The January transfer window is almost upon us. What business would you like to see us do bearing in mind our limited resources?

Despite our defences lapses, I actually think we have a decent bunch of defenders when fit and also options in midfield albeit with Tansey and Vigurs both struggling for form.

I would rather see us strengthen up front. I see that Rory Loy has been told he can leave Dundee on a free. While he seems to have lost his way a bit at Dens, I think he is a decent forward who could do a job for us. 

Given the lack of game time he has had, I wonder if there is a possibility of getting Miles Storey on loan as well.

Hopefully look closer to home to find a gem. There must be at least one or maybe two from the Highland League that with full time training, the right coaching and development could maybe make their mark. Appreciate it's a gamble but good players slip through net we just need to identify them.     

7 minutes ago, forresjags said:

Hopefully look closer to home to find a gem. There must be at least one or maybe two from the Highland League that with full time training, the right coaching and development could maybe make their mark. Appreciate it's a gamble but good players slip through net we just need to identify them.     

 

7 minutes ago, forresjags said:

 

Shane Sutherland 

Sounds fair, gives time for a full appraisal of his potential and a wonderful chance for the lad to come good.

If he is a grafter, shows the right attitude and scores goals then he is right for us regardless of who he has played for.

Let's welcome him and get behind Richie.

Hope I'm proved wrong but the Transfermarkt career to date information on Dean Ebbe is really disappointing ... striker hasn't even been his preferred role ... and as for goals scored ... 

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dean-ebbe/profil/spieler/223628

 

Don't worry, this Ebbe thing is all just a clever hoax by the ICT media team.

Obviously there's no way a player who didn't make the grade in the LOI and slid down to amateur level over there would suddenly earn a move to our top flight. Just how desperate do you think we are?!

8 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Don't worry, this Ebbe thing is all just a clever hoax by the ICT media team.

Obviously there's no way a player who didn't make the grade in the LOI and slid down to amateur level over there would suddenly earn a move to our top flight. Just how desperate do you think we are?!

You're forgetting that we've already had him on trial?

12 minutes ago, ictfcsince94 said:

You're forgetting that we've already had him on trial?

You're forgetting that some posts are ironic.

I watched Moneyball today, hopefully Richie Foran is the new Jonah Hill.

Oh where, tell me where Did your Highland laddie dwell?
Oh where, tell me where Did your Highland laddie dwell?
He dwelt in bonnie Scotland, Where blooms the sweet blue bell
And it's oh, in my heart I lo'e my laddie well
 

Correct me if I am wrong but did I see a report that Mulraney  did not shine in Dingwall a couple of days ago?

As for the critics it must be remembered that  all this information and disinformation does tend to ebbe and floe.

Think Tore Andre has retired now Scarlet...

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/1133224/caley-jags-hope-bring-dons-forward-storey-back-north/

Whilst the return of Storey would seem a logical move for all parties concerned, the article itself is a classic example of a journalist having no substance whatsoever to accompany the headline, not even so much as a " sources close to the club say...."

Whilst we desperately need a goalscorer, would Storey be the answer? He's barely kicked a ball since August, and in his last 25 games for us scored 6 times, a strike rate worse than Doumbouya.

1 hour ago, Yngwie said:

Whilst the return of Storey would seem a logical move for all parties concerned, the article itself is a classic example of a journalist having no substance whatsoever to accompany the headline, not even so much as a " sources close to the club say...."

Absolutely. Generic phrases like 'have been linked' and 'reports suggest' could simply mean 'ICT supporter in Edinburgh sitting bored at work opens Twitter and thinks, 'time for a spot of  fishing...'' 

Re. your second question, Storey would at least provide pace, a decent finish and the ability to play off the last man; he'd be different to what we have, and would certainly improve the squad. I'm not sure if he's the sort of player that would function all that well as part of a partnership, though - he never showed the ability of, say, Mckay to play with his back to goal and hold the ball up, while also being a prolific finisher in his own right. Those sorts of players are pretty hard to get hold of, though.  

Edited January 6, 20179 yr by alternative maryhill

1 hour ago, Yngwie said:

Whilst we desperately need a goalscorer, would Storey be the answer? He's barely kicked a ball since August, and in his last 25 games for us scored 6 times, a strike rate worse than Doumbouya.

I've wondered this too, when our style of play changed last year to be more defensive Storey increasing cut a lone figure upfront which although he has some pace couldnt win and hold up the ball or create chances himself from our poor build up play - if I can recall much of his success was when Christie was still on loan making things happen. This season we are probably even worse in terms of creativity, I question whether his attributes would actually yield much at all, perhaps played off a stronger player likey Doumb it may work but thats not how Foran likes to line up with 1 up front. What we need is a Higdon/Ofere type player who can bully and create his own changes and provide an outlet from the defence, maybe even Sammon might have worked. This is unless we start to change our style of play and get more from King, Doran & Mulraney to create chances for a striker.

 

Not sure why the surprise - this has been a done deal fer months !! Never mind the stackers like the Walrus and Fisher. What about Storey and Boden ? That would neutralise many of the lumbering centre backs in the SPL, provide us with movement in both attacking and defending aspects, make room for the like of Draper in the "hole" and cut out the hoof tactic. And then we also have the wee Bluebell in reserve.

It's a move that makes sense.  Storey's time with us was the most productive of his career, he has now stalled and we are relatively close.  There's talk of other Scottish teams in for him - Hibs and Dundee Utd both interested but I see United just signed someone on loan.

He'd be a good signing for us - he's got goalscoring pedigree in this league and having someone with a bit of pace up front would allow us to play a bit further up the pitch, to create space and press teams into making mistakes.  Problem is that he's a known quantity now and it's difficult for us to compete with any other team to secure signings, especially not teams with bigger budgets, like Hibs and DU.

I read that Storey was going to the Buddies

1 hour ago, 12th Man said:

I read that Storey was going to the Buddies

Aye Craig Storie...lol 

52 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

Aye Craig Storie...lol 

Hahaha. 

Would be well chuffed to get our one back and he can eventually get to play some football.

Need to recruit some defensive minded players including cover for the back five With Raven, Horner, McNaugthon and Esson unfit options have been pretty slim of late.  

How ironic from this time last year when we never had any options to play upfront we now have 3 on the books, recruited another from Ireland and are being linked with Miles Storey.  

As has been well documented scoring goals has not been the problem, keeping them out however.  

Whatever meagre resources we have need to used to strengthen defensively.    

2 hours ago, forresjags said:

Need to recruit some defensive minded players including cover for the back five With Raven, Horner, McNaugthon and Esson unfit options have been pretty slim of late.  

How ironic from this time last year when we never had any options to play upfront we now have 3 on the books, recruited another from Ireland and are being linked with Miles Storey.  

As has been well documented scoring goals has not been the problem, keeping them out however.  

Whatever meagre resources we have need to used to strengthen defensively.    

There may be defensive issues this season but it can hardly be said that scoring goals has not been the problem. Scoring goals is a problem and remains so. We may have a forward players on the books but none of them can be described as reliable goal scorers let alone anywhere close to being prolific.

Not an easy task and one that we have not fulfilled since Billy McKay departed but we do need a fifteen plus goals a season forward.

2 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

There may be defensive issues this season but it can hardly be said that scoring goals has not been the problem. Scoring goals is a problem and remains so. We may have a forward players on the books but none of them can be described as reliable goal scorers let alone anywhere close to being prolific.

Actually, outside of the top four of Hearts, Aberdeen and the ugly sisters, we've scored the most goals (26). It's that big (40) conceded which is sinking us.

I'd say from the games I've been at it's the shape of the team that's not working, rather than pointing the finger at the defence. The ball isn't sticking up front, and
the midfield just don't seem to be able to protect the back four at all. To my mind, it's players not knowing and sticking to their roles, rather than individual weakness as such.