hislopsoffsideagain

There was a sad inevitability about this. I'm gutted that he's gone but it was always going to be the case that we cashed in on him if he did a good job. The question now is what we do with the cash? If we don't sign at least three decent players, for cash, by the end of August, Brew and Grassa have some talking to do... Farewell Marius, perhaps not the greatest player we've ever had, but certainly the one with the best first touch, and (if only for jumping into the Bridge End vs Killie) surely a bit of an ICT legend.

Certainly, in the case that Ike got injured or sent off in a match, I'd rather turn to the bench and see Esson getting his gloves on, rather than Zibi or (at least for a few years yet) McNulty. Not a bad move at all, I reckon.

Jeez, does nobody just watch football for the entertainment, win or lose? Of course I'm gutted when Caley lose, but all I want is some enjoyment. As far as I was concerned, the 3-4 game with Aberdeen was the best I saw last season. Now if people aren't renewing their season tickets because the footie has been dull, or because it's too expensive, then fine. I find it somewhat difficult to empathise with those who have other issues. And if last season was a disaster for us, then what does that say about the likes of Hearts and Kilmarnock, or lower down Dundee, St. Johnstone and Dunfermline? Some perspective, please.

I've sent a match report on the Locos game to CaleyD. If nothing else, the players all look in much better shape than they did last pre-season. Outstanding performances from Tokely, Duncan, McBain and in particular Vigurs, whose lob with the outside of his left boot was freaking genius. He was outstanding. Andy McNulty demonstrated that his ball skills are about as good as we've come to expect from our keepers...

Spain 0 Germany 1 Bonus 1: 0-0 Bonus 2: Germany Bonus 3: Germany Bonus 4: 48900 Cheers, Andrew, I've had a good laugh with this as well.

Germany 1 Turkey 0 Russia 0 Spain 1 Bonus 1: Germany Bonus 2: 71 minutes

Netherlands 3 Russia 1 Spain 2 Italy 1 No goals

According to Euro 2008.com - MARIUS STARTS!

Portugal 2 Germany 1 Croatia 2 Turkey 0 Bonus: yes

France 2 Italy 1 Netherlands 0 Romania 1 Greece 0 Spain 1 Russia 1 Sweden 1 Bonus: none

Switzerland 1 Portugal 1 Turkey 2 Czech Republic 1 Austria 1 Germany 3 Poland 1 Croatia 1 Bonus: six yellows

Italy 1 Romania 0 Netherlands 2 France 2 Sweden 1 Spain 2 Greece 1 Russia 1 Bonus: Netherlands

Czech Republic 0 Portugal 1 Switzerland 0 Turkey 0 Croatia 1 Germany 2 Austria 1 Poland 1 Croatia v Germany

According to the Herald, UEFA are paying clubs 3 grand a day for use of their players. http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/football/...ish_success.php This must be a nice little earner for us! It'll certainly budget for a decent chunk of his salary.

Romania 0 France 0 Netherlands 0 Italy 1 Spain 2 Russia 0 Greece 0 Sweden 0 Bonus: no

Switzerland 2 Czech Republic 1 Portugal 1 Turkey 0 Austria 0 Croatia 2 Germany 3 Poland 0 bonus: Switzerland

There's a bit of a lesson for the club here. When was the last time that ICT fans felt acknowledged, let alone appreciated, by the club? Yet, this little gesture by one of our players is bringing a bit of joy to the supporters and it certainly makes me feel a little bit better about supporting Caley Thistle. If the club could find ways to make us more proud of the team and the players, then perhaps we buy more tickets and more merchandise and give more money? It's a thought, anyway. Anyway, what a touch of class from Niculae. Come on Romania!

In light of a) Scottish football's continued failure to implement a proper pyramid system, and b) the rather unimpressive candidates looking to replace Gretna, wouldn't be an idea to just not let anyone else in? I know the odd number would be a little tricky, but I'm sure it would be workable. Considering the less than impressive progress of Elgin City since joining, who are now destined to stay alongside East Stirling, Albion Rovers etc. as a side who do nothing but prop up division 3, shouldn't some effort be made to streamline the whole thing?

I was watching it earlier - it's Motty's greatest moment when he screams "it's in! It's Alfonsooooooooooo!"

I like your thinking. The only issue is over whether, with so many pictures taken off the internet (mostly cut and pastes from google images, plus the UEFA website and national FA websites), it's okay for me to properly "publish" these on the internet, rather than just sending them out by email. If there are no legal objections I'll put them up no bother.

If anyone is interested, I'm putting together guides to each team at the Euros for my mates - three microsoft word pages with squad lists, stats, likely tactics, pointless trivia and a few fairly amateurish pictures. My friends think they're a good laugh and it saves them having to track down and pay for proper guides for the tournaments. Each squad takes up about 100kb. I've already finished Group D (because most of those squads were named a while ago) and am putting the finishing touches to Group C (including ROMANIA!), with the rest to be finished by next week. So anyone who wants them emailed, send me a PM with an address and I'll pass them on. Then I'll await the inevitable barrage of complaints about bits I've got wrong...

World Soccer magazine has their lineup as: Lobont Contra Goian Tamas Rat Cocis Chivu F. Petre O. Petre Mutu Marica However Ovidiu Petre is now out, so I think Cristea may fill in. Alternatively, Mutu could come into the hole with Nicolita on the wing. Or I might dare to dream that Marius might be considered for Petre's position.

Methinks I might buy a Romania shirt now! Cue the sports question being asked in pub quizzes all across the country for the next month: Q: Which two SPL clubs have players competing in Euro 2008? A: Celtic and Inverness And cue lots of Central belt football fans arguing that "that f****** answer can't possibly be right, ya dobber!"

Oh ****, have I jumped the gun? I saw Deac had been dropped, and the numbers on wiki have Moti dropped as well. On the other hand, that could be wishful thinking on somebody's part? Oh well, I guess I can wait till tomorrow before celebrating on his behalf.

IT'S OFFICIAL - MARIUS IS IN!!! (Source - Reuters) :allhail: And he gets his number eighteen shirt as well, according to wikipedia. Freaking magic. Do us proud, big man.