INVERNESS
Marks out of ten: 3
Overview: The season couldn't end quickly enough. It started badly and finished badly, rescued only by a good run between October and January which coughed up enough points to steer ICT clear of a relegation fight. A horrendous injury list didn't help, but by the end of the campaign Terry Butcher's side looked disorganized, bereft of ideas and short of direction. They finished tenth, but only a final day win gave them more points than the season they were relegated. A League Cup defeat at Ayr and a timid Scottish Cup exit to Celtic only add to the impression that 2011-12 saw the highlanders take a step in the wrong direction.
Star man: Even the better players in the side were inconsistent and had plenty of mediocre performances. I'll pick winger Jonny Hayes simply because Caley Thistle were twice the team when he was on song.
Waste of space: The Route One tactics hardly suited diminutive striker Billy McKay, but a total of 3 goals from 19 starts does not construe a harsh reflection on his performances. He just never looked confident in front of goal.
Is the future bright? Butcher claims that he wants to keep the majority of these players together. Maybe if they all stay fit, another season together will see the players gel. More likely, it'll be more of the same. With Hibs surely unable to get any worse and Ross County dangerous newcomers, it's reasonable to suggest Inverness as the early favourites for the drop next season.
KILMARNOCK
Marks out of ten: 7
Overview: Stuff the league position, all that Killie fans gave a damn about was their League Cup triumph...and quite right too. New boss Kenny Shiels tried to pick up where Mixu Paatelainen left off, and the drop from fifth last season to seventh this time around can be blamed on being unable to replace several crucial players who left last summer. Kilmarnock weren't always winning, but they were always worth watching. The fans can easily forgive missing out on the top six in exchange for a crack at silverware, and a product worth watching at Rugby Park.
Star man: The manager's own son, Dean Shiels, was not in the team because of nepotism; he was the playmaker who made the side tick and he chipped in with plenty of goals too. Such was his impact that a dip in his form around springtime coincided with the poor run that ended their top six hopes.
Waste of space: Dutch midfielder Danny Buijs was signed to become a pivotal cog in the midfield. He was one of the higher paid players, so a spate of injuries, along with mediocre performances when he was fit, made his spell at the club a failure. He's already returned to Holland.
Is the future bright? If Killie can find the money to keep Shiels and striker Paul Heffernan, they certainly shouldn't be any weaker next season, though keeper Cammy Bell will be the subject of interest. Two or three astute signings are all they need to get back in the top six next year.
MOTHERWELL
Marks out of ten: 8
Overview: How can third in the league be considered anything other than a success? It was, all in all, a great season for Well, who were solid, difficult to beat and good at grinding out results even when they weren't playing at their best. It was their consistency that got them above the likes of Dundee Utd and Hearts in the end. And Rangers' problems mean, of course, that in July the Steelmen get a crack at the Champions League qualifiers for the first time. Stuart McCall is a popular man in the town right now...
Star man: There were plenty to choose from, but goalkeeper Darren Randolph's sophomore season in the SPL was just as good as his first. His performances have got him onto the Standby list for Ireland's Euro 2012 squad.
Waste of space: McCall's fringe players were, in general, a pretty capable bunch. If I was being cruel, I'd single out midfielder Ross Forbes for criticism, mainly for his failure to develop beyond a few promising performances two years ago that seemed to have earmarked him as one for the future.
Is the future bright? The prospect of the Champions League might allow Motherwell to attract better players to the club, but many a team has struggled in the league whilst competing in European competition. Another podium finish might be too much to ask, but the nucleus of this squad, if kept together, should bring many a top six place in the near future.
RANGERS
Marks out of ten: 5
Overview: How on earth do you analyze Rangers' season, after all the off-field rigmarole? Before the midden hit the windmill, things seemed to be unravelling; a commanding early league lead was whittled away and they exited Europe before the end of August. But Ally McCoist perhaps deserves a little credit for managing to motivate the players to the point where, despite a 10point deduction, they still finished miles clear of third place.
Star man: American defender Carlos Bocanegra is well past his best, but his experience and composure made him a stand-out in the SPL. He was a commanding presence in the centre of the backline all season long.
Waste of space: Bocanegra's countryman Alejandro Bedoya cost just as much in a transfer fee, but couldn't even get himself in the team when youth players were being used towards the end of the season. He wasn't the only poor Gers signing last summer, but he was the worst.
Is the future bright? Whatever the Daily Record says, that twelve month transfer embargo won't be overturned soon. There is little doubt that Rangers' big players will leave the sinking ship this summer - the question is whether the skeleton squad left behind will be allowed to compete at SPL level or not...but that's another story...
ST JOHNSTONE
Marks out of ten: 7
Overview: After a great start, the Saintees managed to overcome the mid-season departure of manager Derek McInnes and kept enough momentum to hold on to a place in the top half, their highest league finish for more than a decade. That's not bad for a side who had the lowest average attendance in the SPL, despite their good results. McInnes' replacement, Steve Lomas, has done a decent job so far, though his January signings were hit-and-miss. It's hard to see how the club's supporters can expect more than what they got this season.
Star man: The Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza seemed like a bit of a gamble, after an injury-hit couple of years, but he proved himself one of the best finishers around, even if he was prone to more than a little play-acting.
Waste of space: David Robertson left Dundee United for McDiarmid Park last summer in order to get more first team football...but the attacking midfielder started only eleven matches and didn't seem to feature much in Lomas' plans.
Is the future bright? Can Lomas take St Johnstone higher? His next big test will be his ability to find cheap gems in the transfer market. Whilst they have more than enough quality to feel confident they will be nowhere near the bottom end of the table next season, they will find it difficult to emulate this season's finish, especially if the likes of Sandaza leave for bigger things.
ST MIRREN
Marks out of ten: 6
Overview: The Buddies achieved their highest league finish, and most points, since the SPL expanded to 12 teams - which must be worth at least some plaudits. Still, they were only eighth in the table, and early thoughts of top six evaporated after a terrible run at the start of 2012. Coach Danny Lennon is keen to keep the ball on the deck, though they also proved adept at using Steven Thompson as a target man. A Boxing Day win over Rangers was a highlight, and it was the first time in many years that there were no concerns about being dragged into a relegation battle.
Star man: Paul McGowan was always an attacking threat, playing either wide in midfield or as a second striker. The former Celtic youngster seems to keep on improving, and Lennon seems to know how to get the best out of him.
Waste of space: Aussie midfielder Aaron Mooy showed enough last season to suggest he might become a good player, but he struggled with back problems and, when fit again, failed to impress.
Is the future bright? There are plenty of decent youngsters at St. Mirren Park, and the boss is proving adept at picking up decent players from the lower leagues. If he can get another good year out of veteran Thompson and keep the likes of McGowan and Kenny McLean, the club might well be able to aim higher next season, especially with defensive linchpin Darren McGregor back after missing almost the whole season with a cruciate ligament injury. There's justification for optimism in Paisley.
L.
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