Celtic makes it 100 not out for Terry & Mo.
This weekends SPL game will be the Inverness duo's 100th game in charge of the Caley Jags since their arrival at the end of January 2009.
Left with a mountain to climb after the previous incumbent had taken Inverness to the brink of relegation that season, they almost performed a Houdini act to stave off the drop, but unfortunately Falkirk spoiled the party and they found themselves dumped into the first division.
Game off due to waterlogged pitch
They vowed to get the club back up, and said they would achieve this in one season, a feat not commonplace in the first division. They achieved the virtually impossible and did it in style overhauling Dundee's seemingly unassailable lead to cruise to the title, and the manner in which this was accomplished saw Inverness win nine in a row; not quite the same as Celtic managed under Jock Stein, but nevertheless they finished with a flourish, crushing Ayr United 7-0 at Somerset Park and defeating a beleaguered Dundee on the final day.
Surely Terry's finest hour was that very game at Ayr. Who can forget the sermon he preached from the summit of the main stand at Ayr. The league was won in midweek without playing, this was merely the icing on the cake, and the dismantling of Ayr United into the bargain. After the final whistle, a mini pitch invasion ensued and Terry climbed to his lecturn, the crowd mesmerised by his speech. He controlled the throngs of delirious ICT fans in a Monty Pythonesque style, waving his arms up and down, the crowd, like puppets on a string drawn to his charm and waiting with baited breath for his next utterance. That was one of the great speeches of this Century, ending with, "we will show them how to party next week." And party we did as we beat Dundee to end a glorious season.
Life back in the SPL started brightly for the management team but they knew it was going to be tough and as this season went on, we have become caught up in our own success and have struggled somewhat to keep the momentum going. Still, 100 not out for Terry and Mo and still going strong, here's to more success.
For the record, that's 81 league games and 18 cup games. In the league games he has steered the club to 35 wins, 24 draws and 22 defeats, scoring 126 and conceding 87. In all cup games we have won 12 and lost six, for 36 against 21.
So, we can all thank Terry and Mo this weekend for the roller coaster ride that is Inverness Caledonian Thistle and look forward to another century partnership from the management, surely worthy of a bottle or two of claret.
Terry Butcher started his life as an Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager just over two years ago, and his first game was against, yes, you've guessed it, Glasgow Celtic in Inverness. That game was a goalless draw, but what was important about it was the fact that we had stopped the rot, albeit briefly. We had lost the previous nine SPL games and Mr Brewster's reign had become untenable. You know when you see that word, someone is about to get sacked, and this opened the door for the arrival of Terry and Mo. So, fast forward two years and here we are this Saturday, 99 games gone and Celtic back here again.
But that's enough about Terry and Mo, let's get down to the nitty gritty, the stuff we have waited a fortnight for, none of that International drivel we were subjected to last weekend when our national side watched Brazil pass a football around a park and a German almost started a world war; what's new. A banana, that's what's new, a bloody banana. Yes folks, it's back to SPL football at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and if you put your clocks forward last weekend, then you should be arriving in time for this early kick off at 12:00 noon.
Your scribe this week is davie, who will provide us with this preview and his match report after the game.
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Celtic visit the Caledonian Stadium for the third time this season on Saturday lunchtime having already won on the opening day of the league campaign and defeating Caley Jags to send them out of the Scottish Cup earlier this month. In between times, there has been another defeat and a share of the spoils in the East End of Glesga. Actually, our Manager reckons we “know them inside out” after facing them five times this season. Still, it might be near end of season but it’s never boring and always unpredictable, a bit like Alternative Maryhill’s proposed weekend to the most fervent Celtic enclave outside the east End – Barra. Enjoy, youth, they might even get ESPN there.
History, despite our annoying ability to come up with the occasional “supercaleygoballistic” performance against the Glasgow giants, is still firmly on their side in SPL encounters. 12 – 1 in wins with 4 draws indicates where the balance of power lies, but this is football, and things can change. Our 2-2 draw in November nearly evidenced that.
The Hoops last outing was at HQ against their greatest and most bilious rivals, and they came away with that runner up feeling. Confidence is still high in the League, however, and they expect to win here. They are rumoured to have Sean Maloney close to fitness and their returning internationals are reported unscathed. That leaves only the long term absentees such as Majstorovic to concern them. Still, there’s always a chance when Glen Loovens and Charlie Mulgrew are around. From the last game, that charming man Scott Brown returns, as does Mark Wilson. Both should make a difference. It’s unclear if Neil Lennon will make a difference in the main stand for the second time in a couple of weeks. His sole sojourn to trackside in Bilbao last weekend ended in, you’ve guessed it, getting sent to the stand! Better take Mr. MacBride with you this time Neil.
On our side, Kenny Gillet should continue motoring down the road to full fitness. Hayes should hirple on and only Shinnie, Proctor and Sanchez remain invalided. TB has the opportunity to meld something of a first choice team out of the available players, but they need to show more than they have of recent weeks and arrest the creeping apathy that seems to affect them at times. Still, it is rarely a hard job to motivate the troops for games such as these - he’ll not have to chase them.
Talking of chasing, we'll hopefully get another Maryhill report before the end of the season, provided he survives the prodigious drinking that is second nature to Barra. He might even make Killie next week (who’s next to say aye to the pie?) I once chased a chap around Barra, who impressed me with his “bhoys” tattoo largely on account of the fact that apart from it he was utterly naked. He had done that most un-Barraesque of things and stopped drinking too quickly, thereby losing what was left of his unpickled marbles. I was there to transport him to the nearest “caring facility” Celtic fans. You can’t take them anywhere.
The crystal testicle predicts a score draw in this fracas, 1 – 1 being not unreasonable and for which thanks would be given. Just as long as St. Mirren beat Hamilton.
Ooooohhh, go on then Davie...........chase me!
Other SPL News
Kilmarnock FC are managerless as davie mentioned above. Mixu Paatelainen (44) has resigned his position at Kilmarnock with immediate effect to become the new Finnish national manager after nine months in charge. He started slowly at Killie but has since guided them into the top six comfortably and has the team playing some highly entertaining football.
David Goodwillie has extended his contract at Tannadice for a further year keeping him with the Arab's until May 2013. Twenty two year old Goodwillie is one of the emerging Scottish talents and has been targeted by Rangers already. He has been at United since he was 14 and made his debut at the end of 2005. As good as he is though, he was unable to stop his club tumbling out of the Scottish cup as Motherwell thumped United 3-0 in midweek, to earn a semi-final spot against St Johnstone at Hampden.
Calum Elliot has been sidelined for at least six months after knee surgery on his 24th Birthday has left him plastered. The Hearts striker has been plagued by injuries and looks to be out until Christmas. Happy birthday Calum. Better news for one of our nemesis'. Big Kevin Kyle will be resuming training after a double hernia operation, although the Hearts squad has been decimated by injuries of Caley Thistle proportions.
Minor League News:- Jimmy Calderwood's work at County is almost complete as he has taken the club to the brink of the precipice. A goal for the Pars in the fourth minute of time added on means that our country cousins are staring into the abyss. With Cowdenbeath taking a point off Dundee, County are only one point ahead of the miners in the play-off position, although they have a much healthier goal difference which is worth an extra point. Tuesday the 5th of April will be an interesting night as the Blue Brazil take on The Staggies in what could prove to be a six-pointer.
***Breaking News***
Our Prayers Have been Answered:- It has been leaked that Scottish footballs first religious threesome will officiate at an SPL match this weekend. An SFA spokesperson has not revealed which match they will be in charge of in the 12:00 kick off, but it is believed that they are being flown in from Ireland at the request of one of Scotland's top clubs in a bid to reduce the number of decisions that have gone against them. Canon John Paul Benedictus will be the man in the middle and his junior officials will be Father Timothy O'Flaherty and Patrick O'Reilly, both who hold senior positions within the Irish referee's in gods holy trinity organisation, (IRIGHTO). The idea has been given it's blessing by both clubs in order for this initiative to be a success and the winning club will be allowed to release coloured smoke bombs at the end of the game. Celtic will let off green plumes of smoke and Inverness blue. This will hopefully reduce any tension that may have built up in the crowds and will help to right the image of Scottish football blighted by recent events. A draw will see a neutral colour being released, black.
Let's hope this is a success for whichever game they are at tomorrow April 2nd.
