I have known since Monday that a midfielder from down south would be joining Saints either today or tomorrow. Now that is has been hinted in the press, I think it is safe to say that I am fairly certain the player is Nick McKoy, 21 years old, 6 ft, formerly of MK Dons and Cardiff City.
Derek McInnes has been interested in McKoy for several months, and he has played as a trialist for us fairly recently. He came to Saints with the recommendation of Jody Morris who has played alongside him in the past.
As far as I am aware, Nick has been training at the club for the entire week, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the starting XI against Partick Thistle on Saturday, although perhaps a place on the bench is more likely.
McKoy is to be signed as a solution for the lack of grit in our midfield, with Morris and Hardie suffering from injury and illness respectively. I think this will prove a useful bit of business.

Just what we need!

edit: You knew? What, you mean AFTER it was posted on WAP?

No, I knew on Monday.

Could go a pack of Salt and Vinegar.

I know this guy adds something of a new dimension to the midfield but really should Del not have been looking to cater to this new dimension through the numerous signings he's ALREADY made in this area of the field?

More to the point, are we planning on playing with a left-back this season?

I suspect Dan Smith will sign sooner or later, because as far as I am aware, our preferred move for Tuomi Kononen is dead.

Yeah, and what happens after he's crocked by some Dundee chav and laid out for the rest of the season?

Del should have had this covered, IMO. We are better than every other side in this league but without a left-back we might as well be pissing into the wind.

Good show. Is the bold Nick any good ?

Hopefully he is and we can sweep all the league before us before finishing 3rd in the SPL next season and moving on to Europe again .

Just in from a bev on the Waverley. Recomend it as a good way to spend a Wednesday afternoon.

Never heard of him, i wonder if he's the real Mckoy.

To be fair, he did know about this on Monday, as he told me!

I've seen the guy play a couple of times for us and would've been keen to see us sign him in the summer. He'll give us something different again in midfield and although might not start if everyone is fit, will certainly ensure we're never left without a physical presence in Hardie's absence.

I agree with you about the left back situation though, really poor show. Smith wouldn't have been given a second glance back in July. He's not a bad player on his two showings but I don't believe he was the sort of player McInnes envisaged signing when Stanic left in May.

Stealer of crisps.

[quote name='SavotheGreat' date='Aug 20 2008, 19:51' post='2712851']
Yeah, and what happens after he's crocked by some Dundee chav and laid out for the rest of the season?

Del should have had this covered, IMO. We are better than every other side in this league but without a left-back we might as well be pissing into the wind.
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Nah Geoff Brown would not go for the real deal................the building trade is fecked at the moment

After your result on Saturday Auld Nick might be a better signing.

I'll be delighted if they don't have a left back by Saturday, but we lack any real drive down the right hand side, so you might get away with it.

I'm sure the Dunfermline fans would have something to say about that

Nah he'll never be the real McCoy!!!

Doubt it. They're too busy spitting all over Stephen Kenny's immaculate reputation.

Saints 0-3 Pars

But they have no left-back, you fool.
Morton would hump Dundee 7-0 if Rae played with no left back!

What's that? Morton don't have a left-back either?

Oh.

Shit.

you've actually been funny lately, stop it. Fud.

confirmed signed till the end of the year


http://perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/

I think i read in the PA Around March he Was On trial But nothing more was mentioned

Cue Jody Morris jokes...

A Scotsman, an Irishman and Jody Morris walk into a bar... oh forget it.

I notice he's only signed until the end of 2008, I wonder if MMM's crocked yet again

We have no Right Mid... Will it be 7-7 on sat???

Yes, and it's very magnanimous of you to stick around all these seasons continually exhibiting it.

Neat fishing incidentally.

The club seem to be covering it up if he is as the official line was he came down with a virus last Thursday evening. The fact he's available for this Saturday does make that story look like it's true.

McKoy's signing has an element of risk to it and I'm not surprised he's only been given until December initially. I liked what I saw of him in the reserves last season, which is quite rare when it comes to trialists!

He looks like a haunted man.

those eyes look like they have some stories to tell.

It's the thousand yard stare. He's got it, all St Johnstone players have got it. It's something to do with being pumped 3-0 by Dunfermline.

Mostly stories that start with an unearthly, soul-wracking moan of despair by the looks of it.

My humour is flawless, but it takes real genius and wit to appreciate. This post worries me.
Stop it, fud.


I sincerely fucking hope so! (he remarks on post 777..)

Back to normal, thats better.

Likewise.

McKoy was highly rated at Wimbledon FC as a kid and was tipped to make it big. The player McKoy mentions in his interview (Nigel Reo-Coker) ultimately came through to be the best midfielder of a very good crop of youngsters that the Wimbledon FC Academy produced. McKoy has been on trial at numerous places and not quite cut the mustard. Often the reason given is 'poor positioning.'

Could do well at SF1 level if he retains fitness and focus. Moving to Perth will be quite a culture shock for a Newham boy. Terry Brown the AFC Wimbledon manager was interested and kept tabs on him last season, but ultimately decided to he wasn't quite what was needed and looked elsewhere.

They are the eyes of a footballer who is about to become a great. The same look was seen in a young Zidane's eyes. We are in for a treat.

... before he stuck the head on big Marco!

It'd be nice if we could sign players without an injury history but I thought McKoy looked decent enough as a trialist, which is a rarity for the guys Saints usually bring in. He did his pre-season with us in Birmingham and played against Ayr behind closed doors twice (at the start of July and on Monday night) so McInnes has had plenty scope to look at him. There's obviously the question over why it's taken so long to secure a free agent but I think the lack of grit in midfield only became glaringly obvious on Saturday. The signing maybe is a reaction to that result but that doesn't make it a bad thing if it improves a weakness.

Just a shame about the left back situation.

Only signed as Moon and Morris are "long term" injuries now.

I believe they are going to be out for a significant time IE November/December so we had to get someone else on board till then - hence he signed till end of December.

Very concerning indeed.

One very unhappy supporter and we are only a few games into the season.

What is more concerning is who is leaking info out of the club that seems patently untrue. First we had to ridiculous rumour about Kevin James last season and within the last few days there has been folk saying Hardie is finished (he had a virus) and now you've obviously heard that Moon and Morris are out for much longer than the club are publically stating. Either the club are feeding us a line, or someone is mischief making.

come on radfod, dont need to be a rocket scientist to believe there must be some truth in that both moon and morris are going to be out longer than expected.
Start of season we hear we are top heavy in the middle now we are making what appears to be a panic signing in this area of the park to cover us till turn of year. Its obvious that the type of injury Morris and Moon have are the types that need rest etc to make then better.

I hope to god what Ive heard is wrong but cant help think there must be some truth involved.

I'm not a rocket scientist but still don't think that McKoy's signing means Moon and Morris are out for a lengthy period. McKoy trained with us in Birmingham and McInnes has made a point of acknowledging the chairman's role in letting the deal happen. I suspect with the Kononen deal dead and the likes of Dixon off elsewhere, the money earmarked for a left back can probably secure both McKoy and Smith.

I think someone somewhere is reading too much into the addition of a powerful midfielder (something we lacked badly last weekend) and assuming it must mean bad news elsewhere. Until the club say anything, I'm expecting Morris to be available for the trip to Dingwall next month.

Yep, I agree. Jody will be back in training by the end of next week, I'd think, and could certainly be available for Ross County. Kevin Moon, I was told on Monday, would be back in training this week. I don't see any need to worry.

Good news then, hope what I was told was a lot of tosh and you boys are right.

so Radford, does that mean we are stuck with Smith as left back then till January window???

Looks like it I think, unless anything materialises quickly. Smith can't play as a trialist against Clyde (or on Tuesday against Livi) and although he's not brilliant, he is better than any other option we have there and I don't think it's fair to expect him to hold on until next Thursday or Friday (a few days before window closes) whilst we see if we can find anyone else.

Christ, a bit of a predicament for us and him then.

Nonsense. He wouldn't say boo to a ghost

And being pumped 4-zip by Thistle the following week.........Scottish fitba' dont ye just love it