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Scotland was pathetic. He did not look interested and never helped Jackson. As for Jackson, a week back with the Saints coaching staff and he is going backwards already.

While not a fan of Rusti as he is not a football Player but a stopper, solid, hard working the real problem with the central defence is James. He cannot jump, turn or find a player wearing the same shirt as him. How he gets picked is beyond me!!! As said, when Paterson was playing the defence had more composure and helped the team now we do not play like a team but a bunch of strangers. Coyle and the rest of the backroom must take some responsiblity for the style (I exaggerate) of play which has not changed for years.

Scotland should be played behind a front two. I do not want "forwards" back in our penalty area defending, I want them up towards the mid pitch line to give the defence/goalie and option. Jason behind two forwards would get more space and be able to drive at defenders which is what he does best. He is not the most skilful Saint of recent times but at least can excite the fans on occasion. With the likes of McManus, Scrabble (if fit) to provide balls into space to use his pace then he would be a danger to teams. With the present midfield lacking any creativity his work is normally too far from goal. Like all players so far this season, could do better IMO.

Shaggy I agree with you wholeheartedly about the back room staff. They have been the one consistent factor since Sturrock left and they have been immune from the cull of managers. We need to replace Weir/Henderson/Summersgill with new blood and new ideas. If not, we will continue being a poor first division team with a dwindling support. The youths under Campbell play joined up football but the same players getting into the first team squad go backwards. Why? the coaching staff.

While I agree the midfield is dire among the worse I have seen in over 40 years following Saints, I do not quite follow your suggestings. I think, Scrabble and McManus need a number of games to show their worth or otherwise. Sheridan is for this year only unless he is a natural coach where he could be used infrequently next year. We do need a couple of creative, box to box players like O'Neill and Scott in their heyday and some width. Having said that, we need to look at the defence and get some football players not punters so we could use the midfield Sergei style.

Having a friend who is a Saints fan but lives in Carlisle he has been to a number of Gretna matches and we are facing big trouble. They play football on the deck with pace and support. In Deuchar, they have a pacey striker who knows where the target is, Bingham organises and pushes the plays, Tosh can hurt and in a lad called Main, they have the best Scottish uncapped goalkeeper. I will be there, I only hope the Saints players are there as well and not there recent form or else

Having last seen him play against East Fife in the reserve cup and miss a handful of clearcut chances, I would say that he has come under the influence of Saints strikers coach and has lost it. Jackson is the future (hopefully). So no Coyle on bench or pitch unless we only have him available.

In a word NO. We still have no style of play, no imagination from midfield, no pace, no set pieces worthy of the name. The lack of use of the midfield via the old punt, no support for the front players, playing to players skills. We do have everyone back at corners/free kicks so there is no out ball, one player taking everything so slows the play down, central defenders who cannot play football, a poor level of fitness. We still have a strong squad on paper but this is not table football. Gretna could embarass us !!!!

Certainly Baxter would be an improvement on what we have. Mixu has signed him up long term. My point about the youngsters is why have a youth set up and not give a chance to the product. It is not as if the midfield, forwards have been brilliant. They have struggled with all aspects of their game so why not introduce the youngsters. look at Doris - showed more in his bit part appearances than the usual culprit. To improve as a team we need more pace, skill and determination. Can Coyle do that with what we have NO.

I have gone for a few tweaks but I would add a major change has to occur among the management. When Paul Sturrock was new to the job, he had a conversation with Alex Ferguson about players NOT PLAYING the way he wanted them to play. Ferguson's advice was get rid of those players. As a result of the 43 players Saints had on their book only three remained after 2 years. Saints need to change the backroom as we have not shown any progress in terms of fitness, style of play (none), set pieces and teamwork since Sturrock/Blackley left. The lack of pace is continually highlighted, the lack of creativity and the lack of height in the front. This transfer window we need a right back (Baxter, Cowan, Tait - who made the mistake?), midfielder and striker ( Iwould take the two Polish players as we need to break the Scottish negative mentally in the squad). In the summer, central defenders who can play, wingers with pace would be on my shopping list. Between now and then, some of the youngsters MUST get a chance, Doris, Moon, McManus, Jackson

The team for Monday reads Cuthbert Help, Help, Help, Stanic, Help, Help, Help, Help Help, Help Unfortunately Coyle/Weir will keep the same team if at all possible and no one with skill and pace will get a chance. I would go with Cuthbert Stanic, Rusty, Fotheringham, Dyer Doris, McManus, Scotland(if fit) Scrabble, Stevenson, Milne

The posts really sum up our season and a big question mark against the management. We have struggled without a right back all season, the central defence is okay if nobody runs at them, midfield is woefully slow, inept and clueless and up front we have headless chickens. If I was a player in the Saints squad in these positions especially and not being given a chance, I would be looking to leave. I would not blame Dyer, McManus, Scrabble if they choose to join McInespie and Paterson. By Coyle's own admission, McInespie was fit for a few weeks and still did not get a chance to show what he could do when the midfield has been crying out for some pace and width. As for fitness I have brought this up many times and been shot down but it is there for all to see. New signings, players and backroom are needed. When Saints mark 2 visit next saturday I fear the worst.

The lack of pace and support from the midfield has been highlighted in the various forums for at least 5 years and we still have none. The two Polish trialists showed two things Saints lack, a midfield creative player and a finisher. We can only hope Santa brought some cheer in the form of a sugar daddy for Coyle. Throughout this season, Coyle has continued to play the usual culprits in midfield and not tried the squad players. I wanted change but having viewed the reserves no one is playing in a way that says I MUST BE PICKED. Is that because they do not believe they will get a chance no matter how well they play or are they incapable of making a step up into a poor midfield and improve it.

They may be a better "list" but they are not performing any "better." I come back to my opinion, nothing has or will change until the backroom is sorted out. Saints do not develope or improve their players. Until we do that we are an average side in a poor quality league. On Satuday only Cuthbert came from our youth set up. The rest were journeymen pros. Teams like M'boro, Southampton even Hibs and Motherwell have produced exciting, talented players from their youth academies. Saints had a head start but something goes wrong each time the youths appear at the fringe of the first team. We need the youthful, flair and pace to help Sheridan in midfield like Dasovic, O'Neill and Scott helped Kane. We have not had box to box players like O'Neill and Scott and the guile of Kane since. We have become so predictable, one set piece, one route, no width.

Radford, Take off your tinted specs. Every fan has the rght to an opinion. Many on here want Saints to be successful but the common thread is the lack of the players committment, pace and ability. We can disagree on how and who should be playing. It is my opinion, that Baxter's enthusiasm, pace and the ability he showed when he first came into the team are far superior to Mensing. Coyle said Baxter lacked confidence, something that came from the coaching staff. Forsyth was another who went backwards with our coaches instead of becoming another Davidson which is what we thought in the east stand when he first appeared. Fraser appeared to have the ability, to play football at central defence but never got the chance. Yes they are playing in lower leagues but so should a lot of Coyle's signings. Look at the teams which are improving and they are using their younger players and developing them. If we were promoted how many of the journeymen pros could actually sustain us there? How many were first team players at their previous clubs? Yes, Main, Biscuits were not first team players when they arrived BUT they were at an age to improve not in their declining years.

Agree Sheridan is a defensive midfielder, nothing more. However the punt to James in the area is easliy cut out as has anyone ever seen James actually JUMP for a ball. He tends to try and lean into it or hold down his marker. Sheridan has been a good player but his age is showing. He needs McManus, McInespie, Moon etc to come in and give him options rather than Cuthbert. There are better crossers of the ball and using several players during the game to take them would speed up the play and not let the opponents get set. i.e. Sheridan coming 60 yards to take a free kick or corner when Sheerin, if still visible on the pitch, Stanic etc could take it quickly.

Mainstand Why are the comments so predictable? Is it anything to do with the fact that the team for many years now has not played in what could remotely be called a "professional" manner. That the lack of any player being willing to pass the ball to another Saints player in a manner which opens the opponents up, the inablility to support each other by moving off the ball, the total lack of any programmed set pieces. Before you come to the conclusion I expected Saints to walk the league undefeated, I never thought that. I did not think we would be promoted as the players brought in, IMHO, were poor. The players we released Baxter, Fraser, Forsyth being better than Mensing, James, Stanic. The one consistent has been the backroom staff. For Coyle to say that Weir and Henderson are able helpers, beggars belief. We need changes there which will hopefully improve the cohesion of the team. The lack of reserve team football has not helped but neither has the lack of opportunities for the younger players who have the desire, the pace and I believe the ability to improve the team. Maybe Tommy Campbell should be taking the first team? It must be having an adverse effect on those like McManus, Dyer, Moon. What confidence does seeing, week in, week out poor play from players and never getting a chance bring? Players who are unfit, mentally and physically, getting games and you being left out. I asked the question about the young players on the official site from Coyle and his reply did not inspire any hope that he would go beyond the journeyman pro and take a risk which is what we need to do. So yes, the comments are predictable but so are the causes and the solutions.

I would pick my team as they are all FIT. Playing half fit or less players reduce the pace, running off the ball and can seriously damage the player. The way the midfield especially has been bypassed by the defence is either a symptom of the defence having no faith in them or avoiding giving the ball to them as they are unfit. The lack of support to the front players would indicate either a lack of fitness or a lack of ability. You can take your pick but to me the only way to improve is to try the squad players and see if they can bridge that gap and get us playing football. If they cannot, there is no point in them being in the squad.

We can all argue the merits or otherwise of the players, which players we would change given the opportunity but I come back to the one constant in Saints over recent years, we have not had a consistent approach as to how we actually play the game. Managers have come and gone, talking about passing the ball when on the pitch the order of the punt has been the style of play. Positions: Goalkeeper - Cuthbert is as good as it gets at our level for a shot stopper which given the lack of wingers in the game is the main requirement for a goalkeeper. It looks to me that he has bulked up a bit this year and is becoming more dominant although James ignores him like everyone else. Fullbacks - right side is a problem, left side is covered. Central defence - acceptable but not good "football" players. Instead of the pass or cushioned header to our own players, big punts or headers to anywhere. Midfield- lacks leadership, quality playmakers, pace. The question is why McManus, Moon, Scrabble have not been more involved giving the failings every week. Wide- not working as the players there are not "wide " players. Front - flatters to deceive. Something is lacking, not only the quality of ball through to them but the lack of jioned up play between them. How do we solve it? Wages - apparently Hearts players are on a basic

I am going to change the team around due to the performances recently and injuries. I also want to experiment a bit to discover who has or has not a future. Team: Cuthbert Rusti James Anderson Stanic, McManus, Sheridan, Dyer Scotland Coyle/Milne, Dobbie subs: Paston, Scrabble, Hannah, McCann, McInespie. Team plan - no high balls to Stevenson to miss or head to nobody. Play the ball on the deck and support the front players. Get wide, pass and move. Will this happen? No. I think the team will be as Clyde minus maybe Milne. We will still have one route from Cuthbert out. No one getting to the high punt from the rear and James heading the ball powerfully from defence to no one and powderpuff inside their box. My plan for the team to hit the target is to have their pay cheques in envelopes in the goal nets. If they get the ball in they can have their cheque. If they keep hitting the corner flag, the ball boys get the cheque. Performance related pay

Before the transfer window, I would like to see McManus, Dyer, Scrabble, Moon (if over his injuries) get their chance. I do not think they are worse than the two Ryans or unfit Henry. Sheerin is not my favourite and Sheridan will tire. A creative midfielder is undoubtedly needed and I think McManus has an opportunity to take that spot. The system the team uses also needs to be addressed. Scotland is better playing behind a front two. I would experiment with Stanic on the right and Dyer on the left. Everytime I have seen Stanic he looks to play with his right foot. As far as loan players are concerned my opinion is fine as long as they come from down south. I do not want to help the forces from the west. Newcastle have some very good youngsters judging by their team for Weir's testimonial. Maybe ?