Jaggernaut

Best news I have heard in a long time. One of our new songs should be ' what's that coming over the hill, is it a monster, is it a monster?'

What a great comeback, I really didn't see that coming, especially after the St Mirren second goal. We had a few good performances today. Ridgers was outstanding, and Vigures, Warren, Trafford, Tremarco and Oakley did well, and a spècial mention for Calder, who terrorised their right back when he came on, and did what we couldn't do most of the game, get behind their defence. If we can find that second half performance against teams for the remaining games of the season we will be alright.

Not the greatest game I have seen, but history won't remember that, just the name of the winners and the goalscorer. I think it showed where we need to strengthen for next season. Col Donaldson was terrific at the back and striding forward to start attacks, definitely deserved his man of the match. So pleased as well for Tremarco, he works his socks off for the team. Robertson must know now the he has to give young Mackay more game time, he was more effective in the short time he was on, than some that played most of the game. I hope this gives the team the boost that they need, and we can kick on for the rest of the season.

I thought that this might be of some interest, it's not Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but an Inverness Thistle/Caledonian select that had a very memorable game on the 21st September 1921. Tottenham Hotspur, the English Cup holders, who defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final by one goal to nil, visited Inverness on a tour of Scotland and played the Inverness Thistle/Caledonian in a challenge match at Telford Street Park. To the surprise and jubilation of the large crowd, who paid a total of £100 to watch the match, the Thistle/Caley select team defeated the English side by 6 goals to 3. It was the only match that Spurs lost on their Scottish tour. The Thistle/Caley team, it is interesting to note, was captained by Mr. Roderick Fraser of Thistle, was one of the few players still living in Inverness when this article was printed in the Inverness Courier in 1971. The manager of Spurs, Mr. Pat MacWilliam, was an Inverness man, who had played for Thistle, Newcastle and Scotland, and the Spurs left-back Bob MacDonald, wad a former Caley player. The Spurs side, which included four internationalists, took an early lead and, stated the Courier report at the time, "crisp passing of the ball, ease of movement and certainty of purpose, characterised their play." But MacDonald the Thistle centre forward equalised, and for the next half hour the spectators were treated to a delightful display of artistic football. After sterling work by Docherty and Robertson, the Caley combination, Lamb of Thistle scored with a beautiful shot, and after Spurs had equalised, Lamb and MacKensie of Thistle scored further goals to give the home select a 4-2 lead against their distinguished opponents at half time. The dash of the home forwards continued to upset the Spùrs in the second period, and Robertson of Caley had the satisfaction of scoring a fifth goal, before Spurs pulled a goal back. J. Sutherland of Thistle brilliantly saved a penalty by Dimmock, the Spurs outside left. Before the end MacDonald added another goal giving the home select a well merited 6-3 victory. The teams were:- Thistle/Caley Select:- J. Sutherland(Thistle), A. Sutherland(Thistle) and Mitchell(Caledonian), J. Fraser(Caledonian), D.Fraser(Caledonian) and R. Fraser(Thistle) captain, Docherty(Caledonian), Robertson(Caledonian), MacDonald(Thistle), Mackenzie(Thistle) and Lamb(Thistle). Tottenham Hotspur:- Hunter, Clay and MacDonald, Archibald, Lowe and Grimsdell, Walden, Lindsay, Beed, Thomson and Dimmock. After the match the teams were entertained to supper in the Caledonian Hotel. Many of the visitors, including Mr. MacWilliam, congratulated the local playerson their well ddeserved victory, which they said, showed that there was little wrong with Highland football. During their three day stay in Inverness, Spurs had enjoyable drives to Cawdor Castle, Culloden, Strathglass and Cannich. It would be great if ICT could arrange a game, anywhere near this stature, for their 25th anniversary.

A team devoid of ideas, second to every ball and showing little passion. Week after week I see teams breaking on us with pace, two or three passes and they are in our box, but we seem to take an eternity to get up the park, pick the wrong pass and run in to trouble. There was nobody to take this game by the scruff of the neck, be brave on the ball and make them work. I am struggling who to give the points to in player awards. We must build for next season and get rid of the chaff.

The players do have to take some of the blame, Mackay knew he was on a booking, although I thought the first one wasn't, so he must know if he pushes a player out of the way he will pick up a second. Saying that, on a number of occasions, Crusader players went unpunished for the same offence, which has happened on numerous occasions this season. All we are looking for is consistency from the officials. I have been at games this season when we have had several players booked and not one for our opponents. ICT are not a dirty physical team, but this season looks like turning out to be one of the worst for red cards.

This is what you get when you have the disastrous SFA in charge. They invented this tournament, for what purpose I'm not quite sure. Who is benefiting from it? They don't promote it, they certainly don't care about the supporters or the clubs. Is it from TV money? There must be some reason they have for agreeing to play it on a sunday at stupid o'clock. The late great Jock Stein was said 'football without supporters is nothing', and he is right. The atmosphere at the stadium on Sunday was terrible, and only came alive when the handbags came out at the end of the game. I think we all know that the crowd would have been bigger had it not been on TV, but you can bet your bottom dollar that some of the '15,000 fans to Hampden', "the glory hunters", will be searching in their cupboards for their ICT scarfs and hats for the final, and then never seen again at the stadium.

We really made hard work of that, and the sending off, which was harsh, changed the game. I thought Polworth had his best game for us in a long time, and i like the passion he is showing, even though he picked up a booking. Good to see Elbouzedi back, as I liked what I saw pre season. I would like to see Bell and Oakley play closer together, no one seems to be close enough to pick up any second ball. The big test now will be on Saturday against Morton, and if we get in front, can we see the game out.

And Billy Mckay will have THREE!

Whoever agreed to sign him, should be ashamed, with the amount of money that has been wasted in wages on this player, with no return, and ICT seriously needs to have a good look at their scouting system . How many no hopers have we had over the last few years? The supporters can see right away that these players that have come and done nothing are rubbish, so who is vetting them and thinking they're good?

Play the young hungry players. Baird has had his time. There wasn't much between the teams but we wasted our passes a lot more. I said at the start of the second half that we need to be tight and we go and lose a goal. Ref was mince in the first half and the weather was atrocious.

I remember at the season ticket members meeting that Robbo said that indiscipline would not be tolerated by the club, and that even the youth teams had been told not to talk back to the officials or pick up silly bookings, so what has happened? Are the club not fining them enough? Or do players need to fight their way back into the team instead of walking back in when the suspension is over?

Mulraney certainly has that indiscipline side to his game. I remember on a couple of occasions last season when he had a sly kick out at opposing players who had annoyed him, but was not spotted by the officials.

I would like to think we would swap places, with ICT going up through the play offs and County having automatic relegation, but in my heart of hearts I think we will both be playing in the championship next season.

If County get relegated, will that be some sort of record for Billy McKay, being relegated three seasons in succession with three different clubs?

That's another game where not one of our opponents was booked, and another where we have had a player sent off. I wasn't at the game but by all accounts Mulraney's cards were certainly merited but what of the others, we're they justified? Are our opponents just better at tackling or is their discipline better? Maybe someone who was accepted the match can inform me?

They were saying on radio Scotland that it will be on Tuesday 30th January.

Great result and performance. The referee was a joke as was stand side linesman. He let them away with murder, not one booking for them when they should have had several. He was greeted with a great chorus of boos when he left the field. I hope Tremarco hasn't agrivated his knee injury as he limped off the park. As I said, a great team performance.

I thought Oakley did enough last week to at least keep his place for another game.

I always thought the refereeing in the top league was bad, but in the championship it's just poor performance after poor performance from the officials. I always try to be objective about decisions but this season some of them are mind boggling. When was the last time we got a penalty, when there have been plenty of claims, but all waved away? It looks like Vigures has been hard done by with the second yellow but he needs to cut out the petulance which give refs the opportunity to book him. If we can keep 11 men on the pitch, we can beat any team in this league.

Another terrible display from the officials. We were well in control of the game until the sending off. I thought it was harsh, but Vigures needs to control his mouth, picking up bookings for descent costs us big time. I thought we might hold on to the lead but not to be. I thought Doran, Donaldson, Warren played well and Austin had some good touches when he came on. If we can finish games with 11 men from now on, we might just make the play offs.

I think that's why some supporters get on his back, when things don't go his way his head goes down and he gives up. He was so guilty of not tracking the runner for their second goal. If he had kept with the man they wouldn't have scored. He realised when it was too late. At this stage of his career, he should know that he has to concentrate for the whole game. The supporters are a very forgiving lot if they see someone who will give their all and fight for every ball, not a player whose head goes down and has a wee strop.

They certainly haven't had the 'new manager bounce' that a lot of clubs get when they replace their manager, in fact they have had the reverse. I said at the time that I thought they had made a big mistake getting rid of McIntyre, but no doubt Uncle Roy will throw money at the transfer market in January to bail them out.

Going back to the scene of the crime where he got injured in the pre season friendly ! He was the one new player that really impressed me in the friendlies.

If i recall, didn't Austin score against us in the Bet Fred Cup? I thought he was quite good then, so I hope he can kick on.