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It has been an eye-opener reading this forum. I admit to being relatively ignorant to Scottish football when I first posed the Stevie May question. Valuations of players in England is ridiculous. And like I said before, this is because Premier League survival is the primary aim of probably 12 of its clubs each season, they are prepared to pay 'whatever it takes', regardless of reasonable valuations. A young British player like May would probably struggle to get a game for any English Premier League club, and he will have to do something 'exceptional' to get a million pound move to a club higher than League One, so it would probably be better for him to stay in the SPL and develop there. That's not a slight at SPL clubs by the way. It is just that it's not easy for any young British player to stand out enough to shine in the Championship or above. If, you would say, May is as good as someone like Jordan Rhodes, then you have a gem, and potential money spinner. But Rhodes scored consistently for 3 years in League One, at Huddersfield, who, at the time, had a bigger playing budget than 90% of the league above, so prising him away wasn't easy, as Blackburn's £8M fee suggests. It looks like our interest has ended anyway. We signed Haris Vuckic on loan yesterday, a 21 year old Slovenian international from Newcastle, who was once a big-money target for Man Utd, and is highly rated despite being out for much of last year with injury. Hopefully, he'll score the goals we need that will cement a place in the top 6. I will certainly be keeping a keen eye on Stevie May's progress, and the Saints of course. Good luck for the season, and respect to the interesting contributors to this board. UTM

I would just like to give everyone a quick heads up of an event taking place prior to the Saints v Aberdeen game on Sat 7th December when the kids from the St.Johnstone youth teams will be doing a bucket collection throughout the ground and including the hospitality suites as well as the Muirton suite. All monies raised will go directly towards Saints youth developement. Youth developement is a vitally important area for Saints both in terms of bringing players through to play for the 1st team and also in terms of future revenue through home grown player sales. At a time where the club is struggling to maintain revenues, youth developement becomes even more crucial. These kids may well not just be the future of our team, they could well be the future of our beloved football club. It has been well documented lately about the success that Dundee Utd are having and we are trying to put down a good base for Alistair Stevenson to work with. This costs though... Here are a few facts: 62% of the boys in YD are local. It costs 6 figures to run YD with a small grant coming from the SFA. The SFA are looking to reduce funding unless clubs meet certain criteria, this will mean spending money to upgrade facilities. We are using the strapline" we are all dreaming of a team of Stevie Mays" to highlight what can be achieved through youth devolopement. We now have an Academy Committee group who are already working hard to raise funds and also the profile of YD. The committee is made up of parents from all levels of YD as well as a few fans ( of which I am one), Steve Brown, Roddy Grant and two others from the club as well as Alistair Stevenson. This fund raiser will hopefully be the first of many but the bottom line is that anything the committe does needs the full support of the fans to make it work. This committee is outwith the Barossa Street Saints who already do BRILLIANT work in raising money for YD and who have already contributed a vast sum throught their own fund raising. The committee is basically being run by the parents of the kids we hope will eventually become the next Stevie Mays,Liam Caddis's or Chris Kanes ...... Most people have a dish in the house ( or car) full of "shrapnel". I know I have about £20 in pennies, tuppenies, fives and ten pence pieces . What would be brilliant would be if as many as possible brought their small change along ( however little) to the game and popped it in to the buckets. Now obviously not everyone can afford to do this but even a quid will help. It all adds up.. Thanks for reading this, thanks for your time and most of all, thanks for your support. Together we can make a difference and perhaps our dreams can come true. Ghostie. ( on behalf of the St.Johnstone Academy Committee Group)

Will be happy to help on the day. But if we have a team of Stevie Mays where does that leave Dave McKay?

I have a better idea to raise funds for the youth team. Why don't we sign someone on a free contract in January then sell him back to his original team in exchange for a donation to the development fund

Trying to put a value on these players is extremely difficult and it will ultimately come down to how much somebody is prepared to spend on him. If £800k is the set price somebody will pay it sooner rather than later. His contract extension strengthens Saints' hand and how Steve Brown plays it will also have a major bearing. But comparing the fees to English league is just so depressing. Andy Carroll is "worth" more than all the players in the SPL outside Celtic. Bottom line is that like in all areas of buisness, the company that you are buying from will be a huge factor, regardless of quality. Waitrose toilet paper wipes yer arse just the same as Aldi's but you will always pay more. What is even more depressing is that there is a real flourish of young talent in the SPL at the moment, and it will pillaged in the next two windows. We as paying customers won't get to see them anywhere near their collective peaks. May, Hutchison, Moore, Holt, Paterson, McKay, Pawlett, Jack and there's a few at Tannadice too that will inevitably be snapped up in the near future. What it makes it more gauling is that some will rot in reserves and return broken players. May is certainly up at the higher end of that list and I hope he stays for a little longer to develop his career the right way. Guys like him, GMS and Gauld (who is just frightening, easily the best prospect I've ever seen in all my years of watching Scottish football) are the reason we pay money to watch football. To be entertained.

It has all the makings of a good day out. Promise I won't do any karaoke !!!!! Good to see Saintee 14 is looking after her Dad !!!! Well done Greg.

Just to confirm, the chairman has stated that any monies raised by and for the Youth Development is 'ringfenced' and absolutely WILL NOT be used for anything else. St. Johnstone's future lies in the Youth Academy, which may have been somewhat overlooked in the past, however there is a big push at the club to develop our own players.

Just an idea , when tickets come out to buy them as a group and anybody who books the buses after that buy their own

I used to love it when the kids got moved on from Saints and the parents came on here for rant about the club. Must be a tough job coaching at that level.

A lot of years ago. A younger relation of mine had decided about getting her first tattoo. I have never had any desire to have one, but know what is involved. She didn't believe me, and was somehow convinced it was a "special kind of marker pen" which was used. When she went to the tattooist and found out about what it would take to get a tattoo, she hurriedly left the premises.

Never been much of an inventor. There is some truth in what you say. Since I retired, I've almost stopped wearing glasses, and keep forgetting to put them on when I really need to, which has made for some interesting car journeys, a harrowing incident involving a hedge-trimmer, and one Saints game where the Beloved had to provide ball-by-ball commentary. oops. eeerrrr - Inverness were shite.

My first wife had that. Feckin painful, apparently.

SFA youth cup 2pm this Sunday at McDiarmid, when Saints take on Celtic.

Imagine if it got lost in the post!

When you get back from Hibs on the 21st to encourage a few into the club.

Can we not. Lose this thread and open a hooligan thread as I me ep looking at this thread thinking it has something to do with football.

Can all committee members who are donating items to the raffle please hand them in to the club ASAP. This is so a list of prizes on offer can be made and copied off. Thank you. What's the best date for conducting the draw ?

Goodwillie is a poor example actually. He is to blame for believing he had already made it. Cretinous human being.

were you! leave the lad alone if he is just making a interesting post this forum is just getting worse

i was there

Have you thought about a Direct Debit thing? £2 a month. £5 a month, in for a raffle for a hospitality day...... With these things you have to keep the admin costs down. these would do it. Don't just give. A'body wants to thing they'll get something out of it. They know they won't, but.... Make it fun to give. The key to it is, don't direct the cash to St Johnstone. Direct it to the youth team, ST. J's charity campaign whatever. A total guarantee that the cash will go to a cause that is St J, but not the corporate St J. I think you know what I mean. It's not really about the money. It's about being St J.

Brilliant Ghostie. But we can't all turn up to a certain game. You need to set up a funding channel independent of physical attendance, and then remind people of it repeatedly. If you set this up, £20 from us.

You look like a hairy beach ball

He had the loudest sneeze i've ever heard if it's the same Mr Andrews i'm thinking of. I remember the first time he sneezed in our class, half the class shat it.

Jings, what a waste of a talent. Probably on the dole as well. Used to call him bungalow at Saints. Nothing upstairs.

Bloody hell.........just seen BBC news website. This is for real, by the way. BREAKING NEWS Salmond to establish Independent Enquiry into Inverness Flag Incident First Minister Alex Salmond today delayed the launch of the Scottish Government White Paper on Independence to announce the establishment of an Independent Enquiry into recent disturbing events at the ground of high-flying Inverness Caledonian Thistle (ICT) at the weekend during the SFPL A9 league derby against newly-promoted St Jonston of Crieff. During the match, large numbers of away team supporters were seen to invade sections of the stadium occupied by ICT fans. Although reports are contradictory and confused, the picture that is slowly emerging is shocking and concerning. Witnesses report numerous outbreaks of slightly intimidatory behaviour, a number of quite explicit sweary-words, and at least one case of allegedly pre-meditated over-enthusiasm. Emergency services today confirmed at least 26 cases of slightly-hurt feelings are still being dealt with by local hospitals, and one flag has still not been fully recovered. Police Scotland confirmed that additional patrols are continuing throughout the night "to provide re-assurance and support to Inverness residents". Although tensions are believed to be lessening, local businesses have been strongly advised not to re-open until further notice. All residents are advised that rolling updates will be provided, in both Gaelic and Polish, on Radio Nan Gail. The First Minister struggled to control his emotions as he gave his statement. "This incident was completely unacceptable, all the more so in light of the forthcoming 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. The people of Scotland demand answers, and answers we will provide to the people of Scotland. It is "Yes" to an acceptance of the seriousness of this situation, and "Yes" to speedy remedies. Remember, "Yes". The leader of Labour in Scotland responded in a statement of her own. "This incident is clearly, clearly the responsibility of a Scottish Government which is so obsessed with conni-stu-unnal change that it has clearly, clearly, literally, literally, taken its eye of the ball, to the de'rimen of hard-working Sco'ish familes. This would never have happened at Ibrox." St Johston manager Tommy Lomas, speaking at their Crieff stadium on behalf of Chairman Steve Green, said that whilst it was prudent to await the outcome of the Enquiry, he could confirm that the club had already funded a programme designed to provide "guidance and generic-brand acne cream" to young fans from the Crieff area. "We hope this programme MAY FOR SALE will continue to improve community cohesion £800K OR MEBBEE LESS throughout our catchment area THE CHAIRMAN'S MADE ME SIGN THAT FAT b****** CROFT AGAIN AND I CANNAE AFFORD HIM". The Enquiry, to be Chaired by ex-UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has been tasked with investigating "all aspects of this incident, including the response of the relevant authorities, and the wider ramifications for Scottish football, police powers, and society as a whole". It is scheduled to report in 2016. Steve Green is 26.

I will try and explain to all what has happened so we can finish this conversation and all the arms and legs that are getting added on. We never stole the flag to take it 'home' as you put it. we took it to try get a photo for social websites as banter and it backfired. we intended to leave it in inverness but then decided the responsible thing would be to take it back to mcdiarmid so it could be returned as we ended up miles away from the ground. Wasn't till we were near aviemore that we found out the significance of the flag. the lessons are learned and its done now. no harm done...also on to the seat incident the seat got broken whilst the players were warming up with a ball hitting it and one guy was waving bits of it around. no crime there commited at all....why not stick to discussing how shit we played rather than singling certain people or groups.

1971

Queens Bridge 1960's