Goodwin looks on bright side even if team didn't shine

Saturday 12 May 2012

PITTODRIE seems as good a place as any to bring your season to a close.

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chris tait and frank gilfeather

The ground's proximity to the sea and the length of time that is often necessary to get there is enough to invoke thoughts of the holidays; first Aberdeen, next stop Marbella.

It is also a fittingly modest way for St Mirren to end their campaign, one which began with sunny optimism and will end with. . . well, the weather hasn't been great this week, has it?

The Paisley side can afford to feel satisfied when it comes time to appraise their season. Depending on how Kilmarnock fare, a win this afternoon could well lift St Mirren into seventh place, a finish which would put a few extra bob in the coffers.Yet that will not be enough to obscure a lingering sense of disappointment given the optimism that had percolated through the club last summer.A place in the lower half of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League will seem like modest reward for a side that held such lofty ideals this season, while their exertions in the cups have been similarly inauspicious.Still, given St Mirren do not head north gripped in a relegation fight, at least they will have the chance to enjoy themselves on the final day for once."Hindsight is a great thing, but for a club like ourselves to be talking about finishing seventh in the league rather than fighting relegation is terrific" said Jim Goodwin, the St Mirren midfielder."Everybody is trying to move in the right direction and it is a good time to be at the club. I think the fans recognise that too."They will recognise most of their side next season as well. Goodwin has already committed his immediate future to the club, while many of his team-mates are contracted for at least another year.Hugh Murray bid a fond farewell last week following a 14-year association with St Mirren. Graeme Smith, the goalkeeper, will also depart and will not be included among the travelling party to Aberdeen. Jon McShane, the young striker, also left this week, but all three were peripheral figures.Rather Danny Lennon has turned his attention to augmenting his squad, with the young players Dan Taylor and Patrick Nzuzi arriving on trial from Newcastle United."Last\ year\ I\ had\ a\ big\ clear\ out,"\ the\ St\ Mirren\ manager\ said.\ "We've\ managed\ to\ get\ our\ business\ done\ throughout\ \[the\ season\].\ I\ even\ got\ our\ pre-season\ trip\ \[to\ Spain\\ sorted\ about\ a\ month\ ago."Aberdeen's Jamie Langfield, meanwhile, is eager to put a troubled season behind him and get back to a regular routine next term, the goalkeeper having suffered a brain seizure last May which put his career at risk and meant he saw little action this term.Having since agreed a new two-year contract at Pittodrie he is looking forward to a less disconcerting summer. "I'm glad to be coming to the end of a tumultuous season and getting a break to re-build myself for the next one," he said. "I feel I've run myself into the ground to come back."Fingers crossed, I will show the manager what I'm all about and I'm glad to have that chance. I've seen off a few challengers over the years and believe in my ability to play for this club. Hopefully I will prove it."

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Goodwin looks on bright side even if team didn't shine

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