ForresJag

2 minutes ago, Robert said:

I wasn’t expecting this: Anthony McDonald has left the club:

https://ictfc.com/anthony-mcdonald-leaves-ictfc 

I had high hopes when he joined a year ago, but injuries hampered him last season and he has not really contributed this season.

Hopefully we are on the cusp of bringing in a creative player given we have lost two wide players. Possibly also a chance for Cammy Harper to establish himself as he has looked promising when playing wide left. 

Was never given a chance. No one is going to tell me he couldnt contribute more tham Walsh, he doesnt create, score, track...he is a passenger in 95% of games.

Seems Dodds didnt fancy him for whatever reason. Shame as I think given a run he would have been a real asset to us.

Same old same old.....no energy, creativity..players unwilling to try something different....Dodds is your fundamental old school manager...no tactical nouse, keep dojng the same things with same players and expecting something different....gone backwards massively and our start to season has masked his failings....

Doran been woeful as has McAlear. Put MacGregor into cm and put Mcdonald right....

18 hours ago, Jack Waddington said:

*cough* Tom Walsh playing both wings *cough*

Badly...

1 hour ago, Kingsmills said:

Things have not worked out for Manny as either he or we would have wished when he first arrived but, in my view, that is incredibly harsh and unjustified.

Harsh...really. go ask a Rovers fan if they agree with what I have said. I assume you watch him, tell me what you think he offers that I dont see. I am more than happy to be corrected but I am sorry, he offers nothing.

1 hour ago, RiG said:

Injuries and COVID.

More utter drivel again from ICT. Well done to the Pars who thoroughly deserved the three points yesterday. Apart from Doran's shot and the Mckay goal I can't recall us doing too much in the first half. Second, ooft. Just like Ayr last week the players just seemed to stop trying and let the other side back into the game. Questions need to be asked of the management as to why this is happening every week. 

I feel for Devine scoring the OG as he has been pretty solid for us this season. He didn't deserve that but it was bad defending all round. Deas seemed completely lost and we struggled to regain our shape at the back. Cracking strike from Thomas for the goal. I felt we had a decent claim for a penalty towards the end but had it been given and we scored (no guarantee) it would have been daylight robbery.

Fair play to the ICT fans who applauded OFW at the start of the second half and then seemed on attempting to batter him for his timewasting As I said about the Arbroath game, maybe we don't get into the position where teams do that to us? Just a thought.

Anyway, we got what we deserved - nothing.

Easy answer. Same players being played every week irrespective of form and contrubution. McKay\Gardyne are only 2 of the front players who deserve to keep their places. Pur Mcdonald, MacGregor into the team and keep them in for a few weeks. Technically both are better players but the fact they arent getting played is destroying their confidence.

Walsh has offered nothing for weeks, Doran the same, in fact if it wasnt for Gardyne there would be 6  defeats in the last run of fixtures. 

Dukuca waste of a jersey. Lazy, offers nothing, falls over all the time and yet he still gets thrown on when we need a goal to save us....desperate tactics that you dont play the rest of the time. 

It appears there is zero faith in young players butvthis is an inexperienced manager who is very very old school.

19 minutes ago, ymip said:

Absolutely dreadful second half. Should have been home and hosed at half time. Going to be a long season....hugely frustrating after such a strong start. 

I think the strong start was more to do with others being slow starters than us being good. A lot if tgecgames the result hid the poor performance BUR I would take result over performance every week...now it is neither and we have a manager with no experience of trying to turn it around when things are going against you. What he does is the same thing every week...and that isnt going to happen.

Say the sane thing every week. Same players producing same dross every week and the management stick with them. Zero attacking threat in 2nd half, again because Gardyne nulified. Doran and Walsh contributed nothing and then its the panic changes and expecting players to come on and change whole focus of the game in 15-20 mins. No creativity, no pace in play, simple decisions wrong, playing players who offer very little on a consistent basis.

15 minutes ago, Robert said:

I agree that when they quietened Gardyne we did seem to be less of a threat but we did have 9 attempts on target.

I have just read the BBC live text to remind myself of the efforts.

Mckay had an effort well saved just before we scored our first. That was the only save the Ayr ‘keeper made in the first half.

In the second half, efforts by Mckay, Gardyne, Mckay again. Gardyne again, Welsh and Mckay again were saved. My recollection is that some of these saves were good.

We should have won but could easily have lost so a draw is a fair result.

We need to start winning again and to put teams to bed when we are on top.

In context, I remember 1 save in 2nd half from Walsh sidefoit volley...Ayr keeper certainly dudnt have a blinder. Ayr certainly had better chances, one great save from Ridgets, 2 put wide and one whick looked harder to miss. My argument is its the same every week. Players flatter to deceive and square pegs in round holes. Got young , good players on the bench, maybe its time they were given their head, certainly cant be any worse than what us getting minutes every week. This isnt a 1 off, even when winning games the performances werent very good but you take axwin over performance every week...now there are no wins...time to change the personnel, 

13 minutes ago, Robert said:

That’s extremely harsh. We were good in the first half and, whilst we were not nearly as potent in the second half, the Ayr ‘keeper made several good saves or we would have won it.

I enjoyed the game, which was in difficult conditions, with both teams trying to get forward.

Gardyne was my pick in the first half, but had a quieter second half, whilst I thought Allardice was good throughout the game.

I am very frustrated at losing the PPV stream, so may be seeing the second half performance through rose tinted glasses.

Other results have largely suited us today though.

 

Not sure what part is harsh. 1st half was decent but dont remember Ayr keeper having to pull of a number of saves, 1 from header was exceptional. Once they nullified Gardyne we offered nothing. Walsh\Dorran offered nothing in the 2nd half, Duku is a waste of time....it seems that its the same players every week , same subs and for last 4-5 games the same results. Last week we were decent but thats a one off. Maybe harsh but thats what I see, stop 1 player you stop us scoring!!!

4 minutes ago, Caley Mad In Berks said:

Another draw in a game we could have (maybe should have) won.  How costly will these missed opportunities be at the end of the season?   At least, Killie are still losing.  Let us hope that game stays that way!

You think we should have won. I thought Ayr dominated 2nd half and had 3 clear chances, think we offered very very little. Basics poor, tactics poor, no movement. 2nd half Gardyne nullified and that gave us no attacking threat...

Same players providing same dross every week. 1 player with any quality os Gardyne, rest are poor. Has McDonald made a pass at Dodd's mrs...Duku waste of a jersey, Walsh gives you 10mins and then nothing, Dorrans anonymous..must be a sivkner being on the bench in that team...they seriously are clueless...no creativity,  no quality, tactically poor..lucky to get away with a draw....

17 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

One things that has been apparent recently is that when opponents take the lead then set out to resolutely defend (Hamilton, Raith, Arbroath) we really struggle to break them down and create chances. It’s not as if their keepers have been making great saves or we’ve missed sitters, we just don’t create enough.

Our potentially most creative players like Walsh, Doran, McGregor, have offered very little recently. Gardyne is the only one who looks a threat at the moment.

Been apparent for weeks that the usual syspects have been poor. MCGregor very poir against Raith, Doran came on at Raith and offered nothing, same again last night. Walsh flatters to deceive  final ball very poor, creates very little  Think its time to shake it up a bit, play Gardyne and Mcdonald with Mackay, 3 players with great movement. Make the midfield solid, Welsh, Allardice, McAlear...get the fb' s forward. Playing same players every week and hoping for a result just now and it isnt working. Last night because Diku was playing it was lobg ball despite Arbroath winning every header\challenge...he is a passenger 99% of the time and he doesn't score anywhere near enough goals....touch is poor and falls over anytime someone touches him. Thistle on Saturday is a tough game but they are beatable, they are scoring goals but if we make midfield physically strong and our front line mobile then we can get at them.

1 hour ago, jagster said:

Think you are being a bit unfair on Billy. He’s never really had the chance coming on as a sub other than the Buckie game. He needs to be starting a run of games to get back to goal scoring ways 

An experienced player who like Gardyne shoukd be leading by example. I accept he needs games, all players do but results have hidden failings. I would like to see McKay\Sutherland up top with Gardyne\Mcdonald wide. Natural goalscorers and creative wide players. Walsh been a passenger for weeks, needs a timeout to refocus his mind and get his desire back, now mcdonald fit it puts pressure on him and thats good

19 minutes ago, RiG said:

I know Walsh hasn't been playing great recently but I was surprised when he was subbed. Putting MacGregor wide right nullified him for almost an hour and he continuously drifted inside leaving Duffy with no one ahead of him to work with. Our whole right flank became redundant.

Taking Walsh off was the right move, he has been very poor for weeks and results and lack of a fit option kept him in team. Would have brought McDonald on earlier and given him a decent chace to get at Hamilton. McKay been awful as well since resigned but Gardyne and Mcdonald wide will create a lot of chances. Today Hamilton sat very deep and we played in front of them. 2 or 3 touches instead of 1-2. Playing 10men we should have moved them quicker and tired them but waiting to 65 to go to 3 at tge back was weird. Should have done that at ht and really gone at them, just looked lije hopeful balks into box. Oh and Duku was brutal as well...

On 9/5/2021 at 3:32 PM, Robert said:

Fair enough about McDonald. I was in the Main Stand so not best placed to see the detail on the far side in the first half so may well have been harsh on him.

It will be interesting to see how he does if playing ahead of Carson on the right side given Carson likes to get forward. Hyde was understandably more cautious, particularly in the first half given he was being played out of position.

The club’s report on the match is here:

https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-4-0-buckie-thistle

Interesting the P&J gave McDonald man of the match on Saturday. 

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/3441266/patience-key-as-fringe-stars-shine-in-caley-thistle-cup-victory-over-buckie-thistle/

16 hours ago, Robert said:

A comfortable score line but it flattered us a bit.

When I saw the line up, with only Deas starting from the recent league starting line ups, I was a bit worried that we were underestimating Buckie. We only had three recognised defenders in the team and none amongst only four subs named. Broadfoot, Devine, Carson, MacGregor, Gardyne and Duku were not involved at all, but it meant valuable game time for those coming in.

We lined up with Hyde at right back and Duffy alongside Deas at centre half. Mckay was playing the number 10 role with Jamieson the striker.

Buckie tested MacKay early on and then hit the post with him beaten in the fifth minute.

After that scare, the game settled down with us dominating possession and Buckie typically having all eleven players behind the ball, making it hard to break them down.

We tended to play down the left, with Harper and Doran prominent, whilst on the right McDonald was tending to be infield.

The opening goal was a finish by Jamieson at the back post. He was looking lively and hit the bar shortly after.

After half time, the same pattern continued, with our second coming from Harper. I’d need to see it again to see exactly what happened. Walsh had replaced McDonald by then and he was in on the ‘keeper which was probably enough to ensure Harper’s effort went in.

Mckay had been quiet but got two late goals, although the first was heading across the goal until it hit the ‘keeper’s leg and went in. Good to see him back doing what he does best!

Really a case of a good job well done, but not our most inspiring performance.

Of the players we’ve not seen much of, MacKay had a few saves to make.

I thought Hyde did well out of position at right back, growing into the game and getting forward more in the second half. Allardice replaced him late on, continuing our trend of playing central midfielders at right back!

Duffy looked solid at centre half alongside Deas, with Deas talking the whole defence through the game.

It is good to see Harper back and he got more influential as the game went on.

Welsh was pulling the strings in midfield but both he and McAlear were struggling to find passes to break down the defence.

Doran had a lot of good touches and was trying to create.

I’m not sure if McDonald is fully fit and he was not that influential, although he did have one good effort. He was drifting inside so we lacked an outlet on the right wing at times.

Mckay was quiet until he popped up with his goals. That will do for me every week though!

Jamieson was busy and deserved his goal. He was probably my pick as our top player on the day.

A bigger test awaits next weekend against Partick but we do have strength in depth in the squad now.  

 

Pretty decent summary but though McDonald was probably our most creative player in 1st half. Created chances for McKay and Jamieson, had a couple of decent ones himself as well and was brought down for the free kick that got Jamiesons goal. Also broke up play from a Buckie corner and if Jamieson had played the pass 2 touches earlier then he would have had a good one on one.  A very different player to Walsh, likes to wander and play through the lines which is nice to see,  allows the full backs to overlap as him going inside pulls their full backs away meaning a cb has to come out. Certainly think he tired, maybe after the knock in 1st half, from my vantage point , on the other side of the ground it lookeed like a dead leg, maybe wrong though, but considering ge has been out for a long time with injury I thought he looked dangerous.

Think there were a lot of opportunities to get the ball wider quicker yesterday, instead it was recycled across and back allowing Buckie to get behind the ball.  You can see difference in Mackay and Duko...Billy comes short which allowed Mcdonald,  jamieson to make runs behind their defence, whereas Manny likes the ball jn a higher position to hold up and wait for support. 

Good to have options to change the style. 

Nice to see Anthony McDonald back, lost whole of last season. Like signing a new player. Could be a big player for us this season.

1 hour ago, Pele_Is_God said:

All I was told was he was Ex-Hearts. Has to be Anthony McDonald

Medical tomorrow from what I heard....

1 minute ago, Pele_Is_God said:

All I was told was he was Ex-Hearts. Has to be Anthony McDonald

Reminds me of the start of Hong Kong Phooey...Is it Henry the mild manneted Janitor....could be!!!

2 hours ago, RiG said:

Always good to have a familiar face return to ICT. Especially one with a big Heart(s).

Exactly, and one who is a couple of years older and wiser.....

6 hours ago, Pele_Is_God said:

New signing in the next couple of days from what I've heard....

Yeah, heard a wee rumour today as well....hopefully announced tomorrow