[yoda]

Now we have our game against Hibs in the QF of the Scottish Cup (yes that is the quarter finalks of the Scottish Cup where, incidentally, ICT did not reach) out of the way until a week Tuesday, I truly do believe that we need to focus on the upcoming Highland Derby.

The same line-up as against Hibs and I think County will edge the game. Caley are good going forward but on past evidence can't defend at all. If Gardyne runs at the Caley defence then he will cause them problems.

Barrowman is probably guaranteed a goal along with missing a sitter at 0-0.

A win for either side would keep the pressure on Dundee, but I think for ICT it is a must win game and for County it is more of a must not lose game.

[Poet of the Macabre]

I wish my team were in the quarter finalks

[sophia]

With a huge cup game just around the corner I wonder how "up" for this derby the fans of our northern neighbours will be.
Yep, the League Cup Final is on council telly on Sunday.

Given:
No Zadi this time
and
Ross County don't have a compliant stadium (its a friendly for them)
I think an away win is perfectly plausible.

yoda doesn't know his history (oops), even Elgin City have reached the quarter finals.
Bigger and more illustrious teams have gone further on more occasions.

[tintax]

sophia, on 14 March 2010 - 18:59, said:

With a huge cup game just around the corner I wonder how "up" for this derby the fans of our northern neighbours will be.
Yep, the League Cup Final is on council telly on Sunday.

yoda doesn't know his history (oops), even Elgin City have reached the quarter finals.
Bigger and more illustrious teams have gone further on more occasions.




Do i detect a hint of jealously in that comment?

Anyways on to the game i think we should win this, i mean if we play like we did against Hibs surely Caley wont stand a chance. However they have hit a good run of form and will be dangerous especially going forward, but at the back they are not as strong and that is something that with our quality going forward, ie gardyne we should capitalise on.

Word is the game on Saturday is a near sell-out!, what a great fixture list we have coming up though hopefully starting with a win on saturday

This post has been edited by tintax: 14 March 2010 - 19:28

[Reference]

Big game, really looking forward to it. Bring 'em on, need keep the pressure on Dundee. What I would do for a scrappy win like Saturday!

yoda, on 14 March 2010 - 18:32, said:

Now we have our game against Hibs in the QF of the Scottish Cup (yes that is the quarter finalks of the Scottish Cup where, incidentally, ICT did not reach) out of the way until a week Tuesday, I truly do believe that we need to focus on the upcoming Highland Derby.

The same line-up as against Hibs and I think County will edge the game. Caley are good going forward but on past evidence can't defend at all. If Gardyne runs at the Caley defence then he will cause them problems.

Barrowman is probably guaranteed a goal along with missing a sitter at 0-0.

A win for either side would keep the pressure on Dundee, but I think for ICT it is a must win game and for County it is more of a must not lose game.

But did not take 80 odd years to do so. Not really in any position whatsoever to be taking swipes like that.

[SandyCromarty]

We've been in two Scottish Cup semi finals in the last sixteen years.

Don't get too carried away County fans, after the Lord Mayors show comes the shitecart.

[Mackie The Staggie]

Big game, in fact big week for County starting from next Sat with Caley, then Hibs then Dundee all at home.

Caley have discovered a bit of form now, and although (from reports from some Caley fans I know) sometimes the result flatters Caley at bit, they have momentum behind them at the moment and are going into this game in better form than the previous 2 league games. County on the other hand have had a mixed bag of results, but despite losing away to Partick a couple weeks ago the previous games I've seen County have been the better playing side, just up till the last 1/3 of the pitch were we are not clinical enough.

But all this means jack in a derby. Both sets of players will be up for it, while both set of fans will be backing the team. It'll be a game which if there is a winner then it'll be by a single goal in a close fought match.


(BTW anyone playing the “Highland Derby Bingo” can already cross of the, frankly insulting, reference that all County fans are Gers fans. County fans have better taste than that I thank you very much)

This post has been edited by Mackie The Staggie: 14 March 2010 - 19:45

[sophia]

Mackie The Staggie, on 14 March 2010 - 19:44, said:

(BTW anyone playing the “Highland Derby Bingo” can already cross of the, frankly insulting, reference that all County fans are Gers fans. County fans have better taste than that I thank you very much)

I'm in total agreement with that, if I had Celtic or Aberdeen as my big team, I too would be insulted.
Don't call me Frank!

[Bigmouth Strikes Again]

Let the cutting of each others throats commence. Score draw.

[Bring back Barry]

Bigmouth Strikes Again, on 14 March 2010 - 19:50, said:

Let the cutting of each others throats commence. Score draw.

And I think this seasons Div 1 champions will be on display in this game, just don't which one of them will go on to be the champs. Maybe next year it will be Dundee's turn.

[RiG]

If we play like we did yesterday County will destroy us. Barrowman is guaranteed to score.

[yoda]

sophia, on 14 March 2010 - 18:59, said:

With a huge cup game just around the corner I wonder how "up" for this derby the fans of our northern neighbours will be.
Yep, the League Cup Final is on council telly on Sunday.

Given:
No Zadi this time
and
Ross County don't have a compliant stadium (its a friendly for them)
I think an away win is perfectly plausible.

yoda doesn't know his history (oops), even Elgin City have reached the quarter finals.
Bigger and more illustrious teams have gone further on more occasions.

Reel back in and cast again. But try and make it better next time.

[yoda]

Reference, on 14 March 2010 - 19:26, said:

Big game, really looking forward to it. Bring 'em on, need keep the pressure on Dundee. What I would do for a scrappy win like Saturday!



But did not take 80 odd years to do so. Not really in any position whatsoever to be taking swipes like that.

Well we kind of are. You see squire, this season - the present time and not the distant past - Ross County have reached the QFs of the Scottish Cup and Caley have not. Therefore this season Ross County are better than ICT in the Scottish Cup.

Therefore I am in a brilliant position to take swipes at ICT's Scottish Cup campaign.

[TheScarf]

This thread reads like two primary 6's arguing in the playground about who has the gayer uncle.

[sophia]

yoda, on 14 March 2010 - 20:39, said:

Therefore I am in a brilliant position to take swipes at ICT's Scottish Cup campaign.

Oh no you're not....


Rob Maclean (I'm sure he said Aberdeen are his big team) recently told me that there are reservations within the corridors of power at Camp Victoria that they just aren't ready for promotion.
Should they be denied through non compliance issues, I'm sure some would breath a secret sigh of relief.

[yoda]

sophia, on 14 March 2010 - 21:09, said:

Oh no you're not....


Rob Maclean (I'm sure he said Aberdeen are his big team) recently told me that there are reservations within the corridors of power at Camp Victoria that they just aren't ready for promotion.
Should they be denied through non compliance issues, I'm sure some would breath a secret sigh of relief.

Good thing I didn't mention promotion then.

You fail miserably.

[thejailender]

The next three weeks are probably the toughest set of fixtures that County have faced in their History, Including yesterday's game our three week fixture list goes, Hibs (A).. Caley (H) ..Hibs (H).. Dundee (H)...Caley (A)... Dunfermline (A)

If we were to win all those league games, I would then say we would be in pole position for the league. However I don't think we'll be able to do that, I really think it's too many big games too close together.

As for this weekend's game. I am sure the County players will be full of confidence after this weekend, but they may also have an eye on next Tuesday's game.

Caley have been guilty in games against us this season of "not being up for it", but I think given that County have had a higher profile in the media since we beat Dundee a few weeks back, that they will be more up for it, along with the fact that they have found a bit of form then they will probably be a harder game than what we've faced so far against them.

Who'll win ?? Personally I think it's too tight to call, and if Dundee win their game it could be a boost for them, but then if Dundee lose, then it could be a valuable point for both teams...

Interesting times ahead.

[bunglebonce]

Why does yoda always have goad so much? It's embarrassing when I have to agree with TheScarf.

I worry about the amount of goals ICT have in their forward line, as well as the height advantage at set pieces.

However, County's standard line-up verus Caley's means that County have more men in the key areas of the pitch, apart from up front. That's not been a problem in the two league victories, because Gardyne has had so much enjoyment out of Munro's and Bulvitis's relative lack of mobility.

Personally, I'd love to see a confident Giaco up front with Gardyne pulling the Caley back four all over the place, but he seems out of contention at the moment.

[Reference]

yoda, on 14 March 2010 - 20:39, said:

Well we kind of are. You see squire, this season - the present time and not the distant past - Ross County have reached the QFs of the Scottish Cup and Caley have not. Therefore this season Ross County are better than ICT in the Scottish Cup.

We made the QF last season. Anyway this isn't going anywhere so just leave it.

It would be a brave man who beat eitheir of us on their coupons this weekend.

This post has been edited by Reference: 14 March 2010 - 23:17

[jay_7]

If we play like we did against Morton, I fear a gubbing is on the cards. Foran really is going to be missed in this game.

I expect to see:

Esson

Proctor Tokely Munro Golabek

Odhiambo Cox Duncan Hayes

Sanchez

Rooney

It's time the team delivered on the pitch and make good on their pre-season intentions to get us promoted again. Get right intae these smelly be-wheeled house dwelling b*****ds!

[Loki]

Should be another highly entertaining affair. The last game at Victoria Park seen County coast through the game until Caley applied pressure in the last quarter of the game, and Caley could have pinched a point in that dying minutes. Ryan Esson had a marvellous game that day and kept Caley in it. Both teams are equally capable of breaching one another's defence, so there will be goals in the game.

The only wee doubt I have in my mind is the players might not be fully committed as they have been in the previous encounters due to the huge game against Hibs the following Tuesday. If we play like we are capable we will put the Caley defence under immense pressure, so I think we can win this game. Dundee will be hoping for a draw in this game.

Our head to head record against Caley is poor overall. With County having 9 wins to ICT's 16. With a further 8 being draws. This season has seen County win both league games 3-1 and 2-1, while ICT put County out of the Challenge Cup 1-0 on their run to the final. County should have a full squad to choose from apart from Steven Watt who is expected to miss this game also. I would expect the same 11 that started against HIbs to play. The only change I can imagine happening is Kettlewell coming in for Vigurs, with Scott moving left. However given Vigurs performance against Hibs it would be harsh on him.

Andy Barrowman will get the ideal opportunity to show the Caley management team what he can do when played in a role he can play. He is bound to score.

[SandyCromarty]

He was like Andy Embarrassment for us but if he scores for you then all well and good, has he got the #9 on his back cos I like many other Caley fans haven't a clue what Barrowman looks like.

[ICTChris]

Richie Foran will be a massive loss for us - the best we can hope for without him is a draw.

[SandyCromarty]

Aint that a fact, he was a big miss on saturday.

[sophia]

Loki, on 15 March 2010 - 15:35, said:

Andy Barrowman will get the ideal opportunity to show the Caley management team what he can do when played in a role he can play. He is bound to score.

I'll think you will find that he had plenty time to do that in his time with the city club.
He flunked it.
He's only got himself to blame for the situation he now finds himself in.