Caley Stan

We'll need to sign some strikers first.

We`may well score. My concern having seen the line-up is how Alexander and Naysmith will cope with the Dutch wide-men without protection in front of them.

Team announced on BBC. No surprises in the back 4, central 3 or Miller up front - but in the wide positions - McCormack and Teale!!! Nobody saw that coming. If they score first we might get tanked.

There are many exceptions to that point Sorted, and Ian Stewart is one of them. In a wonderful DVD called 'ICT - the first 5 years' compiled by that great filmmaker The Mantis, Pele talks about how he sees Ian Stewart as a natural goalscorer who "would score goals at any level, more so playing with better players". Stewarty scored over 40 goals in his last Highland League season before stepping up to the SFL where he was incredibly prolific in the 3rd and 2nd divisions. If you look back at some of those finishes (especially the chips and lobs) they are absolutely sublime - not many of todays SPL strikers could finish with that kind of class. It may be that Ian Stewart's size and the fact that he was playing in the Highland League prevented him from getting the chance at a higher level. Highland Football history is filled with stories of players who could and should have played at a higher level, Charlie Christie being one of the most recent examples. Who would've thought 6 or 7 years ago that Munro, Tokely, Duncan, McBain and Hastings would have what it takes to play in the SPL. Had it not been for the success ICT have enjoyed over that time, we would probably never have had the chance to find out.

It's good to hear you talking up the youth system at ICT Robbo, and i'm sure it's come a long way in the last few years - putting Celtic out to reach the Youth Cup semis is a testament to that. However, i was responding specifically to this quote: "set up a conveyer belt of local talent and keep them up north(acheived)". Far from achieved Robbo! First shoots maybe - let's hope they are the first of many.

I like Robbo's proposal. I've always favoured a 16 team league with an expanded League Cup (seeded group stages) to compensate for lost games but the 14 game proposal might be more palatable to chairmen and is certainly a damn sight better than the split we have now. As for how to promote/relegate to/from regional leagues, it's being done all over the world - i'm just not sure how.

Here's my new team, taking account of in injuries. ---------------McGregor---------------- Alexander---Caldwell---Berra---Naysmith ----------Ferguson---Fletcher------------- Rae-------------Brown-------------Morrison ------------------Miller---------------------- The back 4 is worrying. Apart from that it's not a bad team. At least 7 first choices. If we defend well then we can get a draw.

Come on Robbo! We haven't brought through a first team regular since Grant Munro. Most of our 'local' players have been Pele signings from the Highland League and Aberdeen rejects. Most of them are getting on a bit now having served the club well for a number of years. Brewster tried to bring through a few youngsters but that all went a bit t1ts up and one of Butcher's first acts was to sideline them.

I couple of the teams posted on here have Brown on the right or left. I really hope Burley doesn't do this. Scott Brown has been in great form for Celtic playing in an advanced midfield role. It would be crazy to move him out to the right out of deference for a has-been like Barry Ferguson.

GRAHAM BAYNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know Caley D did a lot of research into this a while back but i'm still no clearer on the question of who actually owns the stadium. Charles, i don't think anybody underestimates the huge contribution that Sutherland and Tullochs have made to the club, but many people are suspicious of his motives, particulary with regard to the stadium. What does "a very influential role in the basic stadium ownership" mean? Would Tullochs be entitled to the proceeds of any future stadium sale?

So is it widely accepted now that Tulloch own the stadium? Weren't we told that it was transferred to a charitable trust?

Just listening to Chic Young and Murdo McLeod giving their opinion on what the team should be for Amsterdam. They agreed on this 4-1-4-1 -------------------Gordon-------------- Hutton---Caldwell---McManus---Naysmith -----------------Hartley------------------ Brown---D.Fletcher---Ferguson---S.Fletcher ------------------Miller------------------------ I'd agree with the back 5 but would like to see Brown play in the role he played for Celtic on Sunday in a 4-2-3-1 with the Englishmen playing in the wide positions and Ferguson dropped: ------------D.Fletcher----Hartley------------ Commons--------Brown-------------Morrison --------------------Miller-------------------------

You're right Harry - the left side the pitch is a major weakness. Naysmith will take the left-back simply because there's nobody challenging him for it. I thought maybe Lee Wallace would've been in the squad. Jaimie McAllister doesn't bear thinking about. As for left midfield, hasn't Burley played Morrison there before?

Hastings in midfield!!! Haven't seen that since his man of the match performance against ICT.

So does the BBC. I think caleyrule has it right.

Anyone know why Duncan's not in the squad?

Renegade, in many ways i admire how open-minded you are on the subject of tactics and formations. However, the examples you give are not relevant to the situation that ICT are in. The main concern for teams like Brazil, Man United and Roma (and Australia and Japan during qualification) is how to break down inferior and often extremely defensive teams. They have to vary the way they employ their attacking players in order to do this. When ICT play in the SPL we come up against teams that have superior players, or very well organised teams with players at a similar level to our own. In such circumstances, playing 4-2-4 would be suicidal. Can you think of an example of a small team fighting relegation who have played in this way?

Which Brazil team are we talking about here boys? Brazil haven't played with out-and-out wingers for a very long time and it was Brazilians who invented the 4-4-2 and have more or less stuck with it since. Most of Brazil's success in the last couple if decades has built on a solid defence, solid holding midfield players and shackling their most creative players for the benefit of the team (exactly what TB is doing at ICT). Brazil have won more World Cups than Italy. The two nations have scored a similar amount of goals, but Brazil have a superior defensive record. Now enough of all this Brazil nonsense

No, but i think Lionels' suspension will be served in next season's Scottish Cup, thus making him available for Saturday's game. Just a hunch.

I believe Lubo may even have been credited with a goal for us. Although we all know it was Bobby's.

Gazza, Laudrup and Larsson. Probably the best players to play in Scottish football in the last couple of decades.

Why has the word 'Milton' been censored here?

Russell has been doing this for years, It is just one of the many reasons why i love him so much.

About as long as it takes IHE to find a computer.