Leaderboard

Amid all the doom and gloom, let’s take a moment to praise Billy on scoring his 102nd goal for us and becoming our all time record goal scorer. Its a shame goals 101 and 102 came in defeats, but he continues to show his value and commitment to the club. His work rate is immense and he is a great role model for our younger players. The achievement is well deserved and I hope there are many goals in him during the rest of his time with us. Well done Billy!

I do fear it's going to be a repeat of the slow, predicable uninspired football that we were subjected to last season. I said before that it was mind boggling that he was given, not earned, a two year deal, and we have the same coaching team as last season, but I'm now questioning my sanity of renewing my season ticket too early, just to continue to watch what's on offer.

I can't tell you the last time that I was excited for the start of a season, pre-season should be the time where you ramp up and the suspense builds up for the new season to start but the apathy I have towards our team and more so the management team has killed my enjoyment. Billy Dodds has not and will not be the man for us and will not guide us anywhere other than down which he has already been doing. He should never have been given a new contract and the board should be ashamed of themselves. The League Cup should not be used as pre-season friendlies which I have said numerous times, for a club like us who needs as much financial income as we can get/gain, it should be treated seriously to entice fans in and try and progress as far as we can. We came back too late for pre-season and will now be chasing our tails for weeks trying to catch up with other teams in a league that is very competitive, I can't even bring myself to say that I hope no one runs away with it as even if they do we won't be in the running. I'll apologise in many months if I am wrong but we will languish in the bottom half and finish somewhere between 6-8th in the league. Too many times have I read that we were good in part for 45mins, 60mins or we tried our best or we did some things well. A match lasts 90mins and if we can't compete for the full extent of it why do we bother to give praise for some of it, over the course of a season that's a lot of minutes where we have been sub-standard or will be sub-standard. If we have any aspirations of promotion, which I seriously doubt from board level, then we can't afford to be sub-standard. Some will see this as an over the top rant about a manager that I do not like in the slightest, but I personally don't think it is. Just because he has been given a new two year contract doesn't mean I have to like it and doesn't mean I have to bow down to him, he's not immune to criticism and it's only a matter of time before we get his ridiculous after-match interviews and the blame game will begin.

We shot ourselves in the foot by gifting the two goals in the first half. Until then we looked better than in our earlier games. We were much better in the second half and deservedly got back in it. We played some decent stuff, with Carson, Shaw, Bray and Gilmour probably the pick. Longstaff looks a decent signing too whilst Davidson looks effective going forward and hopefully won’t repeat the slackness that cost us a goal. The jury is out for me with Brooks but he’s not had many minutes. Devine looks out of sorts but hopefully just needs time to get back to full fitness and sharpness. We looked the more likely to win it but conceded late on when tying to get a winner. Now Mckay has passed Wyness’ total hopefully he goes on a scoring run. Gilmour’s goal was a cracking finish, whilst Samuels came very close before we conceded late on. I understand the negativity in the posts above (not sure how many of those posting were at the game) but if we can maintain the level of performance we showed in the second half we will not be too far away. Unfortunately Airdrie are another team that will wind the clock down and try to con the refs. Losing Lewis Nicolson is a big blow as he was looking good again tonight. I heard it being discussed in the stand that he’d messaged a pal indicating it was a bad one and he could miss the whole season. Hopefully that was just talk and it’s not as serious as feared.

I’m always in the North Stand and will be glad to get back to my usual seat to enjoy the game without being within earshot of Mr Dodds. So much swearing at his team, is that his way to encourage? In my successful working life I was a team leader and NEVER would have shouted at one of my team - you’re a f..king amateur, which was shouted on Tuesday evening at an established team member. I cannot recall ever being advised that insulting someone, especially in public, encouraged better performance. Plenty times the f word was used towards his players. If I was in his team I would be raging - so much for being a leader - huh - Mr Dodds’ tactics are so obvious other teams know how to play against us and his lack of vocabulary only shows up his many failings.

People are calling for the managers head after the dismal last 4 seasons ! Getting into the Scottish cup final by default is not something you reward after 4 awful seasons ? Maybe an awful lot of fans are missing something??

I think we need a reality check. Our players returned for pre season about two weeks after all the other teams. We only had two friendlies against low level teams. The fact that we’ve struggled in the group should not be a surprise. As is said above, we have rotated players and treated the games as pre season. The time to worry is if we are struggling about five games into the new league campaign. I agree with Doofer’s Dad that the injury to Nicolson impacted our first half. The players could see how serious it was. Whether we would have avoided the mistakes is another matter. I saw enough in the first 15 and after the break to be hopeful that we can have a good campaign. We played some decent stuff and were being positive. Shaw and Longstaff are happy to take players on which creates space. Gilmour could grow into the Allardice role. Yes we have been shaky at the back but we’ve mixed the pairing up. We’ve looked best when Duffy has been playing but I’m sure Devine will come on to his game soon. I understand the negativity but feel it is far too early. Let’s see where we are in mid September. And I really hope Nicolson is not as badly injured as we fear. He’s a real prospect.

If Nicholson is out for a while we'll maybe get an announcement from the club around Christmas time, if we're lucky!! Gardiner take off your rose tinted spectacles re Dodds!!

If we don't have the finances to sack the manager, then we don't have the finances to sign any more players. If we can only afford one of those options, then it should be cheerio to Dodds, and a whip around to get rid of the person who gave him a 2 year extension.

The opportunity was there . The contract was finished . Something quite not right at our club the last couple of years and it stinks .

Too true. The coaches seem to have a job for life at ICT. It needed a fresh approach, new ideas from new coaches, but we get the same old same old.

The whole coaching team seem lacking in any ability to get the best from any players. It’s why we remain in the Championship and struggle!

I’d made the trip down from Orkney for the game tonight. I was sat beside either friends or family of Lewis and when he was injured it really was the most gutting time I’ve watched football hearing the despair from his personal supporters. I thought his studs caught the turf causing the knee to turn. He looked great in the early stages and I can only wish him a speedy recovery. All the best Lewis. I thought Shaw was really superb tonight, he lit up the wing and delivered probably 80% of crosses into a dangerous area. He had the main stand on their feet when skinning his man in a way I’ve not seen since the days of Johnny Hayes or Barry Robson and I thought he deserved to be on the winning side. With players like him we have hope of a good season. I noticed that within seconds of the first goal for us Dodds and Wilson pulled Samuels to come on for Longstaff which was clearly a pre planned move. It was the wrong move, despite him looking a bit tired. Why change it after coming back from two down? Nuts. The root cause of the successful Airdrie attack was a severe lack of protection from the midfield to our defence, the 4-4-2 formation left us wide open I felt. Dodds stuck with the formation for most of the game and the like-for-like changes just serve to make sure the fresh players beat the men that the subbed didn’t…it doesn’t address the strategical issue that was plain to see. I couldn’t fault the players, it was the way they were played.

Thanks Billy !

We really don't. Weaker than last year in key areas and what will probably be a stronger and more competitive league. Mid table last season was a failing, this year that should be taken as our expectation.

Oh dear, dissent already........ The extension of Doddsball should be celebrated and we should all be supporting and behind such a master tactician and proponent of the game. Given his cv of success you can see why the board stuck with the great man after leading us through the worst injury crisis to ever affect any club in the modern era with unwavering confidence in his play and formations refusing to alter in the face of adversity. This is going to be a roller coaster season and I am delighted we have doddsball to see us through.

If u look back similar quotes were made in previous seasons . Dodds is one awful coach . How many would come out and say Hell yeah what a great last 2 seasons that was and reward it .Bloody awful the last 2 seasons wake up !!

Totally agree with you. The football we play under Dodds has been some of the worst for many a season. I struggle to think of any home games that got me excited last season, the cup game against Kilmarnock being the exception. The club had the perfect time to change the coaching team, with Dodds contract having run down, but to award him with a two year deal is mind boggling. So, if things aren't going well this season, we are stuck with him for two years, or maybe more, if the club award him another contract!

All three goals came from us giving the ball away in our own half. Really poor. I hope that this is just the pre-season affect.

The club are hardly going to sack him weeks into a 2 year deal, the season hasn't even started yet. On paper we have a squad capable of challenging for the league

This seasons budget has already been allocated / committed. You’re no mug so I’m sure you already know that! There are a couple of players Dodds is chasing but the limit on what he can pay for them is in this budget. (Yes that means average to suspect injury prone players that other championship teams won’t go near). I’m afraid that’s where we are given the past two seasons. (I suspect it would have been a lot leaner if not for the Queens Park cup boo boo)! It doesn’t make any sense in my view to push for a replacement of the manager on the back of two poor results in the early season (3rd level) competition. This really, for the club, would always be a period for getting the team structure, play pattern, strengths and weaknesses set out and amended for the real test (the league), where the manager & coaches will be judged. (Add to that where the CEO and certain board members look in a year or so). As I mentioned we don’t have the money to dump Dodds. It just will not happen (for now), get used to it! The test for Dodds is to try and get the team results. (I don’t mention or mean quality of play, as I suspect most fans accept, the style of play - structure is already in place. Their is no other plan B). A poor winter set of results may influence my opinion and make me look a bigger mug! bc

Out and CEO with him .

We have to be the slowest team in the league. Pass across the back four, back and fore back and fore then pass to the keeper. GO FORWARD! Take a man on, and show some urgency from the starting whistle. Not when we are 0-2 down! What a shame for Nicholson, i hope its not bad as i have high aspirations for him this season.

What do we really expect from the same manager and coaching staff that only saved their jobs last season because of a registration mistake from Queens Park? I fear it's going to be a long hard season if this is the standard that's on offer. Why do most of the teams that play us look sharper, pass the ball better and close us down, hit us on the break and create more chances? It's down to the coaching and the tactics that are implemented in the game, and Dodds is lacking on all fronts. When we eventually get the ball back our first thought is boot it up the park, just get rid of the hot potato instead of looking up and picking a pass to a teammate, like Airdrie were doing. I haven't made a prediction yet about what I think our final league position will be, but on our showing so far, I think we will struggle to get into the top half of the league this season, there are a lot of good teams this season, and a lot of them will be stronger this term. I hope I'm proved wrong, but we will need to improve 100% more than we have shown so far. We need a good centre back, another good midfielder and to find a good partner for Billy Mckay. I really can't sit through another season of boring ponderous football again.

Only one Amateur and it’s Dodds .Way out of his depth .

... or hope !!

Not forgetting the ‘Hack and Hope’ strategy to be deployed at the last 10 minutes of the game. That always catches out the opposition centre halfs and goalkeeper unaware!! bc

Well, let’s just think about who cares or will change their opinion on what is posted on this forum. # the CEO - no chance # Chairman - nope # board members with influence - mmm (based on the last 2 seasons)? # the supported trust board - you kidding! # the season ticket holders - some I suspect but have no clout (ie unlike the top 5 teams in Scotland ). So, we can rant all we like, but it doesn’t really count for anything. The forum is just an outlet to allow ICT fans to put down the views, and for the most it does that pretty well I believe! Just enjoy the footie - who knows, we might be pleasantly surprised! bc

I really don't accept the "pre-season getting-to-know-each-other" argument. I saw the Dumbarton game because it was streamed, and at one point the commentators noted that we had six of the Cup Final team on the pitch. Most of the rest aren't newcomers either. So either we have quality players and a good game-plan, or we don't. I say we don't.

Whilst it was a disappointing result, I won't get to fussed about going out of the cup, given that we seem to have tried to give as many players as possible game time, in what has been almost a pre-season style campaign after a late finish to last season Sure in the end, peoples views are often affected by the result, but given many comments on this match and what I heard about the Dumbarton game, there have been enough elements to be quietly happy about, and with a bit of luck we might have picked up more points, but obviously we seem to have start slowly in the last two games, and mixing up the team for game time has obvs had a disjointing affect. Absolutely no point in people calling for Dodds head after two poor games, given his record here and him just signing a new contract. Likewise Defence obviously needs to sharpen its game, but Devine, Duffy and Delaney have all been strong performers [if not consistent enough]. the Nicholson injury sounds a blow, but other youngsters look promising, and the new boys all look useful I did wonder if Airdrieonians would be this years Queens Park given two strong seasons in the League below..I will find out more at the end of August went I pop up there for the away league fixture.

Well I am not going overboard yet although the danger signs are looming in the not so far horizon. To me the last two games have been akin to pre season friendly experimentation. Why else rotate the keepers and make so many changes during the game?? Yet other excuses but probably acceptable are the short preparation time, letting newbies settle in, fitness improvement and seeking the preferred starting eleven and system. I would say that enuff is enuff and we have to use the Dundee game as the opening league game. I presume, given previous comments, that we are persevering with the tippy tappy, play from the back style - which I hate and worry that it is a modern trend that many teams follow. We have been lacking of a tall centre forward for some season but I thought that the purchasing of apparently young, pacy and skilful additions would lead to a more attack minded approach and using width and speed. The upper echelons were lucky last season and have promised much for this campaign. Their heads are already on the blocks and it is time to show us that they can change and care. And quickly!!

Absolutely 100%

After a bright start I thought Lewis's injury affected the players. I'd be surprised if he hasn't done his cruciate ligament - looked very like it to me. I hope I'm wrong - he was playing pretty well, as he did against. Bonnyrig. The team responded well in the 2nd half and had several chances to take the lead, but messed up. I think we have the talent available but there was a lack of composure and silly mistakes all over the park. Great strike from Gilmore and Billy breaking the club's scoring record were at least some consolation on a disappointing night.

Sluggish first 60 minutes. Some awful defending and should have been 3-0 down at half time, but weren't as Cammy Mackay dealt with Delaney's gaff in first few minutes. Did well to get back to 2-2 which prevented me falling asleep. Gash defending again for their third. Just not good enough. 20 odd minutes of good football out of 90 is just not good enough.

With us now out of the competition there will be no point fielding a strong team against Dee. Let's the kids have a go.

He could have been advising them at their training session!

Funny On more than one level...

I believe that every coach in this league has got our number now, and know how we are going to play, and they counteract it, or they change tactics at half time and end up winning. Dodds seems incapable of doing this, and we know from previous seasons that he has no plan B.

What I thought was interesting last night was the difference between the two managers. The Airdrie manager stood at the edge of the allocated area and every break in play etc. he would be discussing things with his players looked like he was giving them instructions to go this way or that way etc. all in a cool calm manner. Billy and Barry for most part leaned against the wall and didn’t really interact until someone made a mistake then started shouting at them. Seemed totally opposite to each other. He clapped and shouted a bit more in second half but entirely different style of management

*2 seasons feels like 4

The stats suggest we were on top (52/48) however 13 attempts on goal with only 3 on target is not a good ratio. Still only one clean sheet (v Nairn) this season and we've shipped six goals in three league cup games. Also not a good ratio. Only time will tell of cousre but the early signs are not filling me confidence that we can make a strong challenge this season. Hope young Lewis is ok and the injury isn't as serious as mentioned above. I also hope it isn't a start to another injury hit season and the same old excuses being rolled out.

CEO has that answer I guess

100% this but no, our incompetent owner thinks its OK to get to a cup final (which we went of early but for a few up by QP) and offers the d*** a new deal when it was clear to all of us (the fans) way before CHRISTMAS that he was out of his depth and needed sacked!! It's time for fans to vote with their feet if the idiots don't listen as that will MAYBE make them act, especially if they don't want to lose anymore fans because the longer this PISH lasts the emptier the stadium will be!

So you read the thread title and you're still confused?

Yes, I hope it isn't as bad as it looked, I thought that Nicolson was going to be the breakout player this season. He could really make the LB spot his own. This passing back and fore across the back line must be Dodds tactics, because they did it all last season as well. There was one attack where we were on the right, nearly in line with their box, and it went backwards, and backwards until in went to the keeper, and it couldn't go any further back, so we had to kick it forward. Pathetic.

With the club giving him a 2 year deal, he's going nowhere. Why they didn't give him a rolling contract is probably not a mystery, I think he has friends in high places. Most supporters I talk to wanted a change of direction in the coaching department, a fresh outlook, but the powers that be obviously wanted to watch the same old rubbish that we had to endure last season. So let's Strap ourselves in for the Billy Dodds Hoofball Sh*t show.

Despite the late finish to last season and the meagre few signings, we don’t currently look like a team capable of making a challenge for the championship. Why do I renew my ST each year !!!!!

Getting mixed messages here. Are you a fan of Billy Dodds or not?

Thought we looked sluggish in terms of passing and movement. No press on Airdrie despite everyone knowing they were playing from back. Two elementary mistakes for the goals - Devine with a brilliant tackle and then thinking he was Maldini and taking 2 hours to find a pass. That actually summed up the first half - they were sharp, incisive and committed; we were ponderous, shapeless and guileless. second half looked to be going the same way until we got that wonder strike from Gilmore. From that point on I thought there was only going to be one winner. Nathan Shaw was a joy to watch - perhaps just the final ball needing a bit more precision. thought Bray looked tidy, Duffy added a bit more direction and Carson actually looked much better at right back. Samuels added a bit more pace and guile. We definitely don’t have an option B for crosses and long balls. Three men up front not one over 5’8! Thought quite a few of them tired - Gilmore def looked knackered. We looked about 2 -3 weeks behind them in terms of pace and sharpness. move no Idea how their keeper made that save at 2-2 Definitely lacking midfield guile (welsh) and despite the mistake by Davidson in the first half I think we could see a decent partnership with him and Longstaff (who looked knackered by half time!)

Need to shore up the defence and central midfield, plus need a tall target man up front to help Billy. Looked like a bad injury for young Nicholson. On the plus side some nice play from Longstaff early on and Bray when he came on. Looks like the Dundee game will be a pre-season warm up.