Buttocks Brown

Well, that would be the dream. As it is though, 5-6000 home fans every game is a good whack in terms of gate receipts over a season. Must be a pretty substantial increase in income compared to pre-covid times.

Not the end result we wanted yesterday but how good is the matchday experience going to see the Saints these days? It's amazing seeing the place so busy and it makes such a difference. I'm beginning to think we are actually seeing a proper, long term shift in attendance figures. The result is that the stadium has really come into its own I think for the first time. It's just the right size and the atmosphere at games is superb. Have said it before, but I think the community work the club is doing has been a masterstroke. People, who didn't bother before, are now getting into the habit of coming to games.

https://twitter.com/m4tt_h/status/1695499976346845251?t=0i1l_bdGmmNzoA6gMB5HuA&s=19

Goalkeepers Urminsky (24), Hemming (23), Kelly (16) Defenders Dunne (30), Fraser (29), R.Taylor (22), Tanser (28), Strain (26), Sutherland (17), Bolton (28), Small (19) Midfielders O'Hara (27), Gogic (29), Flynn (34), Baccus (25), Kiltie (26), Boyd-Munce (23), Gaffney (19) Forwards Ayunga (26), Greive (24), Olusanya (25), Jamieson (21), Nahmani (20), McMenamin (27), Mandron (28)

If all goes well, Ayunga back mid-October. bit.ly/3smgNEq

As much as Kettlewell's former BBC colleagues like blowing smoke up his arse and talking about how wonderful a job he's doing..... If he's left himself with his post-Van Veen forward options as those 2 lads on Saturday + Obika, then he might be back doing "Open All Mics" in the not too distant future.

I see that Dylan Reid has made the step up from Crystal Palace U18s and is now starting games for their U21s. Was the second youngest player in their 11 on Saturday. Looks like he's progressing well.

We'll never see another transfer window like that again. Ferdinand, Hladky, Muzek, Popescu, Dreyer, Nazon to name but a few. I don't know how all those guys from across Europe were identified. Am I right in saying that Gus was involved? Did he do the scouting work before the window opened? Seem to remember Vaclav had basically just been a sub goalie in the Czech league for years and years. Diamond unearthed.

Wanted to avoid Rangers, Pittodrie and Tynecastle so Hibs away is fine. We've already won at Easter Road and they're continuing to blow hot and cold. 2 or 3 more poor results in the league and the Hibees may well hound their manager out.

Was this just 16 months ago? Can see the change in the man over that period as well: much more relaxed and jokey these days. I guess that's the difference between having to work with a team he's inherited rather than one he's built himself.

Nice interview with CBM after the game: said it's the happiest he's ever been in football and it's a squad of mates. Gogic and Taylor the standouts for me today. McMenamin is giving us something different this season and Olusanya, off the bench against tired defenders, is a great option to have. Ahhh, can't beat the football when your team's doing well!

Fraser Taylor (in Ballymena's midfield) live on the BBC website just now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/66424209

....has just scored for Rosenborg at Tynecastle. Completely forgot he existed: was with us for just 5 weeks.

Again though is that not symptomatic of the Browns losing interest / their lack of insight into what's happening day to day at the club? The 4 year deal was awarded on the back of 6(?) seasons working at the club as assistant then manager. If the board were paying attention then, even after the double, you would expect they'd have some inkling of Davidson's limitations? Apparently not: lengthy contract and a big cheque book for the transfer market. There was a lot of good feeling for our old board and it took a wee bit of time to look back and realise "actually your management of the club, towards the end, was dire". The likes of Ian Murray and Alex Rae took the flak from the fans but..... the fish rots from the head.

My main point was that we went downhill when the guys running the club didn't want to be there any more. Everything was stale and it transferred to the park. I think you're in that boat now. So yeah, nae luck. Think you need the club to be sold pronto.

Have been thinking recently that St Johnstone 23/24 look uncannily like St Mirren 14/15: 1. Sacked manager, who from the outside, looked to have done a decent job. 2. Assistant manager appointed. 3. Club up for sale with no sign of a buyer. 4. A Chairman and board who don't really want to be there going through the motions. Back in 2014, Craig was sacked in December, we were relegated, had 3 more poor managerial appointments by the old board and spent 3 seasons in the Championship. Our turnaround coincided with the change in club ownership.

O'Hara came out of the tunnel before the game then went to sit behind the dugout. Looked to be walking normally: no crutches or anything. 3 games then an international break so hopefully it's just those 3 he misses. Chance for CBM or does he go with Gogic in there? Thought it was an interesting point Robinson made about CBM after the game in that, despite his age, he's playing his first games in professional football. Was all U23 level until he came to us. Taylor also very inexperienced and that was just McMenamin's 2nd game in a professional league. All should improve.

Interesting. Knowing that Carson would be watching I wonder if Langfield arranged with Hemming that he'd give him a false signal (dive to the right) if Dundee won a penalty. If so, Carson has fallen for it hook, line and sinker. No wonder he looked rattled in the 2nd half.

So we did! Then ended up 11th.... hopefully history won't repeat.

The last time we won our 2 opening games in the Premier League was the 81/82 season. 2-0 v Morton (Scanlon 2) 4-3 v Airdrieonians (McAvennie 2, Stark 2)

Thought we played well the first 25 minutes, McMenamin in particular. Beyond that, patchy at best. Missed O'Hara for when we needed to dig in. Next time he's out I reckon Gogic will start in midfielder rather than CBM. Both our goals perhaps an indication of why keeping Joe wasn't a priority....

Thanks to our friendly SLO for another addition to matchday entertainment today. Early in the 2nd half, choosing not to throw the ball into Carson's outstretched arms but 10 yards away...... followed by Trev's 5 second square-go stare as Colin strided off..... superb.

MoH felt a twinge in his thigh according to Robinson. Scan on Monday.

Only 700-odd tickets available now.