KirkieRobRoy

Would dissent from much of the above. Thought Astra looked highly professional and were quite happy to let us get on with the long passing movements that never reached the danger areas. After the goal (from a free kick after we cheaply lost possession after one of those long spells of passing) they became a lot more forward-going. No point whingeing about the time-wasting or play-acting - this is Europe, get used to it, if we manage to get an advantage over there, I hope we do it too. Main hopes are 1) with a competitive outing under our belt the team performance improves and 2) The incentive of a West Ham tie inspires them to greater efforts. In fact, would be worth shelling out for a few Brazilian players on a week's loan to get through for the WH tie.

Going to home gemme. Managed to get train tickets for £45 return from Glesca - I thought that was pretty steep, but those of you paying £60 or whatever must be shopping at ArthurDaleyTrainTicketsRipOff.com.

We tend to have a kind of B team playing some of the smaller clubs, made up of youth and fringe players, in pre-season? Might still be some of these on? My annual plea to get on the blower and plan an away friendly v Kirkie Rob Roy...

I was surprised (and disappointed) at how quickly the Falrkirk end emptied when the whistle went. Their players did very well to get to this stage, gave everything and played well on the day against a better team. When Falkirk went up to collect their medals they got well deserved and very respectful applause from all the ICT fans but there only a fraction of their own support was there to see it. I'd like to think we'd have stayed for the presentations had it been the other way around, as nearly all of us did at the League Cup final Perhaps, but I remember, after a quick applause for the team, getting out of Cellick Park sharpish after the League Cup last season. Couldn't bear watching Aberdeen lift the trophy. Perhaps they felt the same. I was wearing my '3rd Division Champions 1996-97' scarf as I have done at every game I've been to since then, whether the legendary Celtic Park win or getting humped 6-0 at Airdrie. But it really made me think yesterday; 3rd Division Champions just 18 years ago, and there in front of us was the Scottish Cup on its way to Sneck. Great stuff.

The BBC HQ in London don't like making the Scottish Cup Final too obvious. They have to justify spending more on Gary Lineker than they do on the whole of Scottish football. We're supposed to be more thrilled by watching Aston Villa roll over to Arsenal.

I agree. Falkirk made it a real competitive game (much more so than the overhyped final down south) and I had my eyes shut more often than at the semi-final, so well done them. Agree that Grant is a player and we'll need to watch out for Loy next season as he's going to Dundee.

I must confess exactly the same before the Lord. His appointment underwhelmed me. It appears I was wrong to a quite industrial level. I admit it. Well done the Yogiator!

We've opted for hospitality as we have a number of celebrations this month, so add 2 to the ICT sales figures. We cannae officially show club colours there but, all the same, the scarves will be stashed out of sight and they will definitely be out on 90mins...

I was working in Falkirk last Saturday and the focus on the final was impressive - a shop unit in the main Shopping Mall dedicated to it, shops dressed up in team colours and a wee man selling cup final scarves in the street. Hope Sneck is at least as engaged and that anyone found in Tesco between 3 and 5 on Saturday is sent to the jyle to ponder their souls. I think BBC Scotland are doing their best, though some of them (Chic Young and Co) are understandably preoccupied with the precarious SPFL1 hopes of their beloved and the likely collapse of Scottish Football if they don't get there. Of course, the BBC are spending less on the Scottish Cup Final than they are on Gary Lineker's make-up.

Sometimes JH's enthusiasm for being fair to the opposition gets a bit much. We're certainly not getting anything like that degree of respect from Celtic.

Have heard from loads of neutrals who intend to try to attend the match. I think the actual turnout could surprise people. And perhaps this at last is the occasion that could empty Tesco etc on a Saturday afternoon and energise Inverness around their team. The club, the sponsors, the players and most of all the supporters have to get out and about and persuade people that this is the event we believe it is.

You almost feel sorry for the prophets of doom, especially wee Chic Young*. Maybe next year he can have a day out when his team (and I don't mean St Mirren) finally clinch the Challenge Cup. * Not really

Having watched the highlights again (and again and again) I'm more and more surprised at the seriousness of the Sub Keeper's assault on Ofere. Could easily be the topic of a letter from ICT to the SFA if: 1) We were unaware of the difficulties facing referees as ably described in the posts above 2) We, like Celtic, had absolutely nae class.

Just to annoy Celtic, You Need Hands.

Serious lack of class being exhibited by Celtic, here.

Perhaps the Celtic sub keeper can be cited for flattening Ofere, then?

Well, North and South should be for the teams involved. Not sure I favour a 'Neutral Zone', firstly because I hate Star Trek, and secondly because neutrals can just go to one or other of the dedicated sections. Imagine a few hundred aggrieved Celtic fans bought tickets for the NZ and booed every time Meekings was on the ball. We've all been to games as neutrals and you just blend in with one or other lot of supporters.

If you compare how long it took Rooney and Mckay to settle and start scoring regularly then Ofere has hit the ground running. Or, going further back, Wyness.

It's a game that neutrals will go to if the price is right. The fact that there's no Old Firm lot spouting bile makes it a more attractive option for people to come out. I think we should aim high.

A lot of what Ofere tried worked and a lot didn't, but he was in the game and trying. I think the fact that the Celtic defenders didn't really know what to do with him is the best judgement on him.

It's already been given as 3pm. Worth checking rail travel as there is quite a lot of engineering going on that weekend. There are nae trains from Falkirk to Glasgow, for example! Joined-up Scotland, eh?

Some stats to use if any of your mates or work colleagues bang on about Hampden being empty because there's nae big team involved. Crowds at the last eight ScoCuFinals NOT involving either of the uglies; 1986. Aberdeen v Hearts. Att: 62,841 1987. St mirren v Dundee U. Att: 51,782 1991. Motherwell v Dundee U Att: 57,319 1997. Kilmarnock v Falkirk. Att: 48,953 2006. Hearts v Gretna. Att: 51,232 2010. Dundee U v Ross C. Att: 47,122 2012. Hearts. v. Hibs. Att: 51,041 2014. St Johnstone v Dundee U Att: 47,345

FInal wouldn't have been at Hampden last year, what with the Commo Games and all, was it Sellick Park? So the pricing structure may be different from how the St J folks remember it anyway.

It's already definitely scheduled for 3pm. On the Saturday. Why has nobody thought of that before?

Him not being in the Scotland set-up is a disgrace, but it won't help him going to Aberdeen. Strachan only notices England and Celtic.