Gable Endies Trip North

 

A week is a long time in the changing faces of Caley Thistle. Montrose are the visitors this weekend as news of a Savage intervention overpowered the extra sensory perceptions of fantasy that were wafting around the Caledonian Stadium as if they were going out of fashion. Not since the early days of LSD have we been subjected to such psychedelia and hallucinatory fables that we were experiencing at the moment as philanthropist or fantasist Ketamine McWannabe attempted to pull the wool over the eyes of those we once trusted to lead our club in search of the holy graill. He did manage to bluff his way through a few clowns, but sense and sensibility will now take over as the prodigal son, Alan Savage, returns to stabilise the club. The club motto is 'Pride of the Highlands'. It was about to be altered to 'Laughing Stock of the North'. But wait! There is a God afterall, his name is Savage, Alan Savage. Was it written in the stars...

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

Match/Ticket Info

Savage Intervention

Supporters Trust

Forensic Audit topic on CTO

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

 

On hearing the news, the fans turned a Whiter Shade of Pale:

We skipped the light fandango, turned some cartwheels across the floor, I was feeling kind of seasick, when the crowd called out for more. The room was humming harder, and the ceiling flew away when I called out for another drink the waiter brought a tray... 

Apologies for the lack of Football information on the preview this week. Unfortunately a lot has happened in a very short space of time and it's difficult to keep abreast of the situation as it changes everytime you log in to the laptop. What we do know is that Alan Savage will conduct a 'forensic review' of all that is concerning the club in these difficult times. Scotty has started a topic on CTO to discuss this. Scot Gardiner has been shown the door and with Alan Savage at the helm we can be assured that all will be upfront and integrity will return. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg and the deeper they dive, the more we will know about our plight. We are not out of the woods by any means, but it is the first positive step forward in what will be a long arduous trek after years of self inflicted decline from within. 

 

Last Time Out

Inverness lost out again at Annan as they did on League Cup duty when a Tommy Goss penalty was the difference between the two sides. Goss also scored the only goal in the League Cup game. A disappointing result on the back of a 1-1 draw against Dumbarton in the League opener at the Caledonian stadium. Danny Devine opening our account on half time but a resurgent Son's perked up after the break and got a deserved equaliser. Billy Mckay makes his 300th appearance for Inverness tomorrow. What a legend sitting on 112 goals. Note to Dunc. Billy is a striker, so let's see him strike please.

 

 

Montrose have drawn their opening two fixtures in the League. A 1-1 draw at home to Kelty was followed by a goalless draw at Arbroath. Craig Brown scored the goal on the hour against Kelty who hit back soon after through Cunningham. Surprise surprise, but Michael Gardyne was sent off after an hour against Arbroath and will be suspended for the trip North.

We will find Montrose a stubborn team and our last encounters with them saw us scrape through the play-offs at the end of last season. That's sort of irrelevant now with our playing staff decimated and morale at rock bottom.

<<<That was their starting XI against Arbroath last week. No massive squad changes from last term but Gardyne suspended.

In: Ben MacIver-Redwood, forward (Stirling University); Craig Smith, defender (Heriot-Watt University).

Loan in: Blair McKenzie, defender (Aberdeen); Callum Hannah, defender (Raith Rovers).

Out: Liam Callaghan, midfielder (Arbroath); Ben Hermiston, forward (Deveronvale, undisclosed); Craig Batchelor, forward.

 

 

I really want it to work out for Big Dunc here.  I just wish we showed more urgency and desire from the off.  The slow passing just kills any momentum and atmosphere in the ground.

Yes we were better in the second half but we were playing against ten men so of course we should have been.  We can't be unlucky or unfortunate every week.  We need to start converting draws into wins or we are going to quickly find ourselves in another relegation battle this season in my opinion. 

Our next two games are against the top two.  Let's aim for six points and get some momentum going please 💪.

 

 

43 minutes ago, STFU said:

There were shots from both Bray and Longstaff and Mckay had more than one in the first half from memory.

I get that some people have made their minds up on Ferguson and want him gone and I'm no fan of his either.  However today wasn't nearly as bad as comments from some are suggesting.

Keep it real.

Should we happy that our full time team managed to prize a 1-1 draw away from the plucky part timers of Montrose?(who played with 10 for 45 mins)

This was reality. Will do nothing with Ferguson at the helm.

1 hour ago, forresjags said:

FFS we had an extra man for the whole second half against a part time team, who if it wasn't for Remy Savage would have stolen all 3 points.

 

 

That is accurate but your previous comment wasn't.

22 minutes ago, Broonerz said:

Should we happy that our full time team managed to prize a 1-1 draw away from the plucky part timers of Montrose?(who played with 10 for 45 mins)

This was reality. Will do nothing with Ferguson at the helm.

Totally agree……….. no one should be happy with that result against that 10 man team. How long does this clown and his cronie coaching staff get ??!!

24 minutes ago, Broonerz said:

Should we happy that our full time team managed to prize a 1-1 draw away from the plucky part timers of Montrose?(who played with 10 for 45 mins)

This was reality. Will do nothing with Ferguson at the helm.

Be as happy or unhappy as you wish.

The claim was we had a single shot in the first half and I was highlighting the inaccuracy of that.

Fwiw I'd love to see a new manager also but I'm not going to exaggerate the situation to try and make my case.

Not much action from us first half apart from billy hitting the post. Don’t recall either GK having much to do.

hester goal a contender for goal of the season, what a strike, reminiscent of van basten although nearer to the goal. How he powered that shot into the net was amazing.

second half we should have won the game but poor finishing meant no winner. If only we had a striker who can put the ball in the net.

strachan for me is our number 1 left back, but alas the numerous times he was 1 on 1 with their right back he didn’t try to go past him to the byline instead floating harmless crosses to billy or brooks that were easily dealt with by Montrose defence or passing backwards. Go for it son.

right back Duffy had a nightmare game, hopefully he will improve with fitness.

3 or4 guys tried the gardiner GTF, then started on Ferguson. One or two half hearted shouts to shut up from some in the north stand.

all in all a game we should have won but lack of quality cost us I’m afraid.

 

 

1 hour ago, big cherly said:

Good to see and hear the fans engaged again with the team and club. 

 

Shame about a very small minority in the North Stand at full time giving it the big I am,  directing a tirade of unacceptable abuse at the full time whistle. I won't be taking my 8 year old back till this type of behaviour is addressed by the club, never mind pyros these are an embarrasment to themselves and their parents and they ain't kids.

If it was a choice of keeping Ferguson as manager for the season or being in earshot of their cretinous shouting I'm firmly in the Fergie camp. I now want him to succeed to shut these up. 

Edited August 17, 20241 yr by Leaky Blinder
Spelling

34 minutes ago, STFU said:

Be as happy or unhappy as you wish.

The claim was we had a single shot in the first half and I was highlighting the inaccuracy of that.

Fwiw I'd love to see a new manager also but I'm not going to exaggerate the situation to try and make my case.

I was replying to the get real part of your quote.

answer my question, are you happy with a point today? Ferguson is manager by default because we can’t afford to pay him off.

Added to my earlier points, everyone back at corners, especially when we had a man extra, would love to know the thinking behind that. Good opportunity to spring a counter one would think. 

fwiw, this is not exaggerating anything, these are the facts as they occurred today.

He was a big part of what got us relegated, spent what little money we had this year on a below average left back (and his own son) while alienating our better youth players. The list is endless. 

Edited August 17, 20241 yr by Broonerz

We have some good players in this squad. Was particularly impressed with Bray and Mackinnon today. I thought Savage was outstanding. And Longstaff looked much more effective playing wide. 

If only we had a competent manager we could canter this league!

1 hour ago, Leaky Blinder said:

Shame about a very small minority in the North Stand at full time giving it the big I am,  directing a tirade of unacceptable abuse at the full time whistle. I won't be taking my 8 year old back till this type of behaviour is addressed by the club, never mind pyros these are an embarrasment to themselves and their parents and they ain't kids.

If it was a choice of keeping Ferguson as manager for the season or being in earshot of their cretinous shouting I'm firmly in the Fergie camp. I now want him to succeed to shut these up. 

I’m afraid the vile behaviour is endemic and applies to just about every club with a following of any number of fans where these ‘people’ (usually teenagers and older oaf idiots) can group and hide behind the ‘mob’. I’m not condoning it, quite the reverse, merely saying it has been around football grounds for decades and for all of those years I’ve heard the same hogwash announcements about bad language not being tolerated. Next to nothing has ever been done with the very few exceptions where one or two cases in Scotland where racist calls have been identified and those ‘fans’ banned by that club. (They simply go to another ground ).

I wish it wasn’t the case, but until clubs put proper action to stop such behaviour (it cost money to police) it will I’m afraid continue. 

1 hour ago, Broonerz said:

I was replying to the get real part of your quote.

answer my question, are you happy with a point today? Ferguson is manager by default because we can’t afford to pay him off.

Added to my earlier points, everyone back at corners, especially when we had a man extra, would love to know the thinking behind that. Good opportunity to spring a counter one would think. 

fwiw, this is not exaggerating anything, these are the facts as they occurred today.

He was a big part of what got us relegated, spent what little money we had this year on a below average left back (and his own son) while alienating our better youth players. The list is endless. 

I didn't say 'get real' I said 'keep it real' and that was in reference to the claim there was only one shot in the first half which is not accurate.

I've already said how I feel about the outcome of the game today and if Ferguson was to leave tomorrow I'd be delighted.

We had more shots and shots on target than any game I can recall since Ferguson arrived so something changed/improved.

1 hour ago, big cherly said:

I’m afraid the vile behaviour is endemic and applies to just about every club with a following of any number of fans where these ‘people’ (usually teenagers and older oaf idiots) can group and hide behind the ‘mob’. I’m not condoning it, quite the reverse, merely saying it has been around football grounds for decades and for all of those years I’ve heard the same hogwash announcements about bad language not being tolerated. Next to nothing has ever been done with the very few exceptions where one or two cases in Scotland where racist calls have been identified and those ‘fans’ banned by that club. (They simply go to another ground ).

I wish it wasn’t the case, but until clubs put proper action to stop such behaviour (it cost money to police) it will I’m afraid continue. 

The trust should be able to identify who they are. One of their own was bang in the middle of the group in question. 

Caley Ciuin - you keep on face palming till you knock sense into yourself but these hard of thinking boneheads frightened my wee girl so I'm going to call them out 

17 minutes ago, Leaky Blinder said:

Caley Ciuin - you keep on face palming till you knock sense into yourself but these hard of thinking boneheads frightened my wee girl so I'm going to call them out 

Where I was in North stand there was a lot of frustration and shouting at the end mostly when DF came onto the pitch Feelings were running high. Not condoning it but its not church. Sorry your little girl frightened but if the club banned everyone shouting they'll be no-one there next game. 

PS I wasn't shouting anything 

1 minute ago, old caley girl said:

Where I was in North stand there was a lot of frustration and shouting at the end mostly when DF came onto the pitch Feelings were running high. Not condoning it but its not church. Sorry your little girl frightened but if the club banned everyone shouting they'll be no-one there next game. 

PS I wasn't shouting anything 

I've been standing on terracing since the 80s and understand the distinction between shouting and abusive behaviour. 

I won't be taking her again

4 minutes ago, Leaky Blinder said:

I've been standing on terracing since the 80s and understand the distinction between shouting and abusive behaviour. 

I won't be taking her again

That's a shame. Not sure where you sat but maybe pick a different area. 

We are the 12th biggest settlement in Scotland so anything above challenging for the top division is ludicrous. Like County we have a small local base but what about Nairn, Aviemore etc as our area.  Highlands south and east.

I think Longstaff gets a lot of unfair criticism.  Even last season, he was the player along with Bray most likely to try and beat a man, get a cross into the box or have a shot at goal.  If he loses the ball in the process every now and again, then that's okay for me - at least he's prepared to take a 'risk' in comparison to the very safe football we have been playing for months and months now.

Indeed, the major frustration for me is that we went down last season after trying to play safe too often. In my opinion we have some good players capable of a whole lot more in a different system/under different tactics... 

I think everyone can see the slow sideways and backwards passing is neither entertaining nor effective.  Big Dunc is going to turn this around and get us promoted!! 💪 

Edited August 18, 20241 yr by robbo1985

Just now, robbo1985 said:

Big Dunc is going to turn this around and get us promoted!!

If you have influence with him, encourage him to rip up his current lucrative contract and replace it with a basic payment by results one. He would definitely encourage a more attacking approach then. 

7 hours ago, old caley girl said:

That's a shame. Not sure where you sat but maybe pick a different area. 

Let the yobs win, come on ocg.
Youngsters are the future, no young fans and a few years on no supporters. 
 

When the North Stand was built, there was a section for families, where the general idea was that it would be free from any kind of anti-social behaviour such as swearing and shouting abuse. It wasn't the most exciting area to sit at, but it felt safe to bring our children to and they met up with and made new friends and generally enjoyed themselves. 

I think this area has gone by the wayside over the years (although I may be wrong) as children grew up, but maybe we should bring it back.

I'm sorry that the day was ruined for you and your daughter LB, on what should have been a memorable event.

12 hours ago, STFU said:

That is accurate but your previous comment wasn't.

Sorry for the inaccuracies, please accept my humblest of apologies.

 But in my book over hit crosses should not be classed as attempts on goal.

Moving swiftly on, thought Gilmour showed a lot more when the shackles came off in the second 45. He is hopefully over last year's injuries as we need him to stay fully fit to kick start our season.

 

7 hours ago, ScottMacScott said:

We are the 12th biggest settlement in Scotland so anything above challenging for the top division is ludicrous. Like County we have a small local base but what about Nairn, Aviemore etc as our area.  Highlands south and east.

Lots of reasons why not. A lot of folk who move here already have a team is one. 

County don't have huge crowds either but are funded by a very rich man to maintain that league status 

1 hour ago, bishbashbosh said:

Let the yobs win, come on ocg.
Youngsters are the future, no young fans and a few years on no supporters. 
 

So what would you suggest after yesterday? Ban at least half of the north stand for showing displeasure? Get real 

1 hour ago, CaleyHedgehog said:

When the North Stand was built, there was a section for families, where the general idea was that it would be free from any kind of anti-social behaviour such as swearing and shouting abuse. It wasn't the most exciting area to sit at, but it felt safe to bring our children to and they met up with and made new friends and generally enjoyed themselves. 

I think this area has gone by the wayside over the years (although I may be wrong) as children grew up, but maybe we should bring it back.

I'm sorry that the day was ruined for you and your daughter LB, on what should have been a memorable event.

I think folk wanted to be able to sit with kids wherever they wanted? I agree bring it back and then that's known as the safe area.