Do you agree with my SPL team of the year?
were presented on Sunday evening and those players deemed to be the best by their fellow players received their well-deserved accolades. I therefore thought it would be appropriate for me to name my team of the season.
This is undoubtedly a selection that will also be made by a number of journalists, pundits and supporters the length and breadth of the season and it will be interesting to analyse whether my choices, based on competing against these players, will differ much from the opinions of others.
My choice of goalkeeper is Motherwell's on-loan shot stopper . His performances this season have been a huge factor in the number of shut-outs his side have recorded, sitting alongside Rangers as the most successful side in this respect. John has a significant physical presence and his distribution, often quick and accurate, is a further strength in his game.
The right-back role would be filled by of St Johnstone, a player who has been extremely consistent and reliable throughout the whole campaign and who has also contributed greatly in a forward-going sense. He has been a top performer in a side that has enjoyed a fantastic season.
Another member of Motherwell's tight defence, , would be my selection at left back. Stevie is another who produces a high standard of performance on a weekly basis and who is also willing to take possession of the ball - and usually uses it well. Furthermore, he found himself out of favour at the beginning of the season but has shown strong character to become a well-deserved fixture in his side once again.
My central defence pairing would be and .
Much is made of the former's age and, while that makes his achievements even more significant, it is more relevant to focus on the 39-year-old's reading of the game and leadership qualities, which have been excellent and been the reason why he has captained this season's champions.
There is no doubt that Andy Webster has benefitted from regular first-team football once again and this has been the catalyst for the return to international form from the defender. I played alongside Andy in the Scotland B match last season and I realised from that experience how good a player he was, especially in his ability to communicate with his defensive unit.
In the midfield area, I would select two players from Rangers, the first being , the PFA Scotland player of the year in the SPL, and the other .
Steven is one of the players who are rare in the sense that all opposition players remark on his quality. He is composed on the ball, possesses a goal threat and is deceptively quick, especially with the ball.
Lee has impressed me greatly this season, not only in that he has successfully filled different roles on the pitch but in that, when he has played in a more attacking midfield position, his desire to get forward and the timing of his runs have been superb. He also has a natural aggression that all teams require.
Completing my midfield trio would be of Dundee United. His progression in recent seasons from the lower leagues to top SPL player is very admirable - and well deserved when you observe his passing ability and quick thinking.
With three players selected in the middle of the park, my strike force is obviously three-pronged, with the first choice being a former team-mate, Hibernian's . I would imagine that there are aspects of his game that still frustrate his manager, , but in terms of his goal scoring contribution, he has been a major success.
Rangers' would play alongside him - and, as ever, Kenny has received plaudits for his work-rate and application this season. However, he is a very clever footballer, very difficult to play against and this has been obvious in his performances this season - and in the number of goals he has scored.
My final selection - and this is where I get to be slightly biased - is my own team-mate, .
By his own admission, Billy has been disappointed in the number of league goals he has contributed, but his counters in cup games were a major factor in St Mirren reaching their first major final in 23 years. Furthermore, he is a full-back's dream to play alongside as he is always available to receive the ball and has a fantastic touch that can turn bad passes into good.
Looking over the team I have picked, there is much to be admired about the players who are in it. I just can't believe I haven't managed to get in a team picked by myself!
Finally, I had commented in a previous blog upon my faith in my team-mates to end the season strongly and I am delighted that this has proven to be the case. Their performances in the post-split fixtures have been terrific and I am delighted for them, the management team and the supporters, who have been magnificent in these games.
I was released as a teenager from the Scottish Premier League, had the hardening experiences of junior and part-time football and came back to the top flight with four years at university thrown in! I'm Jack Ross, a defender with Dunfermline and I aim to give you an insight into the life and mind of a professional footballer.
Comment number 1.
At 3rd May 2010, And if you know your history wrote:As an Everton fan, it's interesting to read your comments about John Ruddy. He's never come close to gaining a spot in the Everton team (he made one sub appearance after Iain Turner got sent off a couple of years ago but was the replaced by emergency loanee Sander Westerveld) but I am glad to hear of his form above the border.
I know hes keen to stay on at Motherwell permanently but do you think theres a future for him in the premiership, Jack?
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Comment number 2.
At 3rd May 2010, Matt Dalton wrote:It's interesting that there are no Celtic players in there although, given their performances this season, it is probably not surprising. Were you not at all tempted to put Robbie Keane in though or did you exclude loan signings?
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Comment number 3.
At 3rd May 2010, steven b wrote:i would say that though stevie hammell of motherwell at left back i would have prefered to play Lee Walace as he is a great left back and barly makes a mistake.
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Comment number 4.
At 3rd May 2010, lee hutchison wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 5.
At 3rd May 2010, Manno wrote:Think you're full-back pairing is quite poor to be honest. I'm going to be biased and say that my defence would be modelled on the Rangers first team this season.
Allan McGregor in goal (remember his last minute penalty save at Motherwell and the wonder save from Samaras just after we equalised at Parkhead?). A back four of Steven Whittaker, David Weir, Madjid Bougherra and Sasa Papac, all four of which have been oustanding at times and very rarely let us down. At 39/40 years old it is quite exceptional that David Weir hasn't missed a league match this season.
My wide midfielders would be Danny Swanson and Craig Conway of Dundee United. I remember when Conway made his debut even United fans were bemused, as Swanson was on form and keeping him out of the team. Both players have been integral to United's success. In centre mid it has to be Steven Davis, the driving force behind the Champions this season. Finally, and I'm sticking my neck on the line here, I'm going for St Johnstone's Jody Morris. The guy's come along way since sharing a dressing room with Zola, Desailly and co, then being dumped by Leeds and Millwall and ending up in the Scottish First Division. He's impressed me this season, Mr Consistent for St Johnstone; James McArthur, Liam Miller and Lee McCulloch just missed out.
And up front, no question, Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller. 40 plus goals between them, Rangers most prolific partnership since Prso and Novo in 2005, but they link up almost as well as McCoist and Hateley.
No Celtic players were worthy of a mention, not even Keane.
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Comment number 6.
At 3rd May 2010, StephCelticGhirl wrote:as a celtic fan i'd probably agree about the lack of our players there. keane has only been here since january and although he is a great player, over the course of the season boyd, miller, stokes etc have made a more significant contribution to their teams.
the only celtic player i'd really be tempted to put in would be andy hinkel at right back - solid, dependable and good going forwards. mcgeady has had a poor season, and the rest have just been mince.
if paddy mccourt played more, he'd definately get in though!
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Comment number 7.
At 3rd May 2010, You Saw Me Standing Alone wrote:Paddy McCourt? Aye OK mate, if you say so.
If he was any better than average he'd have played more games. I could understand if he was 18 but he's in his mid 20's!!!!
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Comment number 8.
At 3rd May 2010, StephCelticGhirl wrote:mate, mccourt is genius! you have to love a cult hero. only reason he doesn't get a game is because he smokes 30 a day and cannae last the pace. what a maverick. i have unconditional love for him.
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Comment number 9.
At 3rd May 2010, itsallgoneblue wrote:Think that's a fairly good team there Jack, I would probably agree with most of it. I think Lee Wallace and Allan McGregor would probably just sneak into my 11 before Hammell and Ruddy, and I must admit I haven't seen enough of Dave Mackay at St. Johnstone to judge how good he is, although he's looked decent when I've seen him and Saints certainly deserve at least one player in there from an impressive season.
I rate Gomis, he always seems tricky to play against, and I'm delighted to see big Lee McCulloch get a deserved mention. If Kyle Lafferty wants someone to look up to, then just look at the guts Lee has shown this season to come back from an incredible and sometimes unjustified amount of stick from Rangers fans (I was as guilty as anyone of slating him). Other than that, i'd say Miller and Davis speak for themselves, and Stokes just about sneaks in on sheer talent. Good article.
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Comment number 10.
At 4th May 2010, Catman64 wrote:How can you have a team of the year without a mention for Craig Thomson, Steve Conroy, Dougie McDonald and Iain Brines.........!!!!! These men have all played there part in ensure points won and lost went in the right direction
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Comment number 11.
At 4th May 2010, TaconazoRedondo wrote:Chichenko - 30 a day??? Class.. The Irish Prosinecki :o)
Great blog Jack - and I think the commendations on the Buddies' recent performances are justified.
I think Keane has been disappointing this season - but this is maybe indicative of Celtic's season. Hard to argue with Davis' award also - he is a class act.
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Comment number 12.
At 4th May 2010, L-M-R FC wrote:maybe an obvious choice but surely kris boyd? cant argue with results. glad to see a couple steelmen but shame neither sutton nor jutkiewicz made it, maybe if they'd managed to stay in the top 5 goalscorers for longer, they were both there earlier in the season
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Comment number 13.
At 4th May 2010, Greig wrote:HowwoodHoops:
Its a conspiracy, Its a conspiracy, Its a conspiracy!!
Will you lot ever accept that its not a conspiracy? Get over yourselves.
Party Time tonight
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Comment number 14.
At 4th May 2010, Pauly Mac wrote:The day Billy Mehmet gets in a team of the season you know it's time to throw in the towel.
The SPL is now no better than the Irish league, Old Firm support aside.
Arguably the worst Scottish football season in history.
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Comment number 15.
At 4th May 2010, Greenhill Road wrote:Did you choose Billy because he wears t-shirts with your name on it!!! With us safe now any contract talks down Paisley way? Any chance of you playing next season with us?
How's the injury healing?
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Comment number 16.
At 4th May 2010, Catman64 wrote:Greig
Who mentioned a conspiracy? You sound almost paranoid..... :-)
As long as the "peepul" are in there rightful place when their needs are as they are at present the rest of us will know our place and not say a word or ask any questions.....shhhhhhh.
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Comment number 17.
At 4th May 2010, Greig wrote:HowoodHoops:
Haha ok, we'll wait and see after tonight's game. How many penalties do you expect us to get. And all the decisions going against you? That's the route that the Old Firm games take isnt it?
Its terrible.
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Comment number 18.
At 4th May 2010, anthony wrote:celtic have had a bad season but they are still second in the SPL ie finished above every team except rangers.
and why do teams finish above other teams? superior players!
maybe not all over the park but robbie keane is better than all 3 of the selected trio. however miller and boyd have done great and scored a lot of goals but billy mehmet over keane, a joke
as for other areas of the park boruc came back to form this season and is only closely contested by alan mcgregor
as someone else mentioned hinkel has been steady and is a german international, i dont even know who dave mackay is.
i could go on but i think the point has been made
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Comment number 19.
At 4th May 2010, NavyBlueArmy wrote:I know you are slightly biased Jack, but Billy Mehmet? Really?
I'd rather have you playing up front for my team than that dud.
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Comment number 20.
At 4th May 2010, Ingmar wrote:A 22 point turnaround in Rangers favour by decisions that most observers have agreed were wrong. The ref's deserve their place on this list. They've worked hard for it and shown more consistency than any of the teams.
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Comment number 21.
At 4th May 2010, Ingmar wrote:A 22 point turnaround in Rangers favour through decisions that most observers have agreed were wrong. The ref's deserve their place on this list. They've worked hard for it and shown more consistency than any of the teams.
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Comment number 22.
At 4th May 2010, sunshine363 wrote:Come on ye saints! St Mirren were fab with 10 men on Saturday. Looking forward to tomorrow night's game. Think Billy is a great choice for team of the year. He may not have scored many league goals but he works his socks off EVERY match! As you said he also got us to the Cup Final!!!
Hope your injury is clearing up and I hope to see you in a black and white shirt next season Jack, please stay!!!
PS Tell Billy I love him and tell him not to leave either!!!!!!
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Comment number 23.
At 4th May 2010, NavyBlueArmy wrote:I would have gone for:
McGregor
Wittaker Webster Bougherra Wallace
Swanson McArther Davis Gomis
Stokes Keane
For me these players stand head and shoulders above the rest in their positions
team made up of:
4 (5) Rangers
3 (2) Dun Utd
1 (0) Celtic
1 Hearts
1 Hibs
1 Hamilton
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Comment number 24.
At 4th May 2010, Jacob Scotland wrote:To NavyBlueArmy:
No Weir?! That is madness!
Also no Boyd? How could anyone possibly consider leaving out the SPL's top goalscorer for the last 3 years. Where was Keane in the most important game of Celtic's season at Ibrox. Bougherra had him in his back pocket.
And also as for people complaining about refs it just sounds sad. We all know everyone gets decisions for and against them. The season is 38 games! One or two decisions for and against do not separate the top and second place by 11 points.
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Comment number 25.
At 4th May 2010, el diablo wrote:isn't it funny all these fans of the wonderful glasgow teams gracing your blog jack. i mean why would they be interested in a wee diddy teams fullback writing a blog on his spl side of the season?
well they've got europe to look forward to i suppose next season. and also the fact by the time their oot the weather will still be sunny here :)
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Comment number 26.
At 4th May 2010, craig1989 wrote:lee wallace should have been named in this team of the year. Stevie Hammell has done a good job but aswell as wallace being superb running up and down the left wing and over lapping, he is a solid defender who can also play central defence. if anyone else were to get the left back slot for scotland the only term that could be used would be a farce!
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Comment number 27.
At 5th May 2010, Spl football wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 28.
At 5th May 2010, Theresonlytwofranklampards wrote:Not much to say or to add, to be honest...thought the results were pretty reasonable. Steve Davis has been class all year. However, why is Kenny Miller orange? Is there some irn Bru/Volcano dustcloud hybrid mutation that we should know about?
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Comment number 29.
At 5th May 2010, David Morrison wrote:I think the main difference you'll find between your first XI and any pundits is yours are chosen from game experience - and hence you're top eleven is full of workers! Every player chosen (central defence apart maybe) is full of workers and triers and has no real passengers in the team.
It's a team that might look less favourable on paper to others chosen, but I doubt many teams would do better than this side in real games.
Can't say I noticed much of Dave MacKay though!
Are you able to give us any news on contract situations with players like Mehmet, Dorman and yourself? All the rumours seem to suggest you're Motherwell bound and Mehmet is Hearts bound. I don't expect either of you would have made a decision before we were safe but now that we are I take it you're beginning to really think about your future - what's the plan?
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Comment number 30.
At 5th May 2010, SaintInEdinburgh wrote:Good man Jack, someone other than the Saints fans who recognises how consistently excellent Dave Mackay has been this season. He will rightly walk away with every Saints Supporters Group's Player of the Year Award.
Whoever mentioned having Jody Morris in their team, I would disagree. Although his experience, along with Duberry's since he came in, has been invaluable, he has too often been anonymous in games. If any St Johnstone midfielder deserves to be mentioned it should be Murray Davidson, who will win every Young Player Award going at St J this season.
As some others have said, I'd probably have Wallace, Swanson and jutkiewicz in for Hammill, McCulloch and Mehmet.
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Comment number 31.
At 5th May 2010, Colin The Truth wrote:McCulloch - dreadful
McGregor - best keeper by an absolute mile
Boyd - top scorer AGAIN
Whittaker - 11 goals from right back
So no don't agree with much here
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Comment number 32.
At 5th May 2010, Reputation wrote:No, I do not agree with your SPL team of the year....
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Comment number 33.
At 5th May 2010, Alberto wrote:Nice to see you picked a sensible team based over the entire season, and were professional enough to realise that no Celtic players deserved to even make the reserve team, never mind the first team!
I still would have picked Boyd over Mehmet mind you...good team altogether, and i'm glad you picked McCulloch. As a season ticket holder at Grayskull, he's been given a hard time over the years but this season has been the steel in midfield Rangers needed, with a few important goals thrown in to boot.
I'd maybe have considered Jim O'Brien from Motherwell over Gomis as well.
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Comment number 34.
At 5th May 2010, David Morrison wrote:Don't understand why so many people rave about Lee Wallace. I've seen him about four times a season for years live and he's never done anything; maybe he just has off games against the mighty Saints though.... Dixon has done more this season anyway.
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Comment number 35.
At 5th May 2010, jennvid wrote:pt 25, i couldn't agree with you more - these old firm fans need to get a life and stop thinking that the world evolves round them and their team. it's not enough that you hog the phone ins with your rubbish that you have to use Jack's blog to have a go at each other. all the best to the buddies for tonight and what a great comeback on saturday!
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Comment number 36.
At 5th May 2010, David Morrison wrote:"Another member of Motherwell's tight defence."
You could have waited just a week to post this blog and maybe have spared yourself the blushes! Shows some commitment though - and maybe reinforces Jutkiewicz' shouts for a place in your team!
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Comment number 37.
At 5th May 2010, steviemacinboy wrote:Bit controversial this, but I think McGeady's been in the best team of the year. Im his biggest critic and personally think by his own standards hes been mince this year, however main point is its by his standards.
We seem to focus too much on a players ability level and whether or not they've exceeded that or not, but the fact is that McGeady not playing great is still a better player than 99% of the SPL.
Whilst playing badly hes still setting up and making chances for himself and others each and every league game. Poor last night though.
Anyway, ill add in a few more.
Not seen a more consistent left back than Sasa Papac.
Cant say ive seen Whittaker having that many good performances, but 11 goals is some return.
Weir has been solid and should be in there.
Steve Davis, Boyd and Miller as well.
Anytime ive seen Gary Kenneth ive been impressed.
Wallace at Hearts too. Stokes at Hibs.
Chris Millar and a few of the guys at St Johnstone and Hamilton have also excelled this year. Low expectations again though.
Not been the best year for quality.
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Comment number 38.
At 6th May 2010, Jack Ross - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport wrote:Thanks for all the replies.
I think it is great to see the variety in suggestions for team of the season-it just reinforces how much football polarises opinion!
In fairness, I would agree that most of the other players mentioned have had very good seasons and would be worthy inclusions in such a select side.
Comment 1, the only experience I can draw on with regards to a goalkeeper being premiership class is that I have played alongside Kasper Schmeicel and Tim Krul, and John Ruddy appears to have the qualities to emulate their success.
Thanks to all the Buddies fans for their best wishes re my injury-my rehab is going well, on course to step it up from this Monday and hope to be back running within a couple of weeks. Hopefully, supporters will have a clearer indication of next season's squad over the next week or so!
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Comment number 39.
At 6th May 2010, smfcBELIEVE wrote:Thought of you, Dorman & Mehmet all going is a bad one :(
Hope my theory is proven wrong!
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Comment number 40.
At 7th May 2010, cherzo wrote:Lee McCulloch? You are having a laugh surely.
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Comment number 41.
At 8th May 2010, David Morrison wrote:Alryt Jack (again!),
Will you be continuing your blog throughout the close season? Here's hoping you do - and as a St. Mirren player!
David
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Comment number 42.
At 9th May 2010, Alan Davidson wrote:Billy Mehmet? Christ on the cross.
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