Renegade

Aye, Lough was a left back. I saw him against Clach, he was okay but I wasn't that impressed with him TBH.

Could we be seeing Esson and Tuffey in this next season?

Notice Butcher says that neither can be offered anything "at the moment". That could mean that they could be offered something if their trials at Stockport are not successful. And another point, could that mean that they could play against ICT next week?

Is Johnny Hayes injured? I see he didn't play again yesterday. No Foran agan either.

Long balls have their place in the game, and can be used effectively at certain times in a game and in certain situations. Also, as you say, when it's the only option, hoof it by all means. The only problem is that, for example in Brew's second spell, it seemed to be the first option.

If ICT once again go a Brewster-esque mentality of punting it up the park at every opportunity next season, it'll be a season to forget. It's interesting to note that when ICT play a more attacking, passing based style of play they have more success. It's no coincidence that managers like Paterson and Robertson were successful ICT managers, while more defensive minded managers like Baltacha and Brewster were not. If you were make a table of the best ICT managers first to last, it's likely to show what is almost a scale of the attackingness of ICT at that time. It's also interesting to note that ICT began having more success under Terry Butcher, when he decided to take a more offensive approach. Some teams, such as Egil Olsen's Norway and Tony Pulis's Stoke have had a degree of success when taking a more direct and defensive apporach using the players at their disposal. ICT are not on of the those. It is a fact that when ICT play, to a certain degree, an more attack minded, passing based system, the club has more success. I for on believe that a major factor in ICT's 2008/09 relegation was down to Craig Brewster obsession with the long ball garbage we were subjected to, that was not just boring for the supporters to watch, but completely ineffective most of the time, in the process taking talented ball playing midfielders like Ian Black out of the game. It's not football, Brewster mentality of rather not conceding a goal, than scoring, in my opinion cost ICT. Take a mentality like that next season, and it might not be such a happy time in the SPL for Caley Thistle.

Aye I think it was him. The gag was that he was talking about Rod Stewart concert and was going to play a Rod Stewart CD, but that wouldn't work on his gramophone! The last time it was along the lines of the same thing but his gramophone had broken IIRC.

He did that gramophone gag the last time I was there!

How did Blumanshtein get on?

Does anyone know when the official highlights from the Clach game will be up?

Had a wee look at the Hibs forum and they seem to be of the opinion that he's a good tackler and has good ability on the ball. The only weaknesses about him are that he doesn't have much pace and is a bit injury-prone but was regarded as a good prospect a few years ago. Can't say I know too much about the guy myself mind.

According to the County site, he signed on a pre-contractual agreement with Liverpool.

He got a nice ovation. On the whole, it was a good performace. The best players for me were Shane Sutherland who played well and Blumenshtein looked good. He has pace, skill, class, creativity and a good set piece. He looks a good signing. But the Renegade MOTM has to go to the number 7 MacKay-Stevens. He was excellent. Fast, tricky and good at finishing. A very very good player from what I could see. I'd sign him up.

According to someone on P&B, Tuffey is a "sweeper-keeper" and is "eager to get involved". I like the sound of that!

Absolutely. What ICT need now is a couple of reliable, confident defenders. Then, there could be a chance of a top six finish.

And yet it's so unimportant that you reply. Thanks for that.

I'm not sure that's correct actually. Was there not an Northern Irish Under 21 at ICT in the Pele days, about 2000ish? Edit - Indeed ICT have had an U21 N. Ireland player. His name was Bryan Gilfillan and was called up for N. Ireland U21s in 2005. He was born in Scotland and qualified for NI because of his mother. So technically he would go down as Northern Irish player, but was probably still officially a "Scottish" player whilst at ICT

ICTFC.co.uk is one very sorry excuse for an official site.

No, just home.

THIS.IS.MINT!

Here's the new County shirt. Not quite sure what I think of that.

I hope it's true! Esson and Tuffey along with Johnson all fighting for the number 1 shirt would be mint!

I wonder what the next big formation will be. Formations seem to come in phases. In the 70s, 4-2-4 was the big one, the late 80s and early 90s saw the rise of 3-5-2 and 4-4-2. 4-4-2 seems to have died away a bit in the last few years to be replaced with the 4-2-3-1. What will the 2010s bring?

The shirt must surely be unveiled today or tomorrow, as the first ICT friendly is this Thursday at the Clach Park.

Just the sponsor.