What a season of Scottish football this has been.
Its a final day winner takes all against the top two. Last time that happened we came out on top!
Unfortunately Im not old enough to have seen us play in that era but what a team that must have been to win the league.
Not only did we win the league but we held Real Madrid, who would go on to win the European Cup to a 2-2 draw at Rugby Park.
In the 2nd leg we even went ahead at the Bernabèu and missed a penalty! Wow
Now that we are all but safe after two impressive 3-0 wins back to back in thought it would be a good time to ask what everyone thinks of McCann and Dodds at the helm?
I must admit when they were first appointed back in January I was a little underwhelmed and wasnt sure whether this would just be another rinse and repeat job.
I genuinely think I might have been wrong. It took us a wee while to get going but even when we were getting beat under the new manager I think you could see improvements in the performances.
Defensively we are looking more sound each week and similarly I think we look a real threat on the counter and in transition going forward.
It's a shame Mikey Moore will be making his way back down to Spurs otherwise we might have been in with a shout of getting Curtis for season loan next year.
Im presuming McCann will have buttons to work with in terms of transfer fees but he isnwell connected within the game so hopefully can find us a couple of decent frees.
Whats everyone else's opinion so far?
Looks like McCann has went with a fairly attacking line-up!
St. Mirren have been struggling for goals all season. They've only scored 27 in 30 games.
Got to feel that if we can get ourselves ahead early we can go on and get a decent result here!
MON THE KILLIE!
Great to see we have a big travelling support heading up to Paisley today!
Fingers crossed we get the result we need.
I like the way McCann was talking before the match. Hopefully we go up there and really take the game to St.Mirren because they will be feeling the pressure more than us.
Our away form hasnt been the best (understatement) but I feel like we will have enough to see this through.
Im going 3-1 Killie!
Possibly the biggest game of the season tomorrow! Win this one and we should be safe!
How's everyone feeling and whats the predictions?
We've been blessed with some great managers over the years but I genuinely feel this year might be the best group of coaches we have had in the league since the 80's. By that I mean leaders that can get a harmony from their team without spending big.
Derek McInnes - I know Hearts have been backed by Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics but how many times over the years have we seen a great group of individuals underperform? He had Aberdeen and Killie performing above their pay grades and is doing the exact same in Edinburgh. Kabangu, Kyzirdis, Braga and Schwolow look like they could command a place in any team in the league and there is a real belief about Hearts that I've not seen since Fergusons days at the Dons.
Danny Rohl - Took over a floundering Rangers side from Russel Martin and has had only one January transfer window to work with. The change in fortunes has been palpable. I know he is a mixed bag with the Rangers fans but he has managed to get a tune out of a team that not even Martin could get and he was the one that bought the duds. If you told any sane person after 10 games played that Rangers would have been joint favourite to win the league going into the split they would have had you sectioned. 2nd best points per game only behind Martin O'Neil.
Jens Berthal Askou - Motherwell have been, at times, one of the best and free flowing football teams Ive seen in Scotland for decades. Just, Longelo, Faddinger and Hendry have all been playing at a high level and unbelievably consistently. Even Walsh on loan has excelled. Yes, they have made silly errors in games which have cost then points but you feel one more season and with momentum they will be even better next season.
John McGlynn - Two straight promotions and odds on to be relegated at the start of the season. Not only are they not relegated they are top 6. I might be wrong but I dont think they spent a single penny in the transfer market. Some great loan deals and some free transfers, the pick of the bunch being Barney Stewart who will likely be going from University football to full international within 3/4 years.
Add into the mix that there is Martin ONeil, who has twice stepped in and has the highest ppg of any manager this season and has done so on an interim basis.
Neil McCann has Killie playing some decent football compared to how they were under Kettlewell.
We are about to have Simo Valakari back in the league with St. Johnstone and they have been playing some great football under him.
And potentially Lennon if they can navigate the playoffs which you wouldn't bet against given they have beaten 3 prem clubs this season. Some of their signings have been outstanding again for no money at all.
In my opinion all of the above have proven they can work with talent and develop it. If we can keep coaches like these in the Scottish game hopefully we will see homegrown talent coming through.
For all my years we have sang Paper Roses and Ive never really understood why or where that association came from.
Its 2nd nature to sing it before or after every big game but ive never really known how that came to be. We even got Last Year's Men to release a cover of it in '97!
Can anyone help me out and tell me how we ended up with Paper Roses as our anthem?
6 Killie players celebrating an iconic goal for Killie which effectively sealed the league (unfortunately not for us)
How many can you name?
Bonus points for the game and the year!
I was wondering what everyone's thoughts on the best starting 11 we could cobble together of players of the modern era.
Ive probably missed out a few decent players that should probably be in there.
Ive went with a bench of 5.
Let me know who you would add/remove!
Bonus points for any memories of them playing.
I remember being at Ibrox when Killie won 3-0 and one of these guys scored and the best thing about it was he had forgotten his boots and was playing in his trainers!
Bonus points if you can share any memories of him playing with us!
A wee Sunday thinker for you.
We have been blessed with some cracking managers over the years and some of them have went on to bigger and better things.
There are 6 nations that have been managed by former Killie bosses. How many can you name without googling?
Only full men's International teams count.
One of my earliest memories of watching Killie was going to the old Rugby Park and this guy was in the team.
Anyone remember him and hazard a guess at the year from the strip?