davie

Can't see any circumstances that mean you won't get a ticket. Think you can safely book flights tbh As I said -we'll make sure you get tickets!

12:30 again on a sunday and again because of the rugby. Do these people in Glasgow never learn? Someone needs a serious word with them, and I've got every sympathy with united fans. Edited to add it's even worse than our fiasco because its an England game they have scheduled for 3pm!

we hope to make an announcement abot trains in the very near future

today is a good day.

Me and the other 2 000 in addition to IHE's 8. We will win this.

How many fans will we take? If I had a pound for every time I've been asked that question since Sunday, I'd be a happy bunny. The answer I've been giving out is that I just don't know because we've never done this before. It could be 6K it could be 10K - who knows? What I do know is that however many go we'll have a good time, make a hellish din for as long as possible and come away happy whatever happens. We'll do a bus convoy that will be as big as it needs to be, hope to get as big a flag as we can (sponsors? anyone?) and we'll contribute greatly to the atmosphere on the day. We'll find occasional fans and interested neutrals but numbers? they will be what they will be and we'll be pushing every last inch to get as many there as we can.

This whole media perception thing really amazes me. As someone with a wee insight into how they work their perceptions are coloured by a hankering after the past, a desire to not have to assimilate new people and a central belt attitude that sees them as the centre of the universe. When something else (like us) muscles in, we get regarded as a distracting amusement (supercaleygo etc.) then progress to irritation (see Hugh Keevins article in the Daily Record about how and why he wanted a Hearts win) Eventually it will settle to grudging acceptance. These guys are, by and large, simply paid versions of the damp grumpy old men who clump together in stands up and down the country remembering the misty eyed "good old days" and waiting for God. they are real "football people" you know? Fans, though, are a much broader church with every perception from a rival's utter derision to being other people's first look for a result because they were up here on holiday or saw the 9 man victory on the telly. That's why the two perceptions don't match up, and players rarely hear anything but the media line when it comes to a (supposedly) neutral viewpoint. Fans? they only ever get adulation or hatred, nothing in between at games so it's not surprising that someone like Dean calls it the way he has. For the record, people do generally like us. Just not the dinosaurs* *it's ok that's not you Chalky or you Graham

Public loads of thanks to Caley D for this. For anyone who books from now on, you won't be on the list. John will simply tell you which bus you are allocated to. Thanks to everyone who is travelling and remember we leave at 07:00 on Sunday, so have a bit of patience when you get there - we'll all be half asleep!

here they are - sorry about all the different topics! there are still spaces, so if you want one please phone John ASAP.Davies bus file.pdf

“Caley Jags Together are pleased to announce that we will be running a total of ten coaches to the League Cup semi-final, carrying nearly 500 Inverness Caledonian Thistle fans to Edinburgh despite all the difficulties that we have faced. We take our hats off to each and every one of you who have chosen to travel with us. Our thanks are due to The Scottish Sun, the SPFL and to Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC for their support, but it’s nothing compared to the support that we get week in and week out from our fans. It’s been a herculean challenge, but we are nearly there and special thanks are due to the CJT board for their massive effort in this. Buses will be leaving at 07:00 from Tulloch Caledonian Stadium (6 coaches) The Caledonian Thistle Social Club (1 coach) and Inshes (Matalan car park) the lists of who is on what bus will be published here, on the CJT and Caledonian Thistle websites and by e-mail on Thursday evening. Please arrive in good time at your departure point on Sunday. All buses will proceed directly to Edinburgh, and there are a choice of pubs etc. to catch a pre-match pint, your coach CJT person will have details – we’re heading for The Iona, The Four in Hand and the Ex-Servicemen’s Club. We’re leaving it up to each coach to decide if and where they want to stop, because the toilets at Broxden are unlikely to cope with all of us at once! On the way back, we leave from Leith links. If you have any queries, call us on the travel number as soon as possible. There are still a few seats left in various coaches, but they are going quickly so book now if you haven’t already. Please note that if you have booked and don’t travel, you will still be charged. Each coach will have an exclusive Inverness Caledonian Thistle football signed by the first team squad to be raffled (and won) on the day, there will be complimentary newspapers and the usual first to score on each bus. It should be a cracking day out. I’m afraid we can’t allow alcohol on the coaches, and there is a possibility of spot checking at such a high profile game. All coaches will (at least in the event of a win) give you the option of going to the Caley Club after the game to celebrate. Let’s be loud, proud and a credit to our club on Sunday – and make some noise for the Caley Thistle boys.”

I was more interested in the headline "married couple find out they are brother and sister" Didn't know they'd been over the bridge....................

Fair enough Davie, I appreciate the effort you and your entourage made on your pilgrimage to Hampden but in all honesty I could have told you the outcome long before you even made the journey The Scottish Sun saved the day and if that was a knock on effect from your meeting then fair play Dougal Cheers Dougal - appreciated.

If your booking was confirmed (presumably by John the bus genius) that's ok, simply pay on the day. I would really hope that those who have booked will go, we really need them to.

Please stop biting. Dougal, if you have a problem with this please PM me. I'm happy to meet and discuss any concerns that you might have about the cup semi final or the general direction of CJT. I will not, however, indulge in petty point scoring on this forum with an un-named individual who has no knowledge of the talks that took place or the points that were made to the SPFL.

TM4TJ, Nick Ross is a tidy, efficient and reasonably talented midfielder. His main contribution in that team is to creating space, linking with others and creating opportunities for the likes of Billy Mckay. Doran, although mildly more attacking is in the same boat. Slagging (and your irresistable pull towards sarcasm puts a few of your posts into this category) him is ok, but what you're doing is effectively slagging a plumber for being a sh*te electrician. Devalues it really. As Hughes said yesterday, he slotted in Shinie to win the penalty and created a lot in midfield - and that's his job. The missed penalty was a poor strike, but anyone can do that. A bit of measured criticism would go a long way here.

Read posts 42 & 46, they did use their "good offices" which is what was said in the original statement way back.

Thought that was an even contest between two sides that naturally attack. Matched up, there was very little between any player on the pitch and that is testimony to the guys who have come in to do a shift when the first choice midfield is missing. Shinnie did well for what was effectively the first game in that position, and Ross had some really good touches in midfield. He created more space than anyone else on the pitch but defensively we looked a bit tired at times. Billy was really sharp and might have punished some slack play at the back. The penalty was a good height for the keeper but they should have had one as well, so even stevens was just about right. Dean Brill reckoned that the pitch was really slick because it was frosting up on top, I just reckoned he was wearing someone elses legs today. That wasn'y a bad point - onwards and upwards.

Buses will be ten quid and five quid. End of. We've spoken with the bus company and it's unlikely that we could outstrip supply unless we emptied the town completely (slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean) we are aiming for ten coaches, and as of tonight are nearly half way there but we need people to commit to coming as soon as possible. Don't leave it to the last minute - we are a bunch of volunteers with day jobs who would struggle to cope with a last minute rush. We need you to e-mail, text or phone NOW! Go and see John in the supporters bar before the United game. It's ten quid, thanks to the Scottish Sun. We wouldn't have got anywhere near them without the influence of the SPFL, who could never have sponsored one member club's supporters directly. Other clubs would have been up in arms. So no, not a waste of time and neither will the semi final be if we get there in numbers and make ourselves heard. We'll never have a better chance of reaching a final, so don't miss it. Cup Final? Now there's a day out. Does anybody want to organise the buses? Anybody..................

Robbielad. Yes the ticket prices were set long before we talked to the SPFL. In fact, have a look further down the thread and you'll see that the buses are being subsidised by the Scotish Sun - not the SPFL. I can't comment on last year's prices, but £20 for a national semi final and £10 for transport there and back seems cracking value to me.

This is poor, poor stuff and should really stop now. Trolling or not, Post 152 is a really poor attempt at banter at a club where inclusion is central to everything that we do and where women make up a fair proportion of our core support. Mods, is it possible to do something here as it's overstepped the mark.

Statement for League Cup semi Final 2nd February 2014 Caley Jags Together are pleased to announce that we reached a conclusion on the semi-final saga. It’s the best deal that we could have got for our fans under the circumstances, and we’re happy to tell you that because of help given to us by the Scottish Sun, ICTFC and the SPFL we will be able to offer transport on ten D&E coaches to the game for £10 per adult and £5 per child. We plan on-board events that will make this an enjoyable trip for any Caley Thistle fan. We’re also happy to tell you that ICT fans will be allocated the famous five stand, in response to a request by the club so we will have our own end of the ground. Ticket prices are £ 20 for adult and £10 for under 16’s. Under 12’s get in for £5. This makes for a really affordable day out to help our team to their first national cup final. We’re sorry that we couldn’t change the time or the venue or get rail transport, but we do think that we got the best deal we could and now we need you to support it. Book your seat online at cjtsupsbus.2014@gmail.com or by phoning 07951309504. You can also book and pay for your seat at the CJT desk in the sports bar at the stadium at any home game up to the semi-final date. We’ll give more details nearer the time.

Agdestein hasn't had anything like enough time to prove himself this season so far. Coming on with 5-10 minutes to go when we're down (the usual scenario) or out of sight is of little use to him or us. He's not going to displace Billy as No. 1 striker, so what does he do? We couldn't go 2 up front against Celtic, Commons would have ripped up our midfield. His record in the under 20's is pretty good, he links and leads the line pretty well. Keep him I say, and give him chances when the games start to pile up in March/ April.

Take Commons strike out of the equation and Celtic were completely restricted by us for the whole game. What we lacked was either a Foran or a Vincent in midfield to craft openings and push us on and unfortunately they don't come in pairs. Both will be back for the main part of the season, so we will have options. We have enough in the team and in the management to see us back to second place or thereabouts by season's end. Caught by Hibs? Can't see it myself.

Kirishima. Not quite! You are right, we've tried to keep this quiet until we have a definitive offer and that's not yet. We will have definite news this week (hopefully) after yet more negotiations (someone's been on holiday...) I appreciate your and everyone else's patience, bear with us for just a wee while longer. Ta Davie Balfour, Chairman CJT.

You're right OCG. We'll discuss things on Tuesday and put out a statement after that.