RiG

Defensively solid for the most part but we didn't create too much of note and when we did we were wasteful. Hard to see how we have enough quality to go up over the course of the next 6 games (in the playoffs). That said Arbroath look to be running on fumes and we've turned up against Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers so maybe we could sneak through but performances like today don't give me too much confidence. Duffy did well at CB and it was good to see Roddy get the full 90 minutes after being out for so long. But too many others were just okay and no more. We need to perform a lot better if we want to have any chance of promotion.

They were blowing out of their arses after an hour last night before they completely collapsed. Gaston was making saves in slow motion. Not sure how well set up they are for two games a week for three weeks in the playoffs when they already look to be running on empty.

I think that would be quite a big turnover of players. We've tended to do best when the turnover in the summer is kept to a minimum and most of the arrivals are just to pad out the squad. That said, I do think that we will see Deas depart and possibly MacGregor (though his time out with an injury has curtailed his production and there is less talk about him as a result which might be to our benefit). Doran has looked much more useful as a 10 so I'd be inclined to hold onto him for another season but I do see Broadfoot retiring. I'd be wary about relying on youth players too much. We'd need them to be firing on all cylinders from the word go and I am not sure many of them are ready yet. Harper, who had looked promising in the odd cup match, has looked poor on too many occasions for me to see him as a first choice and I feel that would be applicable to a lot of the youth players you'd like to see step up. No issue with seeing some more of them coming through but we need to strike a balance between that and having players featuring who are doing stuff for us right away. McAlear will likely get released by Norwich but I can see other sides in for him and if we don't get promoted then we would likely lose out to a team like Killie (if they go up), Saint Mirren or Saint Johnstone type (i.e. bottom half of the Premiership). Wouldn't mind seeing Chalmers back though. There's a lot to be said for these kinds of players maybe "sacrificing" a year or two of their careers to get regular football with us then going onto something bigger and better.

Who would you get rid of and who would you keep?

Carson was at right back. He was mostly fine there but, like you, I feel he should be in midfield. At the very least we should have an actual RB in the squad to give us an option there. Right now we've got a CM or a CB both filling in at RB and it's just stupid. Why we haven't signed a RB since Rooney left is beyond me.

So who are the good players you would sell and who are the rubbish players you would *checks notes* keep...?

You could tell that Queens were the side with something to play for whereas we looked to be in holiday mode already (or at least resting before the playoffs mode). That annoys me as I'd like to see us try and build some momentum going into the playoff games. Clearly we don't have the strength and depth to rotate any great number of players, The likes of Hardy and Samuels don't really show enough to warrant them being played ahead of Mckay if we ever need to get anything from a game. Queens were rarely troubled save for the goal and a wonderful Chalmers strike that sailed just wide of the post in the second half. They could and should have scored more if Cameron could finish a chance. He must have passed up about 2 maybe 3 great chances to score but the big pudding fluffed every single one of them. Hard to pick out too many good points from the game so I'll go for meeting Ruairi ("nutrition is a load of shite") Paton and Euan East in McDonalds after the game. We didn't really recognise them so when one of my pals asked "Who are you?" East replied with "I'm the guy that scored the winner against you lot tonight" which I thought was a decent retort

Kilmarnock may end up being the worst Championship title winners in some time. They were howling for most of that game and whilst they had us under pressure I didn't feel too concerned for the most part. Only a bizarre error by Broadfoot let them in. I thought he had been playing well up until that point as well. The game changed on that moment and the subs by Dodds. Full credit to him for making those changes but what an absolute shitebag McInnes is Game and arguably the title there for the taking and he decides to sit back on a 1 goal lead. No wonder Aberdeen fans tired of him. Carson was excellent in the middle of the park. Surely now we need to get a proper RB in so we can keep him there and stop playing him (or Duffy) at RB. Doran also provided a bit of composure on the ball further forward. Nothing really stuck for Samuels. His control was poor a lot of the time and quite often the ball bounced off him and away before he could get it under control. Mckay is still class however. Right place, right time for his goal and he was part of a lovely quick passing move that brought about the second. Shame McAlear seems to have gone off form a wee bit since his stunning strike against Dunfermline. Maybe we'll see Carson start tomorrow night in his place.

Chalmers looked okay playing wide and cutting inside but as a 10 he looked a bit lost. The defending for the first goal was poor and the second even worse. MacKay has to be claiming that cross. Not sure what he ended up doing. Time to bring Ridgers back in.

Good opening 20 minutes but after that it all went pear shaped. Even before the break we were looking slack and just punting the ball long. it seemed there was no composure whatsoever amongst the players. And at the start of the second half that continued. Ayr utterly dominated and we were on the back foot from the first whistle (of the second half). Quite how Dodds could stand there and, seemingly, think this was fine is beyond me. Yes the recent wins have been good but we were rank against Raith after a decent opening start and got a bit lucky. Arbroath and Dunfermline were good performances but yet again we have been poor for what feels like the umpteenth time this season. It's not good enough and whilst playoffs are all but secured I cannot see how we can be good enough over what is likely to be 6 games to get promoted when we've arguably not played well in 6 games this season.

After avoiding COVID for 2 years it's finally caught up with me. Ayr United TV for me tomorrow sadly

All of the Premiership play off matches have been confirmed / shifted for TV. Now though there is not a single one of the games taking place on a Saturday or Sunday with the Q/Fs and S/Fs taking place on a Tuesday / Friday and the final on a Friday / Monday.

So many home fans that we had to house some in the "Away" stand. Nowadays you could probably fit all of us into the North Stand

Ayr are anything but safe. If Dunfermline win their game in hand they are just 2 points behind Ayr. There is zero chance that they are in any kind of "end of season" mode.

Imagine the bounce in the away end defeating that horrible mob 3 - 1 in their own back yard 😍

A much happier pod this time round after the recent run of victories. There's a lot to get through including the usual round of results and looking ahead to the next few games (and hopefully playoffs), interviews with Reece McAlear and Cammy Harper, Iain Auld from ICTTCV and Highland Football Weekly pops in, that new strip and other bits and bobs.

Pearson has returned to Bristol City in very sad circumstances.

Surprised no one has mentioned this plan (although it is at an early stage): https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/field-of-dreams-caley-thistle-seek-to-create-ambitious-new-270768/

Pearson has looked by far the best of the January signings. It's a shame we haven't seen more of him and I hope to see him play as much as possible over the coming weeks whilst we still have him.

Much, much better performance from the team. Credit to them and Dodds. Dunfermline were never in that game save for a short spell after we scored when MacKay kept us in the game with some stunning saves. McAlear's Jimmy Ping was simply gorgeous. Incredible technique to hit that so well but also so controlled. I will never tire of watching it. Great finish by Samuels for his first ICT goal mere seconds after I bemoaned his appearance in place of Mckay Picking players to get points in the MotM was a chore but for the right reasons this time. So many good performances from Sutherland, Deas, Duffy, McAlear etc but looking back I think I've been harsh to exclude Carson who had the cigars out keeping Dom Thomas in his back pocket the entire time Thomas was on the pitch. A real return to form for Carson. I feel like Arbroath are running on fumes at the moment so could we sneak second spot? We've probably left ourselves with too much to do but you never know...

I've watched this strike all morning...

The song being so important that they've got the wrong words on the strip.

There's your new home strip...

They've won 3 games in 2023 and 5 since Hughes took the job on in November. Hardly setting the heather alight. That said, we've been garbage against Dunfermline, and indeed for most of this season, so despite Hughes' poor record in charge I am not expecting anything from this weekends game. Dunfermline, along with Hamilton, being the only teams we haven't beaten in the league this season. I've been looking at this 1) to see how true it is and 2) because I am sad. Our PPG v top half sides is currently 1.73 compared to 1.33. That's obviously boosted a little bit by recent wins over Arbroath and Raith Rovers. Time to start increasing the PPG v lower half of the tables sides methinks...