ICTRoughi

Don't understand why everyone is saying we have a lack of an 'out-an-out striker' at the club. Dani Lopez is an out an out striker however it seems to me it's taking a bit longer for him to adapt than other signings. Calum Ferguson is also an 'out-an-out striker' but like many others is on the injury table. For me personally, I think we could do with having an experienced striker like Edward Ofere for competition to Dani Lopez and keep him on his toes for a place in the squad.

I do not believe we have had a weak transfer window this year, the only issue for me was they were brought in too late IMO. I personally think that players like Jordan Roberts, Owain Fon Williams, Nat Wedderburn and Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo have shown early signs of promise and of course it will take them a little bit of time to get used to playing a higher level of football and also a quicker game than they have been used to in the lower leagues. End of the day, if we want to have many players from higher leagues then the club will need some serious investment and I doubt that's going to happen unless some rich arab is looking to buy ICT for his son to play with. If you look at majority of other teams in the Premiership outwith Celtic, most of their signings have come from lower league teams. Wes Fletcher who scored the winner for Motherwell last Saturday came from York City of League 2 in England. I'm fairly confident that the club are doing what it's in the best interest of Caley Thistle but like many others I'm concerned that we have no funds left for emergency scenarios like the current injury list. There's only so long that you can get away with having players playing out of position.

This all day long. I wonder if Tremarco, Vincent and Doran are anywhere near fitness. Nothing's been said about the extent of the injuries of them.

Fon Williams Raven Devine Wedderburn Draper Christie Polworth Horner Williams Mutumbo Lopez

Here's the incident involving Gary Warren and Stephen Pearson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52OV8BlsYjM

I read recently that Birmingham aren't getting their new kits until the middle of August. I can only assume we have a similar time scale.

I suspect that's maybe because there's no money left in the budget for anymore players so he knows we've got to get on with it? Pretty much what Yogi has told the Inverness Courier: http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/No-scope-to-bring-in-injury-replacements-says-Caley-Thistle-boss-John-Hughes-02082015.htm

Match Highlights posted by Motherwell: http://youtu.be/CBERzqws7YY

If that's true (and I very much hope it is not), then we urgently need to bring in a defender - maybe a loanee from England until January. Not so sure that'd be necessary. We have Devine, Wedderburn, Draper, Jason Brown all capable of filling in at centre back. A left back should be more a priority. Tremarco Fair point however we still need to have another natural left back to replace Shinnie so that situations like today don't happen again.

If that's true (and I very much hope it is not), then we urgently need to bring in a defender - maybe a loanee from England until January. Not so sure that'd be necessary. We have Devine, Wedderburn, Draper, Jason Brown all capable of filling in at centre back. A left back should be more a priority.

Looked it from the north stand. How Pearson got away with only a yellow card I will never know.

Owain Fon Williams today was my MOTM - he kept the score to a respectable 1-0 defeat. I thought from the set go, we started very slow paced and got punished with a slack pass allowing Motherwell to get a crucial attack and duly delivered with a goal. I thought the tactics today weren't up to scratch. I stressed earlier in the week that Wedderburn and Draper are very similar and we should have played one or the other and not both. Danny Williams should have been left back and Raven right back and also Mutombo should have started the game. I still remain unconvinced by Dani Lopez unfortunately. I find that for a striker he spends far too much of the time outside of the box and when the killer cross goes into the box he is nowhere near it. His movement on the ball is also a bit clumsy but to give him the benefit of the doubt he may be lacking match fitness, which should be eradicated at this stage IMO. It's only the first game of the season and the injury list is more the underlaying issue than what's on the pitch. We need more recruitments in the form of a left back and striker and we'd be set.

On the BBC pre match article for the game it has Jordan Roberts as struggling with injury. It also says that Carl Tremarco and James Vincent are doubts.

Going by the quotes by Yogi and Andrea in that article, it suggests to me that the idea is that Lopez is going to be Ofere's replacement and then Mutombo will be Watkins' replacement - which isn't a bad shout IMO. Hopefully once both players are fully match fit then the idea pays off. I still think we could do with a back up striker for competition and incase of any injury of Lopez.

Going by this link and assuming you're meaning the game against them on the 3rd of October then seems like the games have already been decided unless the game get picked up by Sky or BBC Alba: http://spfl.co.uk/tv-games/

HT: 1-0 FT: 1-1 1st ICT: Lopez 1st Motherwell: Fletcher First Goal: 17 mins

Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo is expected to sign a 1 year deal with us today and available play at the weekend according to Tyrone Smith of STV News.

Based on the two games versus Astra, Wedderburn was much more influential to the team than Draper was and for that reason I think it would be harsh on Nat to be on the sidelines on Saturday. I also think Draper and Wedderburn are very similar players so it's better to player one or the other and not both IMO.

My main hope/expectation for us this season is to maintain our status as an established 'Top Six' side. Without a doubt the departure of Graeme Shinnie, Marley Watkins and Edward Ofere were always going to make it difficult for us to replace them very quickly given our resources but I feel the additions we have added so far will be of good quality once the season is well under way. The main thing to remember is that we still have a large number of players that won the Scottish cup last season, so in that respect we still have a good stable squad that can do the business on the pitch. We were defeated by 1 set piece against a European side who in previous knocked out Lyon in last year's europa league qualifiers. End of the day, I and many others will know that the players have what it takes to repeat another successful season and will give it 110% as per.

New season nearly upon us with a good opening home tie against Motherwell. What do you think the line up should be on Saturday? I'd go with: 4-1-4-1 Fon Williams Raven Warren Meekings William Wedderburn Doran Tansey Christie Roberts Lopez

In an ideal world, I would like to get someone that is younger and more promising but I don't know, I just think that Lee Miller could offer us a decent turn even still if it was in a back up capacity. I also think under the coaching and guidance of Yogi and Brian Rice, we could get a better player out him than he was last season with Kilmarnock.

I disagree with that as it depends on the attitude of the individual players. Granted the former two Ian Black and Derek Riordan shouldn't go anywhere near them with the baggage they come with but I definitely think Lee Miller could do a job for us with the experience he has in the top flight even if it's a back up to Dani Lopez. ICT are renowned for taking players in when the career's have taken a dip and got the best out them - why would it be different here? Look at the impact Scott McDonald made to Motherwell last season.

What about Lee Miller? Given the recent calls by our supporters saying we need an out and out striker, I reckon he could do a job. Granted it never worked out for him at Killie but he had competition from Tope Obadayi and Josh Magennis, it would have been difficult. His goal scoring record at Carlisle was quite good and I reckon we could get the best out of him. The only thing for me would be that Dani Lopez could turn out to be the all out striker and with time he could turn into a real goal scorer but I reckon Lee Miller would be a good addition to the squad.

Its interesting you say that because I was looking on Football Manager 2015 (I know) for information on Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo and it said that his best postition is central midfield/attacking central midfielder but he can also play up front which would explain his lack of goals over the years.

11th of August at Morrison Park supposedly.