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Puzzles me that people think the club is "arrogant" by exploring the possibility of doing this and putting in a request to the HL. Arrogance would be an expectation from ICT that because we are a big club in relative terms, the HL ought to simply bend over backwards to accommodate us, but there would appear to be no evidence of that being the case. It may well be a fruitless request, but I don't see why people are so keen to criticise the club for exploring something that would be good for ICT.

Plus points - Vigurs had one of the best games he's had in months. Calder had a cracker until he came off. Raven put in a solid display. The majority of possession and some good passages of play. Negative points - We've signed an absolute dud in Joe Chalmers. Ridgers' kicking is appalling. The poorest I've seen from an ICT keeper since Zibi Malkowski. Polworth is simply not a winger. He looked far better in the second half when he was sitting narrower. None of our four strikers look like finishers. Our crossing and especially corners were atrocious. Every single one was to the back post and thus straight at the keeper.

Highlights for me, Calder was superb and terrorised their right side with a few sweet crosses put in, Vigurs looked confident and skillful but as pointed out he seemed to slow the game down at times however thought he did the full backs jobs well at times too, thought Bell looked very sharp and possibly could have done more if had come on earlier. Draper looked solid as usual, Mulraney looked much more accurate along with his usual pace and was unlucky a few times. Low points for me include Polworth once again, seriously he must stop taking free kicks and corners as he is absolutely abysmal at them. Chalmers was too slow to react at times, ref was ludicrous

Dont know how DU got away with the play acting and conned Thomson into stopping play every time we had a break on. Ref was terrible.

I love this site. ?

The pessimism is premature, and unnecessary. We narrowly lost a game to the favourites, thanks to a hotly disputed penalty. We showed some good football, DU inevitably sitting back. The next three games will be a far better indicator of where we are, and our new look side will improve.

can't wait to get over. Flight leaves tomorrow morning at 9.50 all being well i should hopefully be having a pint in the caley club by 11.30. Looking forward to seeing the new team in action

I can't say the match was a world class exhibition , but a lot of good play was seen from both teams , disappointed yes, but we live to fight another day. I was not in a position to note whether the penalty was rightly called but judging by the way the United unit on the bench immediately jumped up and appealed it looked like the Arabs had a good case. United started with 3 centre halves and no fullbacks as such giving ICT a free run especially on the left with some superb play on the left wing and on the left mid field . Quite frankly some great crosses from the left were fritted away by some poor finishing I can' t understand why corner after corner was floated in only for the goalkeeper in Orange ( strange to be allowed to play in the colours of his team ) collected the ball with some degree of skill. Why not a shrt corner or two which can be worked into the box A word about discipline , so many bookings , is not good , I lost count, this will only result in suspensions in the later part of the seasons. After the suspensions of last season we really need to be more careful in not arguing with officials . I was taught when talking to refs in my day. It was yes Sir, no Si,r 3 bags full Sir. . I thought on the whole there were quite a few positives in the game for ICT. Talking to some D U supporters after the game many of them said they though Caley was the best team/ I think we can only get better as the team get some co-ordination up front

Totally agree, it will be interesting to see the penalty again, as from where we were sitting it looked like a dive, and nine bookings in the game shows how bad a referee Thomson is.

Well... My thoughts are..... Too many players not performing - or not good enough! Polworth was dire, Draper did not play well, Chalmers is a feckin donkey. Baird & Oakley will really struggle to score against the big teams in this league. I think we played ok, quite a few positives, Calder looks a fine player, Vigurs was very effective and even covered a dangerous break in the first half and made an excellent block, But as usual the final third let's us down, a lack of composure and poor final pass let some good moves fall apart, Don't know how many times the Arab keeper just plucked the ball out of the air. Once we sort out the defence a bit, and get Chalmers away to feck, Get Baird and co working together we might put in a challenge...... but i'm not holding mt breath!

Thought Inverness were by far and away the better team for the majority of the 90 minutes. Didn't see anything from United to suggest we can't finish above them. Our wingers will run riot in this league IMO. We just need a poacher to convert all these crosses and cutbacks into goals. Some harsh criticisms of Ridgers. Thought he commanded the box well and made some good stops. Some poor kicks for sure, but he was rushing as we were chasing the game. Don't want to be the happy clapper, but I even thought 'whipping boy' Chalmers came into a game and made some good contributions towards the end. Patience is a virtue. Most of our best players over the years were rank early doors and grew into the role. Let's give these lads a chance.

Draw would have been fair result today but with DU having no recognised striker playing today we really should have taken advantage of that but were not creating anything IMO Oakley is the only one of our strikers likely to score Baird for me is a poacher not an outright striker. Please if there is anything left in the pot can we get a proper goalkeeping coach as i dont think Esson is the man for the job our goalkeeping has been rank since Marsella left. As usual Ref was poor but from where i was sitting it was a stonewall penalty but so was Drapers.Not going to write anything about Polworth as my blood pressure will rocket!

Better team by far just lacking a cutting edge. Some good performances Vigurs was a class above the rest with Calder running him a close second, was outstanding in first half and is far suited playing further forward. Dundee Utd terrible gamesmanship or cheating which ever way you want to call it with that wee fraudster Billy King the worst culprit. Could not believe how many times the flow of the game was halted due them lying pole axed .

Felt we bossed the game and on another day (with another ref) things might have gone better. Just can't see how united got that early penalty and the linesman calling the ref over to send Robbo off was way OTT 10 mins into new season. Vigurs awarded a well deserved MoM. Mark Ridgers is needing to practice his kicking this coming week.

Well that went swimmingly! Looks like it's going to be a long season. Plenty of the ball but no threat to united keeper all afternoon. Must be said the officiating beggared belief...... absolutely diabolical.

The online seemed to go straight to the commentary, but I switched between the two options for Sportsound and got OAM.

Pretty much more or less along the lines of what everyone expected then? I do like the idea of having a colt team in a lower league to develop younger players and the Highland League is very convenient from our point of view in regards to regional proximity and overall competitiveness. I certainly don't see how it's arrogance to explore the possibility and at least ask the question. Even if we don't actually set up a new team for the league (Which itself might be a bit of a headache cost wise) is there anything to stop us looking at forging an official link with an existing team in or around Inverness that's already a member of the Highland League. A place we could send a batch of our young players each year which would help them invest their own money on more experienced players. These young players would then be able to fight for a place in that team alongside seasoned HL players. We would also have the option of taking some of their better players on. A feeder team essentially if you will. In return we could help them with infrastructure, further exposure etc.

What! All of him.

Much better for us than him just being 90% suspended.

Indeed. Why should we (and/or Ross County and/or Aberdeen etc) be allowed to enter a Colts teams into (what I presume would be) an expanded Highland League, when there are junior sides who have already expressed an interest in filling that void - Banks O'Dee and Halkirk to name but two (while there are probably a few others who, with some developments to their infrastructure could also enter, such as Culter and Golspie Sutherland). I'd say they have a far more legitimate case than we do, especially after our decision to withdraw from the SPFL Development League. Think I'm right in saying we couldn't enter a reserve team in the HL just now anyway under the current legislation and a return to the North Caledonian League would be the highest league we could enter a reserve side.

Arguably within a squad of 'so-so' players we have a few gems that could make all the difference if they turn up at the same time .... based only on reports that would be Seedorf, plus Vigurs and Mulraney (these two very much the enigmatic types) ... Draper could be the lynchpin to our game, whilst if Polworth were to rediscover his mojo he could be class in this division. The juries out on the four front players Baird (slightly better than Boden?), Zschusschen (the new Doumbuoya? who at least scored a few goals) Bell (who on the basis of one game seems to be raising hopes) and Oakley, who maybe has the best pedigree and the best reports. Hopefully one will kick on and if Tremarco returns fit and to form we have could have some threat. Could be very much a hit-and-miss season, that takes a while to get going.....I see the BBC predicts we will finish 3rd, and end up in the play-offs, we'd take that wouldn't we? (given the pedigree of Falkirk and the end of season from of St Mirren). They also predict Dundee Utd to go up automatically so today will be an interesting reveal of potential. Not sure we are up and running yet so a draw is the best I can see for today....lets hope I have lots of egg on face at 5pm

definately ghana.... Now waiting in amsterdam.....dont think commentary on my journey will be as exciting as the 5 1 victory today.......

This is pie in the sky stuff. The Highland League are never going to allow a Caley Thistle Colts team in. It's a complete non-starter.

I agree. This appointment lacks imagination and is a wasted opportunity. Danny MacDonald is a football man who has had mixed success previously at the club. The fact is that, the last couple of seasons apart, we have been pretty good at the football side of things given our resources and, in the likes of Robbo, Charlie Christie and Brian Rice, there are a number at the club with a footballing background, football connections and football knowledge. Where we have been very very poor ever since entering the league is on the marketing and commercial side whether that be in selling tickets and enthusing and engaging the Inverness public or in shifting merchandise and raising the profile of the club in a manner that generates income. There was an opportunity in creating the new post of general manager to bring in a fresh face with fresh ideas from a marketing and commercial background and try something new. Instead we appoint a familiar face who brings nothing new to the club. Very disappointing but not in the least surprising.

Dedication. Hope the players respond!!

Caleyboy's post above went up while I was typing my last one and this, although stated somewhat less generously, is entirely consistent with my understanding.