Dark Passenger Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 (edited) The debate about who should lift the trophy has given rise to this topic. I've seen someone say that this this team is greater than the sum of its parts, which I'd agree with to a huge extent, but wondered who people would label as the players most instrumental in our success. I guess it's purely subjective, although factors such as appearance/win ratios would come into play for those who are in to that sort of thing. But I'd go for: Scott Fox Aaron Muirhead Conrad Balatoni Stuart Bannigan Sean Welsh Stevie Lawless Chris Erskine Edited April 18, 2013 by Dark Passenger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bunny Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 You missed Paton. Hasn't played for weeks but there's no doubt that for a large part of the season he was a key player for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potty trained Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Hugh Murray. Played in the opening third of the season with Paton beside him who had never played that role before. Both doing defensive midfield work. Not just an influence on Paton, i'd say he has been a massive influence on the dressing room. with such a young squad it must have been invaluable to call on someone who has twice won the first division and once the challenge cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cup Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Conrad Balatoni do do do dooo. He's not played 1 bad game this season. Except for Fox all the others have had dips in form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Paton. When he's been injured/suspended we stop scoring freely. Games he's missed include Pars Cup tie (0-1) Two goalless draws against Raith, matches v Q o S & Airdrie (119 mins & 89 mins without scoring). Paton has played a part in any game where we've scored three or more goals. When he's anchored in midfield the likes of Forbes, Welsh & Bannigan can be more creative and in turn Lawless & Erskine get into better scoring opportunities far more often. In fact I don't recall either scoring when Paton hasn't been on the pitch* * maybe someone can confirm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Passenger Posted April 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 When he's anchored in midfield the likes of Forbes, Welsh & Bannigan can be more creative and in turn Lawless & Erskine get into better scoring opportunities far more often. In fact I don't recall either scoring when Paton hasn't been on the pitch* * maybe someone can confirm Lawless scored a double against Dumbarton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Passenger Posted April 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Paton has played a part in any game where we've scored three or more goals. Any, but not every. 0-4 Dunfermline 3-0 Dumbarton and he was subbed during the 0-3 against Cowdenbeath when it was still 0-3. But I'll concede that you've made a compelling argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Lawless scored a double against Dumbarton. Aye, forgot that Paton had two injury spells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Passenger Posted April 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 No bother. What I will add is that Paton played in five of our six defeats (I'm counting the Challenge Cup final as a draw) this season, barring one (Dunfermline in the cup), while Welsh only featured in one - the League Cup loss to Hamilton when he was subbed before they scored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armand2 Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Hugh Murray. Played in the opening third of the season with Paton beside him who had never played that role before. Both doing defensive midfield work. Not just an influence on Paton, i'd say he has been a massive influence on the dressing room. with such a young squad it must have been invaluable to call on someone who has twice won the first division and once the challenge cup. You've always liked a wind-up, Dave. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armand2 Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 I'd be split between Fox and Paton. We saw how important Foxy is when we had that dumpling Smith in goals - had he not injured himself, I think we would have had the league tied up before now. We've missed Paton in the middle of the park and it's no coincidence that his absence has coincided with us hardly competing for second balls. We've obviously got Erskine too who, when he is in the mood can win a game almost on his tod, but based on consistency, I'd go for the two mentioned above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicofan Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Hugh Murray. Played in the opening third of the season with Paton beside him who had never played that role before. Both doing defensive midfield work. Not just an influence on Paton, i'd say he has been a massive influence on the dressing room. with such a young squad it must have been invaluable to call on someone who has twice won the first division and once the challenge cup. if i didnt know you better...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 On another thread I've emphasised the inspirational qualities of Balatoni. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 On another thread I've emphasised the inspirational qualities of Balatoni. No arguing. The longer the season has gone on the more inspirational Conrad has become. I do tho' think over the piece it's been the Muirhead/Balatoni double act that's been the real winner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santana Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Fox, Paton, Welsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Muirhead followed closely by Balatoni. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simoncordiner Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Balatoni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Arch Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Not the most influential obviously but I'd say Forbes has been a huge influence when it's come to turning draws into wins in certain games. Assist for Sinclair relatively late on when 0-0 against Livi, assist for Balatoni just before half time at Hamilton in terrible conditions, assist for Balatoni in the 5-1 game when it was 1-1, assist for Balatoni against Cowden when we won 2-1, two assists for Balatoni against Falkirk in the 4-1 game when we were on a terrible run of form around Christmas. There's more. Forbes and Erskine are the main two players in the league for getting goals out of nothing, and I think that's a big reason why we'll win the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Edmonds Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Stevie Craig is surely worth a mention. He's scored some truly massive goals for us this season and he's the sort of striker we've been crying out for for years but people like McCall could never find. I reckon his late signing could prove to be what has made the difference in the title race, he offers us more than Doolan can imo. But it's impossible to pick an individual from the team, just about every one of them has been exceptional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Passenger Posted April 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 he offers us more than Doolan can imo. Offsides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThickAsThieves Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Welsh must be up there as most influential. When started he hasn't lost a game in 90 minutes this season, I doubt that's a coincidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read'n'yell Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Paton. The team with him is far better, does the work of two players and lets lawless and erskine attack. It also takes defensive responsibility away from bannigan and lets him play his better football pushing forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThickAsThieves Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Good points, he certainly influences our performances, but has he had much of an influence on results? We've coped very well without him. I'd name Welsh, Erskine and Fox ahead of him personally, when they've not been in the team we've struggled more than losing anyone else, except arguably O'Donnell but that was because we had to shuffle our whole team around to compensate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Edmonds Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Offsides. A striker being caught offside. Truly bizarre... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicob Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 I'd be split between Fox and Paton. We saw how important Foxy is when we had that dumpling Smith in goals - had he not injured himself, I think we would have had the league tied up before now. We've missed Paton in the middle of the park and it's no coincidence that his absence has coincided with us hardly competing for second balls. We've obviously got Erskine too who, when he is in the mood can win a game almost on his tod, but based on consistency, I'd go for the two mentioned above. agree with most of what you say although I would add in balatoni especially at the run in.is it not fantastic that it so difficult to choose. what a season, what a team.however I do think you are being a bit harsh on smith.sure, he had a nightmare start at Hamilton but he was reasonably solid thereafter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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