The Caley Jags established their own version of a much worn football cliche this season, which can readily be described as “a tale of two managers”. Out went Terry Butcher and with him the kind of form that allowed the fans to dream of a second placed finish. John Hughes, despite the dip, may yet prove to be a capable manager in the Highlands, but there is no doubt that his decision to rip up the previous regime’s tactical battle led to the derailing of their runners-up charge. And yet for a team who are regularly in the bottom three in attendances they have still had the pleasure of watching some tremendous performers this campaign. Lawrie Spence (of Narey’s Toe Poker) goes through the side.
GOALKEEPERS
Dean Brill – Signed on loan from Luton to compete with Ryan Esson, rather than usurp him, the tall and rather hefty keeper took advantage of Esson’s pre-season injury to establish himself as first choice. It’s a role he deserves to keep, though he’s been guilty of a bad blunder or two, especially with the ball at his feet. Thankfully, he has proven himself to be an adept shot-stopper.
Ryan Esson – Now 34, Esson doubles as the club’s goalkeeping coach, which will be why he is content to be the backup to Brill. The former Aberdeen man is not a bad reserve to be able to call on, though his best days are probably behind him.
DEFENDERS
David Raven – Mister Seven Out Of Ten. Rarely spectacular, but almost totally dependable at right-back. His tandem on that flank with Aaron Doran was almost unstoppable in August and September. It’s not a coincidence that our early season form came to an end not long after he got injured. Will forever have cult status at Inverness just because of his sliding tackle goal against Ross County this season – his first strike for six years!
Graeme Shinnie – Shinnie scooped all the club and fan Player of the Year awards, and quite right too. This has been the year that he stepped up a gear, and I’m convinced he would have won an international cap but for the emergence of Andrew Robertson at Dundee United. A huge attacking threat from left-back, he filled in adeptly on the opposite side of the back four when required, and was equally impressive in a central midfield role; his engine and work-rate may yet convince John Hughes to keep him in the middle of the park from now on.
Gary Warren – No-nonsense, imperious and impossible to bully, Warren’s main weakness remains a lack of pace, but few teams were able to exploit it. He is hardly a Rio Ferdinand-type though, and his lack of comfort on the ball is glaringly obvious when under orders from his coach to pass it out of defence. My worry is that Yogi will decide he wants a ‘Fancy Dan’ at the back instead of an actual defender and ditch him.
Josh Meekings – Meekings actually suffered a dip in form at the end of the season, which is perhaps to be expected of a centre back who is still only 21. It’s easy to forget his youth, given he has played over 100 games for the club and been a fixture for two seasons. Quick and decent in possession (at least in comparison to his peers in Scottish football), he is likely to move on to bigger and better things when his contract expires in a year’s time.
Danny Devine – It’s been difficult for Devine, who has never got a run in the team in his preferred centre back role, though he stood in wonderfully for the suspended Warren in the League Cup final. His performance at right-back in a shellacking at St Johnstone in October will haunt me for many years, however. A pretty decent option to have on the bench.
Carl Tremarco – I’m not a huge fan of the left-back, who is, in football-talk, “honest” and “hard as nails”, which in the real world means “not very skilled ” and “a bit of a hacker”. I often wonder whether, whilst his team-mates are given oranges at half-time, Tremarco has some raw meat thrown in his direction. Okay against wingers but a bit suspect in the air, he offers very little going forward and his final ball is shocking. Not a long-term solution at the position.
MIDFIELDERS
James Vincent – Impressive in between midfield and attack before injuring his knee in September, with his work-rate and uncanny knack to be in the right position to pick up loose balls. Since he returned to fitness, he has inexplicably spent most of the time on the wing. His impact on matches has thus tended to range from ‘zero’ to ‘minimal’, which is not surprising because he isn’t a wide player. Vincent has probably lost his preferred central role to Ryan Christie, and may not be a first choice next season.
Ross Draper – Described accurately by my father as “a brick wall”, the 6ft 5in Draper tends to win physical battles in the centre of midfield, though his lack of mobility means that better sides can pass the ball around him. Useful at set-pieces, both in defence and attack. He does have a tendency to get caught up field at times.
Richie Foran – Not every opposition supporter’s cup of tea because of his tendency for moaning and for cynical fouls, at Inverness Foran is regarded as an outstanding leader who thrived in his new defensive midfield role in the first half of the season and still managed a few goals too. He was badly missed after damaging his knee in March. Awarded a new three year contract this season despite being well into his thirties, I can see him as a future manager.
Aaron Doran – The little winger frustrates as much as he impresses, but that’s inevitably the lot of a player who is landed with most of the burden for creating chances. He upped his goal tally this season (eight in all competitions) and was the club’s assist leader too. He’s far more effective on the right, but spent a lot of the season on the other side, which reduced his impact. However, he is one of the best attacking players in the league outwith Celtic Park. He remains a bit stocky for my liking, but it doesn’t seem to affect his pace.
Nick Ross – An undisputed first choice under Butcher, Ross has been reduced to the role of ‘substitution to waste time at the end’ in recent weeks. The attacking midfielder certainly has the skill and the attitude, but despite a few years of first team experience he remains too easily knocked off the ball and often drifts out of matches. Someone needs to lock him in a weights room this summer. His goal against Hearts in the League Cup will probably be remembered by many fans as their favourite moment of the season.
Marley Watkins – The right winger has been in and out of the starting lineup, though his pace makes him a useful impact sub. Recent experiments with him up front have been less successful. He is usually bigger than the opposing full-back, which means he is often a good ‘out ball’ for the defence… except Yogi doesn’t believe in ‘out balls’! Doesn’t have a left foot, which means he’s not very effective when switched with Doran. Needs to show more consistency next season.
Greg Tansey – Returned for a second spell at the club in January. Clearly given a playmaker role, and frequently comes back to his central defenders to receive possession. However, too often a spectacular 50 yard pass is followed by a wayward five yard pass. Capable of a terrific strike from distance – see the League Cup semi for evidence. Hughes obviously rates him highly.
Ben Greenhalgh – Winner of a Sky TV talent show but who had recently been playing at Conference level, Greenhalgh was always going to be likely to have plenty of style but not much substance… and so it proved. He earned but a single first team start and drifted further and further from the first team as the campaign went on. He finished up on loan to Stenhousemuir. His departure hasn’t been confirmed but I’d be amazed if he was offered a new deal.
Danny Williams – A left winger by trade, but who has made as many appearances at left back and in central midfield this season. Blessed with blistering pace, which means he can be useful off the bench when we are playing on the counter, but there has been little else to note about him.
Liam Polworth – Still young at just 20, but got his first proper chance at establishing himself this season and didn’t really take it. Good performances were followed by bad ones a week later. Too prone to lapses in concentration and, given that he’s a central midfielder, he doesn’t look for the ball enough. Not strong enough in the tackle either. As his goal against Dundee United demonstrated, he packs a punch from distance and needs to have more confidence in his own ability. There’s clearly talent there.
FORWARDS
Billy Mckay – Electric in the first half of the season, the speedy little forward’s drop off in 2014 should mainly be blamed on a lack of service rather than poor performances on his part. His frustration became increasingly evident in the last few weeks of the season. 22 goals in all competitions is not a shoddy return at all, though. His movement off the ball is arguably the best in the country. I’m amazed that no English Championship club has taken a punt on him yet.
Ryan Christie – Unquestionably the best attacking talent that Caley Thistle have ever produced. The son of club legend, Charlie has scored on each of his first three starts, and has an impressive touch and vision for a boy who only turned 19 in April, as well as a surprising level of strength considering his relatively light frame. He already looks the part in the trequartista role. I’m expecting fireworks from him next season.
THE DEPARTED
Toby Agdestein left at the end of January after his six month deal ran out; the Norwegian forward saw action almost exclusively as a substitute and failed to score during his time at the club, though I imagine we’d have liked to have held onto him for squad depth. He at least contributed more than Curtis Allen, who returned to Northern Ireland in January without having made a single appearance – a pre-season injury pushed him out of the picture and he never forced himself back in.
THE YOUNGSTERS
Connor Pepper, Adam Evans and Matthew Cooper have all been let go by the club. Irishman Pepper didn’t play a first team game for the last 18 months, after scoring a couple of goals at the start of the 2012-13 season; I understand there was an element of homesickness that may have played a part, while his attitude was questioned at times also. Evans made a couple of sub appearances for the first team and was even the subject of an STV article on players to watch in 2014 – they should have picked Christie instead! The forward scored plenty at under-20s level but the coaches were unconvinced that this would translate to first team success. Cooper spent most of the campaign recovering from back problems and his injury-proneness will be the main reason why he was let go, which is a shame as he looked the part.
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Thursday’s podcast included a discussion on the 12 Best Forwards in the Scottish Premiership. Listen to find out where Billy Mckay came in each of our three panelists lists.
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