KirkieRobRoy

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.

2015 - 2000 was great but going out to a rubbish Aberdeen afterwards was tough. 2003 I remember us being under the cosh for most of the game (Bobby Mann blinder in defence?) and for being a freezing cauld Sunday night. 2015 was topped off with a great late goal and led to the final. So it just pips 2000.

Agree with all of the above, a fantastic day out but enjoyed mostly in retrospect, a real emotional roller coaster of a game. I thought the team were immense throughout, and played all the best football. Celtic look really limited when GMS and Armstrong aren't available. So, Nevin, I think we were the better team. For the disputed penalty, I don't see how it can have been deliberate, but the media furore (including Sportscene) just highlights than when the Old Firm are victims of a dodgy decision, it's news, but when it's the other lot (Warren's soft booking, the sub keeper flattening Ofere, the ref bottling giving Scott Brown a second yellow, Celtic scoring from two free kicks but when we're given them the Celtic wall is allowed to stand on top of the wall) it's just swept under the carpet. Better team won. Great game, great day, should be a terrific final. Never been to a ScoCuFi before. Immensely looking forward to it. Final word of caution; though they won on Sat, Falkirk didn't play very well but they're better than that. No complacency.

Town teams (aye, I know Sneck is officially a city noo, but...) can put up a real show for a final. This final will be all about football from two good footballing, passing teams and there's no real excuse for anybody from Sneck or Falkirk, or who have any connection with either, not to be there in May. Even the Old Firm jersey wearers in both burgs, if they want to. It'd take a bit to fill Hampden, bit with the right pricing and marketing there can be a fair turnout from both clubs and maybe a good lot of neutrals. And even if the stadium isnae full, doesn't mean there's nae atmosphere. Who was making all the noise yesterday?

I agree he was quite outstanding yesterday, towering above some of the overpaid prima donnas in the opposition. Too good, I'd have to say, for Aberdeen, but it's his choice.

Given the SFA/SPFL's crazy kick-off times, and their inability to get sponsors for some tournaments, they might consider approaching some of the hotel chains since they do very well out of the authorities' kowtowing to the TV companies.

Aye - in fairness they've also picked one of the Newcastle Five at Ayebroke who is long-term injured...

When that team was liquidated after fleecing the game for years, and there was talk of Armageddon for the game, rumblings came about 'listening to the fans'. So now we get even more insane kick-off times to suit TV companies and armchair supporters with no great interest in the teams involved. Neil Doncaster - keeping crowds low, fans disaffected and sponsors rare! (Lest anyone plays the CENTRAL BELT BIAS! card, the SFA and Doncaster don't give a monkey's where the supporters or their teams are from, it's TV they're interested in. Sad as it is, Celtic will have loads of supporters in Inverness (and many other distant places) who are also furious about this.

There was a midweek away game at Ayr United round about the same time - won 3-1 iirc, and I counted 12 people in the shed behind the goals. May have been others in the stand. The pie stall people were begging the Ayr Dozen to buy more edibles.

Best to either record the highlights and FF to the ICT coverage or just watch it online. Other 'Rangers' who still exist - Cambuslang, Kilwinning, Kilsyth, QPR, Stafford.