Inverness CT: Guide to 2015-16 season

By Adam Higgins
Jul 26, 2015
5 min read

A profile of Inverness Caley Thistle as part of a comprehensive guide to the 12 top-flight teams ahead of the 2015-16 Scottish Premiership season.

Reaching unexpected and unprecedented heights as well as breaking club records, the year 2015 is one that will live long in the short history of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The Highlanders achieved unchartered levels of success last season having secured their highest ever league finish in third place in the top-flight and European football for the first time albeit their brief venture on the continent was unfortunately ended at the first hurdle by Romanian side Astra in the qualifying rounds. However, the icing on the cake came at Hampden Park in their final game of the campaign as John Hughes's team lifted the Scottish Cup to claim the first major trophy of their 21-year existence in his first full season as manager. Their outstanding league progress might have been better reflected in the table had they not suffered defeats in all four meetings with second-placed Aberdeen. Although there were some sensational highs including a thrilling cup semi-final victory over Celtic, Caley Thistle had to endure their fair share of disappointing lows with a 4-0 home defeat to Partick Thistle plainly exposing their fragilities while scoring goals on a regular basis became an issue following Billy McKay's January sale to Wigan. With some key players deciding to move on to pastures new over the summer, it will be difficult for Yogi's men to replicate the accomplishments of 2014-15 next term but, having established themselves as a top-six team in the Scottish Premiership, another steady campaign in the Highlands would be held in high regard.

LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP TEAMS FOR THIS SEASON:

Aberdeen Celtic Dundee Dundee United Hamilton Academical Heart of Midlothian INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE Kilmarnock Motherwell Partick Thistle Ross County St Johnstone

INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE:

Manager of the year: The ex-Falkirk and Hibs boss, 50, received the PFA Scotland award as voted for by his peers after guiding Inverness to the Scottish Cup (Picture from Sky Sports)

Manager: John Hughes Assistant Manager: Brian Rice (replacing Russell Latapy) Captain: Richie Foran (Midfielder) Chairman: Kenny Cameron Star Player: Ryan Christie (Midfielder) 2014-15 player of the season: Ryan Christie (Midfielder)

Back in action: The Irishman, 35, has returned after 16 months out with a knee injury and will skipper the side again next term (Picture from Sky Sports)

Stadium: Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Capacity: 7,800 2014-15 Average Attendance: 3,733 This is the third smallest stadium currently in the Scottish Premiership

Last season's league finish: 3rd (Won 19, Drawn 8, Lost 11 - 65 points) Last season's goals for/against: 52/42

Left: Russell Latapy resigned as John Hughes's right-hand man to embark on his own managerial career (Picture from BBC Scotland)

Discipline record in league (2014-15): 70 yellow cards, 5 red cards Last season's disciplinarian (2014-15): Ross Draper (13 yellows, 1 red)

First three fixtures (2015-16): Saturday 1 August v Motherwell (H), Saturday 8 August v St Johnstone (A), Wednesday 12 August v Partick Thistle (H)

Quick return: Inverness, who lost 5-0 to the champions on the final day last term, visit Parkhead on the third Saturday of the new season (Picture from Sky Sports)

Other key fixtures (2015-16): 15 August v Celtic (A), 26 September v Aberdeen (H), 3 October v Ross County (A), 28 November v Celtic (H), 26 December v Aberdeen (A), 30 December v Hamilton (A), 2 January v Ross County (H), 13 February v Aberdeen (H), 20 February v Celtic (A), 19 March v Ross County (A), 9 April v Dundee United (A)

Live TV games (confirmed): 11 September v Hearts (H), KO 7:45pm, BT Sport 1

Biggest league win of last season: 16 May 2015 - 3-0 win v Dundee United (H) Biggest league defeat of last season: 24 May 2015 - 5-0 defeat v Celtic (A)

Mixed feelings: The right-back scored the extra-time winner for Caley Thistle in the semis but missed the Scottish Cup Final through injury (Picture from Sky Sports)

Best moment (2014-15): Beating Celtic 3-2 in Scottish Cup semi-finals and then winning the trophy Worst moment (2014-15): Three defeats over festive period to Aberdeen, St Johnstone & Partick Thistle

Top league goalscorer (2014-15): Billy McKay - 10 goals Top overall goalscorer (2014-15): Billy McKay - 10 goals

Most league assists (2014-15): Marley Watkins - 9 assists Most league appearances last season: Graeme Shinnie & Josh Meekings (37 starts each)

Swansong: The winger, 24, scored in the Scottish Cup Final on his last Inverness outing after two impressive seasons in the Highlands (Picture from Sky Sports)

Best signing (summer 2015): Dani Lopez (from La Roda, free transfer) Key player for 2015-16: Greg Tansey Record signing: John Rankin (£65,000 buy from Ross County in July 2006)

Trophy lift: Graeme Shinnie raises the Scottish Cup aloft after the club's first-ever appearance in the final ended victorious (Picture from Sky Sports)

Last season's Scottish Communities League Cup finish: Second round (lost 1-0 to Rangers at Ibrox) Last season's William Hill Scottish Cup finish: Winners (beat Falkirk 2-1 in the Hampden Park final)

Squad list: 1 Ryan Esson (GK), 2 David Raven (RB), 3 Carl Tremarco (LB), 4 James Vincent (CM), 5 Gary Warren (CB), 6 Josh Meekings (CB), 7 Dani Lopez (ST), 8 Ross Draper (CM), 9 Richie Foran (CM/CF), 10 Aaron Doran (CM/LM), 11 Jordan Roberts (CAM), 12 Dean Brill (GK), 14 Danny Devine (CB), 15 Nathaniel Wedderburn (CM), 16 Greg Tansey (CM), 17 Lewis Horner (LM), 19 Danny Williams (CM/LM), 20 Liam Polworth (RB/RM), 22 Ryan Christie (RW/LW), 25 Owain Fon Williams (GK), 31 Cameron Mackay (GK), 37 Alisdair Sutherland (FW), 39 Calum Ferguson (FW).

Strongest line-up:

Players out:

Graeme Shinnie (to Aberdeen, free transfer) Edward Ofere (released) Nick Ross (to Dundee, free transfer) Ibra Sekajja (to Livingston, free transfer) Marley Watkins (to Barnsley, free transfer) Tarmo Kink (to Levadia Tallinn, free transfer) Ryan Baptie (released)

On the move: Full-back Shinnie, 23, has signed for Aberdeen, Nigerian forward Ofere, 29, has been released and midfielder Ross, 23, has joined Premiership rivals Dundee

Transfers in:

Nathaniel Wedderburn (from Cowdenbeath, free transfer) Jordan Roberts (from Aldershot Town, free transfer) Dani Lopez (from La Roda, free transfer) Owain Fon Williams (from Tranmere Rovers, free transfer)