St.Johnstone V St.Mirren - Saturday 14th December

[SaintJet]

After a good showing up in Aberdeen we welcome St.Mirren to Perth on Saturday for what could be a pivitol game in the season. A win could really push us on to a better view from above in the league.

The Buddies have been out of sorts lately but are still a quality outfit and will be dangerous after a late defeat last week.

The holiday shedule is often a testing time for teams and we have a full slate of games where we could make serious progress up the league or find ourselves deep in the mire.

This is going to be a battle of attrition on Saturday and one chance could win it; we have the players to take that chance if we concentrate and work hard.

Same starting line up unless Andre is fit.

 

[RandomGuy]

We need to get back to the 1pt a game average before thinking of anything else, and a win here does that.

Thought we couldve been a couple ahead in the first half v them in Paisley, then they looked levels above us in the 2nd half. Might be a game of two halves again so be all about actually taking advantage of our time of top more this time, and then weathering any storm that comes back at us.

[HOODLUM65]

Believe Gogic is suspended for Fakes.

[R.B.B:- Adz]

3 hours ago, SaintJet said:

After a good showing up in Aberdeen we welcome St.Mirren to Perth on Saturday for what could be a pivitol game in the season. A win could really push us on to a better view from above in the league.

The Buddies have been out of sorts lately but are still a quality outfit and will be dangerous after a late defeat last week.

The holiday shedule is often a testing time for teams and we have a full slate of games where we could make serious progress up the league or find ourselves deep in the mire.

This is going to be a battle of attrition on Saturday and one chance could win it; we have the players to take that chance if we concentrate and work hard.

Same starting line up unless Andre is fit.

 

Sven is out of this one. I’d keep the same team vs Aberdeen but bring in Essel… but expect Simo to go with Neilson.

Edited December 10, 2024 by R.B.B:- Adz

[KinrossSaint]

I would prefer Neilson to start and Essel on as a sub. 
 

Having Sven out is a big loss 

[blueheaven]

Losing Sven's a big blow, which says so much about the importance he now has in the team and the bizarreness of going such a long time without using him. Personally I'd put Neilson in his position as I feel he's done pretty well recently and is probably best suited to that role of protecting the defence.

If Raymond isn't fit yet I'd be happy for Drey to play at left-back again as I thought he had a great game against Aberdeen. Not sure if we're ever going to see Keltjens again but if we are, surely this is the time for it to happen? I still think he'd be really well suited to Simoball as he has that bit of quality and intensity to how he plays and I think he'd comfortably handle the quicker passing we're playing these days.

[R.B.B:- Adz]

13 hours ago, KinrossSaint said:

I would prefer Neilson to start and Essel on as a sub. 
 

Having Sven out is a big loss 

 

2 hours ago, blueheaven said:

Losing Sven's a big blow, which says so much about the importance he now has in the team and the bizarreness of going such a long time without using him. Personally I'd put Neilson in his position as I feel he's done pretty well recently and is probably best suited to that role of protecting the defence.

Can I just ask what it is about Neilson that you would prefer in there?

I just don’t see it. The negatives for me would be:

Lacks aggression

Positioning is often poor

Ponderous in possession

Often opts for a long ball rather than retaining possession

 

I feel like not being any of the above four things are all what has made Sven successful in this position.

Now I don’t think for a minute that Essel is the finished article but I think he has more of the attributes need to just slot in for Sven. 

 

[Gekko]

I don't think there's an easy answer to the Sven problem.

Neither option is perfect, but I'd probably go with Neilson because of his experience.

If memory serves, he also did a good job there at Hampden against Rangers.

I like Essel, but he's still very raw and liable to get carded. A loan in January might do him some good.

It all depends on the fitness of Raymond. If he's back, put Neilson in. If not, Neilson right back and Essel into Sven's place. Although I do think that's a risk.

A change in shape maybe?

In other news, it's great to have SJ starting a match thread again. Good to have you back.

[blueheaven]

52 minutes ago, Gekko said:

I don't think there's an easy answer to the Sven problem.

Neither option is perfect, but I'd probably go with Neilson because of his experience.

If memory serves, he also did a good job there at Hampden against Rangers.

I like Essel, but he's still very raw and liable to get carded. A loan in January might do him some good.

That's basically how I feel too. I don't think there's much in it between Neilson and Essel - both have their pros and cons. But Neilson's seen a lot more game time lately, he's a bit more experienced, and I think his performances have been gradually improving. For me Essel is a bit more unpredictable and more of a risk. I'm not convinced that defensive midfield role will end up being his position anyway, and think it's interesting that when he came on recently he went wide right. I'm hoping he'll be off on loan in the second half of the season to get more regular experience of the Scottish game.

[SaintJet]

4 hours ago, Gekko said:

I don't think there's an easy answer to the Sven problem.

Neither option is perfect, but I'd probably go with Neilson because of his experience.

If memory serves, he also did a good job there at Hampden against Rangers.

I like Essel, but he's still very raw and liable to get carded. A loan in January might do him some good.

It all depends on the fitness of Raymond. If he's back, put Neilson in. If not, Neilson right back and Essel into Sven's place. Although I do think that's a risk.

A change in shape maybe?

In other news, it's great to have SJ starting a match thread again. Good to have you back.

Good to be back guys - Come on you Saints!

[Cagey]

Hopefully Bozo and Andre are fit.

Huge game.Cant afford a gap to open with top six.

These are the games we have to win if we hope to stay up

 

[PoshBrat]

                       Kirk Clark

                          Fran

                Holt Keltjens Smith

Cameron Sanders Nielson Essel

                           Rae

[Don McVicar]

Don’t think there’s any point trying to pick the back 5/6 yet till we know how Andre/Bozo are . 
Think there might be surprise in the starting line up anyway 

[templeofsaints]

1 hour ago, Don McVicar said:

Don’t think there’s any point trying to pick the back 5/6 yet till we know how Andre/Bozo are . 
Think there might be surprise in the starting line up anyway 

Telling there was no sign of either in the video the club put out today from training. Although a nice bit of selective editing could be a wee red herring for the weekend

[dave mc]

I heard at Aberdeen,that André had a broken foot 🤷‍♂️

[Don McVicar]

8 hours ago, dave mc said:

I heard at Aberdeen,that André had a broken foot 🤷‍♂️

Casino rumours 

[Widge]

9 hours ago, dave mc said:

I heard at Aberdeen,that André had a broken foot 🤷‍♂️

No, he had to get stitches in it from Barron's tackle against Rangers. How he avoided a booking for that I'll never know!

[garydavidson]

1 hour ago, Widge said:

No, he had to get stitches in it from Barron's tackle against Rangers. How he avoided a booking for that I'll never know!

I think you more than know the reason he wasn't booked, the badge on the jersey 🤣

[Saintdunc]

https://www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/news/article/turning-the-spotlight-on-the-100th-anniversary-of-the-opening-of-muirton-park

[garydavidson]

"Head coach, Simo Valakari, has revealed that both Bozo Mikulic and Andre Raymond will be available for Saturday’s game."

[Don McVicar]

16 minutes ago, garydavidson said:

"Head coach, Simo Valakari, has revealed that both Bozo Mikulic and Andre Raymond will be available for Saturday’s game."

Bring on the fakes 

[tucker]

Usual back four drey sanders bozo and Raymond with Lewis Neilson into the centre midfield  happy with that 

[R.B.B:- Adz]

1 hour ago, tucker said:

Usual back four drey sanders bozo and Raymond with Lewis Neilson into the centre midfield  happy with that 

Suspect he might mix it up a bit tomorrow. Hopefully catch St.Mirren off guard by going a bit more direct at time. Sidibeh in for Kimpioka perhaps? 

[Steve McQueen]

Get your prediction in!

[Don McVicar]

1 hour ago, R.B.B:- Adz said:

Suspect he might mix it up a bit tomorrow. Hopefully catch St.Mirren off guard by going a bit more direct at time. Sidibeh in for Kimpioka perhaps? 

Four at the back and five forwards Willie Ormond style