Saints vs. Elgin City 22/08/06

[Radford 72]

Time to realise Jacko on an unsuspecting defence? I think so.

Be interesting to know what formation OC will go with and as such it's difficult to try and predict a side. This isn't the Challenge Cup so I imagine we will play a strong side and Owen will be desperate for us to get back amongst the goals. Shez will obviously miss out and I doubt Ruti will be back as if anything he will have one day's training under his belt. Obviously the knock to McManus becomes worrying as we can't really afford to drop Mensing back to defence if Shez isn't available. Ando is a decent centre-half though and never lets the side down when he gets a chance there.

Because of the injuries, I guess we'll go 4-4-2:

Halliwell

Lawrie - Anderson - James - Stanic

Young - Mensing - Hardie - Sheerin

Milne - MacDonald

I'd start with Jackson instead of Peaso but it's a catch 22 situation as Peaso needs games to get back to his best.

Surely we won't be on the end of a cup upset?

[Steve Maskrey]

I would go with Peaso and Savo up front, possibly even have Scotland playing. This isn't a game we can take lightly as progressing is the most important thing.

I think Jacko will play from the start against Queens Park

[Skeeter]

I would go with Peaso and Savo up front, possibly even have Scotland playing.

Isn't Scotland suspended for this one? :?
But yes, MacDonald and Milne up front for me to start with and Jackson on the bench.

[Radford 72]

I would go with Peaso and Savo up front, possibly even have Scotland playing. This isn't a game we can take lightly as progressing is the most important thing.

I think Jacko will play from the start against Queens Park
Jason should be suspended as his red card was for violent conduct.

From SFA website:

"A player who is sent off for violent conduct will have 12 penalty points added to his applicable League disciplinary record. In addition, he will automatically be suspended until such a time as his club has completed 1 match in a competition in which he would be eligible for selection."

[SaintSam1884]

MacDonald and Milne up front doesn't work for me. Since Scotland is banned, I'd definately take the opportunity to start Jackson alongside MacDonald or Milne. I don't really have a preference, maybe Milne just so he can get another chance to score a couple of goals.

[cityfan1893]

We are going to get absolutly humped :(

[MUZZ]

We are going to get absolutly humped :(no yer not :!:

[TheBigCheese]

MacDonald and Milne up front doesn't work for me. Since Scotland is banned, I'd definately take the opportunity to start Jackson alongside MacDonald or Milne. I don't really have a preference, maybe Milne just so he can get another chance to score a couple of goals.

Surely it's a better idea to try out Peaso and Savo from the start as it's a pairing we will have to use in the league sooner or later? I know what you mean about them not being a pairing that works but I think a few games together wouldn't harm their partnership and get them working together better.

[Mr Spoons]

I think that Saturday showed us that with our current crop 4-4-2 does not play to our strengths. I'd go 3-5-2 along the lines of

Cuthbert

Anderson-----Mensing------James

Lawrie---Young....Hardie....Sheerin....Stanic

-----MacDonald-------Jackson

Obviously I'd prefer to have Ruti, McManus and Scotland available. But I think this is a side that should be more than capable of beating Elgin. I really hope we don't stick Hardie up front and punt long balls to him, but I fear we may...

[Radford 72]

Why Cuthbert in goal, Mr Spoons? I think Halliwell has looked good so far and shown why OC put him straight in against Clyde.

[Mr Spoons]

Fair point. Not meant as a criticisim about Halliwell - but i think the Cat is on a par with him rather than 2nd choice. So I'd play him in the cup games. Keep the Cat Keen.

[Davey]

We are going to get absolutly humped :(

with our recent home record, cannae se it! as the sayin goes its not over til the fat tart sings!

[Mr Spoons]

3-0 to the goodies!

[gc7969]

I would look to change some of the team to try and get us playing more joined up football.

Cuthbert (better kicker than Halliwell)
Mensing/James/Dyer
Milne, Young, Hardie, Sheerin, Stanic
MacDonald, Jackson

I would like to see if Dyer Stanic can combine to produce a threat from the left which may allow Sheerin more freedom to roam the middle. I think Hardie and Young are capable defensively to handle Elgin. Lawrie has been poor and Milne work rate and pace just give him the chance above Moon or Doris.

With MacDonald and Jackson surely we play the ball on the deck. (please)

[Cagey]

I`ll go with.

Cuthbert.

Ando, James/Mensing, Dyer

Stevo, Hardie, Sheerin, Stanic,

Milne Jacko.

I know it is the League cup & we want into the next round at Ibrox but we have 2 games a week `til end of September if we are lucky so we have to keep most of the squad involved.

If this team can`t see off Elgin then we have problems .

[Dev]

Hopefully there'll be at least 1000 at the game tonight, would be a bit sad if there's not. Having said that, I'll be one of the absentees - I like wasting time and money so I'm going to Bury vs. Sunderland tonight.

Mon the Saints!

[slf]

what the hell do i know about elgin city.once slept in the car park outside the ground during a boozy weekend attending a rothes tournament.we werent even playing elgin.only a tenner to get in so :D lets stuff them.

[Broon]

Team for tonight:

SAINTS: Halliwell, Lawrie, Stanic, Mensing, Anderson, James, Young, Hardie, Milne, Coyle, Sheerin.
Subs: MacDonald, Stevenson, Dyer, Jackson, Cuthbert

What a bloody waste of time Coyle picking himself. Perfect chance to get McDonald match fit and give Jacko a run out and he goes and pciks himself. I don't care if he scores a hat-trick tonight - he won't be playing on Saturday so whats the point?

[Broon]

I just realised how bad it would sound moaning before the game - my apologies - come on ye Saints :oops:

[David]

Seems that everyone's at the game! From what I've heard (by text message) Saints are all over them, doing everything but score.

[perthsaint1884]

How cant we even score against Elgin!! Are we actually wanting to get promoted this season because being all over them doesn't help unles they put the ball in the back of the net aswel!!!

[slambrother]

oh my god we still haven't scored why can't we score! :?

[mabosser]

p**s poor, beginning to lose my pre season optimism :cry:

[saint_markperth]

Extra Time Now Being Played

[Davey]

shite shect merd what ****ingever, get a ****ing grip saints! :evil: elgin havent one or drawn and are bottom of the 3rd division!

WHAT A ****ING JOKE

[Calinho]

:cry:

[slambrother]

p**s poor, beginning to lose my pre season optimism :cry:


I know me too! Coyle says the goals will come but so far we seem really quite disjointed and in my opinion never really look like were going to convert the chances we get. Seems like the only way were going to get goals is by walking the ball over the line....come back paddy c!

[mabosser]

1-0 sheerin penalty

[slambrother]

thank god goal albeit a penalty :oops:

[mabosser]

Dead ball, could do with scoring in open play, but take them anyway I suppose.

[Nairn Saint]

Imagine needing a pen to score agaist Elgin City! Nairn County would cuff that shower.

[mabosser]

Not encouraging, but would take a win, and hope for better things.

[SlickDT]

Really really poor am afraid! Struggling against Elgin is not good enough!

[perthsaint1884]

2-0 stevo

[mabosser]

Hope this is not just papering over the cracks, and the open play has had everything except the goals, as they can come.

[Calinho]

3-0 Milne

[malcolm]

3 nil sounds a bit better -milne

[perthsaint1884]

Might be better but being able to score in extra time doesnt help the fact we couldn't score in the 90 minutes which is what we need to be able to do

[saint_markperth]

still not good enough, in a normal game that would have ended nil nil with 3 division opposition

[LewGti]

4 - 0 :D

[Calinho]

GOAL: St Johnstone 4-0 Elgin: S Mackay (og 114)

like a bus

[perthsaint1884]

Is anybody else not happy with the result? I'm happy we are winning 4-0 but im not happy about the fact we had to wait until extra time to start banging them in

[fifefan]

Perhaps we should see if we could play extra time in the league - it seems to take us that long to score

[mienzo]

Not happy with the lack of goals in 90mins but I think that they will come and more time on the park can only be a good thing for match sharpness.

[Calinho]

FT

[Steve Maskrey]

Queens Park have just beaten Aberdeen 5-3 on penalties :shock:

[perthsaint1884]

A brightside to the day - no bookings :***:

[Broon]

I won't read too much into a cup game. Its a confidence thing - what we need to do is get an early goal in a home game and the goals will come. It just shows you - once we went in front we got more goals straight away. It happened against East Fife too. I wonder what those feel after watching the game?

[imported_Jamie_Beatson]

Have to say that I can't believe it took that long for us to score. We had many many chances throughout the game and they didn't pose a threat at all. Were unlucky a couple of times - hit the bar twice in the first half - and their keeper made some great saves as well as us having one cleared off the line.

Once we scored we never looked back and could easily have scored five or six in the second half of extra time alone.

Disappointing that we didn't win in normal time but I wouldn't be too worried. Could be much much worse.

[True Saintee]

I personally couldn't give a toss :)

There's always upsets in games(see LewGTI's post) and im just glad were not 1 of them games.

Bring on the next round... result? insignificant

[Calypso Kid]

pretty bad display in the 90. Quality and fitness showed through in the end but i kind of glossed over what was a stale performance. Positives- we're in the next round of the cup- Stevenson scored a corker(even though i'm not his biggest fan). Thought he looked half decent in centre mid!- Aberdeen got dumped by a team equally as bad.

[Tranmere Saintee]

Have to agree with Jamie - it was probably the most comfortable 0 - 0 I have ever seen!!

Always felt that one goal would open the floodgates and so it happened. :***:

[SaintSam1884]

Have to say that I can't believe it took that long for us to score. We had many many chances throughout the game and they didn't pose a threat at all. Were unlucky a couple of times - hit the bar twice in the first half - and their keeper made some great saves as well as us having one cleared off the line.

Once we scored we never looked back and could easily have scored five or six in the second half of extra time alone.

Disappointing that we didn't win in normal time but I wouldn't be too worried. Could be much much worse.

That sums up the game for me, we actually played really well with many players having good games. James, Stanic, Anderson at the back all put in good shifts, Lawrie played a little better although still point blankly refuses to get forward and Mensing and Sheerin had a killer shift in midfield. Mensing is really flourishing there, he was better in the first half than the second for me but I really like him. Sheerin was man of the man for me by miles though - outstanding!

I didn't think Hardie played at all well though and Stevenson really turned the game around when he came on, scoring one and setting one up. His own goal was a screamer from about 25 yards. He played a more central role, with Jackson out on the wide and I thought he did pretty well, when all is said and done. Could he play there more often?

Overall pretty good.

[208saint]

Actually thought we played slightly better tonight and even thought that Andy Lawrie played tonight (not well, just actually looked a bit like a footballer).

Elgin had one of those nights where everything we hit they managed to get a body in front of it, their keeper looked quite handy as well although his shirt was boggin.

One major moan about tonight was OC's ludicrous decisions to play himself and leave Peaso and Jacko on the bench, play Young wide right then sub him for Jacko (the look on his face said it all) then bringing Peaso on two minutes later for himself.

Should have been Peaso or Jacko from the start then a switch after about an hour for whichever was on the bench.

Just wonder what will happen once all the third division teams are out, Queens Park away in the next round please.

[SaintSam1884]

Actually thought we played slightly better tonight and even thought that Andy Lawrie played tonight (not well, just actually looked a bit like a footballer).

Elgin had one of those nights where everything we hit they managed to get a body in front of it, their keeper looked quite handy as well although his shirt was boggin.

One major moan about tonight was OC's ludicrous decisions to play himself and leave Peaso and Jacko on the bench, play Young wide right then sub him for Jacko (the look on his face said it all) then bringing Peaso on two minutes later for himself.

Should have been Peaso or Jacko from the start then a switch after about an hour for whichever was on the bench.

Just wonder what will happen once all the third division teams are out, Queens Park away in the next round please.

I agree but I disagree. I felt we were playing better and creating more when Owen Coyle was playing. I thought we were going to have the game dead and buried in the first half, but we went a tad stale in the second half and everything slowed down for me.

I thought Jackson was completely ineffective on the wing, I didn't really understand the choice to play him there. He's obviously a striker and no amount of pace is going to make him comfortable down the right wing.

Their keeper was pretty good too although I agree about the shirt! :P

[Hazel1884]

It took a penalty in extra time to see us rack up a few goals - but i think thats due to Sheerin's peno knocking the stuffing out of Elgin City.

So many chances tonight but we just cannot put that ball in the net, min!

Not much to say on the game tbh, should have had it wrapped up in normal time however, thought their goalie was MoM for me. He had a few cracking saves!

Thought Anderson played well tonight, he only really had one noticible mistake. Lawrie managed to make a few passes to a Saints shirt too! :) :wink:

One disappointment away from not getting the ball over the line was Coyle choosing to start himself.

[Scoogz]

I thought we played ok and did everything bar score in normal time.

Mensing did far better in midfield tonigh than sheridan has done so far this season albeit against lower opposition - im starting to like him playing that role.

Anderson also had one of his best games for us - mush for comfortable at centre back than full back.

Was surprised when he took Young off, i personally thought he had been more effective than hardie and surely he should be getting match fit by now so that cant be the reasoning. I too would not be too happy getting subbed off if i were him. Though we may have been moving to 3 up front with Jacko as he was wasted on the wing.

Anyway, we are through to the next round and hopefully we can start scoring some goals within the 1st 90mins of a match.

[Radford 72]

Bizarre match where we played really well I thought but just couldn't bloody score! Always knew when we scored one the floodgates would open.

I actually liked the look of the 4-4-2 tonight and ignoring the fact we had to an extra, tiring, 30 minutes, I think the game served a good purpose as the tempo and attitude was spot on.

No complaints at all.

Match stats:

Goal Attempts
Saints - 37
Elgin - 9

On Target
Saints - 21
Elgin - 2

Hit woodwork
Saints - 2
Elgin - 0

Corners
Saints - 14
Elgin - 1

[Nick]

Mixed feelings about tonight.

We played well, but thats the least we are expected to do against a team bottom of division 3. Coyle should never have started, fisrtly he pish, secondly we have a youngster on the bench needing valuable expierence, and a player in great need of some games. What use is it to play Coyle, who will be in a zimmer frame soon. He's also a moany ****, its about time he took the blame apon himself.

I thought MoM was Young till he was taken off, which I hope was due to fitness and not tactical. He looked comfortable on the ball, and was able to take on players and attack. Also thought Mensing was good, perfect replacement for Sheridan, big strong, not scared to tackle, and passes and can attack well.

[Cagey]

A win is a win & looking at other results tonight it is not easy to beat lower league clubs but we should have slautered them. They managed to get bodies in front of the ball & the goalie had a few good & lucky saves along with the help of the woodwork.

Elgin should have had a penelty & I was half expecting them to score from their free kick in the last munute.

On the plus side Ando had a good game with just 1 mistake & a couple of bad passes. Mensing was good in midfield first half but took a knock in the first 5 mins which affected him more as the game went on. Stanic was his usual reliable self & Sheerin took his penelty well & ran the game in extra time. Stevo was good when he came on & had a hand in all 3 goals but this may have been because he was playing against tired legs,

On the minus side Coyle should save himself for emergencies & then only come on for last 30 mins. Can`t believe he played himself tonight os subbed himself at half time. Hardie seemed to be slow & was not winning anything in the air or on the ground.

[Shaggy Jenkins]

created so many chances but we cant take them. The game was quite surreal. For all our chances things still look very dis-jointed

Midfield again was weak for me, far to many back or sidways passes from them, and a hell of alot of passes behind the man insted of in front.

Ah Mensing...I want to like him I really do but I am sorry Sam I do not buy this Mensing in midfield at all, far to slow, dithery and passed back all the time, it was like watching Mavis Reilly, (mind you it gets him away from the defence which is a good thing) he wasnt the only one mind you. Might of been better with young next to him I dont know. People will say he was there to break up play but he should still be able to create, and not just lay it off for a big punt. That might be the tactics, which is a whole other conversation..........................

[SaintSam1884]

created so many chances but we cant take them. The game was quite surreal. For all our chances things still look very dis-jointed

Midfield again was weak for me, far to many back or sidways passes from them, and a hell of alot of passes behind the man insted of in front.

Ah Mensing...I want to like him I really do but I am sorry Sam I do not buy this Mensing in midfield at all, far to slow, dithery and passed back all the time, it was like watching Mavis Reilly, (mind you it gets him away from the defence which is a good thing) he wasnt the only one mind you. Might of been better with young next to him I dont know. People will say he was there to break up play but he should still be able to create, and not just lay it off for a big punt. That might be the tactics, which is a whole other conversation..........................

If Mensing is playing alongside Sheerin, Hardie and Young though... Why should he have to create when he has three more creative players alongside him to do that for him? For what it's worth, I'm firmly for this move and think it's an inspired one by Coyle. Mensing continues to improve week by week and is even more effective when Sheridan isn't playing alongside him. He's strong, doesn't shy from a tackle, if he loses the ball he's eager to win it back and he can actually make a forward pass and go forward with the ball himself although he's surrounded by players who can all do this better than him, so it stands to reason he'll let them!

[templeofsaints]

Was frustrating at times but Elgin (goalie apart) were a poorer side than Raith, it's just that the luck didn't go in front of goal. The build-up play was a lot better tonight with Lawrie looking a bit better and the Stanic & Sheerin show on the left causing all sorts of problems.

Anderson had a good performance and IMHO Mensing is doing a fine job in midfield - wasn't helped tonight by Hardie and Young who I thought both faded quickly. Savo had a good game up front given the amount of running he had to do (WTF has he got to take the ball to the corner flag - isn't that the job of a winger :?: :evil: ).

Downers were Halliwell looking dodgy at a couple of passbacks and the Elgin shot he spilled with City having a claim for a penalty when he tried to pick up the loose ball. Owen looked too slow at the start though had some nice touches - I'd rather have seen Peaso out there. Jackson was poor initially on the right wing but once we were cruising seemed to settle more.

Can't complain too much given we're through.

[HertsSaintee]

Frustrating but ultimately elating is what sums that game up for me. I'll talk about Elgin first, as it gives some idea of the type of opposition they were. Their keeper had a great game with two or three really good saves. Quite a well organised defence, midfield never really got into it, but they were really lightweight up front. Very little firepower at all and didn't really cause us much of a problem.

Saints (playing 4-4-2) defensively looked pretty good and coped well when required, Steven Anderson in particular looking the part in the centre partnering Kevin James. Looks as if he's starting to get a bit of confidence back which is great for Ando considering the stick that he's got, and this can only be a good thing for Saints and Ando. Halliwell had little to do, apart from one nervy moment when they had a reasonable penalty claim I thought. My MoM was Sheerin - looked for the ball all night, not afraid to take a pop as well which is starting to become a good habit of his. Linked well again with Goran, who looked impressive coming forward when he was pushed into an advanced position. Also reinforced his Mr-Dependable-Penalty-Taker role. Milne worked his a**e off again all night and deserved his goal, which was again provided by a great cross from Sheerin. Savo was bundled off the ball a bit too easily too many times though. Lawrie I thought was poor again - I'm convinced that guy will never cross the half way line, and seemed to want to get rid of the ball too easily, smething that was noticeable on Saturday. We really are not a balanced team at the moment - all the threat comes from the left hand side, since I also thought Derek Young who played right midfield had a quiet game. A couple of nice little flicks in the first half but largely ineffective. He needs a more central role. Goal fest certainly came as the Elgin players tired.

The main problem I'm seeing after the first few games of the season (same tonight) is that we lack any sort of rhythm or pace. Too many passes causing the recipient to backtrack, so any momentum is lost. Our play looks mostly laboured and lethargic, with little movement to give us the option of the unexpected forward pass. The whole team needs to pick it up a little bit. Hopefully that will come soon. Please. :***:

Still, 4-0 AET without playing at our best again, we got through and the Sheep didn't, with the possiblity of decent opposition in the next round. Can't be bad.


Herts

[Ronaldo]

Full time football pays off for second occasion this season in extra-time. So much for the part-time advocates.

Sandy Clark's coached forwards didn't do enough to stop their team collapse out of the cup to Billy Stark's Queens Park who had already defeated a Hamilton, a team we couldn't do similar to.

I think we need to play a big team next because I'm convinced that would do us a lot of good in motivation terms (win or lose) and because I'm convinced we are playing below the level we are capable of with the players we have at the club. OK there are gaps we need to fill but they need a boost since playing in front of small crowds regularly is not getting the best out of therm. IMO. :wink: It may also help bring back some fans.
Dundee Utd, Hibs, Motherwell would be nice but the old firm would obviously give us cash. Knoewing our luck we'll get a tough game like Gretna with no cash. :roll:

[Broggy Man]

Am I alone here. If that had been a decent team not Elgin juniors we would have struggled.

There is a thread running at the moment regarding OC'S head. I dont run to the the sack the manager threory but his selection last night and the way he lined the team up was shocking. The only two footballers in Sheerin and Young wide. Hardie was stinking Mensing did his job and played well but we had to punt on numerous occasions. You have to bring your ball players into the game so one of them should have been in a more central position.

I have read the comments about Ando coming on to a game. What a load of garbage. Punt punt punt give the ball away. That about sums up his night. For god's sake he didnt actually have to do much defending.

Lawrie sorry but i cant see what he offers us. It is like OC is playing the guy in the hope that he can justify his contract. He was mince tackle shy shot shy and work shy.

Why why why speak to reporters and say that our strikers will get goals then pass up the opertunity to play one from the start and play Mr 40 something who moans moans shouts at every one when clearly has innability to run at any speed made a number of passes look worse than they were.

Yes we dominated the game and a number of players did ok but you are having a laugh if you think a performance like that was any where near acceptable to me.

The one light was Ryan Stevenson getting a run in a central midfield role which seemed to suit him and no I am not a fan of Ryan which one way or another created three of the goals.

RANT OVER!!!!!!!

[Radford 72]

Yes we dominated the game and a number of players did ok but you are having a laugh if you think a performance like that was any where near acceptable to me.
Surely the fact we had 37 shots on goal shows, despite the oppositon, we must've played well? We carved them open time-after-time.

I really enjoyed our performance last night and thought we played a lot of good passing football, albeit against (currently) the worst side the country.

[wee john]

Elgin juniors. Good description, they were woeful and should have had a penalty near the end of normal time, and we would have been out

We struggled again to score.

4 draws at home to poor opposition (1 goal scored), 1 win at home we hardly deserved against poor opposition (should have been at least 2 down in 1st half), 1 away win we grinded out with a gritty though uninspiring performance.

Coyle should not have started when we are trying to get Peaso fit and should be giving match practise to Jacko.

But hey we are unbeaten :***:

[blueheaven]

I'd have to disagree with those saying we played well - I thought we were terrible. Individually I don't think anyone had a particularly bad performance, but as a team we lacked any sort of cohesion or understanding, the tactics were all over the place, we had people out of position - basically, the fact that we couldn't score against such woeful opponents until they were knackered says it all.

4-4-2 is a rubbish formation for the players we have. We're wasting Stanic by playing him back there, Sheerin's not a winger, we don't have anyone who can play wide right, and James is better beside two central defenders rather than one. I can't understand why we've decided to switch away from the system that we did well in last season. I also can't understand why Coyle played himself when MacDonald & Jackson surely needed the game time more. Did he do that for the team, or for himself? :(

Positives for me (apart from the actual result, of course), would be seeing a much stronger & more assured performance from Anderson (I heard a lot of people slagging him at the game, but the guy didn't put a foot wrong - God knows how folk can watch that game yet decide the centre-back is the one who deserves criticism) and also Stevenson's performance when he came on. I know Stevenson doesn't always play that well, but to be honest I think we've missed him this season. He's the only guy in the squad with a bit of drive, who's willing to charge up and down the park, who has some pace, and is also guaranteed to get us some goals from midfield. Last season he started pretty much every game, and we used him a lot (practically every keeper kick-out was aimed at him, and he got us a few goals) - this time, he's not been there, and we've looked less forceful, less creative, and have lacked pace. I know people will disagree but I'd have him straight back in the team.

P.S. Anyone else notice that Wimpey seem to have changed their signs around the side of the pitch? Have they realised that advertising the fact that people only voted the company as having "4 stars" is a bit unusual?

P.P.S. Highlight of the night easily had to be the return of Let Loose for a second consecutive Cup game. Genius. They're like The Beatles, only not shit.

[Broggy Man]

Surely the fact we had 37 shots on goal shows, despite the oppositon, we must've played well? We carved them open time-after-time.

I really enjoyed our performance last night and thought we played a lot of good passing football, albeit against (currently) the worst side the country.

Really Radford so what? If you were happy with that showing its up to you. The 90 miniute reaction said it all. They were crap and should have been destroyed. We didnt destroy them because of OC crap selection. That is becoming the norm. His line up was shocking possibly not the selection but the way he lined them up well the selection was wrong as well.

Is he puting himself before Peter McDonald?

Why did we not have a passer of the ball in the middle?

Geoff Brown said that our early exits from all cups caused some of our financial problems last season. So that puts paid to the theory he was giving match practice to other players.

So bearing that in mind, in OC'S opinion that was the strongest team he could have fielded. Bollocks!

I am dismayed that we are giving praise to a team that was howled off the park after 90 mins jsut because they did what should have been done in the ninety with the benefit of full time football and training and of course with the introduction of someone who could actuall pass the ball. Hardie was stinking apart from in the air even then inherited the Saints I cant head it down syndrome bloody shocking it was and painfull to watch..

[Broggy Man]

Elgin juniors. Good description, they were woeful and should have had a penalty near the end of normal time, and we would have been out

We struggled again to score.



But hey we are unbeaten :***:

Correct John we were crap. On the unbeaten thing if we had played stronger opposition i think it may have been a completely different story.

[Broon]

I also can't understand why Coyle played himself when MacDonald & Jackson surely needed the game time more. Did he do that for the team, or for himself? :(


I personally think the fans deserve an answer to that. If he is putting himself before the team then that is simply shocking. I stand by my post before kick-off. I didn't want to be labelled a moaner but Coyle should never have played before two strikers who badly need games and who are ahead of him in the pecking order.

and also Stevenson's performance when he came on. I know Stevenson doesn't always play that well, but to be honest I think we've missed him this season. He's the only guy in the squad with a bit of drive, who's willing to charge up and down the park, who has some pace, and is also guaranteed to get us some goals from midfield. Last season he started pretty much every game, and we used him a lot (practically every keeper kick-out was aimed at him, and he got us a few goals) - this time, he's not been there, and we've looked less forceful, less creative, and have lacked pace. I know people will disagree but I'd have him straight back in the team.


Totally agree with that one. I like Stevo - always give 100% and is one of the very few to always come off knackered. I would have him back in at wing-back - far better player than Lawrie.

[imported_Jamie_Beatson]

I would play Stevenson in place of Lawrie on Saturday. Lawrie may have improved slightly last night, but he was still pretty much our worst player last night. Misplaced a lot of passes (one in particular when both he and the man he was passing to were in acres of space and he put it straight to one of Elgin's boys) and generally didn't contribute as much as he should.

[Radford 72]

The 90 miniute reaction said it all.
It said nothing. The people that boo, do that every week. If we'd played shit and won 1-0, people would've cheered. The booing shows nothing about the performance.

Great value for money from my tenner last night.

[Broggy Man]

The 90 miniute reaction said it all.
It said nothing. The people that boo, do that every week. If we'd played shit and won 1-0, people would've cheered. The booing shows nothing about the performance.

Great value for money from my tenner last night.

Keep trying Radford old chap i wont bite

[Broggy Man]

I would play Stevenson in place of Lawrie on Saturday. Lawrie may have improved slightly last night, but he was still pretty much our worst player last night. Misplaced a lot of passes (one in particular when both he and the man he was passing to were in acres of space and he put it straight to one of Elgin's boys) and generally didn't contribute as much as he should.

Perhaps Jamie he deserves a shot through the middle as that is where we lack passing ability.

[Kevin]

The 90 miniute reaction said it all.
It said nothing. The people that boo, do that every week. If we'd played shit and won 1-0, people would've cheered. The booing shows nothing about the performance.

Great value for money from my tenner last night.

Keep trying Radford old chap i wont bite

Was not at 90 minutes that got me, it was the whole bloody match. All you could here were Elgin fans and all out lot just sat there rustling sweetie wrappers...... :evil:

[blueheaven]

The 90 miniute reaction said it all.
It said nothing. The people that boo, do that every week. If we'd played shit and won 1-0, people would've cheered. The booing shows nothing about the performance.

Great value for money from my tenner last night.

I'd pretty much agree with that. Even though Saints were rubbish, it was quite an entertaining game and well worth the tenner. Also agree about the booing - it means nothing, because there are too many people who now do it after practically every game, so the whole point of booing has been devalued - the fact that it happens now provides no reflection on whether or not the team's played well.

[cityfan1893]

jesus, hold a full time first division side to a draw in 90 minutes in our first ever second round game in this competition and we dont even get a little praise!! OK saints completly dominated the game, but we defended like demons last night and each player gave 110% This is the first time since becomming an SFL team we've played a team higher than a side at the bottom of the second division and i was very proud at getting a 0-0, but yet on here we get referred to "Elgin Juniors" and the "worst team in scotland" blah blah :roll:

By the way, from a saints fan view, how much fans did it look like we had?

[Broggy Man]

jesus, hold a full time first division side to a draw in 90 minutes in our first ever second round game in this competition and we dont even get a little praise!! OK saints completly dominated the game, but we defended like demons last night and each player gave 110% This is the first time since becomming an SFL team we've played a team higher than a side at the bottom of the second division and i was very proud at getting a 0-0, but yet on here we get referred to "Elgin Juniors" and the "worst team in scotland" blah blah :roll:

By the way, from a saints fan view, how much fans did it look like we had?

I couldnt see but it sounded like there was a decent amount of you and you certainly supported your team.

I didnt mean to disrespect your team but the gap between our sides was huge and I dont think your defending had that much to do with our inability to score in 90 miniutes. By the way welcome to our forum :***:

[Kevin]

Looked about 60 from our view in the tannoy box

[Broggy Man]

Looked about 60 from our view in the tannoy box

Jeez Kev shows you how little atmosphere we created!

[Kevin]

Looked about 60 from our view in the tannoy box

Jeez Kev shows you how little atmosphere we created!

Tell me about it! :roll:

[Radford 72]

and the "worst team in scotland" blah blah :roll:
I came out with that one but was more in relation to your league position than your true standing. Playing like that, I'd be amazed if you finished bottom of the league.

[Saint Hayley]

Well theres not really much more to be said about lastnights game. We were in control in the first half but elgin game back in the second we should of had the game done and dusted in the 90minutes (what is us about bout being able to score a goal at home in 90minutes?) I felt that once we scored the penalty elgin seemed to let go of the game. Stevos goal was an absolute craker and like saintsam said he changed the game and i feel we need him in the team. then within 5min we had the 3rd and shortly after the 4th.
Andy lawrie had one good point when he made a run what made 1884 say "jesus is that lawire?" then just after that was mesioned he was flat on his face....again so it was back to usual for lawrie.

I didnt really think hardie played that well yes he had a chance but that was about it. As others have said Owen shouldnt of started hiself especialy if we have peaso and jacko.

i would take lawrie off and have stevo on for saturday as im geting a bitty fed up of lawrie losing the ball.

Bring on the next round. (Draw gets done on Monday)

[cityfan1893]

and the "worst team in scotland" blah blah :roll:
I came out with that one but was more in relation to your league position than your true standing. Playing like that, I'd be amazed if you finished bottom of the league.

i'd be very suprised too, we're having serious problems to you lot with scoring. It's ubelievable we're bottom after having beat the two favourites for our league in the cup and out of the 3 defeats, in 2 of those games, we had enough chances to win comfertably, hopefully this weekend we can start getting some points on the board.

[Tranmere Saintee]

Looked about 60 from our view in the tannoy box

Jeez Kev shows you how little atmosphere we created!

Tell me about it! :roll:

.....and if there was ever a reason not to go to the one stand that was it.

[Calypso Kid]

Has to be said the support for saints was pretty rubbish until the moaning kicked off! I heard one wee guy who was about 10 trying to start a song and it just died amongst the " for ^%$£ sake saints gerrit up the wing".

[t]

Has to be said the support for saints was pretty rubbish until the moaning kicked off! I heard one wee guy who was about 10 trying to start a song and it just died amongst the " for ^%$£ sake saints gerrit up the wing".
The support is never going to create anything when we're playing small fry like Elgin - at least they never booed at half-time.

Nice of Rock Steady bursting all the balloons, the kids had placed on top of the dug-outs, before kick off - could've been dangerous!

[Watty]

By the way, from a saints fan view, how much fans did it look like we had?

86 Elgin brought on Tues night if ur interested, good effort, fair distance :wink:

[RÃ¥ttis]

decent crowd, would say:

http://stats.football365.com/dom/SCO/teams/StJohnstone.html

[SaintSam1884]

decent crowd, would say:

http://stats.football365.com/dom/SCO/teams/StJohnstone.html

49,000! Not bad, not bad!

[Two Js]

decent crowd, would say:

http://stats.football365.com/dom/SCO/teams/StJohnstone.html

49,000! Not bad, not bad!

Elgin will be after their share of the takings. :***:

[Tranmere Saintee]

decent crowd, would say:

http://stats.football365.com/dom/SCO/teams/StJohnstone.html

We might even afford a couple of new players on the strength of it :***: