John Hughes, the manager of Inverness Calley Thistle, is focusing on fundamentals and getting his team to work hard. Donald McNaughton, a performance coach, says this approach is correct and that Inverness exemplifies a growth mindset of continual improvement through effort rather than relying on innate talent. Ahead of their League Cup final against Aberdeen, Duncan Shearer says Inverness will need to use a more direct style instead of trying to outplay Aberdeen, and that Richie Foran supporting Billy McKay could give the Dons something to think about.

1. JIMDUFFYTHE FOOTBALL INSIDER
By KENNY MILLAR
THE ‘f’ word Inverness
Caley Thistle boss John
Hughes uses most isn’t
one that gets him into
trouble with referees.
Yogi — gearing up for
tonight’s tie with Hibs
ahead of Sunday’s League
Cup Final against Aberdeen
— has been ribbed for
repeatedly referring to ‘the
fundamentals’.
But respected perfor-
mance coach Donald
McNaughton — who has
worked extensively with
the SFA, Caley and
Hughes amongst others
— says his approach is
spot on.
McNaughton, author of
new book Talent Unlimited,
said: “Inverness, for me,
sum up what is called a
‘growth mindset’.
“It’s about being open
and your approach to a
challenge. Any reward
isn’t achieved because
someone is naturally
gifted or because they
have a right to it.
Genius
“It’s because an athlete
or team has identified
skills, put the effort in to
learn how to develop them
and applied it.
“Since they were formed
the club has continually
moved forward. It’s never
been about one individual
and there’s been no room
for egos. That dressing
room’s always been tight.
“So Yogi is quite right
to talk about the funda-
mentals because when
you’re successful you
can’t afford to attribute it
to genius. It’s come as a
result of hard work.
“At the same time —
and they’ll appreciate this
after two defeats — it’s
not personal when things
don’t go so well.
“They haven’t become
a bad team overnight.
They’ve just stopped
addressing one of the
fundamentals.
“I think they’re a great
fit with Yogi because he
made the most of himself
as a player and is doing
the same as a manager.
They’ll bring the best out
of each other.
“In my book I talk
about taking talent,
turning it into skills and
taking opportunities when
they appear — like the
League Cup Final.
“It’s about mining the
diamonds under the soles
of your shoes, finding your
inspiration, dealing with
disappointments and hav-
ing the mindset to bounce
back and put the work in.
“Inverness Caley Thistle
epitomise all that.”
Q Talent Unlimited, by Donald
McNaughton, is out now on Amazon.
Yogi right
to use the
F word at
Inverness
DUNCAN SHEARER played a key
role when Aberdeen last won
the League Cup 19 years ago.
Now Big Dunc could do his bit
to STOP the Dons from putting
an end to their winless run.
Like many I have Derek McInnes’
side as massive favourites to win
Sunday’s game at Parkhead.
I watched them knock Celtic out
of the Scottish Cup there a few
weeks ago.
And I just think they are strong
in every area of the pitch.
They have an experienced back-
line in Jamie Langfield, Russell
Anderson and Mark Reynolds.
They have quality in the middle
of the park with Willo Flood and
Barry Robson.
They also have pace to burn with
Niall McGinn, Peter Pawlett and
Jonny Hayes.
Up top Adam Rooney has already
shown he can take chances when
they come along.
And if that’s not enough they are
also going to have 40,000 supporters
cheering on their every move.
Now that can spook a team. We
saw it when Hibs played Livingston
back in 2003.
They had a huge support through
with them but their young side
froze on the day.
And Livi were able to relax and
eventually ran out comfortable 2-0
winners.
But I don’t see Aberdeen freezing.
They’re too experienced.
Their players all know how big a
thing it would be for the club to
lift a trophy after so long.
If Inverness try to go toe-to-toe
with Aberdeen I think the Dons will
be too strong for them.
They’ll be taking on McInnes’ side
in their strongest area.
Direct
They dominated Celtic there that
day at Parkhead — and Celtic have
better players than Caley.
So John Hughes needs to ditch his
football playing principles in favour
of a more direct style.
And that’s where big Dunc,
now on the Thistle coaching
staff, comes in.
I played for Dundee in
that final at Hampden
back in 1995.
If I remember
right Shearer was
not even supposed
to be playing.
But at the last
minute he got
the nod to play
alongside Billy
Dodds up
front.
And that
was bad news
for myself and Roddy Manley at the
back. Big Duncan made a nuisance
of himself and got in our faces from
the first whistle.
Wee Doddsy was sharp enough to
pick up all the scraps.
And they both got on the
scoresheet as Aberdeen ran out 2-0
winners.
Now, 19 years on, big Yogi needs
to find someone to do what Duncan
did that day.
And I think the perfect man for
the role is Richie Foran.
Billy McKay has been left isolated
since Yogi’s arrival at Inverness.
He needs support to be at his best
and they haven’t been quick to give
it to him.
And that needs to change on Sun-
day if Caley are to have any chance.
Throughout his managerial career
Yogi has asked his sides to
get the ball down and play.
If he does that this
weekend he’ll be
playing right into
Aberdeen’s hands.
But if he puts
Richie up with
McKay off him it
will give the
Dons something
to think about.
Foran will
still be able to
drop back and
help his mid-
field out
when they need him. Thistle also
have to defend much better than
they have done in recent weeks.
Some of the goals they lost
against Dundee United last weekend
were shockers.
And with Rooney in the form he
is in, Aberdeen will take advantage
of that.
Yogi’s players must remember they
deserve to be in this final just as
much as Aberdeen.
They performed heroics to see off
Hearts with just nine men in the
semi-final.
Achievement
Reaching their first ever national
final is a fantastic achievement.
But they don’t want to stop there.
For those players it will only be a
fantastic achievement if they go on
and win the trophy.
And if anything Yogi might use
the massive Dons support as a moti-
vating tool.
He’ll tell his side everyone is
against them.
He might also mention all the
pundits who have tipped their oppo-
nents to win.
That’s all very well — but it won’t
be enough unless they have a plan
to get in about them.
And I just have a feeling that
Aberdeen will be too strong for
Inverness on the day.
CALEY CAN STRIKE IT RICH
SLAM DUNC
. . . Foran can
help pal McKay,
far left, just like
Shearer did with
Dodds, above
MINDSET . . . Don
8 Wednesday, March 12, 2014