Geography has always been a big deal when it comes to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. For a start, it is the reason that the Highlands weren't allowed to have a team in the Scottish League until 1994. It has also been a bit of double-edged sword when it comes to signing players. In the past it has been very difficult to convince pros from the central belt to move north - presumably because of the lack of indoor plumbing and electricity (or, going by several players' Twitter accounts, the lack of a 'Nandos' restaurant!) On the other hand, when they did come, often they and their families got settled, choosing to stay in the area for less money rather than move location again. That's why many of the side that played for Steve Paterson and John Robertson around the turn of the millennium remained for far longer than you'd expect in this age of footballing mercenaries.
But all good things come to an end sooner or later - even Ross Tokely (if that doesn't spark a response from some of you, nothing will!). And so, with the club unable to match the wages being offered by other clubs in Scotland's top flight, Terry Butcher introduced a new transfer policy. Caley Thistle would look for youngsters with potential in England's lower leagues, even the non-leagues. They would be offered a year or two in the far north, and the chance to test themselves at a higher level - if, indeed the SPFL Premiership is still a higher level than the English Conference - and to make a name for themselves. If they performed, they would earn a move to a bigger club at the end of their contract.
For the most part, this has been successful. In fact, in the recent Scottish Cup thumping by Dundee United, ten of the club's starting eleven were players who had been signed by English clubs. They're quite a motley crew, this squad. Look at the defence for a start. 29 year old right-back David Raven played twice for England's under-21's and made a handful of appearances for Liverpool's first team before going on to play for Carlisle, Shrewsbury and Tranmere. Beside him is Gary Warren, who is the same age as Raven, but who was working as a PE teacher less than 2 years ago. His previous clubs include such footballing luminaries as Mangotsfield United, Team Bath and Newport County. And in goal is Dean Brill, who played in League One as a teenager but, a decade on, spent last season on the bench at Conference side Luton Town.
So, given that ICT are heading for their second consecutive top six finish, and in their first ever League Cup Final, you'd think a few of these players will be looking to move on to bigger and better things, wouldn't you?
Apparently not.
Scottish football is currently in an era where, apart from Celtic, a club's transfer activity is judged in terms of how much weaker the squad is left at the end of a transfer window, not how much stronger. Yet Inverness can already boast that all but one first team regular - midfielder Ross Draper - is already under contract for next year.
Maybe it's the geographical effect again - though players from the south of England can get home to London by plane quicker than central belt Scots can get to Edinburgh or Glasgow by road or rail. But I suspect it's something more than that. You only have to look at what happened when Terry Butcher left in November to become Hibs boss. Immediately, it was assumed that, with a bigger wage budget, he would return to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and cherry-pick the best players. Two automatically stood out - captain Richie Foran, who had played for Butcher at Motherwell and had been his first signing at Caley Thistle, and Jamie Vincent, who had impressed after moving from Kidderminster last summer before injuring his knee.
Foran signed a new contract at Inverness before he even knew who the new manager would be. Vincent returned to fitness in January, and signed a 2 year deal at the start of February. Why? It appears that these players are happy in Inverness, and happy with each other. They were brought to the club because of their potential and ability; it appears many of them have the right character too, even if they don't have great talent. Heck, this is a bunch who were offered a week off after Butcher left, since it was an international break; incredibly, they turned it down and chose to continue training instead.
Mind you, it is unclear whether they are playing for their new boss as well as each other. John Hughes has had a mediocre start to his tenure. Most damningly, he has managed only one win in seven home matches - and that was in a cup replay against Stranraer. There have been some impressive performances - wins at Aberdeen and Ross County, and that incredible semi-final triumph with nine men against Hearts - but there have also been some shockers, such as last weekend's 5-0 reverse to Dundee United at home. In recent weeks, Hughes has for the first time dared to tinker with the formula Butcher left him, switching from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2. Hopefully, after conceding five in two consecutive matches, he will go back to the tried and tested.
Foran is a hugely influential figure. Opposing fans tend to dislike him, and for good reason, as he is prone to a dodgy tackle now and again, and few players show as much dissent to officials as he does. After spending his career playing in a wide midfield role or as a central striker, the Irishman has been reinvented this season as a deep-lying midfield player. The move has been an enormous success. 34 in the summer, Foran hasn't got the legs that he used to, but his current role maximises the benefits of his strength, his positional sense, his experience and, perhaps most importantly, his leadership skills. He will be well aware that he probably won't get another chance to play in a cup final.
Inverness definitely come into Sunday's match as the underdog. They are in inferior form to Aberdeen, and their fans will be outnumbered by a ratio of 5 to 1. But being unfancied tends to suit them, and given their good away form this season, they are unlikely to be fazed by the huge Dons support. If their players show the same attitude and spirit that they've displayed so often over the last couple of seasons, then they could well get their hands on the League Cup.
L.
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