Robert

Good to see more use being made of the ground, and hopefully a money spinner, but I have reservations about the impact this could have on the pitch early in the season: https://ictfc.com/glasgow-warriors-to-kick-off-2022-23-season-in-inverness

That’s harsh! I see potential in Duffy, whilst it is right to stand by Sutherland. I understand the scepticism about Doran, and suspect he will become more of an impact player off the bench (depending on what new signings we make). Now we have our existing squad either signed up or know they’ve moved on, I’d like to see movement on new signings. As has been said above, I think the focus needs to be on full backs and creative players. We had a small squad last season and whilst quality over quantity must be the objective, I feel we need a first team squad of at least 22 given we are starting without Sutherland and Walsh and with the likelihood of further injuries and suspensions. Assuming I’ve not missed anyone, and treating Hyde and Nicolson as part of the first team squad, we have 17: Ridgers MacKay Duffy Devine Deas Nicolson Harper Carson Allardice Welsh Hyde MacGregor Doran Walsh Sutherland Samuels Mckay so I’d like to see another 5, either permanent signings or loans who can positively contribute.

A reality check for us tonight after the disappointment of being well beaten by Ukraine last week. To lose 3-0 to a struggling Republic of Ireland, with a very poor performance, was a bad way to head towards the end of tbe season. To have any hope in this group, we must win in Armenia, and we will then need to overcome Ukraine, which at present looks unlikely.

At least the rumours about him going to County proved unfounded. I’m surprised he has not landed a club at a higher level but wish him well.

Just those two confirmed to date: https://ictfc.com/pre-season-fixtures-2022-23 I wonder if we will add one on the midweek before the cup starts or on the free Saturday half way through the cup group. It would be good to so all the squad get game time. Enjoy the meal Lizi!!

Maybe but if they turn things round and make us strong financially it will turn out to have been well worth it. The deal mentioned in the P&J article sounds significant. Players have been getting tied up quicker and our young talent and key players are under contract so we will get a fee if they move. Hopefully we bring our new signings in early and they enhance the squad. The hospitality offering is very good now. We no longer have gaps in the advertising boards at the ground. We seem to have great team spirit. We still need much improved communication though to build on the success of Section 94 and the positivity around the club and the increased fan numbers. I’d anticipate turnstiles being back in use next season following the pandemic, staffed by volunteers or youth players as they were before. For me, the Board seem to be moving us forward and hopefully that continues. I’m happy to give them the benefit of the doubt at this time and trust them that their approach is working.

Very poor from Scotland. Ukraine knew how we’d line up and capitalised on it and deservedly won. McGinn should have scored and that may have given us more time to get back in it, but after MacGregor’s goal we didn’t really trouble them and we can’t complain that they picked us off with a third. I don’t like losing but if there was ever a team to lose to it is Ukraine. No offence to Wales, but I will be supporting Ukraine on Sunday and hope they qualify and stick two fingers up to Putin and perhaps help get a message through to ordinary Russians that Putin and his cohorts are misguided, that the war is wrong and the world is supporting Ukraine.

Great news. He’s very influential and if he can stay injury free a big player for us.

I hope it’s not Collum!!!!

Details announced: https://ictfc.com/2022-23-season-tickets-support-your-local-team-support-ictfc It includes confirmation livestreams are not included.

Well said Lizi and thanks to those involved in compiling these. Sutherland is a deserved winner, but interesting that Carson, Allardice and MacGregor were all in the top six and missed a lot of matches. That, allied to the Gardyne episode, is the difference in our season between going up and not going up. It gives us hope for next season, but our signings will be key.

We have two in Mckay and Sutherland, and hopefully Samuels is a third. If we can give them the right service and play to their strengths rather than hoofing long high balls forward, goals should come. It is unfortunate we won’t have Sutherland available for some time.

With this week’s news, we have: Ridgers MacKay Devine Deas Harper Carson Allardice MacGregor Hyde Walsh Mckay Samuels and are likely to have: Duffy Welsh Doran Sutherland but Walsh and Sutherland will miss at least the early part of the season. We will also have some of the current youngsters but I’ve no idea which remain under contract, hopefully Lewis Nicolson is. Full backs, possibly a centre half and wide players are the priority for me.

I don’t fancy our chances in this group, particularly as we tend to use it to get players fit for the league campaign. Cove and Kelty both won their leagues, so will fancy their chances against us, whilst Livingston will start as clear favourites. We will need three 90 minute wins and, probably, a draw to qualify which I think is a tall order. I hope I am wrong but we will see in a few weeks.

Answering my own question after reading the CEO’s update, it is Harry that is leaving. Hopefully Lewis remains under contract. https://ictfc.com/update-from-ceo-scot-gardiner-27-05-2022 It is a comprehensive and helpful update and I hope it is the first of many. A monthly update should be possible all year I’d have thought, whilst there is no mention of the Fans’ Forum, which will hopefully resume. However, I will give the benefit of the doubt and hope that this is the start of a new dawn in terms of communication. It was clearly a difficult time for the club after the Gardyne debacle, but it sounds like they have come through it strongly as a squad and management team, which is encouraging for the future. I’m pleased we are standing by Sutherland and have no issues with those contract discussions are taking place with. Hopefully we get them signed up soon. Recruitment will be key for next season so hopefully the targets being looked at will not only fill the gaps we have but also enhance the quality and potential we have. Roll on next season!

Which Nicolson is leaving: Harry or Lewis? I thought Lewis showed potential in the few games he appeared in after Christmas before going on loan, and Ross Tokely rates him.

I agree entirely. I watched two of our home games on livestream when not fit to attend the stadium and bought virtually every away game, whereas I would only have travelled to a few. Therefore I gained by seeing home games I’d have missed, and our rivals gained as I spent money on PPV for games I had no intention of travelling to. I suspect we have seen the end of livestreams but it would be good if clubs and the SPFL could find a way of keeping them. Even a small premium to the ticket price would be fine by me.

Rambunctious! Been reading a dictionary Scotty? Not a word seen every day!! Lol!!

They were mY English team when I lived 8 miles outside Blackpool for 8 years as Fleetwood rose through the leagues and built a new ground.

I’m sure many on here will have a lot of great contributions for this: https://ictfc.com/launch-of-inverness-football-memories-project

I hate posting this but, as we all know, Shaun Rooney has scored twice for St Johnstone in recent days.

We may well use the group stage matches as our pre-season matches again. I hope not, though, as it would be good to get through the group stages this time round.

The draw takes place tomorrow/ https://ictfc.com/premier-sports-cup-group-stage-draw-2022-23

I have no idea how long Sutherland will be out for, but we must stand by him and offer him new terms.

What a rollercoaster of a season. A great start, albeit a bit flattering, a dire middle, then a great finish to make the play offs. Over the two legs, St Johnstone deserved to win, but it could have been so different had we not lost the second goal or if Doran had pulled one back. I wanted us to win and get promoted but, being totally honest, I was concerned that we could be the whipping boys next season unless we got our recruitment spot on. I hope we can use the last two months as a foundation for next season, and strengthen our squad as well as replacing those key players we will be losing (eg Broadfoot, McAlear). Priorities for me are full backs and creative players who can provide the assists for Mckay and Samuels. We have a decent nucleus with guys like Ridgers, Deas, Harper, Carson, Allardice, MacGregor, Walsh, Samuels and Mckay under contract, but we may see bids for Deas and MacGregor. If Devine is likely to sign a new contract, that is great news. We also have promising youngsters in Hyde and Lewis Nicolson who should be ready for more exposure. Both have looked to have potential this season. Hopefully we have them tied up for next season too. We probably did as well this season as we could have expected, let’s go one better next year (and a cup run of two would be good too). Thanks to the CTO team for the previews and reports each week: always a great read.