Indicator

Players make mistakes, thats what happens. Usually how most goals are scored. Problem is if you are not scoring at the other end then those mistakes ultimately have bigger consequences.
Just like refereeing mistakes, if we are scoring goals then you can absorb those as part of the game.
 

Never mind, when we next score it will be highlighted in the news - UK wide.

4-1 win for the Swifts with goals from Dayle Robertson,  Chris Dodd, Paul Simpson & Shaun Struthers in a match we controlled from the start and could have had double figures had we taken our chances.

The problem Callum Davidson faces is that when you start weighing it up, there are so many facets of his management that you can pour scrutiny on, whereas the defence is limited to past achievements that don't really provide much source for optimism in our current situation. 
He turned it round last season - by luck or design - with the introduction of a couple of new players into his system but the big difference was that despite not getting results, all the indicators pointed to a change of form. Basically we created a lot and gave little away. 
That brings us to the first aspect of his management, tactics:
The system he developed last season was good and became even better when you added the predatory instincts of Melamed and everything that Rooney offered. Wide diagonals were effective with the aerial prowess of the latter and Tanser, McCann would snap in and win the balls off those contacts. Wotherspoon understood and thrived in the inside forward position behind a main striker. Kerr advanced up the field to give the extra man you need when pressing in games but operating with a back three. 
It wasn't perfect - we didn't score enough goals - but it worked. It looked a system that the manager had developed to suit his squad, which is always encouraging, and he received plaudits for his ability as a coach. 
It was understandable that he wouldn't change much going into this season in that sense but as the team changed, so did the results. We no longer had the ability to win the first or second contact on the diagonals, nobody to pick up the ball in the pockets of space in attacking midfield and nobody to step out from defence. Yet he has persevered with the same system for now four months with no upturn in form, results or performances. Quite the opposite and it's drained the belief and confidence from the squad of players it is his job to manage. 
At some point (in my opinion about a month ago) he had to realise this wasn't working and try something different. I think the players would have relished it as much as the fans. It might not have worked straight away but it would have shown an acknowledgement and willingness to rectify a worsening situation. 
We now don't know if he can come up with something different tactically when assessing where to go from here. 
The morale of the players looks at rock bottom and that's part of his remit, to manage a group of individuals and the unit. He said yesterday that they hadn't done what he asked of them in the first 40 minutes. The problem with that is that we were so well-drilled last season and the system has hardly changed. So why aren't they doing what he says? It's hard to believe they don't understand what is being asked of them given where we were previously. Have they stopped playing for him? The reaction to going a goal behind in the defence of your trophy was as limp as it could be.
Is the bigger picture that he can't inspire players in the way some of his predecessors could? Saints have always lost their better players to clubs with greater resources but have largely avoided seeing the sort of defection witnessed with Scott Tanser's switch to St Mirren. The list of players not interested in signing a new contract under the manager is far longer than the list of those that are. 
Maybe that's purely financial and you can't judge him overly on that but you can on his business, or lack of, in the transfer market and his failure to evolve the squad he inherited. 
There is a defence, the uncertainty of the pandemic, the timing of his own arrival and most certainly the timing of the August departures of Kerr and McCann. But there is also a pretty damning case for the prosecution:
Despite the success of the team last season, at just 0.47 goals per game, Saints recorded the lowest goals per game at home of ANY club in ANY division in the HISTORY of the Scottish league... AND we lost Guy Melamed. Yet this summer the manager made no proven additions to his striking options that he was clearly going to be happy with. How did he think that was going to work out? 
Tanser was replaced with a young loanee with no experience and the potential sale of Kerr was prepared for in the same manner. Loans have been the order of the day until this month, when it's potentially too late in any case. 
The advantages of Saints making a change now are you hope it lifts the players, we see something different tactically to surprise the opposition and you have a few days left to recruit some reinforcements with a lot of scouting having been done on potential players by others at the club. 
Sad to say but what are the potential disadvantages? I think when you get to the stage where you ask yourself if it can get any worse, you probably already know the answer to both that and whether the manager should remain in his role... 

I thought that was Bryson? He’s out for 8 weeks.

With the targeted players whose contracts are expiring I think this is what we would do in a "normal" season where we're sitting comfortably mid-table at this stage.
Problems with that approach this season are:
- We desperately need the players *now*, and everyone we're trying to negotiate with knows that.
- Why would players want to sign a PCA with a club that could be relegated by the time they actually join us?
- Why would a club sitting just above us in the table want to help us strengthen?
- Why would any club accept the first (or even second or third) bid from us when they know we're desperate and may well keep offering more?
Add this all together and you're left with the very real possibility of us hitting the panic button at the end of the window and spending well over the odds on players who are probably no better (and possibly worse) than what we already have.

Now that is ambition.
 
Identify a striker that is on red hot form. Make him a target. Offer him a long term deal. Offer him good money. Aim to improve you squad and keep your fans happy. Stay in the Premier league.
 
Well done to Dundee United for building on their double cup success and capitalising on their international exposure after travelling to Galatasaray and earning a draw against one of the big names in European football….. oh wait!! That wasn’t Dundee United who did that was it.
 
 

TFOD been linked with a pre contract deal for Siegrist at Utd. If they get him that will kill their interest in Zander IMHO

This is what Scott Boyd's role is now. There will be a budget and i would be surprised if Brown has any dealings in this now

Shaw didn't pick Motherwell though!Saints were outbid in terms of loan fee
We also put in an excellent offer for him

He's also not able to play a full 90  (has he done so since he came here) - doesnt have the legs any more. So if he does play chances are hes off the bench or else going to need subbed around 60-70 min mark. I want the guy to do well and hope he does but he's done nothing to prove it and God knows why we gave him a deal just now when another 6 months loan would have allowed us to firm up an opinion a bit more before gambling a hefty chunk of cash on another 2 years.

We couldn’t afford him.

Looking ominous for Saints, reminds me of when Utd went down. We sold GMS, Armstrong, Shifty, in a quick succession this was compounded by letting go: Fojut, Gardyne, Erskine players who might not be the same class as the A list, but still seasoned top flight performers.  Similarly losing Kane an Spoony has been a huge blow, at the worst moment.  All is not lost, it’s only half time and if anyone deserves a shot at correcting this it’s CD.  Couple of decent signings in Jan and this team can get back to the well drilled performances the coaches instilled so effectively last season.   
 
I think the winter break arrived at the right moment for Saints (and United!).
 
so let’s raise a glass (half full) and enjoy New Year! All the best my WAP friends, I hope you and yours are blessed in the coming year! Xxx

Re JK and AM. It was the manner of their departure that rankled with me. As you say it was always going to happen at some point so the lack of vision, forward planning and foresight is what I find difficult to understand.
We came out of a fantastically successful season after winning two major trophies and, presumably, in a far better financial position than many clubs in the division.
At this point in time it appears we have failed to take advantage of a very positive situation.
 

No covid is on holiday until Boxing Day yah dafty.
It’s 500 on Boxing Day not today.
fill the stands today we are Perth ya bass

Apologies Sergei missed the '.....' - will have to do better.

Rangers were not relegated in 2012. They were liquidated, just like Third Lanark and Gretna.
The current version was a work of fiction conjured up to ensure the continuation of the OF franchise.                                                            [The SFA's Top Secret 5-way agreement.]
In short - a licence to shaft the fans of all other clubs.

I am fully aware of what happened in 2012 which is why I put 'relegation' and not just relegation. In their minds and their sycophants they were relegated. Everyone else knows they died.

Rangers were not relegated in 2012. They were liquidated, just like Third Lanark and Gretna.
The current version was a work of fiction conjured up to ensure the continuation of the OF franchise.                                                            [The SFA's Top Secret 5-way agreement.]
In short - a licence to shaft the fans of all other clubs.

Re JK and AM. It was the manner of their departure that rankled with me. As you say it was always going to happen at some point so the lack of vision, forward planning and foresight is what I find difficult to understand.
We came out of a fantastically successful season after winning two major trophies and, presumably, in a far better financial position than many clubs in the division.
At this point in time it appears we have failed to take advantage of a very positive situation.
 

Re JK and AM. It was the manner of their departure that rankled with me. As you say it was always going to happen at some point so the lack of vision, forward planning and foresight is what I find difficult to understand.
We came out of a fantastically successful season after winning two major trophies and, presumably, in a far better financial position than many clubs in the division.
At this point in time it appears we have failed to take advantage of a very positive situation.
 

Re JK and AM. It was the manner of their departure that rankled with me. As you say it was always going to happen at some point so the lack of vision, forward planning and foresight is what I find difficult to understand.
We came out of a fantastically successful season after winning two major trophies and, presumably, in a far better financial position than many clubs in the division.
At this point in time it appears we have failed to take advantage of a very positive situation.
 

Depressingly so.
Becoming a recurring theme. (Kerr & McCann).
Let's see what happens January window.
If still bottom, any decent signing would surely come in with a release clause covering possible relegation.

Scoring regularly including last Friday. We lost a trick there. Amateurish.

His agent ****ed it for him here, and presumably would do so again if the move resurfaced.
By all accounts promised Melamed the world then couldn't deliver.