The Road Ahead!

[Gekko]

I was going to add this to the "Change required?" thread, but I don't think it fits because I'm not suggesting change.

This is basically a thread on how we feel after each game, and in which direction we're going in general.

A big concern I have, is that Simo will have to start again in the summer, regardless of what division we're in.

We currently have a decent keeper, but he's back down to Wales in a few months time. As we all know, this is a very important area that needs sorted.

I'm sure Valakari and Gus have a few in mind. Also, Gordon Marshall should have plenty of contacts, so hopefully we find ourselves a decent one.

Curtis and Mitchell will be away, Duke as well. Will we hold on to the likes of Balodis, Svedberg and Griffiths? Or cash in if anybody makes an offer?

Clark out of contract, so is Sven at the moment. Will Adama hang around? Kirk probably will, but who knows?

If the worst happens, and we presume Falkirk are going up, we'd likely be in a league that could have a well organised and streetwise Livi, a resurgent Ayr, Dunfermline spending big, Thistle with likely a new boss, Morton, maybe one of Airdrie or Hamilton.

For crying out loud, every week will be a major challenge.

They're also all likely to have a head start on us with regard to squad numbers, what players will be available etc.

That league is as difficult as it gets.

Which brings me back to my mantra, we MUST do everything to stay up. Which makes it more annoying that the club have given Celtic the advantage of all three stands.

It is of course against the odds that we get anything from the game, but we should at least have given ourselves the best chance possible.

If we managed to "fest" a point, that could prove crucial at the end of the season, as well as giving the players, and fans, a bit of a boost before the United game, when a big and noisy turnout from us is essential.

A huge few weeks for the future direction of the club on the way.

[RandomGuy]

Hard to know who stays and who goes as you'd assume many will have relegation clauses of some description that either allow them to leave or make them want to leave, including the manager.

I do think if Valakari stays and the majority of those signed for next season then we could do really well. I'm still not sure he's found the right set up yet but I've a feeling we'll stumble onto it soon when we start being more aggressive.

A "spine" of Mikulic, Balodis, Sprangler, and Holt should be very good in the Championship, as should striking options of Kirk and Sidibeh.

[Widge]

1 hour ago, RandomGuy said:

Hard to know who stays and who goes as you'd assume many will have relegation clauses of some description that either allow them to leave or make them want to leave, including the manager.

I do think if Valakari stays and the majority of those signed for next season then we could do really well. I'm still not sure he's found the right set up yet but I've a feeling we'll stumble onto it soon when we start being more aggressive.

A "spine" of Mikulic, Balodis, Sprangler, and Holt should be very good in the Championship, as should striking options of Kirk and Sidibeh.

I know Sprangler is out of contract, but I think he's the most likely to be offered a new deal and stay. He's played lower league football before, he clearly just wants to play games and he does "get it", I also think he'd feel guilty about us getting relegated and would want to make amends. Who knows, the like of Balodis may attract interest from teams and have a clause, since he is an internationalist and has been playing relatively well. Him and probably Kirk are our two most sellable assets I'd wager right now. 

[PerthSaint01]

I would also add, Josh Rae has and is proving himself to be competent at that level.

In a way… if we’re going to go down, I’d rather it was sooner rather than later so we could start to push Franczak and Steven into the side.

Will be a big turnover again in the summer you’d imagine.

[sane_tee]

2 hours ago, RandomGuy said:

A "spine" of Mikulic, Balodis, Sprangler, and Holt should be very good in the Championship, as should striking options of Kirk and Sidibeh.

Holt has a get-out clause if we get relegated, so I'd imagine he would not feature if we go down. I really hope we hold on to Sprangler. It seems he would stay regardless of the league we're in, but who knows?

[RandomGuy]

44 minutes ago, sane_tee said:

Holt has a get-out clause if we get relegated, so I'd imagine he would not feature if we go down. 

I can't see what top flight club is going to sign a guy who's been relegated two seasons in a row.

[Havana Saint]

Goalkeepers win titles...the focus needs to be on a great keeper signing for next season.

[slf]

Bumpy with potholes and loads of dead ends

[pezza70]

Will be interesting to see what kind of wage structure we will be working with if we go down, I hope we don’t go the journeyman route again at the windows and give some of the younger ones a chance.

Fisher will be a huge loss for us.

[RandomGuy]

Confirmation the play off final games will be 22nd May and 26th May.

Final league fixture either 17th or 18th of May.

If we reach the Scottish Cup Final and finish 11th then the final gets played on the 24th May, and the play off games are 27th and 30th of May.

[Gekko]

Got in this afternoon just after 5, and checked the results. Lovely! It's just not falling our way this year.

So are we done? Or is there still a sliver of hope remaining?

For me, we need something out of the next two games, or else that's definitely it.

If that were the case, I'd treat the split as the start of next season's campaign. Have an honest and frank discussion with the players, and anybody who isn't committed to staying, can spend the rest of the season in the stand.

Will Drey, Sven, Holt all want to stay? Would anybody in the Premiership take them? I'd get them signed up as soon as possible.

Get the squad ready early this time, not waiting about until the last minute on September 1st to find out who's available. The players need to know who'll they'll be playing with and there needs to be an overall sense of stability about the club right from the word go next year.

Simo also needs to confirm early on whether or not he's committed to the club. It's really important that everybody, especially the players, know who's in charge next season.

We need to hit the ground running next season or we'll be playing catch up all year, and that's what we've been trying to do all this season. It rarely if ever works.

Falkirk are still top because even when they had a wobbly, their good start to the season had laid the foundations so that they didn't lose ground. We need to follow that example.

I agreed with Murray Davidson in everything he said in his interview earlier in the week. Not enough quality brought in, too much chopping and changing, 12 new players each window rather than 3 or 4.

This is all our doing, we know who the culprits are. But it's up to the new owners, management and team to get us back.

If we put a positive spin on it, at least it'll be a change from the usual St. Mirren, Motherwell fair. Same thing each season. Plus we could bring big crowds to the Fife teams, and maybe even Dundee if they lose the playoffs.

Hopefully, we'll do well, and a title challenge is also a nice change form trying to scrape ourselves off the bottom. Friday night on the telly as well.

I've just counted, and I've experienced 5 relegations so far. The worst was the 93 one when Rangers played Hateley at centre back, letting Kilmarnock win. That meant we were relegated by one goal. Hard to take. If this one does happen, it won't be as bad as that.

However, having said all this, it's still plan B. While we're still technically in the game, we have to give it our all.

Whatever will be, will be against Celtic. But United is a cup final.

Edited April 5 by Gekko

[RandomGuy]

I think it's done. We'll need at least 38pts now so we need at least 4 wins from 7 games.

Somehow win tomorrow and that becomes suddenly easier, but I just can't see going on a run of 3-4 wins a row which we need to do now.

[SlickDT]

We are bottom because we deserve to be there, I am not getting too worked up about this season. It has been coming for a while.

My goodness though, how fun has supporting this club been at points since our promotion. Seen things that I believed would never happen at this club.

[MySpazz]

On 4/4/2025 at 3:25 PM, RandomGuy said:

Confirmation the play off final games will be 22nd May and 26th May.

Final league fixture either 17th or 18th of May.

If we reach the Scottish Cup Final and finish 11th then the final gets played on the 24th May, and the play off games are 27th and 30th of May.

When we reach the Scottish Cup Final

Edited April 6 by MySpazz

[Gekko]

I think it's about time, whoever the top team is in the FCU is, sorted out those who use pyros.

Yesterday was unacceptable. Both the smoke on the pitch at the start and the throwing of them. It gives the club a bad name.

To be honest, I'm fed up with them. The constant drumming does my nut in, and I'm not alone. Patience is running out for this lot.

There was a good article in the Courier about this a while back. It was about the Dundee derby but is relevant to us as well.

I'll link it here and despite it being behind a paywall, you should be able to read it as you get a few free reads a month.

I agree with all of it.

STEVE FINAN: Ultras ruin Dundee derby atmosphere

[Dav69]

On 4/21/2025 at 2:12 PM, Gekko said:

I think it's about time, whoever the top team is in the FCU is, sorted out those who use pyros.

Yesterday was unacceptable. Both the smoke on the pitch at the start and the throwing of them. It gives the club a bad name.

To be honest, I'm fed up with them. The constant drumming does my nut in, and I'm not alone. Patience is running out for this lot.

There was a good article in the Courier about this a while back. It was about the Dundee derby but is relevant to us as well.

I'll link it here and despite it being behind a paywall, you should be able to read it as you get a few free reads a month.

I agree with all of it.

STEVE FINAN: Ultras ruin Dundee derby atmosphere

Pretty much agree on the pyros ban  but disagree with the courier spread on ultras, especially ours. Since these guys have taken over the McD morgue and it has been before they arrived on the scene. Many a game every pie could be heard munched as well as every sip of bovril slurped. Oh and a wee rendition of Cuuuuum on yeeeee saints at every corner and throw in. 
Before our ultras we were the most unvocal boring set of football fans at home!!!! 

[sixties saintee]

32 minutes ago, Dav69 said:

Pretty much agree on the pyros ban  but disagree with the courier spread on ultras, especially ours. Since these guys have taken over the McD morgue and it has been before they arrived on the scene. Many a game every pie could be heard munched as well as every sip of bovril slurped. Oh and a wee rendition of Cuuuuum on yeeeee saints at every corner and throw in. 
Before our ultras we were the most unvocal boring set of football fans at home!!!! 

Should get the auld Muirton choir oot o retirement.

[glenrothes saintee]

On 4/3/2025 at 11:34 AM, PerthSaint01 said:

I would also add, Josh Rae has and is proving himself to be competent at that level.

 

Rovers fan at work not too impressed with Rae

[Dav69]

2 hours ago, sixties saintee said:

Should get the auld Muirton choir oot o retirement.

 

1 hour ago, glenrothes saintee said:

Rovers fan at work not too impressed with Rae

Where do yous work ? Specsavers ! 

[GMac]

Big worry for me is the current manager wants to play a certain way and will NOT deviate from that and does not or will be able to get the players in to play in such a way, very much  like Davidson and look how that ended.  Big worry ahead and I'm not convinced he is the man to lead us forward.  Just play a very simple 4 4 2 on Saturday , press them high , just make it happen.

[CAH]

1 hour ago, GMac said:

Big worry for me is the current manager wants to play a certain way and will NOT deviate from that and does not or will be able to get the players in to play in such a way, very much  like Davidson and look how that ended.  Big worry ahead and I'm not convinced he is the man to lead us forward.  Just play a very simple 4 4 2 on Saturday , press them high , just make it happen.

Agreed & keep your fingers crossed!

[blueheaven]

16 hours ago, GMac said:

Big worry for me is the current manager wants to play a certain way and will NOT deviate from that and does not or will be able to get the players in to play in such a way, very much  like Davidson and look how that ended.  Big worry ahead and I'm not convinced he is the man to lead us forward.  Just play a very simple 4 4 2 on Saturday , press them high , just make it happen.

I'm not sure this is accurate. To my eyes he's already changed the way we play a number of times since he came in. The formation has changed multiple times, and he's also gone from ultra-attacking (starting with four strikers for several games) to a much more defensive approach and trying to sneak 1-0 wins. It also looks to me like the emphasis on one-touch passing around our own half has had a re-think of late (although I didn't see the Killie game so not sure how we approached that one).

I do agree that I'd like to see us press teams more and that's been a source of weekly frustration for me.

TBH I think whatever he does, and however he approaches games, the squad is just too weak at the moment, in terms of quality, quantity and mindset. I'm pretty sure Simo knows that but there's not much he can do about it until the summer, which is why he's being diplomatic in his post-match comments and not tearing the players to shreds.

[GMac]

1 hour ago, blueheaven said:

I'm not sure this is accurate. To my eyes he's already changed the way we play a number of times since he came in. The formation has changed multiple times, and he's also gone from ultra-attacking (starting with four strikers for several games) to a much more defensive approach and trying to sneak 1-0 wins. It also looks to me like the emphasis on one-touch passing around our own half has had a re-think of late (although I didn't see the Killie game so not sure how we approached that one).

I do agree that I'd like to see us press teams more and that's been a source of weekly frustration for me.

TBH I think whatever he does, and however he approaches games, the squad is just too weak at the moment, in terms of quality, quantity and mindset. I'm pretty sure Simo knows that but there's not much he can do about it until the summer, which is why he's being diplomatic in his post-match comments and not tearing the players to shreds.

Lets just wait and see, I hope I am proved to wrong.

[CAH]

I agree that the squad is too weak in terms of quality & quantity as you say but surely 'mindset' is the responsibility of the manager who has to get them fired up to fight every week??

[blueheaven]

41 minutes ago, CAH said:

I agree that the squad is too weak in terms of quality & quantity as you say but surely 'mindset' is the responsibility of the manager who has to get them fired up to fight every week??

To an extent, but I'm not sure he can change people's personalities. Changing the group mindset of an entire squad is a long-term goal and not something we were ever likely to see achieved in a few months. You can see though that he's already started moving on from the ones who he doesn't think have the right attitude - Essel, Raymond, Smith etc.