8/10
LEAGUE: 4th, 57pts (6th - 53pts)
SCOTTISH CUP: Fifth round
LEAGUE CUP: Quarter-finals
MOST USED FIRST XI: Alan Mannus, Dave Mackay, Steven Anderson, Frazer Wright, Brian Easton, David Wotherspoon, Chris Millar, Murray Davidson, Simon Lappin, Michael O'Halloran, Steven Maclean
OVERVIEW: St. Johnstone's fourth-placed finish seemed to take a lot of folk by surprise. That's probably because they did very little that was spectacular - they didn't score more than two goals in a single game all season - and they didn't even appear to be shoo-ins for the top six until just before the split. And yet they sealed Europa League qualification for the fourth campaign in a row, which is a stunning achievement. As ever, Tommy Wright's side were well drilled and hard to beat, and routinely ran themselves into the ground to get a result. To say they are greater than the sum of their parts is not to damn them with faint praise - there was also sufficient individual quality - and they were thoroughly deserving of their final league placing.
HIGH POINTS: The one big shock the Saintees produced was at Celtic Park in March, where they won thanks to a Goal of the Season contender from Danny Swanson. The European campaign may have been fairly brief, but it did include a visit to Lucerne in Switzerland which was treasured by the fans who travelled.
LOW POINTS: The defence of the Scottish Cup was all too brief, as they were atypically blunt in defeat to Queen of the South. Getting knocked out of the League Cup by a fairly average Rangers team at Ibrox was a blow as well.
STAR MAN: Chris Millar might be 32, but this might have been the best season of his career. Midge buzzed around the midfield all year long, not only winning possession but using it wisely. Murray Davidson's end of season renaissance - after longstanding injury problems - leaves St. Johnstone with a central midfield pairing that is better than most in this league.
ONE FOR THE FUTURE: I can't say I've been all that impressed when I've seen young forward Chris Kane in action; though he scored plenty of goals in the Championship, he hasn't looked that dangerous in the top flight. Tommy Wright rates him though, and he couldn't have chosen a better time to score his first goal for the club - the winner against Aberdeen on the final day of the league season.
WASTE OF SPACE: Ex-Liverpool forward Adam Morgan came north on loan from Yeovil in August, full of attitude - the wrong kind of attitude. Hooked at half-time during his only start, he dropped out of contention quickly, and wasn't seen again after being sent off in a Development League game. In January he was mouthing off on Twitter about how Liverpool needed a striker like him...
THE BOSS: Tommy Wright deserves far more credit than he gets; his side are surely punching above their weight and have done for some time. There's no question that he persistently managed to get the best out of the players at his disposal. He managed to absorb the huge loss of Stevie May at the start of the season and, whilst he didn't have as much firepower up front, he was still able to get results. Perhaps the lack of flamboyancy and flair (not helped by the lack of impact from James McFadden) will deter other suitors; from St. Johnstone's point of view, that's no bad thing.
PROSPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON: The trick, as ever, will be keeping the Perth Saints where they are in the table despite relatively limited resources. Bar Danny Swanson - who they may yet get back - they aren't likely to lose any of their best players. The defence is ageing...but I've said that the last two summers as well and they've still managed okay; they have already signed Brad Mckay and Joe Shaughnessy as younger options in that area. They've lost their 'big man up front' in Brian Graham, but signed another one in Graham Cummins. If Murray Davidson really is back to his best, and can stay healthy, they will do just fine.
FIRST TEAMERS DEFINITELY LEAVING: Lee Croft, Brian Graham (end of loan), James McFadden, Gary Miller, Danny Swanson (end of loan)
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.
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