ALSY

Quite a nice wee interview. It's maybe a bit of a cliche to talk about great team spirit, but it sounded quite convincing when he mentioned that the sort of cliques that he's experienced at other clubs don't seem to exist at ICT. He's maybe b*ggered that up now, though, after identifying Russell Duncan as the official club idiot. Nice to hear Chick Young also reaching for the old cliches about ICT's 'big powerful back line' while they were waiting to retrieve Adam and his mobile from whatever bog he was speaking from. Graeme Shinnie will be delighted to know he's a man-mountain feared across the SPL...

Apparently Adam Rooney is a guest on Sportsound this evening - It's just started on Radio Scotland 810 MW. He's due on a little later in the programme, which is on till 7 pm.

Great performance yesterday. The self-belief running through the team is looking stronger every week. Terry Butcher's team selection raised a few eyebrows yesterday, with Odhiambo dropped to accommodate Duff moving back to midfield and McCann returning to right back, but it turned out to be a great decision: Duff had an outstanding game in the holding role, one careless loss of possession in the second half notwithstanding, and McCann had his best game to date for ICT. The substitution was spot on too, as Nick Ross was probably our least effective player in the second half. Although they had slightly more of the game, Rangers allowed us more time on the ball than a lot of other teams and that played into our hands: Hayes made some tremendous runs and Papac couldn't cope with him at all. Also good to see him getting his head up and putting in some great crosses, particualrly the one for Foran's header, which McGregor somehow managed to keep out. Just wish Hayes had laid the ball off to Odhiambo instead of shooting when he got into the box at 1-1, but you can't begrudge the guy having a go, given the game he'd had and his recent scoring record. Great support yesterday - probably the most vocal we've ever been at Ibrox. Dewsbury Dude even managed to make the Sunday Herald's match report... The occasion was slightly soured, however, by the death of my jeans, which split right up the back from crotch to waistband when I sat down a bit awkwardly after the goal. Had to walk back through Glasgow with my @rse hingin' oot.

Aye, but some people just attract trouble...

Encouraging stats. I'd agree with the comments about the defence to some extent, but I've been fairly encouraged by how Munro and Tokely have coped in the centre so far. I was concerned about Tokely as a CB in the SPL, but I think the Hearts game was the only one where the central defence looked dodgy. Other than that, most of the defensive weaknesses have come in the full back areas, which is understandable given some of the injury problems. Duff replacing Proctor at RB has added some solidity. The central midfield has struggled to exert control for any meaningful length of time during games, but I guess we can't hope to dominate for long periods having just come up, and retaining Duncan in there will always give us some commitment and experience. Re the original comment, I always start from the premise that avoiding relegation is the priority, but it's nice to bask in our current position and dream of going on some mad undefeated run - starting tomorrow.

My ticket arrived today. Give me a shout on Friday night and let me know what time you're getting through on Saturday - I'll get you at Queen St.

Indeed you are right in thinking that! See here Cheers for that, Johnboy. There's something very touching about the fact that the East Kilbride news follows David Proctor's career with such interest despite the fact he plays about 170 miles away. I particularly like the 'Related Tags' box on the right hand side of the page: 'proctor (what's this?)'...

A great 3 points from a very open game. Feeling very fragile. Away to begin work on the match report, if I can make any sense of my notes.

Am I right in thinking Rangers' last home league defeat was to us? The 1-0 game in Feb 2009?

Generally I don't think it bothers people much, but if someone feels they are being continually targetted then I could see why it would get to them, especially on a forum like this, which is supposed to serve as a place for people with a shared passion being able to discuss that passion. Judging by the number of red dots Mahonio has received on recent threads for completely uncontentious questions and opinions, it seems pretty clear to me that he's being targetted, presumably for one ill-considered thread a few weeks ago, for which he subsequently apologised. It's a bit out of order that he's still taking the flak for that, especially given the hammering he took at the time. *waits for cascade of red dots*

This whole franchise has possibilities. Maybe we could invent Ross-shire Cluedo. I'll start: It was Professor Patience... with the tow rope... in the byre...

Damn. If only I'd spoken to you before I wrote it. What a missed opportunity: the Dick Institute and Fanny by Gaslight in the same sentence...

See you in the bar at Central beforehand too, hopefully, and Brechins the following week. Cheers for the positive feedback, guys.

Nice one. I'll see you at Central.

Philistine. Kilmarnock is the jewel of East Ayrshire and Fanny by Gaslight is a pleasure palace unrivalled in the western world.

Definitely. Think all the guys from Edinburgh I usually meet up with are otherwise engaged this weekend - any of the Glasgow crew heading down?

It's very difficult to judge Foran so far this season: he's only been back, what, 4 games, and in the last two of those he's been asked to play in an unfamiliar deep-lying role. I think he can be very influential for us this season once he's established back in his favoured position. Hayes could struggle to make an impact at times this season: if opponents get their tactics right against us then he is a player who can be contained, as we saw at times towards the end of last season. Dundee Utd didn't take his threat seriously enough and he tore them apart, but by the sounds of things St Johnstone marked him much more tightly on Saturday and apart from the goal he made little impact on the game. I think Rooney has done well this season considering he's been asked to play the lone striker's role and hasn't had a great deal of service. He works his backside off and he's at least proved that he can take chances when he's been given them this season: in his previous spell in the SPL a lot of people were suggesting that he was the sort of player who would need 4 or 5 chances to score once in a game, and this hasn't turned to be the case. TBH, Odhiambo has probably been our most influential attacker this season, with superb performances against Utd and St Mirren, but I just wish he was a bit more consistent: he's proved he has the ability at this level, but he's still too prone to go missing in games.

Inspired sub? 1-1 Hayes, a minute after a Saints save from what sounded like out best move of the match. We've got the quality up front to steal this, as long as they keep the pressure on from now on.

First ICT shot after 45 minutes. What's the problem today, I wonder? We didn't have that many chances in the previous two games, but we at least had a few. Maybe give Sanchez a run in the second half? He made a difference when he came on against Hibs.

FFS. 0-1. Sounds like McCann might have been culpable. Hope St Johnstone aren't as good at shutting up shop as Hamilton were.

I think Butcher will play Foran in the deeper role with Ross wide: that's what he did against Aberdeen, despite Ross doing well in the middle when he came on against St Mirren. I feel sorry for Duncan losing his place as he's done nothing wrong. I'd like to have seen Duff stay at RB for now, even though it's not his preferred position: as far as I remember we only have McCann till January anyway.

You recall correctly. For me the Hearts cup win in 2002 just tips the Celtic game two years earlier, although the Celtic game was undoubtedly the bigger result - it was just one of those games where the perfect performance married with the perfect combination of mates and pre- and post-match revelry, not to mention three stunning goals. Beyond that, there are far too many great games to mention, although Ayr last season must be up there. Re the wins over Rangers, I was at both the Ibrox games, but although they were great occasions, the 2-1 in Inverness (which I watched in the local in Maryhill) was by far the best performance of the three: we were all over them for large parts of that game. Even though I had to be unpeeled from the ceiling when Rankin's goal went in, and accepted a couple of free beers from grateful Celtic supporters, I still envy anyone who was there to see it in the flesh.

They aren't really rating a mention on any of the forums, thankfully - it's all Jimmy Calderwood,John Collins, Tony Mowbray and Gordon Strachan just now, with one or two people mentioning Dereks McInnes & Adams.

Wonderful day yesterday. I was glad Butcher started with the same personnel that finished against St Mirren - bit of a surprise to see Foran in central mid, but he was as solid and committed as ever and Ross had another good game playing wide left. Aberdeen started very positively, but fairly quickly ICT took control and remained in control for most of the rest of the match, apart from ten minutes at the start of the second half. I'd need to see it again, but at the time I didn't see anything wrong with the Aberdeen goal that was chalked off. Thank God, it was, though, as losing a goal that early might have shattered the players' confidence and seen them repeat the Hamilton performance. As it was, we were the more creative side by miles and looked full of belief despite the recent poor home form. Incredibly hard to choose a man of the match because pretty much every player did his job very well. I thought the day had come to an end when I left Caley Stan in the Market at 8 o' clock and stoated down to the station, but I bumped into Stirling Observer, ictbob and Mr and Mrs Dewsbury Dude on the train, with a bunch of central belt sheep and a solitary teenage hun. Cue three more hours of booze, slagging, singing and spew. It's a bit of a shame the international break comes next week when we're on a roll, but on the basis of the last two weeks, we shouldn't need to fear relegation and can start to think about trying to better our previous best SPL finish.

Looks more like the 38-24-36 formation... This is the team for me as well. Didn't expect Ross to look as comfotable as he did in the centre on Saturday, so he should get the nod over McBain imo, with Duff staying at RB.