Renegade

It's a nice idea, but surely there's a better name someone could think of than 'The Caley Army'. Seems a bit generic.

That's me home. What we learnt - We badly need a striker who's a good finisher. Does Lopez want to be here? Despite the bite up-front, we've still got the basis of a pretty good team there. Should be top six again and certainly no chance of 'doing a Motherwell'. That was the best game I've seen Nat Wedderburn have yet. Granted, he tired as it went on, but there's a player in there. Think he'll come good. Bucharest is a lovely city.

HT - Astra 0-1 ICT FT - Astra 1-2 ICT Astra 1st scorer - Budescu ICT 1st scorer - Christie Time of 1st Goal - 31

I'm not sure about the trialist at Nairn. Sure, he wasn't bad, but we desperately need a finisher. He was more a Marley Watkins runner-type, not the type of player who'll knock the goals in left, right and centre.

Going from the highlights on the other thread of the game yesterday, we need to get the ball forward, as well as getting crosses swung in. Players like Foran and Lopez should have no trouble beating those defenders in the air. An emphasis on ball retention would be a waste of time IMO. Go a bit more direct, get in Astra's faces and try and break through them, not play through them. Will Yogi do this? Hmmm not sure.

Heard the club are bringing out a new half-time pie. Sadly, it's only available from the butcher's in the Victorian Market!

If you contact the club, I'm sure they'd be able to send you one.

I stated previously that I'm not a white kit fan and that's still true to a degree, but that away kit is quite smart. Sometimes less is more and that's quite minimalist (in a good way). I can see where the club's going with the home top. Fans want stripes but block colours sell better (apparently), so it's a kind of happy medium. Think it'll grow on me through time. I don't hate it but it does look unusual. By no means the worst home kit we've ever had though.

I've never been a particularly big fan of Doran on the left. His cutting inside and long range shooting isn't the best and I much prefered him how Butcher was using him at the end of his tenure, on the right swinging crosses in. Chances are on Thursday we'll be going with Williams and left back again. With that in mind (should we play 4-2-3-1), surely Roberts would be a far better choice at left wing. As he can play at left back as well, he'll provide more cover on the left for when Williams goes forward than Doran does, as well as allowing to stretch the play far wider. Perhaps our best bet as well of scoring in Romania could be from range as well. That's another reason for playing Roberts IMO.

Is 5-3-2 an option? Something along these lines - Esson Raven Devine Warren Meekings Williams Tansey Draper Christie Foran Lopez Have three centre-back in order to keep the back door locked and have Raven and Williams as the rampaging wing-back. Have a strong front two in Foran and Lopez to keep the pressure on the back four, with Doran and Roberts on the bench to come on and maintain the pressure towards the end of the game. The comment about Astra having a fairly weak defence is an interesting one. From what I saw, they're defence was solid and organised, but by nowhere near the biggest. Perhaps a more direct approach with Foran and Lopez using their strength against them (particularly Foran's leap), could see us break through.

Need to take the game to them. Don't really have any other option. For me - Esson Raven Warren Meekings Williams Draper Tansey Doran Christie Roberts Foran Subs - Fon Williams, Devine, Lopez, Wedderburn, Polworth, Horner, Tremarco* *If Tremarco is injured, bring Brown into the squad.

Heard earlier today that Latapy was asked to leave the club. Don't know any more than that, but certainly goes along with the other rumour as to how Hughes was wanting Latapy's contract paid to him in full. That wouldn't be happening had he resigned from the club on his own accord.

Not a particular fan of Tansey further forward. Much prefer him sat in-front of the back four where he can dictate play a bit more. I think in hindsight keeping him in his usual role and bringing Roberts in with Christie behind Lopez would've been better. I'm quite optimistic about Wedderburn actually. Granted he's not fully fit, but I do think there's a player in there.

I take it Norburn isn't signing up either then. I thought he looked a player actually. I recollect Yogi saying in an interview that he wanted a keeper, another defender, another midfielder and two strikers. This was after Wedderburn signed. So far then we a keeper (Fon Williams), a midfielder (Jordan Roberts) and one striker (Dani Lopez). Presumably then, he's still looking to bring in another defender (probably a full back) and another striker. I think Lopez has potential, but last night he was crying out for a Mckay/Dargo-esque finisher alongside him IMO.

HT - ICT 0-0 Astra FT - ICT 0-0 Astra ICT 1st scorer - Roberts Astra 1st scorer - Budescu Time of 1st Goal - 61

The fact of the matter is, we've now got the same kit supplier as Ross County, yet they've managed to negotiate a deal whereby they sell their kits through JD Sports and their own club shop. To me that suggests they've managed to negotiate a better deal than we have. Simply, that's not good enough. I've no problem with the kits being sold at JD, but to not sell your own kit at your shop is simply madness. You're highest grossing piece of merchandise won't be sold at your own club. I just can't get my head around that.

Yes I believe you may be correct.

I once saw us win a game of football. If we can do it then, we can do it now!

That'll be him signed then. So today we sign a new goalkeeper and insert him into the squad list......but don't announce he's signed, on the same day we announce we won't sell our own shirts. We're a strange club sometimes.

A football club won't be selling it's own jerseys from it's own shop. Sorry folks, but that's absolute facepalm stuff. That's so preposterous, you literally couldn't make that up.

Is he not in the training picture from today? https://instagram.com/p/5JvFx3Ma4M/ Studying the picture, I don't see him there. I did focus in on the guy in blue in the middle, but it's not him. In fact, I'm not sure who that is. I don't think it's Wedderburn either so I can only presume it's some trialist we don't know about yet.

I presume JJ Hooper is not going to be offered a deal as his extra week ended last week (I think).

Hope he's told his family he won't be returning from his 'holiday'.

Does it come with a free t-shirt?

Can't see how that's true unless the vast majority of the South Stand has been sold. I wonder if the P&J are mistaken and have looked at the ticket site and presumed everywhere in red had sold out (the south stand and the wee west stand or example), when in fact those sections just haven't been put up on sale.