Graeme S

I think Carey’s performance was a big problem for us, Raymond looked pretty tired just before half time whilst Caret offered us nothing on the other side.
Drey is wasted in his current position at present.
Rangers were there to be beaten unfortunately we just didn’t have the ability to do so.

Felt a bit dirry for Mac and McPake , they haven't had a minutes football this season and are expected to come on to safe or win the the game, both of them weren't sharp enough.
Same with Essel , every time there was a sub he had to change position.
Something wrong when those 3 get on before Smith though.

Not having an extra £75k isn't why we're stuck with dross like Josh McPake on the bench.
We have a better player, who was on the books when McPake was signed, that we punted out instead.
Lack of money isn't what's held us back the last few years, it's poor use of the money we do have.

Two things don't sit well with me.
One has been covered and is the way Ian Flaherty, aka Flax, handled the situation a couple of years ago. This was our first home cup game after winning the double and we should have been making a real push to boost the home support. Instead, they snuck out an announcement at 5:00pm on Friday IIRC then all went home for the weekend. The whole thing felt like a kick in the teeth and they paid the price.
That doesn't really impact the situation now though but what does is what happened at Hampden Park in August. I don't want to speak for Bev or her family but I still find the whole thing abhorrent. Rangers FC couldn't even have the decency to release a public condemnation through their website, instead an unnamed individual gave a few words to the Glasgow press. And their players and manager actually went and celebrated with the group involved after the game.
I'd find it VERY hard to stomach their support essentially being rewarded after all that happened and I say that was someone who was previously probably in favour of giving them three stands. Actions have to have consequences and IMO there shouldn't have been a single Rangers supporter coming to McDiarmid Park next week.
It's fine talking about an extra £75,000 for a player and hopefully we have a good manager in the building but it's only a positive thing or an advantage if it is well spent.
On the fence at the moment as still bothered about what happened in August.

I liked Simo’s mix of enthusiasm and realism, if someone like him can’t get the players to play for him we are goosed. Obviously he must have a steely side to be in the game at management level but he was endearing when he admitted at the start he was nervous.  I particularly liked the way he engaged with the crowd at the meeting.
I really do wish him success not just because it’s my club but for bringing a bit more life/hope to the team/fans.. let’s hope he’s not all words and no action 
 
COYS
 

Louis Armstrongs version for me, 

Back to the 1 up front nonsense from the start, Douglas looks slow & rusty, Drey's new boots musn't be broken in yet, Sven quietest I've seen him if late. 
If Raymond, Benji, Neilson and Bozo aren't up to a full 90 mins, then the line up is understandable, but if not, I've no idea what the changes were about. 

Crying out for a pacy winger today, Carey and Smith got into good positions but not got the pace and too often turned back, drey wright also wasted at fullback but think he is struggling a bit and his final ball when he did get in was awful. 
 
need two up top, not back to the one and Clark sitting, thought had moved on from that.
think big neilson could do a trick in midfield, as decent on ball and drove forward at times, better there than defence.
the defence, it’s just crap, wright not a defender caught out at first goal, gave away cheap at second, Douglas not sure past it or still getting up to speed time will tell, the two centre half’s Cameron is just not good enough, sanders might get away with a better partner, but he’s a bit of a bombscare and will leak us goals, so both not the answer. Cameron hopefully punted back in January 
the midfield didn’t impress either smith, holt, sprangler, Clark, too many touches and short with too many passes .
big fortnight for Simo, but he is been left with a shit show, filtering through from the years of dud signings by messrs Davidson, McLean and Levein, and the idiots on the board giving them long contracts.
but at least we are trying to play football after years of turgid shite.

Seems to be becoming clear what players aren't going to make it here. Cameron is done and I'll be amazed if he plays much at all from now on in.
Raymond is undoubtedly ahead of Douglas in the pecking order.
Wright isn't a RB long term.
Sanders would probably be okay in a good team but isn't a poor one.
Sidibeh can't play as a lone striker due to how bad his touch is. So many attacks end with it bouncing off his toe.

From BBC text:
"But Sparrow was standing right between centre-backs Kyle Cameron and Jack Sanders, who just stood and watched Sparrow take it down".
 

There was a question about this at the last fans forum and I think it was said it would be looked into for future events. Has that happened? You'd think it would be fairly easy to broadcast through Saints TV or even just YouTube. I'm trying to think of some reason the club might reasonably be against doing it but can't really think of anything. Everything that gets said ends up being discussed online anyway, so it's not as if any of it's private.

It really is about time the club started to record these.
So that supporters who don't happen to be local, or can't attend on the night, get a chance to watch and listen.
The way they're conducted at the moment, they have a secrecy about them.
There's no excuse in this day and age, to at the very least publish them afterwards.
It's also not difficult to set up a system where supporters from anywhere in the world can join by Zoom, or something similar, when it's actually happening.

Calling it - I think Sanders will be our solid, but unremarkable CB for the next 5 years, getting better each year, but people will still complain about him every game

Yeah, I just wonder whether this season, due to all the change we've had, it's better to just find a system and stick to it. It'll work against some teams and not against others, but it's better that what we had before. The system can be improved by new players in January.
After that we can look at mixing it up, but let's get good at ONE thing first before we start developing others.

Plenty times in the last few years I've come away from McDiarmid really frustrated. But despite the defeat today which was dissapointing, I feel I'm being entertained and the players are really putting a lot of effort in.
2 goals are poor but I see huge progress in a month. One question I do have is why the hell has Sven had so little gametime until now?
Passing about by centre halves does make me nervous but more because I'm not used to it. Patient build up will get us more points than the goofball we've employed for too long.
On a side note, Simo made an effort to go over and speak with enthusiasm to the 2 mascots. Never saw Levein do this once. Doesn't impact the performance on the pitch but as a fan I love to see the kids experience be made that bit more special. Top man.

Just posted something similar on P&B. In fact, to save me time, I'll copy and paste it.
"I genuinely never get the dislike of Griffin as a co commentator.
I suppose it's all a personal opinion, but I've always thought he was really good and explains a lot of what's going on that the non pros can't.
I think it's far better to have a player co commentating, rather than the "two mates in the pub giving their opinion" style, that you often get without a professional."

Thank you Danny Griffin - "Drey isn't a right back, he's a right winger, but he's done great filling in there". 
I know Mr Griffin can sometimes be regarded as an eejit, but,on this occasion, 👍

https://tv.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/videos/140005230
 
Interview (Free view) with Fran Smith on Saints TV today. 

https://tv.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/videos/140005230
 
Interview (Free view) with Fran Smith on Saints TV today. 

This club would have fallen to pieces in the last couple of seasons if Bev wasn't there.

She is a legend Bev, our club is lucky to have her.

Did notice Simo gently manhandling Kirk back to his seat in the dugout at one point though.....  

I can believe that . Listened to "Sacked in the morning" and Levein is a fukin dickhead.

I agree entirely Graeme.
That's exactly what I thought when I saw the interview. How he reminded me of Levein.
I suppose if he plays well, that's not important, but you do get the impression that he's hardly exploding with excitement at being here.
I know, I know, why should he be? But maybe just a little positivity, even if it is faked.
Maybe it's just his demeanour. Like I say, if he does well, who cares?

Didn't miss much tbh, I may be being harsh - but has Levein like charisma. Maybe not helped by the questions being somewhat..... Loaded "welcome to St Johnstone, just how thrilled are you to be here?" 😅 No way he's not going to be "thrilled" to be at Saints is there🤷‍♂️