Neil Lennon is heading for Mixu Paatelainen's award

Why Mixu deserves being the Scottish Premier League’s manager of the season

By JOEL SKED

On Sunday it will be a year to the day that Kilmarnock drew 0-0 with Falkirk at Rugby Park to preserve their Premier League status and consign Falkirk to the Scottish First Division.

As a bumper crowd celebrated their league safety, it would not be inconceivable if some anxious fans already had an eye on the 2010/2011 season. With financial difficulties, who would be in charge and would they have a competitive team to watch?

Jimmy Calderwood, who came in to replace Jim Jefferies half way through the season, would leave during the summer along with influential striker Kevin Kyle, while Chris Maguire returned to his parent club Aberdeen after his loan expired.

It left the Ayrshire club without a manger and a threadbare squad lacking in creativity and goal threat. It came as no surprise that they were shortlisted by many as relegation candidates.

Some well known names were touted to fill the void, including Steve Kean, now Blackburn Rovers manager, German Thomas Hassler and the experienced Scottish coach Steve Clarke. But it was the Finn Mixu Paatelainen who was chosen as the preferred candidate and tasked with keeping Kilmarnock in the SPL with a limited budget and playing squad – on arrival there were only 14 first team players.

The ex-Finnish international striker’s arrival was not met with wild fanfare as fans remained sceptical about his record at Hibernian, but at the same time willing to give him every chance. Many were simply happy to start a pre-season without Jim Jefferies at the helm. Paatelainen immediately set about moulding a squad together who would be able to transfer his coaching principles onto the pitch. Contacts far and wide were used to bolster a depleted squad.

Left-back Ben Gordon was an astute loan signing from Chelsea while Portuguese attacker David Silva arrived from CSKA Sofia and the giant centre back Mahamadou Sissoko on loan from Udinese. Winger James Dayton was signed from Glenn Hoddle’s academy after a trial period, however the promising winger’s season was checked abruptly when suffering a bad injury after only a handful of games.

The ex-Hibs boss saw Kilmarnock as the perfect destination to induce his idea’s on how football should be played. Paatelainen wanted his team to be able to pass and move, keeping the ball on the floor. An approach which turned out be a refreshing addition to the Scottish Premier League.

Initially results failed to transpire. But then on transfer deadline day Paatelainen, using his contacts, brought in a type of player that for years was scoffed at in the SPL and shunted out to the wing as clubs persisted with 4-4-2. The player was Alexei Eremenko. A playmaker with 50 caps for Finland and with an ability light years ahead of most players plying their trade in Scotland, including some from the Old Firm.

Velvet-footed, technically perfect, x-ray vision when it comes to a pass and spatial awareness as if having the power to see 360 degrees without moving his head. What he lacks in pace he more than makes up for in intelligence.

Paatelainen found the vital component in his team. The player that would make his own vision come together and brings out the best in those around him.

A change of shape was prompted. From a 4-5-1 formation, which included two direct wide men, Mixu, with Eremenko in tow, changed to a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation popular in Italy. Two attacking playmakers, one Eremenko the other Mehdi Taouil, played behind a lone striker; the rejuvenated Connor Sammon.

And Kilmarnock properly announced their new outlook with a 3-0 thumping of Heart of Midlothian. At Tynecastle. They, like their opponents that day, would go on a run. Killie would amass seven wins and two draws in 10 games including that fixture in the capital. From the bottom of the table Kilmarnock were in 4th playing possession football and with a possible tilt at winning a place in Europe next season.

The new formation was all about getting their playmakers into the game who in turn would feed Sammon, enjoying his best run since moving to Scotland. Rather than go direct to the forward which fans had been fed up with during Jefferies reign in charge, Paatelainen wanted his side to build from the back. Defenders, or midfielders dropping deep, were given the responsibility of starting attacks around the box and on the 18-yard line. Risks were taken, some which proved costly in games, but in the whole it brought about a whole new way of playing to Rugby Park and brought out the best in the players at the Finn’s disposal. And not just the ones he had signed.

Paatelainen will be remembered for his forays into the transfer window and his change of playing style which focused on ball retention and movement but one of his big influences was in bringing out the best in players who were not used, stagnated or under-performed at Rugby Park.

Cammy Bell was installed as Kilmarnock’s number one, despite wearing the number 13 jersey, culminating in a Scotland cap. Jamie Hamill who had been used in midfield in previous seasons was moved to right-back where he has thrived, scoring a number of important penalties. His form has seen him linked with a move away as his contract nears its expiration date.

In midfield two Scots, playing either side of Manuel Pascali, have had their best seasons in a blue and white shirt. Craig Bryson, subject of bids from Hearts of Midlothian at the start of the season, has been a lynchpin in midfield, supporting the forward players in terms of feeding them the ball, supporting runs or covering and protecting in the midfield. In his first full season Liam Kelly has shown an abundance of promise. Scoring goals and giving midfield the balance required.

But arguably the most improved player was Irishman Connor Sammon. Often on the bench or asked to do a striking job not suitable to his abilities his goal scoring record was erratic bordering on non-existent. But with Eremenko providing the ammunition Sammon proved his capability as a lone striker and goal scorer, wracking up 15 SPL goals in little over more than half a season. His goals brought overtures from down south but Kilmarnock thought they had held onto him before leaving for Wigan Athletic.

Each one will accept the part Paatelainen has played in their development giving them a firm footing to progress if more inviting offers present themselves, which they did with Sammon.

With Sammon leaving and Ben Gordon returning to Chelsea Paatelainen missed two key players. However it did not affect the team greatly as they stayed in and around 5th place easily securing a top-6th finish and winning at Tynecastle again with another impressive performance.

It was clear to see the job Mixu had done in Ayrshire in such as short spell of time as he was approached by Scunthorpe, opting to stay north of the border. But soon came an approach from the Finland national team which proved too appealing.

Paatelainen left the club comfortably in the top half to take over a job which was too difficult to turn down. One wonders if it would have been possible for the Finn to do both jobs until the season ends. Allowing him to finish the job he worked so diligently, methodically and effectively at.

Since his departure Kilmarnock have failed to win a game under Kenny Shiels.

But Paatelainen should have done enough for a 5th place finish, Kilmarnock collecting more points and scoring more goals – with games still to play – than they had at the conclusion of the previous five Championships.

A fine transformation. A fine recipient of the SPL Manager of the Year.