Gregory Tade eager to remind former club of what they’re missing

Published on 27/10/2012 01:07

St JOHNSTONE striker Gregory Tade aims to prove he has become a better player since leaving Inverness when 
he returns to the Tulloch Caledonian Thistle Stadium today.

The Frenchman moved to Perth in the summer and the 26-year-old is looking to ensure Caley fans are made aware of his improvement at his new club, who are second to Celtic at the top of the SPL following their 2-1 win over Kilmarnock last week which equalled a club record of five straight top-flight wins which dated back to 1971.

Tade said: “I don’t think many people can argue with the fact that St Johnstone is a bigger club than Inverness. No disrespect to them, that’s just the way it is and I am just glad I joined. They are a well-established SPL club, so it was only normal for me to try to better myself as a player. Inverness gave me a great opportunity, but you have to move on if you want a good career. You always have something to prove in this league, especially against your ex-employer.

“You need to do something to show them that you have improved and you moved to better yourself.

“So I am going to go up there and be as professional as I can and do as much as I can to win the game. I have a different employer now and I will give 
100 per cent and cause as many 
problems as I can, score a goal if I can or set up a goal.”

Tade joked that he might get punched when he meets up again with his former boss Terry Butcher. “He was tremendous for me, I cannot forget that,” said the former Raith Rovers player. “He gave me the opportunity to express myself in the SPL. If he is bitter he never told me, but I don’t think he is.

“I will shake his hand a crack a few jokes – maybe he will crack me in the jaw, I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Everybody was great to me there, 
Maurice Malpas as well, so I am looking forward to seeing them again.”

Inverness right-back David Raven has heard all about Tade and he knows he is among the players a new-look Caley Thistle side must keep quiet.

Raven, who joined from Tranmere, said: “The lads have spoken about him. He’s a good player and one to keep our eye on, stay tight to. He’ll be a threat, definitely.

“There’s only a few lads that were here last year. We were new together at the start of the season. It does take a few games to get to know each other, how each other plays. The fact we’ve had a steady team for the last five, six, seven games has helped a lot. It’s going all right, so we’re just keeping it going, looking forward to Saturday and 
making it five.”

Inverness are unbeaten in six and their winning run is four, including 
the penalty shoot-out success over 
Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Communities League Cup.

Despite a relatively short period together since Butcher had to overhaul his squad in the summer, Raven 
believes the group is a cohesive one.

“The lads stick their bodies on the line every week,” he said. “We’re enjoying playing together, we work hard for each other. We get the best out of each other and we’re decent mates off the pitch as well.”