Robert

Turning into a goal fest. 6-0 now after goals from Robbie Thomson and Aaron Doran.

Now 4-0 through Billy Mckay and Cameron Harper.

Colts and non-Scottish teams are back this season. We enter at the third round on 24/25 September: https://spfltrust.org.uk/spfl-trust-trophy-welcomes-back-cross-border-participants/

He’s joined Hartlepool.

Jordan Roberts has joined Stevenage from Motherwell.

I don’t know the finances behind the concerts, but tickets remain available for both Friday and Saturday: https://ictfc.com/andrea-bocelli-duran-duran-concert-faqs

He’s not played a league game for Wycombe, although he made three cup tie appearances, and is only 21 so hopefully another with potential: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Ram He’s a central defender so presumably brought in to provide cover for Devine, Duffy and Deas given Broadfoot has left. I still think we need to bring in a right back and ideally also a left back and a creative wide player. With our first competitive match only a week and a half away, hopefully there are more signings pending. On addition, one of our academy players has joined Rangers. I hope he doesn’t live to regret that: https://ictfc.com/ict-academy-player-kieron-willox-signs-for-rangers

It gets a big thumbs up from me.

Thanks Gringo, I hope you get more participants as it’s good fun. No bonus points for being the only player to remember to predict the score in every game??

Some suggestions: What plans does the club have to maintain the increased interest and support from fans that was generated by getting to the play offs? Fans feel communication is poor. Does the club accept that and will they commit to regular updates from the Chairman or CEO, at least monthly all year round? How ambitious is the club in terms of achieving promotion and, if we achieve it, are the finances in place to build a competitive team that can re-establish itself as a Premiership regular? How stable is the club financially? What are the long term thoughts about the stadium: section 94, match day experience, future developments, location etc? Are there plans for the training of Stewards? In particular so they see fans as customers and so they enhance the match day experience rather than standing where they are blocking the view from my seat or allowing others to stand at the top of the stairs blocking the view of fans sitting around me. I hope the chat goes well and look forward to hearing what the CEO has to say.

Brian Rice is quoted in the Courier saying we have got a good one in Steven Boyd. He wanted to keep him at Alloa but Boyd wanted back into a full time club. Hopefully Rice is right. https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/sport/rice-boyd-is-a-fantastic-signing-for-ict-278987/

Our Under 18s are playing at Forres at 1930 on Wednesday 6 July.

As has been mentioned in the 2022 Friendlies topic in the main board, Gary Warren is back in Inverness having signed for Clach. He is now 37 so presumably will be planning for his life after being a player: I wonder if he could return to us in a coaching role at some point. It is great to see him back in the area. If Josh Meekings is still at Brora this season, the games between them could be worth attending if don’t have home games on the same days.

Boyd scored 5 goals in 13 league games for Alloa, so may have potential with game time: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Boyd Shaw doesn’t look to have had much game time but hopefully we see something in him, given our need for creative players: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Shaw Time will tell, but both strike me as squad players rather than regular starters.

Young goalie Rhuadhri Nicol has joined Brora after being released by us.

It is good that all games look to be weekend games without any pre-planned midweek dates. Queens Park and Cove in our first two home games will be interesting. I can’t wait!

I wonder what the club’s view of the Development Plan is. I assume they would have been aware of the Council’s proposal in advance so would have had the opportunity to state their opinion. As DD has said, I’d have expected them to be encouraging submissions if they oppose the plan. Could it suit the club given the talk of developments at the IRA site or am I making 2+2=5?

If Hyde and Nicolson are ready to be fully fledged first team players, we only have 17 players, 2 of whom have long term injuries. I hope we have other youngsters ready to step up, such as Thomson, Riddle or Hennem, but it is a big ask for them at this stage in their careers and they are probably a year or two away from being able to hold down a place regularly. Look at how long it took the likes of Christie, Polworth, Mackay, MacGregor and Harper to become established. I stand by my view that we are 5 players light for the new season, although quality rather than quantity must be the priority. The club will know which players are ready.

Just had a look at tonight’s scores: England getting humped 4-0 at home by Hungary! We can enjoy that at least tonight! I didn’t watch the Scotland game but it sounds like we were poor until they had a player sent off but then secured a comfortable win. To win the group, it looks like we will need to beat the Irish and take four points from the two games against Ukraine, which currently looks a tall order!

Two for Stuart Armstrong for Scotland in Armenia today.

He was first choice right back with Raith last season. I don’t recall particularly noticing him in our games against them. He spent time OTB earlier in his career.

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.