Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C » By the numbers http://caley.theoffside.com News about Inverness Caledonian Thistle Scottish football team Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:36:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Falkirk and Caley: A Short History http://caley.theoffside.com/by-the-numbers/falkirk-and-caley-a-short-history.html http://caley.theoffside.com/by-the-numbers/falkirk-and-caley-a-short-history.html#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 04:38:06 +0000 Ian Rose http://caley.theoffside.com/by-the-numbers/falkirk-and-caley-a-short-history.html On Saturday, the Bairns of Falkirk will visit the Highlands for the last time in the league for at least a season – that much we know. If Caley win (or draw, but don’t tell the boys), we stay up in the league and send Falkirk packing down to the likes of Ross County. If we lose, it’s us relegated.

I thought it might be time for a look at some of the matches we’ve played with the Bairns in days past. Here goes.

We’ve met Falkirk 18 times, 9 in Inverness and 9 away. Three of those have been cup matches, the most important coming this season, when Falkirk kicked us out of the Scottish Cup quarterfinals on their way to the final against Rangers. In fact, those three knockout meetings have led to three Caley losses … and with this weekend being a virtual knockout, it doesn’t bode well. In the league, the Bairns hold the slight advantage, with seven wins to our six.

Recent history is definitely on the side of the visitors. The last time we met was the most one-sided match in the history between us, with Falkirk murdering us 4-0. Before that, we had beaten them 4-1 and 4-2, but never 4-0. In fact, Caley has only won one of the last five matchups, 2-1 in Falkirk on goals by Cowie and Imrie. We are missing our all-time scorer against them, John Rankin with four goals, who now hangs his hat on the green side of Edinburgh.

The records don’t lie – we should be considered underdogs. But we have two things going for us – first, we are at home, and though that provided little help in the early season, our home form has improved. Second, as cynical as it may seem, we only need the draw, and this is a team that can grind one of those out – just ask Celtic.

Two days until it’s all over and we know. As I’ve told my friends here, I’ll be out Saturday night, drinking to the boys in blue and red, regardless. The only point left to be decided is whether it will be a celebration or a wake.

]]> http://caley.theoffside.com/by-the-numbers/falkirk-and-caley-a-short-history.html/feed 3 By the Numbers: The Turn Around http://caley.theoffside.com/by-the-numbers/by-the-numbers-the-turn-around.html http://caley.theoffside.com/by-the-numbers/by-the-numbers-the-turn-around.html#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:43:19 +0000 Ian Rose http://caley.theoffside.com/by-the-numbers/by-the-numbers-the-turn-around.html Everyone at Caley Thisle has a strange air about them. Replacing the feelings of disappointment, frustration, anger, blame, etc … is hope. Actual hope, not only of the concession prize of a cup run, but of SPL survival and real cup glory. Let’s break down exactly what has happened, by the numbers.

1. Reality check: it helps to play Hibs at home.
1.204: Our points-per-game overall in the SPL, since promotion.
2.125: Our points-per-game in the home vs. Hibs fixture, our most successful ever.
-27: Our total goal differential in the SPL, since promotion.
+11: The GD of the home vs. Hibs fixture.

2. Over a damned year …
432: Days since the last time we had a three-game unbeaten streak in the SPL (before today)

3. Comparing Butcher’s first three fixtures (home vs. Celtic, away vs. Dundee United, home vs. Hibs)
1: Combined points from the three fixtures under Brewster this season (1 draw, 2 losses)
5: Combined points from the same fixtures under Butcher (1 win, 2 draws)

4. Defense, defense, defense
1: Clean sheets under Brewster this SPL season (23 total games: it was opening day.)
2: Clean sheets under Butcher this SPL season (3 total games)

5. The home front
5: SPL points at home this season under Brewster (13 total games)
4: SPL points at home this season under Butcher (2 total games)

It’s hard to compare a short time to a long one, and I attach all the appropriate warning to this. But it just shows how dismal our season under Craig Brewster was. I have a lot of respect for the man as a player (congrats on scoring today, by the way Brew, even if it was for County), but we clearly needed a change … and its starting to look like we got it.

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