SaintJet

2 hours ago, blueheaven said:

It's more the fact that you said you wouldn't keep any of them that I was questioning. I think Brown would potentially stay, unless he fancies heading back to England. A lot probably depends on whether the new manager wants to play him. But I'm not sure he'd walk away from Saints and get a better deal elsewhere?

FWIW I'd be offering contracts to Brown, Hallberg, Spoony and probably Kane (dependant on injury situation). Possibly also Parish if he's still combining coaching with being a back-up GK. I'd let Gilmour, Murphy, O'Halloran and Davidson go. I'd also be looking to off-load Gallacher, Bair, Crawford and Ballantyne if possible, and maybe also Carey.

I'd also like to see us offer extensions to Phillips and Wright.

 

Exactly as I see it. We would then need to start introducing some younger players and get them familiar with the shape of the team and how we are going to play.

Just keeping this thread ticking over becasue it needs our attention.

If Steve Mclean wants to have the job full time he really has to make his mark early on. He has to show relevant changes to illustrate our type of play or how he wants us to play. If he trots out the same formation and the same tacticts we'll know all too soon that he isn't the man for the job. The problem is of course we don't have time to procrastinate. If we lose on Saturday we need a new manager in place for the resumption of the relegation battle. Will that happen - I don't know.

I am hoping and praying that behind the scenes the board are actively pursuing possibilities. 

53 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

This would have been a huge game regardless of the managerial change, but it takes on an extra bit of interest now with it being MacLean's first game in charge. Are people expecting Macca to make sweeping changes, or stick with a similar line-up to Davidson's?

I'd probably go 4-4-2 and something like:

__________Matthews

Brown Mitchell Gordon Montgomery

Wright Phillips MacPherson Spoony

_________May Rudden

Possibly summing up just what a mess our squad is in at the moment, we have loads of players and several out on loan because they couldn't get in the team, and yet we seem to have hardly any attacking options.

One disappointing thing about this game for me: I really felt the club should have done a reduced ticket price to get a bumper crowd in and give Hibs a reciprocal deal to the one they've given Saints twice of late. Feels a bit crappy that Saints have done nothing. Whoever takes over the club next, I really hope they have a few more creative ideas for attracting and motivating both new and existing fans.

I think we might see McGowan in midfield and Murphy out wide.

Agree it would have been nice to see using some inspiration on the marketing front -we could have sold out McD if someone was doing their job.

I can see goals in this game and emotions swinging in different directions.

8 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

Hughes was interviewed by Saints after Tommy left. He spoke about it on another podcast a couple of years ago. At the time he praised Saints for their handling of his application and actually talking to him. I get the impression he applies for a lot of jobs.

To be honest, if we're looking for a short-term fix purely to keep us up and nothing else, I think we could do worse. But I'd prefer us to do better. 😁

Completley agree. Something tells me he would be a good fit for Saints. 

I listened to the BBC Scotland podcast around the Saints managerial situation and it was interesting to hear young Jaimie McCart singing the praises of Callum and Steve McLean. By all accounts he viewed McLean highly telling us that he was great coach and a real leader behind the scenes. This is good to hear.

I hope somoene asks and has it confirmed tonight that we are actively looking for a new manager and not sticking with McLean.

It was inevatible that there would be a change after such a pitiful run. It's a shame it has eneded like this but when the fans turn on the manager there is rarely any going back. I've backed Calum to the hilt but the performaces were awful and there was an air of desperation by continually swapping players in and out of the team hoping for the best.

I seriously hope that we are interviewing for a new manager! This wasn't clear in the statement from the club and putting McLean in charge is madness! I think he was part of the problem. 

Not sure how to stress the magnitude of this game! In plain langauge we can't afford to lose here. 

Can't believe we are at this juncture of the season where if results go the wrong way we could be in serious trouble.

Not sure what team is going out this week it will probably be another mix and match. If we lose I can't see Davidson surving another week.

There was an inevatability about the result; we could all see it coming.

That was as pathetic a performance as I've seen from Saints in a long line of rubbish performances.

Worrying times.

I'm not sure firing Davidson would be helpful at this juncture - Unless they have someone lined up to take over but we need to change something in a hurry.

If we do manage to stay up I think it's time up for him and I'm pretty sure the hierarchy know this.

Thanks to BH for changing the date to April. Im often accused of living in the past.

Huge game for Saints this week. Ross head here full of battling spirit and know that they are battling for their Premier league survival.

We played well last week despite down to ten men for most of the match so we need to show that quality in his match and take our chances when they come.

Win Saturday and we really can breathe easier. Mitchell in for Conso.

A Saints win by 2 clear goals.

It was a sickener to see Conso getting a red so early; he's becoming a liability.

Despite the set back I thought we played really well and should have got something from the game. The chances Halberg missed near the end were tantalising.

I though Liam Gordon looked much more like his old self and Spoony lends a calm industry to midfield that we have been missing. I hope that's him back to starting each week.

Daniel Philips again looked excellent and bossed the play when we needed him - he put in a great shift.

Shinnie is a complete bawbag! He was noising up all our lads and he was instrumental in the red card so early on. I knew he was going to get a red because he was reckless and played like a spoiled child near the end. Freak him and he'll get his soon enough.

I was agrieved at the loss early in the season; we were a bit unlucky and the vultures were circling.

I've forgot what a win at McD is. Let's hope it's this week.

I'm bored with the Davidon bashing so I'll stick to the game thread.

In spite of an awful first half performance we rallied and might have grabbed all three points. Whichever way you slice it that was a pivitol point earned on Saturday and we should be able to breathe a little easier.

I thought Rudden would start but I can understand Bair getting the nod in that he's bided his time. Rudden looked sharp and maybe there is a future for him in Perth. Good to see Spoony back but I always worry for our veterain players on these awful pitches.

3 hours ago, Aitchy said:

I would love to be able to come on here and be upbeat and positive about a game, but with Callum Davidson as our manager I am really struggling to muster up any enthusiasm in regards to watching Saints under him.

I was at Tynecastle a few weeks ago and whilst a few pints before the game provided an element of misplaced optimism, that was briefly swept away when the game started. Its the same every week, bizarre team selections, a horrible, rigid shape. We play ok in patches, but inevitable fall behind and are left chasing a game. 

I really hope we can out tomorrow and play attacking football and take the game to a Killie side low in confidence, but no doubt it will be the same cautious football similar to what was displayed against Aberdeen at Pittodrie earlier in the season. I would start Rudden, he has looked like he could offer something in his brief appearances in the past few games.

 

We have a real good chance picking up the points at Killie but we must match there workrate and take our chances. Del will have them fired up and is a good tactician but we should have enough to see them off.

1 hour ago, blueheaven said:

Pure speculation from me but I tend to suspect Guy Melamed should perhaps be on that list too.

And there in lies the problem. Speculation!

From the press reports around his departure Melamed was wanting too much dough for us to entertain.

1 hour ago, blueheaven said:

Be fair and at least read what the guy's saying. He's not making the point that Eetu's a good player, he's making the point that the club's treatment of him has been poor.

Be Fair!!!

He might not make the point in this particular post but he's been saying it for ages.

I'm sick of this conspiracy theory at every turn. 

53 minutes ago, rik2304 said:

 There huge problems with the club at the moment. On and off the field and they need to be highlighted to as many fans as possible because they won't find out about it otherwise as any local journalists are burying their heads in the sand.

 

Why is that? What journalist worth their salt wouldn't  try to uncover a story? What a load of nonesense!

14 hours ago, RandomGuy said:

He got told when he signed he'd be played off a flank beside a central striker, as thats how he played in Finland. 

He then played 200 minutes none of them in the role he was promised, got chucked up front alone v Rangers and then slaughtered by his manager randomly blaming him for a goal we conceded, and was completely dumped out the squad.

He then get punted on loan, and, at 22 and having moved country to play for us, was completely ignored to the point hes been away on loan for 12 months and the manager has never contacted him once.

You can argue about his ability if you want but that, especially just ignoring him once he was loaned out, is absolutely abysmal from the club and manager and shouldnt just be brushed away as "one of those things".

Honestly Random you need to stop. You have a hard on for battering Davidon at every turn. Vertain is proffesional football player- moving around the country, Europe and even the world is all part of that gig. If the boy was as good as you presume he wouldn't have been let go.

Move on and start getting back to moaning about the colour of Calum Davidson's shoes for f sake!

I think we need to move on from Vertainen. There was a gulf in the realationship between the coach and the player that was never going to be healed. It happens and we won't be the first or last to part with a player becasue of relationships.

If the lad goes on to play in the Scottish Prem with another team and bangs in a hatful of goals I might be convinced. At the moment I'm not but good luck to him.

We have not a bad record at Tynecastle playing Hearts in recent years.

On the back of a few stabilising results and a fighting a draw, dare we think we could get the points here and make a real push for top six?

Hearts have been a decent outfit this year and have lots of talent all over the pitch so we'll need another switched on performance to bring something back from Edinburgh.

Sacrey Carey will be brought in to spell Philip whist he sits out his ban. I'd like to see the big strikers get a cahnce up front but it's probably too much of a leap to see them in before May and Clark.

35 minutes ago, pezza70 said:

So is McGowan fit yet, as I thought he offered us a bit when he was in the team before his injury, surely Spoony is straight back in as the replacement for Phillips even though it’s not a like for like, but he may offer us a bit more playing off May and Clark

McGowan wasn't even on the bench on Saturday so I don't see him being available.

More likely he'll go with Scarey Carey.

At the end of the day that was good point and a decent second half performance. I though the first half both teams were dreadful but St.Mirren started to look dangerous towards the end of the first 45. I worry a wee bit about our attacking intentions. We play braw football knock it about nice but penetration is haphazard. Maybe the pitch has a lot to do with the home performances? If I was the SFA I'd fine Saints for the disgrace that pitch is in!

The double substitution turned out to be inspired. The two big lads got stuck in and gave St.Mirren plenty to think about and they have a huge height advantage when it comes to squaring up against opposing players. It was a shame Rudden spoiled his start by losing his marker for the Hibs goal. When we have our backs to the wall you see the value of a player like Consodine who marshelled the backline well. Liam is still a long way off his usual reliable self.

I knew right away Philips was going. It wasn't a bad tackle, it wasn't even a tackle. The opposition player hurt himself sliding in but sadly the game has changed now with VAR and more importantly the incompetance of these using it.

I'd be surprised if the Red got recinded. You can't have two decisions being changed by these who know it all.

3 minutes ago, Lt. Col Kojak Slaphead II said:

Unsure where you get your rumours....  but I can tell you that is 100% complete nonsense.

Good to hear Lt. Col

1 hour ago, Aitchy said:

Anyone else really struggle to get motivated for games at McDiarmid these days?

Fancy a refreshment before the game? Then come along to the Muirton Suite and queue for 30 minutes to be given a pint of flat lager.

Fancy a nice macaroni pie or another speciality pie? Why not queue for another 30 minutes only to be told that there is none left.

Fancy watching some dire football? Then why not watch Callum Davidson exciting brand of attacking football at our home stadium that has seen us win 13 homes games out of 50 and scored the grand total of zero goals in 22 of these games.

 

All good points Aitchy but it's the football fan in us that keeps us coming back.

I would love to see an exciting performance and us hopefully go in two up at half time. 

I've been saying it for the longest time - we are overdue.