Eagle4Caley

Something rather awesome about a team that got relegated rather badly, faced all sorts of upheaval over the summer, with a large turnover of players with a lot of newcomers of perhaps questionable pedigree (by that I mean experience and quality) having had a terrible start to the season, and earning strong criticism from fans, questioning both players and managers competence, now completing 9 shutouts out of 10games (with the one loss aided and abetted by incompetent officials)...with the latest after a horrendous journey down. if there's such a thing, this season is becoming a bit of a mini epic, one that makes me proud to consider myself an ICT supporter. By coincidence my other team also earned a battling draw after a difficult journey away, but just a mere 2 and half hours stuck on a train in the cold and dark!

Chuffed for Baird, and Oakley....Bell on target again, and another clean sheet. It might be 'only' Brechin, but actually they've rarely been stuffed this season and got a decent draw with Dundee Utd at the weekend. With Brad's goal that is more tonight than all our previous home league games!

I tend to like the Big Man/Small Man combination which would suggest Oakley and Bell together.... be interesting with Doran on one side and Mulraney on the other However I've liked what I've seen of Baird in recent games, if both Baird and Oakley could start scoring goals we'd have a nice problem on our hands

Yes good work....... Obviously spurred on by the 'Robertson Out' thread

In the end of club of ICT's size needs to have a 'selling' policy to survive, whilst sustaining any sort of premiership ambitions. So we need to identify those players who've we bought in, that look like having future resell value and ensure they are given longer (rolling) contract extensions quite quickly...guys like Bell, Mulraney, and Donaldson probably fit that profile. Obviously there's a limit to how many we can do that with, and there has to be an acceptance from supporters that this is a necessary evil. Mind you transfer fees of £50 to 200K don't fit the bill, and we would still need to be able to employ one or two 'old hands' to steady the ship.

1 on 1's are not certain goals, Bell was pretty close to Alexander with a tight angle, whereas Mulraney probably could have done better, although it looked like the ball got stuck under his foot when he went to shoot. ....if he was playing more regularly of course he may have done better as situations like that become more instinctive. ....that disallowed goal against Bell must have been the tightest of decisions, it looks to me on the replay there is at least one outfielder and the goalie in front of Bell. I think one or both of the officials played safe. I agree with RiG, Livi were definitely hanging on!

Well, I really enjoyed my trip up North. Almost a perfect day for the football, and great to be in a vociferous crowd of ICT fans, and thanks to Cath who I befriended at the 'wrong' turnstile, we spent the entire game in chat about how it was going. Given how well Livingston are doing... they could have gone top with a win, we acquitted ourselves really well, and I thought we were the better team after the initial 5 minutes. After that I didn't think we were in much danger, and with a bit more composure (from Mulraney) or luck (Bell ) we would have come away with all three points. Another clean sheet is pretty impressive after the start to the season, and Donaldson impressed me, and Ridgers looked a lot safer than the early season reports would have suggested....on the whole his kicking was pretty good. I generally agree with most of IHE's marking, although I would score Polworth and Vigurs the other way around. For me Vigurs was the stand out guy, not just for the way he was pulling the strings in midfield but for the level of effort in winning the ball back, something I'd never really thought was his strong point. I felt during the game how lucky, given our finances, we are to have someone like Vigurs in the team. Another guy who impressed me was Baird, who worked extremely hard and showed no little skill at times, whether he is a true goalscorer in the Mckay mould I doubt it, but I could imagine he'll have a 'purple patch' at some stage in the season. Perversely the introduction of Oakley, in his place, towards the end of the game did seem to swing the game in our favour, mainly I think because with the benefit of fresh legs and a taller frame he seemed to give their defenders something to worry about. I'd almost say Livingston were hanging on in the last 10mins. If Mulraney can maintain and then improve on his current level of game, we are going to be quite a dangerous side going forward, coupled with the clever and dogged play of Bell. Chalmers has certainly got a decent cross in him as well, and seems to be another finding his feet. Overall a decent performance in my book, from a bunch of 'budget level' players who got off to a bad start to the season, many of the newbies with a bit to prove, and now some of them are showing their worth.

Encouraging that players previously being criticised for being poor are upping their game...I think Baird is due a goal (he'll score next week I bet) he seems to be doing most things right. Even more encouraging that we have won our last two games without Trafford, who before then seemed to be one of the few positives, looks like we have some depth on the bench

In football some truisms remains as ever they were....it takes time for a new manager, with a new group of players, in a new league to become a cohesive unit and find an effective style. Robbo appears to have found a balance between roughing up players in public, when they have let themselves and the fans down, working out who responds to what, and who fits in where, and praising where praise is due. We've clearly got a step on the ladder climbing up, matches against Livingston and St Mirren, will tell if we can match the best, and keep climbing...we have a nice run of games to the end of the year that could see us in a good place.

In successive weeks we have beaten two sides in the top four who had previously beaten us (in the Pars case convincingly) kept our 5th clean sheet in a row, and seem to have found both attacking threat and a solid back line....progress in anyone's book. Bell rapidly becoming a bit of a hero? I'm up (and buzzing) for the Livingston match next week which I have a good feeling about...it'll certainly give us a hint of whether a run to the play-offs is a possibility (it's a long season I know!)....crowd of near 3000 as well. And my weekend was made all the more happy by a 97th minute equaliser for my other team

Takes a bit of time doesn't it, new gaffer, loads of new players, who is any good, who works well with whom, who will settle in? Definitely some green shoots there, and that 2nd goal is a thing of beauty...If Man City had scored that it would be on SkySports all weekend, the ball was moved so quickly it caught all of Dundee's team out. Looked like a great away crowd btw! As an aside loving the new shop and the work of the Stadium Development Project, feels like the club is going in the right direction

So good to see some of the new guys starting to make the difference...some confidence is starting to flow. I've heard good things recently about Chalmers, Trafford, Bell and Donaldson (and Oakley and Cooper to a lesser extent, not sure what happened to Seedorf but he sounded a prospect as well). Of last seasons signings Mulraney at last sounding like a half decent player. Was watching some old video today of a game a few seasons back when Partick beat us at home 1-2....in that game Doran looked a real threat, be great to see him back in decent form in the new year to add some momentum, it would be like a new signing

A great result, another clean sheet, great to see Bell on the scorecard, it does start to feel like John Robertson has found some balance in the side and players are starting to step up to the mark

Well we certainly got a good write up in the Scottish Sun https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/1701143/falkirk-0-inverness-0-bairns-lucky/

Can I sit next to you next time I come up (it'll be March though) ...I'm very much a glass half full guy, and always appreciate a good bit of work recognising if players were really that consistently good they wouldn't be playing for us (and I have that same view at Palace, even though they're paid considerably more). I don't think the Tulloch stadium is very conducive for creating a great atmosphere, being so open, coupled with the fact we're still a young team in terms of existance (and thus tradition), and of course get pretty small crowds. When I come up I sit in the main stand and have plenty of people around me that moan for moaning's sake because they've paid the fee to come in. That said it does tend to be a vicious circle, fans want to see honest compentent players putting in a shift, and tend to get behind them when it happens, likewise Players need encouragement and also often surprisingly fragile flowers (but then who enjoys going to work and having people slag you off from the sidelines) so can both be raised up by positive vibes or hide due to negative comments (which are easier to hear in a quiet stadium). However this in not confined to a club like ICT, look at Arsenal their atmosphere at home games is terrible, whereas I also support Palace a team with allegedly the best atmosphere in the EPL (certainly yesterday the atmosphere against Chelsea gave me goosebumps) and is often cited by players as a factor in a good result. Anyway as for yesterday, in many ways i'm quite happy with that result, Falkirk were in those group of teams I saw challenging for promotion, and it seems we were well worth the point orn deserved more. More encouragingly we are slowly sorting a team out of the collection of players we have. Guys like Trafford and Bell, coupled to the guys like Vigurs, Polworth and Tremarco, starting to show their worth, good to hear Donaldson having a decent game... The Pre-season games seemed to indicate that Seedorf and Oakley were useful acquisitions, potential not yet fulfilled, and it sounds like Mulraney's international duty had a positive effect. It will be interesting to compare the points tally over the next 9 games...who knows we might see more Danial Mckay a bit more or find that the lesser spotted Zak Elbouzedi is a real player. I'm up for the away match at Livingston soon, and looking at their form, could be a real gauge on any improvement

From the board statement "The two ladies that run the supporters’ trust and the buses have been vilified by these fans online. (Using) abusive language and expletives and they should never be put in that position. We feel we’ve taken the right action. "They raised a charter against us and said they weren’t coming back. I believe the following week, a number of them went to Ross County and were ejected again. We know who the ringleaders are and they’ve not been discreet online." These aren't real Caley fans are they?...they're idiots (and somewhat unpleasant ones at that) who've attached themselves to the club, and make trouble. Sounds like a very small group, who need to be kept out until, and if they learn some commonsense and good grace. The rest of the young supporters in the group should be actively encouraged to come and make the noise they do.

It's after games like this, that the likes of Edward Ofere, Mutombo, Doumboya are looked upon with a certain amount of fondness... and to think we actually had both Alex Fisher and Miles Storey in our grasp Still a clean sheet!...we can at least savour that Don't worry Yngwie, we still have Seedorf, Elbouzedi and Zschusschen to come back and kick start out campaign! I see QoS had Stephen Dobbie playing for them...I saw him play for Palace against Tottenham in our first match back in the Premiership....f#ck me he was slow

Never too early for some drama!...just look at Palace! 4 games and FdB's a gonna, we have an utterly ***** goalie, I've seen some comical defending, we came out of the transfer window with just one fit senior striker....who's now injured, it's like home from home supporting ICT and Palace...but at least you guys have seen some goals scored by the Caley...Ooh what I'd give to see one from Palace! Must admit I wonder if Robbo's up for it, or whether it's the rest of the coaching staff who are crap. I quite like the tough words from Robbo about the players performances and attitude, although that's usually a short sentence away from 'losing the changing room'!

Interesting to watch the highlights....as someone said they look better than it sounds like we actually played. I'm not really convinced that Warren dived, more like ran out puff and the second challenge was all too much and he fell over, did he even appeal for a penalty? (I don't think you should be booked if you're not appealling) Positives for me seem to be Bell, who looks quite tricky and committed, Trafford is sounding half decent but may benefit from a period of fitness management, Polworth seems to have found his mojo again and OFW is back and sounds like he is at least better than Ridgers. Tremarco is back too, but I would guess having been out for a while it will take some time to get back to where he was last season early on. And we are scoring goals (unlike my other team who have scored none at all in their league) and have either been ahead in a game or have pulled the game back (like against St Mirren/Livingstone). Of the rest it seems Vigurs gives us something for a parts of games, but can't really be relied on to have an impact for 90mins or do the dirty work. My impression of the defence is that apart from individual errors there is very poor organisation or ideas as to who is doing what. I put that down to the coaching, maybe Robbo needs a defensive coach. Listening to peoples views on the defence, I find it somewhat bemusing how easily Meekings was let go, whether this was to do with percieved likeihood of return to fitness, cost of a new contract, an attitude problem...yes he may not be fully fit now, but he could be the difference later in the season...and we seem to be quite happy to wait for Zak Elbouzedi and Aaron Doran. And what has happened to Seedorf, he doesn't seem to have played since he got sent off? Meanwhile Oakley who seems to have been to better option to Baird early on, now seems devoid of ideas and energy, whilst Mulraney doesn't seem to want to play at all. So I think we're all now resigned to the fact that getting back up is looking unlikely this season (was it ever?) ....so now it's all about doing enough to stay up, and I can't believe Falkirk are as bad as their league position suggests.

Pretty much reprising what I've written elsewhere....I'm a South Londoner born and bred, as far as I am aware I don't have any Scottish blood in me (just in my soul!), although one ancestry firm suggested my surname (Lyon) was linked to the Farquharson, it could be tosh but the tartan's pretty! I first became aware of ICT one night listening to the radio, now who were they playing?...ah yes Celtic, in that famous victory. I gradually took more notice of Caley over the subsequent years, having a strange desire to find a Scots team to support (although I once toyed with Partick!), I remember being surprisingly upset that Caley were relegated in 2009. I have supported Palace since I was 14 (I'm 59 now) and once I discovered that Caley also play in Red n Blue stripes that sealed the deal. I first saw the stadium in October 2012 whilst on a tour of the Highlands with my eldest daughter, persuading our guide to take a wee diversion. My first live game was Ross County at home 16th March 2013 (we won 2-1 with Charlie Taylor being brought down for the resultant winning penalty). That first trip really did cement what is now a love affair. My first away game was Charlton in a friendly, I've been to two Cup finals, and memorably did the Celtic cup semi final having watched Palace v WBA on the Saturday then taking a Megabus sleeper upto Glasgow where I met up with CaleyMad for the early kick-off. My wife has been up to Inverness twice with me for matches, we both love Inverness, personally I find a walk along the Ness never fails to stir a sense of wellbeing! My eldest daughter nearly got to see Hearts away with me in December a couple of seasons back, but the match was called off due to high winds. Not being from Inverness the pre-merger stuff is very much alien to me, it's clear there is still a legacy that still seems to affect how some people see the club...that said many years ago Palace and Wimbledon toyed with a merger which definitely raised the hackles of most supporters, and of course the infamous relocation of the Wimbledon to Milton Keynes, and subsequent rebirth of Wimbledon localy as AFC underscores what local loyalties mean to people. I think my work colleagues think I'm ever so slightly bonkers, but they enjoyed the celebratory cakes when we won the Cup. I've never seen Palace win anything (unless play-off finals count). Obviously it takes a bit a planning to come up for games working round Palace home games and stuff, but Easyjet are pretty good price wise. Watching Caley is a strange release, certainly different from the madhouse EPL, I really like the stadium's setting and the weather always seem half decent when I come up (although the Celtic home match last March mid-week was effing cold walking back). BTW I'm sure I mention Palace a bit too much on this site, for which I apologise, I'm quite at ease with supporting two teams, and despite the EPL millions, I see both teams in the same light, not necessarily glamourous, perhaps punching above our weight at times, but any honours or success is treasured, and it's always great to get one over the bigger boys!

Not exactly...seems a step backwards

Hi SP, I'm a South Londoner born and bred, as far as I am aware I don't have any Scottish blood in me (just in my soul!), although one ancestry firm suggested my surname (Lyon) was linked to the Farquharson, it could be tosh but the tartan's pretty! I first became aware of ICT one night listening to the radio, now who were they playing?...ah yes Celtic, in that famous victory. I gradually took more notice of Caley over the subsequent years, having a strange desire to find a Scots team to support (although I once toyed with Partick!), I remember being surprisingly upset that Caley were relegated in 2009. I have supported Palace since I was 14 (I'm 59 now) and once I discovered that Caley also play in Red n Blue stripes that sealed the deal. I first saw the stadium in October 2012 whilst on a tour of the Highlands with my eldest daughter, persuading our guide to take a wee diversion. My first live game was suitably Ross County at home 16th March 2013 (we won 2-1 with Charlie Taylor being brought down for the resultant winning penalty). My first away game was Charlton in a friendly, I've been to two Cup finals, and memorably did the Celtic cup semi final having watched Palace v WBA on the Saturday then taking a Megabus sleeper upto Glasgow where I met up with CaleyMad for the early kick-off. My wife has been up to Inverness twice with me for matches, we both love Inverness. My eldest daughter nearly got to see Hearts away with me in December a couple of seasons back, but the match was called off. I think my work colleagues think I'm ever so slightly bonkers, but they enjoyed the celebratory cakes when we won the Cup. I've never seen Palace win anything (unless play-off finals count). Obviously it takes a bit a planning to come up for games working round Palace home games and stuff, but Easyjet are pretty good price wise. Watching Caley is a strange release, certainly different from the madhouse EPL, I really like the stadium's setting and the weather always seem half decent when I come up (although the Celtic home match last March mid-week was effing cold walking back). My next match is Livingstone away in November. I once watched their manager score a winning play-off final goal for Palace!

Just testing times all round! Some horrible similarities about our Summer preparations, and the current prognosis for doing well in our respective leagues...only the amount of money involved is different I'm not happy at all that Frank De Boer has been sacked after 4 games, we've become a real joke. We've had a pretty poor transfer window, and we're left with a terrible goalkeeper in Wayne Hennessey, OFW's senior international colleague, and unbelieveably one fit striker...even Caley didn't leave themsleves that short (unless we are talking quality) I can't be arsed to go to the next home game v Southampton since it's on TV, the passion I had has become very diluted....on the other hand I am very much looking forward to coming up for the away game at Livingston in November, by then the team might be motoring.

Surely this sort of faffing around at the back was quite prevalent in the Hughes era...is that a good sign?

I think it's quite possible, to make a lot of noise and atmosphere without resorting to either flares, abuse, damage or intimidation...however some of the later may be linked to excessive drinking. It's great that some young lads are keen to improve the atmosphere at games and show support for the team, but it must be done within the confines of the law, and if that happens generally everyone gets on board. Down in my neck of the woods my other team have a pseudo 'Ultra's group called the Holmesdale Fanatic's and they are part of the reason why the atmosphere at Palace games is considered to be amongst the best, they also do a great job with displays at matches. Just occasionally they (or their hangers-on) get above themselves and we see the odd flare or firecracker going off (but only at away games) this doesn't go down to well with most of the fan base, and forums are usually busy afterwards with for and against. In the end the authorities will win every time so why push it? And there's no bonus points for getting a bad reputation for being bad away travellers, it potential has ramifications for the rest of us. Hopefully the club and this particular group can achieve a meeting of minds and then we can move on. Watching football in a fervent, noisy but ultimately peace-loving atmosphere is the best (when your winning!)