ymip

I'm not for a moment suggesting that having a game today prevents us from signing anyone but it certainly prevents them from playing tonight or last Saturday when, according to our manager, we had a "must win" match. If we intended to bring players in I would have suggested the appropriate time to do that was during the shutdown to get them bedded in and available for three vital league games.

If we have the funds and intention to invest then this business should have been done prior to the Partick game. Ludicrous to have a crucial game on deadline day and any potential recruits unavailable.

Proper old school away game and unquestionably our real derby. 80/0s flashbacks aplenty throughout the day. County rivalry artificial and a pale imitation of the real thing.

Gut wrenching seeing Ryan sign for the dismals. I'll no doubt have a steady flow of deluded dandies at my door today crowing at this loan signing. Despite being about 16 years old at the time young Ryan was bang on with his assessment of the dons support. Hayes and McGinn definitely offski I would suggest.

Young-ish Irish striker incoming. Unlikely to be first team contender straight-off. Also expect one or more heading own A96.

Nice one Roddy. Seasons greetings from the Stonehaven Masif. Perhaps 2017 is the year you spot that elusive Panamanian Eagle.

Shout out my main man ymip junior. Certainly less frequent attendee than rig but proudly flies the Stoney ICT flag at away games the length and breadth of our fair nation. Sole ICT fan in an ocean of dandies, very young team, and sharpest dressed 12 year old on the block.

Absolutely shocking performance from the point Accies scored until Polworth slotted home the equaliser. I won't dwell on this abject performance and take some solace from taking a point when we deserved nada. Onwards and upwards ! With regard to incidents after the game I missed the initial incident outside the ground but was party to an attack by the same four or five Hamilton dicks in the car park further from the ground. Absolute sh1thouse behaviour from these guys against a group of our younger fans who were clearly not looking for aggro. I sincerely hope these guys get their comeuppance at some point this season but fear they choose their targets carefully and focus on non combatants who are not looking for bother. I have to say that the performance of the local constabulary was nothing short of a disgrace. If we had a "firm" looking for bother then I'd almost understand if they chose to let them get it on but the police were simply too lazy or complacent to keep on top of a very small group of Accies neds who were allowed to run riot today. First time I've seen bother after a game since Highland League days and hope it's a one off but would hope we can collectively avoid a repeat at Hamilton in the future.

It sure is Mantis. The wee man was a bit of an internet sensation as the youtube video and subsequent gif were all over Pie and Bovril and he went as far as to tell me he'd "gone viral". It was on our way back to the car after the semi-final win at Hampden. Funnier if you'd heard the boy foaming at the mouth prior to jr's timely intervention . Same guy filming who took the infamous "Jacqueline" clip.

The inflammatory and overzealous behaviour of the Pittodrie stewards on Saturday is something which the club should be investigating. There was absolutely no need for the stewards to react in the way they did and I would suggest they only reacted in this manner due to the fact that the group in question was relatively small in numbers and it gave them the perfect opportunity to throw their weight about. As I said to one of the stewards on Saturday I'm sure they'll be as brave when Rangers are at Pittodrie later this month. The usual gnashing of teeth, hand wringing and general bed wetting from the moral preservation society. Folks actually looking to grass on our own fans....get a grip. 'mon the Young Team

Apologies if this has been pointed out elsewhere on this thread but for the sake of good order I would point out that JD Sports wholly own Carbrini and are the sole outlet which sells said brand. They are one and the same and any attempt by JD to point the finger of blame at third parties is frankly laughable. One presumes that there will be appropriate termination provisions within our contract which I would anticipate can be activated in the case of material breach of JD/Carbrini's delivery obligations. It's surely quite inconceivable that we would persevere with a supplier (sic) who have repeatedly demonstrated that they are incapable of managing their internal supply chain. It beggars belief that JD/Carbrini have conspired to make the far from reliable Errea look like paragons of virtue. One hopes someone's on the phone to their Parma HQ as we speak. I don't buy replica gear myself but ymip Jr has been waiting months to purchase the new kit. Considering it'll be out of date by May it hardly seems worth wasting his cash on this season's kit. As an aside I would imagine our various kit sponsors are suitably un-chuffed by this shambolic state of affairs.

Bannerman you are truly beyond parody. Do us all a favour and stick to your equally tiresome and ill-informed tripe on the merger.

I think Mutombo and Batshuayi played together at Standard Liege a few years back so presume they're mates. I can just see Mutombo trying to get into the VIP at Pacha in his ICT training gear :)

Mantis - I'm glad to advise Saturday was a huey free zone. Forgot to mention the braw mince and mealie pie - top fodder. Maybe see you at Buckie on Saturday....convenient for a trip to the outlaws on Costa del Lossie. Maybe get a wee rendition of "on a life support machine" going for old times' sake....

Despite the absence of any first team players it was a pleasant afternoon of football in the Broch sunshine. The young lads looked sharp and moved the ball about pretty well. Youg Hoban in goals was out cold for a long time and first aid response was very slow. Game was held ip for a good ten minutes. Spotted his Dad behind goals looking suitably concerned, must have been horrible for him. Good to see the young lad back on his feet and walking off the park but would imagine he might be ruled out for a week or two after such a nasty head knock. Can't disagree with RossP's view on the stand outs. Lads in central defence and lad up front looked decent. It was also very interesting to see Sam Robertson score on his debut. Sam is oldest son of Caley legend Wilson Robertson and was recently released by Aberdeen. If he turns out to be half the player his Dad was we'll be laughing. No pressure there then..... Certaimly worth the 120 mile round-trip for the Stonehaven Tifosi.

Stonehaven crew will be heading North for this one too. I'm hoping we might see a couple of trialists in action and will be good to see how the likes of Brown, Sutherland etc. might shape up for season ahead. Like Ross quite looking forward to getting back to business. I can't see there being a huge ICT following making the trek to this old Highland League stomping ground.

Someone, anyone please ban this trumpet Bannerman from the forum. The man is an utter dick on every conceivable level.

I thought you were still a refusenik at that point. I can't even remember at which point I put the toys back in the pram. Do you have any photos from the infamous "spewgate" match at Inverurie :)

Looks like the Derry at Dens Park. I'm thinking perhaps the Coca-Cola cup match in August 1994 (third or fourth ICT match).

Quite sobering to see eleven heading out the door and only one in so far. There was several occasions last season where we had only three or four subs. If we don't bolster the squad and experience similar injury woes we could be in dire straits. Quite disappointed to see Mutombu and Roberts departing. Mutombu was obviously a bit hit and miss but thought he offered something. Robert' goal at Motherwell one of the highlights of a rather anti-climactic season. Ymip Jr has just called me to suggest we're after Higginbotham. I'd personally be delighted if that was true and likewise the Ojamaa rumours.

Horner stays, Raven goes.........you couldn't really make it up. Insult to injury on the day Storey signs for the Dismals. Hugely disappointing given the bullish statements made by the board only a few short days ago. I could do without working in an office full of gloating Dandies today......

There can be few finer things in life than strolling into your office in Aberdeen when we've just papped the dismals' title dreams. Obviously they wuz robbed by Collum, we're diving hammer throwers, it was too cold, we've no fans, etc., etc. In reality we put in a tremendous performance last night. I seldom agree with John Sutton but he hit the nail on the head when he contrasted Aberdeen's route one/front-to-back tactics with our cultured passing game. Aberdeen simply don't know how to handle Draper and Tansey and in every game against us this season have resorted to bypassing the midfield which has yielded an astounding one point out of nine for the "title challengers" (sic). Given we had a somewhat makeshift defence out last night their inability to penetrate it showed them up as the one trick ponies they are. Ok, they may be sitting in 2nd place 20 odd points ahead of us but given their finances, history and support that's exactly where they should be sitting in this league. Amongst several plusses to take from last night I think we could have unearthed another gem in Jordan Roberts, gave the ball away a few times but with him and Miles in tandem we looked pretty potent up top. Let's hope he kicks on. Add Ryan Williams and Liam Hughes into the equation and we could be on for a decent run through to the end of the season. I'm away for another wander round the office and a further round of gloating. Tremendous!

Same here - 2 quid to uplift stamp-less envelope on the Monday after the cancelled game. Can we get a refund on tickets? Can't see me making midweek match at Tynecastle.

Tremendous stuff Roddy. I think it's all the sweeter for us given the amazing journey we've been on over the past 21 years - unique, inspiring and never to be beaten. Gutted I missed yourself and Mantis on Saturday, we did manage to bump into Yngwie and squeeze a quick pint in before heading back up the road. Myself and the little fella will hopefully see you somewhere in Europe in July for a medicinal libation - thirsty work European football. Onwards and ever upwards....