Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Horse, door, bolted: Richie Foran leaves ICT

Richie Foran
Richie Foran looking down...which is where Caley Thistle had been heading for a looooonnnggg time

Often, when a football manager loses his job, there's not a lot of sympathy for him.  Inevitably, the reasons for his dismissal - usually a string of rotten results and performances - have left the fans fed up and baying for blood.  Ultimately, the relationship between boss and club is so damaged that one imagines the conversation with the chairman to be akin to that of Milhouse's Dad getting fired from the Cracker Factory - "So that's it after 20 years?  So long, good luck?"  "I don't recall saying 'good luck'."

Richie Foran's dismissal doesn't feel like that.  There were no organised protests or banners against him.  There was little even in terms of frustrated abuse from the stands.  That's because he was considered to be a Caley Thistle Man.  He had played for the club for seven and a half seasons, many of which were spent as club captain.  He had married a local woman.  Hell, he'd even managed to get himself arrested on Inverness High Street.  It was only a matter of time until he ditched his Irish brogue and instead starting dropping his 't's whilst greeting opposing managers with "how's yersel, like?"

The bottom line is that everyone associated with the club wanted him to succeed, and there was increasing sorrow as it became clear that he wouldn't.  That's not to say that the support disagree with the decision to remove him - a full season in charge of the club had produced an overwhelming body of evidence that he simply wasn't up to the job.  But it's not something to celebrate.


Why Foran had to go
Our tactics were a shambles
Ditching the attacking, aesthetically-pleasing football he initially promised in favour of hoof-ball made a modicum of sense when 6ft 5in Lonsana Doumbouya was up front, but giving him no support whatsoever made it pointless.  And continuing to punt long balls when 5ft 8in Billy Mckay was the target was crazy.  Ross Draper and Liam Polworth spent weeks on end being played out of position until their confidence was destroyed.  When used in their favoured roles, they thrived...only to be moved again the following week.

We never scouted opponents
The team was never set up with the opposition in mind.  In derbies, we never pressed high up the pitch, even though Ross County's defenders are always uncomfortable in possession.  Meanwhile, after the split, Kilmarnock's Jordan Jones terrorized Brad Mckay at Rugby Park; a few weeks earlier, he'd done the same at Caledonian Stadium to the point that Mckay had to be subbed at half-time.  But Foran seemed to have completely forgotten.

In contrast, we never seemed to suss out what opponents had planned for us
Aberdeen destroyed us in November by using Adam Rooney on the right and asking him to drift inside; six weeks later, Ross County did the same with Liam Boyce, and we had done nothing to counteract for that dreadful weakness.  Meanwhile, every week it seemed that we conceded a goal because Iain Vigurs failed to track a runner from midfield, and nothing was done about that either.

Recruitment was awful
Foran was clearly backed by the board, as he was allowed to sign twelve players.  Only Billy Mckay and Jamie McCart improved the team.  Louis Laing and Henri Anier were brought in with no obvious strategy; clearly they were simply players with Premiership experience who Foran had heard of.  Foran said at the start of January that he badly needed a midfielder who could break up play...and then went and signed a load of strikers instead.

Man-management was even worse
Foran frequently hung the players out to dry in post-match interviews, often criticizing their lack of fight and character.  He ostracized striker Alex Fisher was three months for the alleged crime of chatting to a club down south about a pre-contract; when Fisher was finally restored to the team out of sheer desperacy, he scored six in the last six games and finished as top scorer.  Foran's claim about "bad apples" in the dressing room after relegation was inexplicable, especially as it became clear from the clues he dropped that he was referring to youngsters Larnell Cole and Jake Mulraney.  Both were signed by Foran, both were frequently played by him, and the manager had actually chosen to extend Cole's loan spell in January rather than let him go.  And any manager who can't cope with a couple of petulant kids in his squad certainly can't be trusted to cope with a bunch of veterans.

Why he should have gone earlier
To an extent, Foran's reputation blinded both the club and the fans to the truth; that he needed replaced earlier.  Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing, but there is no doubt in my mind that, had we made that change, we would have stayed up.  There were at least three occasions earlier in the campaign where such a move should have taken place:

At the start of the winter break
We were bottom already, with two points from nine games.  We had been outfought and out-thought on Hogmanay by Ross County.  After that match, Foran himself admitted that he wasn't good enough.  We should have taken him at his word.

Defeat to Hamilton at the end of January
Losing 3-0 at New Douglas Park was an abomination, particularly as the goals all came because we were a shambles defensively.  Foran actually had a wee Sliding Doors moment a few days later; we were 2-0 down at half-time at home to Dundee, and had the Dark Blues turned the screw in the second half I think it would have been the end for him.  However ICT battled back for a 2-2 draw, which gave the false impression that the players were fighting for him.

Defeat to St. Johnstone shortly before the split
Whilst we were unlucky to be behind at half-time, the team capitulated in incredible fashion in the final quarter of an hour.  Larnell Cole got sent off for dissent, with captain Gary Warren earning the same fate after the final whistle.  St. Johnstone literally walked through their disjointed opponents to score two late goals, and could have had two more in injury-time too.  The poor attitude and discipline displayed just how dysfunctional the club had become.


Looking forward with trepidation
The Great Catastrophe of 2016/17, which has resulted in relegation to the Championship less than two years after we played a Europa League qualifier - from Bucharest to Brechin in two years, as some have put it -  ultimately left the new board with little choice.  Had Foran been retained, we would simply have ended up getting rid of him in the autumn after a nightmare start to next season caused by poor recruitment - who would have wanted to play for this lot, under that gaffer? - and a continuation of the malaise afflicting the squad.

So what now?

Well, the misery may be a long way away from ending.  If some think going to Dumbarton and Dumfries instead of Ibrox and Celtic Park is bad enough, then consider that it might be a good while till Inverness are back facing Scotland's biggest and best clubs.  The Championship is a hell of a competitive league; Dundee United, Hibs and Rangers have recently discovered just how bloody difficult it is to get out of it, while St. Mirren very nearly left it by the wrong end.

And of course relegation means less money, which means fewer resources, which means big changes.

So work needs to start ASAP on getting things ready for 2017/18.  Here are some pointers:

Make the new appointment quickly
The League Cup starts in mid-July, after all.  The sooner a new boss is brought in, the sooner he can decide on which out of contract players he wants to keep (probably only Fisher, really) and the sooner he can get on with getting a squad together.

What should they look for?  This writer is less interested in coaching ability and more keen on recruitment.  Terry Butcher was hardly a tactical mastermind; his success in the Highlands came from his contacts and his ability to find good players in the English lower leagues.  I'd prefer an experienced hand with that sort of wherewithall to the next Ian Cathro...though not a returning Butcher, who has burned his bridges with the club.  I have no names in mind, though the ones being mentioned by the press - Maurice Malpas, Paul Sheerin, Paul Hartley - do not fill me with much confidence.

Overhaul the coaching setup
One particular anomaly is the presence of Brian Rice, who was John Hughes' assistant but who chose to remain after Yogi left.  I believe he has a contract for another year yet, but it's clear there was no obvious relationship between Rice and Foran.  It hasn't helped matters a jot.  The belated return to the club of Maurice Malpas in a coaching capacity (at the board's behest) will have done no harm but he wasn't really a Foran man either.  A new boss needs to be able to bring in who he wants.

As depressing as it sounds, there is a case for ditching the youth teams, which have produced all of four first team regulars (Graeme Shinnie, Nick Ross, Ryan Christie and Liam Polworth) this century.  Every year we release a load of kids who go on to play in the Highland League.  It surely isn't financially sensible.


Squad changes
The players who are under contract for next season would actually form a pretty decent backbone to work with:



If Aaron Doran can get back to fitness, that midfield looks very decent.  The back four would manage in the Championship, though I think Gary Warren and David Raven are fading and Brad Mckay will have found his level.

Aside from that eleven, only backup keeper Ryan Esson is also under contract.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Scott Boden negotiate his exit, but I hope the others don't have relegation release clauses.

As for the out of contract players, Josh Meekings will surely move on.  As for the others, only Alex Fisher is really worth keeping.

Signings will depend partly on finance, and that might limit our options: in the First Division-winning campaign of 2009/10, we only used 18 players over the age of 21, and a few of them barely featured.  The top priority is to try and convince Billy Mckay to remain in Inverness; with a half-decent team behind him, he could run riot in the second tier.  However, that's probably not realistic.  A decision has to be made on whether to gamble heavily on winning promotion at the first attempt; failing would cause considerable damage but every season spent in the second tier will make it harder to go back up.

It will be an intriguing summer in Inverness, and the decisions made during it will have a huge bearing on the club's fate for years to come.  Let's hope they don't get them wrong...


Lawrie Spence has ranted and spouted his ill-informed opinions on Narey's Toepoker since September 2007.  He has a life outside this blog.  Honestly.

Friday, May 12, 2017

The tenth annual Narey's Toepoker Team of the Year (part 2)

Right, so here's your midfield and attack.  The other half of the team can be found here.

We've gone 4-4-f******-2 this year - read on to find out why...


CENTRAL MIDFIELD: STUART ARMSTRONG (CELTIC), ADAM BARTON (PARTICK THISTLE)
Honourable mentions: Scott Brown (Celtic), Kenny McLean (Aberdeen), Jamie Walker (Hearts), Ali Crawford (Hamilton Accies)

This was the hardest choice by miles - basically it was two out of Armstrong, Brown, McLean and Barton.  I love Armstrong's all-action style (and his hair), so he's in.  His progress this season has been exciting and there's still more to come from him.  I thought Brown was finished last year but he's proven everyone wrong by returning to somewhere approaching his best, while McLean has been terrific since Derek McInnes started playing a midfield trio with Ryan Jack and Graeme Shinnie doing the donkey work so the ex-St. Mirren man can concentrate on playmaking.

Barton is the hipster's choice (he's a Partick Thistle player, so of course he is!) but he's been one of the signings of the season, either in central defence or sitting just in front of the centre-backs.  Would Thistle's defensive record be as good without him?  No.  Would Liam Lindsay be getting so many plaudits without Barton beside/in front of him?  No.  So Barton it is.

Besides, I already have plenty of Celtic players in this year's team.  Their fans won't be offended if I leave Brown out, right?  (Goes away to find tin hat).

Oh, and as for the other honourable mentions, both Crawford and Walker were terrific before the winter break and pretty anonymous afterward.  Walker never looked comfortable in Ian Cathro's system - whatever it is - and Hearts need to get the best out of him if they are to move in the right direction.  Crawford seems to only ever star for half of every season, which is just about enough to make him a huge asset for Accies but not enough to entice a bigger club.


WIDE MIDFIELDERS: SCOTT SINCLAIR (CELTIC), JONNY HAYES (ABERDEEN)
Honourable mentions: Don Cowie (Hearts), Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone), James Forrest (Celtic), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen)

It's hard to argue with this dynamic duo.  Sinclair won Player of the Year, after all.  He actually seemed to disappear from games for long periods - as wingers are wont to do, I suppose - but whenever he got involved he tended to make a huge impact.  21 league goals from the wing is some tally.  It's a sign that he belongs at a far higher level than this, I suppose.

Hayes remains one of my favourite footballers.  He has everything you want from your winger - pace, the ability to beat a man, an end product and even a few goals - but it's his discipline and workrate that really make him stand out.  Ever since he came to Scotland in 2009 he's got a bit better year on year; the guy's attitude must make him a dream to coach.

As for the others, I suspect Cowie is another 'dream to coach', and looked like the only Hearts player who had a clue what Ian Cathro wanted.  Why he isn't club captain I have no idea.  Forrest and Swanson both tailed off a fair bit in 2017 after starting the season like greased lightning.  McGinn was the opposite, starting slowly before hitting form in the new year.


STRIKERS: MOUSSA DEMBELE (CELTIC), LIAM BOYCE (ROSS COUNTY)
Honourable mentions: Steven Maclean (St. Johnstone), Kenny Miller (Rangers), Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Marcus Haber (Dundee)

This is why we're going 4-4-2 this year - to fit both these boys in.  I think Celtic will get an offer they can't refuse for Dembele this summer, which will probably be greater than Rangers' annual turnover. He must be the best value signing the club have made since a Mr H. Larsson rocked up.  Boyce's exploits have been overshadowed slightly by his club's disappointing season; his goal drought in the spring came when he was moved into a deeper role and the onus was put on him to create chances rather than score them.  To still score 20 league goals (his teammates have managed just 22 between them) in those circumstances is quite sensational.

I'd have loved to shoehorn Maclean in.  The wily veteran is as good a lone striker as anyone in this league.  Miller continues to defy biology with his refusal to slow down and accept that he is getting old, but Rangers really can't afford to depend on him so much next year.  Rooney continues to lead the line effectively for Aberdeen.  Haber deserves a mention simply because his arrival transformed Dundee's season, and their record without him is just terrible.

So here's the team in all its glory:

(It took bloody ages to do the kit graphics by the way, so be nice!)


And, for the tenth year, that's your lot.  I'm looking forward to more of your 'constructive' criticism...


Lawrie Spence has ranted and spouted his ill-informed opinions on Narey's Toepoker since September 2007.  He has a life outside this blog.  Honestly.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The tenth annual Narey's Toepoker Team of the Year (part 1)

This is the tenth Narey's Toepoker team of the year.  Wow.  Here, for your amusement, are the previous nine lineups.  Every year I post these, I cringe a bit.  I mean, Daniel Majstorovic?!  Lee Wilkie twice?!


PREVIOUS TEAMS OF THE YEAR
2007/08: Allan McGregor (Rangers), Alan Hutton (Rangers), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Lee Wilkie (Dundee United), Lee Naylor (Celtic), Barry Robson (Celtic), Stephen Hughes (Motherwell), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Scott McDonald (Celtic), Steven Fletcher (Hibernian)

2008/09: Lukasz Zaluska (Dundee United), Andreas Hinkel (Celtic), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Lee Wilkie (Dundee United), Sasa Papac (Rangers), Scott Brown (Celtic), Bruno Aguiar (Hearts), Pedro Mendes (Rangers), Andrew Driver (Hearts), Scott McDonald (Celtic), Kris Boyd (Rangers)

2009/10: John Ruddy (Motherwell), Steven Whittaker (Rangers), David Weir (Rangers), Andy Webster (Dundee United), Sasa Papac (Rangers), Steven Davis (Rangers), Morgaro Gomis (Dundee United), James McArthur (Hamilton), Anthony Stokes (Hibernian), Kris Boyd (Rangers), David Goodwillie (Dundee United)

2010/11: Marian Kello (Hearts), Steven Whittaker (Rangers), Daniel Majstorovic (Celtic), Michael Duberry (St. Johnstone), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Steven Naismith (Rangers), Beram Kayal (Celtic), Alexei Eremenko (Kilmarnock), David Templeton (Hearts), Nikica Jelavic (Rangers), David Goodwillie (Dundee United)

2011/12: Cammy Bell (Kilmarnock), Adam Matthews (Celtic), Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Paul Dixon (Dundee United), James Forrest (Celtic), Victor Wanyama (Celtic), Ian Black (Hearts), Dean Shiels (Kilmarnock), Jon Daly (Dundee United), Gary Hooper (Celtic)

2012/13: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Mihael Kovacevic (Ross County), Gary Warren (Inverness CT), Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen), Stevie Hammell (Motherwell), Victor Wanyama (Celtic), Nicky Law (Motherwell), Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone), Leigh Griffiths (Hibernian), Michael Higdon (Motherwell), Billy Mckay (Inverness CT) 

2013/14: Jamie MacDonald (Hearts), Dave Mackay (St. Johnstone), Virgil Van Dijk (Celtic), Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen), Andrew Robertson (Dundee United), Scott Brown (Celtic), Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United), Peter Pawlett (Aberdeen), Kris Commons (Celtic), Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock), Stevie May (St. Johnstone)

2014/15: Craig Gordon (Celtic), Shay Logan (Aberdeen), Virgil Van Dijk (Celtic), Jason Denayer (Celtic), Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT), Ryan Jack (Aberdeen), Greg Tansey (Inverness CT), Greg Stewart (Dundee), Stefan Johansen (Celtic), Gary Mackay-Steven (Dundee United/Celtic), Adam Rooney (Aberdeen)

2015/16: Jamie MacDonald (Kilmarnock), Callum Paterson (Hearts), Igor Rossi (Hearts), Andrew Davies (Ross County), Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), Nir Bitton (Celtic), Jackson Irvine (Ross County), Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen), Kenny McLean (Aberdeen), Marvin Johnson (Motherwell), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic)


As for this season, this lot is all on me.  I didn't ask for other opinions, partly because of time constraints and partly because I don't trust my fellow collaborators - Martin would have been biased towards Aberdeen players, while Iain would have picked Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn out of sheer vindictiveness.  And Andrew is just too depressed by Caley Thistle's season.  So any criticisms should be directed at yours truly...although I'll probably ignore them.

So here's your keeper and your back four...


GOALKEEPER: JOE LEWIS (ABERDEEN)
Honourable mentions: Craig Gordon (Celtic), Wes Foderingham (Rangers)

A toss-up between Lewis and Gordon, but the former gets the nod simply because he was worked harder over the course of the season.  Aberdeen's erratic central defenders provide him with plenty of action, but he has not disappointed.  Gordon has spent too many matches basically jogging around his box keeping warm, though he has been the epitomy of reliability since proving to Brendan Rodgers that he can be an adequate sweeper-keeper.  There will be lots of squad turnover at Ibrox this summer, but goalkeeper is the one position that Pedro Caixinha can be satisfied with; Foderingham has been one of the few positives at Rangers this season.


RIGHT-BACK: CALLUM PATERSON (HEARTS)
Honourable mentions: Shay Logan (Aberdeen), Mikael Lustig (Celtic)

"But Paterson's been injured for months!", I hear you shout indignantly.  That's true, but he'd started 20 league games before he wrecked his knee, and at that point he was playing like a man possessed.  The boy was Hearts' leading scorer at the time too.  Hopefully he bounces back to become the player he has the potential to be.  Celtic's regular deployment of a lop-sided back four means that Lustig has spent plenty of time more centrally, but he's thrived under Brendan Rodgers.  Logan has been a consistently good performer for Aberdeen all season at the back and has chipped in with plenty of assists and a few goals too.


LEFT-BACK: KIERAN TIERNEY (CELTIC)
Honourable mentions: Lee Wallace (Rangers), Carl Tremarco (Inverness CT)

Mark my words: Tierney will at some point become the most expensive Scottish footballer ever, when the time comes that he wants to test himself at a higher level week-in, week-out.  In the meantime, he still has plenty of scope to improve under Rodgers' coaching, even when playing against domestic dross most weekends.  My 'honourable mentions' will probably cause some controversy, but I think Wallace has had a decent season, while Tremarco has been the only bright light of Caley Thistle's dismal season (and their top scorer to boot).  Besides, it's my blog, and I can be horrendously biased if I want to.


CENTRE-BACKS: JOZO SIMUNOVIC (CELTIC), JOE SHAUGHNESSY (ST. JOHNSTONE)
Honourable mentions: Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic), Liam Lindsay (Partick Thistle), Clint Hill (Rangers), Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone)

It's hard to believe that Simunovic was nearly punted to Torino on deadline day last summer; the Croat has strolled through the campaign at the heart of Celtic's defence.  Whilst he's no Virgil Van Dijk, the 22 year old has the best chance of any of the club's central defenders of making it at a higher level.  Some might see Shaughnessy as an odd pick, but he's been ace whenever I've seen him.  He's a proper no-nonsense defender who has actually eclipsed stalwart teammate Steven Anderson this year, and Tommy Wright has done really well to hold onto him.

Liam Lindsay would have been the more fashionable 'diddy team' choice, but whilst he's developing into a very decent player I feel all the Scotland cap chat is a bit over the top.  Sviatchenko has been very solid but seems to have now dropped below Dedryck Boyata in the pecking-order at Parkhead.  It says something about Rangers' other defenders that Clint Hill, ace for me in a Championship Manager 99/00 game once, outplayed them this season despite turning 38 in October.


The midfield and attack will be up in a few days, when I've got the time.  And when I've decided who my central midfielders will be...



Lawrie Spence has ranted and spouted his ill-informed opinions on Narey's Toepoker since September 2007.  He has a life outside this blog.  Honestly.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Just how rotten is Richie Foran's record?

It's five days since Caley Thistle's Highland Derby disaster.  Seven points adrift with four games to go, relegation is pretty much a certainty.  The performance in Dingwall was simply dreadful, with the side completely devoid of confidence, discipline or leadership.  Commentator Derek Rae later stated it reminded him of Dundee United at the end of last season, which is a pretty good comparison.

But despite that nightmare, which follows on from conceding four at Motherwell and three at home to St. Johnstone, and the current run of just one win in twenty-three league games since the end of October, Richie Foran seems to be remarkably immune.  Either the board have remarkable faith in him, or they are simply paralyzed by the horror of it all; regardless, it seems that he will remain in the dugout at least until safety is mathematically impossible.

But just for the record, how rotten has Foran's tenure been?  And how many other managers with such a poor record have lasted so long in a job?  Well, here's some food for thought.

Here are the twenty managers with the worst win percentage in Scotland's top flight since 1998-99, when the SPL era (and therefore all football) started.


PWDLFAPTSWin %Pts/gameFate
1Gerry CollinsPartick Thistle 2003140212123120.00%0.14Sacked
2Franck SauzeeHibernian 2001-021105681950.00%0.45Sacked
3Craig BrewsterDundee United 2006-0728211152756177.14%0.61Sacked
4Paul LambertLivingston 2005-062626181355127.69%0.46Resigned
5Barry SmithDundee 2012-1326351814461411.54%0.54Sacked
6Richie ForanInverness CT 2016-17344131736662511.76%0.74?
7Davie IronsGretna 2007-0825341822571312.00%0.52Resigned
8Eddie MayFalkirk 2009-1023381217361713.04%0.74Sacked
9Tommy CraigSt. Mirren 20141522111026813.33%0.53Sacked
10Allan PrestonLivingston 20041523101227913.33%0.60Sacked
11Jim McIntyreDunfermline 2011-1230471930661913.33%0.63Sacked
12Mick WadsworthGretna 20081324710261015.38%0.77Club went bust
13Terry ButcherHibernian 2013-1425481322372016.00%0.80Sacked
14John RobertsonLivingston 20061220101224616.67%0.50Managed club in division 1
15Billy StarkSt. Johnstone 2001-0230532219461816.67%0.60Managed club in division 1
16David HayDunfermline 2004-05356101928562817.14%0.80Sacked
17Steven PressleyFalkirk 20101535714211420.00%0.93Managed club in division 1
18Tom HendrieSt. Mirren 2000-0138862432723021.05%0.79Managed club in division 1
19John LambiePartick Thistle 2002-03388111937583521.05%0.92Retired
20Stephen KennyDunfermline 2006-0727661518392422.22%0.89Managed club in division 1

Some of those names bring back memories, and not good ones.  Gerry Collins and Franck Sauzee have become synonymous with failure, while it took a special level of incompetence to achieve what Brewster managed with Dundee United.  Paul Lambert of course went on to much better things in management but his spell with Livi was a disaster.  Barry Smith was on a hiding to nothing with a Dundee side who only ended up in the SPL because Rangers were chucked out.

Foran ranks sixth-worst.  Among those with better win percentages are Eddie May, Tommy Craig and Allan Preston.  Both the guys who managed Gretna during their march to liquidation have a better win percentage.  Even Terry Butcher's spell at Hibs wasn't as bad than this.

It's worth noting the Irishman is the only manager in the top 14 to last more than 30 Premiership games in charge.


What if we look at points per game instead?  Well, here's what we get.

PWDLFAPTSWin %Pts/gameFate
1Gerry CollinsPartick Thistle 2003140212123120.00%0.14Sacked
2Franck SauzeeHibernian 2001-021105681950.00%0.45Sacked
3Paul LambertLivingston 2005-062626181355127.69%0.46Resigned
4John RobertsonLivingston 20061220101224616.67%0.50Managed club in division 1
5Davie IronsGretna 2007-0825341822571312.00%0.52Resigned
6Tommy CraigSt. Mirren 20141522111026813.33%0.53Sacked
7Barry SmithDundee 2012-1326351814461411.54%0.54Sacked
8Allan PrestonLivingston 20041523101227913.33%0.60Sacked
9Billy StarkSt. Johnstone 2001-0230532219461816.67%0.60Managed club in division 1
10Craig BrewsterDundee United 2006-0728211152756177.14%0.61Sacked
11Jim McIntyreDunfermline 2011-1230471930661913.33%0.63Sacked
12Richie ForanInverness CT 2016-17344131736662511.76%0.74?
13Eddie MayFalkirk 2009-1023381217361713.04%0.74Sacked
14Mick WadsworthGretna 20081324710261015.38%0.77Club went bust
15Tom HendrieSt. Mirren 2000-0138862432723021.05%0.79Managed club in division 1
16Terry ButcherHibernian 2013-1425481322372016.00%0.80Sacked
17David HayDunfermline 2004-05356101928562817.14%0.80Sacked
18Stephen KennyDunfermline 2006-0727661518392422.22%0.89Managed club in division 1
19Jim LeishmanDunfermline 2005-065212112947884723.08%0.90Became General Manager
20John LambiePartick Thistle 2002-03388111937583521.05%0.92Retired


Aye, so it's not much better reading.  A high number of draws means that Foran 'improves' to twelfth, but look at the names above him.  It's still grim.  And again, no-one else with such a bad record lasted as long.

So, as regards the question "just how bad has Richie Foran's spell in charge of Caley Thistle been?", I think the answer is pretty obvious.


Lawrie Spence (LS) has ranted and spouted his ill-informed opinions on Narey's Toepoker since September 2007.  He has a life outside this blog.  Honestly.