2017/2018 - the best in years
I have loved this season, loved it. And I love this current crop of players and manager. We are not awash with quality and indeed we can be absolutely turdig to watch, but the character, bottle and connection with the fans they have is tremendous to see. We have stepped up to the plate in big games all season long and it's brought us a season to remember...and it could get better yet!
This is what Cup runs do for you and why they are crucial to clubs like us. In the years under Stuart McCall when we had players of, let's be honest, a significantly better quality and were finishing 3rd, 2nd and 2nd we did well in run of the mill league matches and qualified for Europe. Commendable, no doubt, but our Cup record in that time was abysmal and we just didn't turn up in those types of games time and time again. I said then that I would gladly swap that for a bottom six finish and doing well in the Cups because that would be so much more enjoyable and this season has proved that view correct.
No one, but NO ONE is telling me that the 'Champions League' tie against Panathanaikos in 2012 where we lost 5-0 on aggregate was on a par with yesterday, or the Rangers League Cup Semi, or the Aberdeen & Hearts Quarter Final wins. You can feel the mood around the club lifted this season thanks to having a team who is able to raise their game and be a 'Cup team'. The atmosphere and celebrations in Club 100 and in the Electric Bar yesterday were out of this world and I can't stop smiling when thinking about it.
To think just over a year ago when McGhee was in charge and we were losing 7-2 to Aberdeen I felt like chucking it altogether. Well fast forward 14 months and look where we are. We have a manager and a squad who look like they are loving life at the club and the feel good factor is there for all to see.