Robert

We’ve drawn Brechin at home on 24 or 25 September.

Peat and Diesel seem to be in the ascendancy too.

No idea. Anyone know?

That just about sums the weekend up. Thank goodness we’ve had good weather given the performance yesterday and now this story. The club is trying to build local engagement but this will set things back badly in terms of the club’s reputation and how it is viewed by locals. I know the Board is trying hard, and has kept the club solvent during the pandemic, but to hear of local businesses suffering because of the actions of some of the club’s Directors is not good. If I’m reading it right, the production company they engaged went way over budget. Is there any come back for that if that is the cause of the losses? Hopefully a resolution can be found and some of the damage repaired.

I agree with both points. The players do need our support but it is inevitable that we vent frustration at what we’ve had to endure in the last two games. A lot of us have been saying for weeks that tactically teams know how to play us, that we need a right back and that we need to strengthen central midfield at the expense of a forward player. Other than the first 45 against Cove, of the games I’ve seen (all the home league and cup games and the Partick TV game) we’ve not been that good, in my opinion for the reasons above. It is time for the management team to ensure we have, and can implement, plans B and, if need be, C, as too often the long ball game is our undoing.

Toddy for Dunfermline and Rory McAllister for Montrose yesterday. In the Highland League, Matheus Machado and Shane Harkness scored for Rothes, with Andy MacRae getting another for Brora, as their defeat at Formartine saw them lose top place to Brechin.

Everyone’s taste differs but I’d put Skerryvore and Tide Lines ahead of Skipinnish. That’s not to say they are not worth going to.

I may be being harsh here but I didn’t think Dan Mackay’s body language was right today. Before the game I sensed he was unhappy about being dropped, seeing him in the warm up. He’s got great talent but we are not getting the best from him, and I was not surprised he was not starting. There was a lot of frustration shown by some players. That’s good as it shows they care. We now need to channel that positively into better performances and results. For anyone not there for the torture today, this doesn’t indicate how poor we were: https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-0-1-morton-27-08-2022

That was a painful watch. Morton came for a point but won all three and we can’t really complain. Ridgers had two great saves which stopped us being behind long before the penalty. I need to see the penalty incident again. I think it did hit Duffy but I don’t think he’d any chance of getting out of the way. We hardly troubled their ‘keeper and after Samuels went off we seemed to lose whatever semblance of a plan we had. Distribution from the back was very poor from Carson, Deas and Harper. The midfield malfunctioned badly again. Allardice, for me, is not yet the player he was before his injury. The front players had nothing to work with as a result. I’d only give pass marks to Ridgers, Duffy, Boyd and Samuels. Something is very wrong as we have a decent squad and should be able to match and beat any team in this league, but too often we are predictable, never seem to have a plan B and our passing too often let’s us down. When attacking, too often we try to pass through teams and the attack breaks down. We need to shoot for goal much earlier in moves and work the ‘keeper. The long ball game is not working. We need to keep the ball on the ground much more, pass quickly and move to create space. The teams that do that well will do best in this league. Sadly we are not showing any signs of being promotion contenders and, sitting eighth, the play off we are heading to is the relegation one. Can we sign a right back before the window closes? I doubt it but again the need for one was clear. We need Carson in midfield to make us competitive. However, we are only five games in so there is plenty time to sort this out, but we need to get points on the board soon, starting in Kirkcaldy next week. Whilst it is good to be in the last 16 of the League Cup, for me that is very much secondary to being ready and really up for Raith next week. To sum up, that was as poor as I’ve seen in a while. We can’t keep the ball and until we can, we will not be competitive.

Four changes. Carson, Duffy, Oakley and Boyd starting. Ridgers Carson Duffy Deas Harper Allardice MacGregor Samuels Oakley Mckay Boyd Samuels and Boyd in wide roles?

Falkirk @ 2.15 please.

It is interesting to read about our overall good record against Morton, particularly at home. However they’ve won up here twice in the last couple of years so we need a good performance and definitely three points. I agree many changes are unlikely despite last week’s dismal showing but we need to start with Duffy or Carson at right back as if we play Hyde there again we are at risk of destroying him as he will be targeted by Morton. We need to be more competitive in midfield also, even if it means sacrificing a more attacking player. If we keep giving the ball away by not having options in midfield we will not win the game. 90 minutes like the first 45 against Cove please!

HT 1-0 FT 3-1 ICT Billy Mckay Morton Quitongo Crowd 2057

I saw it but thought I should give those who have been sponsors longer the chance to attend. I may volunteer next year if the date works.

Andy MacRae for Brora tonight in the Challenge Cup but they lost to Buckie on penalties (Andrew MacAskill and Dale Gillespie scored their penalties). Gary Wood, Matheus Machado and Harry Hennem scored for Inverurie, Rothes and Wick in the Highland League.

Rory McAllister for Montrose and Matthew Cooper for Elgin today. In the Highland League, Andy MacRae got two for Brora and Ethan Cairns scored for Forres.

The club’s report. it says there were 231 away fans: credit to all of you! https://ictfc.com/match-report-partick-thistle-4-1-ictfc-19-08-2022

A consolation by Oakley. How do we pick the players to get points in the MOM? The only players deserving points were our opponents. Maybe Delaney, Mckay and Oakley?

Maybe the reality check we need. Other than the first 45 against Cove we’ve not been convincing. Yes we are missing players but we have a larger squad than last season. Time to think whether we are too predictable and accept that teams know how to play against us and perhaps be more varied in our approach. Tonight I think we asked too much of Hyde whilst we should have had three in central midfield but it is easy to be wise after the event. We need to get our act together if we see ourselves as promotion contenders.

4-0. Carson not doing any better than Hyde!!

Shaw on for MacGregor. I really like Roddy but central midfield as part of a pairing is not his best position. We need Carson or Welsh in there with Allardice and Roddy either a third one or playing further forward in the no 10 role.

3-0. No-one beat us by more than 1 in the league last season. Boyd on for Mackay. Another one who’s underperformed tonight.

Carson fouls Graham. Penalty.

On the midfield, I’ve thought for a while we need three in there as teams know how to play us. Tonight is reinforcing that view.

Carson lucky not to have gifted the third goal there. We should be 3 down.