Terry Dunfield. A 33-year-old Canadian international who apparently played for Ross County this season. Four times. Still unsure? Don’t worry, Jim McIntyre probably needs a couple of clues as well. Soon Mr Dunfield will be an answer on a Sporcle quiz which you simply can’t get as the seconds tick away and you want to chuck your computer at the nearest person before anger turns to despondency and you curl up in a ball and just cry.
Why are we talking about Terry Dunfield (former clubs include Manchester City, Macclesfield Town and Vancouver Whitecaps)? Well STVsport recently updated their list of Premiership players out of contract at the end of the season. Every year it is entertaining read. It can provoke a wide range of emotion, mostly found between incredulity and hilarity. Incredulity in ‘how much dross did they sign?!’ (we look at you, Ross County) and hilarity in that ‘I forgot they signed him! Heck, I forgot he was still alive!’
On STV’s comprehensive list there are 96 players, down 47 from the 143 in a similar situation this time last year. Of those 96, 18 (EIGHTEEN), nearly 20 per cent, ‘play’ their football at the Global Energy Stadium. It just doesn’t feel the same without Evangelos Ikonomou. Anyway, I digress. This reduction suggests a positive, more efficient, move from the Premiership clubs.
Aberdeen, as they have been throughout the season, are an excellent example. Any player of importance has been signed on a new deal if they weren’t under a suitable contract already. Only this week they secured Ryan Jack, one of the division’s most reliable and consistent performers, until the end of the 2016/2017 season.
An examination of the Premiership’s out of contract players highlights how effective clubs have been in tying up their assets. By and large each team has a core in place for next season which rewards their respective managers with more time to mould and improve their squads with a few players rather than a glut as money tight clubs are becoming increasingly more ingenious in their approach to squad building.
A mark of recent seasons has been the turnover in squads. But this summer that may be the exception rather than the rule. Working our way down the table only Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s Marley Watkins and you could argue Edward Ofere, six goals in nine starts, can be considered first team players that one of the top three will be eager to hold on to. Squad players such as Danny Devine and Nick Ross could yet be held onto, although both may be keen for more game time and their departures would certainly not keep John Hughes awake at night.
Other than the £2.2m squandered on Stefan Scepovic, Celtic’s wastage has been easy to rectify with John Gudietti, Jo Inge Berget and Alexander Tonev only on loan, while Aberdeen will probably sleep easier now that they have relieved themselves of Clark Robertson, Joe Shaughnessy and Andrew Driver.
All three will be searching for two or three players in key positions, adding to the quality which they have coursing through their respective teams.
Even the Saintees of Perth can be added to this list. In terms of squad building they have been an example in recent seasons, holding onto not only the core of their team but the shell as well as they pursue their fourth consecutive European qualification. This writer is guilty of adding to it, but they seem to receive only reluctant praise. Yet, that in itself is a compliment. They have been so consistent in both their squad make-up and performances that the mundane, dull and boring labels are thrown at them.
Many Scottish football viewers would probably like to see Tommy Wright overhaul his Saints squad but fortunately for the club that is highly unlikely. They possess one of the most reliable backlines in the league and with the addition of a goal scorer and the retention of the mercurial Danny Swanson following his loan spell they would once again be threatening the league’s European places.
Just up the road the Dundee teams are differing beasts. The only two regulars whose contracts are set to expire at Tannadice are Radoslaw Cierzniak and Callum Butcher. The goalkeeper is a loveable figure, like an ageing dog who has been a large part of the family but every now and then defecates all over the floor, ruining a carpet or two – and it is becoming a more regular occurrence.
The club’s summer transfer business will depend on Jackie McNamara remaining at the club, but having improved the defence slightly last season he should be looking to do so again. The issue is the loss of key players for decent money. Yet, with Nadir Ciftci, Ryan Dow and more responsibility set to be handed to Charlie Telfer, Blair Spittal and Aidan Connolly there are the raw materials for another exciting United team.
Down the road, Paul Hartley has begun his wheeling and dealing early with some impressive signings wrapped up from the lower leagues in Scotland and England. The Dens Park side’s form has been patchy throughout and the out of contract players act as a fine definition of mediocrity, many of whom helped the side in the promotion season. Barring Jim McAlister and Stepehen McGinn improvements are out there. Judging by Hartley’s early business he seems to be on a mission to find them.
Unsurprisingly most changes will come from the teams in the bottom six although not at New Douglas Park. Despite their struggles since Alex Neil departed, the majority of the squad have handled the transition to the country’s top league admirably. Although they do need to unearth a couple of gems to replace Anthony Andreu and Mickael Antoine Courier with neither Nigel Hasselbaink or Jason Scotland unlikely to be kept on once their contracts have expired.
In years gone by one of our favourite features has been creating the best XI from those out of contract. It is slightly harder this year but Partick Thistle provide interesting options. A number of players who were promoted with the club and/or excelled last season appear to be heading for pastures new suggesting a squad refresher. Stephen O’Donnell, Kallum Higginbotham and Steven Lawless will pique other clubs’ interest to have a punt on them.
Most movement, in the Premiership at least, will come from Kilmarnock and SHOCKINGLY Ross County. Yet neither side are in the position where they will be unduly concerned as to the players which are leaving. Killie fans would no doubt be keen to hold onto the visceral talents of Alexi Eremenko yet he has not had the influence and impact he should have this season, looking even less mobile, like a Grizzly bear slowed down by an arsenal of tranquilizers. Cheers rather than tears will greet the departure of the increasingly haphazard defensive abilities of Manuel Pascali.
There are some interesting names on the Ross County list of out of contract players, most notably Richie Brittain. But his on-field influence has waned dramatically as Jim McIntyre eventually conceived a settled formation to get them out the relegation mire. The Staggies have been proactive in keeping the players who have been important in helping them do so and shedding of the excess gives McIntyre plenty of scope to bring together a settled squad that is needed at County, his squad. A priority however will be a goalkeeper with Mark Brown, Antonio Reguero and Davdys Sernas all moving on.
If Motherwell descend into the Championship, and then again even if they stay up, a host of players will be up for grabs. Either way there will be no surprise if the likes of Lee Erwin, Lionel Ainsworth and John Sutton are playing for another Premiership team, while others are floundering at a level suited more to their abilities.
Meanwhile, Ian Murray no doubt wishes more than nine of his newly inherited squad were out of contract.
WRITTEN BY JOEL SKED
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