It is not long now (in over a fortnight) until transfer window opens for January and I read on Twitter that Hughes wants 1-2 players in so was wondering if that means departures in order to get these in or additional funds from Kenny.

In my opinion, its more important to keep our best players intact but tbh, both Horner and Sekajja must be expected to leave and if they do, 2 strikers would be my hope from the wages available.

I reckon its going to be a long and nervy Jan regarding transfer window, not matches.

Going to the right club helped their careers, not stuck on the bench at a club paying nice wages.

I doubt Rooney regrets going to Birmingham, he managed a few games in the Europa league and done not too bad wherever he went after us. You could argue both him and tansey have came back better players.

Ross County are running the rule over freed Inverness Caley Thistle striker Ibra Sekaija as boss Jim McIntyre looks to bolster his squad in January. (Daily Record)

I doubt Rooney regrets going to Birmingham, he managed a few games in the Europa league and done not too bad wherever he went after us. You could argue both him and tansey have came back better players.

 

Exactly. Players may not always feature in the firxt XI but they will be learning new things all the time and, as you mention, might end up coming back a better player because of it.

Dave the Rave talking sense, anyway! Hopefully, these comments and those from Greg Tansey will get the others out of contract to see sense! Well done Dave!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30734788

Edited January 9, 201510 yr by PerfICT

I don't blame anyone for wanting to go, let's not lie.. there's many and far better things on offer than what we can provide. Clubs with bigger fanbases, better training facilities, more money, better location.. a Nandos - and so on. Inverness and our club are hardly the greatest treasure but we work with all we have.

However, folk like Tansey and anyone else who's signed new contracts fairly recently, I appreciate greatly for choosing to stay where they are, immense dedication to our cause 

We know fine well we are always going to be in a hard place but slowly we're doing things to improve and get by. Especially managing to get into a scheme of offering contracts longer than a year has been a massive thing. And I don;t think for a second if they havn't been offered a contract as of yet then they won't at all. It's business and I'm positive there's a lot more thought into it than some people may or may not think, just slapping a salary on paper and wanting a 'Yay or Nae' 

Immense admiration though for most players, coming here in the first place and even more so if they choose to continue.

Well, as has been said before .."The grass is always greener over the fence".

 

From a club's point of view, it's far better for them to simply do the best deal for their own players and then also do their best to further their training and knowledge.

 

Then, when the player thinks it is time to leave, continue to try to maintain the best of relations by assisting them in their new

adventure. That  way, if things don't work out at that player's new club and, like Tansey, they decide to come back they know that they are always welcome and should be motivated to try harder.

 

Not to mention that ,when they leave, they are far more likely to speak well of their old club as they move around in other clubs and leagues. Which does ICT no harm whatsoever and might encourage a very good player  to consider ICT as worth a try in the future .

Question.....Is there something not right when, according to Raven, he indicated in the summer that he'd like to stay yet there still isn't an offer on the table?

David Raven has more than earned a new deal and hopefully he isn't being forgotten about in the pursuit of tying others down on new deals.

Mark Wilson could be a decent signing for us if Shinnie goes.

Also, I see Chris Porter turned down move to our neighours. I would like him here to as a replacement for Mckay or even as replacement for Sekajja.

Not sure whether to be relieved or worried about lack of news regarding incomings or outgoings.

Mark Wilson could be a decent signing for us if Shinnie goes.

Also, I see Chris Porter turned down move to our neighours. I would like him here to as a replacement for Mckay or even as replacement for Sekajja.

Not sure whether to be relieved or worried about lack of news regarding incomings or outgoings.

Right back replacing a left back? - fair enough. Granted Mark Wilson would be a decent enough signing but money if available would be better spent elsewhere IMO.

I do think we could do with another striker as the general consensus is now that Mckay could be elsewhere next season. Do we need another striker this season? - not particularly especially with Calum Ferguson on the ranks already.

Just while we are speaking of strikers, I noticed Gregory Tade is now a free agent

 

Mark Wilson could be a decent signing for us if Shinnie goes.

Also, I see Chris Porter turned down move to our neighours. I would like him here to as a replacement for Mckay or even as replacement for Sekajja.

Not sure whether to be relieved or worried about lack of news regarding incomings or outgoings.

Right back replacing a left back? - fair enough. Granted Mark Wilson would be a decent enough signing but money if available would be better spent elsewhere IMO.

I do think we could do with another striker as the general consensus is now that Mckay could be elsewhere next season. Do we need another striker this season? - not particularly especially with Calum Ferguson on the ranks already.

Just while we are speaking of strikers, I noticed Gregory Tade is now a free agent

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Hughes-hopes-to-give-Ferguson-Caley-Thistle-chance-12012015.htm

I see that Mackay-Steven has now signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic.  Having done so, that rules out the chance for anyone coming in with a bid which meets or exceeds Utd's valuation of him.  Or does it?  By definition it is not a contract so is it actually legally binding?

 

I suppose the attraction of such arrangements for players is that if their new club does not have to pay a transfer fee, they can afford to offer the player better terms.  Only cash rich clubs or those desparate to strengthen their squad in the window will be prepared to pay a significant fee and offer attractive personal terms to the players.  Other clubs will focus on offering contracts to players when their existing contracts are coming to an end.  The consequence of this is that apart from very big clubs making big offers for exceptional players, any offers for even pretty good players are likely to be modest.  Sheffield Utd's offer of £80,000 for Mackay-Steven being a case in point. 

 

This highlights the need to try to get players tied up on longer term contracts.  The club has made positive moves on this in the last 2 or 3 years and is no doubt thinking long and hard about what they have to do to keep those whose contract are up at the end of the season.

 

It is understandable that players want to further their careers and earn more money, but they do need to recognise that sometimes the best way to further your career is to stay put.  As far as Billy Mckay is concerned, he is currently at a club where the style of play suits him and where the manager (and fans!) will stick by him when he is not scoring.  If he maintains his current form he has every chance of European football next season together with league and cup success.  Being here has also not prevented him from playing at international level.  Where else will he get those opportunities?  He would find it hard to maintain his place in any other side which offers those possibilities and he risks sinking without trace if he cannot secure a regular starting spot.  Of course other clubs can offer more money but there is a balance to be struck between playing regularly with the realistic opportunity for success, and the money.  I just hope the club can make a good enough offer so that on balance Billy (and others) decide to stay here.

The hullabaloo with Brittain's St Johnstone Pre-Contract showed they're not worth the paper they're written on.

I see that Mackay-Steven has now signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic.  Having done so, that rules out the chance for anyone coming in with a bid which meets or exceeds Utd's valuation of him.  Or does it?  By definition it is not a contract so is it actually legally binding?

 

I suppose the attraction of such arrangements for players is that if their new club does not have to pay a transfer fee, they can afford to offer the player better terms.  Only cash rich clubs or those desparate to strengthen their squad in the window will be prepared to pay a significant fee and offer attractive personal terms to the players.  Other clubs will focus on offering contracts to players when their existing contracts are coming to an end.  The consequence of this is that apart from very big clubs making big offers for exceptional players, any offers for even pretty good players are likely to be modest.  Sheffield Utd's offer of £80,000 for Mackay-Steven being a case in point. 

 

This highlights the need to try to get players tied up on longer term contracts.  The club has made positive moves on this in the last 2 or 3 years and is no doubt thinking long and hard about what they have to do to keep those whose contract are up at the end of the season.

 

It is understandable that players want to further their careers and earn more money, but they do need to recognise that sometimes the best way to further your career is to stay put.  As far as Billy Mckay is concerned, he is currently at a club where the style of play suits him and where the manager (and fans!) will stick by him when he is not scoring.  If he maintains his current form he has every chance of European football next season together with league and cup success.  Being here has also not prevented him from playing at international level.  Where else will he get those opportunities?  He would find it hard to maintain his place in any other side which offers those possibilities and he risks sinking without trace if he cannot secure a regular starting spot.  Of course other clubs can offer more money but there is a balance to be struck between playing regularly with the realistic opportunity for success, and the money.  I just hope the club can make a good enough offer so that on balance Billy (and others) decide to stay here.

 

I agree with what you see re Billy but the fact is that Mckay has a good potential to go down south and make himself a regular at international level plus get a better pay packet. The whole European place isn't really going to be much of an incentive as we will probably get one or two matches and then get knocked out before the real competition begins like every other Scottish club. I hope he would stay who wouldn't want to keep him but I think we have been lucky to keep a player who has been fantastic for this long and if it is this summer when he goes then I for one will wish him luck. 

The hullabaloo with Brittain's St Johnstone Pre-Contract showed they're not worth the paper they're written on.

 

St Johnstone never got their man BUT that bit of paper ended up being worth £40,000 to them, at County's expense.

I see ADO Den Haag want Billy Mckay :-(.

So far, good to see it going quiet on rumours regarding anyone else though.

Some people might scoff at this, but should County go down, what about Liam Boyce?  Despite playing for a hopeless team, he does seem to have a decent goal record and has an excellent record in Northern Ireland (a low standard I know).  He's a hard worker and always looked a handful whenever I've seen him.  If he can get his weight sorted out, could he be someone worth looking at?

 

Maybe we should try and sign that Tony Dingwall as well, just to laugh at the Dingwallian seethe! 

Edited January 22, 201510 yr by Renegade

I'd rather see Ali Sutherland or Callum Ferguson getting a game than see us sign Boyce!

Boyce and Cardle to replace Marley and Billy should they go. I'd happily raid County for them.

Both good players that suffer from County's hoof and thump appoach abd who would play better in a team that play good football.

I wouldn't touch Ross County players with a barge pole!

I think we should stick to the same transfer strategy we've had the last few seasons trying to unearth gems of the lower leagues in England trying to make a name for themselves who could be undoubtedly be better calibre of player than the two listed above county players.

I wouldn't touch Ross County players with a barge pole!

I think we should stick to the same transfer strategy we've had the last few seasons trying to unearth gems of the lower leagues in England trying to make a name for themselves who could be undoubtedly be better calibre of player than the two listed above county players.

Can't think of any tbh but that is mostly due to not watching Football League Show lol or not getting any blue square matches on BT yet this season.

Where is IHE when we need him haha.

Maybe someone on here will know of anyone?

I wouldn't touch Ross County players with a barge pole!

I think we should stick to the same transfer strategy we've had the last few seasons trying to unearth gems of the lower leagues in England trying to make a name for themselves who could be undoubtedly be better calibre of player than the two listed above county players.

Can't think of any tbh but that is mostly due to not watching Football League Show lol or not getting any blue square matches on BT yet this season.

Where is IHE when we need him haha.

Maybe someone on here will know of anyone?

With Yogi already having experience with Hartlepool, he will have a grasp of what the calibre is like down there. I'm sure there will be players that he has previously worked with down there that may be better suited up here - who knows.

I'm also sure that the club will have retained some contacts despite Marsella not being with the club anymore, so we should hopefully have things sorted out should some of the guys decide not to re-new their contract.

Boyce knows the area somewhat and has experience at this level.  I'd be willing to take him if the chance was there.  Just because he (and anyone else for that matter) is in a poor County side, doesn't mean they wouldn't flourish in our team and Boyce fits our hard working ethos.  You don't get a move from Northern Ireland to Werder Bremen for nothing.  

 

Cardle seems to have stalled a bit at County.  It wasn't that long ago, every man and their dog on here wanted to sign him but maybe the Championship is more his level.  What about Gardyne as well?  He's another who's career has stalled a wee bit, but I saw him playing against Aberdeen a couple of months back and I thought he was very good.  We have a habit of turning careers around as well.

 

What's the situation with Lionel Ainsworth?  I recollect Hughes wanting to sign him before and I think he'd be perfect should Watkins move on.  It'd be nice to have a player with proper lightning pace on the wings as well.

Edited January 23, 201510 yr by Renegade

What our club does well and no doubt will continue to do well is to bring in players who seem to be under-performing at a lower level and developing them within the structure.  We have always had a good team spirit which has allowed us to play as a team and through a succession of managers the focus has been the team rather than more prominent individuals.  New players need to be ones which fit in with the ethos of the club and can bring something to the style of play.

 

I think an important element of this is continuity.  Sides built on teamwork rather than individual flare need time to develop as a unit and that means that we need to find players who are keen to live in this part of the country and sign up for 2 or 3 years.  These factors make the County players an obvious place to look for replacements.  County have some good players who are under-performing as a team.  You only need to think back to the first half of the game at TCS earlier in the season when we were lucky not to go in at the interval 4 down.  They also know what it is like to live up here and, indeed, many wouldn't want to move away and if they fitted in with the team ethos at ICT would be ideal candidates for a longer term commitment to the club.

 

I wouldn't want to speculate which players might have the potential to develop within the ICT set up - all I'm saying is that OTB should be the first place Hughes should look at when seeking new blood.  As for the County boys, a switch to ICT would be perfect - they'd get to move to a big club down South without having to move house.