Six Pointers Already

 

Callum Davidson brings his new charges North for what might be considered a six-pointer already at this stage of the season with both teams desperate for points to clamber away from bottom spot in the table, currently held by Arbroath. January sales have brought new faces in and old faces out. The latest ins being Aribusitamunoipirim Emmanuel Pepple & Sean McAllister and the latest outs being David Carson, Jake Davidson and Robbie Thompson. Queens Park have added Danny Wilson, not the band but the former Liverpool, Hearts and Rangers defender to their squad.

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Match/Ticket Info

Sean McAllister In

David Carson Out

Aribim Pepple In

Jake Davidson Out

Shake it all About (Robbie Thompson)

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Last 7 Competitive Meetings

4 - 1 (A)

1 - 2 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

0 - 2 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

Over the last couple of seasons Queens Park had the beating of us during the Doddsball era. However, we had a tremendous away win at Hampden Park last time out, our first since Queens Park were promoted into the Championship in season 22/23. FULL TIME: 4 - 1  Happy Days! Our biggest win of the season, first goal for Ujdur with Anderson, Spoony and Mckay all hitting the back of the net. All this with Ferguson sent to the stands at half time. Plenty room for him there in an empty National Stadium. Inverness move up to sixth in the table and we play Morton  at Cappielow on Tuesday night where a win would see us jump another place to fifth. (never happened meh!)

Indifferent results from Inverness over the last five, but the two wins were well deserved away wins at Somerset Park and Starks park, scoring three goals on each occasion. Alex Samuel was the hero last weekend against Raith Rovers with a first half hat-trick. In between those two wins we snatched defeat from the jaws of a draw at home against Dundee United when a late goal ruined our TV night. We also progressed to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup after beating Broomhill 4-0. We now face Hibernian at home in the next round.

Eat yer heart out Derek!

🗂 Instant Impact@Alex_Samuel95 bagging a hat-trick on his league bow 🎩
#cinchChamp | @ICTFC pic.twitter.com/5LakD0GGoO

— SPFL (@spfl) January 29, 2024

Inverness CT Last Five Championship Games: D L W L W 

 

Callum Davidson is the new manager of Queens Park and in his first game in charge he saw his new side beat Raith Rovers 2-1. On BBC Sport, Davidson said: "Really pleased with the character. They reacted really well, the heads could've gone down. We got back into the game with a fantastic goal by Cammy. Delighted for him. Sean (Welsh) was a real calming influence. It's a great start and it's just three points for us. I'll hopefully try and get a couple more players in." He was undone in his next game as another new manager, Scott Brown saw his Ayr United beat Queens Park 2-1 with Sean Welsh being sent off. The other win over the last five was a 2-1 win over Dunfermline on the 5th of January.

Queens Park Last Five Championship Games: L L W W L 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest Team News

Inverness made a host of defensive signings in the sales bringing in James Carragher, Callum Kerr, Remi Savage and Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen. All four have had some game time since joining but the most effective newbie so far has been the loan signing of striker Alex Samuel from the quaint market town of Dingwall. Big outs were Sean Welsh to Queens Park and David Wotherspoon to Dundee United. Zak Delaney is now on the injured list at Arbroath. Add David Carson to the out list: Sold to Livingston and Robbie Thompson on loan to Spartans. Here's one for you, the longest name ever to sign on at the Caledonian Stadium: I give you Aribusitamunoipirim Emmanuel "Aribim" Pepple. Quite the transfer window that we have been involved in. That's around 50 players that have been in or around our squad this season. I couldn't even hazard a guess at our team selection for tomorrow, apart from maybe Mark Ridgers will take the gloves.

Awaiting team news. I doubt if Ferguson even knows the players names.

Queens Park have a new manager and a new goal scoring midfield maestro in Sean Welsh, when he is not injured. However, he is suspended after his red card last week against Ayr United 🤣. A couple of loan players in, Mackenzie Carse, midfielder (Celtic) and James Crole, forward (Cardiff City). Callum Haspell has joined from Rothes. A big miss will be Barry Hepburn who has returned to Bayern Munich. Ruari Paton is way out on his own as top scorer with 15 goals. Former Liverpool, Hearts and Rangers defender Danny Wilson is a late transfer signing for QP.

Team v Ayr United last week

Ferrie

 

Bannon   Thomson   Robson

 

Mauchin (McPherson 83)   Welsh   Turner (Spong 71)   Bruce (McKinstry 72)

 

Longridge (Carse 71)   Paton   Thomas

 

Subs Not Used: McKenna; Jarrett, Reid, Williamson, Tizzard

Is Duncan Ferguson immune from criticism?  That was another shocking display, every bit as poor as any under Dodds. I'm not convinced he has a clue what he's doing.

Went to the game with optimistism,  Anticipation and confidence...   left with a feeling of De ja vu.   What pysh.

28 minutes ago, DavidG said:

Is Duncan Ferguson immune from criticism?  That was another shocking display, every bit as poor as any under Dodds. I'm not convinced he has a clue what he's doing.

Not sure that's the case. He clearly identified there were weaknesses in the squad which he has looked to address, however we need to wait and see if the recruitment he has undertaken is better than those jettisoned where he felt they had levels of culpability.

In patches we moved the ball well but it was too infrequent and in areas that offered little forward threat. Latter chasing the game was reverting back to high ball, hit and hope which agreed is verging close to Doddsball.

Overall we have gone from rock bottom with a solitary point and looking like loosing every week to sitting above relegation with remote possibility of pushing up the table although promotion play-offs are highly unlikely. Is that progess, a little I guess.

That was a tough watch, as has been the case so often.

I thought we started poorly but then largely dominated the first half but couldn’t score. We were too tippy tappy yet again in the final third when shots were on.

We came out strongly in the second half but conceded against the run of play and never looked like getting back in it after then.

We could look at some poor refereeing decisions or play acting and time wasting by Queens Park but, in truth, we were just not capable of getting anything today.

Our home form and results are shocking and it’s needs sorted very quickly.

48 minutes ago, DavidG said:

Is Duncan Ferguson immune from criticism?  That was another shocking display, every bit as poor as any under Dodds. I'm not convinced he has a clue what he's doing.

I didn't follow his career as an assistant manager, nor his brief tenure at FGR. (And I note that FGR have already gone through two other managers since he departed.)

But that is a valid question, and one which I have been asking myself recently.  Yes, he must still be learning, but we could just be finding out that he's simply not a good manager. 

I sincerely hope not!

Agree with previous comments. A difficult watch, especially the 2nd half. And when QP scored we just fell apart.

I console myself by believing it'll take a game or 2 for the new recruits to gel. Then we'll be unbeatable!

Ironically we moved up to 7th despite losing. Dunfermline look to be in free fall at the moment. 

That was a hard watch.  Players getting used to each other was probably a factor as was the gusty wind, but in truth, Queens showed more energy and desire and were better organised.  The stats say we had 17 shots on goal (which is encouraging) but none of them made the keeper work.  I'm not too despondent though.  I think we do have the talent to make progress once the team gels and I think the new signings give us options we didn't have before.  Savage looks decent at centre back, McAllister looked lively and Pepple looked strong and could be a good target man.  Pick of the new signings at this stage would appear to be Samuel. He probably should have score again today but he holds the ball up very well and has a great work rate.  

At the moment there is a pretty obvious lack of confidence in front of goal, exemplified by two awful efforts by Gilmour towards the end,  but with options up front, we need to be more positive going forward.  If we do that we will create more and we will score more.  We also need the fans to get behind the guys on the pitch more.  It means a lot to them and yet for many of our so called support, the most noise they ever make is when they are shouting abuse at their own players.  It is a significant reason why the team seems to play so much better away from home.  We call ourselves supporters, so let's give a bit support to the team.

Unbelievable we couldn't put a really poor QP under any sustained pressure after going behind. We had 40 minutes but yet again huffed and puffed and created next to nothing.

IMO need to go back basics and ditch the 5 at the back.  Playing one up at home with Billy McKay playing deep in midfield is not working.

Tbh, kinda willing to let it slide considering the new boys are still finding their feet in the scottish game, as all they've really played youth football down south, and the Hibs game is effectively a lost cause.

Ref on the other hand, was absolutely hoaching, could sneeze in the general direction of a Queen's player and he'd give a foul...

Just fortunate that Dunfermline and Ayr fumbled horridly which keeps us within touching distance of the playoffs

Fecking abysmal. 

1 hour ago, DavidG said:

Is Duncan Ferguson immune from criticism?  That was another shocking display, every bit as poor as any under Dodds. I'm not convinced he has a clue what he's doing.

For comparison Dodds in the Championship averaged 1.5 points per game, Ferguson is on 1.35.

I think I would have been better going shopping 

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
It's no looking great to be honest
1.	Dundee Utd	22	14	6	2	45	11	48
2.	Raith Rovers	22	13	5	4	40	31	44
3.	Partick Thistle	22	10	7	5	43	34	37
4.	Morton	22	9	5	8	32	27	32
5.	Airdrieonians	21	8	4	9	20	24	28
6.	Ayr United	23	7	5	11	30	41	26
7.	Inverness CT	23	6	6	11	26	28	24
8.	Dunfermline	21	6	6	9	24	29	24
9.	Queens Park	22	6	5	11	28	41	23
10.	Arbroath	22	5	3	14	23	45	18

 

I have given up hope for this season.

Just hope we can muster enough points to avoid the play offs : really can't believe I am saying that. It'll soon be 10 years since we won the cup and finished 3rd in the Premiership....

Utterly depressing.

Having listened to Ferguson's post match interview I wonder if I was at the same game? This was an inept display against a very poor opposition and despite plenty of possession we never looked like scoring. Queens Park had one shot at goal and scored whereas we couldn't manage one attempt on target as we seemed to think that passing the ball across the penalty area was better than having a go. I just don't understand the tactics

5 hours ago, DavidG said:

Is Duncan Ferguson immune from criticism?  That was another shocking display, every bit as poor as any under Dodds. I'm not convinced he has a clue what he's doing.

Gutsiest call was to stand there in just a jumper for 90 minutes

Another inept performance at home. This was the same starting line up that did so well against Raith. We desperately need to overcome teams that just sit in and frustrate for 89 minutes at home. Otherwise we will battle relegation for the rest of the season.

I'd had enough by 4:25pm and headed home to watch the rugby. With next week's rugby and the Hibs game overlapping today's performance against Queens Park made my mind up which game I'll be watching, even though Scotland faltered after 47 minutes. At least they took their chances that counted by the final whistle.

Edited February 4, 20242 yr by Row S

I can never understand why more fans don't direct the criticism at the one person who's been at the club longer than the last 4 or 5 managers and who is clearly behind the on field tactics, Scott Kellacher. No team ever changes manager and assistant but keeps the same coaching staff. It's just bonkers that he's still on the training field with the players when clearly this tippy tappy passing across the face of goal dosent work. Until we address what the players are being told to do midweek by the coaching staff and yes I include DF in that too, we are going to continue to struggle. Not once did we look like creating a good enough chance to result in a goal yesterday, far too slow and ponderous and simply no real awareness or quality from anyone in front of goal 

1 hour ago, Donald1973 said:

I can never understand why more fans don't direct the criticism at the one person who's been at the club longer than the last 4 or 5 managers and who is clearly behind the on field tactics, Scott Kellacher. No team ever changes manager and assistant but keeps the same coaching staff. It's just bonkers that he's still on the training field with the players when clearly this tippy tappy passing across the face of goal dosent work. Until we address what the players are being told to do midweek by the coaching staff and yes I include DF in that too, we are going to continue to struggle. Not once did we look like creating a good enough chance to result in a goal yesterday, far too slow and ponderous and simply no real awareness or quality from anyone in front of goal 

I doubt he has much say under DF. I'm told it's very close knit between him and Bolan 

Edited February 4, 20242 yr by old caley girl
Spelling

14 hours ago, DoofersDad said:

That was a hard watch.  Players getting used to each other was probably a factor as was the gusty wind, but in truth, Queens showed more energy and desire and were better organised.  The stats say we had 17 shots on goal (which is encouraging) but none of them made the keeper work.  I'm not too despondent though.  I think we do have the talent to make progress once the team gels and I think the new signings give us options we didn't have before.  Savage looks decent at centre back, McAllister looked lively and Pepple looked strong and could be a good target man.  Pick of the new signings at this stage would appear to be Samuel. He probably should have score again today but he holds the ball up very well and has a great work rate.  

At the moment there is a pretty obvious lack of confidence in front of goal, exemplified by two awful efforts by Gilmour towards the end,  but with options up front, we need to be more positive going forward.  If we do that we will create more and we will score more.  We also need the fans to get behind the guys on the pitch more.  It means a lot to them and yet for many of our so called support, the most noise they ever make is when they are shouting abuse at their own players.  It is a significant reason why the team seems to play so much better away from home.  We call ourselves supporters, so let's give a bit support to the team.

Fair enough, but flip side of this is they need to man up and give us something to cheer. Forking out hard earned money week in week out has been halted by me this season and I'm not prepared to pay anymore money until there is something worth watching.

Edited February 4, 20242 yr by Duke of Inverness

18 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

I doubt he has much say under DF. I'm told it's very close knot between him and Bolan 

Yeah I thought initially that would be the case too, it just seems very odd that our tactics remain largely the same as under dodds. Looking at QP, and to be honest any other team in the cship no matter which position in the league they are in, they take spells where they quickly 1 or 2 pass their way into a scoring opportunity and as in yesterday's case, take the opportunity. We however, seem happy to pass the ball to death across the park and backwards until we get dispossessed. Obviously not every week as was evident against raith but worryingly most weeks even with these new players. Harper for one seems incapable of running at the opposing defence in any way shape or form and prefers the safe pass, but to be honest they are guilty of dithering 

It will be very interesting to see the mood after Wednesday's South Planning meeting. If the Councillors side with the Officials and turn the Battery Farm application down, the Clubs finances will not look good.  If we survive the play off place - at the bottom end - the place money will be probably less than we budgetted. We do not know how much  changing the football side of management has cost. We do know that Nathan and Cammy will have options next season. Duncan has a long commute. Next season looks very challenging as things stand. With so many loan players the question is where does the drive to succeed come from? The performance against Raith was good but they are on a poor run currently. Hibs play Celtic on Wednesday so we can but hope they are humped. They may feel aggrieved that Aberdeen beat them to the League Cup Final and therefore will be driven to beat an easy ICT side in the Scottish Cup. Hope Duncan can motivate his new squad to produce something special.