They'll be dancing on the streets

 

 

After more than twenty years of trying to beat the Caley Jags, Raith Rovers will never get a better chance to win a game against us than this weekend at Starks Park. The last time we lost, Steps were top of the charts with 'Stomp'. The untennable word is ready to hit the press as Inverness continue their downward spiral after eight big boy games in a row without a win and only one draw to show for it. No excuses anymore, we have underperformed everywhere we go and the current regime are taking this club down to the gutter. Billy Dodds is under fire and rightly so as football is a results driven business. He might be the fall guy here though and none of his seniors at the club is smelling of roses at the moment. Robbo can be seen elsewhere on Saturdays while his team suffer another embarrassing defeat. Scot Gardiner is dishing out jobs for the boys and the stench of failure is unbearable. When will it stop? When will the Chairman wake up and smell the stench? One point from a possible twelve is relegation form. Better managers have been sacked for less. How long do we wait???

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Match/Ticket Info

Supporters Bus £20

Supporters Trust

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The Supporters Trust have called for an open meeting to discuss the Matchday Experience Survey and the demise of our club amongst other things.

The natives are restless and the long knives have been drawn for a while now with most fans not liking the direction we are moving towards. One point from a possible twelve makes us relegation candidates and management decisions are being questioned by a disgruntled support who feel many of these decisions are not in the best interest of this club.

Come along and let the voice of the support be heard on Saturday 23rd September before the Dundee United game,12:00 – 14:15 @ The Innes Bar (Beer Garden), 61 Innes St, Inverness IV1 1NR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Venue H2H v Raith Rovers

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	21	14	5	2	40	15	+25
Away	17	9	5	3	34	21	+13
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	38	23	10	5	74	36	+38

We first met Raith in 1999 and went down 2-0. Report by Ian Broadfoot: Caley Thistle lost this game because of a dismal first half performance. They came out fighting in the second half and matched Raith well but produced no goals. Raith took the lead in the ninth minute after a Jay Stein corner from the right - Marvin Andrews rose above Mann to head downwards and into the net. In 24 minutes the second goal came courtesy of an error. Mann was too slow passing back to Fridge and Didier Agathe stepped in and he ran on and volleyed past Fridge from 20 yards. Caley Thistle hit on the occasional breakaway but to little effect. A disappointing afternoon for the home support despite a spirited fight back. Caley Thistle now slip to second bottom of Division 1. Sounds familiar!!!

Fast forward to October 28th 2000. Five defeats and a draw later for the Caley Jags, Raith Rovers would win their last fixture against us over 90 minutes. Unbelievably that is 23 years next month. That unbeaten run is under serious threat as under fire Billy Dodds takes his hapless cloggers down to Kirkaldy. I fear there will be dancing on the streets of Raith after this one. Prove me wrong!

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Raith Rovers

2 - 0 (H)

2 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (A)

3 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

 

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Partick Thistle trounce Ayr United 4-0 on Friday night to go joint top. Table still to be updated. 1. Dundee Utd 4 3 1 0 10 1 10 2. Raith Rovers 4 3 1 0 9 6 10 3. Queens Park 5 3 0 2 8 8 9 4. Partick Thistle 4 2 1 1 10 6 7 5. Airdrieonians 4 2 0 2 5 6 6 6. Arbroath 5 2 0 3 6 8 6 7. Dunfermline 4 1 2 1 4 4 5 8. Morton 4 1 0 3 6 11 3 9. Ayr United 4 1 0 3 3 8 3 10. Inverness CT 4 0 1 3 3 6 1

FRIDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER

1.  Ayr United 0-4 Partick Thistle

SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER

1. Arbroath FC v Airdrieonians
2. United v Morton
3. Queens Park v Dunfermline 
4. Raith Rovers v Inverness CT

Last Championship game v Pars

Our last Championship game saw us gain our first point of the season. However one point from a possible twelve is nothing to crow about. We took an early lead throgh a Nathan Shaw strike with the keeper not covering himself in glory. Alas the confidence is not there and Dunfermline thoroughly deserved their point and probably were unlucky not to take all three but for a great late save from Mark Ridgers. However the defence will be disappointed with the goal we lost as the errors continue to mount up. Current League Form L L L D    F3 A6

Latest Team News 

Billy Dodds will be without MacGregor, Nicolson, Welsh and the suspended Harry Lodovica. We had made eight changes to the starting XI last week against Arbroath, therefore I would expect Billy Mckay, Danny Devine and Max Anderson to be back in the side (should Max be fit). Wallace Duffy was replaced just before the interval last week and is a doubt with a hamstring niggle. Mark Ridgers will surely be back between the sticks, although in his last appearance he was a bit suspect at the Dunfermline goal along with two or three of his defenders. Nikola Ujdur might be over here by next week according to Dodds, i'll no hold my breath...

A less than ebullient Billy Dodds

 

 

What's new at Stark's Park

In: Jack Hamilton, forward (Livingston); Keith Watson, defender (Ross County); Kevin Dabrowski, goalkeeper (Hibs); Euan Murray, defender (Hartlepool United); Josh Mullin, midfielder (Ayr United); Dylan Corr, defender (Celtic); Scott McGill, midfielder (Hearts, loan to permanent); Callum Smith, forward (Airdrie). Loan in: Shaun Byrne, midfielder (Dundee).

Out: Jamie MacDonald, goalkeeper (Morton); Brad Spencer, midfielder (Falkirk); Tom Lang, defender (Falkirk); Ryan Nolan, defender (Hercules); Connor McBride, midfielder (Gateshead); Greig Young, defender (Dumbarton); Luke Mahady, forward (Bonnyrigg Rose). Loan ended: Isma Goncalves, forward (Livingston); William Akio, midfielder (Ross County); Kieran Ngwenya (Aberdeen). Loan out: Andy McNeil, goalkeeper (Edinburgh City); Kieran Mitchell, forward (East Fife).

Last Championship game for Raith Rovers

Ian Murray's Raith beat ten man Queens Park 3-2 after coming from behind with two late goals by substitute Lewis Vaughan in the last five minutes. Raith had opened the scoring in the eighth minute through Callum Smith's header. Queens then had William Tizzard sent off before the interval. They hit back after the hour with goals from Turner and Thomas before Vaughan's late brace secured the points that keeps Raith level at the top with Dundee United. Current League Form: D  W  W  W   F9 A6

Raith lineup v Queens Park

Dabrowski

 

Millen   Watson   Murray (Ross 84)  McGill (Dick 75)

 

Brown

 

Mullin (Easton 75)  Byrne   Stanton (Vaughan 62)   Smith

 

Hamilton (Gullan 45)

Subs not used: Thompson; Dick Arnott, Masson

 

A game at the Gleaner Arena, or as we all know it, Boroughbriggs. 

Good luck to our u18's as they take on Elgin City in the Scottish Youth Cup.

 

11 minutes ago, big cherly said:

Hard to be objective or see anything positive when we’ve just lost again on the back of a disastrous start of the season. I’m not going to defend the players, manager, CEO or any other official here (the results lay bare our shortcomings). 

There is an air of resignation and acceptance from most of the fans that irrespective how much they complain or register their dissatisfaction the club batten down the hatches and adopt a bunker mentality and ignore any criticism.

I wasn’t at the match but taking in the comments from the fans that were, the performance of the team was good and should or could have taken something from the game if we would have put the ball in the net, (there goalie had a good match by all accounts)!
The defence appears to be improved and tighter which is where bulk of our losses came from. 

So there are signs of the team getting it finally together. It wouldn’t surprise me if we carried this over to next Saturday and finally get a win!!

I don’t take BD’s line he wants the win for the fans, it’s to save his own skin. A win against DU keeps BD secure for now. I’m all for getting rid of SG, but unless the Chairman and Board have the courage and conviction to challenge him nothing will change.

Slow signs of improvement by all accounts, but far too late!! 

I certainly agree that there has been an improvement in performances, little comfort though it is, and perhaps we are clutching at straws in looking for positives in this dismal run. But Raith are a very good side, top of the league, and we went away from home to them and were the better team. Does this also suggest that Dodds had the team organised and motivated, and the tactics were actually pretty good? Just putting it out there for discussion!

If the strikers are finding it difficult to score, surely that is down to the way the strikers are coached? If only we had an ex international striker as our coach to show them how it's done!!!!!

I’m sure some of you have seen this on P&B. Fair play to him it made me laugh 

t’s finally happened!

We are the best! We are the best! We have beaten Inverness! It is completely unbelievable! We have beaten Inverness! Inverness, birthplace of Nessie! Billy Dodds, Ross Tokely, SuperCaleyGoBalisitic errr Nebula,  Kessock Bridge, Big Tesco — we have beaten them all. We have beaten them all.  P&B can you hear me?...Those boys took a hell of a beating! Those boys took a hell of a beating!"

32 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said:

If the strikers are finding it difficult to score, surely that is down to the way the strikers are coached? If only we had an ex international striker as our coach to show them how it's done!!!!!

Surely no one needs to coach Billy McKay the clubs leading goal scorer?! 

29 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said:

If the strikers are finding it difficult to score, surely that is down to the way the strikers are coached? If only we had an ex international striker as our coach to show them how it's done!!!!!

The strikers know how to finish, the defenders know not to dither on the ball or pass to the opposition, the keeper knows not to come for a cross he has no chance of reaching. There’s only so much can be done by coaching of experienced players when it comes to the basic skills!

24 minutes ago, FrontRow said:

Surely no one needs to coach Billy McKay the clubs leading goal scorer?! 

He's not the only striker at the club is he?

Pinched off p&b. Us in January compared to us yesterday…

45 minutes ago, The Mantis said:

Pinched off p&b. Us in January compared to us yesterday…

Wow! Caleyaway normally a pretty loyal forgiving lot. This pictures speak volume re our current set up and situation 

2 hours ago, The Mantis said:

Pinched off p&b. Us in January compared to us yesterday…

Yes, says it all Mantis. Ultimately this is the only measure that will register with the lot in the boardroom. It’s the only power the fans have to force change!

bc

Edited September 17, 20232 yr by big cherly

Not convinced it will register with decision makers.  They already have money from Season Ticket holders and home walk ups are/were minimal anyway.  Not showing up away makes no difference to us financially, and as we're easy points then it may actually encourage larger away support at our place which, bizarrely, will be more financially beneficial in the short term.

Not suggesting this is a deliberate move by the club, just  posturing on why they may choose to continue ignoring fans and fan actions.

19 hours ago, tm4tj said:

The only good thing to come out of this is that Raith now know that we are far superior to them. Could easily have been 3 or 4 ahead at the break. Dabrowski was MotM for a string of saves in the first half. However, despite our defence picking them off easily, we conceded a late goal and the rest is history 😡

Understand (I think) what you mean, but maybe ‘ICT was the better team on the day but couldn’t score’ more accurate! 

Nothing (on or off the field), to back up ICT are superior to RR just now. 
bc

Edited September 17, 20232 yr by big cherly

14 hours ago, Jaggernaut said:

Whoever had the final disastrous decision to award the tactically naive talentless excuse of a coach a two year deal, needs to be first out the door. It smacks of giving him protection against the sack. In one of the Wyness Shuffle podcasts, Gardiner was asked about how close we were to changing the manager when we were on that eleven game winless run, and he said something along the lines of very close, so, any CEO worth their salt wouldn't have handed out a two year deal, when they know that he has that in his locker, it should have been at least a rolling contract, or in a perfect world, Dodds would have left after the Scottish Cup final, with nothing, that would have been in the best interest of the club, which the CEO is supposed to be responsible for, instead of putting them in such a perilous position. Is another defeat today against Raith acceptable to the club now? Or are they waiting till we hit eleven games without a win till they act?

Also who backed that decision and who registered any objection??

bc

Edited September 17, 20232 yr by big cherly

28 minutes ago, STFU said:

Not convinced it will register with decision makers.  They already have money from Season Ticket holders and home walk ups are/were minimal anyway.  Not showing up away makes no difference to us financially, and as we're easy points then it may actually encourage larger away support at our place which, bizarrely, will be more financially beneficial in the short term.

Not suggesting this is a deliberate move by the club, just  posturing on why they may choose to continue ignoring fans and fan actions.

Can’t agree, it’s the strongest card the fans hold. The alternative is what, more of the same of the current system and structure? Ask the board nicely via the match day survey the fans would like a win? 
bc

Edited September 17, 20232 yr by big cherly

20 minutes ago, big cherly said:

Can’t agree, it’s the strongest card the fans hold. The alternative is what, more of the same of the current system and structure? Ask the board nicely via the match day survey the fans would like a win? 
bc

I didn't say fans shouldn't do anything (have you read any of my posts on here recently?), just pointing out the mentality of the kind of people we've got running the club just now.

3 hours ago, old caley girl said:

Wow! Caleyaway normally a pretty loyal forgiving lot. This pictures speak volume re our current set up and situation 

Sadly I think the further we go down the harder it is to come back up. We didn’t get a boost after winning Scottish cup years ago when we were good. What will happen now re attendances  less merchandise sold etc 

5 minutes ago, jagster said:

Sadly I think the further we go down the harder it is to come back up. We didn’t get a boost after winning Scottish cup years ago when we were good. What will happen now re attendances  less merchandise sold etc 

I think the away lot (I go to most myself normally) will come back? I agree though there are no signs of improvement on the horizon sadly 

Interesting to see some taking positive from the results by suggesting improvements in performance. Our next game is another tough one although at home to a top end DUtd and tbh the expectation is another defeat. Next away to Arbroath has relegation 6 pointer all over it before another tough game at home to another top end team inPartick. Its not looking to positive.

More importantly is the fact we are rooted to the base of the table, longer this goes on the pressure will build on the players. I'm not sure we have 'tough characters both physically and mentally for a relegation battle. Longer this 'unlucky' run continues the more likely we are too see a complete confidence collapse and desperation taking over. While the management seem Teflon to the fans position I'm not sure the players will be. We lack a leader and its going to show.

17 hours ago, Jaggernaut said:

Or are they waiting till we hit eleven games without a win till they act?

Not much longer to wait then!

2 hours ago, STFU said:

I didn't say fans shouldn't do anything (have you read any of my posts on here recently?), just pointing out the mentality of the kind of people we've got running the club just now.

Yes to your posts and position (and mindset of the powers). I just think everything the fans and trust could do has been done. The only thing that registers with the powers is unfortunately money and it’s reducing that source will get hopefully some of the other board members to act!

bc