper playing that pre-season named Bennett. Surely that can't be Graeme filling in!

Jason Hastings - According to the stats on here, a J.Hastings turned out in midfield in the first pre-season match away to Wick in 1997. Presumably that has to be Richard's brother, who later joined the club as a fitness coach. As far as I'm aware, he never officially signed for ICT so must have been a trialist.

John MacDonald - Ex-Rangers striker who'd been round the clubs from Charlton on loan, to Barnsley....to Fort William! Came in on trial during our first season and scored at Hampden against Queens Park. His last club (unless he's still there!) was amateur side Drumchapel United. He perhaps has the possible distinction of being our second best ever goals to games to ratio behind Iain Stewart (one goal in two games! ) and is possibly the last trialist to ever score for us in a competitive match. Seemingly after his trial here, he never played in a senior game again.

Liam Buchanan - Then Cowdenbeath striker came on trial in 2006, before eventually opting for Partick instead. He later played in the SPL for Dunfermline, and for some reason always used to come alive against us! He later played for Sligo Rovers, Airdrie and Ayr, and is now at East Fife. His dad has some trouble with the law at some point as well IIRC.

During pre-season in 2009, we had a French defender and a Polish keeper come on trial. Their names were never officially announced, but the keeper was rumoured to be ex-Darlington player Przemysław Kazimierczak who is now at KS Polkowice in the Polish Third Division, while the Frenchman was rumoured to be Lionel Djebi-Zadi's younger brother!

No it doesn't. There was a game in Africa about a decade ago that finished 149-0.

Could Mckay not just pull-out?

I saw him playing a few times for the U20 and was quite impressive. Very fast and very hardworking, kinda like a Conor Pepper/Jonny Hayes hybrid, so I'm surprised he's playing at such a low level. Was he not linked with Burnley not that long ago as well?

HT - ICT 0-0 DUFC FT - ICT 2-1 DUFC ICT 1st scorer - Foran DUFC 1st scorer - Cifti Time of 1st goal - 57

Brill Raven* Warren Meekings Shinnie Draper Foran Doran Ross Greenhalgh Mckay Subs - Esson, Watkins, Agdestein, Tremarco, Polworth * If Raven is still out, go with Shinnie on the right and Tremarco on the left with Devine coming onto the bench.

I thought he was impressive. I know Butcher was comparing him to Golabek in the past, but his style reminds me more of Kenny Gillet. Stocky and solid, but mobile.

'Under the lights' aye?

HT - Ross County 1-2 ICT FT - Ross County - 1-5 ICT Ross County 1st scorer - Ross ICT 1st scorer - Meekings Time of 1st goal - 12

He didn't play that often for Brighton IIRC, but his record in Norway was quite good I think (not sure what the standard) was though (Wikipedia says 16 goals in 35 games for Stord - whoever they are!).

I see the fellow on the ICT Podcast reckons like me, that Dingwall is too narrow for wingers and Toby up-top is the way to go. He's absolutely right. Players like Doran and particularly Greenhalgh need space to be effective during open play and with such a narrow field and County attempting every inch of space going, playing two wingers either side simply will not work. It's not rocket science! It's been reported time and again that County's defence have a hard time against pace and height. The way to go is with three strikers and pinning them back. Playing like that, breaking through and dominating them from the start could well and truly see the County floodgates open.

They've both been playing in amateur leagues ever since, roughly the 5th tier of Dutch football. I see the team De Wagt is playing for (ONS Sneek) have a stadium capacity of 950! Sounds like it was good decision not to sign him. I'm sure he was the most ginger person ever! So much so, that when you clicked on the link for the story about him, you got a fright! Edit - Found a photo of him, think he'd have gone down well with the ladies!