Eagle4Caley

On 4/2/2024 at 11:26 AM, buckett said:

A spell in Division 1 will be a good opportunity to blood our youngsters and build a team from within our own ranks which will hopefully, within a couple of seasons, challenge for promotion back to the Championship.

On one hand that might seem beneficial, but on the other we would miss out on TV coverage, which if not providing much or any cash does provide a showcase for players which might persuade some to stay/come here

Likewise the teams in the Championship next season are the ones who will bring the larger away attendances, which if not necessarily massive, make a difference in the cashflow margins when every pound matters [Of course if Ross County were to get relegated, it would see a couple of better pay days]

Arguably wages costs will be lower in League 1, but how low can a club go and attract/retain players?

I have no idea what prize money looks like in the Championship or League 1, anyone have any idea?

We haven't had a proper winger for the majority of the season, IMV that's basically the problem. But we do have a big strong battling CF in Samuels. Imagine him with Henderson on the wing.

Kerr as RB is defintely a step up from David Carson [and I like Carson, and its a shame he left as Right Midfield would be sorted] ...it's sods law and ironic that Welsh's replacement in Gilmour picked up a season ending injury. Fortunately Kerr has ably moved into CM and Duffy has come in and weighed in with a couple of important goals

Good to see Longstaff back, he just needs to put some decent crosses in for the next four games, only two teams have a better defensive record than us, so even a few extra goals will be the difference either avoiding the relegation play-offs or winning then.

After that who knows what happens next

As for next week, someone needs to kick Welsh just above the knee early in the game, just enough, so he spends the rest of it hobbling around.

I enjoyed my first trip up to Dundee and an overnight stop near the Waterfront allowed me to take in V&A Design Museum and Discovery Point before my coach/plane/coach/train/bus replacement service trip back on the Sunday

United's ground is quirky, and there was a good atmosphere in the away end [does chants of 'sack the board' count!] I thought we were competitive given the respective teams league positions. United had the better chances [and twice the number], and we have Ridgers to thank in part for keeping us in the game, but we also created some dangerous moments and I thought we were perhaps on top in the second half before their fluke [?] goal.

Boy do we miss a decent winger though... last year Jay Henderson was impressing, the year before Logan Chalmers added some guile, and the year before Kai Kennedy added energy. Sadly for us Longstaff is injured, and Shaw has [when fit] been playing too deep in my view [presumably as the 'creative' midfielder]. I'd would say Alex Samuel would benefit from someone who put in a cross or two [in addition to Harper/Duffy's forays upfield]

Was a bit surprised to see Pepple paired upfront with Samuel ahead of McKay [was this saving legs, a move to be more physical upfront or a tactical ploy?]. In part it worked because although Pepple doesn't look blessed with a lot a pace, he did occupy the defenders and did well with the cross that set up our goal. And when McKay came on he looked lively. Samuel worked hard all game and he does seem to appreciate the fans as well [he also got warm applause from us when he was subbed], I think he has a key role to play in us staying up.

Ridgers was generally good and  kept us in the game, but I'd say his kicking is average at best, certainly in this game and he was caught way out of his goal from his own kick, although 9 times out of 10 no one would have attempted Moults audacious shot

For me Kerr was the pick of our team and ensured we were competitive in midfield, Anderson next to him was quietly effective and might have scored, and [ignoring the one moment of excessive timewasting which annoyed the Uited fans] I thought Lawal looked good, showing plenty of pace, energy and some skills. Can we keep this midfield together, with Harper overlapping for the remainder of the season?

Given the number of shots that Dundee had, and Ridgers heriocs, you might think our back line was poor, but for me Savage was good as Central CB [a decent signing in my view] and I like Boyes at Left CB, Carragher was decent enough too. A tricky selection headache for big Dunc as Devine is probably best at central CB and Ujdur was by all accounts pretty good when he first joined [we might need all of them on the pitch in a frantic run-in or relegation play-off!]

So a fun filled afternoon, with postives and an enjoyable weekend...at this point of the season a Billy Doods team would suddenly start winning, can we go up a gear? what rabbits can Big Dunc pull out of the hat?  We certainly need to do better at home if we are to stay up, and do better against the mid-table teams. Here's hoping.

1 hour ago, DoofersDad said:

A lovely day for a game of football but the storm clouds are gathering around the stadium.  On the whole, I think the players put a lot of effort in and tried their best, but the sad fact is, that as a group, they just aren't good enough.  Again we started brightly and with a bit more quality could have been 2 up in the first 15 minutes.  Ayr were no great shakes, but once they settled into the game, we rarely found any space where it mattered.  

There are times when we pass the ball neatly in midfield and keep possession, but when we get into the final third and and are put under more pressure, we either lose the ball or pass it back.  We create very little.  It is clear that Fergusson has his preferred way of playing and he ain't going to change it.  He wants us to play out from the back and through the park.  It's brilliant to watch when Manchester City do it, but with all due respect to our lads, they don't have the vision or skill to do it.  Time and time again we start to play out from the back and are just too slow to make progress, we allow the opposition to regroup and organise their defence and we can't find a way through.  It's just boring.

Since we have no wingers in that Shaw and Longstaff are out, maybe it's time [if he's actually fit] to give Austin Samuels a run out wide, a couple of seasons back, he and McKay had a purple patch, where they looked dangerous together. This time run Billy probably needs to sit deeper so that Alex Samuel can lead the line. I'm hoping Boyes is fully fit too as he strikes me as someone who could play out from the back.

We do seem to suffer from a lot of injuries, what happened to McAllister, he scored two game ago, then is out injured. MacGregor suffering another set back. I still think we should recall Keith Bray from loan if we can.

I am flying up for the Dundee United match next week, which could be interesting given their shock [?] defeat to Dunfermline. It's an away match which might be in our favour

4 hours ago, Gringo said:

As mentioned above, Arbroath showed there are no easy games in this league (except when teams play us). Raith could have been out of sight in the first half if wasn't for Gaston in goal. He got MotM too by Billy Dodds. Great game of football for the neutral too in atrocious conditions in which at least three balls ended up in the sea.

Mind you we beat Raith at their place too, stuck 3 past Partick, were so close at home to Dundee United, stuck 4 past Queens Parks. We have our moments. What we need is a Doods-esque run of straight wins

Our home form is a problem, but got to say the difference in atmosphere between a Caley home and and away match is quite stark.

37 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

We’ve signed midfielder Samson Laval on loan. He’s a 5’8”, 19yo Nigerian who Livi signed in the summer but has only played 24 minutes for them.

TBF I would say most of the loanees brought in under Fergie, have done pretty well  [apart from Sheridan]

Has Gilmour picked up the Welsh curse?

We probably need another RB as Kerr is the only guy in midfield with experience other than Doran who isn't really a 95min game after game chap

I still think we should recall Bray if we can, and Hyde come to think of it

Our injury list is almost Dodds-esque

At least we have a surplus of attackers at the moment [if they could learn to score!]

16 hours ago, forresjags said:

The bunch of loanees were the standouts tonight. Not sure where your thinking comes from to question their commitment. Cammy Kerr easily the best player on the park tonight

 

And Samuel certainly put himself about, I sat next to two guys who had come up from Manchester [not ICT fans, just Ground hopping] and they felt he was perhaps MOTM for effort, really frustrating that Mckay had his penalty saved [he has form]. I thought Kerr looked at ease in midfield [looks like he will have to stand in for Gilmour for a while]  as did McAllister [although he turned into people a few times]. Savage won lots of headers, but seems short of pace. Harper was pretty good down the left, and was found often with long balls cross field. As for Devine he had monster game in defence and three headers over the bar from our corners [good that he got to them, less good that he was off target each time.

Shaw should really be on a wing full time IMV

Good news that we have Anderson back next match, kinda think we were a bit quick to let Bray go out on loan

A real kick in the teeth that Cillian Sheridan scored one and made two for Queens Park last night...mad that Dundee United lost at home, and Partick not showing good form at all, both results benefitting our immediate rivals

Now that Austin Samuels is finally fit, could he give us half a dozen 'purple patch' games

My gut feeling is we will be safe....but it wont be comfortable

It was a quick trip up for me, I was on the 6:35 out of Inverness Airport this morning, next Dundee United away!

1 hour ago, caley100 said:

Once again defence was shoddy, Now really think Ridgers needs dropped,   he was very shakey on a few occasions and so slow react to first and third goals.

Once again the long suffering home fans wait and wait for a win.   Hax any team ever gone a  season without a home win?  Scary!

Oh  Apart from his first goal of the season I thought Shaw was pysh.

Did we not beat Ayr and Airdrieonians at home?

Anyway don't worry...I'm flying up for the Dunfermline match, so it'll definitely be sunny and we will win.

4 hours ago, STFU said:

Interesting selection of signings and makes me wonder if Ferguson is looking for defenders who are more adept at playing out from the back and/or who are more capable of holding a higher defensive line.

I don't know anything about the new players, just wondering why we'd be loading more defenders into the squad.

Agree with others that we must have players going out, or maybe we have injuries we don't know about.

Boyes [unless he's leaving] looks like the sort of player who can play out the back or drive forward, a bit like Robbie Deas.

We can certainly park a pretty big bus if we have to now,

Be interesting to see who the first three CB's are in pecking order now? Devine does get quite a few knocks, so maybe he gets longer to recover. Ujdur was getting some good reviews when he first came [ a bit like Delaney] but seens to have slipped down the pecking order

5 hours ago, The Mantis said:

Davidson and Duffy too much to hope for

…unless Boyes is going back.

I wouldn't want to see Duffy go, anyone who recalls his performance in the Cup Final against Celtic must surely agree there is a decent player there, that needs to develop consistency. Maybe he's caught between being a CB and a RB, but never strikes me as error prone and can do well enough as RB.

Given the start ICT had against Airdre last August, ppl might be surprised that I thought he looked pretty decent in that game, could come good in my view

11 hours ago, STFU said:

Would be nice to have at least one of those three.

It's alway an 'experience' for me when I come up from South London

And believe when you experience 'Royball' down at the Palace, it comes as a welcome relief

20 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

Cammy Kerr joins on loan

 

Seems like a decent signing, which along with Samuel, sounds like a [temporary] improved squad, now if we can just get Eberechi Eze, that will sort the midfield out [yes I'm being silly with that last one, can we tempt Polworth back?]

21 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Again from afar on the box I thought that there were a lot of positives. I thought Carragher was solid and has a lot more to show. He evidently did not want to make any errors in his first outing and was probably told to play tippy happy, plus he has got to get used to the system and players around him. Devine was excellent. I have always viewed Shaw as being a number 10 as he doesn't have the pace of a wide man. Playing Billy deep was ridiculous, leaving Longstaff as a lone striker which he clearly isn't. I would also have liked to see Harper as a wing back as he is more effective there. Modern coaching is all about tippy happy and playing out from the back so we may have to accept that. But we need a LOT more movement up front and more pace out wide.

I pretty much agree with everything you have posted on this match, I thought Shaw and Longstaff did OK, but Shaw needs to stay out on the wing, it seems like he is being asked to be the creative guy in the middle. And that issue rather made me wistful for the likes of a Vigurs or Liam Polworth [I never understood why the latter got so much stick] let alone a Christie, Andrew Shinnie, or Marley Watkins. Obviously also annoying that Welsh scored on his debut for QP, on his day a stand out player for us, but far too much time spent injured...and I think Gilmour is developing nicely as his replacement [in most departments], Anderson impresses me too, but he is a temporary addition and time spent on the pitch for Bray and MacGregor between now and May could be crucial for next season.

We seemed strong in defence for 99% of the match, Carragher looked pretty decent to me, and the commentators though he had a decent game although he risked a card or two. Boyes stand out at the back for me, but again another loanee. Is Ujdur carrying an injury or does big Dunc think he needs a bit of a rest?

The overwhelming feeling from me  though is how desperately we need a decent enough big guy up front who can both win headers and hold the ball up [doesn't even have to score too many goals]. Guys like Sutherland and Todorov [at his best for us] gave us that. It would bring McKay, Shaw, etc more into the game, and ensure the opposition CB's had busier time. Not an easy fix I know, which could lead to Sheridan staying on if Dunc thinks he's getting fit enough. Brooks, I see as a future replacement for Billy. Samuels, much as I like him, has a bodymade of glass, and a slow brain. Lodovica was a panic punt, he has pushed on at all. Fingers crossed then that we can find someone in this window.

13 hours ago, The Mantis said:

It’s a bit of a con, but it seems that we count tickets sold rather than bodies turning up, and we’re not the only club doing it. So all season tickets are counted. I’ve got one but it hardly gets used. 

Oooh...can I borrow it for the Dunfermline game mid-week in Feb , I'm flying up especially for it

19 minutes ago, robbo1985 said:

In my opinion the only reason David Wotherspoon is not playing in the (Scottish) Premiership this year is that he has lost a bit of pace and sharpness required at that level.  It is clear he is still a very intelligent and classy football player.  He was instrumental in dragging us out of the hole we were in (which hopefully we are not slowly sliding back into) and increasing the performance levels of other players around about him.

Should the move to Dundee Utd materialise, he will almost undoubtedly be on higher wages, with a high probability of winning another medal and (I would imagine) closer to family and he will go with my best wishes!

Hopefully we can uncover an unlikely gem to fill his boots in the second half of the season.  I'd say prior to his arrival Keith Bray was our most promising player of the season....would like to see him getting more game time in the next few months.

Looking at the table, can't help but feeling what an opportunity this season was/is to at least make the play-offs.  Even despite our horrendous start to the season and our recent poor run of results, we are still not that far away from 4th position.  I don't want to give up all hope of Highland Derby play-off final just yet!....

 

 

I'd agree in terms of Bray, defo needs more game time. If we got MacGregor back to what he was two seasons ago, then those two plus Anderson, Gilmour, Welsh [if he stayed fit], Longstaff and Shaw...plus Carson., would give us enough in midfield with creativity and energy to more than compensate for Wotherspoon going [but thanks for his goals].  But we need another decent striker to support/stand-in for Billy. Ideally one that could hold the ball up {a hybrid Sutherland/Todorov]

Winning without Wotherspoon, a big plus

Carson back helpful too

A new striker in January please

Whats the score with Keith Bray, he was definitely the pick of the bunch at the start of the season, but doesn't even get on the subs bench, with MacGregor out, I feel he's one that needs nurturing and game time. Is he injured, or did I miss him going out on loan somewhere?

17 hours ago, bdu98196 said:

'Free hit'? Should be aiming a bit higher than that. Clearly its an early season title decider - cant afford DUtd 22points ahead, a win though and its only 16 points with 2 games in hand!!!

In fact a win, two games in hand and two more opportunities to deny United points over the season...and its a walk in the park!

Let see if we can avoid getting drubbed first perhaps

Sounds like the weather had a bit of an impact on the game, but an encouraging result all the same.

The match report gave good ratings to Gilmour, Longstaff and Ujdur [Longstaff I think has been generally pretty good each game he has played] so maybe our recruitment has been not so bad after all.

Scoring obviously a bit of a problem at the moment since we have lost every league game we have by the odd goal. Overall I think the defence is in a decent place, with good numbers and some quality that will see us over the winter.  We've certainly not been tonked by anyone.

Looking at Shaw, Longstaff and McKay there are clearly goals there, and I have faith in Big Dunc, if he can't get the attack firing including the likes of Brooks [young but intelligent] Lodovica [potentially another Todorov who ventually had quite a purple patch] Samuels [fast, young, needs to develop some composure ] then who could?

Midfield seems settled, not sure how long Welsh is out for, he would makes a difference when he returns.

The season has a long way to go, if we can steady progress up to the New Year, first to make relegation an unlikely event, and then to be withing striking distance of the top 4, who knows...if we can rid ourselves of the Dodds long dip in form that has cost us two seasons running [albeit last season mass injuries did play a hand]

Well I wasn't expecting that!

Welcome big Dunc

Work your magic on Harry Lodovica!

I'm probably the only person who thought Caley DID play alright in the first half at Airdrie [well after the first minute, and before that horrendous muck up by Devine!]  And for me it's tooo early in the season to be passing judgement on Gilmour and Davidson [both who I think are decent]

17 hours ago, Eagle4Caley said:

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have signed defender Morgan Boyes on loan from Livingston until the end of the season. 

The 22-year-old started his career at Liverpool coming through the club’s academy and he made his debut for the club in December 2019.

According to Sky Sports

Gosh we have a young squad! 

Blimey, I've only just realised that Robbie Deas is apparently aged 23, so was a mere 20years old when he joined us, so by comparison Boyes should be 'ready to go' and Nikola Ujdur an mature and experienced campaigner. Three players in, in one week!

On 8/27/2023 at 9:28 AM, Jaggernaut said:

It used to be the mantra of the managers that we won't sign anyone unless they are better than what we already have, they didn't want bench warmers. Well, apart from Nathan Shaw, none of the other recent additions have set the team on fire, and I can't see how many of our youth players are not as good or not better than some of the players we sign, who will probably be gone by next season. 

Delaney was getting good reviews and plaudits on this site last year, although his form tailed off when he got injured. I do think you've got to give the new boys time to settle in and blend together, we pretty much get this type of comment every year...I remember Ridgers being slated as 'not a proper goalkeeper etc' when he first came here. I thought Longstaff was lively against Airdrie when he came on, he virtually made our goal too. Obviously Lodovica doesn't have much of a pedigree, but I saw enough from him on Saturday to suggest he could be useful too us. I'm sure that Davidson and Gilmour will prove solid team players over time. Samuels is a bit hit and miss, but he needs games [how many I hear you ask! but he can be really dangerous, can composure be taught?]. Brooks is a very young player, he's developing, what I liked about him on Saturday was the runs he was making into dangerous areas [but no one was picking him out]

It's easy to forget how young many of our players are.

But we do need a wise head in the centre of defence

On 8/12/2023 at 9:44 PM, Robert said:

He’s got a groin injury (from Tm4tj’s excellent preview). 

Aha...I missed that

I guess he picked that up in the Dumbarton game...oh well someone HAS to step up and command the centre.