So I may be biased and protective of a player who was a real club man and a fighter (in many ways!!). He is getting a load of negative flak at the moment but if there was one person that I would pick to be in the trenches with me it is Dunc. He has been up against it from the off. IMHO scapegoated from the off and now taking hits for the bunch of self motivated morons who are the people responsible for bringing this club to its knees. Duncs main problem is that he has nowhere near the quality of players required to bring any footballing system to fruition. We currently have the worst squad of players that we have ever had - a mottley crew of cheap loanees desperate for playing time to progress their own careers. Unfortunately the ones with potential have picked up the injuries. There has been no consistency and I hazard a guess that most fans would have difficulty in picking a first X1. But what Dunc does bring to the party is pure passion and the Dunkirk spirit. The next two games are must wins and if Dunc can instill the passion and drive we will survive. And I am referring to passion and not from a skill or system perspective. Dunc needs to instill a "dogs of war" mentality and the players have to give the fans a degree of hope. So I am predicting six points in the next two games - however accomplished and escaping in 8th place at the end of the season.

Carlisle United manager is bragging to the local paper that he saved in the region of £200,000 by picking up Cameron Harper on a free!

 

Carlisle United signing could have cost us £200k says Simmo | News and Star

Edited June 29, 20241 yr by buckett
Added link

On 6/25/2024 at 11:48 AM, LisleRightPeg said:

We’ve just got to hope that Big Dunc has realised that his tactics + game plan didn’t work and we see a change in style for league 1. We really have to be more ruthless and direct at times. 

Oh well I take it Big Dunc is sticking to his guns 

Was there any form of communication yesterday between Dunc, the press or the fans ??

16 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Was there any form of communication yesterday between Dunc, the press or the fans ??

Try the Courier online you might get a free shot or have to pay. CB was there so he might do something. 

The Club media put out the normal post match interview on YouTube. You can tell by DF,s responses to questions that he is using the youth players because he has to, not because he wants to. If new investment is found, I’m sure he will get busy getting in another load of loanees. 

Well it was very matter of a fact and not exactly enthusiastic !!

7 hours ago, IBM said:

Try the Courier online you might get a free shot or have to pay. CB was there so he might do something. 

CB would be there for the free pie and tea unlikely he would have done any interviews. 
 

Dougal

Not sure what's worse, listening to Dodds or Dunc. Yawn

Edited July 1, 20241 yr by Gringo

It looks as though Ferguson is still going to insist on playing  negative football this season despite it proving a disaster last season. What will it take him to realise the error of his ways? We definitely need a fresh manager with fresh ideas.

41 minutes ago, Alan said:

It looks as though Ferguson is still going to insist on playing  negative football this season despite it proving a disaster last season. What will it take him to realise the error of his ways? We definitely need a fresh manager with fresh ideas.

I agree totally Alan but unfortunately we are stuck with him 

2 hours ago, Alan said:

It looks as though Ferguson is still going to insist on playing  negative football this season despite it proving a disaster last season. What will it take him to realise the error of his ways? We definitely need a fresh manager with fresh ideas.

'If France were playing in the back garden I'd close the curtains'
 

Alan, Seems it’s not just us ( obviously at a different level)

how about we go for this guy after the euro’s if our job becomes available.

Didier Deschamps

Nothing to do with Ken Dodd and the Didier men !

i was at every home game and a few away last season and I thought we could have gone for more goals when we went 1 up in some games.

But alas I was never an English div 1/premier league player, a coach or a caretaker manager at a premier league club. OH and never got asked to go to Madrid with Carlo.

Maybe some who think Dunc should leave, change his ways, has no plan B etc could advise on their post what THEIR football pedigree is. 
Easy to criticise, much harder to do the job. 
Ask Harry Kane.

 

 

 

It's all from the modern coaching model. The large majority of the teams at the Euros are deploying it. The style is widely criticised at a number of League 1 and League 2 clubs. Gone are the days of Pele and winning by scoring more goals than the opposition. But Scottish League one is a step too far and there needs to be an acceptance that it didn't work last season. Of course you want a solid defence. But do we go with 3 solid central defenders and wingbacks poised to attack. Add in a holding midfielder if you want. But the main aim should be toy attack quickly,  use width and always look at a final shot. Certainly shore up the defence - and we are well on the way to doing that but unleash the pace of the youngsters. So this season should not be about unleashing the dogs - it should be about about unleashing the enthusiasm and pace of youth.

17 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

'If France were playing in the back garden I'd close the curtains'
 

Alan, Seems it’s not just us ( obviously at a different level)

how about we go for this guy after the euro’s if our job becomes available.

Didier Deschamps

Nothing to do with Ken Dodd and the Didier men !

i was at every home game and a few away last season and I thought we could have gone for more goals when we went 1 up in some games.

But alas I was never an English div 1/premier league player, a coach or a caretaker manager at a premier league club. OH and never got asked to go to Madrid with Carlo.

Maybe some who think Dunc should leave, change his ways, has no plan B etc could advise on their post what THEIR football pedigree is. 
Easy to criticise, much harder to do the job. 
Ask Harry Kane.

I'm not a car designer but I know what I like and what I don't like when it comes to performance and style without being able to build one.

18 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

'If France were playing in the back garden I'd close the curtains'
 

Alan, Seems it’s not just us ( obviously at a different level)

how about we go for this guy after the euro’s if our job becomes available.

Didier Deschamps

Nothing to do with Ken Dodd and the Didier men !

i was at every home game and a few away last season and I thought we could have gone for more goals when we went 1 up in some games.

But alas I was never an English div 1/premier league player, a coach or a caretaker manager at a premier league club. OH and never got asked to go to Madrid with Carlo.

Maybe some who think Dunc should leave, change his ways, has no plan B etc could advise on their post what THEIR football pedigree is. 
Easy to criticise, much harder to do the job. 
Ask Harry Kane.

 

 

 

I have relegated 100% less clubs than Ferguson. 

Give me a 3 year deal on 4k a week and I'll give it a bash. I have my UEFA Grassroots Leader Award and will do my C- Licence if ICT pay for it too. 👍

ETA- already live local in a Tulloch house so no need for expensive additional housing costs. 

Edited July 7, 20241 yr by Fraz

There are 2 problems with possession based football.  The first is that it is difficult to execute effectively and the second is that it is generally boring.  

When you are faced with 11 opponents between you and the goal, it is easy to play the ball from side to side and backwards, but not forwards.  You need to have team mates who are in space; you need to play the ball firmly and accurately to them; they will probably be in less space than you were and are likely to be closed down, so they need to have an awareness of what other teammates are available to allow the ball to be moved on quickly.  To be effective the players need to have excellent awareness of the movement around them and to be able to consistently play the ball accurately with the right weight of pass.  Those attributes are certainly worth coaching because they are of value in any style of play, but they are essential if the plan is to pass the ball through the opposition.

You only have to watch England in the Euros to realise how difficult it is.  They have some of the top players in the world but yet they are struggling with it.  The players themselves are capable enough, but being asked to play in a slightly different system and with different teammates, they are simply not demonstrating the form that they show at club level.  A big advantage of possession football is that your opponents see less of the ball and therefore will find it harder to score.  So if you can use it to create opportunities yourself, it becomes a winning formula.  It becomes less of a winning formula at lower level because the players are not so skilled meaning you lose the ball more often and don't create as many chances yourselves.

What England are also demonstrating is that unless you are executing the system well, it is incredibly boring to watch.  In terms of entertainment value, it was far more enjoyable watching Turkey playing.  They probably produced more excitement in each of their 5 games than England have in all of theirs combined.

ICT fans will no doubt have a range of opinions on what balance between success and entertainment they would like to see from the team, but my point is that our level, a possession style of football is not only boring to watch, it is also less likely to win us matches.  Dunc out, Fraz in!

 

2 hours ago, Fraz said:

I have relegated 100% less clubs than Ferguson. 

Give me a 3 year deal on 4k a week and I'll give it a bash. I have my UEFA Grassroots Leader Award and will do my C- Licence if ICT pay for it too. 👍

ETA- already live local in a Tulloch house so no need for expensive additional housing costs. 

Got any family members who’d be willing to have a go at playing for us?

7 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Got any family members who’d be willing to have a go at playing for us?

Both already do play for ICT but a bit young yet for the 1st team and also the wrong gender 🤣

4 hours ago, DoofersDad said:

There are 2 problems with possession based football.  The first is that it is difficult to execute effectively and the second is that it is generally boring.  

When you are faced with 11 opponents between you and the goal, it is easy to play the ball from side to side and backwards, but not forwards.  You need to have team mates who are in space; you need to play the ball firmly and accurately to them; they will probably be in less space than you were and are likely to be closed down, so they need to have an awareness of what other teammates are available to allow the ball to be moved on quickly.  To be effective the players need to have excellent awareness of the movement around them and to be able to consistently play the ball accurately with the right weight of pass.  Those attributes are certainly worth coaching because they are of value in any style of play, but they are essential if the plan is to pass the ball through the opposition.

You only have to watch England in the Euros to realise how difficult it is.  They have some of the top players in the world but yet they are struggling with it.  The players themselves are capable enough, but being asked to play in a slightly different system and with different teammates, they are simply not demonstrating the form that they show at club level.  A big advantage of possession football is that your opponents see less of the ball and therefore will find it harder to score.  So if you can use it to create opportunities yourself, it becomes a winning formula.  It becomes less of a winning formula at lower level because the players are not so skilled meaning you lose the ball more often and don't create as many chances yourselves.

What England are also demonstrating is that unless you are executing the system well, it is incredibly boring to watch.  In terms of entertainment value, it was far more enjoyable watching Turkey playing.  They probably produced more excitement in each of their 5 games than England have in all of theirs combined.

ICT fans will no doubt have a range of opinions on what balance between success and entertainment they would like to see from the team, but my point is that our level, a possession style of football is not only boring to watch, it is also less likely to win us matches.  Dunc out, Fraz in!

 

Dunc out, fraz in.

do you think fraz would keep his 100% record.

ps I am with you on the boring style at the euros.

its was over for me when Austria, turkey and georgia went out.

wont mention the team from the north of the UK, absolutely pathetic. Totally out of their depth.

13 minutes ago, bishbashbosh said:

 

do you think fraz would keep his 100% record.

 

No.  But he'd be cheap!

Is it 8 out of 10 for artificial surfaces in League 1 ? Tippy Tappy might have to be the way!

2 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

Dunc out, fraz in.

do you think fraz would keep his 100% record.

ps I am with you on the boring style at the euros.

its was over for me when Austria, turkey and georgia went out.

wont mention the team from the north of the UK, absolutely pathetic. Totally out of their depth.

Well said bbb!  I’d go further with Scotland. 

Our game, those running it, players, media and fans have been deluding ourselves for decades imho and we simply continue to serve up the same tripe, and hope somehow this will work next tournament, next tournament, next t…………..!

Our game : It has been in steady decline for some 30 -40 years now. I go back to Bremner, NcNeil, Law and Jordan era, but I’ll place the last benchmark at Souness and Dalgliesh days. Whilst other so called lesser countries have improved there game (Isreal, Cyprus, Iceland etc- {teams we would have certainly get the better of}; we have slowly but steady got poorer in the standard of play and ability).  Is it Coaching, lifestyle or mindset ? I don’t know but it’s clearly not working for me.

Those running the game : The blazers at hampden. Too cosy, amateurish and paid too much to be minded to change the game. 
League /Clubs: Stuck with a two team league. They dominate and starve all other teams in the country such that they remain in a comfortable stupor.
The result is stagnation.

Club boards: All finance driven such that maximising the financial return trumps everything else. As such not loosing for most clubs becomes the norm. This chokes adventurous play as the risk of loosing is greater using this style imho.

Managers/Coaches: demands for results dictates that stopping goals against is above scoring again for most teams. Scotland were on the same standing as Portugal in the 70’s. Look at their players ability to ours now and tell me we’ve not went backwards!

Players - Average to poor for the most and lack the basics for most Scot’s players in ability, mental and physical application. (Simple trapping the ball is beyond many). Too willing to elevate their our game above their true abilities.

Media: again part of the problem. They have a cost life and feed of the product and pump out rubbish most of the time. Overrate our players most of the time. Superb this, world class that. Not enough critical focus on poor play when witnessed. 
 

Fans :  Less attending games as other more comfortable and exciting alternatives are available. Average play had become acceptable! Continue to be easily drawn into the Scotland next-time show. 
 

I wish I could present a more positive outlook from me on the Scotland team and game in general, however watching what I consider to be the worst team at the Euro’s, I felt I could not let it pass without having a kick at the whole thing, hoping against hope the next time will show any improvement!!

Rant over!! 
bc

 

Edited July 7, 20241 yr by big cherly

Last season with arguably better players DF didn’t manage to keep the team in the Championship. Not only that he got rid of battlers ( Welsh, Carson), who he didn’t like for some reason and sidelined the likes of Ujdur, Davidson, McGregor etc. Over 30+ games we saw the team slip further & further down the league until the inevitable happened. He claimed throughout that we were playing well and kept quoting the defensive record etc. How blind is he to the fact that all of that is irrelevant if every other team in the league has better results. He then ( as far as we understand), doesn’t speak or engage with players after relegation when he is the manager! This season with arguably a weaker / developing  plus older players in a challenging league I fear will not learn from last seasons disaster and bring in loaners when he has a budget and repeat the same mistakes! He is getting off too lightly given all the other financial disasters we face. If the supporters trust and press don’t ask the hard questions he needs to answer, then who can. Cant blame fans for feeling so detached from the club. I have lost any faith in him I might have once had.  Never spoken with him and he might be an ok bloke, but as a manager & coach at our club, he has already proven he doesn’t have what it takes! ☹️

Edited July 14, 20241 yr by CaleyCiuin

Must agree with so many of big cherley’s comments on the national team - couldn’t believe or understand why the media in general were saying it was the best Scotland squad we’ve ever had, absolutely talking out of their backsides! 

8 hours ago, CaleyCiuin said:

Last season with arguably better players DF didn’t manage to keep the team in the Championship. Not only that he got rid of battlers ( Welsh, Carson), who he didn’t like for some reason and sidelined the likes of Ujdur, Davidson, McGregor etc. Over 30+ games we saw the team slip further & further down the league until the inevitable happened. He claimed throughout that we were playing well and kept quoting the defensive record etc. How blind is he to the fact that all of that is irrelevant if every other team in the league has better results. He then ( as far as we understand), doesn’t speak or engage with players after relegation when he is the manager! This season with arguably a weaker / developing  plus older players in a challenging league I fear will not learn from last seasons disaster and bring in loaners when he has a budget and repeat the same mistakes! He is getting off too lightly given all the other financial disasters we face. If the supporters trust and press don’t ask the hard questions he needs to answer, then who can. Cant blame fans for feeling so detached from the club. I have lost any faith in him I might have once had.  Never spoken with him and he might be an ok bloke, but as a manager & coach at our club, he has already proven he doesn’t have what it takes! ☹️

I have to agree DF has failed the club although we are stuck with him he might be a coach but after the way outgoing players were treated he is NO manager!

On 7/7/2024 at 7:53 PM, bishbashbosh said:

.wont mention the team from the north of the UK, absolutely pathetic. Totally out of their depth.

Glad you didn’t mention them then 😇