if you look at our fixtures over January February, it is quite a difficult period, and if Richie Foran is out for a while, it makes the task doubly difficult.
We will in many ways see the difference Richie makes to this team, just as much as John Hughes does.
However, we have done exceptionally well up to now this season, due to brilliant team performances, and also a reasonable fixture list more in our favour than against. Now the second half of the season appears to hand us a more difficult task the way the fixture come at us.
At the start of the season, with last season weighing on our shoulders, we had bigger expectations. most would be happy top 6, some and a good number at that expect as much as hope Europe is our place. But that means top 3 or a Scottish cup win. Yogi will keep the ship steady with a top 6 finish, however, I do also think that 2nd or 3rd may also be down to the appointments of McNamara at Utd, and McInnes at Dons. Both with much bigger budgets and attraction power. McCall appears to be continuing his good work at Motherwell, so if we remain in the battle for the top 5 i will be happy.
Next season will be the marker, and to be brutally honest, most of us will hope for top 6. So far, we would not have been suprised by the results over the last month if Tel and Mo were still here. We have relied very heavily this season on Mckay scoring, Forans drive, and our defence being excellent in the main. Test comes if Billy goes dry, Foran's out injured, and our defence loses confidence.
I like Yogi's style of football, as long as its not all along the back line. With the right forward players, as we have right now, we can maintain our lofty place in Scottish football. Herte's hoping 2014 continues as 3013 has