Goalkeeper says Duncan Ferguson's ideas are bedding in at Inverness Caledonian Thistle
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MARK Ridgers is confident that a third full week of work under Duncan Ferguson’s managerial watch will see Caley Thistle crank up progress in embracing a new style of play.
The experienced goalkeeper spoke of “small steps” and a distance still to travel in terms of fully adopting the Everton legend’s ideas and philosophy, but felt the international break was invaluable.
While Scotland were sweating in Seville and then savouring automatic qualification for next year’s European Championship finals in Germany, the Caley Jags squad was taking a short break before more short, sharp and intense work on the training fields at Fort George.
Next up is Morton – the only side below them in the league – away on Saturday, with Ferguson’s men hoping to add to four points from six in the new manager’s first two matches.
Ridgers, who is enjoying the fresh approach from Billy Dodds’ successor, said: “After everything we’ve been through at the start of the campaign, we’re now two games unbeaten, so we will build on that.
“We have another week to work with the manager on the training field. He is getting his points across, which is good from his and our point of view.
“The boys are enjoying it, and buying into what he’s demanding.
“The boys are really committed to the defensive side now. It might sound obvious, but first and foremost,the attitude is all about not losing a goal then you won’t lose games.
“It’s early days, but the manager has come in and implemented that.
“He’s also working us hard on the attacking side, and that will also come good for us I believe.
“The confidence has always been there. We knew we were not miles away, but it is now starting to come together for us.
“This week, the manager is bedding in more ideas of what he wants to do. We have a bounce game during the week, so that will help him.
“It has been a good, positive start under the manager – and we have to take that into the game against Morton, which is huge.”
Ferguson, in his prime, was a target man whose considerable presence tended to encourage team-mates to fire high balls into the box.
As manager keen for his team to engage in subtler tactics, Ferguson’s message has been very different, with an emphasis on patience and intelligent use of the ball, with disciplined shape when opponents attack.
“The manager wants to play it with two lines of four. It’s not about pressing the ball for pressing the ball sake,” Ridgers said. “It is structured. If the ball is going backwards, we’re doing the job and squeezing the game.
“He wants the forward-thinking players to be patient in and around the penalty area, rather than rushing it or throwing balls forward blindly. It is small steps at a time, but we will look to progress and put points on the board.
