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I was at Meet the Manager last night in the muirton suite and what a great man Tommy is..he talked about his love of football,how he really enjoys managing Saints and when asked about new signings said a striker and 2 wide men were his priority...in talks with BGs agent about making it permanent seems really happy working with saints and the group of players he has at the club..superb with the kids too.Having met him I feel more confident in saints future.COYS

No one at any point bashed the club staff. This is the sort of nonsense that polluted the Season Ticket thread last summer. Tommy has done a fantastic job getting us into the position we're in after a turbulent summer last year. The club is very prudently run and I'm absolutely delighted to see that come to fruition again this season. I think SB will acknowledge that mistakes were made last summer, but we've not paid for them (thank goodness) and we may actually end up finishing higher than we did last season, with more points and with a smaller squad. He has backed the manager over the course of the season too, as the signings of the likes of McFadden and Swanson show, and the long-term contracts for our best performing players (as well as the 3 year deal at the start of the season for TW) show this. I certainly think those decisions have more than made up for last summer. Steve will know himself that investment is needed for next season. Hearts and one of Rangers/Hibs in the league. One of the safety nets (St Mirren) is definitely gone, Ross County look in a much better position to build on their success over the last few months and you never know what will happen with Dundee, Hamilton and Partick Thistle. We've got the base of a very good squad who should be able to cope with that, but there's huge pressure on SB and the board to allow Wright to freshen the squad up in the summer. I'm not talking wholesale changes, I mean 4 or 5 players to replace those going out, who bring more pace, energy and incisiveness to the team. We're incredibly lucky to have the likes of SB & Wright at the club. They have the best interests of the club at heart (IMO anyway) and will always do what they feel is best. All I ask is that the fecking season tickets come out earlier this year. Dear lord. Please!

Another top 6 finish in the bag with the potential of yet another European adventure. A continuation of our prudent stewardship through the most turbulent period of Scottish football history, culminating with our first major honour. Surely time for Steve Brown, his board of directors and the club staff to receive the credit they're due?

Well, we did beat them, so that's good! Maybe you can cheer up now! We're one point off fourth place. One point. Are you seriously saying that's the difference between your original post being valid or not? Personally I think Tommy Wright should feel smug because Saints, again, have not only been ignored by the media but have also been on the end of completely ridiculous levels of negativity and criticism from some of our own fans (your post on this thread being one of the worst examples). Yet, once again, he has steered us into the top six and another race for European football. He's had to take us into this season without his star striker and without any of the transfer targets he wanted to bring in. He's had to operate on a budget that is borderline disgraceful when you consider how much revenue this team has generated by winning the Cup and repeatedly qualifying for Europe. But despite that, as he himself said after Saturday, his team has "found a way", by becoming bloody difficult to score against and having the best defensive record outside the top two. And through all of that the manager has carried himself in a dignified and respectful manner and not resorted to publicly moaning. Sure, there hasn't been any silky samba football - from what I've seen this season, quite a lot of it has been pretty bloody poor to watch. But the league table proves that, yet again, Saints are one of the strongest teams in the country. You might call that spineless management, you might call it "under performing" - but, frankly, that is absolutely ridiculous. Nearly every club in Scotland would love to swap places with us right now. With the exception of ICT, no other similarly-sized club can come even close to touching our sustained levels of success over these last few years (and I understand even ICT offer significantly higher wages than we do). And a lot of considerably bigger clubs can't come close to matching our success either. Just look at how far we've come since we won the First Division, and yet you're still not happy. This is the greatest era in the club's history by some considerable distance. If you feel such vitriol towards the manager and his performance even now, then maybe you just need to accept that it's you who'll never be happy. It's sad to have to say that if Saints continue to be successful under Tommy Wright, it'll be in spite of the views of fans such as yourself.

Has Tommy & team not achieved top 6 in spite of them rather than because of them ?.

The 'I missed the crossbar' trophy!!

You know you want to. Twelve people will be about fifteen quid a head, any more a bonus. That's me, Gary, Hannah and Neil so far, keep the names coming in, deadline has to be this weekend so we have time to book. COYHS, last away day before the European adventure begins in July!!!

I will gladly chip in a tenner.! If I dont pay it will Abernethy scourge me.!? He He.! anyway thats whit ye get for slagging the Corrina off Athens.!

In answer to your questions about what type of player he was for us.. My concern for Stevie going to the championship was two of his biggest weaknesses - he doesn't win a lot of headers, and he doesn't have an electric turn of pace - not slow but not particularly quick either, meant that his game might not be best suited to that league. It's a very physical league, though probably not more skilful than the spl. A lot of the centre forwards are 6'2" sprinters who will leap for headers and chase thru balls all day. It is telling that up here Stevie looked big compared to many opponents, whereas down there most of the defenders look like Arnold Schwarzenegger and May is tiny in comparison. Jordan Rhodes is an exception I grant you, neither big nor super fast, but still seems to score goals. Stevie was a skinny lad when he was at Saints, but got on the weights of his own doing to get stronger. He will do whatever it takes in the summer I'm sure, hopefully Wednesday will have staff in place to guide him. With us he could score goals and create them. Technically very good, he also never stopped running all game. He was a confidence player who shoots from everywhere and had a real swagger about him. I imagine if you take that away then you lose half the player. He was far from just a poacher, he would often drop off and get involved in creating goals, as well as make runs in behind. Aside from heading he was pretty much the complete striker last season. He did develop the slightly annoying habit of going down a bit too easily under challenges in the second half of the season but that was a minor thing. It's obviously taken him longer to adapt than Wednesday fans hoped, but I would fully expect with this season's experience under his belt and a full pre-season down there he will come good next year.

Same group as us I'd imagine

"What has gone wrong ?"............IMO.........supporters expectations.

Hi Steve Lomas!Hiya pal! *waves to Steve*

Good post, cheers. Yeah the best strikers at this level tend to be quick and strong. Deeney, Jerome, Wilson, Gray all bloody nightmares to play against with great finishing ability. Then you have your Rhodes and Martin types who are strong but just natural finishers in the box. May doesn't really fit into any of these categories, but just because you are not blessed with pace or size doesn't mean your not cut out for this level. I just think May needs to work harder, hit the gym and with a bit of experience under his belt he will be better next season, I hope. If he is the complete striker as you have said he was at times last season for you that gives me some encouragement.

Hey Amsterdam.! "dundee bastards " you speak english like a Native.!........................... Of Perth.! he he .!

I think the lack of goals this year has put fans on a bit of a downer.! The QOS exit never helped the mood either. What disappoints me most is the Tarmac in the Car Park is like the Pitch.! A heaving mess.! Sort oot the Infrastructure . aye right!!! My biggest sickener came on Saturday afternoon though,when BG was substituted, and some bam in front of me said get that "C**t Maclean" off.! Thought I was in Mordor for a Minute.! Well done Tommy and the team, and if this is a "Gone Wrong" season Keep them Coming.!

Got to love the Saints fans that feel the need to suck up to any visitors we have to the forum. I don't think anyone is daft enough to think we'd challenge in the Championship but at the same time coming on here talking about the huge step up deserves to be treated with the scorn it has been.

Are Saints fans actually this mental? You honestly believe the SPFL and saints are better than the championship? Are you all trolling or just blind?

thanks for that sam but I am keeping this VERY simple. I will take cash donations and buy a trophy. If I don't get enough I will just pay the rest myself.

Keep on hearing how much a better level the English championship is , how about a wee challenge match saints v owls (home and away) pre season to see the so called gulf in class ? Would be a good piss up if nothing else .

Im exiled from my homeland.

The massive improvement in the PR at the Club, the community improvements and the academy improvements are all points for which Steve and the board deserve credit. Yes there were issues last season but I think the Club was caught out by the level of work that being Scottish Cup holders brought with it. They have now got a more business orientated approach. Top 6 is CREDIT TO EVERYONE THAT WORKS AT THE CLUB!!

Sixteen is the minimum for me. #SacktheBoard

My take on this is that Saints took the view that money had to be spent on the less sexy side of running a business and there was no better time to do that: 1. Off the back of our most successful season ever. 2. Safe in the "knowledge" that we were safe from relegation with Dundee and Hamilton coming up ( something that didn't quite work out as expected, as St Mirren will testify). This will be a totally different pre-season with Hearts and potentially another of Hibs etc coming up.

Stevie Mac's goal in Switzerland for me!

Good shout I think . As long as they give some cash to our Tommy to freshen up the squad in the summer,and they get their pr right over the holidays too, that can't be any worse than last year that's a certainty .

Who are your sources?

It's been ****ing shit imagine only reaching top 6 with our highest points tally after 33 games. Please though Saints, start scoring more goals.

I think if we don't at least make an offer for Abeid, it's time for Steve Brown to hand over the reins to someone with some balls and some ambition. #VoteUKIP

We need fresh faces, I think that's glaringly obvious. Players who have done well for us in the past have become a little stale and predictable this season. On a side note, very impressed Aitchy managed a bite there.

The three most winnable games first, which might give us something to really play for going into the last two games.

Saturday 25th April - Dundee (Away) Saturday 2nd May - ICT (Home) Saturday 9th May - Dundee Utd (Home) Friday 15th May - Celtic (Home) Saunday 24th May - Aberdeen (Away) More than happy with that

No. None of us are managers and it might upset Tommy.

I think we should go for the boy Mehid Abeit we had a few seasons ago. Good young player.

Cheers for that! Two wide players and a striker - that suggests me that McFadden, Croft and possibly Caddis are being emptied at the end of the season. I think Tommy has the squad balance about right this year, so think he'll look to replace like for like.

Confirmed that line ups will be a mixed u15/16 group. COYSJYA!

Wahey , this is the best thread on here by miles

I miss Radford

No. I never asked to meet Ghostie, because we couldn't make the game because my grandson was due. That's why I asked him for other methods of payment. Did you contribute to the Ando testimonial fund? No, apparantly, you "had a problem with PayPal". Have you sent on the programmes you promised to the boys? No, apparently "time overtook you". Have you still got them after all this time? "Yes". Are you sending them out right now? No. Do you ever go to Saints games? No. You're a million billionaire, but can only get back to cup finals. Are you totally totally totally totally full of shit? Yes.

MacLeans goal in luzern as I was there and it really was a dream. That is my vote.

Thank goodness for that!

Tommy says he is not worried if we only get 2 homes games. Well I am. Along with missing out on cup games bought I will feel short changed on my season ticket. Also another home game could be worth £40,000

I love it!? It shows how far we have come as a team when the supporters think being 5th in the league is unacceptable! For someone who has followed Saints up & down all the divisions over the years 5th really isn't that bad! I do get the fan's frustration though, with a wee bit of investment we could be challenging the leaders, & before we get the old chestnut 'living' within our means, I don't advocate bursting the budget but it seems to me we fritter money away on players at the wrong end of their career, who you know aren't 'Saintees' at heart but are happy to pick up the wages. Personally I feel we didn't capitalised on our cup win, but hey we should be looking forward not back! COYS⚽️⚽️⚽️

What date we got Spurs.i do hope it is away.

I hope Tommy Wright reads the above today and feels very, very smug.

That's almost a criticism of the club ms! Almost.

Blue heaven sums up my thoughts very well. I also still have a lot of resentment towards our Chairman and board for the way they acted in the aftermath of the Cup Final. Instead of building on the good will towards the club from a large amount of people, the negativity that came from them led to a negative vibe hanging about the support heading into the new season. I never expected them to go out and suddenly buy lots of players, but they could have struck a better balance between investing in infrastructure and investing in the squad. They said we had no money, but it took them weeks to get the season ticket applications out after the Cup Final, which I have no doubts cost us a few extra quid. The reality as well though, is that outside of Celtic and Aberdeen most of the teams are of the same level. Every once in a while players like Stevie May, Stuart Armstrong, GMS, Eremenko (In first spell at Killie) will come along and elevate a club above the others, but that only happens once in a while. Hopefully the club will be more organised this pre season and the board will allow Tommy Wright to recruit early so that we are not left chasing around for scraps at the last minute. Keep the faith, We Are Perth!

If you want this to take off, I think you have to open up alternative fund-raising avenues other than look for a shouty guy at a match most of us won't get to......

Is it not the case that we're better off for points than we were at this stage last season? (Or at least, we were before last night's result). We're the Scottish Cup holders. We're still on course for yet another top 6 finish. We could yet end up finishing fourth and getting into Europe for the fourth season in a row. This is the greatest era in the club's entire history. I just wonder though... where did it all go wrong?

You could take out Abernethy with a grenade!

What can I say not only have we reached our highest average gate in some years we are up 22%.. I totally take back all I have thought of your PR and increasing our gate substantially.. well done Scottish Premiership No. Club Average Games vs '14 Highest 1 Celtic FC 43.265 10 -8,1% 45.798 2 Aberdeen FC 12.438 9 -3,7% 19.051 3 Dundee United FC 8.149 9 7,2% 12.098 4 Dundee FC 7.596 9 60,3% 11.447 5 St. Johnstone FC 4.658 9 22,4% 7.384 6 Motherwell FC 4.485 9 -13,3% 7.740 7 Kilmarnock FC 4.098 9 -3,6% 5.079 8 St. Mirren FC 3.946 9 -12,5% 5.280 9 Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC 3.819 10 7,3% 6.614 10 Ross County FC 3.442 8 -9,1% 5.693 11 Partick Thistle FC 1876 3.386 9 -32,3% 4.145 12 Hamilton Academical FC 2.533 8 76,4% 4.093 . Total 8.865 -13,3% 45.798