TheYellowBox

In a way, delays to permits might be to saints advantage. On the one hand, we rarely sign overseas players, so less of an issue for us bringing in players than others. On the flip of that, if it is an issue for clubs and delays transfers, as we get closer to the close of the window, clubs down south will be more reluctant to buy players from abroad if they think there is a 4 week wait to play them, (managers can go with a run of 4 weeks lossses) then they may look to Scorland more, which will push demand and prices up, McCann being the obvious big impact for us. A £2m valued player, can quickly become £3m and so on.

A while back I know, but with Jason Scotland, did we not announce the signing and then say it was subject to a work permit? I know govts are slow, but they must be able to get this sorted reasonably quickly. Imagine if one of the EPL clubs had to wait for ages. Guarantee Chelsea wont have to wait a few weeks to play Lukaku.

I think we all probably feel a bit emotionally knackered after last night, but these games are huge. Not really much of a drop in quality from Galatasary I'd expect. I'm sure after Arbroath, this game will start to build in excitement. As others have said, key is to still have the game alive when we come back from Austria. We know we can defend well and we now know we can score in Europe, so going to need all of that o or the two legs. What might help us is the wildcard of Middleton. LASK will likely have seen him vs Motherwell by the time we play, but might not know how he will fit into the set up. Throw the Finnish lad into the mix and we might surprise them (and ourselves) a bit. I doubt they will be able to tell much about us from the Arbroath game as will be a fair few changes I'd assume.

Exactly this. He was a class apart and probably the best player on the pitch. Problem as you say, is they had 3 or 4 of them. That's where we and other scottish clubs need to get to. Holding onto the quality players for as long as possible and only sell when it is too good an offer to refuse or because we want to. I think clubs are getting there now. 5 years ago, Rooney, McCann and Kerr would all probably be away by now. The longer we can keep McCann, the better. Not just because of what he gives us, but what other younger players can learn from him on and off the pitch. Unfortunately, we all know that will be limited to days and weeks now. While Galatasaray were impressive in some of their play, we stood well against most of it and they looked rattled at points. Players will take a lot from that into the LASK games, but in a way they will be a harder opposition. They are a club on the rise and will be also packed with quality all over the pitch. Coupled with probably a smaller crowd at home, will be a tougher ask for the players to rise to it, but if any Saints team in history has shown how to do it, it is this one.

Spot on. Galatasary will have gone home knowing they had to really work for that. I think the way we came back after going a goal down showed this teams character. In a way also, the 2nd goal at the end could be significant. Aside from making the scoreline look better, I think it might just have been a good sign off to the tie from saints and give a little extra confidence. McCann just seems at home at that level. Doesnt look out of place at all. You can see just that little bit extra quality they had when they needed it. Nice little neat and quick moves. However, we have played better teams and they were there for the taking tonight. LASK is a totally different tie in that it will be a bit lower key build up, but I'd expect a team of a similar standard to Galatasaray. The players will have learned a lot from these two games.

3/1 Saints, 11/5 draw and 17/20 Gala Probably fair to be honest

So if there is 500 or so tickets left and folk are still desperate to buy them, then surely it should just be a case of getting through the calls? Maybe come a certain point, the club would be better just asking any remaining fans to come down to McD and que up to get them? Seems that they are working hard, but the volume of folk wanting via phone might time them out from being able to sell them all.

I can help you out here. I've got an u12 season ticket spare. Youngest isn't able to make it and so bought an adult ticket for a single seat at other end of stand so brother can use the spare seat. You could use the u12 season ticket I have spare and your wee one can sit on your knee if that helps?

Frankly, if you go crying to the paper because you couldn't get a ticket, then you can f right off, club doesnt need you. Dont care if you have a back story of being at x or y game (we all have one). 99.9% of folk with tickets for tomorrow will be long term saints fans who could equally cry about not getting a ticket. Dont want anyone to miss out, but if there is that level of demand, then that will always happen.

Quite an incredible response in less than 4 hours. You'd assume the Ormond will sell out in the next couple of hours. The north if c25% sold would only have c 1,400 seats left. Hopefully the team put in a real show and can get some folk back more regularly.

I'm not so sure about that. Seems just about every saints fan is looking to go to this and I know of a good few not really saints fans also looking to go. I actually think we will end up selling this game out. Combination of it being a really well known opponent, essentially a one off knockout cup tie, fans starved of football and also coming in the week where things are lifted. Problem may be about the clubs ability to sell so many tickets on a short space of time. I know it is on line, but will still be a lot of organising by the club behind the scenes. Even if not announced today, Council need to let club know so they can hit the ground running monday. I have a horrible feeling the council will still restrict this and cite the short notice as a problem. Hope I'm wrong though...

Regardless of what happens from here on in, tonight's result will be added to a growing list of achievements for Saints over the last decade or so. To think that they celebrated like they did and were at points playing for time vs little old Saints is quite incredible. Bar the first 20 mins where we looked a bit shakey, thought we felt with them well. If folk were casting an eye over some of our players already, then it could end up being a very profitable scramble for Saints for some of them. McCann looked like he belongs at this level, but again, Kerr, McCart and Gordon were immense. What confidence that will give the players. I dont think it is a stretch to say Galatasary will not exactly be looking forward to the 2nd leg. They know they will be in a game and they will all be very aware of how bad an away record they have.

Nah, Galatasary game aside, assuming the capacity is at least 5-6k, pretty much every fan who wants will get. If say 2,600 season tickets and allowing for away fans, even 1k, that would leave 1,500-2,500 for not ST holders. That will likely be plenty for all games bar the OF.

Just had wee look, definitely seems to be a fair chunk of extra tickets been bought. Middle bit of the east looks nearly full for the top section, with only a few individual seats dotted around. Will certainly seem much fuller overall than it has done for a while. Even just based on the ST's not to mention the pay at the gate/online game by game sales.

Good shout. I suppose Craig might be the experienced head in midfield that we will need. I'd like Davidson in there too, but I suppose he will almost certainly pick up a booking if he plays and you know what so refs are like. I just wonder if he will persevere with Hendry given Kane and May possibly not 100%. Either way, great to have such options. Boys are going to have to put some shift in on Thursday. I think this will be the game(s) where we see McCann move to another level and increase the attention in him.

Still no word on it being shown on a non illegal stream? Would have thought Saints TV could show it? On the game, I'd go with much the same 11 as Saturday. Whole squad will need to be used though as I can imagine the heat will be a factor. I wonder then if MOH might be used as an impact sub with his pace as they tire a bit? Obviously, need to keep it tight. The nightmare would be to loose early as that would end up a long night. If we can stifle them, then their fans might get a bit restless and they start getting too adventurous, which might allow us to hit them on the break. Obviously want a win, but so long as we come away keeping the tie still alive, that would be a result.

I would say it is, but also Hibs's negotiating history. By turning down fairly big bids before, they will have a reputation of playing hardball and when they say they want nearer x, buying clubs will know they are serious. That's where we need to get to in order to get top $ for our players. The rejection (so far) of offers from Rotherham and Hibs will let clubs and agents know we are no pushovers and may mean we get more for in-contract players in the future eg McCann. 5-10 tears ago, we'd never have turned down the kind of money we have for a player in the last 12 months of their contract. Worth nothing with Hibs too, there is a development fee element, so for Doig, there is a base there already that doesnt apply to say Rooney or McCart.

Is that from the club?

Sounds like the european football is starting to capture folks imagination. I had a wee look at the map and it looks like they are now showing available/unavailable seats in the ormond. Only looks like a handful taken up though. Without counting looks maybe 60-70 seats. Would put your total maybe 40-50 shy of 2,500, excluding the padded seats. Any idea how maybe non season ticket holder home fans we usually get for each game?

Just save the money for the group games.

Who says it won't be both..... Big Eeto rocking a red and white striped away kit.

What might be a sway for players now though is that as opposed to historically, the option to come to saints might also give you a winners medal. Of course, players will want the money, but some may accept a fraction less to go to a club where they realistically might win something. Clearly has to be only a small difference in cash though.

If you read into the fact we are even looking at another striker or even 2, you would have to assume that Davidson is maybe of the assumption Hendry might be heading off. Going by last season, he seems to only want 3 senior strikers in the squad. He could of course be wanting extra bodies in in case of a European run, but my gut feel is that he is seeing how well Hendry does pre season and if he isn't right on it, then he might be away. Certainly, Hendry's body language on Saturday didnt look like that of someone absolutely buzzing for a new season, although, I thought he actually had a decent enough game. I'm sure there will be plans too for Central defence. We are a bit light there and if we loose even 1, then need to at least replace him. I know Booth, Rooney and possibly brown can play there, but then you are leaving yourself short on full backs. Could Bates maybe be an option?

The best solution would be to set aside an 'away' end. Games are always better when there is some away fans. I'm sure the rules are about international travel, so if you are a Galatasary fan in Scotland, it is a bit rubbish if you could go and see your team, but are barred. Surely too, from a security perspective it is better to have all 'away' fans together and not dotted around the place in with home support. However, UEFA are a bit inflexible when it comes to these things. They would argue that almost all of the big European clubs will have fans in whatever country they play in. Easier for them to just allow mixing of fans and put the responsibility back onto the home club for selling tickets. Personally, would love 10k Saints fans, bit if we only sold 2k home tickets, then ebooks rather 2k away fans to pack the place out. Gut feel is that we will have restricted capacity, so will be pretty restricted general sale.

Eh no, well certainly what I suggested was if there was loads of folk suddenly pitching up with Turkish names it might just be a flag to the club. That's not racist. It's the same as if Saints are playing Rangers and we got a whole load of ticket requests for the saints end from Larkhall, club would maybe ask a question. I say that as I didnt have a season ticket a few years back and because of a change in circumstances, was able to go to a home game vs Rangers. Lived Glasgow way at the time and got a hell of a grilling when I phoned the ticket office to try and get tickets. I am merely sating that if suddenly loads of Turkish guys phoned up wanting tickets, the club might just be a little suspicious or certainly they should be if we are not allowed Galatasary fans in.