Billy Dodds Highlanders v Lee Bullen's Seasiders

[PB1994]

42 minutes ago, RiG said:

TBF we do get plenty of updates on which gym the players are using and what sports drinks we have partnered up with.

I do enjoy the club letting us know they are continuing to use a gym up at the retail park when we spent god knows how much on one at the stadium that the players could use instead.

[diegomarahenry]

2 hours ago, SandyCromarty said:

Why the secrecy over injuries?

We have this as well, to the point they have stopped putting team news on the match preview.

It used to have, “all players are available for selection” we’d then be missing a couple of players for the game and find out in the local paper the following week that players were out for a few weeks. The club media would never mention it and it was never mentioned in the pre-match press conferences. 
 

[RiG]

There's definitely been a shift in mood over the last few weeks. It's weird to think that so many people are unhappy given that we aren't that far off a play off position (at least). For me though I am very concerned about the performances of late and issues off the pitch. You could argue Dodds has some kind of get out with recent injuries but I feel we've been playing really poorly for a long time now even before we started losing players to injury. It's been a tough watch even with results being not too bad a month or so ago. But it's a hard push to say what we've seen is entertaining which is why a lot of people like to go to a game. Off the pitch rumours swirl about altercations in the dressing room, players wanting to leave, jobs for the boys, the concert fiasco...it's all a bit grim really.

[Stephen Malkmus]

Can someone who has a P&J subscription please paste this article here? I want to hear what Daniel Clueless has to say for himself.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/4991683/caley-thistles-head-of-medical-dan-cluett-describes-off-field-role-as-new-gym-deal-is-struck/

 

[RiG]

Spoiler

  

Quote

It has been a busy start to the season for Caley Thistle’s head of medical Dan Cluett.

Injuries of all sorts have stacked up throughout the season, even stretching back to last term when winger Tom Walsh and striker Shane Sutherland were sidelined.

In the summer, skipper Sean Welsh was raring to go, but ended up going through a knee operation.

Inverness have been without up to nine players recently and head coach Billy Dodds has guided his patched-up team to some big results, including five successive wins, four of which were away from home.

The work away from the stadium and matchdays continues at the city’s Everlast Gym at Inverness Shopping Park and the partnership has just been renewed.

Cluett was a summer signing for ICT and an important one for the Highlanders as he works daily with the squad and the gym plays a key role.

He explained how he came to move from the UK capital to the hub of the Highlands.

He said: “I am originally from Malta and I did my undergraduate course there in physiotherapy. I then moved to London to specialise in sports injuries and I worked with the Fulham Academy for a while as well.

“When Covid hit, I moved back to Malta for a couple of years before returning to London to work for a year with Barnet Football Club, and that led to this job in Inverness through common contacts.

“I knew the Highlands was a beautiful place, but I didn’t really know about Inverness.”

And Cluett stressed that not being stressed really matters as they seek to have a functional, fit pool of players ready to compete.

He said: “It’s a good job. It can be challenging sometimes, especially when the number of injuries start to go up.

“But everyone at the club is really nice and helpful. Despite the high pressure we work under, I feel everyone remains relatively calm, which allows us to work through things in a good way.

“Sometimes at football clubs, things can get a bit out of hand when results do not go your way.

“So far, things have generally been okay results-wise.  Everyone here is helpful, from the top all the way down.”

Cluett offered an insight into how his week pans out.

He added: “I like that no two days are the same in this job. It changes every single day.

“In general though, the first thing we do in the morning is update the manager about anything that might happened (with regards to players’ injuries) the day before or during a game.

“We then call in the injured players earlier than the rest of the team to see what our plan is going to be for the rest of the week.

“I then go out training with the team to cover the emergency medical side of things, in case any emergencies were to arise.

“We then go back and see how the guys reacted to the session, so they can get a feel for how they found it.

“We can then assess whether, for example, we are giving them too much to do, to try and avoid any overuse injuries.

“We’d then assess whether any injuries might have cropped up during the session as well.

“At the end of the day, it’s a case of giving out information to anyone who needs it that we have gathered throughout the day. That goes to the chief executive, the stakeholders and, of course, the manager.”

Visits to the gym are important for those out of action as they plot their way back.

Cluett said: “We also have Becky (Mussett), who is our rehab specialist, who throughout the week when we are training comes into the gym with the injured guys.

“We agree a plan together as to what the players are going to do in the gym and Becky will supervise them doing it.

“Usually, after lunch, we meet and chat about the sessions for the next day as well as looking at a long-term approach, whether we’re going in the right direction.”

It’s clear that detail matters when it comes to minimising the risk of repeat injuries as the players are considered individually.

Cluett added: “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we do injury prevention sessions at the gym. We will get the whole team along in the morning before they go out to training.

“The idea is we address all their past injuries and try to strengthen the areas that need to be strengthened, which will help avoid these injuries from coming back. We do that twice per week.

“It is tailored to the individual. Depending on their injury history, we create a programme for each player.

“We’re lucky because at Everlast there is everything we need in terms of gym equipment at our disposal.

“Having the use of the pool is another big part of what we access at Everlast, which is especially useful in the early stages of rehab. The helps the players get used to putting weight on the joints or muscles, so that is very useful.”

Katie Taylor, assistant manager at Everlast Gym Inverness, explained the benefits the players enjoy when checking into the facilities.

She said: “We as a club are delighted to continue our partnership with ICTFC.

“We are proud to provide our facilities to aid them with their training, fitness levels, and rehabilitation.

“We have a spacious gym floor area, swimming pool, steam room, spas, and large variety of group exercise classes. The players always bring a positive atmosphere into the club and are keen to get involved with our gym floor challenges.”

Caley Thistle season ticket holders also get the opportunity to save money when joining Everlast Gym as a member.

They can join Everlast with no joining fee and will save 10% off their monthly membership by producing their season ticket and quoting their season ticket number

Stuck it behind a spoiler @Stephen Malkmus as it's pretty long.

[Stephen Malkmus]

44 minutes ago, RiG said:

“But everyone at the club is really nice and helpful. Despite the high pressure we work under, I feel everyone remains relatively calm, which allows us to work through things in a good way.

“Sometimes at football clubs, things can get a bit out of hand when results do not go your way.

Thanks. Sounds like the club needs to employ more unhinged winners imo. What's Terence Butcher up to these days?

[SandyCromarty]

3 hours ago, bdu98196 said:

I'd like to suggest its because we like to keep the opposition guessing who will line up next match, try gain a bit of advantage.

Although, I suspect its because communication is shite at the club and as you suggest fans are treated with contempt and taken for granted.

Would'nt be the first time if a manager has lost the dressing room though that some players pull a sicky/feign injury to avoid playing in a team of dead ducks.......not professional but it happens.

Overall though, who fucking knows whats going on. Seems like the injury list only grows but never reduces

Beg to disagree about the team line up guesswork.

Arsenal eg, I know that they are in the stratosphere money wise compared to us but they have millions at stake on a game and yet on their website they have a table describing injury's, how long the player will be out and dates when he's back in training,

Whatever silly excuse our management have know that it is fuckin bullshit and just a means to separate us from them. 

Take a look on. the RC website at their Staggies Army offer to their fans, thats a club involving their fans.

[Calayrdonia]

The fact we won at Caley last season for the first time in about 20 years tells it's story of this fixture. Away to Inverness just isn't one we seem to like at all.

I don't know enough about the Caley injury list I must admit, but in terms of Ayr, it's a real hammer blow that whether fit or not, we are without Musonda. Him and Kirk have really cemented a very good partnership. Was encouraging to see Houston doing sprints when the teams came out at Hamilton, so hopefully he's available on Saturday.

The other big one would be Chalmers. Really missed him going forward, I felt, on Friday so I hope he's ready to go. 

Heading up to Inverness, it's looking like there could potentially be as many as four (Houston, Musonda, Murdoch, Chalmers) of our strongest starting line up missing. That's a hell of a lot to contend with in such a competitive league and absolutely is enough to knock us off our stride going forward if it's not short term.
Make no mistake, we got away with one on Friday, big time, so fingers crossed we can get everyone back as quick as possible. Yes we have a bit of depth in the squad but that's undoubtedly in forward areas, and not so much in the middle of the park or defence.

We'll have to be a hell of a lot better than we were last week to get a result on Saturday. Also, the 4-1-4-1 was a train wreck against Hamilton. We have got all our best results with 2 up top and it gets the best out of Dipo I feel as well, so we must return to that this week, whoever Bullen chooses to partner him with.

 

[Jazzar]

22 hours ago, The Mantis said:

I sense a soupçon of scepticism there…

To my knowledge:

Long term

Robbie Deas (broken leg)

Shane Sutherland (cruciate)

Unknown (I.e. the club lets us find out by word of mouth)

Danny Devine

Tom Walsh

Roddy MacGregor

Scott Allardice

Austin Samuels

Daniel MacKay

To these you can add that Sean Welsh has started the last couple of games so is overdue to get crocked. And our first choice keeper was effectively thrown under a bus by the manager at Cappielow and isn’t being picked…

So get your money on >40 corner kicks this time

I blame it all on plastic pitches (but then "you would" some would say).

[sophia]

9 hours ago, SandyCromarty said:

Why the secrecy over injuries? 

Why not be protective with personal medical information?

GDPR rules being such as they are would seem to be a great advance to me and whilst there are conditions that remain stigmatised, I would support the privacy of each and every player.

 

[Shibuya]

What is this Inverness concert fiasco??

[bdu98196]

 

 

Edited November 14, 2022 by bdu98196

[Stephen Malkmus]

Imagine being a professional footballer and having to go to the Everlast gym at the retail park. They won't even be able to hear the physio staff over the sound of blaring Cascada tracks and Polish meatheads screaming about their newest roid injections

[RiG]

It's almost like the "elite performance gym" at the stadium doesn't have any equipment in it for the players to use.

[SandyCromarty]

10 hours ago, Shibuya said:

What is this Inverness concert fiasco??

Like many stadiums  we've had shows with Rod Stewart and Elton John in the past, all run by 3rd party concert professional types who take the financial risk while the club benefits from the rental fees etc.

Apparently the club had set up a registered concert company and decided to put on a show by themselves this July, so at great cost they hired the pub singer Bocelli and a full orchestra for the Fri night and a has been mob most younger people never heard of Duran Duran for the Sat night.

The Bocelli show was a shambles organisationally apparently and complaints of attendees missing buses plus people turning up at hotels thinking a room was included when it wasn't etc etc.

The Duran Duran fiasco, who would struggle to fill Inverness's Market bar on a sat night, was virtually empty.

There have been rumours around the city that losses of upwards of a £1,000.000 were lost.

On the run up to this ticket sales were drastically slow, I would have thought a professional mob would have had a get out contract clause included in the event of this happening and cancelled the DD show.

 

[diegomarahenry]

When Barr owned Centrum and indeed, when Centrum existed, a poster on the Honest page who was Belle and Sebastiens manager at the time questioned the sustainability of a venue that size trying to offer concerts. What artist would chose playing a gig in an ice hockey rink with a capacity of 1500, midway between Prestwick and Ayr when they could choose from half a dozen venues in Glasgow  and have a bigger catchment area. 

I am sure Duran Duran could sell 8000 tickets in Scotland but possibly in a smaller venue over several visits. 

Ayr were looking at utilising the stadium for open Ayr concerts but even Elton John failed to sell out Rugby park recently judging by the amount of free ticket giveaways that were happening. 

[PB1994]

Inverness also had concerts 5 mins from the centre of town going on both nights the gigs at the stadium were happening. Which had been cancelled because of COVID, so loads of folk already had tickets to that. It was a daft idea to try run it at the same time they were going on.

Might not have been both nights actually but certainly the same night as Duran Duran.

Edited November 15, 2022 by PB1994

[SandyCromarty]

11 hours ago, PB1994 said:

Inverness also had concerts 5 mins from the centre of town going on both nights the gigs at the stadium were happening. Which had been cancelled because of COVID, so loads of folk already had tickets to that. It was a daft idea to try run it at the same time they were going on.

Might not have been both nights actually but certainly the same night as Duran Duran.

It was world legend Van Morrison a few miles up the road at Belladrum against Birminghams finest at Caley Stadium. A no brainer.

[Guest]

On 14/11/2022 at 16:34, Calayrdonia said:

The fact we won at Caley last season for the first time in about 20 years tells it's story of this fixture. Away to Inverness just isn't one we seem to like at all.

I don't know enough about the Caley injury list I must admit, but in terms of Ayr, it's a real hammer blow that whether fit or not, we are without Musonda. Him and Kirk have really cemented a very good partnership. Was encouraging to see Houston doing sprints when the teams came out at Hamilton, so hopefully he's available on Saturday.

The other big one would be Chalmers. Really missed him going forward, I felt, on Friday so I hope he's ready to go. 

Heading up to Inverness, it's looking like there could potentially be as many as four (Houston, Musonda, Murdoch, Chalmers) of our strongest starting line up missing. That's a hell of a lot to contend with in such a competitive league and absolutely is enough to knock us off our stride going forward if it's not short term.
Make no mistake, we got away with one on Friday, big time, so fingers crossed we can get everyone back as quick as possible. Yes we have a bit of depth in the squad but that's undoubtedly in forward areas, and not so much in the middle of the park or defence.

We'll have to be a hell of a lot better than we were last week to get a result on Saturday. Also, the 4-1-4-1 was a train wreck against Hamilton. We have got all our best results with 2 up top and it gets the best out of Dipo I feel as well, so we must return to that this week, whoever Bullen chooses to partner him with.

 

Mutdoch and Musonda are the biggest issues I'd say but McGinty and Kirk should be capable of coping. Charmers has been good enough and would be first choice but I don't think his actual performances to date have been any sort of huge upgrade on our other wingers and Houston has hardly set the Heather alight either. So basically I don't think we can use the Injuries aa any sort of excuse especially given the size and quality of our squad.

That said, I'd be overjoyed with an entertaining draw !!

Edited November 16, 2022 by WATTOO

[PB1994]

1 hour ago, SandyCromarty said:

It was world legend Van Morrison a few miles up the road at Belladrum against Birminghams finest at Caley Stadium. A no brainer.

Was it not Skippinish at Bught Park?