Robert

The club’s report is out quickly: https://ictfc.com/match-report-dundee-1-0-ictfc-30-07-2023/

That was two seasons ago. Last year we started with two draws and we’d only one win in our first five league games.

No offence but I’ve better ways of spending my time!!

In your eyes the club is incapable of doing anything right! Anyway we lost 1-0 so we can forget the League Cup now and focus on the league campaign. We didn’t beat Queens Park in the league last season (and only by default in the cup) so we are due a win against them. They’ve also had a poor cup group campaign.

Announced today and he’s been a sub at Dundee.

I got an e-mail from the club this morning with their match preview and the other news stories they’d issued this week. Hopefully a sign of better engagement and communication?

Watch all 102 goals here: https://ictfc.com/watch-all-of-billys-mckay-102-record-breaking-goals-for-the-club/ A lot of great memories there.

Well said DD. Im a member of the ST but other commitments mean I’ve been unable to do more. BC mentioned that the ST must have agreed to the Manager’s new contract. That will not be the case. Shareholders get their say about company business at the AGM in the main but business decisions (contracts, signings etc) are down to those running the club. Presumably the Board delegate powers to the CEO and Manager up to set financial thresholds and if they wish to go outwith those thresholds they need to consult the Board. For the Manager’s contract I’d think the CEO would have consulted the Chairman and possibly the full Board, but definitely not any shareholders.

It’s a balance. By my reckoning we have 26 players signed, including youngsters Hennem, Cairns, Thomson, Bray, Strachan and Calum Mackay, so letting those unlikely to get game time (or maybe not even make the bench) go on loan makes sense. I take the point about injuries, and we’ve already lost Nicolson for an extended period, but hopefully we won’t suffer the same issues as last season.

And scored what sounds like a cracker today as they ran Buckie close.

Noted today: Kirk Broadfoot for Morton Marley Watkins for Kilmarnock Harry Hennem and Gary Warren for Clach Andrew MacRae for Brora Andrew MacAskill for Buckie Garry Wood for Inverurie

Marley Watkins is now at Kilmarnock. He’s scored today with Robbie Deas providing the assist.

Where’s the evidence for this? Of our players out of contract we released Boyd, Sutherland, Walsh and Woods. Everyone knew Deas was moving on. Only Allardice turned down a new contract. All other out of contract players agreed new deals. If they were unhappy with the set up here more surely some would have moved on!

Harry Hennem has joined Clach on loan until January.

It could be worse, Mrs Brown, we could be Hibs fans mourning a defeat to an amateur team from the tiny principality of Andorra.

Jordan White for County in the League Cup last night.

Sadly I suspect that most Managers are guilty of “industrial” language. Dick Campbell and Ian McColl, for example, are probably much worse than Dodds. Players are probably used to it too, and we often hear it from players during games. However, none of that is acceptable. Kids will be hearing the language and what example does that set? Players are in their workplace and should be treated respectfully by their employer. Employers also have a duty to try to protect their employees from abuse in the workplace, both from other employees and the public. That’s why we get the announcements before games, but that’s as far as it goes. There’s a thread live here just now that is arguably abusing one of the club’s employees (Billy Billy GTF) which highlights how difficult it is for any employer to protect its workforce. However, the Management team should be required to lead by example and conduct themselves professionally at all times. Separately someone mentioned the late start of pre-season. I don’t think the club had a choice or they’d have broken the Working Time Directive. Full time employees must get 28 days paid holiday per year, normally 20 days (4 weeks) holiday plus 8 public holidays. With the final being on 3 June, the first Monday in July is really the earliest they could have the players back in training.

Amid all the doom and gloom, let’s take a moment to praise Billy on scoring his 102nd goal for us and becoming our all time record goal scorer. Its a shame goals 101 and 102 came in defeats, but he continues to show his value and commitment to the club. His work rate is immense and he is a great role model for our younger players. The achievement is well deserved and I hope there are many goals in him during the rest of his time with us. Well done Billy!

Unusually I disagree with you Gringo. I think we should identify our strongest 11 on Sunday and play them. We need to be as ready as possible for the league season.

I think we need a reality check. Our players returned for pre season about two weeks after all the other teams. We only had two friendlies against low level teams. The fact that we’ve struggled in the group should not be a surprise. As is said above, we have rotated players and treated the games as pre season. The time to worry is if we are struggling about five games into the new league campaign. I agree with Doofer’s Dad that the injury to Nicolson impacted our first half. The players could see how serious it was. Whether we would have avoided the mistakes is another matter. I saw enough in the first 15 and after the break to be hopeful that we can have a good campaign. We played some decent stuff and were being positive. Shaw and Longstaff are happy to take players on which creates space. Gilmour could grow into the Allardice role. Yes we have been shaky at the back but we’ve mixed the pairing up. We’ve looked best when Duffy has been playing but I’m sure Devine will come on to his game soon. I understand the negativity but feel it is far too early. Let’s see where we are in mid September. And I really hope Nicolson is not as badly injured as we fear. He’s a real prospect.

As we all know, Todorov for Airdrie last night.

We shot ourselves in the foot by gifting the two goals in the first half. Until then we looked better than in our earlier games. We were much better in the second half and deservedly got back in it. We played some decent stuff, with Carson, Shaw, Bray and Gilmour probably the pick. Longstaff looks a decent signing too whilst Davidson looks effective going forward and hopefully won’t repeat the slackness that cost us a goal. The jury is out for me with Brooks but he’s not had many minutes. Devine looks out of sorts but hopefully just needs time to get back to full fitness and sharpness. We looked the more likely to win it but conceded late on when tying to get a winner. Now Mckay has passed Wyness’ total hopefully he goes on a scoring run. Gilmour’s goal was a cracking finish, whilst Samuels came very close before we conceded late on. I understand the negativity in the posts above (not sure how many of those posting were at the game) but if we can maintain the level of performance we showed in the second half we will not be too far away. Unfortunately Airdrie are another team that will wind the clock down and try to con the refs. Losing Lewis Nicolson is a big blow as he was looking good again tonight. I heard it being discussed in the stand that he’d messaged a pal indicating it was a bad one and he could miss the whole season. Hopefully that was just talk and it’s not as serious as feared.

Much better second half but no consolation as Todorov scores.

Mckay breaks the record! 2-2.

That was some strike by Gilmour!