Robert

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/

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!

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.

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.

Read it and weep: https://ictfc.com/airdrieonians-2-1-ictfc-28-08-2023/

This weekend, Marley Watkins for Kilmarnock and Jonny Hayes for Aberdeen. Ethan Cairns scored for Forres in the Highland League Cup.

I see Hibs have responded to losing their first three league games by dispensing of the services of their Manager.

Just watched the goals. Harper was a bit unlucky that it went in as he’d tracked his man and was trying to stop him getting to it. The problem started when the Airdrie wide player got ahead of two of our players on their left and was able to pick out the ball into the box. He should have been given the space to make the run and pass. For the second, Devine got his feet in a tangle and gifted the ball to the Airdrie player but it was a bit of a “hospital pass” from Davidson that he wasn’t expecting. Davidson could have booted the ball out of play or passed back to Ridgers, both of which were better options given there was an Airdrie player close to Devine. Once again avoidable goals. How many have we conceded this season that we did not assist our opponents with? Not many that I can think of.

He’s actually in the highest position. He chairs the Board. The CEO reports to the Board. The Board appoints the CEO and should be holding him to account. The Board ought to set the policies and priorities that the CEO then takes forward with the other club staff.

If only!!!

I had the same issue with my iPhone a few weeks ago. I flagged it on the Site Errors thread and Scotty gave this link, which worked for me and is working just now: https://predictions.caleythistleonline.com/index.php?cmd=table

That highlights the potential gravity of the situation. We can’t afford to get rid of him, but the time is fast approaching where, if we don’t start getting results, we can’t afford not to get rid of him either, and we will be heading towards League 1, quite possibly never to return. The Chairman, Board and CEO need to waken up to the situation and start making decisions that are the correct ones for the future of our club.

I’m not one to call for Managers’ heads and I said at the start of the season that the time to worry is about five games in. However, being bottom with no points after three games is a major worry, compounded by a losing run of six games if we include the League Cup (have we ever managed that before?), and whatever the position is with Doran and possibly others. We have Dunfermline at home then, after the Challenge Cup game at Arbroath, Raith away and Dundee United at home. That could be another three games without a point. I know margins are tight in this league and that one break could be all it takes to set us off on a winning run. Equally we’ve had deplorable runs mid season in the last two campaigns, so having a bad run at the start will be forgiven if we turn things round and have a good season from the autumn onwards. However, since returning to Inverness nearly 10 years ago I’ve not been as despondent about the prospects for the club as I am now. If we don’t get a result next week, I will join the growing band of fans calling for change, and not just to the management team but to those pulling the strings behind the scenes. I will continue to go to matches and give my full support to the players, but we need to get a grip and turn things round, and if we can’t we need to face reality and make changes before it is too late. Relegation should be unthinkable, but sadly it is not, and I don’t think we will ever recover if we do end up in League 1.

In the Prediction League, so far my season’s going nearly as bad as the club’s! One of the results in week 3 looks incorrect. Ayr lost 3-0 to Dundee United but it is showing as a 0-0 draw. It won’t improve my position!

Robert?

Full time. Another defeat. Rock bottom and detached at the bottom. Plenty chances but sounds like we were dismal first half from reports here. Time is running out to get this season going. That’s six defeats on the trot.

We’ve hit the woodwork twice. Samuels in the first half and Longstaff after the break.

Can we kick on and get another?

Thats not good. Is it the system at fault? Any signs that the players are not playing for Dodds & co? Longstaff on for Davidson at half time so presumably Carson to right back. Airdrie down to 10. Can we get our act together with an extra player?

So much for Dodds’ comments at the start of the season that we’d see a different Doran this season. When I’ve seen him he’s looked fitter and faster than the last few seasons with his eye for goal back in. He should be a first pick, not being treated so badly. Sadly it sounds like there’s a problem between him and the management team. I know who I’d rather keep!