Close menu

Inverness CT: Terry Butcher's league leaders in sparkling form

By Rob MacleanBBC Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments9

Billy McKay (centre) has been razor-sharp in front of goal

They were a couple of painful points away from their European dream coming true last season and a penalty shootout short of the League Cup Final.

And you did wonder - well I did anyway - how bargain basement budget Inverness Caley Thistle could possibly eclipse that amazing achievement.

Then I watched Terry Butcher's team turn on the style last Saturday, giving Motherwell a mauling (the 2-0 scoreline didn't tell the story) and grabbing the outright lead in the Scottish Premiership.

The new league doesn't lie and, while Inverness will sooner or later be elbowed out of top spot, they again seem set for a high finish and maybe a trip to Hampden.

Inverness boss Terry Butcher
Terry Butcher has guided Inverness to the top of the Premiership table

I watched them lose four goals to Celtic in the Highland capital almost exactly a year ago when the damage done might easily have stretched towards double figures.

For Butcher to build a team from that collection of players looked at the time like Mission Impossible. However, the gaffer stuck by them and eight of those who played that day are now the cornerstone of the Caley Thistle success story.

In the first few weeks of the Scottish season I haven't seen a better central defensive partnership than Gary Warren and Josh Meekings.

Left-back Graeme Shinnie will soon be attracting the transfer interest previously aroused by big brother Andy.

The gap left by the elder Shinnie looks like it's been effectively filled by new arrival James Vincent and rhyming midfielders Richie Foran and Aaron Doran, at opposite ends of the age scale, are other key components in this impressive Inverness side.

And big Tel must be counting the days until the transfer window closes when he hopes top scorer Billy McKay will still be with the club.

I'm really surprised that, up until now, Caley Thistle haven't been presented with an offer they can't refuse for one of the most improved players in Scottish football.

McKay has followed up his 27 goals last season with one in each of his team's three wins this time around and looks sharp.

I hope he stays, I love watching him play.

But, at least if he's tempted away, there would be a transfer fee involved unlike other Inverness VIP departures Shinnie, Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes.

Butcher doesn't want it to come to that. For the first time in his four-and-a-half years in the Highlands, despite a whole team of summer signings, he's reaping the rewards of season-to-season continuity.

The core of his team is unchanged and Inverness will continue to punch above their weight.

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

9 comments

  • Comment posted by caleyman, at 08:35 20 Aug 2013

    Their 4th place finish in the last SPL should have given them a European spot, rather than Hibernian getting it by default after losing the cup final. I'd like to see that rule changed to ensure Scotland has its strongest clubs competing.

  • Comment posted by BF74, at 10:55 20 Aug 2013

    ICT are very strong contenders for 2nd place this season, should have got europe this season for 4th place instead of Hibs as losing finalists should never get european football. I'm a Celtic fan but saturday is a decent chance for ICT to get something at celtic park & keep their great start to the season going with Celtic in between two crucial CL qualifiers

  • Comment posted by Dondaz, at 08:55 20 Aug 2013

    I agrre with you @1 - I do think they need to give a European place to the League Cup Winners though

  • Comment posted by Di_Fergio, at 13:47 20 Aug 2013

    Re: lack of support it's worth noting that Inverness, and the Highlands in general, historically have lost a high percentage of people at 18 as they depart for University/college/employment opportunities which until recently had been limited or simply hadn't existed. That's a lot of potential fans in their high disposable income years moving 2 hours + away, and not so many return permanently.

  • Comment posted by Jimain, at 12:56 20 Aug 2013

    @5 I know what you mean...but there ARE plenty of football followers in that area. But they're a young club first of all fighting the fact they are a merged club, secondly whenever I visit up there (at least once a month) I see more Celtic and Rangers tops than I do ICT.
    I believe ICT are one of the most energetic in their approach to getting the Community involved, but it's a long, hard slog !

  • Comment posted by DMC49, at 14:16 20 Aug 2013

    What a job Butcher does, you wonder if he could be othered what he would do with the likes of Utd, Aberdeen or Hibs. Him and Malpas are with exception of McCall and Lennon miles ahead of others. Dont be surprised if a tired Celtic slip 5 points behind them. Shows what can be achieved by coaching rather than a wish and a prayer

  • Comment posted by Freenonbrit, at 09:13 21 Aug 2013

    Re lack of support: it may be the flip side of the signing policy. When ICT was formed and then climbed through the leagues, most of the players were more or less local, and many stayed for years. Now there's only one, and one other Scot, in the first team. Necessary though it may be financially and for success, there's not the close connection between supporters and the team.

  • Comment posted by bigfingers, at 12:09 20 Aug 2013

    Shame there's no fans up there.

  • Comment posted by User0531927979, at 09:33 20 Aug 2013

    If Rob McLean has any understanding of impartiality, he'll no doubt be working on a follow up article to his lambasting of Dundee United's Calum Butcher for his 2 tackles in the thistle game. Since then we've had ICT's richie foran trying to break Gary McKay Stevens leg and then the lad at hibs trying to do the same thing on saturday.

    The silence is deafening - obviously has an agenda with DUFC.

Top Stories