Eagle4Caley

Didn't look to bad a game from the highlights...OFW pulled of some decent saves. Are we playing 5 at the back?

Strange...we've lost fewer games out of the last 10, than the four teams above us, is that good defending or poor defending (i.e. maybe we should have won a couple more) bit of a bummer that St Johnstone managed to get two of their own players sent off without anyone else's help to gift the Accies the points

Have to say I rather enjoyed that!

1 hour ago, DoofersDad said:

I think its a bit of a catch 22 situation really.  You get transfer fees when players are signed up on longer contracts but longer contracts tend to cost more and risk you being left paying a player who has not performed.  A small club like ours simply can't afford the risk of longer term contracts although I think it tries to do the best it can within the resources available.

With regard to Tansey, he has benefited from being here and we have benefited from having him here.  He's been a great player for us and I wish him well in his future career (except when playing against us, of course).

Couldn't put it better....GT has been a good player for us (one of our better?) across the seasons he's been with us, think we will miss him next season, hope he fares better at Aberdeen than Miles Storey (but obviously hope he's rubbish when he plays against us)

I'll be interested to see the highlights, as I was intrigued in the starting line up, providing two up front and using the full backs as wing backs? Hard to decide if a draw is a good point, certaintly a loss could have been terminal, and depending which posters are closer in their interpretation we were either a) largely comfortable against County or b) missed a great opportunity against an out of form team with tactics/formation that couldn't win us the game. The outcome at least sees as off the bottom and closer to 10th place due to other results. I'm a bit disappointed that the line up we had against Rangers hasn't been repeatable, Mulraney is a big loss at the moment and I hope he comes back soon, and i think Cole is a decent player who needs to play more.

I'd prefer us to play 4 at the back, so I'd be interested on other view as to which out of Warren/McCart/Laing (and Mckay) should play as the two CB's. It looks like Vigurs has picked up and injury now so a midfield four seems to pick itself ...Cole/Tansey/Draper/Polworth, until Mulraney is fit.

Anyway I'm increasingly beginning to believe we are going to be in a end of season play-off...anyone for a repeat clash against Falkirk!

57 minutes ago, Robert said:

But only 1 defeat in 5 league games since the Hamilton debacle....

Arguably a very good point against both our bogey team and the SPL other form team. I quite like the fact that RF started with two guys up front, although it's a shame Mulraney is missing

On 03/03/2017 at 8:22 PM, Eagle4Caley said:

I had plenty of sunny spells whilst up to get my usual number of iconic photo's of the town, but I must say it was fecking cold on my walk back along the Harbour Road after the match!

Realised the road that runs from the Stadium past the Harbour is not called Harbour Road, but Stadium Road/Longman Drive etc etc!

Well despite the result, I enjoyed my trip up.....It was a game of two halves really, in the first half we had a plan to contain Celtic, and did pretty well for 43 mins, yes they go forward a lot, and got a lot of balls into the box which we kept out one way or other, I thought we were well organised, and OFW only had a couple of tough shots to save. We obviously didn't offer too much going forward, which was to be expected, although we got into promising situations on a number of occasions, only to let ourselves down with poor or misplaced passes or poor ball control. But we were heading to half-time at nil-nil and I was thinking it could be one of those games when we nick a point (or more)....and then Sinclair scored, it was a good goal fair and square. Unfortunately I was still sipping my half time Bovril downstairs, when the game started and I heard the Celtic fans cheer. I had the benefit of a TV replay to see that the ball bobbled before OFW kicked it, it looked awful, but he was rather unlucky....it killed the game for us though. With just one player up front it was going to be a hell of a struggle, it needed a big guy like Ofere to be a nuisance up front to help Mckay out. I felt for OFW again with their 3rd goal, as I think he had no option but to cover a crossed free kick, things pretty much petered out after that, Polworth had a great strike, and then they got the fourth goal....I was kind of thankful we kept it at only 4 against! Considering we were getting a bit of a drubbing, I thought Laing did pretty well, and Cole worked hard. We did miss Mulraney, as I felt King didn't seem to be able to trouble their defence. I thought RF was a bit harsh on the players, I don't think there was much shame in losing to what are clearly the best side in the SPL by a country mile, if the players can get back to the level of game they played against Rangers we should be OK, although it will be a close run thing,

I had plenty of sunny spells whilst up to get my usual number of iconic photo's of the town, but I must say it was fecking cold on my walk back along the Harvour Road after the match!

1 hour ago, bishbashbosh said:

couldn't believe what I saw at the penalty last night. no one was willing to step up and take it. billy said no, saw tansy shake his head when asked then someone asked vigurs and he took the ball.

should be nominated before the game, and that player gets hold of the ball asap. the rangers goalkeeper must have been filled with confidence seeing no one wanted to take the kick.

funny how different people see a game. I wonder if those on here saying cole was a changed player were at the game or watching on tv. he had half a doz crosses in second half all trundled along the ground. his cross for the winning goal was one of  his worst but was helped on to billy by Wilson. offered nothing in defence.   quite a few in the north stand shouting for him to be hooked early second half.

but everyone has an opinion I suppose

I'm not a big fan of the guy who wins the penalty taking it....unless he is the designated guy. BK has missed a few in the past, I wonder if Draper was the DP at tyhe start of the match. Vigurs lost out on the ploy of sending the goalie the wrong way.

Whilst perhaps not as good a game for Cole as the one aginst Hearts, he was still mentioned by the commentators last night for having a positive contribution, particularly after Mulraney went off. He has pretty good close ball control and composure, and was a good outlet. I thought he did help out the defence sufficiently. I'm not having a pop at you, but some supporters are only satisfied if a player rounds around frantically for 90mins putting in block-buster tackles all night long.

Just loved this.... a great game to watch on TV

Thought Mulraney was excellent, as was Draper, Cole kicked on in the 2nd half after Jake went off, Raven did a good job covering for Tremarco as did Brad Mckay taking the right berth, in fact the Rangers penalty aside, I thought defensively we were pretty good after we got past the first 10minutes of the game, although OFW did have a few good saves to make. Polworth also maintaining the imnprovement in his form. What a goal from Tansey, and great 2nd effort well saved by the Rangers keeper. As for King Billy, worked hard all game, gets a penalty and scores a superb winner (the wife told me off for making so much noise!)

I was excited about coming up for the Celtic match, before tonight.... now I can barely contain myself

Enjoyed watching the extended highlights on Alba this morning, my impressions were;

Overall a pretty tidy performance from us, Hearts had more attempts at goal than us but many were fairly tame efforts from distance that didn't trouble OFW, who looked secure and dealt with the penalty well

Laing looks a decent signing for us, and McCart did pretty well...they both give Brad Mckay and Warren some competition, hard to gauge from just one viewing but Laing should probably start?

Billy Mckay gives us a much better outlet and threat compared to the recently departed Doumbuoya (despite that latters tally of goals)...I thought Anier did OK when he came on, quite mobile, don't see too many goals in him though and between him Fisher and Boden probably not much to chose from

We were pretty solid in midfield, Polworth not quite the bright spark he was last season, but getting there, I like Mulraney, and Doran looks fit and strong, we do have some useful wing options, but someone needs to really claim the spot.

Lastly, I really like the look of Larnell Cole, and if it's possible we should try and secure him for next season, as I thing he will really start to thrive with regular games....theres a bit of Ryan Christie about him.

8 minutes ago, IBM said:

Come on we are wanting 3 points from The Rangers on Friday 

We're due a win...I'm sensing a draw on Friday then al three points against you know who   and I'm up for that one

1 hour ago, forresjags said:

Positive Mulraney and Ebbe the rest absolutely terrible including the managers schoolboy tactics.

As good as Celtic can be we were absolutely shocking the space they had to play in was embarrassing think the referee saved us from a complete tanking today with his handling of the game.

Mulraney looked especially dangerous, although Celtic were having a cup of tea mentally by the time he came on, I thought Cole looked OK as well, both Billy's rather ineffectually, which was at least better than Anier (Oh how we needed Ofere!).

Given that we have lost 5-0, 6-0 and 5-0 under JH at Celtic Park, in the previous two seasons, the result was about par for the course

4 hours ago, Caley Mad In Berks said:

Good to see all the positive comments about the performance yesterday.  I'm looking forward to watching the extended highlights on Alba tonight. Remainder of February is going to be tough.  It will be a real boost if we can salvage a result or two from these games.

Coming back from 0-2 down to get a draw was the one bright spot to a horrible football weekend for me with my other side self detonating 0-4 to Sunderland (actually it was the fans who self combusted) ...amazing how Palace can spend £90m in transfers in one season and still look *****! When was the last time ICT paid a transfer fee?

Chuffed to see Mckay back with us and back on the scoresheet (less so the missed penalty). I am still trying to get over the shock of Doumbuoya leaving though!

We seem to have enhanced (or is that enlarged) our striking options, although neither King or Mulraney seem to have clinched the wingers spot for themselves. Defensively aside from Tremarco we seem to have an issue with every other position (including the goalkeeper) which is a worry. Likewise in midfield does Richie know what his best selection is? It seems an improved performance from Tansey yesterday? (post transfer window). Draper seems to be a shoe-in, so should we be playing 4-4-2 with one winger leaving the last midfield berth between Cole, Polworth or Vigurs?

Anyway counting down the days to my midweek trip up for the Celtic game..have a strange feeling we are going to get something from this game, although not sure how the Cup game against them shapes things, I'm guessing we'll lose taht one, but we need to leave a few 'marks' on them to make both sides realise the league result is no foregone concludion!

28 minutes ago, wynthank15 said:

If we lose to Hamilton we are down and the board had better act quickly rather than dawdling as they did with Brewster when it was obvious with half the season gone we were in deep trouble.I think the players have lost confidence in RF, once you lose the dressing room it's finished. All the good work JH and Latapy had done, the passing, game management, organisation has gone.

I think quite a few supporters got a bit tired of the tippy-tappy passing and possesion game towards the end of last season, but after JH left I said that we would probably rue that ability..... It wasn't always excitng, but it probably enabled ICT to punch above it's weight. We've lost a bit of creativity in the middle and wings, and don't seem to have found adequate replacements for Storey and Roberts up front let alone Watkins and Mckay.

38 minutes ago, Kind of Blue said:

Here here.  Let's remember we are the only team in Scotland to take points off them.

Blimey, what a shower of s#>t the rest of the SPL is this year!

What would we prefer a win in the cup or points from our home game with them?

11 hours ago, IBM said:

Yes February and March are usually worse for the bad weather.

Oops...I spent my Saturday booking flights and accommodation to come up for the Celtic game!

15 minutes ago, PerfICT said:

You've got to take your hat off to the lads: Everything going against them and they dug out a draw. Other results didn't go for us, but 2 unbeaten now. Still chances for points in the next 3 games before the New Year...surely the injury crisis has to ease??!!!

This is a good point gained in adversity, ICT seem to be struck down in much the same way as my other team (10 first team players out) Caley need a couple of reinforcements come January, but hard to know if there are any funds left....and how did Ross County get so far up the table?

In many respects a great result, especially after being pegged back to 2-2 ...wish I could have been up North for this one. Is Doumbuoya growing into his role and game?

In an unrelated note I watched a good Aberdeen v Celtic game on the box earlier, and poor old Miles Storey left stuck on the bench and Ryan Christie nowhere to be seen, aside from the obvious financial benefit, football-wise both players going nowhere in building reputations whereas if we only had the means, how good would it have been for both us and them to have kept these two guys? Oh well.

Quite a game! No Fisher or King, OFW doesn't start because of a late injury, so we have our third choice goalie on, the Tremarco injured inside 10, his substitute scores, Doumbouya gets another goal, Hearts come back into it...2nd half could be a nail-bitter

1 hour ago, rocky1 said:

Of the front 5 would be target men we have in the squad Dumbo is the worst. He has no pace, unable to control a ball, cannot win anything in the air , unable to use his size and doesn't know where the goal is. Unfortunately his goal will mean he starts on Wednesday ,

offload  3 and spend the wages on 1 decent front man 

Yes I must admit when I was up for the Dundee game, Doumbouya didn't look the brightest, and seemed unable to use his size to any advantage, although he scored with decent header....he does look a player than will need a fair few chances per goal. Fisher looked a bit more clever when he came on for that game, yet has no better on the strike rate, and what ever happened to Scott Boden, who when he first arrived apparently looked half decent in the league cup games, but is pretty much on the sidelines. The trouble is we are very much fishing in the backwaters for players, Doumbouya has played in the Belgium 2nd division, Fisher came from National League Torquay, and Boden from League 2 Newport...if they were capable players they would have featured for higher level teams. The concept of using all three's wages for one decent player falls apart the moment that one player is injured or suspended, we just about got away with it when we had Billy Mckay, because we also had Andrew Shinnie.

Still rescuing a point when you have had a poor game bodes well for maintaining SPL status....but it will be a long winter at times

Rather disappointing, we started brightly then after 10mins or so it rather fell to pieces, Doumbouya very isolated, and Rangers just did what they had to better than us.....once I heard Kenny Miller was on 99goals for them I kinda knew he was going to score...to be fair it was a great effort, but finishing was the difference between the sides as Doumbouya and Fisher both had decent chances in space. Thought the defence was pretty good, we were hardly battered although OFW pulled off a fine save to keep out a second. Is it me or does Warren (and Draper) pick up cards rather too easily? Mckay was decent at CB but was also a bit rash a couple of times, lucky to stay on. Game changed a bit with Mulraney and Doran coming on and for the last 20mins there seemed every chance we could get an equaliser, but our finishing let us down. Terrific crowd as well for a Friday night match on the box, are there a lot of locals who support Rangers?

Looking forward to seeing this match on TV!   Could be a feisty game, but I have a good feeling about this game

Well done to Foran, for MOTM, has done well to recover from a shaky start, and is exceeding my expectations (including in the transfer market)

Strangely Palace are also live on the box this weekend, and we've had a season that seems to match what ICT do....so hopeful of a positive weekend all round!

Had a brilliant weekend up in Inverness with my wife, who is a confirmed Caley supporter now. Best game I have seen at the TCS, Dundee might not have been brilliant, but you have to beat whats in front of you and Caley's game shaped what Dundee could do. Have to say the defence is looking pretty sound, Tremarco has come on so much in a couple of years, almost Shinnie-like in solidity and influence going forward. Brad Mckay looks a decent full back and had two brilliant assists, can you ask for much more? David Raven is going to have to accept some bit-parts this season (unless there are injuries) but still a pretty useful guy to have around. The front three (or four including Fisher as sub) all impressed me, given they came for bugger all. Wasn't sure what to expect from Doumbouya, but he's definitely an upgrade on the centre forwards we've had in the last season and a half (as is Fisher), quite mobile, decent touch, does a fair bit of work and wins some good headers, but he doesn't use his size to his advantage enough and thus misses out on headers for long balls out of defence, also a bit clumsy in challenges ...but as we say at the Palace, if he was the finished product he wouldn't be playing for us. Overall though Draper had a good game, especially in the first half when he was further forward, yes he can give the ball away, but I think that what happens when you in the thick of it alot.

So all in all the early season doom and gloom, doesn't currently look justified, given what   we had sitting on the bench as well (and no Raven?), but it's a long season of course.

Yet another trip where the weather was pretty good, so another bonus, and we took the train up from Edinburgh to enjoy the trip through the Highlands (which you can do if the advance 1st class ticket is only a tenner!) and also went past Raith Rovers ground in Kirkcaldy which for some reason excited me! (Nice beaches nearby I think which could top off a trip for an away match sometime in the future). Had to laugh at the over officious security at Inverness Airport who made us change our zipped plastic liquids bags for something they approved of, and then gave mine back unsealed, with the statement 'yeah, well, we know the bag will seal' ...seriously? As usual our Easyjet flight back to London was delayed, which is just a bit irritating

That's a brilliant point, the first SPL team to take one off Celtic, sounds like OFW had a brilliant game, and great for both Fisher and King to score. Haven't seen any highlights yet although it was on Sky as I was at the Palace game (and forget to set my Tivo box to record) ,,,anyway let's hope we don't blow it against Dundee next week when I am up for the match.

25 minutes ago, 12th Man said:

What would go one better is to make them play against a team with red and blue stripey shirts.

And play Tiki Taka?...ah hold on Yogi isn't here anymore.