In the last 12 months or so, Caley Thistle have not lost on their travels. In the same period, we have won just once - and that was at Tannadice last month. It is an appalling away record. I thought 2008 was bad when we won just three away league games but, whatever happens on Sunday, 2010 will be even worse and must be one of our worse ever calendar years for away form. Coming as it does after a 2009 that saw just one home league win, it shows what the last few years have been like for us.
Making a win even more unlikely is the fact that our record in Inverness is pretty shocking. We have won their just three times, the most recent being our first away win in 2008. We have often gone there and been thrashed, although fortunately we don't have to worry about the Paul "not the sort of striker we are looking for" Ritchie factor anymore, which is a bonus. To top things off, Caley Thistle have been going superbly this season and currently sit fourth. If Hearts or Hibs were in that position I wouldn't be expecting us to win there, so I suppose the same should apply even though it's the SPL's new boys.
After a fortnight off, you can expect quite a few changes to the side that performed so poorly in the defeat to St. Johnstone. One of those will surely be in goal, with Paul Gallacher replacing Craig Samson. I had been pleasantly surprised with how Samson had been doing, however it's probably about time he was given some time on the sidelines again. Gallacher should now be fit and has featured in bounce games recently, so the time is right for him to make his return.
There will be at least one other change in the side, with Gareth Wardlaw dropping out due to suspension. Like Samson, I've been pleased with how he's fared after low expectations but, like Samson, I think he was due being dropped anyway. He works away hard, but he's not scoring enough goals and has missed some pretty bad sitters. He's a bit like a cheaper Billy Mehmet and it's worth noting our superb form in December two years ago came when Mehmet was dropped. Perhaps the introduction of Paul McQuade or Craig Dargo in his place will see things change. However, another option would be for Paul McGowan to move up front and Aaron Mooy or Kenny McLean to get a chance in midfield.
Many fans have been calling for a return to a back four, despite the fact our best performances this season have been with a 3-5-2. And if we were to do that, who would play on the left? Steven Robb and Nick Hegarty are both injured, so we'd either need to play a midfielder out of position or move Jure Travner up front and slot David Barron in at the left. Even that still leaves problems on the right, although Jamie McCluskey could start. If we did revert to a back four, it's likely Marc McAusland would drop out - although it will be no surprise to regular readers of this site that I think it should be John Potter making way instead. To be honest, I expect it to be 3-5-2 again with the change in keeper and striker the only alterations. As well as doing without Hegarty and Robb - who will surely be departing next month - we are still without Lee Mair, Hugh Murray and Garry Brady.
Inverness Caley Thistle are a rare SPL side in that they have a manager I quite like. Terry Butcher may be ex Rangers and England, but he seems like a decent enough guy and his press conferences can sometimes be amusing. After a bit of a nightmare following his departure from Motherwell in 2006, he's worked wonders in Inverness despite being at the helm when Caley Thistle were relegated. Promotion last season has been followed by a great start this time around and could see Caley fans going ballistic if their side makes Europe. With poor Hibs and Aberdeen sides this season it's not beyond the realms of possibility, and a top six place will surely be theirs come the end of the season.
Any good will I have towards Caley Thistle because of Butcher is more than wiped out by their continual employment of the thug known as Ross Tokely. It proves just how little justice there is that, while Tokely ruined the career of Chris Kerr, he has managed to go on and be a professional footballer for over a decade - and seems to be highlighted by Caley Thistle fans and some journalists as a fine professional. He is not. He is a clogger and a hatchetman and it shows what is wrong with Scottish football that he seems to be highly rated. He's scored against us in the past and always seems to do well against us, despite the abuse he takes, but he will never change my opinion of him.
Tokely isn't the only long serving player Caley Thistle have as they still have Roy McBain, David Proctor, Grant Munro, Stuart Golabek and Russell Duncan on their books, the majority of whom have been there for a decade or so. However, it's some relative newcomers who have caught the eye in the last 18 months. Adam Rooney has proved to be a more prolific striker recently than his more famous namesake, while Jonny Hayes has been a revelation in midfield. He scored a screamer the other week against Rangers and boh he and Rooney may well attract attention when the transfer window opens next week. Fortunately for us, it looks as if he'll be out injured.
With our away form a win is unlikely, but Caley Thistle have only won twice at home this season. While a Saints victory would be unexpected, it would be even more of a surprise if this game went ahead!