Robert

But only on alphabetical order!!

Noted today: Jordan White for County. Kevin McHattie for Buckie. Andrew MacAskill for Buckie. Jordan Roberts for Stevenage. There are rave reviews on line for Gary Warren in Clach’s win today. Seemingly he’d only had one training session with the team but marshalled the defence and strolled through the game.

That was a poor performance, particularly in the first half. Queens Park could have been well ahead at the break and we were lucky to get back to 1-1 just before the break. For their goal, the player picked the ball up around the half way line, ran forward with no meaningful challenges and scored. Mckay too his goal well after Boyd won a ball he’d no right to. Boyd was the pick of the first half for me with a few efforts on goal. The second half was better but we never really looked like winning. We lost the battle in the middle of the park with Queens Park looking faster and getting most of the second balls. I think we need to consider playing three in there as teams know how to play us. It will mean sacrificing an attacking player but guys like MacGregor can get up in support. Too many passes were slack and wayward but we can improve on that and there were some very good passages of play. The defence looked better once Devine came on, but he’s carrying an injury so may not get much game time, and we missed Deas, whilst both ‘keepers had a couple of decent saves. The pick for me over the full game was Mckay but I was disappointed in a few of them, particularly Samuels, whilst Mackay is not at his best yet. At least we didn’t lose, as we could easily have done and we possibly deserved to. Arbroath next week will be tough.

I did it for the first time last season. It is a bit of fun and I hope more sign up for it.

Following last night’s debacle, Motherwell and Graham Alexander have parted company. Is that a record: binning a Manager before the league season has even started?

Ali Riddle has joined Clach on loan.

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT Mckay QP Murray Crowd 1796

Sean Welsh has had to undergo an operation on his knee but he’s not expected to be out for long. Danny Devine was going some routines on the pitch last Saturday before kick off so is hopefully nearly ready. I read in the Courier (I think) that Allardice is a doubt as he got a broken nose in the Cove game. Deas is suspended for the first two league games. I’m looking forward to this one. It is early days and we won’t be able to draw conclusions, but this is a game we need three points in to get us off to a good start.

Sorry Scotty, I should have done this when the opportunity first arose. That is three bought.

Sligo won 2-0 tonight so 3-0 on aggregate. We need to see the cup game at Motherwell as one we want to win and can win, and hopefully we set up a lucrative last 8 match. Sligo are currently 5th in a 10 team league, 20 points off both top and bottom. They may have benefitted by playing in what is mid season for them, but the result is embarrassing for Scottish football.

Ethan Cairns has joined Forres on loan. Someone mentioned a few weeks ago that Lewis Nicolson had been at an English club on trial for a week. The club involved was Spurs. Getting him signed until Summer 2025 now seems an even smarter bit of business by the club.

Now looks like it will be Montrose as he didn’t want to drop down to the Highland League.

Kirk Broadfoot for Open Goal Broomhill (what a ridiculous name!) in the Lowland League and Matheus Machado for Elgin in the North of Scotland Cup tonight.

Seems he will be joining Brechin City.

The club’s report: https://ictfc.com/ictfc-1-1-cove-rangers-23-07-2022

Rory McAllister transfer listed by Cove as he is unable to commit the time to play in the Championship: https://coverangersfc.com/2022/07/24/rory-mcallister-transfer-listed/

Jonny Hayes for Aberdeen today.

We will know later today as the draw if after the Aberdeen - Raith game. The ties are due on 30 and 31 August.

Good you are keeping this going: thanks. Let’s see if I can be any better than last season when I was dreadful at this! Airdrie @ 1.85 please.

Liam Polworth for Kilmarnock this afternoon. Andy MacRae (2) and Dale Gillespie for Brora.

Yes, we have 11. They can’t have updated it for the penalty shoot out result.

My interpretation is that STFU is stating that the club lost £1m due to the concerts earlier this month, whilst others are asking the source of his information. To my knowledge, nothing has been said publicly, but I’m happy to be corrected on that if the figure has been stated and is correct.

I agree, our goal was excellent. Good play by Oakley to put Shaw free and a great cross for MacGregor to score with a rare header. Cove’s equaliser came when we were temporarily down to ten as Duffy took a heavy knock and we seemed disorganised at the back as a result and it was too easy for the Cove player to hit the target. Cove had the best of the early part of the second half but we finished more strongly. I felt we just about shaded it but a draw was probably fair enough. It was good to at least win on penalties. Unfortunately that was not enough and we will be unseeded in the draw. I was disappointed with Cove’s approach. They approached the match in a cynical manner, trying to buy free kicks with play acting. They also tried to run the clock down when even. We have enough teams like that in the Championship already and I had expected more from them. I think our medical staff had to give treatment to players at least four times, generally due to the aggression of Cove. Some of their big names were worst, such as Logan and Fyvie, so justice was done when Fyvie‘s penalty was saved by Ridgers. Shortly after Samuels was harshly booked, a Cove player blatantly dived to try to get him sent off. The ref gave a foul but at least did not produce a red card. Of the new signings, I thought Oakley’s holding up play and distribution was good. Shaw was lively and could develop into an important player for us. Delaney is a calm defender despite playing on the wrong side for a left sided defender. Boyd had a couple of efforts when he came on. At times it felt like a pre-season game again, so hopefully when the league starts next week we get if you a winning start. The squad looks decent but we need to tighten up a bit and ensure we score when on top. Hopefully Devine is nearly ready to be part of the squad. Is there any update on Ram or Welsh?

Looks like Carson in midfield this afternoon, unless Harper’s being played further forward and Deas or Delaney at left back. This may not be the actual formation: Ridgers Duffy Delaney Deas Harper Carson Allardice Shaw MacGregor Mackay Oakley No Devine again but he is being put through some routines on the pitch by one of the back room staff so hopefully he’s close to fitness.

Can I change first ICT scorer to Oakley, please.