soulfulsaint

luv u saints 4 ever xxx

You would have thought it would have been brought up in the media somewhere by now.

What? One of the old firm in a final and you think the media would focus on the other team. Take two tablets and lie down for an hour.

An increasing conspiracy theory says that Gretna don't want to go up, that they accept the money has run out and the motivation is fading. No crowd, no SPL stadium, daft ground-sharing arrangements, chairmen ill, family uncommitted, youth teams disappearing. I don't quite buy the theory myself, because Irons, Alexander and the players still have professional ambitions. But the more they stutter the more questions will be asked. And the more they stutter the better it suits Saints. So roll on the conspiracy theory. Who thinks that Rowan Alexander shot JFK?

Was Dennis "The Lawman" Law not another one we turned away as a kid?

The one that's definitely true according to the club minutes is that we knocked back a young homesick Scot form Stirling who was based down in Leeds. Whatever happened to Billy Bremner?

If he goes, X Saint will become Ex Saint.

Worse still if he marries Stuart Malcolm's mum will he become Malcolm X.

was i dreaming or was there a wee rumour floating around a few years ago once linking us with the Russian Alexander Mostovoi?

To be fair to Radford I played a role in that one .OC told me that we had been offered an established East European player, according to the agent, the league and former teams mentioned Mostovoi was a potential candidate but OC never confirmed, and the deal never happened.

But Radford did the background work, got his homework in early, and we all briefly fanatasised. Owen saw the posts and laughed but he did admit there was a shred of truth in the rumour although always accepted that Saints were an outside bet. He couldn't lace Sergei's boots anyway.

There was another dimension to the Frankie Vercauteren story

"Born in Brussels, Frank Vercauteren spent his career as a left-sided midfielder who played 368 matches in 12 seasons for RSC Anderlecht, scoring 92 goals and winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1976 and 1978, and the UEFA Cup in 1983. He won Belgium's Player of the Year award in 1983, and also played for FC Nantes Atlantique and RWD Molenbeek, where he ended his career in 1993."

When he was at Nantes he met and befriended Mo Johnson who recommended Scotland to him. It was through Johnson's old agent Bill McMurdo that he was touted as having signed for Saints. Knowing that lot I'm surprised he didn't show up an hour later in Dundee.

Here's a thought - could the current Saints team beat a select team of former Saintees. All opposition players have to be still playing in Scottish football so e.g. Hartley, Main etc.

Radford over to you to pick the best team of ex-Saintees available and then let argument commence.

This thread is designed to wind me up. O'Neil did get into the Scotland squad under Craig Brown just after he left Saints for Hibs, Callum Davidson was capped just after he left Saints for Blackburn. Jason didn't get a game in the World Cup and now that Felipe is on loan to us he seems to have been dropped by Portugal's under 21s. Its a conspiracy.

The only enlightened nation in the world is Algeria they capped Rachid when he was a Saintee, and even then the match ended early after a riot.

Played with and against Drew Melly and Jim Blyth at high school and a bit later but was unaware that Drew played at that sort of level.

Got homesick and returned from Brum back to Perthshire Juniors trialed by Dundee United at time Walter Smith was playing. Drew now lives in Fife.

There was a guy called Hugh Kellie who was signed from Jeanfield Swifts by Blackpool who went on to play 450 plus games in their glory days (50's and 60's). Think he was also captain for a while. don't know if he was born locally though

The legend that is Hughie Kelly. He featured in the FA Cup final in what is now known as the Mathews final. Played for Jeanfiled Swifts and is named in the roll of honour at the club door. According to my Uncle Willie he was actually was better on the day than Stanley Mathews. According to Seasiders fans he came from Lanarkshire and was stationed near Perth so played for Swifts.

Sandy McLaren the Saints goalie went to Leicester City. I think Jim Blyth's dad Jock Blyth may have gone senior too.

in the 60s Drew Melly went to Aston Villa and Dundee United but didn't last - he was a good schoolboy prospect. Billy Elder to Rangers.

Here's one to cheer you up. Audience figures have arrived at broadcasters for recent football matches.

St Johnstones' Cup match against Hibs averaged 502,000 viewers in Scotland. That's 7% above the viewing figures for the rest of the UK.

But perhaps more tellingly, Saints attracted many more viewers than the England v Spain friendly. Only 425,000 Scots watched England lose.

So there is clearly more interest in Paul Sheerin than Frank Lampard and 7% more Scots prefer Kevin James to Fiona Bruce. As for Ray Mear's Wild Food on BBC 2? It seems the punters were more inerested in Jason Scotland's goal.

Next up, Saints travel to Motherwell for more TV Heaven. Altogether now- 'Holby City, Holby City' can we play you every week?

We can all agree that the last week has been one of the most exciting in recent Saints' history. A crucial win against Gretna, a defeat in Edinburgh against Hibs where we came out with great credit, and a phenomenal away win in the cup at Falkirk.

Numerous players deserve credit. But who was the player who contributed the most over 300 plus minutes of gripping football. Who was St Johnstone's Seven Day Wonder?

One factor that makes Gretna a different kettle of fish to many small clubs spending beyond their means is that their owner isn't actually an established fan of the club.

Brookes Mileson has had a stake in many clubs over the years, including Scarborough and Carlisle, and not always to the club's benefit.

That makes it hard to avoid thinking that perhaps he's a rich man moving from one plything to another. IF that's the case, in the end his input won't bring long term benefit to Gretna, or football in general.

He was rumoured at one stage to be sniffing round York City. Despite City's continuing non-league status, I for one am glad his overtures were rejected.

A good point well made I hope Emanual Panther is still sniffing around York City. First black player to captain a Scotland team and you wouldn't want a punch in the kisser from his dad.

Usual arrogance! One hand they say it should be a hard game then the next its Hampden here we come and such like.

Move the game to Hampden they've never beaten us there.

signed - good luck on this one - not every saint has behaved like a saint.

Your comments on Gretna's contribution to Scottish Football please?

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/columnists/sport/stuartcosgrove/

Sometimes in life, itÂ’s refreshing to be biased. At least, it prevents you rupturing yourself, on the barbed-wire fence, of balance.

This week, I feel a severe dose of bias coming on, having spent an enjoyable weekend watching St Johnstone dismantle the mediaÂ’s favourite fairy-tale team, Gretna. The match breathed new life into the First Division, and had everything a fan could wish for - three great goals, a thrilling finale, and mass-brawl in the technical area.

When are EUFA going to wise-up, and insist on more battles near the dug-out? They are always the sign of a great game or proof of vengeance yet to come.

St Johnstone dominated the match and if Gretna had taken a point, it would have been a travesty of justice. Mind you thatÂ’s GretnaÂ’s specialist subject.

Football needs surprises and fresh blood. Good luck to the little-guy if they can upset the order of things. But since when did buying success and carving attention become a new-romantic phenomenon? It what the old firm have always done

For three years now, I have raged in the corner, as the media air-kissed GretnaÂ’s every move. TV has been particularly repulsive, acting like pubescent cheer-leaders in news items, documentaries and fawning match-coverage.

I suppose there’s logic there - the media trades in stories, and whatever else they are, Gretna are ‘a good story’.

But why has the media failed in its other duty – to report the deep feelings of resentment that Gretna’s rise through the divisions has provoked, especially among lower-league fans.

This is a resentment fuelled by much more than jealousy.

On Saturday, a title clash at Perth attracted a crowd of 3,201.Genuine thanks are due to the 52 Gretna fans that travelled to the game, the town cannot be blamed for having a small population, nor should decent local fans be criticised for the bizarre circumstances they find themselves in.

But Gretna could not muster a single song in 90 minutes? Contrast that to the ragged army of Ayr Untied fans who sang themselves hoarse in McDiarmid Park a fortnight before, despite atrocious weather and aggressive stewarding.

I know which club deserves respect in my eyes.

If you strip away the glib allure of money and the personal vanity that surrounds it, Gretna compare miserably with a team like Morton, who have tried to live within their means, in very desperate economic circumstances. Morton can muster a great travelling support, and would bring real value to the SPL. But alas heaven has not gifted them a sugar-daddy.

Brooks Mileson has earned his wealth and is free to finance his dreams. But the consequence of his big-spending is that it unintentionally harms the dreams of others. That is why it is unfair, and that is where the Gretna project is fatally flawed.

By contrast, the St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown has been a canny dreamer. Just for the record, he has supported his local club for longer than any other chairman including Mileson, and has done so during a period of serious illness. So we should not be unduly distracted by that specific sentiment.

Brown argues for sustainable-spending not ‘bling’ transfer fees. He wants a credible wage-structure even if that means part-time football for younger players. It may not be glamorous. But Saints, alone among Scottish clubs, have turned a profit for the vast majority of the last twenty years.

Whatever we do letÂ’s not mistake big gestures for business acumen.

As the cup competitions approach their final stages, we should also remember that romance is everyoneÂ’s entitlement. Hibs have not won the Scottish Cup in over 100 years. St Johnstone have never won it. The league best new-entrants, Inverness, have never been in Europe, and Raith fear they may never return.

Despite the attention heaped on them, GretnaÂ’s story is only romantic if you are emotionally retarded and we should stop confusing money with virtue.

GretnaÂ’s policy of buying league-titles, by lavishing cash on senior professionals, and tempting them with flash cars which are beyond the affordable reach of the competition, is not a tale of romance it is a cash-for-honours scandal. Their progress says more about the corrosive power of money, than it does about small-town success.

So far Gretna have harmed the progress of at least six decent clubs, who might otherwise have won promotion in a fair-market. They are now on the verge of harming the club I support.

We all know that the team with the highest points tally wins – that’s the deal - but don’t ask us to cuddle up to them as well.

I saw the incident unfolding and felt sorry for those excluded from the event. Its not acceptable to see Saints fans turned away from such an important night. I have no power to force a change of mind but think the club should try to find some level of reconciliation.

I met numerous people in the ground, who if they were honest, have also got into trouble whilst following either Saints or Scotland. I could name media personalities, club directors, club staff, players, proud parents and prominent fans from the business community, who when young did things they now regret. But if they love Saints and the club benefits from their passion surely that's what matters.

We cannot afford to demonise any real Saints fan. Yesterday's rogue is frequently tomorrow's die-hard. I think the club should find a way of offering an amnesty.

But verbally attacking people doing a tough job doesn't help either.

If the excluded fans want to get back can they agree a short package of 'community-service' working unpaid for the club in a way that would show remorse and build a more postive relationship with Stewart who is doing a really tough job with precious little thanks?

If South Africa can have a peace and reconcilation agreement surely a few Saints fans can.

The morning after the night before. I reiterate what so many have said - so proud to be a Saints fan. One thing that's has happened over the last few years is we are silencing those that say we are too quiet, not a hot-bed of football etc. Great atmosphere and a heroic effort by the team. Let's hound Gretna all the way.

sounds a decent signing. but remember our last player that played for chelsea now plays for ayr utd

Felipe signed for Millwall on same day as Tom Brighton from Clyde?? But my glass is three-quarters full I'm excited by this signing.

Its a no for me - we've freed him once already - haven't we? I remember buying him a pint in the Dunkeld Road club on the the day he was released with Allan Morgan and Bingo.

The doorman at my work is a Rangers fan - from Dundee. Never walked through the same door so often in one week. Who are you winding up at work?

A great night at Ibrox. To round of the week in style, Paul Sheerin is the guest on Friday night's edition of 'Off the Ball'. Please tune in. BBC Scotland 810MW and 92-95FM.

By the way what's his best goal in a Saint's shirt?

Cheers Stuart