HELLO AIRDRIE

 

Tuesday nights fixture is now of the crucial kind if we want to progress in the ViaPlay League Cup, or like the sponsors, we will not be participating for much longer. Given results over the weekend we find ourselves in big trouble with the prospect of getting out of the group stages diminishing rapidly unless we can find our feet and turn over the Diamonds. Not an easy task given their performance on Saturday as they beat Dundee 1-0 with a late penalty to follow up their 2-0 defeat of Dumbarton in their opening fixture. With Dumbarton beating us and a bonus win over the Rose, they are tucked in behind Airdrie in second place with Dundee and ourselves struggling in 3rd & 4th place. Dundee are at home to Dumbarton the following night and will fancy taking three points from that one, so it's win at all costs for us on Tuesday night. 

Kick off 7:45pm Tuesday 25th July

GAME INFO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Team		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD  Pts
1	Air	2	2	0	0	3	0	3	6
2	Dum	3	1	1	1	2	3	-1	5
3	ICT	2	1	0	1	3	3	0	3
4	Dun	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	3
5	Bon	3	0	1	2	1	3	-2	1

 

Team News

Inverness have signed wide player Luis Longstaff on a two year deal from Cove Rangers. Most of our squad have had a run out over these games with the exception of Max Ram who is not match fit yet. If this is still pre-season then it has been somewhat of a failure. The only bonus has been Billy Mckay notching his record equalling 101st goal for the club. That's a fantastic achievement and hopefully it won't be too long before he secures the outright leadership in the goal scoring charts.

 

 

Airdrieonians stunned Dundee at the weekend taking all three points to put them top of the table on six points having also beaten Dumbarton in their opening tie. Plenty of useful players at Airdrie. We know all about Nikolay Todorov but let's not forget that this side hammered Falkirk 6-2 in the Championship play-offs at the end of last season. 

 

Starting XI v Dundee

 

Rae

Watson   Fordyce   Taylor-Sinclair   Ballantyne

Frizzell   McCabe   Aiken

McGregor   Gallagher   McGill

 

Subs: O'Connor (53 McGill), Todorov (78 Gallagher), Telfer (81 Frizzell)

 

It's a long time since we last played Airdrie, in any shape or form. 20 years ago we won the Challenge Cup in Perth 2-0 with goals from Bingham and Hislop against the then Airdrie United. Our last game against an Airdrie XI was a 4-0 win over Airdrie United at the Caledonian Stadium in 2010.

 

Blast from the Past:

Ian Broadfoot reports from the Caledonian Stadium in 2002, probably the final game v the original Airdrieonians.

Steve Paterson's 300th game in charge produced a very welcome victory which stopped a slide down the league. Caley Thistle lay fourth last Saturday but slipped to seventh in midweek without kicking a ball. This win resulted in a climb to fifth. The first half was a nervous period with Caley Thistle trying hard but achieving little. Airdrie's best chance came in the first minute when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out. Mark Roberts drove the ball goalwards and Nicky Walker dived to make a good save. In 13 minutes a high David Bagan cross proved troublesome to Airdrie keeper Allan Ferguson but he tipped it over. Five minutes later a Barry Robson corner from the right reached Grant Munro beyond the back post but he could only bundle the ball over for a goal kick. Stuart Taylor created a chance for himself at the other end in 29 minutes but he wasted it with a scuff past the post. In 33 minutes the home sides best first half chance fell to Dennis Wyness after good interplay with Charlie Christie but the striker hit it over from 10 yards. A minute later Owen Coyle reached a corner at the back post but left it to Taylor but he mishit to concede a goal kick. The tempo of the match changed in 50 minutes when Robson sent over a cross from the left and Martin Bavidge scored at the back post despite Ferguson getting a touch. This lifted Caley Thistle and calmed a few nerves. They kept on top after that but could not score a second goal. Robson strode through the Airdrie defence just after the goal but his shot deflected off Alan McManus. On the hour mark Ferguson raced out of goal to the touchline to just beat Bavidge to the ball. Ferguson saved Airdrie again in 76 minutes when he dived at the feet of Wyness as he stretched to reach a Bavidge curling ball but it went harmlessly for a goal kick. The nerves returned in the last few minutes as Caley Thistle worked hard to preserve their lead. With three minutes left Airdrie nearly stole an equaliser when a seemingly harmless Taylor header beat Walker but came back off the post into the relieved keepers arms. Despite a seemingly endless three minutes of added time Caley Thistle held on to win.

Saturday, March 30th, 2002, 3:00pm

Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
Attendance: 1,709
Referee: C Hardie

 

Airdrie Info: They were formed in 2002 as Airdrie United Football Club following the liquidation of the original Airdrieonians club, formed in 1878. The club's official name was changed in 2013 with the approval of the Scottish Football Association to the traditional name of Airdrieonians.

We desperately need to strengthen the defence before the league season starts. 

Sh*t start to the season, regardless of previous season end ! 

We need a new manager with fresh ideas.

Don’t think that’s a question that should be raised right now. The guy has just been offered a 2 year contract. Irrespective whether we think that was right or wrong, the fact is it is in place. We can’t afford to pay him off, simple, so we just move on!  
Tonight’s result ends interest in this cup. We just hope Dodds and the team learn from the mistakes over the past two games and get it right for the league games ahead.  We can’t enter into another winter like last year!!

bc

 

Edited July 25, 20231 yr by big cherly

7 minutes ago, caley1 said:

We need a new manager with fresh ideas.

Signed a two year deal

We have recently seen too much emphasis put on Billy beating our scoring record. Great....but....

For the bigger picture let's hope two poor defeats and a less than convincing win against Bonnyrigg create a big wake up call before we end up bottom of the Championship after our first three games.

16 minutes ago, SteveA said:

We desperately need to strengthen the defence before the league season starts. 

 

3 minutes ago, kenneth thomson said:

Signed a two year deal

Should NEVER have got that far 

Need to shore up the defence and central midfield, plus need a tall target man up front to help Billy. Looked like a bad injury for young Nicholson. On the plus side some nice play from Longstaff early on and Bray when he came on. Looks like the Dundee game will be a pre-season warm up.

With us now out of the competition there will be no point fielding a strong team against Dee. Let's the kids have a go. 

We shot ourselves in the foot by gifting the two goals in the first half. Until then we looked better than in our earlier games.

We were much better in the second half and deservedly got back in it. We played some decent stuff, with Carson, Shaw, Bray and Gilmour probably the pick. Longstaff looks a decent signing too whilst Davidson looks effective going forward and hopefully won’t repeat the slackness that cost us a goal. The jury is out for me with Brooks but he’s not had many minutes.

Devine looks out of sorts but hopefully just needs time to get back to full fitness and sharpness.

We looked the more likely to win it but conceded late on when tying to get a winner.

Now Mckay has passed Wyness’ total hopefully he goes on a scoring run.

Gilmour’s goal was a cracking finish, whilst Samuels came very close before we conceded late on.

I understand the negativity in the posts above (not sure how many of those posting were at the game) but if we can maintain the level of performance we showed in the second half we will not be too far away.

Unfortunately Airdrie are another team that will wind the clock down and try to con the refs.

Losing Lewis Nicolson is a big blow as he was looking good again tonight. I heard it being discussed in the stand that he’d messaged a pal indicating it was a bad one and he could miss the whole season. Hopefully that was just talk and it’s not as serious as feared.

 

 

Edited July 25, 20231 yr by Robert

Sluggish first 60 minutes. Some awful defending and should have been 3-0 down at half time, but weren't as Cammy Mackay dealt with Delaney's gaff in first few minutes. 

Did well to get back to 2-2 which prevented me falling asleep.

Gash defending again for their third. 

Just not good enough. 20 odd minutes of good football out of 90 is just not good enough. 😐 

Edited July 25, 20231 yr by Duke of Inverness

What do we really expect from the same manager and coaching staff that only saved their jobs last season because of a registration mistake from Queens Park? I fear it's going to be a long hard season if this is the standard that's on offer.

Why do most of the teams that play us look sharper, pass the ball better and close us down, hit us on the break and create more chances? It's down to the coaching and the tactics that are implemented in the game, and Dodds is lacking on all fronts. When we eventually get the ball back our first thought is boot it up the park, just get rid of the hot potato instead of looking up and picking a pass to a teammate, like Airdrie were doing.

I haven't made a prediction yet about what I think our final league position will be, but on our showing so far, I think we will struggle to get into the top half of the league this season, there are a lot of good teams this season, and a lot of them will be stronger this term. I hope I'm proved wrong, but we will need to improve 100% more than we have shown so far. We need a good centre back, another good midfielder and to find a good partner for Billy Mckay. I really can't sit through another season of boring ponderous football again.

Thought we looked sluggish in terms of passing and movement. No press on Airdrie despite everyone knowing they were playing from back. Two elementary mistakes for the goals - Devine with a brilliant tackle and then thinking he was Maldini and taking 2 hours to find a pass. That actually summed up the first half - they were sharp, incisive and committed; we were ponderous, shapeless and guileless. 

second half looked to be going the same way until we got that wonder strike from Gilmore. From that point on I thought there was only going to be one winner. Nathan Shaw was a joy to watch - perhaps just the final ball needing a bit more precision. thought Bray looked tidy, Duffy added a bit more direction and Carson actually looked much better at right back. Samuels added a bit more pace and guile. We definitely don’t have an option B for crosses and long balls. Three men up front not one over 5’8!
Thought quite a few of them tired - Gilmore def looked knackered. We looked about 2 -3 weeks behind them in terms of pace and sharpness. 
move no Idea how their keeper made that save at 2-2 

Definitely lacking midfield guile (welsh) and despite the mistake by Davidson in the first half I think we could see a decent partnership with him and Longstaff (who looked knackered by half time!)

 

We have to be the slowest team in the league. Pass across the back four, back and fore back and fore then pass to the keeper😫. GO FORWARD! Take a man on, and show some urgency from the starting whistle. Not when we are 0-2 down! What a shame for Nicholson, i hope its not bad as i have high aspirations for him this season. 

Despite the late finish to last season and the meagre few signings, we don’t currently look like a team capable of making a challenge for the championship. Why do I renew my ST each year !!!!! 🤪

After a bright start I thought Lewis's injury affected the players.  I'd be surprised if he hasn't done his cruciate ligament - looked very like it to me.  I hope I'm wrong - he was playing pretty well, as he did against. Bonnyrig.  The team responded well in the 2nd half and had several chances to take the lead, but messed up.  I think we have the talent available but there was a lack of composure and silly mistakes all over the park.  Great strike from Gilmore and Billy breaking the club's scoring record were at least some consolation on a disappointing night.  

9 minutes ago, Wheelybinz said:

We have to be the slowest team in the league. Pass across the back four, back and fore back and fore then pass to the keeper😫. GO FORWARD! Take a man on, and show some urgency from the starting whistle. Not when we are 0-2 down! What a shame for Nicholson, i hope its not bad as i have high aspirations for him this season. 

Yes, I hope it isn't as bad as it looked, I thought that Nicolson was going to be the breakout player this season. He could really make the LB spot his own.

This passing back and fore across the back line must be Dodds tactics, because they did it all last season as well. There was one attack where we were on the right, nearly in line with their box, and it went backwards, and backwards until in went to the keeper, and it couldn't go any further back, so we had to kick it forward. Pathetic.

25 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said:

What do we really expect from the same manager and coaching staff that only saved their jobs last season because of a registration mistake from Queens Park? I fear it's going to be a long hard season if this is the standard that's on offer.

Why do most of the teams that play us look sharper, pass the ball better and close us down, hit us on the break and create more chances? It's down to the coaching and the tactics that are implemented in the game, and Dodds is lacking on all fronts. When we eventually get the ball back our first thought is boot it up the park, just get rid of the hot potato instead of looking up and picking a pass to a teammate, like Airdrie were doing.

I haven't made a prediction yet about what I think our final league position will be, but on our showing so far, I think we will struggle to get into the top half of the league this season, there are a lot of good teams this season, and a lot of them will be stronger this term. I hope I'm proved wrong, but we will need to improve 100% more than we have shown so far. We need a good centre back, another good midfielder and to find a good partner for Billy Mckay. I really can't sit through another season of boring ponderous football again.

Absolutely 100%

1 hour ago, Jaggernaut said:

What do we really expect from the same manager and coaching staff that only saved their jobs last season because of a registration mistake from Queens Park? I fear it's going to be a long hard season if this is the standard that's on offer.

Why do most of the teams that play us look sharper, pass the ball better and close us down, hit us on the break and create more chances? It's down to the coaching and the tactics that are implemented in the game, and Dodds is lacking on all fronts. When we eventually get the ball back our first thought is boot it up the park, just get rid of the hot potato instead of looking up and picking a pass to a teammate, like Airdrie were doing.

I haven't made a prediction yet about what I think our final league position will be, but on our showing so far, I think we will struggle to get into the top half of the league this season, there are a lot of good teams this season, and a lot of them will be stronger this term. I hope I'm proved wrong, but we will need to improve 100% more than we have shown so far. We need a good centre back, another good midfielder and to find a good partner for Billy Mckay. I really can't sit through another season of boring ponderous football 

6 minutes ago, caley1 said:

1 hour ago, Jaggernaut said:

What do we really expect from the same manager and coaching staff that only saved their jobs last season because of a registration mistake from Queens Park? I fear it's going to be a long hard season if this is the standard that's on offer.

Why do most of the teams that play us look sharper, pass the ball better and close us down, hit us on the break and create more chances? It's down to the coaching and the tactics that are implemented in the game, and Dodds is lacking on all fronts. When we eventually get the ball back our first thought is boot it up the park, just get rid of the hot potato instead of looking up and picking a pass to a teammate, like Airdrie were doing.

I haven't made a prediction yet about what I think our final league position will be, but on our showing so far, I think we will struggle to get into the top half of the league this season, there are a lot of good teams this season, and a lot of them will be stronger this term. I hope I'm proved wrong, but we will need to improve 100% more than we have shown so far. We need a good centre back, another good midfielder and to find a good partner for Billy Mckay. I really can't sit through another season of boring ponderous football 

CEO has that answer I guess 

If we don't have the finances to sack the manager, then we don't have the finances to sign any more players.  If we can only afford one of those options, then it should be cheerio to Dodds, and a whip around to get rid of the person who gave him a 2 year extension.

The stats suggest we were on top (52/48) however 13 attempts on goal with only 3 on target is not a good ratio. 

Still only one clean sheet (v Nairn) this season and we've shipped six goals in three league cup games. Also not a good ratio.

Only time will tell of cousre but the early signs are not filling me confidence that we can make a strong challenge this season.

Hope young Lewis is ok and the injury isn't as serious as mentioned above. I also hope it isn't a start to another injury hit season and the same old excuses being rolled out.

 

7 hours ago, Wheelybinz said:

We have to be the slowest team in the league. Pass across the back four, back and fore back and fore then pass to the keeper😫. GO FORWARD! Take a man on, and show some urgency from the starting whistle. Not when we are 0-2 down! What a shame for Nicholson, i hope its not bad as i have high aspirations for him this season. 

If Nicholson is out for a while we'll maybe get an announcement from the club around Christmas time, if we're lucky!!

Gardiner take off your rose tinted spectacles re Dodds!!

Well I am not going overboard yet although the danger signs are looming in the not so far horizon. To me the last two games have been akin to pre season friendly experimentation. Why else rotate the keepers and make so many changes during the game?? Yet other excuses but probably acceptable are the short preparation time, letting newbies settle in, fitness improvement and seeking the preferred starting eleven and system. I would say that enuff is enuff and we have to use the Dundee game as the opening league game. I presume, given previous comments, that we are persevering with the tippy tappy, play from the back style - which I hate and worry that it is a modern trend that many teams follow. We have been lacking of a tall centre forward for some season but I thought that the purchasing of apparently young, pacy and skilful additions would lead to a more attack minded approach and using width and speed. The upper echelons were lucky last season and have promised much for this campaign. Their heads are already on the blocks and it is time to show us that they can change and care. And quickly!!

11 hours ago, STFU said:

If we don't have the finances to sack the manager, then we don't have the finances to sign any more players.  If we can only afford one of those options, then it should be cheerio to Dodds, and a whip around to get rid of the person who gave him a 2 year extension.

This seasons budget has already been allocated / committed. You’re no mug so I’m sure you already know that!

There are a couple of players Dodds is chasing but the limit on what he can pay for them is in this budget. (Yes that means average to suspect injury prone players that other championship teams won’t go near). I’m afraid that’s where we are given the past two seasons. (I suspect it would have been a lot leaner if not for the Queens Park cup boo boo)! 
 

It doesn’t make any sense in my view to push for a replacement of the manager on the back of two poor results in the early season (3rd level) competition. This really, for the club, would always be a period for getting the team structure, play pattern, strengths and weaknesses set out and amended for the real test (the league), where the manager & coaches will be judged. (Add to that where the CEO and certain board members look in a year or so).

As I mentioned we don’t have the money to dump Dodds. It just will not happen (for now), get used to it!

The test for Dodds is to try and get the team results. (I don’t mention or mean quality of play, as I suspect most fans accept, the style of play - structure is already in place. Their is no other plan B).

A poor winter set of results may influence my opinion and make me look a bigger mug!

bc

 

 

Edited July 26, 20231 yr by big cherly