Robert

Pearson on for Harper. 

Chalmers on for Duku.

Looms to be taking up the “no 10” role playing behind Sutherland.

McAlear harshly booked. 

Should be 1-1. Point blank save by Ridgers but the Dunfermline player should have scored easily.

That needs to waken us up this half as we can’t get or keep the ball this half so far. 

Players kept waiting by a missing linesman so second start delayed. Ridiculous!

Looks like Duffy is a straight replacement for Devine with Carson and Deas still at full back and Harper still in left midfield. 

Not the best first half of football this season, but we’ve been the better team and are deservedly ahead. We’ve competed well all across the park and been the more creative.

Now we need to learn from recent weeks and not let another lead slip away.

Losing Devine to injury just before half time is a blow and shows how at risk our squad is to further injuries. Duffy on so we will have a shuffled pack with, presumably Deas at centre half, Carson in midfield and Harper at left back. It will be clearer when the second half starts. 

Sutherland! 1 up.

Sneaked in behind and scored at back post from Walsh (I think) cross as defenders focussed on Duku. 

Early booking for Devine.

I had a still screen and commentary but logged back in and it’s ok, albeit not the best picture quality.

We've started ok, with the Dunfermline defence looking shaky. 

Anyone having issues with the stream? Mine has hung twice and I’ve had to come out and go back in. 

We are missing key players but time for those starting to step up and get the three points.

An opportunity for the likes of McAlear, Harper and Duku to impress and the time for guys like Walsh and Sutherland to chip in with goals.

Duku against Donaldson could be interesting!

Another front player according to the club:

https://ictfc.com/logan-chalmers-signs-for-ictfc-on-loan 

I see he had a loan at Arbroath last season.

Anyone know much about either signing?

28 minutes ago, Jockdoonsouth said:

Talented young player but it is a big step up. Always good to get bodies in but if he ends up like Anthony MacDonald was and Billy keeps picking his same old team then I can't see this signing being that valuable to us. We need some experienced heads at the moment because we are lacking direction on the field half the time.

From a Google search, he is a midfielder, whilst the club is saying he can play in a variety of forward positions.

We will need to see what role he gets when he gets game time.

I still believe our priority is a creative wide player, but our last Welsh outfield player did pretty well for us, so if Pearson can have anything like the impact Watkins had we will all be very happy!

7 hours ago, TheCaleyOne said:

How long is Allardyce under contract with us?

Until the end of next season I think. 

Confirmation we are unlikely to see Scott Allardice play again this season, whilst Dodds’ transfer window priority is a winger:

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/sport/massive-blow-for-caley-thistle-as-midfielder-is-out-for-rest-263554/

HT 0-1

FT 0-2

ICT Duku

Dunfermline McCann

Crowd 3300

Yellow Deas

Fox has been around but has a bit of pedigree. Does it imply the Deas move may still be on?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Fox

Not sure about Hector-Ingram. The words and stats don’t agree:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahmal_Hector-Ingram

Jordan Roberts for Motherwell against County tonight. 

Certainly is a bargain. How Shinnie did not become a fixture in the Scotland squad has always amazed me. 

For those planning to attend, note the entry requirements which are contained in this link:

https://ictfc.com/match-info-dunfermline-athletic-a-22-01-2022

Surprised at that as he had been a fixture in the Derby team. Maybe with their financial issues, he was keen to move on. 

2 hours ago, RiG said:

 

Ridgers
Devine Broadfoot Deas
Carson Welsh McAlear Walsh
MacGregor
Mckay Jamieson

Pretty close to what I suggested above. I don’t disagree with you at all, as Jamieson has not really been given a chance.

However, our good run was when we had Duku starting so maybe his presence creates opportunities for others.

Equally we had Gardyne then too, but his actions have deprived us of his input.

At least we are starting to debate solutions rather than simply complaining about our recent displays.

Like DD, I thought we were better on Saturday than we were against Raith. 

The club’s report:

https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-2-2-queen-of-the-south-15-01-2022

Ryan Fyffe’s loan to Nairn extended for the rest of the season. 

At the end of September, we were clear at the top, with 19 points from 7 games, but we all knew that many of our performances were not reflective of our league position.

Since October started, we have had 14 games and only taken 18 points. That’s a run of 4 wins, 6 draws and 4 defeats.

Early in the season we were winning games we would normally have drawn, but we have reverted to not being able to grind out results.

One issue to ponder: Duku started all our games during our good run. He didn’t score but did his presence and style create chances for others?

Can we fit him, Mckay and MacGregor into the side in a way that gets the best out of them?

That may need a change of formation to three at the back, using wing backs for width, so we maintain two central midfielders but allow MacGregor to play further forward to support the strikers. Something like 3 4 1 2 with a line up, using our current squad, of:

Ridgers

Broadfoot Devine Deas

Carson Welsh McAlear Harper

MacGregor

Mckay Duku

We do need new faces this month, particularly a wide, creative player.

We also need to consider the defence, as Carson, Broadfoot, Devine and Deas have all picked up bookings so could well be suspended at some point.

Just a thought as to how we get the best from the squad given the current style is not getting results.

18 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Watching the stream I thought their first goal was onside, from a good pass The reason the ref overruled the linesman for the second was that it was that the ball came off an an ICT player, so no offside, but it was hard to tell.

Thanks for that. If both goals justifiably stood, fair enough.

However, my view of the inept officials remains. There were a lot of strange decisions throughout the game.