CELTIC1CALEY3

Amazing foresight I might add although after his substitution last week we expected dummies everywhere when he went down the tunnel. He did return but did not seem too chuffed. Pele might have sorted him out.

Hayes deserves his place but Imrie will be very angry so could play a vital part later on.

Captain Eric Paton has won the competition before with Queen of the South and spoke to the press ahead of this weekends final. He told them, ?It has been building up steadily all week and feels like a cup final.'' Does that mean some Dundee players did not initially think it was a cup final?

Spare a thought for Hegarty. Sacked by Livvy, rescued by Scotland and then dumped a few weeks later! Sacked by Aberdeen, sacked by Dundee United.

It's a team game - Terry gave Grant pelters for delaying the free kick in the second half. The ball then reached Eric who scored. Grant then put his arms up to Terry as if to say 'are you sure?' I think Terry then smiled. These training ground goals certainly fox the opposition.

Now we need to be careful here. I remember a snowy night at Telford Street when Airdrie were top of Division 1 and Caley were in the Highland League. The Diamonds expected a 10-0 win but left after a penalty defeat. Airdrie did well at Dundee so we need to give them more respect than we gave Ross County or else we will be heading down the table.

Well, we start as real underdogs, for Ross County's eagerly awaited double over ICT in the league. Teams like ICT who win two games by high margins often then lose by the odd goal in the crunch game. Have we learned from the first 3-1 defeat? Will Ross County go on and be Champions as Seagull flys high and builds them a new stand? Will ICT ever get above Ross County in the leagues ever again? Do we enjoy being the diddy team against our mighty neighbours?

Amazing. Smithy departs, Dave the Builder goes pitchside before the game, ICT win at home for the first time for 6 months. Surely more that the luck of the Irish?

Should Esson not play up front while we give Lionel a chance in goal?

Cloughie was at his best when he said nothing. Walter opens his mouth and Rangers head towards administration. The fans need to do the talking this weekend at home. If we do not start supporting the team at home Ross County will be in the SPL before David Sutherland can shout 'Tullochs will part exchange your stadium for an SPL one'. We would probably start winning if we played home games there anyway.

''Ross County say they will not seek a ground-sharing agreement with Inverness Caledonian Thistle if they are promoted to the Scottish Premier League. The Dingwall side top the First Division, but their Victoria Park stadium seats only 3,500 supporters, 2,500 short of the SPL minimum. Today that number should have been reduced to 2,490 but the Airship Siegel in a test flight for sponsors was unable to sustain itself at altitude. Flybe refused to comment on Ross County's daring attempt to outwit them.'' Update - Ross County are now third in the table and like Airship Siegel ready for deflation.

4 league wins at home last year. None this year. It would be useful to look at the statistics since the stadium was built. Maybe there are magnetic lines beneath the pitch that only affect ICT. This is the biggest mystery at the Club since we joined the League. Is it the new Stadium? Did Stevie Patterson have the best home record? What is wrong? Dave the builder 'can he fix it'?

A nice thought about a fixed semi but arising from it, one would hope that if the two north sides did get to the final common sense prevailed. The first half would be played in Dingwall and the teams transported at a slightly longer half time to the Caledonian Stadium. Extra time would be at Clach for those able to get there in time and penalties taken on Culloden Moor. This is the year of Homecoming so destiny is in our hands and An Alba need a really good story before we get the cup.................then if it is Homecoming someone will suggest Ayr! Just our luck to get Annan at home, underestimate them and they do a Celtic on us winning 3-1!

1 Which Manager in Scotland has brought instant long term success to their team this season? - answer 'none' 2 Which set of supporters wants an immediate easy return to the SPL? - answer 'ICT'. 3 Which set of supporters gives up all hope after a great start to the season winning all games except one? - answer 'ICT'. 4 Which set of supporters is the most fickle in terms of supporting their team at home? I have a theory on this and Grant's reaction at half time again suggested others are struggling to turn it around againgst the odds. 5 Which City ....I could go on but surely the majority amongst us can influence the minority who expect a new team under a relatively new management team with vastly reduced budgets and massive pressure to be first in their league on 1 June 2010 to realise life is not so simple. Success comes after much blood, sweat and tears. Soon we might hear calls for Robbo to return, Pele to come out of enforced retirement, Charlie to get a second chance. Why cannot the support get behind the club say until Christmas and help it move forward again?

I liked the comment that the two Jimmys were on their way into Dens Park. Cannot see Melville lasting 20 years like David Murray, but heyho, it's his cash, so spend it while you have it.

http://www.ictfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Club...~893004,00.html Three points off the top, close to second bottom, currently in two cups, a new squad blending, a team in crisis because Ross County hammered us.

RiG has a critical point. Playing at the Caledonian Stadium must be in front of the most unforgiving home support in Britain at present. The team yesterday did seem to underestimate Ross County who looked a good SPL team by the end. This is a new team we have put together and initially there will be experimentation. Next week there will be changes and I suspect this week in training there will be a sombre and careful build up. The season is but young and people succeed with support.....not back stabbing.

We can look forward to his banter with Trevor Martin.

Good news that Barrowman is getting back after his latest injury setback. There are some outstanding young players at the club and this is promising in terms of competition for places. Richard Hastings will be as desperate as Duncan and McBain to get back in. Let's hope there is enormous hunger on Saturday.

On his debut for Hearts against Dundee United - true - 'Ian Black goes into the referee's book'.

What pocket money do you get?

Got the bullet apparently.

Clyde's boat is sinking too! We have not heard from Stirling recently so the number of clubs in trouble is not easing. I recall Ali McGraw years back talking of the need for teams to consolidate in Scotland and basically we are witnessing reality hitting home. Livvy will screw up fixtures again this weekend with their next appeal to the SFA. One hopes that come next week they play an official game or get docked points for both call offs. Chester started with -26. Livvy have a golden chance to regroup, win Div 3 and move up again. If they lose out on the next appeal they might snooker their chances of being above Elgin at this stage. Do they have financial problems?

Certainly tempted to advise the Annan Manager that the reason the referee failed to give a foul against Eagles was that he was a raptor. What is certain is that Dunfermline will be out like a pack of vultures ready to devour our carcass after we sent them through the trapdoor. Hopefully someone will warn the lads that in our first SPL1 game which co-incidentally if my memory serves me right was away to the Parrs when Andrew Allan and co lost 4-0. Let's hope the management team do not chicken out this time.

The fans of Livi have not actually shown any desire of note to prevent repeated mismanagement of their club. Our fans may be quiet at home games but have attempted to influence decision making at the club. There are many genuine Livvy fans but they too must feel cheated by those who have used them in effect for their own ends. The two new 'owners' are far from philanthropists. I see little evidence for Livvy to survive unless they are prepared to bite the bullet and this is what the SFL have provided them with albeit as I earlier posted 'at the speed of Bobby Mann giving Mark Yardley a piggy back.' Airdrie is a harder tie for Ross County than Livvy so we have something to smile at. Livvy may have the right of appeal but unless they go to the Court of Session with an injunction they probably have little power to stop all 5 fixtures taking place. They also have little money for an appeal and very little support. Perhaps Massone will gift them ?25k of his ?50k payoff although I suspect he has had to buy out the agreement on his flat in Edinburgh with some of that.