Home   Sport   Article

Fan Opinion: Euan Bain's thoughts after Caley v Queens Park





Euan Bain (right) and myself on the Caley fan ferry in Glasgow before June's Scottish Cup Final
Euan Bain (right) and myself on the Caley fan ferry in Glasgow before June's Scottish Cup Final

Inverness Caledonian Thistle's Scottish Championship campaign begun with a 2-1 defeat against Queens Park on Saturday, resigning the club to their first opening day league defeat for three seasons.

This season at The Inverness Courier we want to know the thoughts of the fans after each match, and we begin this week with 'the loudest voice in the North Stand' - Euan 'Baino' Bain.

Euan (18) is a lifelong Caley fan who has been going to games since he was 7, and he noticed the collective concern from the crowd before the game over defensive frailties that proved true.

"The atmosphere before you even walked in was very doom and gloom, not many of us were expecting anything other than a dominant Queens Park performance.

"The first half started okay with a few decent moves but it all quickly dwindled away the second Queens Park got on the ball.

"Queens Park only scoring 2 goals makes the performance not look so bad but defensively we were nothing short of woeful.

"It's another season and another individual error leading to a goal, when we had Broadfoot we had a voice that kept the back line calm when errors were made, with Deas we had the same but amongst the current centre backs I cannot see that leadership voice that is necessary.

"It makes me worry for the rest of the season if we are not looking at a defender that can come in and take charge.

"Every Time they were on the attack you can tell from the stand that we all just sat worried, to have no confidence in your team just shows how bad it has become."

Picture - Ken Macpherson. Inverness CT(1) v Queen’s Park(2). 05.08.23. Frustrated - ICT manager Billy Dodds.
Picture - Ken Macpherson. Inverness CT(1) v Queen’s Park(2). 05.08.23. Frustrated - ICT manager Billy Dodds.

Euan's concerns over tactics during the match was something he noted is a feeling shared amongst the fans.

"When watching it looks like the tactic is just 11 players on the pitch go and do what you want, also no plan B for when it goes wrong it just becomes double down on whatever plan A is.

"It could be long ball, it could be passing, it could be anything, I do not think you can find a single supporter that could tell you what our tactics are."

Picture - Ken Macpherson. Inverness CT(1) v Queen’s Park(2). 05.08.23. Queen’s Park's Dominic Thomas shoots past ICT 'keeper Mark Ridgers to open the scoring.
Picture - Ken Macpherson. Inverness CT(1) v Queen’s Park(2). 05.08.23. Queen’s Park's Dominic Thomas shoots past ICT 'keeper Mark Ridgers to open the scoring.

The main positivity that Euan took from the match was the performance of academy player Keith Bray who has made a big impact on the fans so far after his performances in the League Cup and against Queens Park.

"The game did change when we brought on our shining star from the league cup Keith Bray, he reminds me of Ryan Christie in the way he moves around and how he is always looking to pick up the ball.

"He more than deserves to start after his brilliant performance with only 30 minutes played.

"I am very glad to see our youth academy still creates great talents and I hope we use him right so he can grow into his full potential."

Picture - Ken Macpherson. Dejection at the result.
Picture - Ken Macpherson. Dejection at the result.

With the transfer window still open until the end of August and a concerning opening result in the league, Euan hopes the club are still looking to recruit a replacement for ex-centre back Robbie Deas who departed the club in summer.

"The club was also determined that Robbie Deas was an easily replaced player but if you watched him for Kilmarnock you would realise that is certainly not the case, you cannot just replace the best centre back in the league with a player who did not start for us last season.

"Trying to find words to describe the performance when all i should say is it was woeful."

If you are a Caley fan and you would like to share your thoughts on a league game this season, contact craig.mclean@hnmedia.co.uk for a chance to feature.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More