Eagle4Caley

A back to back win, is a good way to start the New Year, even if it was hard work (which it sounds like it was) still the evenings are going to get lighter, my ICT calendar is up on the wall, and I'm counting the days to St Mirren away in Feb... Main aim for ICT at the mo is to secure that top six spot and beat Thistle in the Cup

Normal service resumed (hopefully) good to see Doran get a brace (is it me or does he need bigger kit these days?), and Billy again.

Robbie Savage appears to be linking Ryan Christie with Burnley on the BBC website, reviewing who needs what in the EPL....although seems a strange signing if you are looking for survival, as he is still a kid Doing my best to link Shinnie with Palace (if he's going I want him down here) perhaps Frazier Campbell in p/x if I had my way

Have only seem 5mins of highlights on BBC online, and bar the defensive ****-up, we seem to have played OK and were a tad unlucky not to get something out of the game.....strange how just a few matches ago, things were going so well, but other than the Partick result we seem to have lost out on things just going against us....Aberdeen is alway a tough match, and losing an away match to an odd referee decision hardly the end of the world but I guess after the PT result it does like a wheel has come off ! Do we just put it down to a December jinx? At least there was a decent crowd for this one, with Aberdeen bringing so many Still at least we can enjoy Rangers floundering around in the league below us! Meanwhile back at my other club, more than one wheel has come off, and the driver has been jettisoned! (I can barely remember a season when one manager gets through it unscathed!)

I agree with you on both counts, I guess a lack of awareness in Christie's part being yound and at the start of his career, from the highlights I saw, he seemed to have soooo much space if he had turned or just let the ball past. As for Draper, i thought he was jumping out of the way of the tackle, and was instinctively trying to steady himself or brace for the impact of the player coming through him... do referees's really think that a player has that much time and thought to plan retribution coming down from an avoiding action? I had 4 minutes of action to watch, but we didn't seem to have a shot of note in the first half, but were a tad unlucky with the Raven effort off the post Next match is a real toughie, a point against Aberdeen would stop a couple of defeats become something more serious...annoylingly it's live on TV down here, I just wont be anywhere near one Happy Christmas everyone

Bloody hell! what happened there????? This looks like a classic case of the bogey team striking again.....hopefully! Better news..my new bar scarf turned up today and it's lovely

I love that new scarf....bought mine already, will get first outing at Palace V Southampton, Boxing Day before it comes up to Glasgow for the St Mirren game in Feb

Great result! Sounds like a very one side match .... a great boost having watched my other team gift 3points to Villa Would love to go to the Partick match away...but flying up to Glasgow two weeks running is probably not on.

It's a nice read....good when the wider world recognises a good job being done. Yogi and ICT seem a perfect fit at the mo

I can't wait to see the highlights...great to see Billy scoring again. Is Marley Watkins the new Andrew Shinnie (or better), Yogi seems to have him playing in a similar role, I am glad he is doing so well, when I first saw him last year he struck me as being a very useful player Also another goal from a CB...nice one Josh

Palace are looking for a left back in January...do I drop a hint on the Palace message boards???

Seen the highlights now and have to say all the goals were well taken...Billy's first an absolute beaut, really good work by Watkins. The place looks lovely in the Autumn sunshine...the camera angle gets a great view of a flat calm but deep sea with the hills behind....makes me rather wistful, not sure when I can get up next

‘Another tactical masterclass from Big Yogi and the Team. This has to be some of the most intelligent football ever played by Caley Thistle.’ Caley D ‘Great game to watch, great players, great performance against a good team’ 12th Man ‘First time we've ever been top of the league as late as November’ Yngwie ‘The first time in just over 3 years that we've won a league game after conceding the first goal. The curse is broken!’ Yngwie ‘Thats the best performance i have seen in a long long time’ Forza Caley Patience and persistence has it rewards! Well done Yogi!

By any measure that was a good result against the surprise form team of the SPL....Billy back scoring, and Vincent/Warren on the score sheet too.... Top, just need a favour tomorrow before the international break

I reckon a Billy hat-trick...or is that being greedy?

yep! another one has turned up! yee haa!

Get in there! Billy was due one and now it's come! Will it be like a London Bus? (if you know what I mean?)

A really innovative line up - I like it! Even with that team, look how strong our bench is. Cover and options in abundance! Much as I'd like to see Sekajja start....in reality it should be Christie in that line up behind Mckay and Watkins. It is a strong bench with options to hold with Vincent and Christie or attack with Sekijja and Doran depending on the way the game is going and whether we fancy improving our goal difference! With Dundee U losing last night we have a chance to go top for a day and perhaps longer if the Dons can hold Celtic

The SPL is looking very competitive this year...alright Celtic have awoken and are slowly climbing towards top spot...but I'm seeing a top seven fighting it out for sometime....unless Hamilton and Dundee run out of puff. If we stay strong we will be in the top six..... I feel the top four spots will be between Celtic, Dundee Utd, Aberdeen and ICT, I agree with CraigF92, that 4th would be a good finish.

Not time to ditch Billy quite yet Brill Raven Meekings Warren Shinnie Draper Tansey Vincent Williams Watkins Mckay Keep it tight but counter-attacking with Watkins close to Mckay......having the option of Christie, Doran and Sekajja to really have a go later in the game! I'd rather a 1-1 with Billy scoring than a 0-0 .... can see it being 2-1 to us though

The bit from 2:45 onwards rivals Al Pacino's 'Any Given Sunday' speech imo. Aye...It's a mighty fine aftermatch interview!

ICTRoughi....I can't comment on the Rangers game, but I felt we did pretty well in the Cup Final, first absorbing Aberdeen pressure, then nullifying their threat...for 20-25mins of the 2nd half we were in complete control, but couldn't get the goal, and blew ourselves out. I think we relied too much on Billy to get the goals. I think the team now would win that game...yes I know you have to take the chance when presented, maybe we weren't quite good enough, but there are several players who have come on a fair bit since that game.... helped I in my view by Yogi's stewardship

Some very thoughtful responses, I'm glad I re-ignited the discussion. Renegade, I understand your comment about not being too conservative , and not 'having to take the sting out of every game' ...I think with the midfield we have, we should be able to exert control more easily this season....If Vincent stays fit and plays in the correct position this will be a more regular event....I guess the match against Celtic will be the litmus test for this. I also think that the development of Christie, Watkins and Doran have given us game changers, which will take the pressure off Billy and he will get back to form pretty soon. Hopefully Ibra will contribute something as well to provide Yogi options DD...although a very thoughtful response I think you are still being a tiny bit hard on Yogi....in the end you can only beat what is put in front of you....next year we may have a resurgent Hearts and Rangers to contend with....however as this season goes on, if we stay injury free, the likes of the guys I mention above will continue to develop, along with Williams. In terms of whether we can play at a high tempo for more of the game, a bit of me says that a 1-0 win saving energy might be a better season long plan if you see what I mean (so we don't run out of steam), although obviously preferrable to be defending a 2goal lead! Your assessment of what constitutes success is fair...I bet 15years ago the thought of ICT being the third best team in the SPL might have been considered somewhat a pipedream, and arguably, given our finances and crowd pulling potential probably the pinnacle of what we can do. Would we settle for a top six place and another Cup Final, or a top three place? More to the point do we want a chance to play in Europe next season given the likely strength of the SPL. In terms of Yogi's performance is he getting as much, more or less than the other potential contenders who were in the frame for the job last year...who can tell? Certainly I think no worse (we're 2nd for heavens sake!), and he completed the job of getting us to the League Cup final if not picking the trophy up

Thought I would bump this, considering we are second in the table, level on points with top and generally seem to be going in the right direction under Yogi with a stronger looking team that seems to have a number of players developing quite nicely And also bravely on my part just before we play Celtic away next week.... given the last couple of results there, I would take a score draw as proof of overall improvement under Yogi Steps away and waits for comments on tippy-tappy football and wayward back passes!

This sounds like a well earned win, can't wait to see the highlights! Good that Vincent is back, and playing in his best position! We seem to have a very strong midfield and with Watkins, Doran and Christie some creative spark as well. Billy is going to start scoring for fun soon, as the opposition more and more have to contain Watkins and Christie...Good to have Ibra on the bench though. Our bench yesterday looked to be the strongest we have had for a while, which bodes well for a good long run.