RiG

Massively disappointed with ICT last night. Didn't think much of Rangers who, whilst dominating most of the first half, didn't look overly threatening for much of the game. That said, we offered so little in the final third that it's hard to say we really deserved more than what we got. Doumbouya, Fisher and Boden are all much of a muchness. I'd trade all three for one month of having Billy Mckay back at the club. The misses from Doumbouya and Fisher were awful and I thought the former had a poor game overall seldom winning the ball in the air and struggling to hold the ball up when it was played to him. Given the weakness in the centre of the Rangers defence I was disappointed we never tried to test that more. We seemed to have more success stretching the Rangers defence when Doran and Mulraney came on and we played with proper wide players. As discussed above and at length in the previous ICT match threads I really don/t understand why Foran plays Polworth out on the flanks given his propensity to come infield and leave his defender exposed. We saw this last season when Horner got roasted against Dundee United and it still seems to happen now. He looked much more assured in the middle against Dundee when Mulraney started on the flank but then against Hamilton his influence on the game was significantly curtailed to accommodate the returning Vigurs who hasn't had a good game since the hat trick against the Pars in the League Cup. Hopefully next week we'll see Mulraney and Doran in the side as King was again poor despite a decent start. Rangers looked decent in the first half, very slick passing and really quick when attacking. They seemed to have a lot of space to go at us especially in the middle of the pitch where Vigurs and Tansey were often absent. Cracking strike by Miller. missed it at the time due to some fat Rangers fans being chucked out of the home end for starting on ICT fans - classic - but having seen the highlights it was a smashing hit. I thought Fon Williams did okay for most of the game. Cracking save to stop Rangers going two up and he didn't seem overly troubled in the second half. Tremarco and mckay had good games I thought and the aforementioned Doran looked lively when he came on and he seemed to kick start a wave of attacks for ICT in the second half. Just a shame his final pass or shot was the wrong decision almost every time! Cringing at the ICT fans who took along an Ireland flag tot he game to wind up the Rangers support. It seemed to work as one of the fans in the West 'Stand' tried to vault over the barriers and fight the fans with the flag. I guess they could say it was for Foran but the "Up the RA" chant was pathetic and quickly shouted down by other fans in the immediate vicinity which was good.

I know one person who got the away top (@Nod). He might be able to enlighten us as to how he did that According to their website you can still get it: https://www.jdsports.co.uk/product/white-carbrini-inverness-ct-201617-away-shirt-pre-order/210529/ I did chuckle at the following text Hopefully this will be the last season we need to deal with JD / Cabrini.

The area for development is further east of the TCS. Have a look at pages 34 - 41 of the Inner Moray Firth Development Plan. http://www.highland.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/15008/adopted_inner_moray_firth_local_development_plan.pdf TCS is unlikely to be affected by any development in the area other than additional traffic but how much traffic the types of development currently zoned for that area would generate on a typical weekend would probably be insignificant.

Saw Grant Russell tweeting about this earlier. Filled in.

Where do we play this guy? After last weeks game against Dundee where he turned in an excellent performance playing first alongside Tansey in the middle and then further forward supporting Doumbouya it was somewhat disappointing to see him shunted out to the flanks against Hamilton on Saturday to accommodate Vigurs and as a result he didn't really influence the game. I'd like to see King and Mulraney or Doran on the flanks with either Draper or Polworth being the striker and the other alongside Tansey. As talented a player as I think Vigurs is I don't think he should be in the team ahead of Tansey, Draper or Polworth. I know there will be some games where playing someone like Mulraney might not be Foran's first choice as he might be defensively suspect and Polworth might give you a little bit more cover but I think he can really influence a game but to do that, especially against the likes of Hamilton, Dundee etc. he should be played in the middle.

That's what these lads do sadly. I wasn't party to the whole thing but we've had plenty of problems with these neds in the past. Needless to say they weren't so keen to get fired in about some of the older / larger ICT fans who responded to their taunts. The police didn't seem too bothered about them either although I did get a telling off for telling the neds to f'ck off. As for the game it was incredibly forgettable save for the goal by Polworth which seemed to be our first really 'direct' piece of play. A real comedown after some inspiring performances of late.

I see the game v Rangers has now been moved to a 12:30 KO on the Saturday.

Tifosi. Basically is anyone interested in getting some kind of display arranged for Rangers?

Out of the six fixtures originally scheduled for 15:00 on 24th December four have now been changed.

Out where my folks stay there is a Saturday morning football club and you definitely see more and more kids with ICT strips on. Great to see!

The crowd for that game was higher than usual given the significance of it. Crowds will often spike when there is more at stake like our final game of the season against Falkirk when about 7,000 folk came along. The earlier league game attracted just over 3,000. I remember we had a large crowd for a more run of the mill game against Hibs over the Christmas period one season (possibly 05-06) which was quite unusual. Sadly, as you say, the novelty has long worn off for a lot of folk. We used to get about 4,000 - 4,500 against Killie now if we get over 3,000 we're probably doing well. The days of Inverness having 3 - 4 football clubs is mostly before my time so I can only really base my experience on ICT but when Saturday comes along the place just doesn't feel like there is a football match on that day. I'm not expecting banners and scarves flying all over the place like in the lead up to the Scottish Cup Final but whenever I'm walking around Inverness on a home match day there seems to be a distinct lack of 'presence' of any ICT fans, strips, scarves etc. In places like Aberdeen and Edinburgh you almost always see folk out and about on game days with club colours. Just doesn't seem to be the same in Inverness. Maybe it's an age thing with the club I don't know. You could well be on to something in saying that the club just doesn't energise folk sufficiently. Certainly seems that way but I'm not too sure what else they can do. Cutting ticket prices has been discussed before but halving the prices won't necessarily lead to a doubling of crowds to make it worth it. Does seem that we have lost a good number of fans over the years looking at those average crowd figures.

The ever informative poster HibeeJibee on P & B has posted the average crowds for ICT over the seasons (direct C n P): 1994-95 ... 1,276 ... (tier 4) 1995-96 ... 1,579 ... (tier 4) 1996-97 ... 2,495 ... (tier 4 - promoted) 1997-98 ... 1,762 ... (tier 3) 1998-99 ... 2,168 ... (tier 3 - promoted) 1999-00 ... 2,282 ... (tier 2) 2000-01 ... 2,133 ... (tier 2) 2001-02 ... 2,046 ... (tier 2) 2002-03 ... 2,182 ... (tier 2) 2003-04 ... 2,375 ... (tier 2 - promoted) 2004-05 ... 4,067 2005-06 ... 5,061 2006-07 ... 4,879 2007-08 ... 4,753 2008-09 ... 4,457 ... (relegated) 2009-10 ... 3,509 ... (tier 2 - promoted) 2010-11 ... 4,526 2011-12 ... 4,023 2012-13 ... 4,038 2013-14 ... 3,558 2014-15 ... 3,733 2015-16 ... 3,754 2016-17 ... 3,970 so far

Which position for Polworth is Perf referring to? Alongside Tansey or further forward behind the striker? FWIW I thought he was smashing in both. Much better than playing him wide on the right where he had a propensity to drift inside for a lot of the game.

Yeah yesterdays crowd was a real shame especially after the impressive performances of late. Is it all down to cost? I don't think so. The appeal of these games has worn off and there is always something else that a lot of would be attendees would rather be doing than going to the ground to watch a game (that's their prerogative of course). Look at the Celtic game the other week. The North Stand didn't seem any busier than usual really. I think for a lot of folk in Inverness they simply don't have the disposable income after paying for things like rent, mortgages etc to be able to afford to go to every game. Wages can't be that high in the city given the main employers. Really hope we see crowds coming back. The players certainly deserve more folk to be coming along to see them but sadly going to see ICT isn't a priority for most of the city as the club, for whatever reason, just don't have a strong place in their hearts. Inverness just isn't a football place. it's not like say Aberdeen or Edinburgh where you know there's a game on when Aberdeen or Hearts or Hibs play. If you were in Inverness when we play at home you'd barely know there was a game on. Sadly I just don't see it ever changing.

Mckay with another impressive performance yesterday to get it right up me again. Long may it continue!

Easy win for Inverness yesterday. Dundee were really poor and after going two down largely resorted to aimless punts up the park. Aside from a good start to the second half where they had us pinned back most of the game was a stroll and we seldom looked in any real danger for the majority of the match. Draper should have put us one up when he good play down the right between Mulraney and Mckay found him lurking just outside the six yard area but he shot straight at Bain who turned it over. The opening goal came down the same side when Mckay sent a cross in and it was met by the head of Doumbouya who flicked his header beyond the diving Bain. A well deserved lead for ICT and a second came when King broke into the box and was bundled over by Etxabeguren. Looked like the incident took place just inside the very corner of the box so a penalty was the right call. Tansey easily beat Bain to put Inverness firmly in control. Whilst we still looked comfortable for the majority of the first half there was a couple of times where we were slack when defending. Mulraney and Polworth both had their pockets picked which led to decent chances for Dundee. Polworth got an earful from Warren as sophia mentions for his blunder. Dundee as trialled a rather odd corner routine which saw about 5 of their players line up beyond the back post on the goal line and then charge to the penalty spot when as the corner was taken. The ball sailed over all of them. Start of the second half saw Dundee really hem ICT in as they tried to get a goal back but for their pressure they didn't really create anything of note and Inverness killed the game off when Draper tussled with McGowan and the ball fell to Brad "Feed the Wolf" Mckay and he charged forward towards the Dundee goal and played in Polworth who finished low past Bain. Polworth almost set up a fourth goal for ICT when he seized on a loose backpass, rounded Bain and teed up Mulraney who shot straight at Bain who had gotten back to his goal. Warren, Draper and Mckay all then head efforts cleared off the line in quick succession as Dundee failed to clear a corner. Low got one back for Dundee from a free kick but it was scarcely deserved given how poor they had been. Great performances from the likes of Mckay, Warren and Polworth yesterday. Polworth started alongside Tansey with Vigurs dropping out and he later swapped with Draper to play behind the striker for most of the second half and he was buzzing all over the park. Very impressive game. Mckay was solid again at right back and I felt he linked well with Mulraney who tormented the Dundee left back for most of the game. Two assists as well for the hungry wolf. Not bad at all and delighted at how wrong Ihave been about the guy so far. Long may it continue!

Not really surprising. I did wonder if either our game @ Rangers or @ Ross County might still be moved irrespective of TV. Can't imagine a trip to Glasgow on Christmas Eve will be high up on peoples lists. That said I don't know if there is much movement for that fixture anyway unless they brought it forward to a lunchtime KO.

Just clocked this one which I can't remember seeing. Some of the same goals but at a higher resolution:

I've posted these before but happy to do it again - some videos of goals from the SPL from around 2006 - 2008. Some corkers in there like the Rankin effort v Rangers. These aren't mind incidentally just ones I've found on YouTube.

Harry Forrester was lucky not to see red for this challenge the other night: The referee? Don Robertson...

I'd be happy enough with that although I wouldn't be too fussed if we kept the same team as Sunday. 1 - 1 seems a safe bet. Four out of the last six games between the sides have ended this way. Dundee haven't beaten us in over ten years in the league. Their last, and only win, was a 3 - 1 victory back in January 2005. I asked some Dundee fans on P & B how Williams and Vincent were getting on. One said that Williams should be melted down for glue

I got stupidly excited when I saw this topic appear. Feel a wee bit let down now Eight games in nine months for the kid. What a waste of talent. I'm sure he will be happy but I bet he's also wishing he was playing more often. Wouldn't be surprised to see him move on loan later in the season.

I keep forgetting we have a winter break this season. Four long weeks (or thereabouts) in January with no football. Great(!)

I'm sure a couple of sides have changed their fixtures already. County have certainly changed their game. I guess ICT will be chatting with Rangers about it. Hopefully we'll find out soon.