AJS

What like were the new boys and Stevenson?

A great perception IHE. Some these young guys have got some great potential and could really end up writing themselves in the history books of ICT, just wish the current crop on trial would stop getting injured.

Todays P&J says Gilbert is out for 2 weeks and this has hampered his chances of winning a contract. Christophe has gone back to France cause of his injury and may not be back and Cooper is crocked as well. Only trialist playing today is Stevenson apparently. Safe to say that this pre season could not get much worse, if ever we could pick a summer for injury frenzy it had to be this one, the one where the whole squad is being re shaped. For me the only positive so far is that we have seen the best of our youth academy which again seems to have produced promising talent.

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Injuries-mount-for-ICT.htm Todays Courier paints a rather bleak picture on our squad just now. Cox and Tade are 2 of just many...we need new players through the door ASAP!

Eric was dire enough in the SPL. He will get battered out in Turkey.

Good luck Dani boy.

Congratulations to the PaulieB's.

The club made it clear that players would not be signed for fees over the summer. Accrington were due compensation because they offered Gornell a contract during in that window of time they were permitted too. I cant remember how long it is but im willing to bet thats why that deal fell through because he is under 23. We got Tansey for free because he was never offered a new deal by Stockport and because he moved cross border. The funds that were going towards Rooney's potential new contract will still be there surely as he only left a week ago. Im sure the wage packet alone would be very appealing to a player of a decent calibre.

Courier says that Gilbert and a striker are expected to arrive later in the week. Says that Cooper and Stevenson are playing against Livingston as well. No mention of Christophe though. And Duff is carrying on talks over a new deal Seems like Big Tel is doing his best to put a decent squad together.

Happy birthday Mantis.

Not quite, he played 45 minutes against Clach and i think he played the whole game against Forres but yes he was recommended by one Tel's old pals at Ipswich.

I love the sense of humour on this forum.

Good news! As said both guys are young and look very promising. Hoping we get Gilbert through the door soon as well.

I still have a serious problem with that starting line up. I don't know what it is but i just don't think that side is anywhere near good enough for safely stay in the SPL. I've still to watch Aldred and Tade but even when i seen the others they were playing against Clach! The next 4 matches will give us a good chance to see who is good enough for ICT and i'm hoping Butcher has a few more trialists up his sleeve. Whats wrong with that starting line up is Tade is deemed good enough to play lone striker in the SPL despite yielding just 13 league goals in 2 seasons at Raith. Dont get me wrong not knocking him as a signing, very happy with him but he wont get us 15-20 goals this season. He's a battering ram - end of. We NEED another striker. Also im happy with bringing in Aldred but we defnitely need another center half. Meekings is completely untested (though he is promising), Proctor's rubbish there and Aldred is only on loan till December which many people seem to forget. And i dont want Foran back on the left wing. Would defnitely prefer a new wide player, wether it be Cooper or Doran or someone else. I still think we are quite a bit away from having a full squad for next season.

Just goes to show that if Kerr had bit the bullet and taken up the option of another year here then he would probably still be playing in the SPL instead of signing on for months on end. Suppose a 3 year deal with Dundee did seem more appealing at the time though.

Wasnt really on long enough to do anything.

Shinnie good, Meekings meh, dont see him being any more than a fringe player.

Decent enough performance from most. Foran's overhead was well taken if nothing else. His 2nd was a great counter attack move between himself anf Greig. His 3rd was him playing keepy up around the Elgin defence. Shinnie was tryed in a more advanced role today but didnt seem well suited for him but he dug away and gave a solid performance. Tansey was excellent at times. Some of the passes he picked out were brilliant. His finishing not so much but once he is fully settled i can see him being an important player for us. Aldred was another who looked good. Showed good strength in the air and made some very well timed tackles, first touch needs a bit of work. Greig continued to look dangerous and should have had a goal but squandered a guilt edged chance at the back post. Only player who failed to convince me was Proctor. Passing was non existent and was beaten on plenty of occasions by the winger. Won a few headers but nothing more. If Butcher is looking for a 3rd choice keeper then he could do alot worse than Elgin's keeper today, put in a great perfomance. Some spectacular saves as well.

He's worth at least the front page of the Scottish Sun and Daily Star if found guilty.

See Don Cowie signed a 3 year contract with Cardiff after leaving Watford. Another success story of ours. He seems to have really made it down South.

One player i noticed who was available was Chris Porter (ex Motherwell). He is on the back of a difficult spell at Derby and could well look at a year or so in Scotland a chance to get back on track. His record in the SPL was decent if i recall. Could be the type of player we need to fill Rooney's place. Wages may be a stumbling block though.

Me + 3.

Agree totally with the above. The last thing Butcher needs is to go from one re building mission to another.

We will find someone else, we always do. We dont need someone who isnt fully committed.

Heard Stevenson and Christophe are meant to feature on Saturday. Both picked up knocks in training this week.