Inverness CT have, today, signed defender Joe Chalmers on a two year deal.
The twenty three old, who has represented Scotland at every level up to Under 21’s, spent the last two years at Motherwell having started on the books of Celtic.
Chalmers made his senior Hoops debut at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in 2012 and has also had a loan spell at Falkirk.
Robbo's first game back at the helm was a low key pre-season friendly at New Mossett Park Forres against Highland League opposition.
With a distinct lack of signed players in our squad after the shambles of last season, we fielded no less than five trialists as Robbo looked to get a semblence of a squad together capable of playing in the Championship this season.
We started the game with what looked like this XI. Esson, Raven, Trialist, Mckay, Warren, Trialist, Polworth, Draper, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist. Even the regular Caley Jags fans were struggling to grasp who the newbies were, but some made a good stab at it and I'll do my best to put names to add them to the report. And true to form, someone came up with these names:- trialists are Chalmers, Leitch, Davidson, Oakley and Elbouzedi. Ridgers on the bench, so that makes the team something like this
1 Esson, 2 Raven, 3 Chalmers, 4 McKay, 5 Warren, 6 Leitch, 7 Polworth, 8 Draper, 9 Davidson, 10 Oakley, 11 Elbouzedi
Subs:- 12 MacDonald, 14 Lawton, 15 Stark, 16 Chalmers, 17 Foy, 18 Wilson, 19 Ridgers (GK)
As you would expect, it took a while for our players to get to know a little about each other and we struggled to make much headway in a first half dominated by the Mechanics who could have scored a couple but for some timely interventions.
The second period saw a massive swing in the favour of Robbo's squad who dominated for long spells, but it took until the 75th minute for Brad Mckay to power a deep corner home. A late free kick saw the ball smack off the bar and that was it as far as the action was concerned.
Young trialist striker Scott Davidson was carried off and reports suggest he has broken a bone in his foot.
For Robbo, it will be about finding out more about the players he will need for the coming campaign. Good luck with that.
From Forres, we went North to Brora. The Cattachs had taken the lead through Kyle Macleod, but a John Baird hat-trick which included a penalty and two assists from Draper saw Inverness take control before George Oakley ended the scoring from an Alex Cooper cross. 1-4 the final score.
There's an excellent and detailed report up on the Brora Rangers website Brora 1-4 ICT
From our own forum, Bughtmaster went North and summarised neatly, so I nicked it:- "Watching the first half at Brora the doubts in my mind were synonymous with what I felt last year at the same match. Even in the warm up the lack of cohesion and ambition was obvious, however it did pick up when Rice went across to them and got them organised. Notables in the first half were Raven, Draper, Baird, Mulraney (though his play was sussed out and made too obvious at first) Oakley showed some promise but ran offside too often. Ridgers I am afraid filled me with dread with his mishandling of crosses in front of goal, flapping personified I would call it, positioning and drilling were much better. Esson however will have to find a solution to his handling of crosses, Ridgers is a tall lad and should be able to do an awful lot better in removing danger.
Second half for the team was a different story, organisation and cohesion came into play and we suddenly looked a very much better side, confidence grew as the goals went in and we started to look hungry. All in all comparing last year and this I am more confident of getting something out of this season, whereas last season I could not see any promise. Cheers Bughtmaster.
After Brora, we had a run out at Station Park Nairn with our squad made up with mainly trialists and Clachnacuddin players.
Starting XI in Nairn:- Esson, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Stark, Trialist, Trialist, MacDonald, Trialist, Trialist,Trialist. Bench:- Foster, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist. If you ask me, that's an awful lot of trialists. Rumour has it that Alex Cooper played as did Joe Chalmers (ex Motherwell). As it turns out, we had this XI starting:- Ryan Esson, Adam Blake (T), Joe Chalmers (T), David Ferguson (T), Jack Leitch (T), Chiedu Ikeme (Clach), Aiden Wilson (T), Liam Shewan (Clach), Alex Cooper (T), Eddie Barton (Clach), Rorie Macleod (Clach), Liam Ross (Clach).
Game ended in a 1-4 win for Inverness. Goals came from Liam Shewan, Joe Chalmers with a thumping 30yard strike, an Alex Cooper tap in and Aiden Wilson. Kenny McKenzie scored for the hosts.
The main squad were kept back for Elgin on Saturday. Maybe we would have been better with Friday nights squad as Elgin won convincingly 2-0 with goals from Cameron and Reid after dominating the second half. ICT:- Esson, Seedorf, Calder, Elbouzedi, Warren, Eldsdon, Polworth, Draper, Duffy, Vigurs, Mulraney. Subs: Ridgers (GK), Raven, Stark, MacDonald, Wilson.
There's a full report in the local press Elgin 2-0 ICT
There will be a game against Clach at Grant Street on Tuesday night with a 7:45 kick off Clach game cancelled.
After that, there's no hiding place and the season kicks off in earnest with a home League Cup game against Brechin City next Saturday. The action starts at 15:00.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle have snapped up their seventh signing of the summer so far with the capture of Zak Elbouzedi.
The nineteen year old Irish winger joins from English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion on a two year deal and played for the Caley Jags as a trialist in the recent friendly win over Forres Mechanics.
Inverness manager John Robertson added “We’re delighted that Zak has joined us, he brings pace and power to our attack and we see enormous potential in him. I’m looking forward to working with Zak and seeing him develop in the Highlands.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Manager John Robertson has completed a double swoop with the signings of Riccardo Calder and Matthew Elsdon.
The twenty one year old Calder, who’s formerly of Aston Villa has signed a two year deal and has already had a taste of the Scottish game following a loan spell with Dundee in 2015. He’s also had loan spells at Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City.
Twenty year old Elsdon, who plays in central defence, joins the club on a season long loan from English Championship side Middlesbrough.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Manager John Robertson, today, made his fourth signing of the summer with the capture of Collin Seedorf.
The twenty two year old Dutchman spent the last three seasons at RKC Waalwijk in his home land and is the nephew of Dutch international Clarence Seedorf.
Caley Thistle Manager John Robertson added “We’re delighted to add Collin to the squad; he’s someone who I’ve had my eye on for a while and know the fans will look forward to seeing him in action.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Manager John Robertson, today, added striker George Oakley and Goalkeeper Mark Ridgers to his squad for next season’s Ladbrokes Championship campaign.
George Oakley
The twenty one year old forward arrives from English League One side AFC Wimbledon, where he came up through their youth system. Oakley, who was on loan at Maidstone United last season, has also had loan spells at Welling United & Kingstonian and has signed a one year deal with the Caley Jags. Caley Thistle Manager John Robertson commented “I’ve been aware of George for the last couple of seasons. He’s a young, athletic, physical forward who we believe can only improve over the next couple of seasons and develop into a very good striker.”
Mark Ridgers
The twenty six year old’s Inverness born and bred and started his career at Ross County before spells at Hearts, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Orlando City and latterly Partick Thistle. Ridgers previously worked under John Robertson whilst on loan at East Fife in 2011/12 and has connections to the club with his older brother Ally Ridgers who was formerly on the books at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
Caley Thistle manager John Robertson commented “I’ve worked with Mark in the past at Hearts and East Fife and know all about his qualities.He’ll bring stiff competition to the goalkeeping position and he’s a local lad who knows the club, fans and area really well. I’m looking forward to him being at the football club for many years to come.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson has made his first signing of the new season, with John Baird agreeing a one year deal.
The thirty one year old forward joins the Caley Jags after a two and a half year spell at Falkirk where he scored 36 goals in over 80 appearances.
Baird has also played for Queen of the South, Partick Thistle, Dundee, St Mirren and Raith Rovers, where he helped win the Challenge Cup in 2014 scoring an extra time winner against Rangers in the final.
Caley Thistle manager John Robertson added “I’m delighted as well as everyone else to welcome John Baird to the football club.
John brings a great knowledge and experience of playing in the Ladbrokes Championship and is a proven goalscorer at this level.
I’m excited to work with him and hope he plays his part in a potent Inverness Caledonian Thistle attack this season.”
