Robert

Not sure if it’s your birthday Jock but it’s great that you are going strong! Keep it up!!

I should also mention that Doran had a good game. He was positive and seemed more confident in his pace, taking defenders on a couple of times whilst his lob was a cool finish.

Found this link which shows his career history bouncing around lower league clubs: https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/harry-lodovica

Yes in the first half. Carson and Nicolson were full backs after the break but Carson moved into midfield with Bray at right back prior to Bray being replaced by Nixon late on. Samuels started as striker but he and Hennem were swapping roles at times in the first half. Hennem started wide right. Doran was on the left with Thomson no 10. After the break, we were mainly 4 4 2 with Mckay and the trialist up front and Shaw and Cairns wide. Shaw started on the right with Cairns on the left but they switched part was through the half. All the youngsters acquitted themselves well.

From the interview, is he no longer with us?

Apologies if I was disrespectful in any way to the player. I was typing quickly whilst at the match so if I failed to be politically correct it was an oversight.

Enjoyable enough afternoon. After the flurry of early goals, the game settled down to really be a training session for us after the first half water break. Doran opened the scoring with a long distance lob over the goalie before Cameron equalised. It all stemmed from a slack pass back by Devine which went for a corner. Samuels restored the lead after a nice move and made it comfortable before the break after another good spell of fast play. In the second half we started positively with some eager play by the youngsters. Mckay got the fourth after more decent build up play. Our trialist was a big forward who was more than a match for Draper physically and had a goal disallowed for offside. He was working hard and seemed quite pacy but it is hard to tell if he is what we need. In the first half, Gilmour and Thomson were the picks for me, plus Samuels for his goals. Davidson was steady whilst Brooks was not in the squad. After the break, Nicolson, Cairns, Strachan and Bray all looked comfortable. MacGregor’s movement and work rate were very good. For their first outing, albeit against a poor Elgin team, it was encouraging. The crowd was announced as 1040 which was very credible. Draper hasn’t changed. He had some meaty challenges which would have attracted cards in a competitive match! That said, he still looks a decent player.

Half time 3-1. Doran scored then Cameron equalised before two from Samuels. Looks like 11 changes will be made at the break. Quite comfortable other than a couple of slack moments. Some robust challenges by Draper: nothing changes! Gilmour looks good. Saw less of Davidson. Of the others, Doran and Thomson the picks for me. Crowd announced as over 1000.

Brooks was wearing 24 when presented to the fans. We have a large coloured player amongst the subs.

Is he the trialist wearing 18 today? It looks like Walsh is away. His photo has gone from the wall next to the kiosk in the main stand.

Some on here may adopt that as their slogan if the team does badly!!

I’m planning the game tomorrow. Do they publish team lines for friendlies and have them available in the shop? Presumably any trialists will just be listed as trialists so unless anyone recognises any we will be none the wiser. Anyone else planning it?

Hopefully it comes with a larger cheque!!

Tickets now on sale: £15 for each of our home games and Main Stand only: https://ictfc.com/viaplay-cup-group-stage-home-matches-cup-on-sale/

Sounds promising: how tall is he?? On our U18s, several got game time last season: Bray, Mackay and Strachan, who were all signed on pro contracts. I’d imagine they may go out on loan until January as those a year ahead of them did last season (Cairns, Hennem, Nicolson and Thomson). Hopefully some of the latter group make real break through a this season. I’d be surprised if Nicolson doesn’t become a regular from what I’ve seen of him.

I called at the stadium earlier. The helpful young lady advised that they were being posted out yesterday or today so hopefully those of us waiting receive them very soon.

Elgin have played four matches already, losing to Forres, beating Rothes, then losing to both Huntly and Banks O’Dee so they’ve done poorly so far. I know these games are about fitness and getting game time for players, and maybe seeing some trialists in action, but we ought to win comfortably.

Voting closes on Friday. We have three goals on the list: Billy Mckay against Livingston and Falkirk and Sean Welsh against Kilmarnock. Vote here: https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup/goal-of-the-round-vote/

A great decision by the club. Pre season friendlies attract little interest so hopefully this encourages a decent number to attend.

For the Board, for the players or for us fans??

Thanks for the link OCG, this bit is particularly interesting: ”The SLO role requires clubs participating in UEFA competitions to appoint a full-time member of staff to work and engage with supporters, acting as a key point of contact.” I don’t see how we comply with that when the SLO is a Director who, I’m pretty certain, does not work full time for the club.

If they do look, why do they ignore the clear concerns being voiced and the sentiments expressed?

That’s a relief. I just thought you were trying to be controversial!!

His Manager, whilst trying to defend him, states that Tokely should not have done what he did. Despite what he’s said, I’ve seen comments elsewhere that the game was not that physical, that Tokely was behaving like a thug throughout the game, and that he embarrassed himself with the way he behaved after the elbow he got in the face, apparently chasing the Western Isles player across the park! It is all very sad given the good job he does with our youngsters. Time for him to get a grip! Anyway, from the P&J: Nairn County boss Steven Mackay defends ‘role model’ Ross Tokely following friendly match clash Video footage went viral over the weekend after an on-the-field incident in Stornoway. Nairn County manager Steven Mackay has defended Ross Tokely after he was caught on camera lashing out at a rival player in a weekend friendly in Stornoway. The 44-year-old Caley Thistle legend was the centre of a storm after a clip from Nairn’s game against a Western Isles Island Games Association team showed the player raise his arm towards Micheil Russell Smith after the host player had scored. Tokely, who strongly denies punching his opponent, is preparing for what he expects to be his final season in competitive football after enjoying his first season with the Station Park club after joining from St Duthus in the North Caledonian League. Mackay is disappointed Tokely has been singled out and claims the player was subjected to provocation during the game before reacting. Teams ate together after the game The Highland League side were 3-1 winners against a Western Isles Island Games Association on Saturday in a game played in Stornoway. County boss Mackay said: “I’m not backing up what Ross did, but Ross has taken a hammering over this and I don’t think it’s fair. “The game was very physical, but we have no problem with that. It was a great test for us. They are a big, physical side. “We found last season Ross can be a bit of a target. Teams can try and antagonise him and wind him up. “In the first half, there was a blatant elbow in Ross’s face. I saw it. “Ross was lying on the ground. He got straight back up. Yes, he was frustrated by it but he got on with the game. “There was another incident where our young striker got elbowed in the face and he had a burst lip. “That aspect of the game was not snipped and put on social media, because it’s not Ross Tokely." “After the game, we all shook hands, because it was a great game for us and we really enjoyed it. We sat down, had a meal together and a laugh and a joke. “Everyone was getting along. These are the things people don’t see or don’t want to hear about as it’s all positive. “We took a lot of value from the day in Stornoway and so did they. This puts a negative spin on it. “I’m not condoning what Ross did. He and I have spoken (about it) and he knows there is a fine line between being aggressive and competitive. “When you look closely at the video, he doesn’t punch anyone. The guy was winding him up all game. These things happen in football. “They scored and (their player) runs towards Ross, who puts his forearm out. I want to be clear – that shouldn’t have happened. He knows that. “The video cuts when Micheil is lying on the ground. But he gets straight up and runs back to the halfway line. This is another aspect people don’t see.” Mackay would have 11 Ross Tokelys Former Ross County forward Mackay stressed the furore only reached the levels it did because Tokely is a high-profile footballer. The Wee County boss also believes there has been a “witch-hunt” against the ex-ICT player, who made 589 appearances for Inverness where he is also a youth coach. He said: “Football is an emotional, physical and competitive game. “I just feel because it’s Ross and with the career he’s had, everyone jumps on this witch-hunt – it can be blown right out of proportion. “No disrespect to my other players, but if it was anyone else it probably wouldn’t even have made social media. “I’m not saying whether that’s right or wrong, but it frustrates me because I’d back Ross every day of the week and I’d have 11 Ross Tokelys in my team – every Highland League manager would be the same. “He’s 44 and yet his passion for football is incredible. He has such a positive impact on our club, our team and on our younger players. “People don’t want to focus on the positives.” Mackay: Tokely still leads by example Mackay highlighted Tokely’s work as a Caley Jags coach as a further example of his positive impact and continued contribution to the game. He added: “As a youth coach at Caley Thistle, he does a phenomenal job. “My son plays for the under-16s and I watch Ross in action and I also see him in training. “He has real passion for the game and he’s articulate. His coach, training and preparation is first class. “Ross is preparing the next generation of players to go and play for Caley Thistle. “I wish some more players had the passion Ross has. He’s actually a fantastic role model for kids. “For my players, the way he looks after himself. He’s out running on Sunday mornings for example, the day after a game. He has great fitness levels. “He looks after his body and let’s not forget he’s 44. “A lot of players throw in the towel at 34 or 35 because they are sick of it. He is still leading by example. “There are a lot of positives about what Ross brings to football. Players who have played at his level sometimes play on the edge and he went over that edge on Saturday. “He knows that, but the positives he brings not just to Nairn County but football in general need to be known.” Tokely, aware Mackay was keen to put his side across, didn’t want to add further to the story, other than saying: “It wasn’t a punch. I just stood my ground.” The Western Isles Island Games Association declined to comment when approached for a reaction. Nairn’s preparations for the new season continue on Tuesday with a home friendly against Premiership side Ross County.

My concern, other than the baggage he carries, is that he flopped at Linfield when he joined them last season, failing to score. He also seems to be injury prone. It is a no from me. I’d rather see whether Cairns or Hennem can be a tall partner for Mckay.