As it says on the tin.

Was immense when he played for us last season, him going back to Celtic in January no doubt at all contributed to our relegation

from what i've seen looks quite good going forward but horrible at defending, also think he would be a better player if he didn't think he was better than he actually is.

only seen him a few times though, not really enough to judge.

Not nearly as much as a lot of opposition fans. Dives into tackles rather than staying on his feet and it's cost us goals, such as Weatherston's opener at Cappielow. Generally good going forward though, until he gets anywhere near the box. I still remember the look of fear on his face when he realised he was one-on-one with Samson in the Dundee game at Dens Park.

Are Hamilton miffed that Martin Hardie turned them down last week and are now chasing Gary? He's under contract for another year. If you give us enough to buy Dave Mackay, you can have him!

You mean you sussed this wasn't just a casual enquiry?

Word is the deal's already done.

I can't say he's made much impression on me, but by the sound of it he's similar to Tom Parratt. What we really need for that position is a right-footed Brian Easton. A good big defender who will stay on his feet against nippy SPL wingers. Attacking skills are a bonus, but it's the defensive properties I value most.

Saw your name at the end of this topic and expected you to lay into them.

I like Gary Irvine. In all fairness he dived into a fair few tackles on Sunday and emerged with the ball. Sometimes a little bit of fight is good.

To me he's one of the new breed of Saintees, good with the ball at his feet, likes to get forward and has a bit of flair about him; lacks a little substance though. Nonetheless, he's put in a number of good shifts and i'm more than happy in the knowledge we have one of the best fullback's in the division.

I thought he looked excellent on Sunday, but hasn't been a stand out in league games. I doubt he is better than what we've got. I think we need a right back but as academical said it would be great to get a right-footed Brian Easton. Would much prefer us to sign Liam Craig from St. Johnstone.

Sorry but I don't believe that for a single second. You only won the league on Saturday and we had an important game on Sunday that could have seen him playing in a Scottish Cup final. I would be very surprised if Saints were prepared to sell, although that would maybe change if Irvine was set on moving, which again I'd be sceptical about. Saints did try to sign another right back in January but he's started every single game since he signed.


Laying into him is possibly a bit harsh, no? I don't mind Gary and he has had a lot of good games but I still think the fact he dives into challenges is a problem. If Accies fans go back to the thread from the game where we beat you 2-1, a lot of you were claiming he should have been sent off for a second bookable challenge. He made a few great tackles on Sunday but there was also one particular incident where he committed himself in a challenge with Novo and the little Spaniard just jumped past him and it took a great block by Rutkiewicz to prevent a tap in for Rangers.


His best game for Saints IMO was the 4-1 victory over Accies! Whatever I've said about him before, he's a better player than Parratt! Liam Craig has signed a three-year deal with Saints. Are Accies fans gonna become Billy Big Boots now they are in the SPL and think they can sign any player they want?

Craig just signed a 3 year deal with us and I doubt he would want to join Accies anyway - ok well done your an SPL side but he had offers from some other more established SPL sides and still chose to stay at saints.

Regarding Irvine - I agree with what is being said, dives in a little to easy and commits himself and can get beaten all ends up because of it BUT I remember he played fantastic against Midden at McDairmid Park, sometimes those sliding tackles he does pays off like in that game.

I'm not saying I believe it either, but that's what I've heard. And with sufficient authority to suggest it may be true, hence my enquiry.



I'm not sure that's all that re-assuring. Are you saying you don't rate Parratt?



Craig was mentioned as a possible Accies target before the signed the 3-year deal with you, which perhaps Accies1 wasn't aware of. I agree that Craig is no longer a realistic target for Accies, but Irvine may be.

To be fair, he played in central midfield that day, where any missed tackles aren't nearly as costly. He also started in the centre of midfield against Accies a few weeks ago as Steven Anderson is a better defender. That's why Anderson started at right back against St Mirren in the first game, he was better suited to marking Corcoran. Ando was of course suspended for the replay so Gary dropped back and he did have an excellent game but by that point we'd worked out Corcoran was off-form.

There were Accies fans swearing blind on your forum that Offiong would be a St Johnstone player last summer. Are Accies really prepared to pay what will be a decent fee for a guy with no SPL experience?


Not particularly. I thought he looked decent when he first arrived at NDP but has looked out of place alongside your other three top class defenders this season, on my limited viewing.

its still the same player though Radford

I don't think he's an SPL quality player myself. He's not the most robust chap, quite weak aerially too. Also as Radford has mentioned, he dives into tackles a bit much. In our most recent fixture Vs. Saints, up at McDairmid, Dave MacKay left him for dead a good few times with his pace. Sometimes simply because MacKay is or was then the faster player, however there were other occasions on which Irvine's over zealous approach when attempting to win the ball back allowed St.Johnstone to be opened right up. (When he could have simply stood off MacKay or shown him inside).

A great player on his day, but not SPL material at this minute in time. If he's ever going to make the grade up there then he'll have to find consistency through getting even more games under his belt. A bit of gym work wouldn't go a miss either. His major flaws can be ironed out only through experience & hard work.

He had a superb game on Saturday though, not going to begrudge him that.

*Edit; Sunday even!

Well, there's rumours and there's rumours. I never gave any credence to those who thought Ofiong was leaving for Perth, but this sounds like it could be more authoritative.



I suppose it depends what a "decent fee" is. We've already paid a five figure sum (allegedly £20k) for Andy Waterworth, who's certainly got no SPL experience, and has yet to make a start for us. We tend to go for young, hungry, guys who have missed a chance somewhere along the line, and feel they've got something to prove, e.g., Offiong, Parratt, Halliwell, Mensing. Irvine fits the profile.



Yes, that's what I think. Parratt's good going forward, but he's been our weak link defensively. You could argue he cost us the last game at McDiarmid. The trouble is, the picture you're painting of Irvine isn't that dissimilar.

I'm not saying this is going to happen. It's just the first credible rumour I've heard, hence my enquiry. From what I've heard so far, I don't think I'd be bothered either way.

Yep, that's what I'd like to see him do more often. Although to be fair, he tried that against Gilhaney at McDiarmid and he pinged it in the top corner! That's why I wasn't surprised he didn't start at right back against St Mirren as he was going through a bit of a rough patch,


With respect, I don't think he does fit that profile. Whatever my own opinions on the player, he's played every game for Saints since he signed. The four you mention were all either without a club or sitting in the reserves at their previous club. There's no danger that Gary Irvine is trying to be pushed out of McDiarmid. Last summer, Dave Mackay had a year on his Livingston contract and they quoted us £100,000 for him.

I think he's potentially one of the best full-backs around. Needs to stop diving in as I said in the team of the year post. I prefer the more subtle approach to being a fullback. Parratt is ok- one of the best in the SFL. His weakness in the air and poor positioning let him down. Takes a mean free-kick at times but not as well as Tony Stevenson.

Most full-backs in Scotland are shit. Even Alan Hutton (the supposed best full-back before he was sold) can't defend worth a toss. Got rave reviews for his 2nd half performance against Italy but was absolutely woeful in the first half and ultimately fannied around at the end to lose us the 2nd goal. (albeit with a dodgy reffin decision)

Thinking about it- Irvine reminds me of a shit Alan Hutton. Good strong runner, pretty fast, generally tackles quite well despite taking crazy risks. However, he's caught out of position and you always feel he's going to get found out with the mad lunges.

In the sense that he's been at Celtic and that didn't work out, he fits. He's young and half-decent. I wasn't suggesting he didn't fit at McDiarmid.

If you're implying Accies would have to pay £100k, or even £50k, to get him, then my guess is it won't happen. It may be those who think it's a done deal know the player and know he'd be interested, and Accies are trying to sign him. But that doesn't add up to a deal going through. I can see why the lad could be interested - he's from Lanarkshire, and we offer SPL football. But if he's wanted at Perth, it sounds to me like he's more likely to stay there.

I think we'd be looking for a fee that would enable us to bring in a replacement as we have very little cover. Anderson is useful for specific games but isn't a long-term option at full back and Lawrie will be away. The younger guys coming through are nowhere near ready for the first team, if they'll ever be.

Rumours are that Billy Reid is going to model his team next season on my post on the team of the year thread on this very website
Comes from a normally very reliable source. Swap McCarthy for McDonald and it's all perfectly feasible from what I've heard.

Tuffey
Irvine Elebert Marko Easton
Dorrans Neil McArthur
McDonald
Dobbie Offiong

Tuffey looks to be a class act of a young goalie.

Irvine should have been sent off against us a McDiarmid and needs to calm down a bit and stop going to ground for crazy tackles but I've been impressed.

Elebert has been a rock
Marko coming back this season has been key to Accies success. A leader at the back and the best defender in the league.
Easton has been a revelation at left-back this season. Getting better every week.
Dorrans was great against us in the first two matches of the season. He has tailed off as Livingston have lost players but he's still class.
Neil- should have been nominated for player of the year.
McArthur- class.
McDonald- not looked good against Hamilton, looked good against Celtic on the TV- apparently he performs like that more often than not- so he gets in the team
Dobbie- the most natural finisher in the league.
Offiong- Not the most natural striker in the league but he can create something out of nothing when the going gets tough.

I believe that the player of the year nominations should have included Neil and Marko ahead of either Dorrans and Dobbie as I believe Marko and Neil have been more influential in this league than either of the other two. I had to find a formation to fit in Neil, McArthur and McDonald.

He's generally OK but has a few shocking games at the most random times.

Decent player for the first division.

From what I've seen this season, he's not as good as what Accies already have.

I didn't mean that we would sign Craig, I know he has just signed a new 3 year contract but in my opinion is the best midfielder in the league(after McCarthur) and I would love to see him as Accies although I doubt it would happen.

Another Hutton thread i see

Decent player but falls into that category of being pleased if he stayed but not too upset if he went.

I think he's rubbish. Did okay in central midfield against us in one game but whoever we've had leftwing has gone past him easily when he's been at right back.

He's not rubbish. I suppose you have better in your reserves though.

I don't think Gary Irvine will go to Hamilton. He's certainly not one of the players I was worried about losing, and those I was worried about have all now resigned. We fought off tougher competition for their signatures than Accies - one of them turning down Accies as well incidentally.

He's a pivotal part of our team and his flaws will iron out as he gains more and more experience. People seem to forget how young he is, and how little experience of regular first team football he had before joining us. Hopefully he follows the examples of Martin Hardie, Peter MacDonald and Liam Craig.

Not sure if you are aware but he's under contract for another year anyway. Hamilton have been linked with Jack Ross of Falkirk, a right back, so I think that at least highlights there is no done deal with Irvine and Hamilton. That doesn't come as a massive surprise though!

I am aware that he's under contract, but the point stands anyway. I'd be disappointed to lose any players to Hamilton to be honest.

And I'd be disappointed if we signed any St. Johnstone diddies who are barely good enough for the 1st division rather than let our superior youth development programme provide the goods.

You said earlier in this thread you wouldn't mind signing Irvine!

He'll not go. If hamilton are after him, which i doubt anyway, they'll be scared away by the price we quote to them.

Nae chance, Lance.

For what it's worth, I really rate Gary Irvine. Despite his tendancies to mug himself by diving into challenges occasionally, his timing's usually impeccable. Bill Leckie described him as one of the cleanest tacklers in Scottish Football after the semi-final, and I reckon he's got a point.

Occasionally frightening, but usually brilliant.

Irvine's a Saintee.

Much of the same opinion from myself - I think he's been a quality acquisition. Came in, set a very high standard when he first joined and maintained it - before unfortunately having a dip in form.

He has a tendancy to dive into challenges, as has been well documented but he's the new Mensing in the fact he's so versatile, gives his all and commits himself to the game. I think he suffered around the time we were still playing 4-4-2 with the side changing weekly that he was left exposed quite a bit. However, he seems to have adapted well to the 4-3-3 and starting to find the balance of pushing forward.

People seem to be very critical as soon as a player takes a dip in form.

I was just looking to noise you lot up. I honestly reckon he has potential and that Billy Reid is more likely to help him develop as a player than McInnes. In that respect I think it is a wise move. At the moment, he isn't significantly better than Tom Parratt but I reckon he could be developed into a right-sided Brian Easton with good management.

I had a feeling you were doing exactly that my man.

Reid has more experience with developing players, but McInnes appears to be a manager who wants to do exactly the same thing. If accies interest is serious, Gary could well go for the chance to play in the SPL. But I don't think it'll happen as he'll be valued more highly by us than accies, and we're not in a position where we have to sell.

Exactly. Given that he's highly rated, has a year to run on his contract, and we'd be bollocksed for cover at right back, our valuation would be enough to make him unaffordable to bigger clubs than Accies. No disrespect intended.

[quote name='SaintSam' date='Apr 25 2008, 08:09' post='2415961']
I am aware that he's under contract, but the point stands anyway. I'd be disappointed to lose any players to Hamilton to be honest.
[/quote

Gaz is an Eddlewood boy,and i dont want to get anyone into trouble but he's got Billy Reids number in his phone. Oh, and he said i'd be alright for comps next season

I rate high very highly and as he is under contract and rated highly at our place I'd be suprised to see him leave.

I heard both Hamilton and Dundee were interested in signing an ex-saints right back.

He was brilliant against Rangers in the semi finals.