Benjo

He has managed 4 games. A home game vs Hibs where he decided not to push for a win when they were down to 10 men. I missed the Dundee United game but believe his tactical changes left us hanging on (again against 10 men). We got beat last week at home with a terrible performance in an important match. MacLean just constantly throwing on more and more strikers in Bair/Rudden/Kane when the problems lay further back in our inability to create chances. We’ve won again by a solitary goal today against a team who were down to 10 men for a long period. MacLean is one of my Saints hero’s but I’m not convinced he’s the answer long term. I appreciate he has Davidson’s squad to work with and he’s moved to a back 4 which was what a lot of the fans wanted. This summer is huge for Saints, if we get it wrong I think we could go down next season.

David Healy the Linfield manager…. Linfield NIFL Premiership: 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22[58][61][66][70][71] Irish Cup: 2016–17, 2020–21 Northern Ireland Football League Cup: 2018–19,[62] 2022–23[75] County Antrim Shield: 2016–17[56] Charity Shield: 2017[59] Individual Northern Ireland Manager of the Year: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22[61][70]

I'm not too big a fan of Paton either and I agree with the Scobbie comparisons. I do think that he played well against Rangers and is a useful backup. I think the big difference yesterday was the Davidson/Paton central midfield partnership. Chris Millar is a centre midfielder who will always show for the ball, not panic when in tight spaces, and looks to move the ball forward when the opportunity arrives. Davidson is a huge presence in midfield and wins a lot of tackles but very rarely looks to take possession from the defenders. Paton is a bit better than that but, on receiving a pass from a defender, he generally passes it backwards or sideways. The Davidson/Paton partnership doesn't work and we were almost immediately a better team when spoony replaced Paton and gave the team a centre midfielder who could pass it forward. I'd actually be interested to see if Alston could do a similar job to Millar in CM. He doesn't have the pace of a winger or the crossing ability of a right midfielder. He does look like he's willing to take the ball into feet in tight spaces and doesn't panic. I'd rather get spoony back at RM long term.

Sturrock has just been sacked by Yeovil :-(

He hasn't played for Wednesday this season. He's also barely played for PNE since signing.

MOH to go for £1M in January and Stevie May to sign for £500k?

I don't think Joe deserves to be dropped as his current performances seem pretty solid. I don't remember many of the goals we have conceded this season being created from his side of the pitch. His throws also have brought us a goal at Tynecastle and his cross set up Cummins against ICT.

I don't think both are the answer. One of them (I vote for Liam Craig) and a more creative midfielder please.

Mannus Shaughnessy Scobie Anderson Easton Spoony Millar Davidson MOH Sutton Kane

Wiki/non official Facebook post suggesting Saints have signed Paul Heatley, winger from Crusaders (126 games/59 goals) and current NI football writers player of the year. Can't find anything official though.

An Aberdeen pal was telling me that Reynolds, McGinn, Flood and Rooney were all one booking away from being suspended at the start of next season. If true, why would they risk them when there is nothing to play for?

Mannus MacKay Anderson Wright Easton Spoony (RM) Midge Davidson Swanson (preferably)/MOH New Forward New Striker I still think our current back four are an excellent unit but injuries/age will catch up on Wright/Mackay eventually. I'm for loaning Kane out again for at least the first 6 months as I don't think he's ready.

I thought Swanson looked quite dangerous throughout the match tbh. He was an out ball for most of the game and put a lot of work in. I'd be delighted to sign him up.

He worked hard but I don't remembering him having a shot. Same old, same old. Still, he did look better than McFadden who looked well off the pace though pretty much every ball that went towards him was in the air.

He's almost be first choice for me against Celtic and Aberdeen. We're in no position to axe our in form striker when we are still chasing 4th place. We shouldn't jeapordise that oppertunity just because a player who was only on loan at us has signed for another club. Goals win games.