[Tamdunk]

looking at the table there I have to say, St Johnstone are looking pretty good 5 points behind hearts with 3 games in hand. Hearts have had some bad injury problems though so they could start getting some points on the board again soon. How about aberdeen? They've been pretty dismall lately can they turn it around and go on a run?

Part of me is really thinking St Johnstone could make the top 6. I've seen em 3 times this year first game I thought they were pretty good, 2nd we were really bad so cant really make much from that, third game was a bit of a horror though. I guess their defence is probably just too weak to make it but they could surprise me.

Who do you think will make it?

[badgers apprentice]

accies

[Jambo Stu]

Probably us if we can hold it together.

[ffcsam]

Not bothered!!!
It's ma baw and u lot aint playing:P

[Mr Hahn]

I would say probably Hearts but I would really like to see St Johnstone make it. I think they've been a breath of fresh air this year and make a change from seeing cloggers like Accies and St Mirren.

[Swello]

Is nobody mentioning relegation-haunted Aberdeen? - they could go on a late run!

[Hibernian1875]

Mr Hahn, on 14 March 2010 - 08:51, said:

I would say probably Hearts but I would really like to see St Johnstone make it. I think they've been a breath of fresh air this year and make a change from seeing cloggers like Accies and St Mirren.

i hope to god they dont, as i really dont want us to go up to perth again

[Drunken Hobo]

It depends on how next week's big derby goes. If Hearts beat or draw with Hibs, then I'd want Hearts in the top 6 as they're probably more likely to take points off of Hibs again and would help us with our push for Europe. Although McInnes does seem to have the beating of Hughes...

Hearts are also less likely to beat us going by this season's results... I don't have a clue who I'd prefer. Heart says the 2nd biggest team in Tayside, head says biggest team in Edinburgh.

[Kyle]

Hearts will get it. Our focus is still downwards at this point, and it likely will be until we are mathematically safe. Aberdeen haven't been consistent enough and haven't scored enough goals. I'm not sure they'll have time to turn that round now. The rest are just too far behind.

[the jambo-rocker]

fortunately most of our remaining games now are home, which is great considering our woeful away form this season, so i'd like to think we ll pick up a few more points to us there. I think we ll maintain sixth place, but i certainly dont see us going any higher, not based on yesterday's performance anyway.

[tweed275]

Hope it will be St Johnstone, think it will be Hearts.

[vlad is the man]

Three of our last four matches are at home with the other being away to St Mirren. I still think we are favourites especially as we begin to get players back from injury. Important players at that.

Also I don't know if I could suffer five pishy games.

[Kyle]

vlad is the man, on 14 March 2010 - 13:41, said:

Three of our last four matches are at home with the other being away to St Mirren. I still think we are favourites especially as we begin to get players back from injury. Important players at that.

Also I don't know if I could suffer five pishy games.

Try playing in the first division for 7 years mate

[vlad is the man]

Kyle, on 14 March 2010 - 13:51, said:

Try playing in the first division for 7 years mate

Just letting me entertain the thought of the First Divison makes me depressed.

This post has been edited by vlad is the man: 14 March 2010 - 13:55

[7-2]

I think our over cautious financial approach will stop us getting 6th spot.

We should have signed Gallagher in the summer when we had the chance but stalled until the TV deal was resolved, even although we needed a good keeper no matter what the outcome was.

We then failed to strengthen the defence in January, which I think was partly due to the club believing we were going to stay up, even with the glaring weaknesses we have.

We will more than likely finish 7th, 8th or 9th which is still an excellent first season back up, but with a little more speculation, a top 6 finish could have been achieved. So frustrating. So Saints.

[bunkmedal]

Kyle, on 14 March 2010 - 11:37, said:

Hearts will get it. Our focus is still downwards at this point, and it likely will be until we are mathematically safe. Aberdeen haven't been consistent enough and haven't scored enough goals. I'm not sure they'll have time to turn that round now. The rest are just too far behind.

One thing in St Johnstone and Aberdeen's favour is that they both have games in hand on Hearts, so if they were to go on a good run from here to the split they'd have a good chance. On present form (the past 5 or 6 weeks) we would have absolutely no chance, but those kind of runs don't last forever.

Tuesday night promises to be a fairly big game then. If St Johnstone win they're in a great position, if we win we're back in the mix and if it's a draw then Hearts look a bit more comfortable. Can't say I'm really that excited about a "top six battle" - would happily have the season end now - but so long as it's still possible I guess that's what we have to aim for.

[Fife Saint]

7-2, on 14 March 2010 - 14:28, said:

I think our over cautious financial approach will stop us getting 6th spot.

We should have signed Gallagher in the summer when we had the chance but stalled until the TV deal was resolved, even although we needed a good keeper no matter what the outcome was.

We then failed to strengthen the defence in January, which I think was partly due to the club believing we were going to stay up, even with the glaring weaknesses we have.

We will more than likely finish 7th, 8th or 9th which is still an excellent first season back up, but with a little more speculation, a top 6 finish could have been achieved. So frustrating. So Saints.

You've got a right hardon for Barlow, eh. I must admit I agree with you though, I think we are in with an outside shout and i'm sure McInnes will be secretly talking to the players about it.

I'm quite content with our lot, I assume targets have already been identified for the summer and we can now begin to formalise moves with a greater sense of confidence about our league status next season. A top 6 finish might give the extra bit of finance to bring in a better quality player though. Happy days.

[7-2]

Fife Saint, on 14 March 2010 - 15:09, said:

You've got a right hardon for Barlow, eh. I must admit I agree with you though, I think we are in with an outside shout and i'm sure McInnes will be secretly talking to the players about it.

I'm quite content with our lot, I assume targets have already been identified for the summer and we can now begin to formalise moves with a greater sense of confidence about our league status next season. A top 6 finish might give the extra bit of finance to bring in a better quality player though. Happy days.

Hardon? I remember them.

I just think that goalkeeper is such a key position it's one you don't f**k around with. A good, solid keeper that can be with you for a few years is ideal. We were always going to struggle after Main and getting a 'ready made' replacement wasn't going to be easy, as is being shown.

To me Gallagher ticked most of our boxes eg good keeper; plenty of experience; affordable as his club were having to sell him so we could do a favourable deal; age in that he probably wouldn't attract the big boys attention if he was playing well so likely to remain with us and maintain continuity. Of course he's not Mr Perfect but he was Mr Just What We Needed and is now Mr Missed Opportunity as the chance for Saints to sign someone like him don't come along very often.

It's obviously only speculation but I'm willing to guess our points total would be a few higher right now if we had had him in from the start of the season rather than Messrs Main and Smith

PS - I'm rarely content!

[Steve McQueen]

bunkmedal, on 14 March 2010 - 14:38, said:

One thing in St Johnstone and Aberdeen's favour is that they both have games in hand on Hearts, so if they were to go on a good run from here to the split they'd have a good chance. On present form (the past 5 or 6 weeks) we would have absolutely no chance, but those kind of runs don't last forever.

Tuesday night promises to be a fairly big game then. If St Johnstone win they're in a great position, if we win we're back in the mix and if it's a draw then Hearts look a bit more comfortable. Can't say I'm really that excited about a "top six battle" - would happily have the season end now - but so long as it's still possible I guess that's what we have to aim for.

The fact that Saints & Aberdeen play twice before the split may play into Hearts hands unless either club wins both games.

[Widge]

I think we have teh beating of Aberdeen at the moment, and Hearts have an injury crisis, on paper it looks good for us, but we still have to play both Rangers and Celtic, dont know who Hearts have, but then again we still have to play Falkirk and Hamilton, so these are games we should win.

Of course teh two games against Aberdeen are crucial, but I am not convinced they will decide it ultimately.

I would love to be top 6, but if that happens we will probably lose all 5 games and finish with an awful goals conceded table, but the financial gains would be worth it. I fell if top 6 happens Geoff would put teh difference between 6th and 7th financially into the players department.

Anybody have any idea about the financial breakdown of the table.

[Jambo Stu]

Widge, on 14 March 2010 - 17:02, said:

I think we have teh beating of Aberdeen at the moment, and Hearts have an injury crisis, on paper it looks good for us, but we still have to play both Rangers and Celtic, dont know who Hearts have, but then again we still have to play Falkirk and Hamilton, so these are games we should win.

Of course teh two games against Aberdeen are crucial, but I am not convinced they will decide it ultimately.

I would love to be top 6, but if that happens we will probably lose all 5 games and finish with an awful goals conceded table, but the financial gains would be worth it. I fell if top 6 happens Geoff would put teh difference between 6th and 7th financially into the players department.

Anybody have any idea about the financial breakdown of the table.

Hibs( H), Rangers (H), StMirren ( A), Killie ( H)

[Widge]

Jambo Stu, on 14 March 2010 - 17:05, said:

Hibs( H), Rangers (H), StMirren ( A), Killie ( H)

So you should potentially be looking at a minimum 7 points, if expectation is met.

We should garner, by my reckoning a minimum of 9, which would leave us short, but then again I am predicting two draws with Aberdeen and a draw to Dundee Utd. With the usual drubbings at the hands of the bigots.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

I posted this on Wap earlier today...

With just 7 games left and after yesterdays victory giving even the most pessimistic amongst us a sense of security, can we now do enough in the remaining games to reach what would be a fantastic achievement of a top six position??

I think the sixth place is defo up for grabs and realisticaly is a straight 3 horse race between ourselves, Hearts and the Dons..

Here's how I see it..

Saints remaining games are..

Aberdeen (H) Win
Celtic (A) Loss
Falkirk (H) Win
Hamilton (A) Draw
Rangers (H) Loss
Dundee Utd (H) Win
Aberdeen (A) Draw

That would give us 11 points and take us to 42 points.

Hearts..4 games remaining..

Hibs (H) Draw
Rangers (H) Loss
St.Mirren (A) Draw
Killie (H) Win

That would give them 5 points and take them to 42 points

Aberdeen..6 games remaining

Saints (A) Loss
Dundee Utd (H) Draw
Rangers (H) Draw
St.Mirren (H) Win
Killie(A).. Win
Saints (H)..Draw

That would give them 9 points and take them to 39 points..

Of course, this is all guesswork but caluclated guesswork..

That set of results would leave us and the Jambos on the same points and The Dons lagging behind and out of the equation..

It would then go down to goal difference which at the moment is very similar..

What it does show is that 6th place is definitely in our own hands and that every game between now and 10th of April is a cup final.. We really could do with picking up a bonus point against either of the ugly sisters and a win at Hamilton ( tough though as the Accies are very stuffy and very hard to beat)

It aint gonna be easy but if the guys can stick in there and fight like lions for every point and every ball, if they can concentate,remain focused and if Del can finally get a settled starting 11, we can do it.. We the fans need to get right behind the guys for every minute of every game and cheer, cajole and encourage them unconditionally..

Your thoughts please..

Ghostie..

[Radford]

The ghost of Jim Morton, on 14 March 2010 - 21:31, said:

Your thoughts please..

Personally, I think anything less than fifth place is a failure and we'd have to question whether McInnes is getting the most out of this squad. He's not actually that great a manager really, is he?

On a more serious note, I think the consistency McInnes touches on in his post-match comments on the official site is key. We've only strung two wins together once this season and haven't gone more than three games without tasting defeat but are likely to need four or even five wins from seven games to make the top six and that includes fixtures against both halves of the Old Firm. If we play like we know we can then we've a shot at it but there is so little margin for error that I think it'll just be beyond us.

[Cornelius Johnson]

Without sounding too pessimistic, yes we should always aim for the highest we can achieve, and getting into the top 6 would be a huge achievement. The added financial boost would possibly be nullified by the increased support for near relegation games.
Also with playing the bottom half of the league there is a chance to win some games and learn how to play against different last gasp, desperate systems operated by the various managers. We could end the season on a few wins, with experience for Del on how to survive the difficult second season, as opposed to getting humped 3-5 times and ending the season on a low.