RossP

It's the 30th soon right??

What are the opening times on Saturday? I'm in Inverness city center (but unable to attend the game annoyingly), so would love to pop in and get some bits and bobs ahead of the final.

To carry on my potentially inaccurate prediction, based solely on online ticket availability... It would appear that currently you can only buy single tickets for sections F3 and F4, with 2+ tickets bought together starting in F5. Potentially some folk buying online have bought for F6 - south stand as well, if they have chosen those areas specifically rather than 'best available'.

Just looking over the previous few seasons... This season: Ryan Christie v St Mirren for two yellow card challenges - deserved. Last season: Greg Tansey and Marley Watkins v Dundee Utd for serious foul play - stupid challenges that most refs would've shown red for. We've actually probably benefited from more 'dodgy' calls than we have suffered when Collum has officiated. Billy Mckay scoring a hand ball v. Dundee... given a pen v St Mirren for Warren getting pulled in the box (most refs would've let that go I reckon)... We just have to go into the game knowing that he'll be picky and alter our play to suit that. If we are in the opposition area more than they are there is a greater chance we'll be given a penalty than they will for example.

He's ref'd us 5 times this season, where we've won 4 and drawn 1. Can't say I'm as worried as others!

Yellow card accumulation I assume. When you get to a certain caution level, you end up missing not the immediate next game but the one after.

It would appear that Raven is indeed still suspended - http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/Disciplinary/CurrentSuspensions/Season2014/15/PlayerSuspensions/LOS42%20(7%20MAY)%20VM.pdf You are the best fan at knowing player availability. Well done.

To update based on the online sales availability, it seems that we have sold out North Stand and are a hundred or two from selling out F1-F3... so that's D1-F3 pretty much full. South stand also appears on the online sales options and it would appear that J2 - I5 are unavailable. Some of those will be comps/debentures and the rest will be our fans buying (I assume). Realistically I think we can sell out D1 - F7 and J2 - I1, which would leave the G1-G7 section fairly empty. I would love to be proved to be underestimating though!

From what I gather it is a block amount that the club get that then is passed to whatever players we think deserves one.

Just going by the online sales options, our half of North Stand is sold out and the first 3 sections of the east stand are gone too - i.e. D1 - F3 of the map below.

From my interpretation (and stab in the dark guess at club travel costs), then yes we would likely make at least a small profit from the European adventure. It's a shame the TV companies don't look to pick up any of these qualifying games. Maybe if we landed a 'big club', then we might get some interest in televising the ties.

With 3rd place secured, could we see fringe players like Tremarco, Polworth and Kink get a start? I'd imagine Shinnie will start so he can get a good send off, but I would be tempted to rest at least a couple of Tansey, Christie, Ofere, Williams, Watkins... and maybe even consider back up goalie McKay his first senior game.

So €200k at the very least in prize money, plus a potential near sell out home gate - which should more than cover any travel costs for the team/staff. I believe had we qualified in previous seasons then we would have been at risk of losing cash for participating - hence the conspiracists popping up when we lost to County on the last game of the season with a weird lineup and poor performance!

http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/celtic/315702-how-uefas-increased-european-prize-money-will-boost-scottish-clubs/ What would be earned under the new model The headline figure is the participation bonus for reaching the group stage, up to €2.4m from €1.3m. Payments for points are also up, with the new model rewarding a win with €360,000 and a draw with €120,000. So a Scottish team matching Celtic’s results from this season would bank another €960,000. The group runner-up bonus is increased to €250,000 and the prize money for reaching the last 32 is up to €500,000. As with the Champions League, the broadcast market pool for the next cycle isn’t known but there would be an increase on the €1.4 expected this season. So in comparison to the last cycle, matching Celtic’s achievement of this season would earn a minimum €4.11m with broadcast money still to be added. Payments for qualifying rounds Scotland will have three teams in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League next season and every step on the way to the competition proper will bring rewards. Teams will receive €200,000 for elimination in the first qualifying round, €210,000 for the second round, €220,000 for the third qualifying round and €230k for exiting via the play-offs

If you look back in the THHP feed you can also get one with Rory McAllister, who speaks about his time at ICT. A welcome addition (alongside the Terrace Football podcast) to Scottish Football podcast coverage.

I think this is it... https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-cup-final-buses-tickets-16691849772?ref=ebtnebtckt

Excellent idea. I'll be good to pick up some stuff from there with the missus when we are through on the 16th (can't make the match that day unfortunately)

Can you choose your seat (or at least your section) when ordering online? Just getting myself sorted for when they go on general sale tomorrow

It's a good dilemma to have, when Doran, Vincent and Devine have all got 90+ minutes under their belt in the last two games where we have had fairly positive results. Depending how the result(s) go on Saturday we could end up with 2 games left where we could rest up players like Shinnie, Esson, Meekings, Tansey, Ofere, Watkins, Williams et al who have played pretty much every game going recently. Raven and Draper have benefited from a wee break after suspensions, but others could also be due a rest.

Unless Yogi has something else lined up. I would love us to sign Naismith at St Mirren to have as our long term RB

Mcbookie odds: Yogi - 11/8 favourite Neilson - 2/1 Deila - 9/4 McInnes - 16/1

Montford Arms is where we tend to end up pre-Scotland games... It's your typical 'chain pub' but pretty big and might be ok with folk enjoying their beverage outside in the sun

Away on honeymoon 9th - 31st July, so really could do with us winning the Scottish Cup... then getting past the 16/23 July tie, so I can make a European away day!

Aberdeen > Clockwork Beer Co > Hampden > Clockwork Beer Co... then continue celebrations in Glasgow the rest of the night! Then head back to Aberdeen hungover the next day.

I'm keen to head here for opening time (11am) for the final