Alex MacLeod

chorley wine

penicillin

This topic has been moved to Non-ICT [iurl]http://www.caleythistleonline.com/community/index.php?topic=5561.0[/iurl]

Defensive duo hold key to success By Andy Dixon Inverness Courier Published: 11 December, 2007 STATISTICS show that Saturday's win makes the central defensive pairing of Grant Munro and Phil McGuire the best Caley Thistle combination since the side entered the SPL. Of the nine games they have started together Inverness have won six and drawn one, collecting an average of more than two points per game. Together they have also helped keep four clean sheets ? all in their last four starts alongside each other. Comparison to Munro's regular appearances alongside third-choice Stuart McCaffrey and former stopper Darren Dods, who moved to Dundee United in the summer, indicate that while the partnership has played fewer games in total, it averages out as the best of the last four seasons. Club captain Munro is hopeful McGuire ? who is currently on-loan from Dunfermline ? will remain in the Highlands beyond the new year when he is set to return to Fife. "We're starting to work off each other with us both playing well and the team is keeping more clean sheets so I hope the manager can work a deal to him here at the club," said ever-present Munro. "It would be good because it would give our partnership the chance to flourish a bit more and hopefully the team will continue to do better and keep more clean sheets. "But it's not only about Phil and I, Richard (Hastings) and (David) Proctor have been fantastic with Michael (Fraser) being very commanding over the last few games, which has helped us as well. "Obviously you want to keep quality players at the club and he (McGuire) is a quality player," he continued. "We have a lot of quality in the squad and hopefully the manager and director of football (Graeme Bennett) can work a deal with Dunfermline to keep Phil here longer, which would be great for the club." Player/manager Craig Brewster praised the partnership but stressed everybody had a part to play when defending. Last week he started talks with McGuire's agent to keep the 27-year-old in the Highlands and is still hopeful of striking a deal to enable him to continue the partnership with Munro. "They are obviously working well as a pair and that's given the rest of the team a lot of confidence," he said. Brewster signed McGuire on transfer deadline day in August and handed him his Inverness debut in a 5-0 defeat at Celtic Park in September. Since then the only other time he has lost in Caley Thistle colours was in the 2-1 home defeat against Aberdeen a month later. A troublesome groin injury ruled him out of the November losses against Rangers at Ibrox and at home to Motherwell, but the team has won all three games since ? without conceding. The run has added confidence to the whole Caley Thistle squad according to Munro, who was confident they could get a result at home to league leaders Celtic this Sunday. He believed positives could be drawn from St Mirren's 1-1 draw in Glasgow on Saturday. Munro equalised against Celtic in a 1-1 draw at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in August 2006 ? the last time Inverness took any points from the fixture ? and is hopefully of getting off the mark in this campaign soon. Only Ross Tokely has netted among Brewster's back-line and if the manager cannot hold onto McGuire, he may have to revert back to the Munro and McCaffrey combination that has started seven matches this season in games the team have gone on to lose. More protection has been provided by a five-man midfield in recent weeks, according to 27-year-old Munro who, believes the added competition for places has helped improve his overall game this season.

I'll be makng sure the oil and gas keeps pumping to keep all you barstewards warm and snug over the period. :009:

My sources say he's been training in Perth for last few weeks and will likely sign so it is possible he could be SPL next season :023:

trodden grapes

A9

Or better still dispense with the local lad and smear the jam over your own face.

Is this argument not played out yet. Fact is Ian, being small of stature, has to go into a tackle hard and fast. If he gets his timing wrong he gives away a foul and may get booked. Saturdays tackle in question was timed to perfection and he got to the ball first. Ian is a very defensive player who is not frightened to tackle and win the ball, unlike some who shall remain nameless, and most of the time he does it very well. He will get booked, he will get hooked, others will niggle and wind him up. He may even get sent off but he will never give less than the 100% he does give. Its football. Its a tough game.

conflict

sporran dangling

Meanwhile IHE

Pinotage

munro bagging

worn

around Ross-shire

grubby

about snow

apple

Oh come all ye faithful Witness us triumphant Oh come ye Oh come ye To East Longman Come and look over The mighty Caley Thistle Oh come lets all support them Oh come lets all support them Oh come lets all support them The Caley Jags

Question is, who wears the trousers in that house? Will she be a Caley Jag or an Arab? Congratulations Ian and Alison.

who go

item

I wonder how much of this team spirit is down to forthcoming contract talks with half the squad.