Robert

Seriously OTT and impractical IMHO. The current rules seem to work so if it’s not broken….. If there is a problem with the fans of some clubs, deal with them. Don’t negatively disproportionally impact the fans who abide by the current rules.

The date has been changed to 27 September. Unfortunately the venue has been changed too and it is now being played at Rothes for some reason.

HT 0-0 FT 1-2

Ross Draper has stepped down as Manager of Elgin for personal reasons but is continuing as a player. Barry Smith has replaced him.

The club’s report: https://ictfc.com/ictfc-1-1-dunfermline-athletic-02-09-2023/ It has dawned on me that, after having weekly e-mails with club news, there wasn’t one last week. Hopefully they resume as they were helpful.

That would explain why Mckay was protesting so much about the decision as he’d have known it had come off the defender.

Watching the highlights, I now accept that Brooks was offside at his “goal”. It’s a pity they didn’t show the later one when he was through one on one with the goalie and got booked for slotting it home after the whistle had gone. It was very tight from my view.

At league games, I believe they (and all clubs) count the season ticket holders whether there or not. All the usual people were around me plus some strangers. The north stand looked slightly quieter than normal with very few of the youngsters in Section 94, although I hear some of them have moved into the main stand near the dug outs so their voices can be heard by the Manager and coaches. I’d say there must have been about 500 Dunfermline fans as more than half the south stand was open for them.

For most of last season, teams were pressing at our goal kicks so we had to go long. With Duffy pushing forward from right back, Ridgers was trying to find him at times but with mixed success and when Duffy won the header it didn’t always go to one of our players. Anderson gives us some height in midfield so shorter kicks to him may work, but Billy and Brooks are small although they did win and retain possession from high balls more than I’d have expected. A midfielder coming deep to pull the opposition midfield out of position would give us a better option in my opinion as it would create space. But what do I know? I don’t have a magic folder!!

I agree we were poor in the second half but we had several good passages of play in the first half when we passed and moved quickly. We need to get Shaw involved as much as we can. I see Anderson as a good addition. If Brooks “goal” had counted I think we’d have seen the game out fine.

We should have won that but I also feel we were lucky not to lose it. We started poorly but then got a grip of the first half and deservedly led at the break. I’d like to see the offside for Brooks’ “goal” again as he looked onside to me. He finished it well. The goalie was at fault for Shaw’s goal, but he came close shortly after with a really powerful effort as did Gilmour. We were poor after the break, although Brooks was denied again by what may have been a wrong offside decision when put through on the goalie. Bray had two mazy runs and shots but unfortunately could not hit the target. Thanks for posting the goals. I had not realised the extent to which we gift wrapped it for Dunfermline, and it had to be their no 5 who was “at it” all game. The officials were poor (even if it turns out that they got the offside calls right) letting some poor challenges go and allowing Dunfermline to gain 10 yards at every throw in. Positives for me were Boyes and Anderson, who both look good additions. Boyes settled in to a decent game after a nervy opening, whilst Anderson was comfortable in midfield and looking to make positive passes. Bray again impressed when he came on. I also liked what I saw of Brooks. Shaw once again was our best player. Dunfermline made us play hoofball by pressing our defenders at goal kicks. A disappointing end and outcome, but some positives which I hope we can build on in our upcoming games. Raith away and Dundee United at home will be tougher challenges, so we need to cut out the mistakes and play to our strengths.

The club’s announcement said Boyes is available for selection today. The Aussie is still in Australia.

Back to Boyes, our previous Welsh players in recent years have done pretty well. Owain Tudor Jones, Owain Fon Williams and Marley Watkins. If he has a similar impact we will all be happy.

I’m no happy clapper but all I’m urging is for everyone to show support to the players from the off tomorrow to help their confidence. Certainly where I sit, if we lose a goal there is plenty encouragement then being given to our players from many around me, for a few seconds at least. Equally there are plenty moans and groans along the way and choice words aimed at players. I’ve never been berated for cheering the team. I’m in the main stand but don’t rustle sweeties!

MacGregor had his left leg in a protective boot at the Clach game so I suspect he’s out for a while. Despite the concerns about the club, we all have a part to play tomorrow. We have a very young squad so we need to get behind them and show our support from the off. The younger ones in particular will be low in confidence and sensitive to negativity from the crowd towards any mistakes they make. I know it is tough, and if things start badly instinctively we will want to vent our anger, but I hope we can all rise above our concerns and support the players fully, and hopefully help them secure a much needed win.

I thought Dodds had the final say on transfers or is my recollection wrong?

We can seemingly still bring in loan players in September so there may be one or two more. That said, the write up here sounds quite promising if he played 35 matches in the last 18 months in the top flight: https://ictfc.com/morgan-boyes-joins-ictfc-on-loan/

Ever the optimist, but how long can I retain my optimism? HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT Billy Mckay Pars Wighton Crowd 2150

It sounds like County fielded a strong team at Wick tonight, not in the spirit of the competition. Wick had a player sent off in the fifth minute. Jay Henderson got a hat trick. There’s a debate raging as to whether it ended 8-0 or 9-0!

Dumbarton @ 1.90 please.

The first round was tonight. The results and future games: Brora Rangers 6-2 Fort William Wick Academy 0-8 Ross County Forres Mechanics 4-0 Strathspey Thistle Nairn County 3-2 Lossiemouth Second Round draw: Brora Rangers v Clachnacuddin Ross County v Golspie Sutherland Forres Mechanics v Nairn County Inverness CT v Rothes Ties to be played Wednesday 13th September 2023 Semi-final draw: County/Golspie v Brora/Clach Inverness/Rothes v Forres/Nairn Ties to be played Wednesday 18th October 2023 Final Due to be played Sat/Sun 11th/12th November 2023

We enter the North of Scotland Cup at the second round next month (at home to Rothes on 13 September and if we win we get Forres or Nairn at home in the semi final). In the first round tonight, Jay Henderson scored a hat trick for County and Wick, whilst Andrew MacRae and Matthew Strachan both scored for Brora against Fort William.

1688 according to the BBC app belatedly.

Ryan Christie for Bournemouth and Jordan Roberts for Stevenage in the EFL Cup tonight. Roberts also scored in the penalty shoot out.

Mitchell Curry, who we had on loan from Middlesbrough 3 or 4 years ago scored for Darlington today.