A year is a very long time in football. Especially for a manager.
Just ask Jim Goodwin. The former Saints boss sailed up to Pittodrie with the wind in his sails last year but less than 12 months later has found himself looking for work after a dismal spell in charge of the Dons.
Goodwin’s stock had risen and risen after excellent spells at Alloa Athletic and St Mirren, but now he has to contend with the first black mark on his CV.
Fellow former Buddies manager Jack Ross had an even shorter spell in the hotseat this season. He took over at Dundee United in June but was given his marching orders just two months - and only seven games - later.
It’s fair to say there’s absolutely no guarantee for success for any manager at any club.
You’d expect Pep Guardiola would manage alright if he was given the keys to the SMiSA, although it would be interesting to see just how he would cope with the size of the club’s budget and having to punch above their weight almost every week.
When Goodwin checked out of Paisley early last year, the pressure was on the St Mirren board to ensure they got the best possible candidate in to steady the ship.
While the Buddies were still sitting in a fairly strong position, they had suffered a painful 11-game winless run just a few months previous - a run that had some Saints supporters calling for Goodwin’s dismissal.
An upturn in form at the start of 2022 undoubtedly helped persuade the Dons board that Goodwin was up to the task of replacing Stephen Glass.
It’s fair to say there was still work to do in Paisley and St Mirren needed to get the right man in to try and take the club forward.
Stephen Robinson certainly seemed to tick a lot of the boxes.
A proven record of taking a team in the Premiership with a small budget to the top end of the table.
A proven record of giving young academy players a chance to shine and go on to net the club significant transfer fees.
And a proven record of recruiting gems for tiny, if any, transfer fees and developing them into key players.
Now that Robinson has had a full year in charge, an anniversary marked on Wednesday this week, enough time has passed to make an informed opinion on the job he’s done since taking over the reins.
There was naturally going to be a lengthy transition period, particularly given the stage of the season he arrived at. With the January transfer window already shut, Robinson had to work with the squad that Goodwin had assembled.
He also had to delicately balance getting his own ideas across while not tearing up the script the players had been so well-drilled to follow entirely.
The Buddies also struggled early this season, embarrassingly going out of the League Cup at the group stage after dismal defeats to Abroath and Airdrieonians.
But now that Robinson’s signings have bedded in and every player has fully bought into his system, it’s clear that St Mirren are on the right path again.
Last summer was arguably the best transfer window the club have had in years, with almost every single player coming in going on to be a major success.
Keanu Baccus, Ryan Strain, Trevor Carson, Declan Gallagher, Jonah Ayunga, Alex Gogic and Mark O’Hara have all been mainstays and played key roles in driving the club on to the impressive fifth spot they currently hold in the Premiership.
Many would also have been out of reach of St Mirren without the link Robinson already held with them after managing them at other teams, a point several made upon joining the club.
Younger players Richard Taylor and Toyosi Olusanya could also shine once they’ve got more experience under their belts, with Taylor particularly looking impressive in tough games against Hearts and Celtic.
A deserved league win over the Hoops this season and a draw with Rangers, who were lucky to escape Paisley with a point, shows the capability this squad has to punch above its weight.
The style of play and connection with the fans, both fostered by Robinson, has also seen a sharp rise in attendances at the SMiSA, which will play a big part in getting the club back on a firmer financial footing.
So in essence, it’s very much a case of so far, so good for Robinson’s first year in charge.
As he said himself this week, he’s hoping to turn this season “from a good one into a brilliant one.”
A top-six finish would certainly do just that. And a win tomorrow in Perth against St Johnstone could prove pivotal as Robinson chases a piece of history in his first full season in charge.
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