Only a year ago, St. Mirren were on a high... |
That's just as well, really, because St. Mirren's league form under his guidance has not exactly been amazing. June will mark the fourth anniversary of Lennon's appointment. In his first season in charge, they finished eleventh in the SPL. Then in 2011-12, they came eighth. But last term the players seemed to down tools after the cup triumph. The Buddies had enough points on the board to finish ahead of Dundee with a bit to spare, but they slumped to another eleventh place finish.
This season, eleventh place doesn't guarantee top flight survival. It means an awkward playoff with one of the Championship sides.
At the moment, St. Mirren are not eleventh. They are ninth, but only one point above the two sides below them, Partick Thistle and Ross County. They haven't been higher than eighth in the table at any point since October 2012. They have picked up just 33 points from their last 38 league matches going back to this time last year, with only eight wins. For comparison, Dundee finished bottom last season with 30 points from that number of games...and they were grim. St. Mirren are hardly blessed with a big budget, but neither are the likes of Inverness or Ross County, who both finished top six last time around.
...but it's been a rough season for boss Danny Lennon |
One of the major reasons that Lennon was brought to the club was his supposed ability to work on a budget, to find rough diamonds in the lower leagues and polish them. The prime example is Darren McGregor, the former Cowdenbeath defender who impressed before two cruciate ligament injuries. However, St. Mirren's dealings last summer were little short of a disaster, bar the return of Newcastle's Conor Newton for a second loan spell. The most significant signing, Gary Harkins, flopped so badly that the Buddies failed to win any league game in which he started and he has been sent to Oldham Athletic for the rest of the season. Other arrivals included David Cornell, Danny Grainger and Jake Caprice - none of whom are still at the club. The most farcical move involved French striker Stephane Bahoken, who has been persona non grata since September and whom was shipped back to parent club Nice before the end of December...only to be sent back as he is ineligible to play on loan for another club, and Nice don't want him either. One hopes Lennon didn't agree to pay much of his wages.
10 Terrific Danny Lennon signings...
Craig Samson
Darren McGregor
Marc McAusland
Paul McGowan
Stephen Thompson
Jeroen Tesselaar
Nigel Hasselbaink
Conor Newton
Paul Dummett
Esmael Goncalves
There was one other new face on loan, one that is most intriguing; Newcastle United's highly rated young forward Adam Campbell. Lennon had wanted him back in August, and chased him hard...yet he doesn't seem to know where to play him. St. Mirren's best attacking player is unquestionably Paul McGowan, and he is only particularly effective when playing off a lone striker. As a result, Lennon is unkeen to play two up front, but veteran Stephen Thompson seems to still be untouchable, even though he has visibly slowed down this season and provided only a little more impact on the pitch than he has with his bland remarks on Sportscene. And with Magennis and Wylde occupying the wide areas, Lennon's prize catch is left kicking his heels on the bench.
...and 10 Terrible Danny Lennon signings
Paul McQuade
Gareth Wardlaw
Ilias Haddad
Sam Parkin
Sander Puri
Sam Parkin
Jon Robertson
David Cornell
Danny Grainger
Gary Harkins
Other than Kello, success stories have been few and far between. Two can now be found in the full-back areas, in the shape of youngsters Sean Kelly and Jason Naismith. And midfielder John McGinn continues to develop nicely, thriving despite the dearth of quality or organization around him.
It's been, and will continue to be, a long season for St. Mirren. There's a good chance that they'll be the unfortunate team to end up in the playoff place. Even if they maintain their top flight status, whether by finishing a place or two higher or by winning a playoff, it will be a difficult summer - loan signings Newton, Campbell and Magennis may not stay, while it will surely be time to cut ties with Thompson and fellow geriatric Gary Teale, who has been injured for most of the season.
But, whether they finish eleventh or not, would you trust Lennon with the rebuilding exercise?
L.
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