ALSY

One of the reasons that the Highlands, and Inverness in particular, was such a magnet for economic migrants from Poland a few years ago, was that a superclub in Krakow used to play 'Bring It On Home' at the climax of every night. Rumour has it that its popularity spread to Romania and this is the real reason that Marius signed for us.

Feckin' SPL fixture arangements. Just realised that I could have said I'd been to every one of the games if it wasn't for that Tuesday night match in Aberdeen which I'd no way of getting to. What a fantastic experience it's been though: even though I'm hugely nostalgic about the Paterson era, the last year has been the most enjoyable period I've ever had as an ICT supporter. Don't think I realised how much the team maintaining the run mattered to me until the second Celtic goal went in yesterday. I was utterly gutted. Made the comeback all the sweeter, though: it really did feel like a victory. Totally agree about Lennon, by the way: what an ungracious kn0b. Caley Thistle weren't a threat? Even though they had more shots on target than Celtic? And Celtic's defenders spent all but ten minutes for the second half visibly creaming themselves. I thought Lennon had been quite respectful towards us in the run-up to the game, but as soon as he doesn't get his own way, his true colours emerge.

Jolly good - will look forward to Hayes ripping him a colander of new @rseholes. Just hope Celtic don't get too many free kicks around the box.

Breaking news on Sportsound... apparently the Portuguese refs landed in Glasgow, heard the truth about the strike and got on the next plane home. Two more games probably off. What a massive clusterf*ck. Hope they don't start transferring the refs around in an effort to protect the televised games, or we might find our game is off after all. Looking forward to this game is the only thing that's been keeping me sane over the past couple of days. ..and now they're reporting that the SFA are claiming they still have cover for these guys and that the six SPL games will go ahead. Sheesh.

Cheers for the kind words, guys. Got to admit I had fun with this one. It was actually written last Saturday, hence the lack of reference to the refs' strike. I think I'd have admitted defeat if I had to try to get that into it as well. Your next challenge, Alternative Maryhill, is to do a Dundee Utd preview in the style of McGonagall. "Twas in the year of nineteen hundred and ninety-four When a team from the north knocked on the SFL's door" Yngwie, that's my job! I was actually brought up in a tenement flat in Dundee that William Topaz McGonagall lived in. No kidding. My Dad always reckoned that I talked a load of sh*te because I'd been infected by the place. Poetry, it'll be the death of me. I'll look forward to that, Davie! This one could run and run: 'Previews in the style of...' Hibs preview in the style of Irvine Welsh, anyone? Don't think the swear filter could cope...

What an oik. It was all Earl Grey and Bakewell slices up on the hill.

Great article Mannie. Roy comes across really well. Also, doesn't it make you proud to support a club that has risen as quickly as ICT has while still having had seven players make over 300 appearances for the club? That sort of loyalty and stability is a real rarity in football these days.

Cheers, Scotty - would appreciate that, and I'll know how to do it next time. If I can't 'revote', I've at least expressed my appreication to Davie on the thread. I was mortified when 'your vote has been saved' came up. No prizes for guessing which former member was doing the sabotage...

I hadn;t realised that. Been to Ochilview before, so maybe one of the others instead. Add Stranraer to the list too.

Great read Davie. Once more into the breach... Just had a wee look at that Angry German Kid thing too: shades of Ian McCall at TCS.

Embarrassing query here... was just reading through Davie's Hibs match report and wanted to give it a 5-star rating. I couldn't see how to do it and wondered if I should just click the number of stars that I wanted to give it. However, the moment I clicked on the first star it said 'rating saved' and wouldn't let me click any more. Does that mean I've only given him one star? And is so, can it be undone or can any more be added? Sorry - not terribly computer literate...

East Stirling, East Fife or Montrose away - three grounds I've not been to before.

Feck me. I've been avoiding all media because I couldn't stand listening to the (I thought) inevitable home slump. O me of little faith. Wish I had been listening now.

Just confirmed, Cox & Duncan in for McCann and Morrison. Good decision imho.

That's inspired... and the East End of Glasgow is certainly a blasted heath, with more than a few weird sisters wandering around it.

Aw shucks. Thanks for the comments, guys. Sitting in my classroom having just failed completely to engage my fourth years in 'Macbeth', so it's nice to come on here and feel appreciated!

Tsk tsk. That's the online equivalent of trying to get another player carded. I admire Mahonio's inability to tell the ugly sisters apart. Two cheeks of the same plooky @rse and all that.

Thanks, Mahonio I'll probably just get you folks in Chambers this time. Planning on heading through a little later this week as I'm out tonight and again tomorrow night.

I agree with some of what you're saying, but there's some truth in the cliche that teams make their own luck. Rooney did make a few bad decisions last night, but he also worked his backside off again, and his ability to hold the ball up helps us to defend from the front. It would be worth TB having a word with him to make sure he isn't too selfish when he has better options available, but I wouldn't drop him. Same applies to Foran: he might not be at his best just now, but his experience and intelligence on the park are important parts of the team's success just now, imo, and he adds the option of us being able to play high balls to the back post at set pieces for him to knock down for the strikers. Like you, I'd have Duncan and Gillet in my first-choice line-up, despite Shinnie having done pretty well since he's come in, but I'm not sure either will be fit for Saturday

Last few times a lot of people have gone to the Athletic Arms, better known as Diggers, which is on Angle Park Terrace, just off the junction of Gorgie Road and Dalry Road. It's only about 5 minutes walk from the ground and both sets of supporters can mingle in there peacefully, but it does get very busy in the hour before kick off. The Caledonian Sample Rooms just round the corner is decent too.

It would be bloody typical if that bunch of Lanarkshire clownshoes ended it on Saturday. Hope we can at least extend it till Celtic Park - think that would make it 52 weeks exactly. Watching online tonight I was really frustrated by how careless we were for a lot of that, because we could really have turned the screw on Aberdeen otherwise, but to be fair, Aberdeen fought really well until we went ahead again. Great containing football from us in the last ten minutes to see the result home.

What a mugging!

That's been coming. We've been far too meek in trying to take possession and far too shoddy when we've had it. Someone in the team needs to take charge or we're going to lose this.

Jim Leighton. Pretty Aberdeen-centric line-up, but Leighton does have reason to hope McGhee gets the boot.

Had another look on the live feed there but tbh the ball was so far over Munro's head when he went down that I couldn't tell if he'd been pushed. Certainly seemed pretty soft. We're lucky to be ahead - Aberdeen were definitely the better side from about 10 minutes in and Esson has had a good game. Hope TB can get us to raise our game for the second half, though, because we can definitely nick goals on the counter if the final ball gets a bit better. Would like to see Eric on from about the hour mark.