...oh Inverness is wonderful!
Or so the only vaguely amusing Caley song goes.
This blog hasn't been getting the care and attention it deserves (the wags out there will of course say "yes it has!") because my work situation recently has been, frankly, horrific. But the most important thing that has happened in the footballing universe recently is, of course, ICT winning the first division.
Now, I have an abysmal record when it comes to making predictions on this blog - as soon as I tipped Arsenal for the title, they collapsed, and as soon as I slagged off Hamilton Accies, they went on a brilliant run. As with a "commentator's curse", perhaps there is a "bloggers curse"? Or maybe I am just having delusions of grandeur. But I did say in August that, if someone scored 20 league goals for Inverness, they would win the title. And I said in February that Dundee were on the brink of a massive collapse. In the end I was right on both accounts, though I thought Richie Foran, not Adam Rooney, would be the Caley goal hero, and even I didn't expect a Dundee freefall which saw us win promotion with two games to spare...and avoid a final day showdown with the Blues in Inverness. After the Dens boys held us to a draw on Boxing Day, we were twelve points adrift and out of it. Or so we thought,
The funny thing is, we haven't actually been all that brilliant, even though we have gone ninteen games unbeaten. The difference in the second half of the season has been the ability to grind out results - late winners against Partick and Raith, a last gasp equalizer (thanks to a dodgy penalty) at home to Ayr, a battling draw in Dingwall - these are games that we weren't getting results in earlier in the campaign. But ultimately, we have scored more goals than anyone, and conceded fewer than anyone, so I guess we are worthy champs.
So here's to another season back in the lower half of the SPL, with one up front and safety-first football, with crowded midfields and time-wasting tactics, with Old Firm fans coming North and leaving Buckfast bottles everywhere, along with the stench of sectarianism. Hmm, actually, can we not stay in div 1 for a little longer, please?
In other news...
Who's going to drop out of the SPL? It's a three horse race now, but it would take a brave man to guess which of Falkirk, St. Mirren and Kilmarnock will fall into the abyss. Whichever is relegated is unlikely to display Caley's "bouncebackability" - they are more likely to have the administrators on the doorstep. I'd like to see Falkirk survive, simply for the selfish reason that it's easier to get to away games there - though Steven Pressley really is a complete twat. If he thinks Aberdeen's time wasting is bad, just wait till he faces Hamilton.
Talking of administrators
You can't make it up. Portsmouth's list of creditors, published this week, includes Pukka Pies (40 quid), two quid to Qatar Airways (did someone forget to pay for hand baggage or something?) and, most bizarrely, 72 pounds to the Scout Association. Obviously none of the Portsmouth board got their badge for Financial Management. Dib dib dib and all that.
And lastly
Haven't been on here since Ross County did Celtic in the cup semi. That. Was. Awesome. Bring on the cup final. I have nothing against our Highland neighbours, and might yet join their ranks to cheer them on against Dundee United in the most interesting climax to the Scottish Cup in years.
Regards,
L.
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