CaleyTennis

11 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Always handy to have this. At least we know who is signed for the season.

A squad of 30 which is pretty good so I'd say we are set for the season ahead now and probably not in desperate need of new signings :). 

That's a good number of youngsters too which is good to see, it will now shut me up (I was advocating getting them signed up) which will please you all lol.

With this news that Robert posted above (which I'm ecstatic about btw ) can someone kindly post a list of players in each position please and that includes the youngsters from last year that were mentioned earlier in the thread (Riddle, Hennem etc) so that I can work out that all we really need is a right back .

6 hours ago, caleyboy said:

Aye, good to see for the future but they won't win us this league

Didn't a certain Alan Hansen say that a few years back but was proved wrong so don't underestimate youngsters .

I am also very happy with Dan Mackay potentially returning for the season as that is another attacker in

And some youngsters signed up on professional contracts .

3 hours ago, Jaggernaut said:

He never really stood out at Brora, if I didn't know about him, he wouldn't have caught my eye. I thought the number 17,  who I believe was Zac Delaney, had a good half, he has some pace and didn't panic under pressure.

He's another close to being signed up ;).

Does anyone reckon Zak will be signed, @FrontRowyou can answer seeing as you were there tonight?

I really enjoyed the podcast and especially the part where they are talking about transfers and Scot mentions that some of the youngsters are getting pro contracts :D.

I'm now intrigued to see who they are because lots have potential

1 hour ago, No Shin Guards said:

I say, that's Robbie Deas away.

Eh what?  

That came from the Twitter guy, "Fly on the Wall" didn't it because I saw that earlier too and they also say Tumilty is close and one that was right, Gaz Warren to Clach. I also saw on CaleyCentral Insta that Polworth is linked to as he out of the picture at Rugby Park 

Let's see how these pan out but my complaint worked (I knew what I was doing Kingsmills, I do it when watching Tennis too lol, it's called reverse psychology where if I gee someone up then they come good lol).

Are we actually going to sign ANYBODY because this waiting is getting on my nerves, every other club are signing players yet we haven't signed ONE yet .

I may sound like a broken record saying this so I apologise in advance 

Now that we have our squad all signed up, I'd now like some promoted from the youth squad up to the first team like we did last season with a few (I know this because it came up on my Facebook memories lol where I posted my delight at the news), perhaps guys like Ally Riddle and the 2 that were on the bench v St J at home, Mackay and Strachan.

Then we can concentrate on signings and on that, i see on p and b that we are keen to get Sam Pearson back and there was a wee hint at Regan Tumilty being our first signing .

So we have our first friendly announced against CLACH on June 29th (1930hrs) which for a lot of you guys may sound uninspiring as you seem to want glamour friendlies 

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/sport/caley-thistle-and-clachnacuddin-to-clash-in-inverness-derby-277566/

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/8948721/transfer-news-live-rangers-celtic-hearts-hibs-aberdeen-balogun/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ScottishSunSportTwitter&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1654237492

Another to add to the rumours list is Rangers youngster Josh McPake as is mentioned in the above article a fair bit down.

And seeing as a recently released player was mentioned above then maybe we can add Luca Connell too though neither he nor Allan will be likely imho.

Seeing as we are now going to be bored until the league cup campaign starts in July, I thought I'd start this thread for any signings made (once that happens) and transfer rumours and I don't want to hear the Lewis Horner one because I think it's a lot of bull!

Not a rumour but I see Chris Hamilton has been released by Hearts so hopefully he's on our radar 

Hopefully we hear asap who's being retained and released so we can have an idea on what we need 

Jeez peeps, I'm trying to remain upbeat and confident ahead of next season but your ruining that with negativity .

I would imagine fixtures would be announced tomorrow so hopefully Premier sports pick up one of our matches as it would be good to see how our new signings or, if still allowed, trialists get on.

Kelty and Cove would be good to get at home as they are tough to beat at their grounds, Albion and Livi would be OK either venue but hopefully we don't underestimate Albion.

Quietly optimistic of getting out the group stages for the first time in years.

I said this last night and truly believe it's true

Imho, we are not far off becoming a Premiership team and would agree with a column in the Press and Journal which said we're "on the right track" and should "fear nobody" as we proved this season that we can mount a serious title push, we just need to turn draws into wins and especially stop losing "silly' points to teams in the bottom half of the table as that was as much to blame as our 11 game winless run.

As has been said in the match and squad update threads, we have the nucleus of a good squad so hopefully we retain as much of them as possible (though the money from Deas could come in handy), I also believe that we need to strengthen but not drastically, my hope is that we sign young players hungry for success, guys like Lowry of Rangers (he's just an example, not on my wishlist haha). As was mentioned yesterday on the sky coverage before the match, John has been down in England scouting so I see that as a positive as that's a good market to use (One player released down there that IS on my wishlist is Davis Keillor-Dunn, ex Dross County and most recently, Oldham).

Then there's our own crop of youngsters such as Ally Riddle, Harry Nicolson, Ally Mackay and Strachan (the guy on bench on Friday) that could be worth signing on professional contracts :).

So as IHE would say, time to regroup and come back stronger and then all aboard the promotion rollercoaster :D.

Bring on next season

Finally, it's been a pleasure contributing to this forum despite occasionally falling out with certain members at times, I'll try and do better next season haha. 

5 hours ago, TheStickyBandit said:

I believe Austin Samuel was signed on an 18 month deal in January so should have him for next season i think 

You are correct 

https://ictfc.com/austin-samuels-signs-for-ictfc

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scottish-premiership/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/SC1

Not sure how many of these will be viable options or even available but it's worth a look 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scottish-championship/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/SC2

A more realistic one also worth a look ;). 

I'm not going to fill this thread with links to out of contract players at English and Scottish clubs as that will clog up the thread and tbh we have a Sporting Director that will deal with signings etc so I think we need to trust him 

I'll say what I said on Facebook, on here as it is a fair point I make 

I believe that we have the nucleus of a good squad so if we can retain as much of them as possible and recruit well in the window then there's no reason to not be making an assault on the title and going head to head with Dundee.

It was good to hear John Robertson mention before the match that he's been down in England scouting but it's now time for the board to show ambition and start backing the gaffer in the transfer market because we need to get out of this bloody league soon, its been too long now but thus season proves that we aren't far away.

As has been said, we go again next season, its not long until the league cup so we don't have long to plan ahead

Hopefully we offer a contract to Austin Samuels as he is a good addition to the squad.

Sam Pearson and Logan Chalmers are two I'd take back but that depends on Bristol City and Dundee Utd and who they release. 

Oh and I saw on Twitter that Danny Devine is close to a new deal.

I was just going to use this thread to ask the same question and then ask who you'd keep and release etc so I will let you post thoughts on that :)?

We know we've lost McAlear, Chalmers and Hardy back to their parent clubs and Kirk confirmed on Radio AND TV that he's leaving which is no surprise.

John Robertson did state before the match that he's been in England scouting which is good because we certainly needed to strengthen and increase the squad no matter what league we ended up in. 

Imho, if we do keep the nucleus of this squad and add to it that we're well capable of winning the title as we proved this season, all we need to do is stop losing points to the teams at the bottom of the table.

I still believe in this team but we HAVE to aim for the title as I'm frankly getting sick of being in this league, it been far to bloody long!

Just out of curiosity, how much would we gain for promotion, would it be enough to entice Reece with a good contract offer ?

I found the Premiership prize money but couldn't find anything for the Championship. 

Well unless Scotland's top commentator got it wrong then yup he's Dan's young bro :D.

I only put Doran there as I didn't know who else could play on the wing but I suppose Samuels could.

This team

As has been stated, we were abysmal for a vast majority of the game and have to thank Ridgers (again) for keeping us in it, that save at 0-0 was excellent but the one from Middleton was even better (he 100% got a touch to it by the way) and the one where he saved his own blunder on to the bar was as crucial :).

We've criticised Billy quite a bit this season (especially during our dreadful run) so he rightly deserves praise this play off campaign for making the right changes at the right time and also applaud him for admitting he got the starting formation wrong tonight, it's clear that we have to go 4-4-2 on Monday and keep it tight for as long as possible :D.

Ridgers

Carson Broadfoot Devine Deas 

Doran McAlear Allardice Chalmers 

McKay and Samuels.

Subs: Mackay, Harper, Hyde, Welsh, Nicolson, Hardy and either Strachan or Dan Mackay's bro.

That would be the team I'd go with though I'd be amazed if Billy dropped Welsh.

As I posted on Facebook, COME ON LADS, ONE FINAL PUSH !

Looking at St J result today then I'd say we should go in with a lot of confidence against a team very low on confidence

I had a look at their team, they had McCart, Rooney, Gilmour, Middleton and Ciftci starting and Gordon, Brown, Hallberg, Craig and Hendry on the bench.

And that was a Hibs team that just lost to now relegated DUNDEE last midweek.

I'm sure Saints supporters will be overly concerned going into Friday despite our depleted squad.

Believe guys, believe

I think Billy's emotional interview tells its own story in how we all feel

And to it against the odds AGAIN (Remember Hearts in 2014 anyone?) makes it all the more special .