RossP

Glad to see Richie Foran is in contention for Sunday: http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Foran-could-be-set-for-semi-final-comeback-30012014.htm

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Foran-could-be-set-for-semi-final-comeback-30012014.htm

Hearts recent form does make it a bit more of a nervous occasion on Sunday, but it would also make it all the more deserving should we progress to the final. One thought that has been on my mind is the players currently one booking away from missing the final. We have quite a few at risk as shown below. Was it not the case that if we had gone through last year v. Hearts, we would've been missing 3 or 4 of our first 11 due to suspension in the final? Billy Mckay I remember would've been one. The Hearts list is a bit more confusing, as they have played an extra round of cup fixtures due to entering at an earlier round... which I've been told means Danny Wilson is ok to play on Sunday as he needed to pick up 3 bookings to be suspended, rather than 2. Will this have an impact on the 'fight' that Hearts have been showing? Will they change a winning team? Hopefully we get a few goals up then avoid making any silly tackles for the remainder of the game to keep a full choice team for the final HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. JAMIE HAMILL 1 CAUTION HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. KEVIN MCHATTIE 1 CAUTION HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. DANIEL WILSON 1 CAUTION HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. JORDAN MCGHEE 1 CAUTION HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. JASON HOLT 1 CAUTION HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. SCOTT ROBINSON 1 CAUTION HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. RYAN STEVENSON 1 CAUTION HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN F.C. DANIEL WILSON 1 CAUTION INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE F.C. DANIEL GERRARD DEVINE 1 CAUTION INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE F.C. DAVID HAYDN RAVEN 1 CAUTION <-------- Haydn!? INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE F.C. ROSS DRAPER 1 CAUTION INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE F.C. GARY WARREN 1 CAUTION INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE F.C. CARL PHILIP TREMARCO 1 CAUTION INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE F.C. RICHARD FORAN 1 CAUTION INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE F.C. WILLIAM MCKAY 1 CAUTION

Why Tremarco Ive been at every game and haven't seen him have a bad one yet ????? Quite simple really... Shinnie is a better LB than Tremarco and Tansey/Foran/Vincent etc are a better choice in CM than Shinnie.

I think Hughes will go with Brill Tremarco Meekings (Devine if he's injured) Warren Raven Draper Shinnie (at CM) Watkins Doran Ross Mckay I'd like to see Tremarco dropped, with Shinnie replacing him at LB... freeing up a space in CM for Tansey. I really hope we don't end up with a bench full of CMs (one or more of Foran, Polworth, Vincent, Tansey will have to sit out)

Looking forward to seeing what team we put out today... and if the likes of Foran plays. I wonder if Hearts under 20s will play today, considering their full team are due to play v. St Mirren on Wednesday night.

I was playing for Elgin City under 14s in a friendly match v Banff and Watt walked out of the changing room for them, nearly 6ft tall and with a beard. We straight away said to the ref there's no way he's 14... to which he replied "you're right... He's 12". He signed for Chelsea quite soon after that.

Echo...

3-0 Ferguson again.

2-0 Callum Ferguson 5 mins to go. Strong ICT team which will push our first 11: Esson, Pepper, Gorman, Brown, Cooper, Draper, Greenhalgh, Vincent, Evans, Christie, Sutherland.

Ryan Christie has just put us 1-0 up with a tap in according to Twitter. 15 mins to go.

I reckon Doran would benefit from a rest v Kilmarnock to keep him energised for the cup games the following weeks. Tansey looked very good in the ACM role when he came on, perhaps have Nick Ross move to RM... or Marley Watkins to come back in after the longest dead leg injury in history.

Loved it! Off to my Aberdeen local now with my ICT gear on. Shinnie was absolutely immense today, simply incredible against two of the best CMs in the league. I was delighted to see him celebrate so much at the end as well. Tiny gripe... how slow and knackered did Evans look despite only coming on in the last few mins!?

Thom Watt from STV was telling me that it was up to the coaches which player was covered in detail, as I thought Christie would've been higher rated. Christie was mentioned but Evans was considered a better talking point.

Any idea on the lineup? I was going to bet on a Celtic win, thinking that most of our 'senior reserves' would have been in Dublin. Glad I didn't!

Tremarco likes a yellow card...

Ooft! Within 2 mins of posting above, Stranraer have now gone 2-1 up! :)

1-0 Clyde so far... Would much rather the more complex journey of Stranraer to get it off the list of stadiums I've not visited yet. Granted, I've not been to Clyde's either... but would much rather Stranraer.

Delighted with the draw as I was hoping to get a lower league team away from home, at a ground I've never been to. Clyde and Stranraer both meet that criteria! No chance for ours being on the telly, so it'll be safe to assume it'll be a 3pm ko on Saturday 8 Feb?

Alloa Athletic v Dumbarton Clyde or Stranraer v Inverness Caledonian Thistle Hibernian v Raith Rovers Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir Brechin City or Forfar Athletic v St Johnstone Celtic v Aberdeen Dundee United v Queen of the South or St Mirren Rangers v Ayr United or Dunfermline Athletic

Polworth was fantastic alongside Draper in CM in the Charlton pre-season game, which made me think that would be his strongest position. I would like to see him in a straight swap for Foran. Any word on whether Nick Ross is ok to play after his tooth injury?

Sutton was in inverness today according to one of the lads in my football team who saw him en route to the stadium

I remember a home game v Hearts where as he approached North Stand to take a corner the chant was 'Vladimir Romanov... He s**** Paul Hartley off' to which Hartley gave a big smile, followed by a gesture with his cupped hand and open mouth. There then was a round of applause from our fans

Less than a fortnight now... and no confirmation. If I'm honest, I don't anticipate there being any issue with us and County playing on the same day, as there'll be minimal Morton fans coming up on the train (as the cost will be so high to buy a ticket at short notice). As a side note... is anyone else wanting a County win v. Terry Butcher's Hibs next saturday? The 08:20 train from Aberdeen still has the cheap singles as does the 18:13 return if you fancy that? I might end up driving it with my missus, as we have to pick up furniture from my folks in Elgin. Her first home game, as she's only seen a pre-season match v Huntly a few years ago (I think it was 2-0 with Danny Sanchez scoring)

Less than a fortnight now... and no confirmation. If I'm honest, I don't anticipate there being any issue with us and County playing on the same day, as there'll be minimal Morton fans coming up on the train (as the cost will be so high to buy a ticket at short notice). As a side note... is anyone else wanting a County win v. Terry Butcher's Hibs next saturday?