Eagle4Caley

True....but it would be hard not to argue that St Mirren's promotion was, in part, built on how they finished last season

I have never bought into the 'we should have got automatic promotion' viewpoint, I can't see on what basis we had any advantage over the teams already down in the Championship, there was no great amount of parachute payments (300k is nothing), our attendances were bound to fall meaning less income, most of the players from our 2014/15 seasons (our most succesful) had departed, several of our most experienced players that were left would have to go or not recieve new contracts (Meekings/Draper/Raven/OFW) our Board was in flux, our manager had been let go, morale was at rock bottom we had no recognised striker, One of our best prospects, Doran, was still injured we were going to have to rebuild using very young and very inexperienced players On the plus side we had Vigurs, Polworth, Tremarco and ........ So in reality coming straight back up was a very tall order, maybe missing out on the play-offs is a disappointment, but the likelihood of us (or any of those participating) going up via the play-offs is very slim, and I would say we are (as of today) in as good a position for next season as those above us.

Great result yesterday....we did what we needed to do just in case the Pars slipped up, that's professional I can't wait for next season ... Falkirk away is on the bucket list, (and maybe Ross county away?!?)

Glad to see a new positive thread in Robbo's name. Considering the mess the club was in following relegation I think he's played a blinder, and one has to say the Board got their first major decision right. All the quotes below are from September, when fans were understandably jumpy and depressed (TBF there were plenty in support with some well considered views), the last quote is mine!... When we think of the various outcomes against the statements below, it's hard not to feel pretty satisfied about how the season has panned out, despite just missing out on the play-off, given the low and desperate base we started from. A turning point for me is that run of 10 clean sheets from 11 in the Autumn (Defence sorted...tick). The fantastic unbeaten run since the start of March shows that Robbo got to grips with the squad, sorted out the driftwood from the decent, and galvanised them, they responded to him and each other so that we now see that famous 'spirit' return, a key ingredient in any successful side. Signing Austin in January is now looking a masterstoke (as was Donaldson earlier), fortunately we had so many games postponed that his absence from the side due to injury perhaps was as costly as it might have been. Finances/contracts/aquistions and poaching by other teams will all have a bearing on how we start the next season, but hopefully we wont lose too many key players (Vigurs perhaps), the club seems to be quite active already so we should start with a settled and positive squad, the younger ones having benefited from a whole seasons worth of action. The appointment of Robbo shows the benefit of having a wise older head at the helm (Just like Palace with Hodgson)...... gosh I think I have something in my eye! (and nobody say 'plank') ------------------------------------------------- Quotes The board's ludicrous "give the manager's job to someone who didn't even apply" experiment has failed. Robbo is a good guy but he is not what we need - the defence needs sorted out first and foremost and he is not the man to do it. The board has let the club down appointing a manager out of the game for as long as Robertson has, acquisitions have been very poor ................. Genuinely think we will be lucky to stay up at this rate. Now I'm eternally grateful for the job he did last time around but he inherited a very good nucleus of talent ...............and I'm not sure if he's capable of building from scratch. Robbo is and never was the answer, but right now, the Club doesn't even seem to know the question. I have been told on good authority that the players won't play for him this has been going on too long now and rather than starting to make any noticeable difference, Robbo and the coaches seem to be continuing to make all the same mistakes from last season. There quite clearly is a rift in the dressing room. Players were having a go at each other, the discipline is "shot". Tactically we are shocking. I now think he knows he is out of his depth and can't sort it. I quite like the tough words from Robbo about the players performances and attitude, although that's usually a short sentence away from 'losing the changing room'! --------------------------------------------------

A really good interview, comes across really well.

Exactly!

I know ..some were worried that we might get caught by Dumbarton! (I wasn't ) Now we've added Livingston to our list of scalps (yes I know they rested a few) and sent a message for next season...just Morton to go. Just got to keep the majority of this team.

Re; the first goal against ...it was struck from very close range, but it almost looks like it took a touch off our defender who was trying to block it. As for Daniel Mackay's miss, the damn ball bounced up just as he goes to hit it

You poor fellow! We're linked in our love of Caley and our mutual hate of Man U ......Just keep your hands off Zaha over the summer (Palace are as much a one man team as yours is)

St Mirren 3 losses (1 with 10 men) and 2-2 Draw from 0-2 down Livingston 2 Draws and 1 Loss (play next Tuesday) Dundee Utd 2 Wins 1 Draw 1 Loss (1st match of the season which people who were there said we should have won) Dunfermline 1 Win 1 Draws, 2 Losses (inc our biggest defeat) Morton 1 Draw 2 Losses (play on Saturday) Q0S 2 Wins 2 Draws Hopefully we can end the season with 2 wins to leave St Mirren as the only top team to not incur a defeat

Got back early this morning from my trip up.....enjoyed the whole thing (except the 95th minute). It was a strange type of game from two evenly matched teams, I have to say the pitch wasn't doing us any favours, and even the ball seemed to be un-inflated, with many kicks sounding very flat (just me obviously). Dunfermline shaded the first half I felt, they certainly looked dangerous going forward, then we had a 20-25min period in th second half where we were on a different (higher) level to Dunfermline, particularly Austin, his goal was ...what can I say , 'Wow!'. Once he had to come off though I felt there was a subtle change in the balance of the game. Even then we had good opportunities to put the game to bed, and Dunfermline only really looked like scoring from a dead ball, but we started to sit back and give free-kicks away....just when I thought we had seen the game out, then cames the killer blow (it really is like watching my other team sometimes!). In the first half Tremarco seemed to be having a tough battle with their wide player, but got to grips in the second half, likewise Seedorf was poor first half but much improved 2nd. OK perfomances in midfield, great free kick by Chalmers, Trafford fairly solid, Polworth probably put in the bigger shift, Doran a bit slow at times, but a real threat. Not sure whether Mackay was the right substituion, earlier in the season Bell would have had been a sure thing, he may have gone off the boil a bit, but I still hope we keep him, as he and Mackay offer something different to Oakley (who put in a real shift) and Austin (who looks a really decent player, why did Fallkirk let him go??). I don't think Ridgers did much wrong (though not a convincing attaempt to stop the first goal...was there a deflection?), but he's gone from being very much written off as a goalkeeper at the start of the season to almost a cult hero....that's good work in my book! In theory we still have a very small chance of getting into the play-offs, but it needs something special from the Dumbo's and us to win our last two...even then the play-offs are a real long-haul, and would we be ready for the SPL?. In reality after the chaos and dismay of relegation and the close season, we have come out of this season, with a decent looking squad, with some really promising prospects, that given another season should push on to better more consistent performancesand a rekindled team spirit...I'm sure there'll be a couple of twists over the close season, keeping Vigurs would be great, but who knows. Anyway I'm already looking forward to next season, with a bit more expectation.

This time tomorrow I'll be waiting to board my plane at Luton Airport, It's great that I have managed to arrange a trip up for such an important match C'mon U Caley!

Step forward Charlie Trafford, and Liam Polworth, and Aaron Doran, and Connor Bell!

Wow....this is great! Saturday is massive!

I was thinking just that....but we probably need to strike early

Sounds like Dumbarton (and perhaps ICT) could do with a 'water hog' the type of thing they use at major cricket grounds to remove surface water off the outfield

Not a fan then?

Fair point...but only up to a point, good players usually remain good players, but the mental side of things is harder to understand. I would imagine however that after the trauma (in footballing terms) of last season and the upheaval of the close season, with new players and management coming in, that it can be quite easy to lose your mojo, in particularly for Polworth, who after all is still only 23, and hasn't been a first choice pick in previous seasons and does get constant criticism from certain sections of our fan base, who look for the negatives first in a display. As for Vigurs, sometimes being to 'go to guy' who is supposed to direct and create something every match, can become a bit much, but if Austin turns out to be the goal poacher we have been looking for all season, then the effort/passion used in previous games will get a more effective return. Let's face it if football was that easy, guys like Raheem Sterling wouldn't miss the chances he gets, nor would Man Utd lose to the bottom team at home when the week before they had beaten the Champions-Elect away.

What a win! Loved the highlights (and the crowd came across really animated, in a good way!).... and thanks for your marks IHE. Polworth could have scored a least two GOTS there, and what a goal by Doran. It was probably a good move to sub Austin (who is starting to look like a proper goal poacher), to give others a chance and save him for Tuesday, I thought Bell looked lively when we came on. Gosh, if we could only afford to keep Doran, Bell and Vigurs (and Trafford) for next season, because I feel we are on the cusp of something good. It's been a perfect weekend football-wise for me with my local team beating our big rival Brighton (yes really, rivals!) to stay ahead of the relegation battle, I am super-excited for next Saturday's trip up (the weather is looking good too), we just need to get the win, in whatever way in the return against the Dumbo's, to set up a really big match for Saturday. Not wanting to get ahead of myself but with Livingston now securing their play-off place, it could work in our favour when we play them (if we are still in contention)

Too bloody right, I haven't enjoyed their season at all, watching players being paid £120k a week performing soooo badly (Benteke/Sakho for instance) really makes me appreciate the young Caley lads...some of them can pass the ball!

My impression is that some of these 'Roasters' are just miserable gits period, always looking for the downside, never giving credit for anything and in most cases haven't played football at any level. They also tend to forget that if these players were perfect specimens of footballing performance they wouldn't be playing for us. It's annoying, but the rest of us need to be more vocal in our support and encouragement. I know it's easy for me to say from down here, but I've actually enjoyed watching a new team come together and gel, and young inexperienced players start to find their feet., I'm sure some of the football hasn't been the prettiest, but in the long term I have hope

Super win....it helps that we actually have a plan B (and I guess Connor Bell gives us a plan C). Another clean sheet, and just the one booking! And now completely safe from any relegation play-off anxiety. Now comes the two leg battle with Dumbarton, I'll take two narrow 1-0 wins to set up a helluva game against Dunfermline. Whatever happens now we need to keep going with a great run in to emulate what St Mirren did last season and set us up for next.

It's all about the 'Big Mo' ... momentum.... and the squad. People say we have a small squad (which I don't buy), but you can look at virtually every member of the squad who've played, and say that everyone of them has been capable of putting in eye-catching performances.

Some guys need a bit more man-management and guidance to stay focussed and do the right stuff consistently......perhaps Robbo is the man for that?

Yes...I was thinking only the other day, watching the latest highlights, how important to us Polworths' efforts are, and how clever he is. Being in the centre of midfield he is bound to get caught up in the odd mistake/loss of the ball. May be not quite as eye-catching as Ryan Christie was but becoming as much or more influential. (I guess RC has a 'special' status, because of his dad) We tend to rave over Daniel Mackay, but also forget that Polworth is also 'one of our own', and really starting to develop. Overall we absolutely must ensure we keep one or both of Polworth/Vigurs next year, preferably both as they make a great pairing in the middle.