cif73

4530. Really thought there would be more. A hoped for honeymoon after last weekend's heroics and against 2nd place local rivals also riding high. Not quite sure what it'll take to engage more local interest in our fab team. Would be great if some of the fans that come out for the big cup days could be enthused enough to make it more regular.

Marley is a good wing man NOT a centre forward .. he is wasteful completely wasteful in the middle!

Glad you brought up the apparently obvious Irish sound to these CO names ... I've been biting my tongue on that aspect so much over the last 48 hours that it's really quite tender lol!

Yup ... the CO has got to understand his remit ... this should be his "bread & butter" ... he is an experienced city lawyer for goodness sake and should know it inside out especially given this was a high profile matter with his reputation on the line if he dropped a clanger ... fundamental ... and frankly unbelievable

It was reported on Monday or even Sunday night that the ref had consulted the goal-line assistant and linesman as to the incident with Josh. He did not see it clearly to award a foul, the goal-line assistant though it hit Josh's head, and the linesman didn't see it. That was as clear as day, they mis-interperated what happened, but did consider it could have been an offence but ruled it out as none of them knew for sure. The tv pictures show the incident clearly, but you cannot tell if he tries to save the header, you normally have your eyes open if you try to save a shot or header. It was certainly not intentional. I do remember an 'incident' earlier this season, at Kilmarnock, but can't remember who the opposition were, but it wasn't Celtic, may have been the Dons or Well. Player unsighted from ref and linesman, raised his hand and saved a shot from 8-10 yards or so. No question about being accidental, or to close to avoid, he saved it like a keeper. No penalty, and it was near the end of the game. I can remember Sportscene making a feature about it. Conclusive tv showing the player raising his hand to his right and palming the ball off the line. No Complience Officer involved for what was an unquestionable deliberate handball. That would have set a precident for the after the incident retrospective handball, not to raise it when it was extremely questionable because it was against Celtic. I do hope that the Celtic players and management after this are men, and do not lay out a Roy Keane, Graeme Souness or Scott Brown style of vengence in their last game of the domestic season. It will be interesting to see if Josh plays against Celtic on the 24th ... weekend before the Scottish Cup Final ... at their place ... on Sky Sports live ... Hmm ... who says Scottish footie ain't entertaining.

Can we please leave the paranoia and conspiracy theories to Celtic and other Ugly Sister. No conspiracy just yet another c#ck up by the Scottish football authorities. Duly noted. I don't like delving into stuff like this but if we don't learn from history we are bound to repeat it. They are Glasgow lawyers with an interest in football who happened to become compliance officers. They seem to be standing resolutely by the view that the ****-up is the original ref decision (rather than the aftermath). Now it may be loyalty between friends or pride talking but the vast majority of the non-Ceptic speaking world seemed to hold our view of the Meekings handball incident. If people are so dogged in their view in the face of opposition (including FIFA), then one is inclined to wonder about their underlying frame of reference or world/football view. Website posts about their club loyalty pre-dated Meekings (albeit mainly Rangers posts I grant you). The recent examples of celebrities spectacularly falling from grace serves to show that although we certainly don't want to throw ourselves into paranoia or conspiracy, it is clear that we live in a world where face value isn't always the whole story.

Vincent Lunny (ex-compliance officer) is on BBC Sport website questioning the dismissal and defending his successor Anthony McGlennan in raising the Meekings complaint. Surfing the internet and it seems that Lunny is a Celtic fan and McGlennan is/was a Celtic season ticket-holder ... anyone know for definite if this is true? If so, you couldn't make this s$#@ up lol!

Common sense has prevailed ... now we can get back to enjoying it ... delighted for Josh especially and everyone associated with the club ... oh, and Celtic ... GIRUY !!

Well let's think about this type of scenario for a moment. In the League Cup Final last year, around about the 80th minute, Richie Foran attempted to head a cross from a corner kick towards the goal, but didn't get a strong enough head on it. Replays showed that he was pulled back by an Aberdeen player. Now using the Celtic Logic (that being that their crystal balls have told them beyond all doubt that it definitely would've been a red card, the penalty would've been scored and that there was no way ICT would come back from 2-0 down despite it happening twice before and once with ten men for a fair chunk of the match), that penalty would've been scored and with ten minutes left ICT would've ran the clock down and won the League Cup. Sure we were disappointed that we never got it, but we accepted it and unfortunately didn't do the business and got beat. Disappointed? Yes. Had the penalty been given, would things be different? Probably. Demand the club write a letter to the SFA and our fans indulge in some absolutely sickening abuse of the Aberdeen player who we can't we even remember which one it was? No. Using the Celtic Logic, it would be fair game, but we didn't. Who cares about all the success Celtic have had. In recent years, ICT have shown more class than your club ever will. You say the Celtic fans are demanding answers. Who cares? They're nothing but bad losers and (as anyone who's ever looked at that crackpot blogger Phil Mac...Mac...Mac...whatever his name is will tell you) a sizeable chunk are thick as mince. It's quite embarrassing that they've totally bowed down to them. Of course though, it's all about money. Thick-as-mince fans buy stuff and you wouldn't want to alienate your largest market... Finally, you say Celtic have a number of reasons to distrust the SFA? Why would that be? Is that these crackpot conspiracies involving Masons, the Triads, UFOs and all the rest of it? Utterly cringeworthy, with Celtic once again attempting to create a vehicle for their thick fans to vent their anger out. I'll tell you this, I'd find it hard to support a club like that. Another great post and good analogy. A penalty for the Foran foul may well have secured the League Cup for ICT ... and we didn't make a song and dance of it ... or contact the SFA ... or villify the Aberdeen player (whoever he was because I can't remember either) Noteable difference is that the Aberdeen player DELIBERATELY impeded/did enough to put off Foran. By contrast, our Josh ACCIDENTLY handled because he was in such close proximity ... to a ball travelling quickly .... with his eyes closed .... looking the other way!!!

Celtic supporters solely have caused this entire sorry @ssed situation. I have followed ICT since the 3rd division and experienced many, many highs and lows over the past 2 decades plus. We have just reached our first ever Scottish Cup Final. We played better on the day. We merited our victory. Even if we hadn't, and we had won the game with a lucky 89th minute own goal, the fact is we have just reached our first ever Scottish Cup Final. The feeling on Sunday was fantastic, one of the best I've had on my ICT journey - now?... Now I'm just extremely angry at the whole pathetic shambles your fans have created. A great feeling that should have lasted all week, ruined by your fans because they cannot accept that they were beaten. Yes - the ref has messed up. Yes - you should have had a penalty. Was the handball deliberate? Not for a second. It's quite reasonable to believe that the linesman behind the goal thought the ball had hit Josh in the face/head. And that is what he told the ref immediately. Either way - he was still wrong. Unfair decisions have affected every club in Scotland. Every club in Europe. Every club in the world. Yet your fans have to go out complaining it's not fair, and demand something happens. And what has happened? - An honest, young player has been thrust into the world media, received disgusting abuse and been made to feel like a cheat. Josh is not a cheat. It was handball - it was not deliberate. - Our fans are left talking about this pathetic story rather than enjoying a fantastic achievement and an historic day in our clubs journey. - Scottish football had been made to look even more ridiculous. And who's caused this? Your fans. Your club. Why? Because you are nothing more than sore losers. This entire sorry @ssed, pathetic, embarrassment has been caused by your fans and your club. For years we've seen rangers claim they are too big for Scottish football - and now you're too big to lose in a cup game or to have a bad decision go against you? Your fans have damaged the perception of your club throughout Scotland and further afield far worse than a bad officiating error has tarnished our game. So you'll excuse me and many of my fellow football supporters if we don't meekly accept that you were right to do what you've done and if our club stands up for itself this time. As far as this poster is concerned you can f**k off and leave the rest of us to get on with things - you've caused enough trouble as it is. I now fully expect a warning or a ban from the mods for this rant. That's a ban that's acceptable and won't be contested. If I could multiple like this post I would. Brilliantly conveys the essence of what I think of this sorry episode ... apart from maybe the expletive at the end (which I can understand but not condone). Well said that man.

When is the hearing today?

Yup, I'm sure Shinnie could have stopped it with an outstretched arm It would have to be Inspector Gadget with a go-go-gadget arm ;)

General Melchett, speckled pigeon, court martial and Blackadder comes to mind :)

From the horse's mouth ... 2 min video from ref Steven McLean last year on the handball rule. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/scotland/26159324 If not deliberate, then not an offence. Yogi cannot have a situation where at the same time it is 1) not deliberate but 2) a sending off + penalty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32409694 Ex-Compliance Officer's opinion ... not pleasant reading ... wonder if he's a Celt? Particularly ironic his comment "... but the panel should be left to come to their decision on their own without any other external pressures." ... given he is professing his own technical, experienced opinion which is likely to carry weight in media circles on face value at least. On Yogi ... indiscrete naivety OR sarcasm OR (even, pardon the cold-hearted cynic) not making enemies of Celts fans in case a more lucrative job becomes available down the track? Discuss.

And now for a bit of light relief ...

You are absolutely right. Celtic certainly won't extend the same courtesy. Think Yogi is trying to be some sort of all-things-to-all men politician. Although of course Yogi is totally 100% for ICT, it probably doesn't help that he is great mates with John Collins. Misguided, over-enthusiastic magnaminity. Generosity of spirit to our player first and foremost should be order of the day and thankfully that is backed up by the facts ... so I expect us to win the day with Josh. No way deliberate.

It is only a sending off if deliberate. It's only Yogi's opinion but it certainly makes ICT look more than a bit naive in the media handling. Surely Yogi should have been briefed by legal counsel before undertaking an interview of this sort for flips sake!

http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/9233186/1/ Celtic fans forum. Disturbing reading. Gave up at page 15 of 81. The odd balanced view swamped by other paranoid, self-absorbed, disrespectful comments. Hope the SFA can surprise us and act impartially when the vast Ceptic hordes are spewing out their nonsense. Worrying that these "adults" have the vote.

Exactly ... intent cannot possibly be proven ... Josh and Griffiths were very close together, Josh was stretching his whole body ... all very quick in real time

Thanks for sharing. Hilarious. Just shows that his opinion of referees all hinges on which way the wind is blowing for Ceptic.

Absolutely amazing day. Started in Burnley. Aged 10 years during game. What a result what a performance. Stuck in Perth (broken down) en route back to Burghead. Great memories keeping us warm

We're here! Burghead to Burnley Lancashire (Saturday birthday party) to Hampden but the first ICT fan we speak to has come up from Watford on train :0 Come on ICT ... give us another big day againdt Falkirk!

Good to hear a summing up from how it appeared on telly. I would that I think Esson is improving with game-time ... He had an excellent tip-over late at Pittodrie late on. We can go into next Sunday with confidence. Fingers crossed for brave, strong, impartial, competent refereeing - that is my remaining concern.

Watkins should so be out on the wing (where he is much better) supplying crosses for Ofere who should be getting more game time. Complete lack of width or attacking at pace in forward areas. Raven was useless going forward as usual ... gets a nose bleed at the prospect of running at/skinning somebody and so just passes back. It is well versed script. He was sub'd with Devine coming into the centre and Meekings shifted to right back presumably because Josh offered more going forward. Aberdeen closed us down very quickly when we went forward because we took an inordinate length of time deciding what to do and showed little/no guile. By contrast when Aberdeen broke they had oceans of space and should have scored more. Serious lack of intensity breaking forward when behind. Even my 8 year old lad was shouting to move it forward. Seemingly nobody wants to finish 3rd. We are only holding our own because Utd are in freefall.