Jaggernaut

Like you, I followed my team from 1970, in my case Inverness Thistle, in the Highland league before the merger, going to all home and most away games. I also supported Celtic, I think every Highland League supporter had a big team and their local team. It was always such a big deal when Scottish league teams used to come up for pre season and testimonials,  to see these players in the flesh was such a thrill for us, never thinking that the city would end up with its own Scottish league team. The heights we achieved have been unbelievable,  more than I could never have imagined, but we are where we are now and we have to firstly survive in this league and then push on. Due to my poor health I can only manage home games now, but bit the bullet to make the semi against Celtic and the final against Falkirk,  two days I will never forget. I followed the Jags through the good times and bad in the Highland league,  and there were a lot of bad times over the years, but I was there because they were my team. I see too many people turn their backs on ICT if things don't go well, the glory hunters, 15,000 fans to Hampden! If we had a quarter of them now what a difference it would make. There have been glimpses of how things could be this season if we could get all our better players back and fit, and if we can tighten up at the back. I am an ICT supporter now and will follow them through the good times and bad. 

With Robertson being a former international striker you would think he could get the squad to know where the goal is, it seems to have worked with Livingston as they have John Harston showing them the way to goal.

25 minutes ago, Caley Stan said:

Big changes next week? Obviously Tremarco, perhaps Mulraney, but i'm not seeing anyone else on that bench to improve this team.

Unless he intends to use some of the younger lads. He said at the open night that we have some talented youngsters and if they are good enough they will be considered for the first team. 

ICT have had 3 managers now, but the same coaching staff, is that maybe where the problem lies. When most managers leave or are sacked, they normally take their backroom teams with them, but with having to pay Hughes and now Foran compensation, the club probably couldn't afford to get rid of Rice and Kellacher, hence why they are still here. The club maybe waiting till their contracts run down and then look to freshen the coaching side up.

How many times have I seen ICT come out from the start and be on top of the game, for 15 to 30 minutes, and not score, only for our opposition to go up our end and score with ease. It happened so many times last season and it's the same this season. Once their second goal went in we lost everything,  our shape, our will and every second ball. Towards the end of the game we were just kicking it aimlessly up the park, not even able to string two passes together. It looked like we were the team winning 3-1, just coasting to the end, instead of sweating blood for the cause. I have given the players and manager the benefits of the doubt so far, as a new team that needs to gel, but, the team needs to give the supporters something to cheer about, and today's offering was unacceptable. For me, only Vigures, Polworth, Trafford and Bell get any pass marks for their first half display . It's going to be a long hard season and at this moment, I would take surviving in this league as our number one target.

At the open night, did Robertson not say that if Raven and Fon Williams were still here after the transfer window shut, they would then become part of the squad and would be available for selection? He is using Raven, probably only because Seedorf is injured,  but Fon Williams seems to be a totally different situation.  It was reported he was injured, then he wasn't injured! I think it's time for the club to come out and tell us what the real situation is. When we bought our season tickets, the club said that they were going to keep the majority of the squad from last season and get us back up at the first time of asking, well that never happened,  but if we are not going to play our best available 11, the questions need to be asked why not? I am all for giving the new manager and players time, but if there are any petty personal squabbles between players or coaches, they must be put aside for the benefit of the club.

Great to see the return of Carl Tremarco, a player who has been sorely missed from the team for his goals, energy and determination, I hope we can hold on to him when he gets back to his best. Can anyone tell me if Carl was formally presented with his ICT player of the year trophy for last season? I heard they were going to present it to him at the start of this season.

I was a Kingsmills Jaggie, from 1970 onwards, and went to all home games and most away games, and I always shout for the Jags or Inverness. Some of the other guys that sit near me are old Caley fans who shout for Caley, it's never been a problem, and we have a laugh and a bit of banter. I remember reading on the ICT website that the club said that fans can shout what they want, Inverness,  ICT, Caley, Thistle, Jags, Caleyjags, Caley Thistle, as long as they support their team. I think it's natural for supporters who followed their clubs in the Highland League to still have leanings to that part of the club, and it will be like that till all the fans who followed Caley and Thistle are gone. When we were kids, in the 60's and 70's we didn't have a Scottish League team, so we used to have a 'big' team and a Highland League team, now, all the young boys and girls have no excuse for following another team, they have a Scottish League team on their doorstep,  something we could only dream about. So, shout for Inverness or the Sneck or whatever your persuasion is, as long as you support the team.

If I recall correctly from the open night, Robbo said that Fon Williams had a release clause in his contract if ICT got relegated, so why is he still here? Should he not be a free agent now? Surely he can't have it both ways. He doesn't want to play but wants paid! And as I recall when Robbo was talking about the new players bedding in and it would take time, a supporter down the front said, play your best defender Raven then, and if I heard correctly, Robbo's answer was, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I know he said that his legs have gone, but he still has an experienced defensive brain and he can be an influence to the younger players. In my opinion you always need a blend of youth and experience. Time will tell.

Excellent meeting. So many things explained and the three main men, chairman, Robbo and Danny were all very positive and talking as one. It was good to hear that they are wanting to experience what the supporters experience on match days and try to improve the facilities. The way they were talking about some of the youth players being some of the most exciting talent that have come to ICT was very encouraging.

I thought, in the first half against Morton, that we did what most teams do to us, we managed to break at pace from our own box and in two or three passes get a shot off. Last season we would have waited for the opposition to get back into their shape and try and play through their 11 by using pass after pass and getting nowhere. I thought that this was a vast improvement and got the fans more vocal. If we can have more of an end product with these tactics we should win more games this season. I also thought Trafford had a good debut although he faded towards the end.

15 minutes ago, forresjags said:

Would really like to see Mitchell Foy given an opportunity, started a couple of games pre-season and looked to be pretty quick and direct. Hopefully he will be given some real game time soon and not the last 5 minutes to run down the clock. 

  

  

I agree, he looked lively when I saw him pre season and was always giving the opponents  defense a hard time. Would like to see him get some game time.

We seem to be following on from last season when we had no plan B. We must know that if the rival manager is worth his salt he is going to change his tactics to get back in the game, so we need a plan to counteract that change.

Kicking long balls into a high winds is not a good tactic, we need to be smarter and hold on to the ball. The passing in the first half was good but in the second half we were just punting it away and invited Morton to mount another attack, there were a couple of incidents in our goalmouth when I couldn't believe that Morton didn't score, and at that time I thought we weren't even going to get a point. 

Good first half, but we needed a second goal to into the break  with. Second half we seemed to run out of ideas. I thought Seedorfsome red was soft. Trafford looked like he could do a job for us. 

When I said chasing lost causes,  I meant going after balls that a lot of other players would give up on, Billy Mckay used to do it a lot, running after balls which looked like a lost cause, and keeping the move going.

26 minutes ago, Council Juice said:

Interestingly 15 players (including loans) have now left the club and 12 new signings made. That's a huge turnover of playing staff by any means. I think we all need to give the new boys time to settle in.

So much for keeping the squad together Eh?  

 

It really is unprecedented, any team would struggle with that amount of turnover of players from one season to the next. It will take time to find the right formation and blend, I just hope we can find it soon.

The only time I have seen Foy play was against Forres  and he looked lively when he came on as a sub. He was in the defenders faces and chased lost causes. We certainly need a lot more energy in the team.

It also said in the email that if it's over subscribed there will be a follow up session as soon as possible. 

I've booked my place. Hoping for a good turn out and some good Q&A.

If the home team can't play the match at their home park, surely they should be asked to play it closer to the away team not even further away.

15 minutes ago, Potandbrush said:

How much is the parachute payment or is that where the £500,000 investment comes from ? Answers on a postcard.

I think I read somewhere that the parachute payment was in the region of £350,000 but I might be wrong.

11 minutes ago, ictchris said:

He was injured a lot of the time he was here and was only a one-year deal.  There were stories that he had a poor attitude in training but he looked dangerous in the games he played.

I was being generous including him, Doumbaya, Fisher and Mckay as positive players.  None of them played more than half a season worth of games.

Yes, we do seem to have had more than our fair share of injuries over the last couple of seasons,  whereas a few seasons ago you could almost name the same lineup before the teams were announced. 

7 minutes ago, ictchris said:

The players we signed during the two seasons following the cup win.  I've bolded the ones who I think had a positive impact on the team.

Owain Fôn Williams

Jordan Roberts   

Iain Vigurs   

Ryan Williams    

Nathaniel Wedderburn    

Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo    

Liam Hughes

Dani López     

Alex Fisher     

Tobi Sho-Silva   

Miles Storey     

Scott Boden    

Kevin McNaughton    

Henri Anier     

Jake Mulraney     

Brad McKay

Lonsana Doumbouya  

Dean Ebbe     

Billy King     

Larnell Cole     

Jamie McCart     

Billy McKay     

Louis Laing

Doumbaya wasn't a footballer but did score some goals and Mckay didn't have the impact we wanted but did OK.  Alex Fisher did well when he played but wasn't used at all and Jordan Roberts also missed a lot of the season but looked dangerous when he did play.

A parade of utter diddies though.

 

I thought that Jordan Roberts had loads of potential. What was the story with his leaving, did he want to go or did ICT not want him.

I'm struggling to remember who the last player we actually paid a transfer fee for. Can anyone remember? 

22 minutes ago, PumpFake said:

How do we make the best of the bunch we have? 4-4-2 doesn't seem to be the answer. 4-2-3-1 served us well last time we were in this league, but do we have the players to play it?

I agree, we need to win the midfield battle first and foremost,  if that means playing only one up then so be it, as long as the work rate and movement is there from the midfielders to support the lone striker. Raven should be playing and move Seedorf to right midfield,  maybe he can deliver an end product that doesn't seem to be in mulraney's locker.