Now that the season has finally been ended, we now await a result on league reconstruction. Other than our views on league reconstruction (which are in the relevant thread), we now have nothing to discuss so I thought I'd start a thread regarding building for next season. 

First things first, I'm worried that Hearts will come in for John Robertson, especially if Hearts the restruction vote and indeed get relegated to the Championship, which would then result in Daniel Stendel resigning. 

Hopefully the majority of our squad stay so that we can present a strong fight with Hearts and Dundee, in the push for ending as league winners. 

Imho, we need to sign quality rather than quantity and also utilise some of our promising youngsters in the first team squad. 

At the moment, we have signed Shane Sutherland and are losing Shaun Rooney to Saint Johnstone and possibly White to Motherwell (taken from Scott Burns Twitter account). 

My take on what we need in order to compete with Hearts and Dundee, which I'm happy for you to disagree with, add to or even debate 😛

Imho, our defence and a 20-25 goals a season striker would be what I'd be prioritising.  I do understand that we need money to get these, hence why I said that we need to utilise the youngsters into the first team.  Players like Cammy Mackay, Cameron Harper, Roddy Mcgregor and Daniel Mackay (there are probably more that I've forgotten to mention) are, in my opinion, capable of becoming first team regulars and making a difference :ictscarf:

If only we had a rich business man/woman that could back Robbo, like Utd (Ogren) and Dundee (Nelms) have 😟

Look at who you're responding to...

Regardless, your last sentence sums it up perfectly.

Edited June 15, 20205 yr by RiG

I think this signifies common sense. We need stability at this moment in time and I think Robbo certainly will achieve that. My only concern is he doesn't have a great track record in promoting youth, but going by SG comments on podcast I think our youth system will be the first casualty and we will be recruiting from down south. 

Each to there own but I think a lot of people on here overrate Robbo big time some of the comments about him are cringeworthy he turned X amount of players in to prem players 3 of them had played in the prem before! Sometimes it's good to roll the dice try something different that said I'll still be there in my new Caley top supporting the troops

2 minutes ago, Alan Simpson said:

Each to there own but I think a lot of people on here overrate Robbo big time some of the comments about him are cringeworthy he turned X amount of players in to prem players 3 of them had played in the prem before! Sometimes it's good to roll the dice try something different that said I'll still be there in my new Caley top supporting the troops

What you on about "overrating him" mans gotten us to 3 Scottish Cup Semis in the 5 years he's been with us, all of which were with a First Division/Championship side. As well as finishing in (what would be) the playoff spots in 4 of those 5 seasons. Including 2 (potentially 3) Challenge Cups.

For the people critical of extending the manager's contract, just who do they think we could attract in the current circumstances would be better and as experienced?

This element of stability is very welcome in such uncertain times.

1 hour ago, Jack Waddington said:

What you on about "overrating him" mans gotten us to 3 Scottish Cup Semis in the 5 years he's been with us, all of which were with a First Division/Championship side. As well as finishing in (what would be) the playoff spots in 4 of those 5 seasons. Including 2 (potentially 3) Challenge Cups.

There u go pal answered your own question all while we were a 1st division side he's had years to get us promoted wev also been humiliated in each of his big cup games so defo overrated in my eyes! He's no been here 5 years either just feels like that my man! Sure every1s got there own opinions of him I just think every manager should have a shelf life 3 /4 seasons tops to achieve things at any club gets stale after a while like Wenger at Arsenal 

45 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

For the people critical of extending the manager's contract, just who do they think we could attract in the current circumstances would be better and as experienced?

This element of stability is very welcome in such uncertain times.

Why would u think we couldn't attract anybody you've a very low opinion of Caley as a club sure you'd be surprised the amount of managers who'd see us a a good move!

3 minutes ago, Alan Simpson said:

He's no been here 5 years either just feels like that my man!

Was referring to his previous stint in 2002-04, where he took us from mid table during the Pele era in the First Division to Promotion to the SPL. In those two seasons he was with us, he took us on back to back trips to Hampden and got us a Challenge Cup. The man knows what he's doing with the club, he's saved us before, and he can do it again, he's probably the best manager the club has ever had. Obviously Yogi is up there cos he took us to a League Cup final, a Scottish Cup title and Europe, but Robbo is better with working on a tight budget.

Some players/managers just 'fit' a club. Robbo is one of those.   Given the resources he has had (or more specifically not had) he has done remarkably well for our club in his management career and I hope to see him continue in that role for many years to come. 

You want to sanctify Yogi or Butcher - go ahead. Personally I wont try and tell you that you are wrong. Both had wonderful moments in charge of ICT and have a rightful place in our history. Getting us back to the Premiership, winning us the Scottish Cup - you cant take any of that away. However, also remember that both of these managers oversaw the greatest budgets in our club's history, one to bounce back to the Premiership and the other whilst we were in it. If you want a manager to make something out of nothing using a budget to match then Robbo is your man , and right here, right now, I would rather have him at the helm than any other manager in our history.  

 

Perhaps all he needs is Donald Park by his side.🤔

9 minutes ago, Satan said:

Perhaps all he needs is Donald Park by his side.🤔

Aye and Alan Simpson off his back!

8 minutes ago, micaley68 said:

Aye and Alan Simpson off his back!

I am sure JR would wear the scorn of Alan as a badge of honour. 

3 hours ago, micaley68 said:

Aye and Alan Simpson off his back!

Haha plenty fans fancying a change! I'll be the scape goat for our humpings at Arbroath and Hibs now lol

Edited June 15, 20205 yr by Alan Simpson
Spelling

Just seen that Liverpool have dumped some of their players. Obviously Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne are never going to happen, but there are a few players that have been dumped, and potentially could be taken in with us on a free, none of which have made any appearances for the Liverpool first team. 

Think if we're not looking for keepers, these are the ones we should be looking at:

Jack Walls (Defender, only been at Liverpool) or, Issac Christie-Davies (Midfielder, went to Brugge on loan, no appearances for either). They're the only two outfielders who've been released, Christie-Davies has played internationally as a youth for Wales and England, but hasn't been called up since 2018.

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/11956567/liverpool-release-lallana-clyne-premier-league/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=bau_paid_social_sunfacebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=uv_audience&utm_content=paid_boost

Edited June 28, 20205 yr by Jack Waddington

Trafford, having left ICT under freedom of contract, signs for Hamilton. 

👀👀👀

https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/josh-leaves-the-club/

7 hours ago, Jack Waddington said:

👀👀👀

https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/josh-leaves-the-club/

If he’s rejected an offer from Dundee, I don’t see him coming back here. 

 

10 hours ago, RiG said:

Trafford, having left ICT under freedom of contract, signs for Hamilton. 

Whilst another of Alan’s favourites gets a contract in the top league....

Hamilton take all our cast offs.

53 minutes ago, Robert said:

If he’s rejected an offer from Dundee, I don’t see him coming back here. 

 

I don't see him getting a bigger/better paying club than Dundee as he's hardly set the heather alight there. Only answer I can see is back home to a L1 EFL club that pays twice Dundee wages.

Surprised no one has mentioned the parting shot(s) fired here...

 

Wasn't today (July 1), Shane Sutherland's first day back at ICT after signing a pre contract a few months ago ? 

6 hours ago, RiG said:

Surprised no one has mentioned the parting shot(s) fired here...

 

More surprised about the sod all thanks from the club. Some way to thank a player for his service who's been kicking a ball for us for the past 7 years.

17 hours ago, Jack Waddington said:

More surprised about the sod all thanks from the club. Some way to thank a player for his service who's been kicking a ball for us for the past 7 years.

That’s a bit harsh:

https://ictfc.com/end-of-season-2019-20-squad-update

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Robert said:

That’s a bit harsh:

https://ictfc.com/end-of-season-2019-20-squad-update

A passing mention in a squad update statement is hardly saying thanks directly, feels more like they're saying "X, Y and Z are leaving the club. Oh and by the way, so is Carly, thanks for everything". Nor have they even acknowledged his heartfelt statement, all those duties have been left for the fans to do.

You can read Carl's statement two different ways. 1. He meant it's a shame the way it finished not getting a send off from the fans due to covid or 2. A shame he didn't get offered a new contract. Although honestly, it was probably the latter. 

Sometimes you have to be brutal. Robbo has a budget. If Carl was on decent wages and we have a capable deputy on peanuts. Why not bring in the deputy and redivert the wages to positions where we need more quality. I'm not meaning to be brutal to Carl because I loved his passion and commitment to our club but we can't be sentimental when finances are so tight and the only way drastically improve our finances is promotion. Which comes from a better and balanced squad. The nature of our squad generally means we have 11 decent starters, then cover. 2 good left backs seems silly.