Caley Mad In Berks

I agree with this 100%. I've today just picked up a pal's Reading season ticket to go and see them against Wigan on Tuesday night (17th). I don't expect to see Billy on the pitch for many minutes. I said, tongue in cheek, on another thread, that I'd go and see Billy when they play Wycombe Wanderers in EL1 next season. I'm sure both Wycombe and Wigan will in deed be in EL1 then, but by then, I wonder whether Billy will feature at all for Wigan.

Hoodoo me erse. Let's put it firmly to bed by winning all our remaining Feb fixtures too.

Stupid of me, I'd forgotten this thread's title when I suggested Hilton.

Tomatin Road, Hilton ?

Only ever been to one Ice Hockey game, a pre-season affair between Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks (normal people cannot afford tickets for league games - 75% of the seats are owned corporately). It was actually way back in 2000 before I moved over here and although it was fast paced and entertaining, it was not for me. I also found baseball to be not to my liking, but did enjoy a couple of freebie tickets to the basketball last year and the year before courtesy of Toronto FC being so bad (they gave all season ticket holders a pair of tickets to a game with the ticket renewals those years). I sorta enjoyed the basketball (more than I thought I would) but again, its not something I would be getting season tickets for .... all of the above sports have that element of North American razzamatazz to gee up the crowd, whereas the football is somewhat more pure to its roots and the supporters would not stand for this kind of crap (not the ones in my section anyway). Each to their own I suppose. When I lived in Canada (B.C.) for two years in the 60s, I loved Ice hockey. Only minor league stuff, but the atmosphere at matches was great. Much better than watching it on TV. It encouraged me to learn to ice skate! Alas I've not done it since returning. I quite enjoy baseball, but I've never taken to basketball, and can take or leave American football.

Wow, what did I start when i had a peak in my crystal ball? At least it got the Dundee Utd v Celtic tie spot on, probably the most important one of the lot for us, ensuring that one major rival is knocked out!

That is Tomnahurich but it's not mini golf because there is now an 18 hole golf course at Torvean. There were 9 holes even when I was a kid and it was extended to 18 by developing the opposite side of the road with 9 more holes in the late 70s. There is now talk of shifting the golf course if they ever get as far as starting the West Link road. I'll always have fond memories of Torvean GC as I got my first hole in one there back when I was a teenager!

Yes, I'm convinced now that 1 in 1680, as PerfICT said from the start, is correct. Well done to him for getting it right so quickly, and to others who confirmed it. Btw, I thought you taught history CB! You weren't Leslie Frewin in an earlier life were you? Sorry to those of you who found it boring, pi*h or off topic. I didn't realise what I was starting when I originally raised the question.

It was actually PerfICT not me PerthICT ! Yes, apologies PerthICT. First time I've noticed there were two such similarly named posters.

1 in 56 is correct for say ICT v Berwick/Spartans coming out of the draw. But to get my other predictions correct too it must be much more. However I'm not convinced about PerthICT's 1 in 1680.

Don't put any money on that, mate. The odds of your draw occurring are considerably more than just 100/1! With 8 balls in the draw, there are 56 possible permutations available, therefore the odds are 55-1 against any specific draw when randomly selected. That said, I still wouldn't put any money on it, and I wouldn't put money on Celtic getting a home tie to a Championship side either. That was my logic too, Rasczak, one chance in 56 for 8 balls. Then there would be 6 balls left where the odds reduce to 1 in 30, then 4 balls left when it would be 1 in 12. and finally only 2 balls left when it would be 1 in 2. I added these together to get 1 in 100. Maybe they should be multiplied together to give 40320 or Factorial 8 ? As I said, its a long time since I did this sort of stuff.

Interestingly, I've worked out the odds of my crystal ball prediction being correct as exactly 1 chance in 100. That would be in a fair random draw of course. Any mathematician out there care to check it for me? Its a long time since I did permutations and combinations! I may try and get bookie odds in the morning and risk a couple of quid on it.

I've looked in crystal ball ICT v Berwick/Spartans Dundee Utd v Celtic Falkirk v Hibs Raith v QOS Will that do us?

Apart from Rooney's goal there were :- EL1 Felipe Morais (Port Vale 2 - Bradford 2) SL2 Dennis Wyness and Shane Sutherland ( Elgin 2 - Albion 0)

Agree with IHE's summary. It was definitely a game of two halves. Magnificent first half where we could have scored 5. Wasn't sure if it was our planned tactics in the second half to let Partick have so much of the ball and come at us all the time, or whether it was just Partick being so much sharper after the break. Either way, it certainly led to a nervy second half. Fortunately the defence held firm, with Esson making some critical saves. It reminded me of what a good keeper he was/is. Looking forward to an 'easier' draw in quarters. As others have said, Berwick/Spartans at home would be good. All in all a great day out with an excellent result. Onwards and upwards!

H/T 1-1 F/T 1-2 ICT Tansey PT Stevenson Time 17

If that is how you meant it, perhaps it would have been better to say " we could have been 11 points worse off" rather than "we would have been 11 points worse off"

When I was very young, we stayed briefly in Balloch before we moved back into Inverness. I remember travelling in 'Jimmy's bus' when I went shopping with my Mum to town. It was an old Bedford bus, older than the one at stance 6, but not unlike it. 'Jimmy' was a private operator with just the one bus. He lived in Croy and travelled back and fore from Croy to Inverness several times a day. I doubt that there was an official timetable.

I think it is time we took stock and analysed what happened here. Nobody died! But reading some of the near hysteria on this thread, one would be forgiven in thinking someone had died! We lost our striker in the transfer window, probably a few months earlier than we expected him to go. A striker by the way, who apart from in the last few games, had scored precious few goals in all of 2014. Yet we still managed to achieve a good league position in 2013/14, and are on track to better that in 2014/15. No doubt I'll be branded a 'happy clapper' for even suggesting this is still possible. A lot has been talked about contingency plans. Maybe there was a plan to get a replacement in before the window. I don't know. Maybe Yogi expects Foran to play a part before the end of the season, and/or he feels there is sufficient talent in the squad to cope without Mckay. One thing I was surprised about was letting Mckay's cover, Sekajja, go a few weeks before Mckay. To me this reinforces my view that Mckay moving in the window was unexpected. But it is clearly down to Yogi now to manage the resources he has to ensure we maintain momentum for the rest of the season. That is how we will judge him, and I, for one, expect him to succeed. Looking to the future (next season onwards) it is clear that significant effort is required by the club to ensure that at least Meekings and Raven stay. Hopefully Watkins too. I think losing two stalwarts from the defence would be an even bigger challenge for us than losing Mckay. Anyway, onwards and upwards, starting with a good cup win at Partick on Saturday. See some of you there!

Yes, originally run by Eddie, and later by his son (George?). Do you remember how table 1 (right in front of the pay booth) was reserved for billiards and only for the best players? I remember how proud I was when I graduated to table 1. Also, little snooker was played in those days. Most played a form of billiards with 5 small skittles in the centre of the table. Happy days! I also remember how we had to sneak in 'the back way' if we had our school blazers on!

Remember this scarf?

Not that it matters greatly, but are you sure about Rory scoring today? Not according to BBC website!

H/T 0-0 F/T 1-0 ICT Tansey Ross Co. Brittain Time 62

Here's my prediction. Billy will make no difference to Wigan's attempt to avoid relegation. They will go down. I live a dozen or so miles from Wycombe Wanderers ground, although I've seen them only a couple of times over the years. They are currently top of EL2. They will go up. I'll go and see them when they play Wigan next season, and maybe wave my ICT scarf at Billy!

Let's be honest, this isn't a surprise. In some ways it is a pity he didn't go a year ago when many folk on here were estimating his worth in the millions. That way the club would have been better off and we'd have had a year to find a replacement. I honestly don't think it would have altered our league placings greatly either last season or this season, as it is only in the last few weeks of that 12 month period that he seems to have found his scoring touch again. Nevertheless, I'll be sorry to see him go. At least it isn't to Aberdeen. Looks like he'll be playing in the 3rd tier of English football next season judging by Wigan's current performances.