Summer transfer window 2024

[Linky]

1 minute ago, Gekko said:

I'm probably wrong, won't be a first. 😁

Happy to debate at any time.

Genuinely intrigued now

[Nat King Goals]

13 minutes ago, Linky said:

I don't disagree that May can offer something. Personally I'd want to keep him. In fact, I would play him as a centre midfielder alongside Sprangler. However, some supporters seem to suggest he's the answer to all our problems. Then after a few games of seeing him playing, they're asking why he's still around.

Have not heard any supporters suggesting May is the answer to all our problems, but glad we can agree where May would be of value in a midfield role.

I reckon May will outlast Levein and then supporters can have their views when May is brought back in from the cold. He certainly will not be our saviour but will help the team.

[Linky]

Craig Gordon about to sign according to his wiki page 

[blueheaven]

16 hours ago, Linky said:

Turns out the player people criticised us signing as nepotism actually turns out to be pretty good. Are we still going to see "bUt if StEvie MaY wAs pLaYing wE'd hAvE sCorEd aNoThEr fivE"?

You're really devaluing your argument by coming out with stuff like this. You keep insisting that people think Stevie May is the answer to all our problems, but I don't think I've seen a single person actually say this. What I have seen people say, completely justifiably, is that May is a better footballer than some of those the manager is choosing to keep around and give game time to. You yourself even seem to agree with this. 

Your judgement of Kirk also seems a bit premature. All we've seen from him so far is a couple of short bursts from the bench against teams from considerably further down the ladder. Personally I still think a son signing for his Dad's team is a difficult move to make and I feel it's a bad idea. That's got nothing to do with how good a player he is or isn't, because I simply haven't seen enough of him in action yet to know.

[Saintdunc]

1 hour ago, Linky said:

Craig Gordon about to sign according to his wiki page 

Played first 45 minutes against Spurs in a pre season friendly recently, conceding one. Replaced by Zander for the second half who conceded 4. 

I see a certain defender we are linked with played the last 15 minutes, conceding an OG in that short time.

Both perhaps still have a future there.

[Linky]

8 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

You're really devaluing your argument by coming out with stuff like this. You keep insisting that people think Stevie May is the answer to all our problems, but I don't think I've seen a single person actually say this. What I have seen people say, completely justifiably, is that May is a better footballer than some of those the manager is choosing to keep around and give game time to. You yourself even seem to agree with this. 

Your judgement of Kirk also seems a bit premature. All we've seen from him so far is a couple of short bursts from the bench against teams from considerably further down the ladder. Personally I still think a son signing for his Dad's team is a difficult move to make and I feel it's a bad idea. That's got nothing to do with how good a player he is or isn't, because I simply haven't seen enough of him in action yet to know.

Not if he’s played as a striker. Would you play May instead of Kimpioka, Sidibeh or Kirk? I think he could be decent as a centre midfielder. 
 

Premature to say he seems “pretty good” and not signed as some sort of dodgy deal? Some people made a judgement that Sidebeh would be a terrible signing before he’d even kicked a ball, I think it’s reasonable to suggest a striker looks “pretty good” after just scoring his first goal

[Widge]

Why are people suggesting May as a central midfielder, a position he’s simply never played that takes years to learn properly. He’d be an absolute disaster in there! This constant need to try and justify Stevie May staying at the club is the real season we are where we are, he did nothing of note last year, he’s not and never going to be the player saints fans hope he’ll be and to be honest it’s time for him to move on. In the same way Wotherspoon and Kane moved on, it’s for the best and some blue tinted glasses doesn’t change that. The fact people now want him playing anywhere except his actual position shows an incredible biased toward him, put it this way if it was a discussion about Nicky Clark, nobody would be making excuses to keep him. 
 

As sad as it’ll be when he leaves, his time at saints is finished and his contributions will never be forgotten. 

[RandomGuy]

47 minutes ago, Linky said:

Not if he’s played as a striker. Would you play May instead of Kimpioka, Sidibeh or Kirk?

I'd play him with them, tbh.

He's not a goalscorer but every time he's player regularly in a front two he's been good/great at helping create chances for them.

[Brian Potter]

1 hour ago, Widge said:

Why are people suggesting May as a central midfielder, a position he’s simply never played that takes years to learn properly. He’d be an absolute disaster in there! This constant need to try and justify Stevie May staying at the club is the real season we are where we are, he did nothing of note last year, he’s not and never going to be the player saints fans hope he’ll be and to be honest it’s time for him to move on. In the same way Wotherspoon and Kane moved on, it’s for the best and some blue tinted glasses doesn’t change that. The fact people now want him playing anywhere except his actual position shows an incredible biased toward him, put it this way if it was a discussion about Nicky Clark, nobody would be making excuses to keep him. 
 

As sad as it’ll be when he leaves, his time at saints is finished and his contributions will never be forgotten. 

It’s very strange.

Part of our problem has been playing players out of position.

May has been finished at this level for a while now. He’ll always be a legend ect… but we need our strikers to carry an actual goal threat. 

 

Edited July 28, 2024 by Brian Potter

[Linky]

3 hours ago, RandomGuy said:

I'd play him with them, tbh.

He's not a goalscorer but every time he's player regularly in a front two he's been good/great at helping create chances for them.

You mean, a front 3 of May, Kimpioka & Sidebeh?

[RandomGuy]

17 minutes ago, Linky said:

You mean, a front 3 of May, Kimpioka & Sidebeh?

If Wright got injured I'd probably prefer that to most alternatives. Could be lopsided with Kimpioka sitting higher on a flank and May working deeper.

But aye, in a starting front 2 it's Sidibeh/Kimpioka as clear first choices, then Clark, the Ikpeazu, then you're at May and Kirk.

[Linky]

26 minutes ago, RandomGuy said:

If Wright got injured I'd probably prefer that to most alternatives. Could be lopsided with Kimpioka sitting higher on a flank and May working deeper.

But aye, in a starting front 2 it's Sidibeh/Kimpioka as clear first choices, then Clark, the Ikpeazu, then you're at May and Kirk.

I think May could play just behind the strikers, but I think he’s actually a decent tackler and would be good centre mid. I’m sure there are other strikers who have moved there in their time.

But, simply as a striker, he’s 6th choice for me

[RandomGuy]

2 hours ago, Linky said:

I think May could play just behind the strikers, but I think he’s actually a decent tackler and would be good centre mid. I’m sure there are other strikers who have moved there in their time.

But, simply as a striker, he’s 6th choice for me

He's soft as shite and hides from 50/50 tackles so him in the middle would be a disaster, IMO.

On the left, or up front in a 2 with a striker who's able to get physical with CBs, is his only options for me.

[Melbourne Saint]

For the first time I don't know who's in the first XL. It keeps changing. I get injuries and stuff, but it already looks like a bad chicken jalfreezi. I want an xi that work together. 

[Linky]

Hearts fans suggesting Gordon needs to be kept on as they need a certain number of “home grown” players in a European squad. The only thing that might sway it is if we’re giving him the chance to be GK coach too, and that’s something he won’t get at hearts.

Still think Jon McLaughlin more likely.

[Cleveland-Saint]

17 hours ago, RandomGuy said:

I'd play him with them, tbh.

He's not a goalscorer but every time he's player regularly in a front two he's been good/great at helping create chances for them.

Last few times he played, I didnt seem him feed much, in fact he still was trying to shoot from any chance and frankly did not look like he'd ever score.

[blueheaven]

22 hours ago, Linky said:

Not if he’s played as a striker. Would you play May instead of Kimpioka, Sidibeh or Kirk? I think he could be decent as a centre midfielder. 
 

Premature to say he seems “pretty good” and not signed as some sort of dodgy deal? Some people made a judgement that Sidebeh would be a terrible signing before he’d even kicked a ball, I think it’s reasonable to suggest a striker looks “pretty good” after just scoring his first goal

I wouldn't use May as the focal point of our attack, but I don't think anyone would. I'd either have him playing off a main striker, as an attacking midfielder, or coming in from the left side of our attack, depending on the formation we're playing.

Maybe Kirk is pretty good. Personally I don't feel we've seen enough of him to really say yet. But your point seemed to be that by coming off the bench and scoring against East Fife it somehow demonstrates that he's better than May, and that nepotism had nothing to do with him signing for us, and I don't think it does either of those things. I hope he turns out to be a good player for us, but I still think signing the assistant manager's son is a bad idea.

 

[blueheaven]

21 hours ago, Widge said:

Why are people suggesting May as a central midfielder, a position he’s simply never played that takes years to learn properly. He’d be an absolute disaster in there! This constant need to try and justify Stevie May staying at the club is the real season we are where we are, he did nothing of note last year, he’s not and never going to be the player saints fans hope he’ll be and to be honest it’s time for him to move on. In the same way Wotherspoon and Kane moved on, it’s for the best and some blue tinted glasses doesn’t change that. The fact people now want him playing anywhere except his actual position shows an incredible biased toward him, put it this way if it was a discussion about Nicky Clark, nobody would be making excuses to keep him. 

The reason we are where we are is holding onto Stevie May, seriously? I think the consecutive run of appointing three dreadful managers might have a bit more to do with it.

Personally I don't think May will ever be the goalscorer he once was, and he shouldn't be played as such. I wouldn't use him as an out-and-out first choice striker and I probably wouldn't even start him in every single game. I wouldn't be using him in central midfield either. But both Davidson and Macca often insisted on playing him up front on his own, in a system that resulted in him spending whole matches miles away from goal with no support. Even in 2014, at his peak, he was never the kind of player who would have thrived in that role.

Just before he left Tommy was putting Hendry up front next to May and we saw how much better he was in a partnership. We saw the same thing when Nicky Clark first arrived and the two of them were allowed to play together.

We also saw at the very end of last season, when he was brought in from the cold, that May was one of the few guys we had who was able to bring a bit of energy and intelligence to our attacking play.

It baffles me that people can't see these things.

[Cagey]

Apparently Celtic offering 15 year old Callan Hammil a 3 year contract.

[Linky]

42 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

I wouldn't use May as the focal point of our attack, but I don't think anyone would. I'd either have him playing off a main striker, as an attacking midfielder, or coming in from the left side of our attack, depending on the formation we're playing.

Maybe Kirk is pretty good. Personally I don't feel we've seen enough of him to really say yet. But your point seemed to be that by coming off the bench and scoring against East Fife it somehow demonstrates that he's better than May, and that nepotism had nothing to do with him signing for us, and I don't think it does either of those things. I hope he turns out to be a good player for us, but I still think signing the assistant manager's son is a bad idea.

 

So, if he’s playing off a main striker, you have to drop Sidebeh or Kimpioka for him. On the left or right, fine, he competes with Carey of Wright for that position.

My point wasn’t “Kirk” is better than May. My point was that there is a certain type of poster who, no matter what the score is, no matter how well we play, will always suggest that Levein should’ve played someone he didn’t, and that’s usually May. They tend to be the same people that, when May does play, say he’s done at this level. Towards the end of last season, people were even saying “why doesn’t he play MacPherson”. 
 

In regards to Kirk, if he wasn’t related, but was from our youth teams people would be raving about him. I too found it a bit odd when he joined. What he has shown so far though seems very positive, and suggests more that his dad convinced him to sign when actually he could’ve had a chance where he was. Certainly Hearts fans are outraged he was allowed to leave.

[Widge]

53 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

The reason we are where we are is holding onto Stevie May, seriously? I think the consecutive run of appointing three dreadful managers might have a bit more to do with it.

 

Ahh yes, because that’s exactly what my post said and the point I was making. I mean take it however you want to suit your argument that Stevie May should remain at the club. 
 

He’s part of the reason we are where we are, you’re right we’ve had poor managerial appointments, yet he’s done very little of more to help any of them do better. He’s arguably fifth choice striker just now and that’s a deserved place based on his contributions last year. It’s all very well and good saying he’s clever and works hard, but as a striker his primary aim is to score goals and he just doesn’t do that any more. Even when he gets a chance he’s powder puff. 
 

Nobody is saying he wasn’t a terrific player and a great servant to the club throughout his career, it’s obvious that he is. But this blue tinted specs approach by the fans is infuriating, how else can a club progress and move on when the fan base want their “favourites” to stay and play every week when they don’t deserve to. It’s every bit as bad as stating the manager has favourites and he gets slaughtered for it every week. Now Stevie May might go elsewhere and prove us wrong, but the evidence over the last 4/5 seasons suggests on average he’s a below average top flight striker and that’s something saints can’t afford to have in the squad on his reported wage packet. 
 

I’ll be sad to see him go, but now’s the right time. 

[Willie Peat]

On 7/28/2024 at 7:55 AM, Linky said:

Craig Gordon about to sign according to his wiki page 

His Wiki page now has him playing for Dunbar United. Obviously a piss-take.

[Linky]

13 minutes ago, Willie Peat said:

His Wiki page now has him playing for Dunbar United. Obviously a piss-take.

Either that or Dunbar United are in for a good season

[blueheaven]

2 hours ago, Linky said:

So, if he’s playing off a main striker, you have to drop Sidebeh or Kimpioka for him. On the left or right, fine, he competes with Carey of Wright for that position.

My point wasn’t “Kirk” is better than May. My point was that there is a certain type of poster who, no matter what the score is, no matter how well we play, will always suggest that Levein should’ve played someone he didn’t, and that’s usually May. They tend to be the same people that, when May does play, say he’s done at this level. Towards the end of last season, people were even saying “why doesn’t he play MacPherson”. 
 

In regards to Kirk, if he wasn’t related, but was from our youth teams people would be raving about him. I too found it a bit odd when he joined. What he has shown so far though seems very positive, and suggests more that his dad convinced him to sign when actually he could’ve had a chance where he was. Certainly Hearts fans are outraged he was allowed to leave.

Personally I probably wouldn't start Kimpioka and Sidibeh together every week. It's worth a try and has its place against certain opponents, but I'm not convinced it's going to work against better teams as the two of them are very similar and neither of them is really going to be the guy who drops further back to cover more ground, link the midfield to the attack or help to win the ball back for us. Plus, Sidibeh still looks like he's going to be knackered after an hour. I don't really see May as a direct replacement for Kimpioka or Sidibeh anyway - I see him as someone who would fill a different role and give us a different way of playing, which we'll need sometimes.

You're always going to get people on forums thinking someone else should have played. It's just the nature of being a football fan. But generally speaking, if we're getting decent results and our trajectory looks like it's going upwards, I'll be content with who a manager's choosing to pick.

I don't get the impression Kirk was in line for much of a chance at Hearts any time soon, but who knows on that one really.

 

[blueheaven]

1 hour ago, Widge said:

Ahh yes, because that’s exactly what my post said and the point I was making. I mean take it however you want to suit your argument that Stevie May should remain at the club. 
 

He’s part of the reason we are where we are, you’re right we’ve had poor managerial appointments, yet he’s done very little of more to help any of them do better. He’s arguably fifth choice striker just now and that’s a deserved place based on his contributions last year. It’s all very well and good saying he’s clever and works hard, but as a striker his primary aim is to score goals and he just doesn’t do that any more. Even when he gets a chance he’s powder puff. 
 

Nobody is saying he wasn’t a terrific player and a great servant to the club throughout his career, it’s obvious that he is. But this blue tinted specs approach by the fans is infuriating, how else can a club progress and move on when the fan base want their “favourites” to stay and play every week when they don’t deserve to. It’s every bit as bad as stating the manager has favourites and he gets slaughtered for it every week. Now Stevie May might go elsewhere and prove us wrong, but the evidence over the last 4/5 seasons suggests on average he’s a below average top flight striker and that’s something saints can’t afford to have in the squad on his reported wage packet. 
 

I’ll be sad to see him go, but now’s the right time. 

Well you did say "This constant need to try and justify Stevie May staying at the club is the real reason we are where we are", so I'm only responding to what you said. But yeah, pretty much all of the players are in some way part of the reason we are where we are. I'm not sure how that burden lies more heavily on Stevie May's shoulders than anyone else's, though.

It feels to me like all the people who come out with the forum cliche of "May's done at this level" are just completely ignoring the fact that he's been used really, really poorly, and that we've seen time and time again that when he's actually used well, he makes a positive difference to the team.