GOALKEEPERS
Ryan Esson – 5
Ryan’s a good backup to have, but these days you probably wouldn’t want him to make 15 starts every season. However, Dean Brill’s injury has forced him into action since the end of January. Whilst proper blunders have been few – misjudging John Guidetti’s free kick at Hampden thankfully didn’t come back to haunt him – it can’t be coincidence that ICT have conceded more goals, particularly from set pieces, with him between the sticks.
Dean Brill – 7
Not the best keeper in this league, but good enough as long as the ball isn’t at his feet too often. He takes charge of the box well, and is a better shot stopper than one would expect from a man with a huge frame. Hopefully he recovers from his dislocated kneecap in time for the Europa League.
DEFENDERS
David Raven – 6
Mr seven-out-of-ten has been slightly below that standard this season, though I’d still take him over many other right-backs in the Premiership. There have been mistakes here and there, though it doesn’t help him that he tends to be left exposed by his midfield. Still good enough to be our first choice in this position.
Graeme Shinnie – 9
It will be gutting to see Shinnie in an Aberdeen shirt next season. He just keeps getting better, both in attack and in defence. Signing a pre-contract hasn’t affected him negatively at all; if anything, he seemed even more driven to finish on a big high. I am really going to miss seeing him flying down the left flank.
Gary Warren – 7
The big centre-back has been generally solid, though there have been more errors this season than previous and he hasn’t grabbed as many goals himself as we’d like. His strength and positional sense make him the perfect accompaniment to Josh Meekings.
Josh Meekings – 9
Three consecutive strong campaigns, and yet Meekings still seems under-rated by most observers. It was a wonderful surprise that he decided to sign a new contract earlier this season. It’s only a matter of time till somebody offers us some decent cash for him. He keeps getting better with experience, and proved against Celtic that he can be a decent emergency keeper as well…
Daniel Devine – 5
Despite spending most of the last 2 seasons on the bench, suspensions mean that Devine will start his second cup final against Falkirk. He’s not let anyone down when he’s been given the opportunities, but they’ve been few and far between. He needs more game time than he’s getting, and he may leave this summer in order to get it.
Carl Tremarco – 6
The left-back got a run of games around the turn of the year and impressed – he’s clearly improved under Yogi’s coaching. His work-rate and attitude are tremendous, but his first touch is still iffy and he always looks like he might get himself sent off. I’m not convinced he’s the long-term replacement for Shinnie.
MIDFIELDERS
James Vincent – 4
A goal against Hamilton aside, it’s been a frustrating season for Vincent, who alternates most of his time between the bench and the treatment table. I’d rather see his great engine put to use in the centre of the park, but Yogi prefers him tucking in from a wide area, which never looks effective to me.
Ross Draper – 7
Draper started the season on fire, earning the Player of the Month award for August after he benchpressed the Celtic midfield. He was never going to keep that standard up, but it’s been another good season from the huge central midfielder.
Richie Foran – 0
What can you say? Foran’s missed the entire season with a knee problem, and it’s hard to see him bouncing back, especially as he celebrates his 35th birthday this summer. He will, at the very least, join the coaching setup.
Aaron Doran – 5
It feels like the tricky Irishman has taken a step backwards over the last year. He looked a bit hefty in pre-season, and was confined to the bench as a consequence. He then got in shape and got back in the team, but he again looks chunky and has recently been restricted to cameos. Being all over the papers for getting lifted on a night out hasn’t helped. Despite all this, he’s scored 6 goals this season. The talent is there, but is the application?
Nick Ross – 6
With Nick out of contract this summer, the question is whether he is happy with being a squad player at Inverness, or whether he wants to try his luck elsewhere. He’s not a great impact sub, and does need a run of games to get up to speed. I feel like he’s improved under Hughes, though, and I’d be pleased if he stayed.
Greg Tansey – 9
The most important player in the team, the man who dictates the tempo and pings the passes. And he’s thrived on the responsibility. The occasional spectacular goal doesn’t hurt either. Tansey is my personal pick for the club’s player of the year.
Lewis Horner – 1
Made a brief sub appearance in August, and that’s been it. I’m not sure what he’s here for. Curiously, Yogi has offered him a new deal.
Danny Williams – 7
Williams has got better and better over the last twelve months. Energetic and hard-working, but also incredibly disciplined, he’s the sort of player coaches love. He’s previously seemed a bit technically limited, but stunning strikes against Kilmarnock and Dundee United have showed he’s not all that lacking.
Liam Polworth – 2
Always seems to be the first reserve, but never actually sees much action. Polworth’s actually had less gametime than last season and few supporters believe that he’ll develop into a Premiership-level player.
Tarmo Kink – 2
The Estonian only joined in March, but he’s made little impact as a substitute and lacks sharpness – not surprising since he was out of football for several months before coming here. I’m not sure we’ll take a chance on him living up to his pedigree next season.
FORWARDS
Eddie Ofere – 7
Not an aesthetically pleasing player, with a clumsy, ungainly gait, but his linkup play is actually excellent and you can’t argue with a record of six goals in eight starts. Sign him up, please!
Marley Watkins – 7
The Welsh winger was electric in the first half of the season, but suffered from being switched to centre-forward after Billy Mckay left. One of the fastest players in the league, he’s better out on the right touchline or playing as a second striker. Likely to leave this summer, with Hearts a rumoured suitor.
Ryan Christie – 8
Unquestionably the most gifted player the club have ever produced. He actually had a significant dip in form in the New Year – not helped by the terrible quality of playing surfaces in this league – but he was delicious in the cup win over Celtic and often appears to be thinking several steps ahead of his less talented colleagues. This kid will go on to much better things.
Ali Sutherland – 1
One short sub’s appearance for the teenager, where he came close to scoring against St. Johnstone.
Calum Ferguson – 1
The Canadian youth international made a couple of appearances off the bench, but is well down the pecking order.
THE DEPARTED
Billy Mckay – 8
Had a slow start to the season in terms of goals, but was still playing extremely well. Once the goals started coming, he was as dangerous as ever (the two he scored against Kilmarnock were sensational) and that earned him a deadline move to Wigan.
Ibra Sekajja – 1
Signed a short-term deal in October and made zero impact in four short sub appearances before leaving in January for Livingston.
THE MANAGER
John Hughes – 9
A far cry from the ‘F’ I gave him last season! Yogi has justified the club’s trust in him and made a lot of people eat humble pie. A third place finish and a Scottish Cup Final, on a paltry budget, justify the Manager of the Year award. It’s hard not to feel pleased for him.
WRITTEN BY LAWRIE SPENCE
If you’d like to read more from Lawrie, check out Narey’s Toe Poker, a website dedicated to Scottish football. You can also follow him on Twitter.
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