Kelty Hearts @ Savage Stadium

[+old caley girl]

13 minutes ago, Starscape said:

Yeah, although, we've a threadbare inexperienced squad. With a fuller squad, we were second bottom before the 15 points. Without the penalty, we would be easily in the promotion playoffs. We've been pushing for goals but not managing to score. People have been saying we should be more cautious. They tried but we just don't have enough players to just tinker. Mckay can't score and there is no other strikers. We could try centre backs and wingers. Probably will need to but that's not a real solution. Personally, I feel we should just go back to previous. Yes, we couldn't score but as long as we create chances, we still have a route to 3 points. Playing possession with barely any players is not something ICT can do.

The whole squad, including management, have accumulated more points than we should have expected. Let's stick with what we have been doing. It's part of the game to criticise after a bad show. We've still got a better than evens chance of getting out of this. At the end of the season, let's see get any rightful seething out and then appreciate that finishing one above the play-offs is success after being fined the equivalent of 5 wins.

Totally agree with this especially the last paragraph. When we went into admin would we have taken been where we are today with destiny still in our own hands? Of course we would. For the record that game had 0-0 written all over it if Musa had stayed on. Poor Symion is just not ready and I blame DF for allowing us to start this season (before admin) with one suitable keeper. 

Another issue I need to mention is the negativity and pure self entitlement at end of home games. Players came over at full time yesterday to clap crowd. Dammed if they do and dammed if they don't! Several grown men shouting abuse at players some of whom are still teenagers. I get the frustration but what is this meant to achieve? Can we calming down and get behind the team to get them over the line. Thank goodness we are away next week. Home games seem toxic of late. 

[bdu98196]

Lack of squad depth, lack of ability to change shape and personnel and our inability to break teams down at home again. Everyone in the league comes to us wanting a point so park the bus and time waste where eventually we either give away soft goals or get countered. Again yesterday we saw a repeat of Alloa and Annan where we could play forever and not score. We are too easy to play against at home.

While lack of options especially up front is hurting us, so is no plan B, we continue in the same predictable ways all the time you can see our play becoming more frustrated and ragged. While SK has done a good job, if Savage is expecting promotion next season and not wanting extended league 1 football it will not be lost on him that there is a decision to make around whether SK can bring that even with a better squad.
 

[Yngwie]

1 hour ago, bdu98196 said:

Lack of squad depth, lack of ability to change shape and personnel and our inability to break teams down at home again.

Indeed. 0-2 v Kelty and even worse, the 0-1 home to a threadbare Annan side (that I think had 2 over 40s and another 38yo).
The constant in both those dismal results was our ‘nil’. The loss of Bavidge has left us with a squad devoid of any goal scoring strikers.

[STFU]

1 hour ago, Howdenender said:

I often find myself in agreement with you, but in this case to say the facts show that Kell has done a great job is surely stretching it a little? The recent facts are that Kelty Hearts, who have no money, Montrose, who have no money, and Annan, similarly penniless, have all left Inverness with three points in their pockets! Despite these somewhat desperate performances we may still avoid a relegation playoff, due in large part to the poor standards of others.

I don't think it is stretching it and a quick look at previous managers shows that his PPG is up there with the best and better than many.  John Hughes in 2014/15 is the last time we saw it that high and only in promotion seasons prior was it higher.

I've deliberately not mentioned other factors in this (but others have) because it's tough to quantify and whilst we can't judge his ability to put a squad together etc., we are seeing his ability to get much more out of a squad than his predecessor and many other 'good' managers in our history.

Not denying there hasn't been disappointing performances and results in there too but that's part of football and judging managers on individual games and not overall results during their tenure is a slippery slope.

I think he's already delivered the near impossible by going into the last 3 games with hope of league survival.  When he delivers it that will be the miracle.

I'd be really disappointed if Kell was removed at the end of the season and think it would be unjust.

Weirdly I think he'd be getting less criticism if we hadn't got anywhere near 8th place because people's expectations wouldn't have been raised so high.

The ultimate case of being the victim of your own success?

[Robert]

Unless Alan Savage has had a major change of mind since he announced the terms of his bid, Scott Kellacher is not going anywhere, nor are Billy McKay, Charlie Christie, Andrew Benjamin or Grassa.

He said they would remain part of his team.

Notwithstanding that, there’s no way we should be questioning Kel’s future given how he’s got safety within our own hands. 

Edited Sunday at 12:12 PM by Robert

[big cherly]

2 hours ago, Starscape said:

Yeah, although,

And ifs and buts!   We will certainly see Kells see out the remaining (let’s hope 3) games. No question here and he deserves this for what he’s achieved to date. But let’s not be restricted or blind to ‘more of the same’ of Saturday’s game and tactics against Kelty. As I mentioned earlier (half time), why 11 ICT players in our own 18 yard box for at least a couple of corners? No outlet with at least one striker on the half way line to fight for any clearance (hoof) upfield. Surely that (11 men in box) was not a tactic? If it was then you would hope Kells or Billy would see it wasn’t working and effect a change next time round!
As the game developed it was clear Kelty (a lot better than I expected {or a few here give credit to } in there set up and ability to break quickly), were able to transfer from a defensive position to attacking with players who could run, carry and pass the ball quickly. Danny and Remi whilst good in the air have no speed whatsoever and are exposed when faced with players of pace. 
I get it Kells wanted to go for a win, but it would needed to be an own goal on Saturday for us. Dropping a player behind D&R to lock up shop IMO would (should) have been made as a tactical decision. 
Hindsight’s a great thing and prepared to give Kells the benefit of the doubt here. Won’t be so forgiving if we repeat the same mistakes and don’t learn for the remaining games. 
bc

Edited Sunday at 12:18 PM by big cherly

[CELTIC1CALEY3]

Even Charlie got it wrong this week by being quoted as saying ' Charlie Christie revealed Caley Thistle have already started recruitment and work to shape their squad for PROMOTION next season'.

Until we are safe. history shows showing respect to opponents is the best way out of a crisis. 

[tm4tj]

Maybe he meant promotion from league2

[bishbashbosh]

10 hours ago, STFU said:

The point if my last couple of posts was to say that the facts show Kell has done a great job and the suggestion to the contrary was uncalled for.

You then have 3 paragraphs saying the facts don't show how well Kell is doing and the 10 games from before he took over mean nothing and you then immediately follow it with a comment saying people can't deny how well he is doing.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Confused

What a load of tosh.

where did I say the facts don’t show sk doing well. Apples and oranges I said. If you are going to compare both managers you can’t do it 10 games against 23 games. 

cant deny sk has done well is me talking, I don’t speak for other “people”.

i think you and I will have to agree to disagree. In future I won’t respond to any of your posts so I can’t say anything that is uncalled for.

if I have caused you any distress or hurt I Apologise.

ps…. You forgot the .com after mr confused.

 

[STFU]

The 10 vs 23 games is why I used average PPG.  If you want to go back and include 23 games for Ferguson then his average is even worse and only strengthens the case for Kell.

I don't take anything said online to heart so you can sleep easy and not worry about upsetting me. Feel free to disagree with me any time you like and I will continue to do the same.

[CaleyD]

Do we even know if Scott wants to continue beyond the end of the season?

[CaleyTennis85]

7 hours ago, CaleyD said:

Do we even know if Scott wants to continue beyond the end of the season?

That is actually a good question but I would suspect he will .