Quick Release: An SPL Released Players XI

Inside Left takes a look through the transfer list and has a go at putting together a team made up of players released from their clubs at the end (or during the course) of last season.

GK - Mark Howard (Aberdeen, now: unattached)

Pretty obvious choice this one, given the lack of experienced goalies in the released list.

Mark Howard came over from St Mirren as back-up to Jamie Langfield following Stuart Nelson's (the previous #2) departure for Notts County. In total he made only 10 appearances for the Dons, failing to impress enough in any of them to be awarded an extension at the end of the season from new gaffer Craig Brown.

LB - Nick Hegarty (St Mirren, now: unattached)
CB - Chris Hogg (Inverness, now: unattached)
CB - Zander Diamond (Aberdeen, now: Oldham)
RB - Maurice Ross (Motherwell, now: unattached)

What is it about left backs? You just can't find them. I wish Celtic would get rid of Charlie Mulgrew, that would at least give me some options. I've gone for Nick Heggarty here, playing him woefully out of position, but he's a left sided midfielder, so with a bit of imagination he might just be able to slip into defence. Hegarty joined St Mirren from Grimsby (perhaps he's got a thing for black and white) scoring eight goals in seventy-odd appearances proving the lad's got an eye for goal. Possibly.

In the centre of the park then I've gone for Zander Diamond. Technically still playing, but he was released by the Dons following a long extended drama that should have had him go to Hearts, but in the end didn't. Instead he follows in a long line of Scottish footballers by heading down to England to play in some other diddy league, in this case Oldham of League One fame. Diamond was once a favourite amongst the Dons faithful, but recent indifferent performances including some spectacular own goals has seen him fall out of favour. Still good enough to make this rejects XI though!

Partnering Zander is Chris Hogg, formerly of Inverness Caley and prior to that a mainstay (and captain) of the Hibernian back four. A regular under Mowbray and Collins, Hogg didn't get much of a look-in under Calderwood, who instead preferred Francis Dickoh in the backline. At the time of his departure to Inverness, Hogg was one of the Hibees' longest serving players. Hogg made 10 appearances for the Terry Butchers' side but turned down the option of a contract extension. And a fat lot of good that did him, eh?

Maurice Ross completes our back four. Formerly a Motherwell player, Ross has a long career at clubs including Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves, but never quite managed to establish himself as a first-team regular at any of them. Further (frankly bizarre) clubs included Beijing Guoan and Kocaelispor before the loan of the fitness equipment (both of them) at Pittodrie earned him a short contract from Mark McGhee. Seven games, zero goals, one yellow and one red card later, he was on his way again to Motherwell where the seven games he played there did not warrant a contract extension either.

ML - Collin Samuel (St Johnstone, now: unattached)
MC - Russell Duncan (Inverness Caley, now: Ross County)
MC - Ruben Palazuelos (Hearts, now: unattached)
MR - Freddie Ljungberg (Celtic, now: unattached)

In midfield I've gone for physicality and dashing good looks. Collin Samuel joins our Released XI from St Johnstone. A player well versed in the ways of the SPL, Samuel previously turned out for Dundee United where he made over 100 appearances. Despite sometimes being played as an attacking winger, Samuel knows where to stick the ball given a decent chance, so for that (not to mention our lack of choice on the right) he makes the starting XI - something he didn't always do when he was playing. You're welcome!

Russell Duncan was what you could call part of the furniture at Caley Thistle. The midfielder made over 260 appearances for Caley and was present for the Scottish Cup semi-finals in 2003 and 2004 (lost to Dundee and Dunfermline respectively). A player with experience then and a welcome addition to our starting XI. Duncan is one of only three players in our line-up to still be playing having signed for Ross County at the end of last season.

Ruben Palazuelos is going to give our midfield a defensive edge. If required (read: if Nick Hegarty turns out to be mince at left back) he can also deputize in defence. The former Hearts player is back in Spain following a rollercoaster career in the capital that has seen him managed by four different managers, starting with Angel Chervenko and ending with Jim Jefferies, as well as earning himself a bit of a reputation as a nut job, what with all the red cards and stuff. A bit of muscle and fear in the middle then, just what we need.

And speaking of muscles ...

Every team needs a bit of glamour. And you don't get much more glamorous than Freddie Ljungberg. As a confirmed heterosexual athlete, I can safely and comfortably state that Freddie is gorgeous! He's also far too old to be a footballer which is why he's given it all up. Domestic, international. Both. Just stopped with the whole thing. But given a chance to play alongside some of the players on offer here, I'm quite sure he'd be more than happy to pour himself into those tight, tight underpants and drag his muscled and oiled torso around the park for a season. Here's hoping anyway.

ST - Francis Jeffers (Motherwell, now: unattached)
ST - Colin Nish (Hibernian, now: Hartlepool United)

Francis Jeffers, where did it all go wrong. Once worth £8million (when Arsene Wenger brought him to Arsenal from Everton where had a rather public falling-out with manager Walter Smith), Jeffers had the misfortune of being at the Gunners at the same time as Thierry Henry. His appearances became rarer, and his form dropped. The inevitable round of loan-deals and crappy transfers followed as Jeffers saw action in places as far afield as Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday and Australian side Newcastle United Jets. He returned to the UK with Motherwell where he made his debut in the 6-0 defeat to Rangers. Released at the end of the season by new manager Stuart McCall along with other players including Maurice Ross (see above), Esteban Casagolda and Angelis Charalambous when their contracts expired.

Colin Nish had been playing in the lower leagues in Scotland when Kilmarnock moved in for him following his release from Dunfermline. He remained at Rugby Park for the next five seasons, making 145 appearances and scoring 40 goals. An Edinburgh lad, he joined his hometown team Hibs in 2008 and scored a hat trick in the SPL's record setting 6-6 game with Motherwell in May 2010. Nish had a habit of pissing off the home supporters, even going so fas as calling them 'moaners' following a 2-1 defeat in the Edinburgh derby, something that clearly didn’t make him particularly popularity. When you're replaced by the completely shite Ricardo Vaz Tê (82 appearances in 8 years as a professional footballer) then you know your time is up. He signed for Hartlepool United in June but he technically makes our XI, where I favour him ahead of another Hibs reject Derek Riordan on account of the fact that Riordan is a fud.

Below is the list I had to chose from. Agree with this lineup? Choose your Rejects XI and let us know your line-up!

Aberdeen
GK - Mark Howard
ST - Derek Young
DF - David McNamee
DC - Zander Diamond

Celtic
RW - Freddie Ljungberg
ST - Ben Hutchison

Dundee united
MF - Morgaro Gomis

Hearts
DM - Ruben Palazuelos
ST - Jamie Mole
DC - David Kucharski
DC - Ismail Bouzid
DF - Jonathan Brown
DF - Craig Thomson

Hibernian
ST - Derek Riordan
ST - Ricardo Vaz Te
ST - Kurtis Byrne
ST - Colin Nish
ST - Valdas Trakys
RB - Kevin McCann
DF - Steven Thicot
GK - Thomas Flynn

Inverness CT
MF - Russell Duncan
ST - Dani Sanchez
DF - Chris Innes
CB - Chris Hogg
GK - Max Johnson
FW - Gil Blumenshtein

Motherwell
ST - Francis Jeffers
RB - Maurice Ross
MF - Steven Meechan
RB/CB - Angelis Charalambous
ST - Esteban Cassagolda

St Johnstone
ST - Scott Dobie
ST/MR - Danny Invincible
ST/MRL - Collin Samuel
ST - Peter MacDonald
ST - Jordan Robertson

St Mirren
ST - Craig Dargo
FW - Gareth Wardlaw
MF - Patrick Cregg
MF - Sean Lynch
MRL - Jamie McClusky
MF/LB - Nick Hegarty
MF - Garry Brady