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Butchers Family Fortunes Welcome to the first "six pointer" of the season at Caledonian Stadium, where we renew acquaintances with Hamilton Academicals. The team from New Douglas Park travels up the A9 as the League's bottom club, with no points and two 4-0 defeats behind them. Getting out of the central belt probably never felt so good, but Billy Reid doesn't have problems to seek this year, and it just got worse after defeat in the CIS prompted more "dancing in the streets of Raith" In many respects, Hamilton are in a similar position to ICT. League success is a relative thing, with avoiding the drop being the first criteria every year. In the past couple of seasons, they have become used to a certain bullish optimism borne of their young talent and a clever imported mix (including one D. Imrie, more of whom later) However, the crown jewels have been sold (MacArthur and Easton); the defence is missing or injured (Alex Neil, Mark MacLaughlin) in great part and the strikeforce is hampered by Antoine Curier's enforced recall to the east. Hamilton are left with a mixed bag that is still worthy of respect. Cerny, the goalkeeper, is capable of great things on his day, and the defence still has Ross (well they did until yesterday!), Canning and Skelton. All have turned in good performances in the past in these parts. In midfield, they have not one but two enigmatically named Paixao's to call upon and that man Imrie. We know that he can be brilliant on his day, but affected by what happens around him, and Hamilton's sinking ship impersonation won't help him. You might think that their new signing might help though, his name's Hasselbaink. Billy Reid, Hamilton's own wee rotunda has pulled no punches this year, referring to his charges as "embarrassing" and "comic cut" after giving away four penalties in two games. God knows how they will cope with Hayes. At TCS, things couldn't be more different. A solid preseason has given way to a season's start that saw us pick up our first three points on Sunday and progress in the CIS cup, scoring seven goals without reply in the process. From Ryan Esson forward, the team has begun to shape the presence that served us so well last year. TB's intent is well shown by the strength of the side fielded against Peterhead, and not too many changes can be anticipated apart from the return of McCann and Esson. Grant Munro continues to impress this year, and David Proctor has shown that he can effectively interchange with Rossco when required. It's up front, though that our most settled formation looks more dangerous as time goes on. Jonny Hayes is getting back to warp factor 7 speeds, Adam Rooney has phasers set to "kill" and Eric Odhiambo is handing him as much ammunition as he can fire. Russell Duncan is firing long range cannons at will right now and enjoying it by the look of things. ***latest***from the Inverness camp is that Ross Tokely is still struggling, although he is recovering quicker than expected and could make the bench. Foran, Blumenshtein and Innes all miss out. Hamilton have lost the services of Jack Ross and Stuart Elliot, both have been released from their contracts. Martin Canning is suspended, while Alex Neil, Mark Maglaughlin and David Elebert are still on the treatment table. Things are traditionally tight between these two teams, 1-1 being the score last time out. Foran scored ours, whilst Canning equalised. At that time, we thought we were safe. If you just go by the stats, it might point to something less than exciting ( a sequence of 1-1, 1-1, 1-0, 0-1) It's more like binary than football scores, and shaded narrowly in the sequence by Hamilton. This time, the runes suggest it's perfectly reasonable to hope for a first home win for TB and the team. Let's make some noise if it happens, but please, can we keep our shoes on? Terry Butcher is convinced that the family feeling is helping his squad to realise their full potential and the family atmosphere will go a long way to helping the cause. He has said that there is a great feeling in the dressing room just now and long may it continue. Everyone is on a high, and they all help each other out, the whole team benefits from this, and the fans can go home happy. The scribe for this preview is our own davie, since he never made Tannadice.

Inverness cruised through to the next round of the CIS cup after a low profile affair against second division basement boys Peterhead. Without Mann and Bavidge Peterhead were as ineffective as Dundee United and Jonny Tuffey had a quiet evening. A Rooney double and a Grant Munro strike killed the game and the evenings entertainment fizzled out. 25th August 2010 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 3 - Rooney (pen32, 49), Munro (38) TEAM: Tuffey, Proctor (Golabek 52), McBain, Munro, Gillet (Shinnie 79), Cox, Duncan (Morrison 70), Ross, Hayes, Odhiambo, Rooney SUBS: Esson, Sutherland PETERHEAD 0 - TEAM: Jarvie, Donald, Smith, Macdonald (Ross 70), Gethins, Mcvitie (Clark 56), Moore, Sharpe, Emslie, Anderson, Wyness SUBS: Bateman, Strachan, Taylor Referee David Somers Attendance 1001 Roy McBain was the only new face to start at the expense of Kevin McCann. Cox played in the right back position and Proctor and Munro continued in the heart of the back four with Gillet at left back. Duncan and Roy were the anchor men and the front four remained the same. Ryan Esson was rested as Jonny Tuffey took the gloves, but he might just as well have stayed at home. The early play was untidy, with Peterhead having some possession but without creating much, although Connor Gethins did strike a volley wildly over in one such raid. Cox had a busy opening fifteen as Sharp sped past him a number of times, but Lee was having none of it and eventually earned himself a booking for hauling him down later in the game. Inverness withstood the early rush from the Balmoor side and took the lead just after the half hour. Jonny Hayes lured the keeper to the edge of his six yard box and tumbled as he tried to remove the ball from Jonny's control. Penalty without a doubt, although we all saw it coming and Adam Rooney duly converted low into the corner. Grant Munro scored the second from an inviting Hays ball into the six yard box, when he lunged forward to nod the ball home and end the Peterhead challenge. Half time 2-0 Jonny Hayes had been very quiet in the first half apart from his two assists and changing his boots. He looked slightly perkier in the second half . Our third goal was the pick of the bunch. Eric sent his marker the wrong way and threaded a ball through to Rooney who picked his spot low beyond Jarvie. That was effectively game over. Russell Duncan almost scored another scorcher as he slammed a twenty yarder off the keepers left hand post. Steady Russell. Another chance went abegging when Jarvie stopped a ball on his goal line but nobody followed up to gather the loose ball and the chance was gone. The last opportunity fell to the elusive Eric, but he sliced the ball over the bar from close range. Sub Shinnie entered the arena and forced Jarvie to save smartly as the game quietly petered out. Full Time 3-0 Peterhead never looked like scoring and our defence were always on top. Denzil never got his shuffle going and in the end we ran out comfortable winners. Peterhead can now concentrate on getting off the bottom of the division and we can look forward to the next round of the CIS Cup. tm4tj MoM Eric Odhiambo continues to impress and some of his turns were excellent. Russell Duncan is thriving in his Eusebio role, but MotM for me was the goal machine that is Adam Rooney. Another brace and another cool penalty. With Richie Foran still to come back things can only get better. 1001 folk gave up their evening to watch this game and sat nice and quietly to make life easy for the stewards.

Friends reunited The CIS Cup has paired Inverness with the Blue Loon team fae Peterheid. This will mean a return to Tulloch Caledonian Stadium for former Inverness favourites Martin Bavidge, captain Bobby Mann and the club legend that is Dennis Wyness. Bobby Mann is unlikely to feature though as he is on the injury list at present. Some old adversaries will also be present, ex-County manager Neale Cooper will bring Connor Gethins and Daniel Moore along within his squad. Peterhead is synonymous with prisons and fishing but a football team is slowly emerging from the ashes of a depleted fishing industry. The Blue Tooners are the nearly men from Balmoor as they look like promotion candidates most seasons but fail to make the step up to the first division. Inverness are fresh from Tannadice after swarming all over Dundee United at the weekend. Four goals scored and none conceded made it a great day out in the sun with some stunning goals for the vocal travelling support to wax lyrical about. Adam Rooney is off and running on the goal trail and Russell Duncan has scored his goal for the season. Kevin McCann scored a tremendous long range effort which left keeper Pernis with no chance as the ball swerved high past his despairing dive into the top corner from around 32 yards. What made it all the better, was that this result was achieved without the influential Richie Foran and the defensive rock that is Ross Tokely. However, young Nick Ross eased the pain with a busy performance and David Proctor filled Rossco’s boots admirably. Jonny Hayes is coming back from injury and both he and Eric gave Scotland cap Garry Kenneth a torrid time. All good news for Inverness after that game and it could well be that the same eleven start this one, although Jonny Tuffey may get the number one jersey. Chris Innes will miss out although his suspension has been served. Ross Tokely and Richie Foran are still sidelined with injury. Neale Cooper will be without one of the finest players to have played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle. They don’t come much bigger or better than Bobby Mann and his reading of the game belies his lack of pace. One of his great attributes is his unerring accuracy and ability to start an attack from inside his own penalty box and his composure under pressure would thwart many an attack. At the other end of the park, Wyness the legend will be looking to add to the many goals he has already scored in Inverness. Our record scorer with 101 goals for ICT has already netted for Coopers side, scoring a double on his debut against Montrose in the Alba Cup. Peterhead beat Berwick Rangers in the last round of the CIS Cup using an ICT connection thanks to a Dennis Wyness header from a Martin Bavidge cross. Inverness earned the right to progress after easing past Queens Park in an uninspiring encounter. Cox, Odhiambo and Tokely were the scorers as ICT scored three without reply. The Balmoor outfit have had a disastrous start to the league with three straight defeats, only Dumbarton’s inferior goal difference keeping them off the bottom. Seven goals lost with only three scored in their three games, it looks like Mann’s steadying influence at the back is a big loss with him being injured. Team news Inverness have no new injury worries after the visit to Tannadice, although Foran, Tokely, Blumenshtein and Innes are still out. If boss Butcher makes any changes, some squad players may find themselves in the starting eleven. Dani Sanchez, Roy McBain and Stuart Golabek will be looking to put themselves in the frame for an SPL game and Jonny Tuffey may be asked to keep goal for some match sharpness, although Ryan Esson has been excellent in his start to the season. Peterhead will be definitely be without Dave Ross who has a knee injury and Bobby Mann is an unlikely starter after injuring his ankle in the 3-1 defeat to Stenhousemuir. Nicky Clark and Scott Ross will be pushing for a start to make their debuts for Neale Coopers side. Martin Bavidge may also miss out due to work commitments as he may not get back from London in time. How could he........ Peterheads last team lines:- Jarvie, Donald, Stuart Smith, MacDonald, Moore, McVitie, Emslie, Anderson (Gethins 87), Sharp, Wyness, Bavidge. Subs Not Used: Bateman, Clark, Strachan, Scott Ross tm4tj Prediction This game will be tougher than the relative league positions of the two teams would indicate. Peterhead with some weil kent faces will be out to upset the SPL newbies, but early league form would suggests otherwise. However, Coopers Blue Toon loons have been scoring freely in cup games and with Wyness in their ranks the ICT back four will need to look out for the double shuffle. You know it's coming, but you still can't stop it. With confidence high after the drubbing of Dundee United I would expect a win over Peterhead, but it might be tight.

Just Glorious Inverness stunned Dundee United at Tannadice with an old fashioned drubbing. A Kevin McCann swerving thunderbolt put Inverness one up in the first half. Adam Rooney notched his first after good work by the dazzling Eric Odhiambo and Russell Duncan dipped a stunning volley over the keeper before Rooney made and converted a penalty to round off the scoring. 22nd August 2010 Tannadice Park, Dundee DUNDEE UNITED 0 - TEAM: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon (Cadamarteri 57), Kenneth, Watson, Conway (Douglas 57), Robertson, Buaben, Gomis, Daly, Goodwillie SUBS: Banks, Dods, Robertson, Shala, Casalinuovo INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 4 - McCann (33), Rooney (51, pen82), Duncan (53) TEAM: Esson, Proctor, Munro, Gillet, McCann, Cox, Duncan, Hayes (Sutherland 85), Ross, Odhiambo (Sanchez 87), Rooney SUBS: Tuffey, Golabek, McBain, Shinnie, Morrison Referee Alan Muir Attendance 6575 Alternative Maryhill has penned this report from Tannadice, despite arriving later than expected at the designated watering hole, so settle down and enjoy another masterpiece ............... Just glorious. In my match preview, I suggested that Caley Thistle’s most memorable performance at Tannadice had come in a 4-2 victory shortly after Craig Brewster’s defection to the tangerine side. Satisfying though that win was, however, it will now have been supplanted in the mind of almost every supporter who witnessed both games by today’s unsparing humiliation of the current Scottish Cup holders. Managers often claim after a heavy defeat that the scoreline did not reflect the balance of play. Had Peter Houston suggested that at 4.45 today, he would have been correct: Caley Thstle could have had several more. At a conservative estimate, three hundred Inverness supporters were in Tannadice today: frustrating, undoubtedly, for United chairman Steven Thompson whose pre-season comments suggested Dundee had a greater right to play in the SPL because of the thousands they would bring to Tannadice, but comfortably more than the twenty-seven Thompson claimed represented the travelling Inverness support. From the start, the ICT supporters offered noisy backing, in contrast to the apathetic United fans, and they were rewarded with the most dominant and stylish performance Caley Thistle have turned in against SPL opposition for several years. With the exception of David Proctor replacing the injured Ross Tokely in central defence, Inverness lined up with the same formation and personnel that had looked so promising for twenty-five minutes against Celtic. United, too, stuck largely with the team that had started the season against St Mirren, with Sean Dillon moving inside to replace Darren Dods at centre half and Keith Watson starting at right back. Caley Thistle began the match in the same positive manner they had shown early on against Celtic. In the first minute Rooney took the ball down on the left and played it across the box, forcing a hoofed United clearance. Two minutes later Hayes made a promising run into the box, before his weak final touch allowed United to clear again, and within five minutes, clever link-up play between Rooney and Odhiambo saw Odhiambo chest the ball down and fire a weak shot at Pernis, then Rooney fire just wide of the United keeper’s right-hand post. The confidence and understanding shown by Odhiambo, Rooney and Hayes in the opening ten minutes set the tone for ICT’s performance throughout the match. United’s first real chance came in twelve minutes from their first sustained period of fluent football, when Goodwillie shot over from the left hand side of the penalty area after some nice passing build-up play. Two minutes later Goodwillie played a potentially inviting ball across the box, but Esson gathered at his near post. This brief spell was about as close as United got to controlling the play on the ground throughout the ninety minutes. Thereafter, the ICT defenders and deeper midfielders were quicker to every ball and more composed in their passing, and United’s main threat came from set pieces played across the box, where they had a little more height and strength in the air: their best chance of the first half came on the half hour from a Gary Kenneth header from a long throw, which went narrowly wide of the post. In contrast, Caley Thistle’s forward four continued to run at the United defence at every opportunity. In twenty minutes, a tricky run cutting in from the left by Nick Ross brought a free kick, ultimately overhit by Jonny Hayes. In twenty-eight minutes, the best move of the match up to that point saw Hayes take down the ball in midfield and send Rooney free with a tremendous reverse pass. Rooney’s shot was blocked by the keeper’s legs and from the resulting corner Duncan fired the ball over the bar. Similar pressure finally brought the breakthrough for ICT. A great run down the right and cross from Hayes saw Russell Duncan’s shot blocked. Nick Ross kept up the pressure on the left and a dangerous ball across the box was knocked over his own bar by Kenneth. From the corner, the ball broke back into the midfield and Kevin MacCann, striding into a sunlit space thirty yards out, hammered ball cleanly high into Pernis’s left hand corner. One-nil Inverness. In the aftermath of the goal Craig Conway switched from left to the right of United’s midfield, where Prince Buaben had made little impact on the composed, stylish Kenny Gillet. Conway’s persistence won a couple of dangerous-looking set-pieces, but ICT continued to look threatening on the break, with Ross and Odhiambo linking diagonally across the field to produce a shot from the latter, and a good turn and cross from Rooney being lost in the sunlight by Hayes when he was free in the box. Half Time: Dundee United 0 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 At half time, the Inverness supporters were encouraged by the effort of the team and the quality of its attacking play, but most probably suspected that United would re-emerge after the break a more determined and aggressive side. This was not the case. Instead, ICT came out playing like cup holders and European challengers, while United for the whole of the second half looked like a newly-promoted team well out of its depth. In forty-six minutes great link-up play between Hayes, Odhiambo and McCann saw Hayes receive the ball at the end of the move he had begun and then fall in the box under what appeared to be a tackle from behind by the player he had just beaten. The referee waved away the penalty claims. Just a minute later, Hayes and Rooney again linked up to send Hayes clear in the right hand side of the box. This time Hayes shot wide. On forty-nine minutes ICT had another claim for a penalty turned down when Rooney held the ball up on the right and allowed Odhiambo to waltz through the United defence again. Hayes seemed to be taken down by Pernis when he beat the keeper to Odhiambo’s low cross, but the referee again saw nothing wrong with the challenge. Caley Thistle’s dominance and superior creativity were quickly rewarded, however, when in the very next attack Odhiambo turned Kenneth beautifully on the right and slid the ball across for Rooney to steer the ball beyond Pernis’s right hand. Just two minutes later ICT killed the game in spectacular fashion when Russell Duncan turned sweetly on a McCann throw and knocked the ball first time high over Pernis and into the corner of the net from twenty yards. Duncan scores but rarely; when he does, the goals are always worth waiting for. Dundee United 0 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3. On the hour, Craig Conway and Paul Dixon were replaced by Danny Cadamarteri and Barry Douglas, wearing matching pairs of pink and lilac boots. If this choice of footwear was supposed to imply the introduction of bit of flamboyance and individuality into United’s play, it failed miserably and served only to highlight the utter ineffectiveness of their attack. Inverness could have been forgiven for easing off a little when the third goal went in, but on the contrary the players seemed determined to underline their superiority and were in quicker and harder to every loose ball, with Lee Cox epitomising their determination. In 69 minutes Rooney shot over from an Odhiambo ball; Eric himself shot wide of the keeper’s right hand post after a defensive mistake just two minutes later; and wonderful midfield play from Odhiambo around the 75 minute mark sent Hayes through into the box, but his dinked cross was headed clear. Caley Thistle’s continuing superior pressure paid off in the eighty-second minute when Rooney was played inside by Hayes, skinned Kenneth in the box and was clumsily brought down by the Scottish international, who had been utterly outclassed by ICT’s forwards throughout the game. Rooney buried the resultant penalty into Pernis’ bottom right hand corner. And that was just about that. Shane Sutherland and Danni Sanchez made late substitute appearances for ICT, allowing Jonny Hayes and Eric Odhiambo to receive the ovations their performances richly deserved; Dundee Utd finally created a decent scoring opportunity when Prince Buaben brought the ball down neatly on his chest and hit the post with a volley from the edge of the box. Further scrutiny shows that the ever alert Esson made a fingertip save to divert the ball onto the post. Had this gone in, however, it would have been an injustice: ICT were worth at least a four-goal victory for their greater commitment, control of the match and vastly superior style of play. Notwithstanding the usual Gestapo-like Tannadice stewarding and inevitable removal, restoration and removal again of Johndo for injudicious use of the word ‘*****’, this was about as good as a day at the football gets. And when the manager and players came across at the end of the game to acknowledge the supporters, they looked like a team that had thoroughly enjoyed every one of the preceding ninety minutes. I hope they had. Those in the away stand certainly did. Full Time: Dundee United 0 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 Man of the Match: No-one was less than excellent, but for the consistent directness and danger of his attacking play, my award goes to Eric Odhiambo.

Alternative Maryhill has penned this preview for CTO, hardback copies available............... Dundee Utd V Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 22/8/10 – Match Preview Caley Thistle’s challenging reacquaintance with life in the SPL continues when the team travels to Dundee to take on Dundee United at Tannadice this Sunday. The Scottish Cup holders have been tipped by many to repeat last season’s feat of finishing third in the SPL, and even narrow the gap between the Old Firm and the rest. To achieve this, however, will require better results than last week’s uninspiring offering against relegation favourites St Mirren, where a 1-1 draw was only secured by a last-minute United equaliser. This scoreline should give the Inverness players confidence that they are capable of getting something out of the game, but they should also be wary of United’s undoubted determination to improve on last week’s result and put on a good performance in their first league game in front of home support. Past fixtures ICT have a very respectable record against Dundee United : of the eighteen SPL meetings between the teams, United have won six, Inverness have won four and eight have been drawn, while in the three Cup ties between the teams, Caley Thistle have been victorious in two, and lost the first only after taking United to a replay at Caledonian Stadium. United, however, hold the upper hand in recent games, with two wins and two draws in the last four fixtures. Caley Thistle’s last victory against United came in December 2007, when a long-range, looping shot from Ian Black secured a 1-0 win at Tannadice, although supporters are entitled to feel slightly aggrieved that all three points were not also taken in Terry Butcher’s first, and so far only, game against Utd as Caley Thistle manager, when Eric Odhiambo’s first half goal was cancelled out by Lee Wilkie in the 79th minute, shortly after Russell Duncan had been sent off for a fairly blatant professional foul on Danny Swanson. Undoubtedly the most memorable fixture between the teams at Tannadice came in February 2006, when Charlie Christie’s Caley Thistle side travelled to face Craig Brewster’s Dundee United just a month after Brewster had resigned his post in Inverness. Brewster had made a reasonable start to his managerial career at United, drawing with Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts in his first three matches in charge, and despite an away defeat to Motherwell the previous week, all sorts of confident noises were emanating from Tannadice in the run-up to the game. Misguidedly, as it turned out. On the day, Caley Jags turned in a performance of real determination and flair, running out 4-2 winners after being behind twice, with the goals coming from Darren Dods, Dennis Wyness, Craig Dargo and Alan Morgan. (Incidentally, Dundee United’s goals that day both came from one Charlie Mulgrew, most recently seen in a hooped shirt being skinned by Jonny Hayes.) Oh, how we danced. Or would have done, had the United stewards not surpassed even their own hard-earned reputation for joy-killing. The game underlined Charlie Christie’s commitment to playing more expansive and entertaining football than had been seen under Craig Brewster, and also set the tone for the rest of Brewster’s brief and disastrous reign at United. Christie completed the double over his old boss when Caley Thistle beat United 1-0 in Inverness in April ‘06, and the Inverness team finished the season two places above United in the league, in seventh spot. The Squads It would be a major surprise if the current Dundee United side was to finish in such a lowly league position this season. Brewster’s successor, Craig Levein, began a rebuilding programme that has resulted in the club finishing in the top six in each of the last three seasons, culminating in last season’s third place finish and the 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Scottish Cup final which earned them the undying gratitude of most Caley Thistle supporters. Peter Houston, who succeeded Levein when the latter became Scotland boss in December 2009, has managed to keep last season’s squad largely intact for the start of the new season, despite various players being linked with moves, and there is talent throughout the team. Midfield is a particular area of strength, with recent Scotland caps Craig Conway and Scott Robertson, Senegalese internationalist Morgaro Gomis and Ghanaian Prince Buaben highly regarded by United fans and non-United fans alike. However, Houston has been criticised by sections of the United support for playing Gomis out of position on the wing in their opening draw against St Mirren, in an effort to accommodate all aforementioned four players in the team. Up front, United’s talisman is the comically-named David Goodwillie, a youth-team product of undoubted talent, notwithstanding his much-publicised inability to conduct himself with any decorum in nightclubs. Goodwillie’s usual partner is captain John Daly, a powerful and determined player albeit lacking slightly in pace, but they have other attacking options in the Argentine striker Damian Casalinuovo and in the much-travelled Englishman Danny Cadamarteri. If there is an area where United may be more vulnerable than they were last season, it is in central defence, with Andy Webster having returned to Rangers after a year-long loan, and Lee Wilkie having retired from the game due to his inability to recover fully from long-standing knee injury. This leaves the current incumbents as Darren Dods, a legend among Caley Thistle supporters but, at 35, inevitably beginning to suffer the ravages of time, and Garry Kenneth, another recent entrant to the international scene who impressed no-one as Scotland rolled over to Sweden on August 11th. Terry Butcher’s Inverness squad has undergone more changes than United’s since last season, with Nauris Bulvitis, Robert Eagle, Daniel Stratford and Kyle Allison released at the end of the title-winning run, and a number of new players added over the summer. The squad arguably has more depth than at any time over the last two years, but with only one league game played this season, it is still too early to say with certainty which players will emerge as first choices in the SPL and whether all of the players will make the grade. Jonny Tuffey, signed from Partick Thistle to challenge Ryan Esson for the number one goalkeeping position, was recently called up to the Northern Irish international squad, yet Terry Butcher stuck with Esson for the opener against Celtic and was rewarded with a superb performance that will have had Tuffey wondering if he has made the right move. Defence is the area that has been subject to most changes. The Celtic game saw Inverness line up with two new full backs, Kevin McCann and Kenny Gillet, with Ross Tokely partnering Grant Munro in central defence. Gillet has impressed in pre-season and looked the part again against Celtic, playing fairly deep yet using the ball effectively on his occasional moves forward. Opinions among the ICT support are more divided on the performance of loan signing McCann, who had the difficult task of trying to contain Paddy McCourt, and it remains to be seen whether he will retain his place or whether Ross Tokely will move back to the right when experienced centre half Chris Innes, another new signing, returns from a two-match suspension after the United game. The holding midfield roles against Celtic were occupied by Russell Duncan and Lee Cox, who made the positions their own in the run–in to promotion from the first division after Terry Butcher had experimented with a number of different combinations earlier in the season. Duncan brings experience and total commitment, and is often adept at breaking up attacking moves and depriving opponents of time on the ball, while Cox, still only 20 years of age and just beginning his first season in the SPL, shows enough bite in the tackle and intelligence in his passing to suggest that he could develop into a natural replacement for Ian Black. The pair began well against Celtic, but faded from the game in the second half as Joe Ledley and Scott Brown took control. This is perhaps not surprising against an expensively assembled team tipped by many to win the league this season, but if Duncan and Cox struggle to impose themselves against lesser opposition in the SPL then Terry Butcher does have the option of bringing David Proctor and even Roy McBain in to cover one or both of these positions. Last season ICT’s greatest strengths were in the forward areas, and Terry Butcher must take credit here on two counts: firstly, for bringing in the majority of the players who made such a difference, and secondly, for settling on the system which ultimately brought the team such success. Adam Rooney, a Craig Brewster signing who was frequently left isolated and frustrated up front by the long ball system played in the club’s final season before relegation, proved himself to be a clinical goalmouth finisher when played as the spearhead of a four-man forward line, with Richie Foran and Jonny Hayes starting in the wide positions and either providing opportunities from there or moving infield to augment the attack, and either Dani Sanchez or Eric Odhiambo playing a linking role in the ‘hole’ behind Rooney. Both Sanchez and Odhiambo had their champions and their critics among the ICT support: Sanchez praised for his passing but criticised for the profligacy of his finishing; Odhiambo praised for the directness of his running but criticised for failing to impose himself on games. There was very little argument, however, about the contributions made by Jonny Hayes and Richie Foran last season. Hayes, plucked from Leicester’s reserve team, proved to be the SFL discovery of the season by virtue of his ability to terrorise opposing full backs with his pace and ball control. His fellow Irishman Foran had a better pedigree in Scotland due to his successful spell with Motherwell, but any fears that Foran had joined Inverness simply to wind down his career quietly while landing salmon on the Beauly were dispelled by the terrific workrate and passion he showed last season, driving on his team mates, winning high balls and getting round the back of opposing defences. It is little surprise that this inspirational figure has been made club captain for the new season, and his influence was badly missed in the second half against Celtic, a game he sat out through injury. The Celtic game suggested that Butcher is keen to continue employing the 3-1 forward line in the SPL, and some flashes of attacking play from Hayes, Odhiambo and Foran’s young replacement Nick Ross suggested that the tactic could be effective in opening up defences, but the team’s chances were quickly limited when Celtic imposed themselves in the midfield, and Rooney was an isolated figure vainly chasing long balls for much of the second half. Sanchez’ ability to pass through defences might open up chances for Rooney, and this is an option the manager could explore against Dundee United; a fully match-fit Jonny Hayes should also provide more support in attack for longer; but the reality is that we may not know how effective the formation that served us so well in Division 1 will be in the SPL until Richie Foran is fully fit. Team News At the time of writing, prior to their Europa League qualifying tie with AEK Athens, Dundee United have no new injury worries. Defender Mihael Kovacevic is a long-term injury absence, while midfielder Danny Swanson is suspended for the game. For Inverness, Richie Foran is still at least three weeks away from fitness following minor surgery on a troublesome knee. He has been joined on the sidelines by recent signing Gil Blumenshtein, who had been viewed as a possible replacement for Foran in the wide position or as an alternative to Odhiambo in the ‘hole’, but who tore a calf muscle during a brief substitute appearance against Celtic and will now be out until the end of September. With Jonny Hayes apparently fit to play despite picking up a knock early against Celtic, Caley Thistle have declared no other injuries to first team squad players, and with Chris Innes suspended for one more game, I would expect Terry Butcher to field the same team that started so well against Celtic. ***Latest News*** Ross Tokely is struggling with a calf knock, which would force the back four into yet another change, with Proctor likeliest to cover if Rossco does not shake off the injury. Prediction This is a difficult game to call. United will start favourites, justifiably given the clubs’ respective standings in Scottish football at the end of last season, yet they struggled to score against St Mirren last week and also have a difficult home European tie against Athens to contend with. A good result could inspire them, but equally, the extra game could prove to be a distraction to their preparation. ICT meanwhile, will be determined to prove that they are back in their rightful place in Scottish football, and with Hayes and Odhiambo providing the opportunities going forward, I believe Caley Jags will have their first point on the board by Sunday evening. alternative maryhill's prediction is for a scoring draw: Dundee United 1 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1