Flashback to the morning of 29 September. Caley Thistle's first seven league games had produced a grand total of zero wins (albeit with five draws). They lay eleventh in the table. A few days earlier, they had required a penalty shootout to see off second division side Stenhousemuir in the League Cup.
That morning, I pointed out via twitter that, since January, the club had won only four out of twenty-six competitive games, including one out of eleven at home. Two of those four wins came in the last two league games of 2011-12, which were essentially dead rubbers. Another one was away to Arbroath in the League Cup (which, given Celtic's travails against Paul Sheerin's side, doesn't look so unremarkable now). In case you hadn't got the point, I made it clear: I felt that Inverness were heading in the wrong direction and that Terry Butcher, manager since January 2009, was no longer up to the job.
That afternoon, we stuffed Dundee United 4-0 at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
Fast forward to 8 December, which saw a 3-0 home win over Hibernian which was as comprehensive as it sounds. Three days later came another victory, over Ross County in their Scottish Cup replay. ICT have now lost only one of their last sixteen games in all competitions. Their last ten league games have produced 21 points. Such is the closeness of the SPL that, instead of being second from bottom, they are now second from top. The last three league results have seen victories against a side top of the league (Celtic), a side second in the league (Aberdeen) and a side second in the league (Hibernian).
Clearly, I have no idea what I'm on about, even when it comes to my own team.
Most Caley Thistle fans will tell you that last season was a slog. Crippled early in the campaign by incessant injuries, we seemed to change our back four every week - out of necessity rather than choice. A brief peak in form around the turn of the year ended after Andrew Shinnie broke his foot. A dreadful finish to the campaign meant that we only guaranteed our safety by taking the ball to the corner flag to earn a goalless draw at home to hapless Dunfermline with two matches left. The summer's transfer dealings didn't fill the support with much confidence. First team regulars Kenny Gillet, Greg Tansey, Jonny Hayes and Gregory Tade turned down new contracts and left. Many of the replacements were English lower league players - guys like David Raven, Simon King, Ross Draper and Gary Warren. Hardly confidence-inspiring. And instead of bringing in a proven goalscorer (Tade had been the top scorer with just 9 goals), we gave a two year contract extension to the diminutive Irish forward Billy McKay, who had done little to impress the previous season.
As I said above, our start was rocky. But something clicked. It turns out that Terry Butcher knew what he was doing. At both ends of the pitch, Caley Thistle have improved almost beyond recognition from a season ago.
Unsurprisingly, given that we are the SPL's top scorers, its the attackers who have earned most of the plaudits. Andrew Shinnie's outstanding form in the old-fashioned "number ten" role earned him the honour of a Scotland cap in November. Irish winger Aaron Doran, who spent so much time on the treatment table last season that I began to worry he was made of glass, scored a terrific volley to clinch victory in the derby with Ross County in October; the consequence has been a surge of self-belief which has transformed his game. I was furious to learn that he was named Young Player of the Month for November, as he's out of contract in the summer and I don't want him to attract attention.
In fact, ICT scooped all the awards for November - Butcher took the manager's gong, while McKay, criticized by me on almost an hourly basis last season, was Player of the Month. The striker has scored nine in his last ten games, and already has eleven for the season. Captain Richie Foran has been deployed all over the pitch - in midfield, on either flank and both up front and just off McKay - with impressive results. There should also be a special mention for Arsenal loanee Philip Roberts, who has been in and out of the team; whilst displaying the sort of inconsistency you expect from a 20 year old, his contributions include the glorious dragback that left two Celtic players sliding on their backsides and set up McKay's winner at Celtic Park.
But good teams need a solid foundation. In this case, the stats which show that only St. Mirren and Dundee have conceded more goals are misleading - take away our three SPL defeats (4-2 by Celtic, and 4-1 and 5-1 shellackings by Motherwell) and we have let in 15 goals in the other 14 games, a very respectable record. Is it a coincidence that our excellent run started after former Real Madrid youngster Antonio Reguero took over in goal? Ryan Esson has been an excellent servant over the last few years, but the Spaniard has done little wrong, and took advantage when injury let him into the side.
In front of him, the current back four was largely forced by injuries, but has gelled beautifully after youngster Josh Meekings, deployed at full-back last season, took up a role in the centre of defence. Right-back David Raven had a dreadful start, but has improved with every match, both in a defensive and attacking sense. Under-21 international Graeme Shinnie remains first choice on the other side. But it is the other centre-back who has been the real stand-out.
"Gary who?", we said - closely followed by "He can't be any good if he was playing for Newport County." The signing of 28 year old Gary Warren from the English Conference was about the most underwhelming move we made all summer. But Warren is no ordinary footballer - his playing career was put on the backburner as he concentrated on qualifying as a PE teacher. He didn't become a full-time player until 2011. One can't help feeling that he has more left in the tank than the average 28 year old defender...or that he is destined to play at a higher level still. He has provided leadership at the back, and I'm not sure he's missed a header all season.
The other player deserving of more recognition is midfielder Ross Draper. At 6ft 5in, the former Macclesfield man manages even to have an inch on his beanpole teammate Owain Tudur Jones, but while the latter is a holding midfielder, relaxed almost to the point of languid, Draper is built like a house and gets about the pitch like he's on amphetamines. He never shirks a tackle or a block, and he's undoubtedly the engine of this side.
And don't forget the management. At times last year some players were hiding, while others looked like they were giving a lot less than 100%. Terry Butcher has got this team playing some good football, and he's got them playing for him and for each other. There have been some less than stellar performances, but sometimes sheer effort and attitude has been enough to grind out results. And, of course, a little bit of luck here and there (as Ross County manager Derek Adams will no doubt tell you!)
Can it go on? Of course not. It's absolutely mad that Inverness are second in the SPL. We're due a downturn, and losing one or two key players would cripple this team. And writing a blog lauding them will only inevitably jinx our amazing run (yes, I have that power!). But it's fun while it lasts. And, most importantly, it has been a lot of fun so far. And that is what matters.
L.
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