Row S

I'd like to see Denzil, Dargo and Bayne play together from the start.  Dargo on the right wing possibly and/or with Denzil playing link man between midfield and attack.  However, we would probably also need Russell Duncan in midfield to give more bite and accurate passing than Rankin offers at present.

There were quite a few unfamiliar faces in the KBFE of the North Stand today and at first I feared that they were Tattie Munchers in diguise.  However, when ICT got their act a bit more together in the second half these new folk certainly got behind them ICT.  Hopefully they saw enough to make them come back and support us again when the OF aren't playing.

On a disappointing note though, when we got on the No.3 Culloden to City Centre bus at lunch time today there were about 6 or 7 folk in Sellick tops on it  :008:and not one with ICT colours until we got on at Raigmore.  Takes us back to the early posts on this thread about the large number of OF fans living here.   

Another ref who failed to get a grip of the game from the start and showed bias to the Central Belt team, aided and abetted by his standside assistant.  That wee ned Scott Brown got away with murder and lip all day.  Perhaps the ref realised that when Hastings had a go at him. It was also just as well H*bs didn't have Riordan to take those free kicks around the box.  Zemmanan was as good as Chris Paterson at lobbing them over the crossbar.

We'll need Duncan in for Rankin next week.  Rankin doesn't have enough bite and was pretty ineffective for most of the second half yesterday.

We also need to sharpen up the forward line.  Time for young Rory to replace Dennis I think.

If they got rid of the moving text messages and match stats from the screen I might be able to concentrate on the pi** being talked by the pundits.

Still too much Old Scum and lack of knowledge about other team's players in the commentary - e.g. Grant Munro (no.6) having a shot at goal in the Dons match.  At least we don't have to listen to those dodgy Irish and Orkney accents and work out what position Sarah O's diddies will be in. 

I can't argue with a lot of what has been said above.  It was clear to see that Charlie didn't get his staring 11 right and he as much as admitted that in post match comments.  However, in the first half we did have most of the play. It was just that the Midden packed their midfield and defence and didn't give us much room.  Indeed I didn't think they looked all that threatening as an attacking force until we scored and they had to come at us.  We also ran out of ideas - high punts to our wee strikeforce and their big defence. Barry hardly got past anyone all day. 

I also agree that all the carry on with Brewster trying to tempt players away has been very unsettling.  The good thing is we still seem to have quite a choice of players who could come in and do a decent job- Tokely, Hastings, Hart, Morgan, McBain, Proctor, McAllister.  And there are still 37 games to go.

Is there not a SPL rule about having three U21's in the 16 man squad? That might explain why some of those mentioned are left out. 

If the Blades end up in the top half of the Premiership at the end of the season we can look back on this game and say it wasn't all that bad.  To be honest they did look a class above us last night, despite them having played fewer pre-season games.  However, as said by some above it was a testimonial and we had some players who were not quite match fit - Rossco, Bayne and Rankin for starters.

Was speaking to some of the Blades fans after the game and they were good crack.  Most were up for a long weekend and looking forward to going the the Highland games.  Some were also planning to take in our game with the Tinks today.

I was also passing Fraser Park this morning and the Sheffield players were doing some light training - a short hop from the Marriott.  I also came across some of the players on the golf course at Castle Heather this afternoon and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. They are also staying in the Marriott again tonight.   

I'm glad Sandy Cromarty and RiG added to the official report.  The two misses by Glass were unbelievable.  He scooped one over the bar from a yard out and then hit the post from six inches.

A few other observations:

Rory tried hard up front but was often crowded out by a packed Vale defence.

I wasn't sure about what was going on with Proctor playing at left back for the last half hour. 

Keogh put in a good shift in midfield and seems to look fitter and stronger than ever.

Michael Fraser looked confident and assured all night.  He had a couple of good saves when Vale were pressing late in the game.

Richie Hart continues to give me cause for concern though.  He had too many misplaced passes, was easily dispossessed and looked off the pace the longer the game went on. To give him the benefit of the doubt he possibly still hasn't got fully fit after his injury.

The ref also had to asked that the Vale centre half be substituted or he might have to send him off.  I'm not quite sure why because it happened too far away from us.

And finally, the Banff wind blew as usual throughout the whole game, which did not make for attractive football.  If there was a lasting memory we had of living in Banff and Macduff for 7 years it was the constant wind, even in the height of summer.  At least it was blowing from the south tonight and not from the sea.

Crowd: not quite two men and a dog - about 250 souls and 2 dogs

Not good I agree, but time for Caff to stake his claim for a regular place.  He did brilliantly at right back against Riordan in the last H*bs game at Fester Road.

Are they not due to play some lowly Seria C team, Juve?

BTW, saw the pic on the back of Tuesday's Courier.  Couldn't quite make out the blond guy with the No 11 training top on (Juanjo's old number).  Was it Alan Morgan or a new signing? 

Wed 12th Elgin City A - away on business

Tue 18th Peterhead A - away on business

Wed 19th Deveronvale A - hoping to be there       

Fri 21st Sheffield United H - yes 

Sat 22nd Ross County H - no.

God, I can't stand it any more, to have to put up with another 6 days of drivel from the English media for their beloved team's 6 day stay of execution in the WC.  Let's hope Portugal sort them out next Saturday like they did in Euro 2004 (penalities again would be good with a sand hole for the spot).  Ecuador were just not up to the task today, when Ingerland were there for the taking. :029:

Well "ballacks" to the Rangers Supporters Association.  As RIG said we have to travel south every second week year in year out.  Look at the rest of our fixtures at that time of year the Pars AWAY on 23/12 and the Bairns AWAY on 30/12.  Are we complaining?

It's all just sour grapes from the Central Belt Mafia, because we got into the leagues against their wishes in the first place and have proved we are no diddy team.  Perhaps they are worried about not clearing their debts from supporting Ingerland and Germany at the WC.  In any case there's that many Huns living up this way that they don't have a case to argue about travelling at that time of year.   

I look forward to wearing it especially on foreign shores this summer. It gets away from the slight confusion over the Ingerland One Day Cricket International top.

I say well done to the First Minister for saying he'll not be supporting Ingerland at the World Cup. It's a shame such a fuss is being made of it in Parliament and the media as the FM's view is in line with that of most of us Scots football fans. :clapping02:

Just the age limit to clarify then? Under 16 or under 15?

Thanks for pointing that out Don. Not so easy to take in at first or even second glance though. I see form another thread on the ICT on the pitch forum that there is also still confusion over Young Blues discounts.

The CC leaflet also says on the back that Young Blues are under 15 years of age. This seems to be a reduction in age from under 16 last year. As my lad is 15 and if discounts are no longer available to Young Blues then I shall be cancelling my membership of the CC. That's an annual saving of £75 and the club's loss. I've never won anything in the last 10 years anyway. :008:

I have the following two points relative to the announcement of prices and encouraging youngsters: -

(1) There is no mention of discounted Young Blues STs.

(2) A young person over 15 and under 19 might still be at school and therefore not a student or in full time employment. If they do not have a matriculation card they do not seem to be entitled to concessionary prices. This is a bit harsh if we are trying to get more youngsters along.

Certainly the booing at full time was for the performance in the previous 25 minutes or so, but then booing at the end of extra time was largely at Dougie MacDonald's performance in the latter stages.

Glad to see little anti-Hearts feelings on here unlike what I experienced in the last week. I think Caley D summed it up best and if I could add what a great pleasure it was to be at a final with no Old Scum involved. No sectarian bile or arrogant swaggering Huns and Tattie Munchers. Hampden was just awash with a party atmosphere (for most of the time anyway except the 25/30 mins when Gretna took over the midfield). There was an absolutely huge sense of relief when Pospisil netted the fourth penalty. Then the place just errupted when Skelton hit the bar with his.

:party01:

Altogether now, "ALL HIBEES ARE GAYAYAY!!!!!!!"

Rearendon is so sick fed up of losing to Caley Thistle that he's had to move away from the Hubs and with skunk heid hair do's just catching on in the east end of Weegieland as well he'll be able to keep his current barnet for a while longer - feckin' Muppet that he is!

Hardly surprising is it? Who cares about the Kirin Cup anyway? Hearts V Gretna will be more exciting to watch.

See this wind up from the Jambos kickback website. You'll split your sides even more.

Originally Posted by primrose

Ladies and Gentlemen

As a Hearts supporter of many years I feel it is my duty to inform you when you are all wrong. I have spent some time dictating the thoughts of a very well respected football pundit who has played at the highest level for club and country.

Neil Lennon is the Captain of Celtic - Would a captain of such a great Scottish football institution tell half truths?

Neil Lennon is not the type of person to involve himself in controversy with other players, officials or in his personal life.

Neil Lennon is not a man who looks to get in on any acts of retribution on a football pitch, he plays the game like the true Irish gentleman that he is where the stiff upper lip is preferred to a wildly contorted face full of rage and anger.

Neil Lennon rarely commits fouls has never been sent off or booked in almost 20 years in the game. He prefers to rely on his skill and pace to out fox the opposition with his sublime touch and his forward thinking visionary footballing brain, rather than resort to using strength or brute force.

Neil Lennon is a man who takes defeat as he does victory, with poise and self control never one to show his emotions he prefers to let his feet do the talking on the association football pitch, like any gentleman would.

If Neil Lennon says that Skacel spat on him then that is what happened, shame on us for not believing this handsome love god of a man, this gentle, well mannered, well respected pillar of the community.

Skacel is a spitter - Let there be no more debate!

As told to Primrose by Craig Burley.