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I think that the length of time the current Saints side has been successful for has to be taken into account. The Ormond team (which I never saw) had a very brief period of doing well, but rapidly went downhill. The team of the late 90s, similarly, had one really good season but quickly started to struggle once those players started to drift away and Clark was faced with replacing them. The current era of success, on the other hand, transcends different key players, different managers, even different chairmen. It's almost as if the very environment at McDiarmid Park is what is behind the success. The era now includes becoming top 6 regulars, regularly reaching semi-finals, winning the Scottish Cup, beating Rosenborg one season and beating Luzern the next, and now topping it all off with this transformation into free-scoring entertainers who consistently come from behind to pick up points with this incredible never-say-die attitude. I've certainly never seen anything like it in my time following Saints, and I'd be surprised if anyone else has. Individually we've had plenty of better players, but we've never had a better team. One thing I find disappointing and I feel has disappointed Tommy Wright too, has been our failure to manage serious progression in Europe. We've done so well in beating really good sides, only to fall flat against weaker ones. If we could get through two or three rounds in Europe and get into a place where we're in contention for the group stages and can go out on a high, then that would be the thing that would top it all off.

I can see the great squad of the end of the 60s / beginning of the 70s in my mind's eye. The memory is fresh of them running out on to dear old Muirton Park in their Blue tops with the white V neck collars. There was a wee shiver of excitement when the whistle blew to start the game and a loud cheer went up from the Choir under the auld stand. Donaldson, Coburn, Lambie, Rennie, Rooney, Aird, Gordon, Whitelaw, Aitken, Connolly, Hall, McPhee, Muir, McCarry, Pearson. If you were there and watched that team, you would never forget it. Three really good front men in Connolly, Hall and Pearson. Each different in their own way, but great players all. That defence was rock solid with Benny and Willie both feared and fearless. This is the team that took us on our famous European run, beat Celtic and Rangers home and away, and finished the league third behind Celtic and Aberdeen. Yes the current team have won the Cup and qualified for Europe, and also there's the team of '99, but the 1970 squad stands alone for the quality of its players, the teamwork, and the outstanding results against top class opposition. That Rangers team who were one place below us in the league included Greig, Penman, Stein, Henderson and Johnstone all of whom were Scottish internationals.

Really? then how come Dundee United offer cheaper entrance for their young fans than for away fans? the extra policing and stewarding cost is more than offset by the tv income. a lot of folk don't like going to watch when either set of OF fans come to town, it's live on tv just before Christmas.. and we increase prices to our own fans. You'll do well to convince me that this is actively Encouraging more Saints fans to get along to games.

I have to question Saints' decision making sometimes... a game live on tv with a Sunday lunchtime kick off 12 days before Christmas.. And we bump East Stand tickets upto £26 !!! Absolutely mental.

it's a development league about bringing players on ! Result is not that important

well, unless we're a Reliant Robin there's still one wheel left...

2-3 saints. Lander and Hunter.

That was for the game we beat them was it not? 2-1 under Lomas. Think the outrage over that caused them to change back to giving them the two ends, the East should never be used by away fans

True, but we've got a lot of players who have been with us for quite a few seasons now and are signed up for atleast this one and next. Mannus, Mackay, Anderson, Scobbie, Easton, Millar, Davidson, Wotherspoon, O'Halloran, Craig and Maclean will all make 100 appearances for Saints by the end of their current contracts if they haven't done so already. Stalwarts like Wright have just left as well. Football is a different game in the modern era and we can't compete in terms of wages with most of the top flight clubs. The fact that so many have stayed loyal to us (or come back to us) is a huge credit to the club and the togetherness there is at McDiarmid Park just now. We have a manager who epitomises everything good about our club at the moment as well. Is this the best team ever? It's certainly one of the best and it's absolutely the most successful over a prolonged period of time. I'm not that bothered if it is or not personally as I'm just enjoying and marvelling in what the players are managing to achieve in the here and the now. There will come a point in the future where I'll be telling my kids and grandkids about the great the St Johnstone team that won the Scottish cup, knocked out Rosenborg and Luzern in Europe, broke the record for consecutive away matches etc etc etc... the list is endless. Has there ever been a point in our history where we've managed to beat Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen (twice) away in a single calendar year? We're the last away team to win domestically at all 3 of those grounds. That's an incredible feat in itself, and yet that's not even mentioned. It just shows the level that this team has taken us to in the context of the Scottish game... it's almost expected of them now!

Was looking through an old box of photographs and found this. Does anyone recognise themselves. Game was the Saintes v Aberdeen New Year game on 2nd January 1969. Saints won 3-1, we were a top 6 club that season also. Picture is from the PA on 3rd January. I'm the kid with their legs over the wall and the woolly hat on, eleven days before my fifth birthday. Looking for the same result on 03/01/2016 47 years and 1 day later ! Anyone with any other old pics !

I think we'd beat them about 10-0, you have to remember that Gio van B, Jorg, Lorenzo et al are well into their 40s now

Aird,, Hall, Connolly, Pearson and Aitken were all MO'H or Stevie May status. I remember the 2-2 at Parkhead when the great Celtic European team were at their best but all the class came from the Saintees. Ormond's boy's were still the best on their day but Tommy Wrights is the best overall team but we do not yet have that forward line to match the 70's legends - although thinking about and Spoony's second goal on Saturday they are not far away!

It might be, but of one thing there is no question, Tommy Wright is our best ever manager.

This could be part of an "exciting future" says Neil Doncaster!. Well fine, assuming The The make it back to the Premiership for next season let's play the first three "hatefests" in Boston, Sydney and Bangkok. If there is a 4th after the split what about Damascus. Not what you had in mind Neil? Didn't think so.

Happy to try something new with the league cup and see how it goes but can't stand the winter break idea. When we had it previously players hated it because it meant they lost match fitness and had to do a mini-pre season. Everyone else will just end up playing lots of friendlies to maintain fitness whilst celtic jet off on a money making tour. International break weekends are bad enough as it is currently in spoiling the momentum of the season. Football is a winter sport, to give us something to do in the long dark winter months. It will be shite without any games to watch.

No.

Not just that way x

It's not over the odds. £26 for an adult and 2 kids is still bloody good value.

2 minutes into the second half and Saints have a goal back. Craig Thomson header.

Cannae make either Leah - good deal tho -hope it is a success and both buses run full.

Why would anyone pay to take their kids to a drunken sectarian karaoke anyway? Horrible horrible people.

Je suis Monty.

We could apply a 'Hugh Dallas Weighting' based on the number of naughty words Ghostie uses in his post match analysis.

It'll keep you out of your masterbatorium.

Frankly, I agree. I also think there should be a mechanism to put player performance into context with prevailing climatic conditions, size of crowd, and standard of refereeing decisions. It's not difficult, Mnoty, get a grip man.

Monty, we quite understand that you need most of your hard drive for Volumes I - XVIII of the MOTM rules.

I do apologise for not giving 100% of my time and effort for free. Must try harder.

lost my cloth scarf in a house move years ago. (Still hope to find it at the bottom of a box). Guy just along for me at the cup final had one on.

Having seen the Ormand team and the current and the present one I would say that the Ormand team was better however they did not achieve a trophy which the current team has. The current team has also been consistently better placed in the league so a hard one to come down on. Think that it should be left open for future discussions in pubs. Hopefully there will be a team in the future which will be so good there will be no argument! COYS

I don't really care which team is best I have thoroughly enjoyed ALL my time following Saints. From my first match as a 9 year old (the already mentioned 2-2 against Celtic), travelling all over Scotland as a high school aged youth with all the nonsense that included.After I left school and started working I still went to as many games as possible although this period (late 70`s/80`s) this period could be hard going at times although some of the best away days were during these times. During the 1990`s I started taking my kids to the games always still enjoyable although drink free for me. Now into the last few years still going to games including a European away trip with my now grown up kids,getting pissed together and finally enjoying some success I think is what it is all about. At the end of the day football is all about opinions,the most important comparison in my view is that the current team are Scottish Cup WINNERS.

Nobody said it was encouraging more Saints fans, but if 3-4000 OF fans buy tickets, that's where the money is made. Not the couple of hundred of Saints fans paying at the gate. It's a good business decision by the club. TV income isn't paid on a game by game basis for league games so the extra match day cost isn't offset by tv revenue. cutting the price to £15 would cost Saints £50k in ticket revenue from away fans alone.

Individual adult tickets must be priced the same for both teams. The only way you could work a discount for home fans would be to sell a 2 match ticket, you can get around the rule if you do that. If you sold a special 2 match ticket for the next two home games for £35, that would work.

They should go the whole hog and bring back the Tennents 6s. I still have great memories of watching this. The winter break is a daft idea but the league cup changes sound interesting at worst, worth a try and also means we'd be the last winners of the "old" League Cup format. What really worries me is the suggestion of playing games abroad. That sort of nonsense can f*ck right off before it gains any traction.I'd rather Saints were poorer for it than have them fly over to Boston to play a bit part in Celtic's self promotion to a group of sycophants. Gross generalisation I know but let's be honest very few in the US will have sweaty palms at the thought of seeing Dundee FC.

Certainly the most successful ever.

Can't believe it - there's me at the front sitting wi' auld Wullie Munro the ironmonger from Bridgend. He had one o they blue invalid carriages but they let him sit oot on a chair beside the pitch. My auld maw used to do his books for him. Well I never thanks for that memory SS!!

Hi all! The bus is now full. I will post on here the timings and pick up points shortly (Kinnears has new owners and may be open in time for the game). Bob.

Sounds horrendous, especially if it is regionalised. Woohoo to playing the same teams every year in the group stages. A winter break too? Pray tell me when "winter" is in Scotland. It runs from November to the end of March. The two weeks we take off could be the best two weeks of the winter! Scrap the League Cup in full.

The National Railway museum (in York) are the proud owners of the Flying Scotsman locomotive. There is little similarity between The loco and J. Mac. He is neither flying or able to work up a head of steam, but perhaps may be loco.

Many thanks guys for posting your thoughts and memories. There is an intimation ( which strikes the mark just perfectly) in today's Courier that confirms the funeral will take place at the Crematorium next Monday Dec 14th at 1400.

We'd have to offer that to both sets. Celtic always bring a decent payday so I'm with the club. You also have extra policing and stewarding costs to consider.

Seems a bit strange the teams qualifying for Europe dont do group stage. Surely would benefit them in Europe playing competitive football at home?

Already plans well underway for this area with the Mill Quarter. Which includes Multi storey car park. Student accommodation. Cinema. Gym and shops.150 jobs and 350 construction jobs.York based Expresso property have admitted notice to council for planning permission

Feel with two big defenders Graham Cummins would be an asset. Mikey down one wing and Spoony the other. We can win but will be difficult as they have good attacking players.

Someone properly pedantic would know you can't punctuate a hashtag #pedanticbastarddotcom

Someone properly pedantic would have spelt pedantic rihgt.

Reading these posts, don't know whether to worry we are getting a bit cocky, or whether this is justified self-confidence. Fek it, I'm going for the second! This is the Golden Age, might as well enjoy it. Sunday will be a decent dress-rehearsal for the League Cup final, and another step towards the League title, Champions League next year, and 10 in a row by 2025. (Hic).

MOTEL #pendnticbastard.com

Good offer. Canny make the Thistle game on Boxing day, but going tae Motherwell.