Apparently it’s not her.
Why it
makes sense
For the
club
Saturday’s loss
against Ross County highlighted some serious tactical
flaws in the St Mirren team. Danny Lennon’s philosophy is to play possession
football from the back. To shut down passing football the most efficient way is
to put press the opponent. Teams that are equipment to attack in this manner
can then move the ball into the gaps around the pressing. However, this escape route has been shut off for St Mirren because they don’t have anyone with pace
in their attack. Without quickness and the threat it brings it allows
the opposing defensive line to push high up the park and shrink the game,
reducing the space St Mirren’s players have to operate in.
It was no
coincidence that they improved tremendously last season after Esmael Goncalves
arrived and they so far haven’t come close to replacing the departed Portuguese striker.
The only thing Lennon has said about the Caprice signing is that he has lots of
pace and is a direct player and that is exactly what the team needs right now.
Caprice’s
contract expires at the end of the season so despite only being on loan St Mirren
can be in the market to sign him permanently should he impress.
For the
player
He’s 20
years old and he’s played eight league games his entire career. Unless he
starts getting the chance to play and develop he’ll soon lose that ‘potential’ tag before slipping down into non-league football on a part-time wage.
Last season he went to Dagenham and Redbridge in League Two. While playing in
the same country of his birth and of as his parent club (Blackpool)
might have been a orthodox way of attracting attention, there is more room to
really announce yourself to British football by starring in the Scottish
Premiership. Here he’ll get the chance to chase trophies, play at the national
stadium (well, not this season) and feature in games against Celtic that will be broadcast to millions of viewers.
His value
within a team has also increased from last term. The League Two club took him
on to provide competition for places; he was not a need in the starting eleven.
For the time being St Mirren will have to play him if they are going
to improve under Lennon.
Why it
doesn’t
For the
player
There’s not
much; he’s at the point in his career where he needs to start
playing games and this is a great opportunity for him to do that. One caveat is
the potential conflict on the right side of the team. Lennon is still chasing a
forward and should he secure one with the pace required to stretch teams then
the need for a winger to do the same job will be diminished. Presumably, Gary
Teale will shift over to the left hand side to accommodate the new signing. It’s
not his natural position and if the elusive aforementioned forward arrives it
will likely be Teale who is preferred back on the right and Caprice left on the outside looking in.
For the
club
He’s played
eight league games his entire career and has never started. Both Crystal
Palace and Blackpool
have spotted potential in the lad but not enough to get him anywhere near the
first team in a competitive game. He also failed to command a regular starting
place at a team that narrowly avoided relegation to the conference last season
and his old fans weren’t all that enamoured with his performances. One reason is that he doesn’t have a settled position; featuring
at right back, right midfield and attack at various points over the last few
seasons at senior level and reserve.
St
Mirren need someone to stretch opponents, but that won’t be of much use if this is
an inexperienced boy who doesn’t know how to play the game. If all he has in
his locker is speed and directness then Lennon is going to have to be very
clever in the way he utilises Caprice – similar to the way Derek Adams uses Ivan
Sproule at Ross County. Otherwise he could become
untrustworthy and incapable of starting. If that happens they are back to
square one again with the transfer window possibly closed.
If you’ve enjoyed the blogs make sure to check out the podcast. The latest episode was called R.I.P. Tony.
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