RiG

Always good to have a familiar face return to ICT. Especially one with a big Heart(s).

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I'm actually stunned that 1) I missed this disgraceful comment; and 2) no one else has called it out. At a time when mental health is such an important topic and people are being encouraged to speak out if they are struggling, now that someone with a relatively high profile in Scottish football has broached this sensitive issue (and received praise for doing so) you want to use it against him and try and have him leave the club? That's completely and utterly appalling. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that maybe you didn't mean to phrase it quite that way but if you truly believe that, and it's the kind of thing some outdated cretin like Jimmy Calderwood would say, then frankly you can get filed in the "things Scottish football can do without" bin.

Who cares what Hughes thinks about the training facilities at County or who scored for them. We've got far more important things to worry about right now. I'm puzzled by the continued absence of MacGregor from the team. As with the Morton game I wasn't overly impressed with the midfield three of Allardice, Welsh with Vincent just ahead of them. They all did fine but I felt we needed more of a thrust (oo er) from the middle of the pitch to carry the ball forward, especially in those rotten conditions, and MacGregor would have provided that. The lack of threat from the wide areas is again a concern. MacKay didn't really offer too much on the right, initially, and neither did Storey on the other side. Whilst the two switched during the game they didn't seem to particularly carry much of a threat. Neither did Doran when he came on as he constantly looked to check inside as he doesn't seem to have the ability to take a man on as he once did and Harper didn't provide much in the way of support down the left ahead of him to take a man away. This isn't to say that we were bad we were just okay. Middle of the road. But that isn't good enough for where we want to be and we desperately need some kind of creative spark in the side to jolt us into life but I can't see anyone within the squad being capable of doing this. Our goal was wonderful to watch. Lovely quick one two between Harper and Vincent and a sumptuous cross from Harper which was begging to be head in and thankfully Sutherland obliged. Credit also to Arbroath TV who, despite sounding like a load of characters from The Broons, were quite enjoyable to listen to. Camera work was good and the picture quality decent as well. Yet another PPV option that empties itself onto our shabby Pixellot setup. Typical really.

Arbroath deserve that. Looked the more likely to score throughout the first half. That chance for Mckay was our only real effort. Our defending

The game isn't in doubt as things stand. Well as things stood around lunchtime.

Dundee might have made impressive signings on paper but their manager is abysmal at his job.

IIRC loan signings can be made until ~ mid February and unattached players can be signed any time. ETA: Robbo in the P & J saying they were trying to get someone in but the other club thought they might need them now after some other moves unfolded. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/2862505/john-robertson-not-ruling-out-loan-or-free-agent-arrivals-following-january-transfer-deadline/ Also, confirmation that you can sign players on loan until the end of this month.

Such as...?

We need a new face or two in (at least) but whether we actually get anyone is a different matter. A creative wide man, striker and defender would be excellent.

Allardice signs a contract extension.

F**k me that defence! Proctor, Hogg, Innes and Duff...

Game off.

"Inverness are struggling to break down the Alloa defence but let me tell what doesn't break down and that's the excellent range of coaches operated by D & E! Give them a call after today's ga....goal for Alloa."

As expected McDaid moves to Partick.

It wasn't a very dynamic team that we had out there on Wednesday. Solid, disciplined and any other bland cliches you can think of yes but a midfield triangle of Vincent, Welsh and Allardice is fine for knocking the ball around and protecting the back four but it won't pick a pass through a tight midfield and unlock a defence. I like Danny Mckay and he took his goal very well but again he isn't a particularly creative wide man. Doran should offer more but it's a big task to ask him to be the main, if not only, creative force in the team. There is a massive Kai Kennedy shaped hole in the team already such was his impact when he was here. At the very least a Tom Walsh type would be very welcome as it would offer some attacking threat on the opposite flank from Doran. No pressure Robbo...

Oooooft! Robbo is absolutely seething. https://www.facebook.com/ICTFC/posts/3912661958758024

Motherwell probably just left him in the car park at the ground for Ross County to collect in the morning.

Part of me wonders if some selections were made with the upcoming rush of games we have. MacGregor not starting was an odd one. Credit should go to Ridgers who pulled off a couple of excellent saves to keep us in it. Overall though still a very rusty and sluggish performance.

Struggling to think of much positive to take from that. It's hard to be too critical given the prolonged break from match action but even so some of the same old faults were evident. The continued softness at defending crosses (from set pieces especially) remains. There was precious little creativity from the wide players and some of the crossing was absolutely woeful. Maybe the heavy pitch didn't help. With a number of games coming up over the next couple of weeks we need to get back up to full speed quickly if we are to take advantage of our games in hand.

You just need to have adequate pitch protection (or something along those lines). You can read more about the pitch issues (even before USH was installed) over the years here: https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/inverness-caledonian-thistle-football-club-in-deep-water.html