Eagle4Caley

On 10/05/2016 at 11:29 AM, Sneckboy said:

Caley Thistle chairman frustrated to miss out on top six after increasing budget

Caley Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron is frustrated by his club’s failure to earn a top-six Premiership place given the extra money handed to manager John Hughes. The Highlanders have operated with the highest playing budget in the club’s history, but missed out on a top-half finish for the first time in four years.

Cameron said: “It’s been a very challenging season. We’ve had horrendous injuries from day one, but that’s not an excuse. We took more players in and backed the manager on that front, but things just haven’t clicked this season. We usually operate with a squad of 18. This season it was 25 or 26, so the manager has obviously had a fair bit more money. But these things happen. All in all it’s been a reasonable season, so if we can finish seventh we’ll be happy. We’re looking forward to next season and getting back into the top six. We’ll always look to be in the top six, so we’ll go from there and see where it takes us.”

 

Operating with barely enough players to also fill the sub bench for an entire season that including cups could be 46+ games long, isn't a formula for regular top six finishes. And it means that many of the 'subs' need to be utility players. Surely we need a squad of 22, to cover for long term injuries and suspensions.

It may well be a dig at Hughes, but to suggest the budget is big enough to get decent quality into the squad, when we barely afford any sort of fee, and our wages offer will also be pipped by most of the teams in our division is a bit disingenuous.... looks like the tension between Hughes and Cameron is coming to a head, and some posters will clearly be happy to see Hughes go....but as every Newcastle supporter now knows....be careful what you wish for!

It's a bummer, but he was a free agent who has proved he can score goals and be a threat at this level, and is happy to live up in the North of Scotland....an easy win for Aberdeen who must earn about £3m more than ICT from attendances, and can pay higher wages

12th Man; you're right, the diagonal red/blue sash on a white shirt is considered by most CPFC fans as an 'iconic' Palace shirt ....our away kit for next year is based on it but on a yellow shirt (yellow being considered a 'lucky' colour for an away kit by our superstitious fans!)

Well this is the new Palace kit....is the blue too blue for an ICT kit. It's slightly controversial down here because there are no stripes (until the squad line up...according to the promotional blurb)

I see our Caley's current strip is on sale at the knock down price of £10 at the mo..think I'm having some of that! (it's a bit of a classic)

2 minutes ago, lightwelter said:

Brilliant result, one of the best this season. Dundee are no mugs and have a higher budget than us, as well as some really good players. 

People calling for Hughes' head need to wake up. You may not agree with some of his decisions and I'm disappointed that Raven is leaving too, but the man has given us the most successful spell in our history and this season has actually been pretty decent considering the mass exodus of all our best players and the massive injury list. There's been 8 replies to this topic. If we had lost this game, there would no doubt have been page after page of people complaining and calling for Hughes to leave. Nonsense. 

So true... and often how you finish a season can carry through to the following season (injuries and departures permitting of course)

Great result to finish off the season, 4 wins out of 5, (and how do we lose that Dundee Utd match) so we were clearly better than bottom 6, we just cocked it up with a couple of home games in March (at the same time as falling short on the Scottish Cup). Considering the horrendous start to the season, the loss of Christie and the injuries in many respects not bad. However it seems as if Yogi has used up quite a bit of credit with fans (and the board?), with some unrest over Ravens departure and perhaps Foran...although if those two events actually allowed us to sign Storey permanently and extend deals for Roberts and Mutombo, would that compensate?? I do also think he has done well with a miniscule budget, even if some tactics and comments have grated on people.

Lets hope that deals get done as quick as everyone seems to want, and the summer is peaceful, from my point of view the missus is now a fan and wants to come up again, so that cool!

Watched the game on BT Sport, I overall really enjoyed it if not the result, felt we had been mugged by Dundee U, their first goal to tbh was very good, but we got done by a couple of breakaways. We were pretty much in change for much of the game, but breaking down a team that's pretty much 'parking the bus' is never easy. Two great goals from us, and Storey nearly scored with a great effort first half, and Roberts wasted his headed opportunity in the 2nd. For much of the first half we were passing around and through DU, reminded me a bit of St Mirren away last Spring (ICT's passing gets some stick, but compared to Palace they are pretty good at it) . Mutombo looked very tidy in the first half and Storey very busy (I see the comment on him being caught offside, but he correctly sits right on the shoulder of the defender, and not every time he gets pulled up is he actually offside. I don't get the Devine criticism, he seems to be the scapegoat when we don't get the win. Roberts was pretty good, but I feel we miss a true winger, also commentator made a very valid comment about Christie going to Celtic and not playing...probably would have made the differenc last night.

Still we are easily safe now, when at the start of the season it looked like we would be anything but

4 hours ago, Caley Mad In Berks said:

Well, turned out all right in the end.  We actually looked quite good in last half hour, but even then Killie gave us a couple of problems!. But, now we can relax for last four games and hopefully secure 7th spot in the league.  Not the greatest result after our heroics of last season, but I'll take it, if that is how it pans out. Liked Tremarco today, and Mutumbo looked sharp at the end, don't know why he doesn't get a start.

All in all, a satisfactory Sunday, now I can watch the snooker with a smile!

Well it was lovely seeing Inverness on the tele in the sunshine! Overall we were the better side..quite how the Killie went in at HT 1-0 to the good is beyond me, although they looked sharp straight after the break. The penalty/sending off sealed the points for us really...thought Storey was excellent as were Vigurs/Polworth. And defensively largely solid. Enjoyable game to watch

And CMIB if you think you've got a smile on, watching the snooker, imagine my smile when my other team won their FA Cup semi-final. So for the third year running I am off to a Cup Final, just hope Palace can match Caley's result from last year!

45 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

What on earth makes you believe JH is a great coach ? We have seen very little evidence of that.

'Great' is an over-used word, but surely the best league position achieved by ICT in 2013/14, bettered in 2014/15, a League cup final, a Scottish cup win, followed by a semi-final appearance, all on what must be the lowest or 2nd lowest budget in the SPL, playing a style that although frustrating at times, isn't just hit and hope, with classy wins amongst the mix is worthy of some credit. Not a 'Great' coach perhaps, but a pretty decent one....if last years over-achievement was in part due to few injuries, and a nucleus of decent players now gone on to 'bigger' things(?) then this years under-achievement is in part down to poor luck with injuries and average luck on recruitment (and let's face it BIG clubs get that wrong all the time)

Not yet time for Richie in my book, sentiment only gets you so far, what evidence is there that RF is a better manager than JH

6 hours ago, Scarlet Pimple said:

Just one thought...is he , in his opinion, trying to be truthful?

Or just stating facts as he sees them because he thinks he needs to say something?

I think he is being honest actually, in response to losing two of our better players...although with Vincent's injury record less of a miss perhaps, no matter how grateful I am for his cup final goal. I can see a lot of frustration in Hughes comments, he has virtually no money to play with. The suggestion that we are interested in two Partick Thistle players is probably just a smokescreen to molify the fans. We hardly ever sign anyone from the Scottish leagues, Wedderburn, is the highest placed player we have signed form Scotland for a while, before that it was probably Andrew Shinnie following Rangers travails. He is right in terms of spending power we are probably in the bottom two in the SPFL, and that comment is aimed at managing expectations. Let's be honest in a league that is hardly known for eye-catching signings from outside its own league, Inverness are shopping at the 4th and 5th level of the English leagues, usually for players at dead ends of their careers.... and on pretty low wages probably (and usually short contracts). If any of them look half decent and do well in our league, they get hoovered up by the 10 teams above us in the spending power league

Which makes our record in the SPFL and Cup's even more impressive

Can't see it changing without a rich investor (and I haven't won the lottery yet!).... so we need to do more with bringing youngsters through. We also need to shape our contracts better so that we actually get transfer fees from sales

14 hours ago, HawkeyeTheGnu said:

The Roberts thing is baffling. 

Don't think we need to win the Hearts game, but the Utd game is a must win. 

Is it Roberts turn to fall out with Hughes? He was easily our best player first half against Hamilton, and hasn't featured since

I think we need to get at least a point against Hearts, because Dundee Utd away looks a tough one

8 minutes ago, 12th Man said:

The fat lady has been singing for united for quite a while, she might be shutting up by the end of the season.

Don't rule out Dundee Utd to complete the great escape via the play-offs, I think they have enough momentum and the players to bridge that gap to Kilmarnock, and then the play-off is against either Hib's or Falkirk

Took my wife to the Hamilton match last week, the steward on our turnstyle, said we couldn't take a small bottle of water in with us......but we could buy it inside!  I couldn't understand the logic behind that, but had travelled too far to argue! Oh and I took at least one photograph of the match!

On 12/03/2016 at 10:34 PM, AlexJones said:

Think some of the comments are harsh to say the least. Form has been poor as of late but the lads did not deserve to lose today. When you see the way we absolutely battered Hamilton in the last half hour, it reminds everyone what we're capable of. The trouble is, it takes going behind for us to get out of second gear. We need to eschew the ineffective, self-defeating possession game for fixtures like this and adapt the direct, aggressive, assertive approach that we saw in the final 20 minutes. Horses for courses. 

Strangely we battered them after Roberts had gone off, when I thought he was our best player in the first half, reminded me quite a bit of Marley Watkins. Perhaps it needed Foran to lead the line with Storey on as well. Couldn't decide what to think about Liam Hughes, his record shows he not much of a striker, and he didn't dominate the centre halfs but was determined in an awkward sort of way. Draper had one of the better games I've seen him play...except for that bloody awlful give-away that led to the goal. The defensive line-up has changed abit from a year ago, but I thought Devine and Tremarco were pretty sound. Wedderburn is not the most cultured of player is he!

On the plus side my wife came up with me and enjoyed the game (and Inverness) and wants to come back!

I must admit when I saw the team selection I thought it was a bit bizarre, not so much Foran and Highes upfront, but no sign of Roberts, Storey, Polworth or Danny Williams,any one of which would have been needed to provide the ammunition for the forward pair...I thought Roberts coming off on Saturday was in part to save him for tonight. Was Tansey injured or suspended?

At least we gave it a go in the 2nd half, in some respects a run to the quarter final isn't too bad given the funny season we have had, feel we missed out though, the team and performance that beat Aberdeen a few weeks ago would surely have won this tie.

On 10/03/2016 at 0:21 AM, Jagman said:

Really can't believe guys calling for Yogi's head.

Still in the cup, and the league should be no problem.

Agree...maybe the fayre offered up on Tuesday was not great, but that must be the 5th away in a row since the excellent home win against Aberdeen. We have a very small squad, and yet more absences, this time through illness (are others suffering a bit as well)?...so we were left with one fit striker upfront, who has not that long returned to fitness himself. I'm not surprised to see at the end of the winter the guys running out of a bit of energy. And the departures of Christie and Watkins, with Doran and Vincent injured, have left a creative hole.

I take IHE's point about team formation, I guess in one sense it does make sense to try and get all three of the most experienced midfielders into the side. Be interesting to see what happens against Hamilton with Warren presumably out...Draper at the back with Devine, and hopefully one of Storey or Mutumbo back

Come on Caley, Storey and Roberts to score!....if things work out I could endf up going to both English and Scottish Semi Finals!

and just a week away from my trip up to Inverness (nice!)

2 hours ago, Caley Mad In Berks said:

Sat 5 Mar 2016

Scot Cup Q/F

B Mckay                     (Ross Co 2  -  Dundee Utd 3)

SL 1

R McAllister                (Albion 1  -  Peterhead 1)

Highland League

M Laing                      (Buckie 0  -  Inverurie 1)

Just think if we beat Hibs tomorrow we could face either Celtic, Rangers ........or Mckay & Ofere in the semi

I wonder, given that we are playing 6 games in 18days, four of which are away, and we include two games against Hearts and the Cup match, whether there is a bit of 'energy management in that second half performance??

13 hours ago, Caley Mad In Berks said:

Just spent a happy hour or so watching much of the game again.  Obviously it was great watching it live on TV last night, but seeing it again now it comes over much more clearly what a good, solid performance this was.  Everyone played their part.  I was initially disappointed that Raven wasn't playing, but couldn't fault Horner.  There was some pre match talk about the Aberdeen wingers giving our full backs the runaround.  But this didn't happen with Tremarco too having a good game, and a great goal too. (Credit to Collum for overruling the linesman's shocking decision).

We absolutely bossed the midfield, and the running of Storey and Roberts up front gave Aberdeen all sorts of problems.  We were solid at the back too, although the I had my heart in my mouth a couple of times with the short passing between defenders.  But this seems to be our trademark style of play now, and who am I to argue with Hughes's tactics?  He certainly got them right last night.  Good substitution of Roberts with Mutumbo, who looked good in his 10 minutes.  The other two subs were possibly a bit late, but overall a really first class team performance.  Best I've seen in the few games I have managed to see this season.

So we can go into the Celtic game with absolutely no fear, and with every expectation of a positive result.

Onwards and upwards.

Pretty much what I would have said CMIB! Definitely worth the £18 I shelled out to BT for the month! Having not had a chance to see Caley live this before now this season due to ill luck (matches being called off) I thought we were pretty impressive, strong, aggressive (almost too much) good movement and mostly slick passing (almost shades of Arsenal) ...maybe one of Caley's best performances this season I would think, not least because we kept it going for most of the 90+ minutes. Tremarco and Horner impressed (was this surprising for the latter?), Storey very effective down the left, except perhaps for the final ball, and now we can see what Roberts is about. As for the penalties, well Shinnie had pretty much lost the ball anyway before he got clipped, Draper was certainly facing a high boot and a block for his successful award...as for Draper on Ash Taylor...that 'collision' was pretty much identical to Mile Jedinak's on a Watford player last weekend which resulted in a penalty against Palace (bollox!), fortunately for Caley, Collum not enforcing the law in that instance. A great game to watch on TV with the wife, who by now must be getting a tiny bit as excited as I am over our impending trip up for the Hamilton match!

Wow fantastic (that's Palace getting a point a Swansea!) But seriously what a great result!, Good to see Miles back on the score sheet, and a first goal from Roberts, so refreshing to get the late winner instead of the other way around.Just told my wife if we win the next round, she's coming to the Semi!

Congrats to Ross County...it's got to be good that the 'mighty Celtic' get pulled down a few pegs by a Highland team, how fantastic would it be if Caley managed to get to the Scottish Cup Final again so that two Highland teams were contesting silverware in the same season

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Now , we just need Roberts to actually play and prove he is a great find, or Mutumbo to finally settle and start sticking the ball in the net, and life will be sweet

10 hours ago, TopSix said:

Vincent was anonymous. Why hughes starts Tremarco ahead of Williams is bizarre. Sooner we bring back Pele the better, tbh

TopSix...I'm confused, the 4 posters above you said that JV had a 'great game', 'ran his socks off', 'was absolutely everywhere' and even 'MOTM' ....not that anonymous??

Were you being ironic, or did JV do a lot of running, but not actually touching the ball?

A great result, and sounds like we played pretty well, and kept a clean sheet when we most needed to.

Tansey again in the goals, and good to see Storey back on the score sheet.... it will be an excellent New Year if he gets signed on again.

Two points behind County and a game (albeit a tough away game) in hand