Johnstone clinch title, as Dobbie heads for bigger things
Guest article from http://www.theawayend.net/
St Johnstone eventually clinched the title, after much deliberation over whether they actually wanted promotion or not, with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Greenock Morton. As much as Partick Thistle have put up a spirited title race, they just haven’t had a good enough squad to be able to compete with St Johnstone. St Johnstone have missed players such as Jody Morris and Andy Jackson for large spells of the season, but have had players such as Kevin Moon and Steven Milne to come in, and both have performed admirably. Thistle on the other hand have really struggled to replace Liam Buchanan, and this is one of the main reasons they have finished behind St Johnstone.
Lucas Akins puts in a lot of hard work, but very rarely looked a threat at any point during his spell at Thistle, whereas Simon Donnelly is a “striker” that doesn’t score any goals. Neither are a suitable replacement for Liam Buchanan and it will be a real worry for Thistle if he doesn’t get himself fully fit for the start of the season. Ian McCall regularly remarks that he is “two weeks away” from full fitness but he’s been saying this since February 2008. Hopefully Buchanan will eventually make a full recovery from injury as he’s a standout player at this level.
And back to the deserved champions, St Johnstone. I don’t think any of their fans would argue that they are world beaters, or even as good as the Hamilton team that won last year, but there is potential in that side. Jody Morris could thrive in the extra space given in the SPL, and players like Liam Craig and Gary Irvine are dynamic enough to make the step up. However, they will need to sign a recognised left back, as well as hardening up the midfield, if they are to put up a creditable fight in the SPL.
At the bottom of the table, Clyde were relegated despite a 2-0 victory over a Dundee side, who are clearly in holiday mode. It’s been a pretty bleak season for Clyde, considering their financial problems and their poor performances in the league. The club’s agreement with North Lanarkshire Council to stay at Broadwood is obviously a positive step forward, but they will likely have to cut their cloth accordingly, now that they are in the second division. John Brown has suggested they could lose £150k over the course of next season, due to smaller crowds, and a move into part time football has been muted. In the long run a move to part time football might be a good move for the club, as there’s only so long they can function as a full time club on the crowds they make.
Airdrie eliminated the possibility of automatic relegation at Firhill, with a last gasp 1-0 victory over Thistle. Simon Lynch’s last minute breakaway goal sent the Airdrie crowd wild, and considering the clubs lack of resources, Airdrie’s battle to stay up has been valiant. They now face a playoff with Peterhead, and then possibly another battle against Brechin/Ayr to stay in the division.
The competitive nature of the first division is encapsulated by Dunfermline’s recent revival. In February they looked a possibility for relegation, and by early April looked a possibility for the playoff spot. Jim McIntyre’s approval rating was at an all time low. Then a few wins, and now they’re up to third spot, without showing any real consistency throughout the season.
Leigh Griffiths was crowned PFA Scotland Player of the Year in the month of May, pipping Stephen Dobbie(pictured), Kevin Rutkiewicz and Gary Harkins to the crown. If the votes are made in February, then perhaps it explains why he was crowned the winner. Stephen Dobbie’s explosive form has really come to the fore at the end of the season, and Gordon Chisholm had dropped him for a few games, around the time the votes were cast. Rutkiewicz had been solid up till that point, but the only real way a defender will win one of these events, is if they lead them to the title (which obviously hadn’t been won by that point). Gary Harkins is an enigma at the best of times, and his performances improved as the season went on. Leigh Griffiths has been a beacon of light, in a season where young talents haven’t really shone through in the first, and his goal for Scotland B as well as this trophy award, crowns a great season for the youngster.
It looks likely that all four players might be at a higher level next year. Rutkiewicz will likely captain St Johnstone in the SPL, whereas Dobbie has signed a pre-contract with Swansea. Harkins is being followed by SPL clubs, and Thistle are unlikely to be particularly hard to deal with in this climate, whereas Griffiths is wanted by West Bromwich Albion.
As much as the overall standard has been lacklustre, these four candidates have performed exceptionally for much of the season. If other players in the division aspire to their levels, maybe we’ll be treated to a better spectacle next season.
If you’re interested in reading similar articles, purchase The Away End from http://www.theawayend.net/