Jaggernaut

4 minutes ago, Peleistheman said:

While we are  goal down again, I hear Robbo on BBC praising up the County squad and new style of play. What's going on.

We said the same thing when we heard him on the radio in the car, bumming up the county squad, when his employers are struggling down at Ayr.

9 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Only on wk 2. Serious club inquiry into signing policy or training regime required if this is the case given the history of the last 2 seasons. This is unsustainable long term to keep having lengthy crock lists.

And putting squad players out on loan when the injuries seem to be mounting up, is not the best policy. 

24 minutes ago, Robert said:

Starting line up:

Ridgers

Davidson Devine Delaney Harper

Carson Bray Gilmour

Longstaff Mckay Shaw

Subs:

MacKay, Doran, Hyde, Lodovica, Brooks, Thomson

No Duffy, Ram or Samuels in addition to those we knew were injured.

If they are injured, that means we already have Duffy, Welsh, Samuels, MacGregor, Ram, Nicolson and Calum Mackay out injured.

Given how Dodds was saying how we’d see a different Doran this season and how much fitter and faster he looked against Bonnyrigg, I’m amazed he’s not starting. 

I agree about Doran, he looked in the mood pre season and as fit as I've seen him in a long time. I would play him in behind Billy Mckay, they know each others games so well, and I think that that would be a productive partnership for me.

Yes it's early in the season, but not in competitive matches, so we really need to put a marker down soon, or we are going to look like an easy three points for a lot of teams. Beating Ayr, who will be one of the teams striving for the playoffs, would certainly be the kick start to our season we desperately need.

It is hard to know what kind of team we are, apart from an easy to beat one. We aren't a counter attacking team, because our build up play is ponderous and predicable. We don't have a playmaker, and the midfield is too light and doesn't seem to have a game plan. We play with two wingers, but seldom get behind their back four, and if we do and put a cross in, they just get headed out, as our strikers are too small, so if Dodds wants to play that way, he should have started with big Harry.

Our opponents know our game plan now, if indeed there is one, and they can counteract it, or change it at halftime if it's not working, something that Dodds seems to be reluctant or incapable of doing. At times yesterday, it looked like most of the players didn't know where they were supposed to be playing, it looked chaotic with players getting in each others way, and not being able to string a few passes together. Queens Parks passing was far superior and they more often than not found a pass and always seemed to have time on the ball to look up and pass to a spare man, while we always looked hurried and just booted it down the field. These things need to be addressed in training, and cut out the silly mistakes in defence of being caught in possession. We were always told, if in doubt, boot it out. I'm not sure if Harper was attempting a Cryuff turn yesterday, but whatever, it cost us big time. Harper is not a left back, he is far more affective playing further forward in the midfield, and if players are fit for the next game, I  would have Delaney at left back, Devine in CB with Duffy and have Harper in a midfield five, with Samuels making way.

We have to start thinking about not losing games first and foremost, and playing two up top, with only two in CM and two wingers is great if the tactics are right, but if not, we get what we got yesterday, nothing.

We were discussing the state of the club during todays debacle, and since we won the Scottish cup, finished 3rd in the league and qualified for Europe, there has been a steady decline in our quality every season, when we should have pushed on and made the most of our golden age, instead, we have gone backwards.

42 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Not just them, still some real hardcore fan boys within our support who still can't see the decline before their eyes.

It's quite embarrassing when you hear them trying to convince themselves and others that there's nothing to worry about, and it's early days, they've been saying it for three seasons now, and we are getting very worried.

11 minutes ago, TheCaleyOne said:

What a start to the league . Can't remember us getting more that 2 passes put together and why do we play with more urgency for the last 10 minutes of the match, play like that from the start! The only positive from today's game for me was Keith Bray looks a good prospect for the season.

I said the same thing to my son, if we score, we will throw the kitchen sink at them in the last ten minutes, why don't we start like that? Dodds couldn't pick his nose, never mind the correct starting eleven. Bray should be a starter every time, he has energy and desire.

12 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Unfortunately missed this game as on holiday. Can anyone confirm if we have an injury crisis yet please?

It looks like Nicolson out for season,  and Roddy Macgregor is having an operation on is ankle on Monday so I believe, don't know what's the story with Welsh, but he's missed the last couple of games. 

What an abysmal performance, but it's what I expected when I saw the formation and team line up. We were so light in midfield, only Carson and Gilmore in the CM, we really needed another in there, and it just shows how tactically unaware Dodds is, that he never changed a thing at half time. In my opinion we should have started with one up top, Mckay, Samuels is just not cutting it for me, and then one in behind, Doran or Bray, and have another CM in the middle. We don't have Welsh or Allardice now and we get over run by our opponents in there. And there is still far too much of the 'punt the ball anywhere up the park', just hoping that one of our players get onto it, which rarely happens, while our opponents pass the ball through us. Queens Park were by far the better team, and the ref was one of the worst I've seen. I fear that this is going to be a very long hard season, and if we can't win our home matches I dread to think where wins will come from.

I've always maintained that if you win the midfield you are more than  likely to win the game. I felt that we were over run by Airdrie in the midfield in our last home league Cup game, and at times against Dundee. Maybe we need to sacrifice one of the forward thinking players for another CM. It will be hard to judge Queens Park as they have had wholesale changes, but let's try and play a bit quicker with the passing and have more shots on goal. A win would certainly restore some of the lost confidence. 

A very interesting read so far, only half way through it. Well done on the layout, easy to read and understand. I hope the club take notice of it.

I usually think we can make the playoffs, but this season, I think this will be the toughest one to get out off in some time. I don't see us making the playoffs, and I think we will end up 6th or 7th. I really hope I'm using reverse psychology on myself and we fly to the top of the league, but I think with Dodds inability to see what tactical changes need made when things aren't going well for us, will be our downfall.

No Gimour, Devine, Brooks, Welsh, Macgregor or Nicolson, and not enough players to fill the bench, but yet we loan out two players to Highland League teams! You couldn't make it up.

1 hour ago, Robert said:

Where’s the evidence for this?

Of our players out of contract we released Boyd, Sutherland, Walsh and Woods.

Everyone knew Deas was moving on.

Only Allardice turned down a new contract.

All other out of contract players agreed new deals.

If they were unhappy with the set up here more surely some would have moved on!

The truth is out there!

I'm afraid that I cannot divulge the sources, as, just like the club, information is a very rare commodity.

7 minutes ago, lizi said:

I’m always in the North Stand and will be glad to get back to my usual seat to enjoy the game without being within earshot of Mr Dodds.   So much swearing at his team, is that his way to encourage?   In my successful working life I was a team leader and NEVER would have shouted at one of my team - you’re a f..king amateur, which was shouted on Tuesday evening at an established team member.  I cannot recall ever being advised that insulting someone, especially in public, encouraged better performance.   Plenty times the f word was used towards his players.  If I was in his team I would be raging - so much for being a leader - huh - Mr Dodds’ tactics are so obvious other teams know how to play against us and his lack of vocabulary only shows up his many failings.  

There are some teams that would run through brick walls for their manager, that is something that is quite obvious not applicable with Dodds.

29 minutes ago, CaleyCiuin said:

The whole coaching team seem lacking in any ability to get the best from any players. It’s why we remain in the Championship and struggle!

Too true. The coaches seem to have a job for life at ICT.  It needed a fresh approach, new ideas from new coaches, but we get the same old same old.

3 minutes ago, IBM said:

It wasn’t the County game, they are playing tonight

He could have been advising them at their training session! 

25 minutes ago, Northern_jaggie said:

I’d made the trip down from Orkney for the game tonight. I was sat beside either friends or family of Lewis and when he was injured it really was the most gutting time I’ve watched football hearing the despair from his personal supporters. I thought his studs caught the turf causing the knee to turn. He looked great in the early stages and I can only wish him a speedy recovery. All the best Lewis.
 

I thought Shaw was really superb tonight, he lit up the wing and delivered probably 80% of crosses into a dangerous area. He had the main stand on their feet when skinning his man in a way I’ve not seen since the days of Johnny Hayes or Barry Robson and I thought he deserved to be on the winning side.  With players like him we have hope of a good season.
 

I noticed that within seconds of the equaliser Dodds and Wilson pulled Samuels to come on for Longstaff which was clearly a pre planned move. It was the wrong move, despite him looking a bit tired.  Why change it after coming back from two down? Nuts. 
 

The root cause of the successful Airdrie attack was a severe lack of protection from the midfield to our defence, the 4-4-2 formation left us wide open I felt.  Dodds stuck with the formation for most of the game and the like-for-like changes just serve to make sure the fresh players beat the men that the subbed didn’t…it doesn’t address the strategical issue that was plain to see. 
 

I couldn’t fault the players, it was the way they were played. 

That is Dodds all over, he hasn't got a plan B, he subs like for like and nothing changes.

11 minutes ago, jagster said:

He was there last night.

What, at the county game, or at his employers game?

1 hour ago, caley1 said:

Well not even end of July and normal service has resumed

I do fear it's going to be a repeat of the slow, predicable uninspired football that we were subjected to last season. I said before that it was mind boggling that he was given,  not earned, a two year deal, and we have the same coaching team as last season, but I'm now questioning my sanity of renewing my season ticket too early, just to continue to watch what's on offer.

I believe that every coach in this league has got our number now, and know how we are going to play, and they counteract it, or they change tactics at half time and end up winning. Dodds seems incapable of doing this, and we know from previous seasons that he has no plan B.

50 minutes ago, caley1 said:

People are calling for the managers head after the dismal last 4 seasons ! Getting into the Scottish cup final by default is not something you reward after 4 awful seasons ? Maybe an awful lot of fans are missing something??

Totally agree with you. The football we play under Dodds has been some of the worst for many a season. I struggle to think of any home games that got me excited last season, the cup game against Kilmarnock being the exception. The club had the perfect time to change the coaching team, with Dodds contract having run down, but to award him with a two year deal is mind boggling. So, if things aren't going well this season,  we are stuck with him for two years, or maybe more, if the club award him another contract!

2 hours ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

While we are on the subject, is Robbo still at the club?  Haven't seen anything one way or the other, but I may have missed it.

He was probably at the County game.

9 minutes ago, Wheelybinz said:

We have to be the slowest team in the league. Pass across the back four, back and fore back and fore then pass to the keeper. GO FORWARD! Take a man on, and show some urgency from the starting whistle. Not when we are 0-2 down! What a shame for Nicholson, i hope its not bad as i have high aspirations for him this season. 

Yes, I hope it isn't as bad as it looked, I thought that Nicolson was going to be the breakout player this season. He could really make the LB spot his own.

This passing back and fore across the back line must be Dodds tactics, because they did it all last season as well. There was one attack where we were on the right, nearly in line with their box, and it went backwards, and backwards until in went to the keeper, and it couldn't go any further back, so we had to kick it forward. Pathetic.