ST MIRREN
LAST SEASON: 11th, 41 points
NOTABLE INS: Kealan Dillon (Hull City), Christopher Dilo (Blackburn Rovers), Danny Grainger (Heart of Midlothian), Gary Harkins (Dundee), David Cornell (Swansea City, loan)
NOTABLE OUTS: Graham Carey (Ross County), Lewis Guy (Carlisle United), Dougie Imrie (Greenock Morton), Sam Parkin (Exeter City), Sander Puri (York City), Craig Samson (Kilmarnock), Chris Smith (Stenhousemuir,), Paul Dummett (Newcastle United, end of loan), Esmael Goncalves (Rio Ave, end of loan), Conor Newton (Newcastle United, end of loan), Grant Adam
LAST SEASON'S BEST XI (departed players crossed out): Samson, Van Zanten, McAusland, Goodwin,
THE SQUAD (u-21 players in italics)
Goalkeepers: David Cornell, Christopher Dilo
Defenders: David Barron, Danny Grainger, Lee Mair, Marc McAusland, Darren McGregor, David Van Zanten, Mo Yaqub
Midfielders: Anton Brady, Kealan Dillon, Jim Goodwin, Gary Harkins, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Jon Robertson, Gary Teale
Forwards: Paul McGowan, Thomas Reilly, Jack Smith, Steven Thompson
IF HE GETS INJURED, THEY'RE SCREWED: Schemer PAUL MCGOWAN surprisingly turned down offers from down south to remain in Paisley for another year. He was badly missed when injured last season and the Buddies can't afford to lose him for long periods of time.
STAR OF THE FUTURE? Midfield player JOHN MCGINN came out of nowhere to become a first choice last season, and looks rather more mature and well-rounded than you'd expect from an 18 year old...or, at least, an 18 year old Scot!
THE SEASON AHEAD: St. Mirren won the League Cup last year, yet form dipped so alarmingly afterwards that they nearly got pulled into a relegation battle. Was it just a case of downing tools early, or was the League Cup run an anomaly for a mediocre side? In recent years, the only consistency about them has been their inconsistency. The retention of Paul McGowan and arrival of Gary Harkins gives the Buddies plenty of potency in attack...providing Steven Thompson and Gary Teale continue to enjoy Indian summers. Defensively, they should be all right providing Darren McGregor has recovered from his second cruciate rupture and can return to his pre-injury form, but if he breaks down again there doesn't seem to be much cover.
THE BEST XI?
With McGregor and Grainger not long back from serious knee injuries, Lennon could do with more defensive cover, especially as Barron and Mair appear to be persona non grata. McAusland was great last season. If Goodwin has to be moved back into defence, the midfield will be woefully short of steel, though McLean and McGinn are both outstanding young players who I expect to make a step forward this season. The attack is well balanced, with Teale staying out on the right touchline and Harkins likely to come in off the left flank. They can't afford McGowan or Thompson to get injured - at the time of writing there is no cover for either. In goal, it'll be interesting to see if Swansea loanee Cornell - who has played for Wales under-21s - is an adequate replacement for Scotland squad keeper Samson.
THE BOSS: Danny Lennon would do well to note that the kudos from a League Cup triumph didn't last that long for Kenny Shiels at Kilmarnock. His defendants will throw out cliches like "attractive style" and "working on a budget" but under his tenure St Mirren have been dreadful as often as they have been terrific, and players like Paul McGowan, Steven Thompson and Gary Teale are not being paid peanuts. His first three seasons in charge have seen the club finish 11th, 8th, and 11th again; a repeat of last season's position now carries a risk of relegation and, if they look in danger of the drop, he will be quickly under pressure.
CLICHE YOU'RE MOST LIKELY TO HEAR: "Jekyll and Hyde"
PREDICTION: They'll no doubt be entertaining to watch, but it'll only take a couple of injuries to drastically weaken St. Mirren. Another season of inconsistency beckons, but I love their front four and I think they'll make a wee step forward this season to EIGHTH.
L.
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