Robert

What was the nutter we had: something like AaronCoganShogun? Eh what??

The jury is out for me. If we go on a run now we will all be delighted. If we don’t and revert to how we were in recent weeks, that’s a different story. Either way, I can’t see a change coming until the end of the season. And that’s not happy clapping, just realism. I will be continuing to give the players my support and I really liked their attitude today.

Have we turned a corner? We will know in a couple of weeks, but what I took from today was the positive attitude of the players who were really in the mood and clearly wanting it, playing for themselves, each other and for us fans. When Mckay hit the post very early on, it was our first sight of goal and in previous weeks we may have passed rather than having a shot. Ridgers’ complaints at the goal also exemplified the positivity. Cove got three corners in succession and we should have got fouls at the second and third, the goal coming from the third with Devine poleaxed on the ground. I was worried then, but we took control and deservedly got back in it. Two great free kicks from Welsh resulted in goals from Mckay and Devine, then a Cove handball let Mckay make it 3-1 before the break. Then Christmas arrived late with two own goals making it very comfortable. The first came from a positive Mackay run and it may have been going in anyway. The second was a comedy of errors. Mckay then got his hat trick to finish the scoring. We then finished with four youngsters on the park and were still outplaying Cove. As I said, the attitude impressed me most and hopefully that continues on Saturday and beyond. We thoroughly outplayed Cove and have set a standard we must maintain, although it must be said that Cove were very poor, particularly after the break. I’m no happy clapper, but let’s enjoy today and if we can put a run together we can get back in the mix at the top. It is Arbroath next and they turned Dundee over today, so we need to approach next week as we did today. Well done to all 16 who got game time today. I was impressed by Henderson who put a few good crosses in and has decent pace. We also defend much better when Devine plays. He was talking the defence through the whole game. And great to see Mckay get a hat trick.

Ridgers back. Devine and Henderson also start but Oakley and Boyd only experienced outfield players on the bench: Presumably Carson will be at right back: Is Barrett released after his short term contract as he’s not in the squad?

The club has posted information about mascots tomorrow and there is no mention of a pitch inspection, so hopefully the game is not at risk.

Any word of a pitch inspection? I assume the covers are on, but is there a risk the pitch is frozen underneath?

Confirmation that three of the youngsters are back: https://ictfc.com/nicolson-cairns-and-thompson-recalled-from-loan-spells

I agree. If we had the finances to make a change, I’d fully support a protest. However, I will be focussed on encouraging the players as much as possible. I don’t see that a loan signing and the return of youngsters loaned out makes a difference. Yes, it gives us a few more to choose from, and we may need Nicolson as a starter at left back depending on whether Devine is fit to pair up with Ram at the back or whether Harper is fit, allowing Delaney to move to centre half if Devine is not fit. I’ve no idea if the youngest brought in from St Mirren will add anything. Time will tell. I just wish we had a meaningful update on all our injured players. Allardice and MacGregor have had very little game time in the last 18 months due to injuries. We’ve hardly seen Samuels this season. We anticipated seeing Sutherland and Walsh in the new year: it starts tomorrow so an update on them would be good. We are heading into a relegation battle if we lose tomorrow and at Arbroath next week. Now is the time for the players to step up and show what they can do. If that means ignoring the game plan, so be it.

Jordan Roberts for Stevenage tonight.

When do our loans return: now or the end of January? We could do with Lewis Nicolson at left back to allow Delaney to be at centre half in the absence of Duffy.

He has 16 appearances for St Mirren and 1 goal, plus a loan spell at Clyde: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Henderson_(footballer) When do our loans out return? In particular, could Lewis Nicolson be available for Monday?

Given it seems inevitable that nothing will change behind the scenes this season, is it not better that everyone gets fully behind the players throughout Monday’s game so they know they have our support regardless of what is going on behind the scenes. The management team may not be able to motivate them but a noisy crowd can. If anyone from Section 94 reads this, can they rally the troops and all the better if our drummer is there too.

Did a search and found this: https://ictfc.com/john-robertson-extends-contract-until-2022-23 If his managerial contract terms still apply it is also up in June.

Dumbarton @ 2.05 please.

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT Billy Mckay Cove Megginson Crowd 1945 Yellow Carson

Unless it’s been extended Dodds’ contract expires at the end of June: https://ictfc.com/billy-dodds-appointed-ictfc-head-coach I’ve no idea about Robbo. He may not have a fixed term contract given the SD role given he’s not a Manager or Coach. They advertised for a new Kit Manager recently but I don’t know if anyone has been appointed: https://ictfc.com/vacancy-ictfc-kit-manager

Shaun Rooney scored for Fleetwood today but got sent off late in their defeat. It sounds like he “lost it” judging by the BBC report saying he remonstrated with a lot of players and officials before going down the tunnel.

It’s been a tough year for us Caley Thistle fans, and there is discontent amongst the fans, and quite possibly the players too. This forum gives us an outlet for our views and allows us to discuss and debate what is going on. A massive thank you to Scotty, the mods and all involved in the site: we appreciate what you do. We sadly lost Kingsmills recently, which poignantly reminds us that there are more important things than football. A very Merry Christmas to all and, when it arrives, a Happy New Year (and hopefully one that enthuses us positively about our club and its future). Have a great time all! Cheers!

3 points out of 24 since mid October. That says it all. This feels much worse than our 11 game winless run last season.

Thanks for doing this MrCaleyjag. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy New Year when it arrives.

Thanks for doing this Gringo. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy New Year when it comes.

Polly for Killie and Gardyne for Montrose tonight, along with Andrew MacAskill for Buckie.

Let’s get back on topic, painful though that is!!

Can someone summarise the issues that should make us concerned about the recent Director appointments? Thanks.

I really feel sorry for anyone who travelled down to Glasgow tonight. Partick have battered us and looked like they are in a low gear. We’ve never looked like creating anything. It’s all too predictable. Are some players going through the motions, playing an easy pass but not doing the creative stuff they should be doing? Have Dodds and the backroom staff lost the players? The lack of news on injured players is a concern. How long are MacGregor, Allardice and Samuels to be out for? We were never told they had long term injuries (as far as I know). Where do we go from here? It’s hard to see anything for us this season based on the last couple of months. I’m not one to clamour for a Manager’s head but I really do think change is needed. Even when we were winning games we were unconvincing. This squad should be doing better than it is. Talk on another thread about being at risk of administration is a major concern. We were always well run financially, living in it close to our means. Things are wrong on and off the pitch. Time for the CEO to step up and outline the plans for the rest of this season and for next season.