PauloPerth

Do you think that’s the case? I’d be surprised if we’re that organised to be honest. I think it’ll likely be a case of get the season over with and then take it from there. County’s win on Sunday not only puts us under pressure, but also means even if we do stay up, it’s likely to take to the last game of the season to confirm. Other teams can pretty much start their preparations for next season now, whereas we’re going to be 5-6 weeks behind. The play-off will hinder things even further should we end up there. Possibly Levein, having never won anything as a player or coach, has the championship trophy firmly in his sights, but I’m not sure how interested in staying he’d be if we go down. I wonder if we might see Kirk as his own man, meaning we’ll basically have the Brechin City manager in charge.

He’s had a brilliant season overall. Must be really satisfying for where he is now and where we are. Especially with that suitcase full of money we had to pay off his contract with!

Yes you’re probably right. Personally, I guess I’ve lost a lot of faith in the club to identify and attract good players, so sticking with one who's done okayish, compared to others, feels like a safer option than whatever we might sign as a replacement. Probably pessimistically, I can’t see us going out and signing 10-14 better players than what we have, so getting 5-6 and keeping the better ones out of the current group feels more realistic where we are right now.

Yes, quite. The world of Scottish football is a truly bizarre place.

Haha!! All those fannies on the first few pages predicting St Johnstone to finish bottom. Jokes on them when we comfortably secure 11th place.

Keep: Mitov, Wright, Gordon, Phillips, Franczak, Sidibeh, Sinclair, Steven, Ferguson possibly on the right deal: Carey, Sprangler, Clark, McGowan release: Keltjens, Robinson, Richards, Considine, Gallacher, Olufunwa, Maclelland, Smith, Smith, Crawford, MacPherson, Kucheriavyi, Kane, May, Kimpioka Obviously not going to happen due to some still having contracts with us etc, this is just based purely on starting from scratch.

In all seriousness in what’s likely to be a few tight matches coming up, Crawford coming on in the last 10 minutes when we need a goal might be worth a go. In that situation he’s probably a bigger goal threat than either Connor or Matt Smith, or Kucheriavyi.

Ali Crawford coming onto score a late winner against County to seal our safety is the stuff dreams are made of.

Really hope Phillips isn’t badly injured. Going into the post split battle with a midfield of Smith, Max, C Smith and Gallacher would be less than ideal.

I’ve always felt why the f**k would you want a season to peter out in 9th or 10th when you can have the excitement of a play-off match to enjoy…

Let’s just leave it there

Aye, forgot that creating openings from shots from around the box don’t count these days. Pretty sure we created one for Clark from the edge of the box that he volleyed over the bar. The Dundee game he had one rolled into his path from Sidibeh where he was clean through and rolled it wide.

First half yes he was as anonymous as most of our players. After HT he had that shot you mention then was involved in a few 1-2’s and passages of play and looked to be playing the ball forward far more than usual. We had the momentum at that point, made the sub then around that time it died and the match became more even. Feels like three years of mediocrity are taking their toll on Saints fans here. It wasn’t a good performance by any means, but we had several decent opportunities and were playing a far better side in horrendous conditions which probably affected the level of entertainment on offer. Basically, we’ve been far worse over the last few years. I’m not saying it should be accepted, but we just need to remember what the aim is here since Levein came in from where we were; stay up. And that’s it. We know we’re not a great side, and are low on confidence, but every defeat we get the same reaction as if it’s a huge shock. That Kilmarnock squad has been gradually built up over a couple of seasons and enhanced by additions each window. Just about any one of Van Veen, Watkins, Vassell, Armstrong, Kennedy, Mackay-Steven, Stewart would probably be a stand out for us. And let’s not mention options in defence. We are a squad cobbled together by three different managers over the past year.

Well done killie, comfortably the better team. What a strong squad they’ve built, even the bench has some ballers on it we’d kill for. Other than Mitov, I don’t think there’s a single St Johnstone player starts in that killie team. For a team at a similar standing and we don’t have one single outfield player better than them just feels criminal. We were poor first half and could have subbed anyone, but we seemed to be doing well in the first 15-20 after HT and were on top and subbed off Max, when for once I actually thought he looked positive and had started to make an impact since the break… unless he was injured? Though I hadn’t see any sign of it. I know he’s getting played deeper than his best position, but I’m afraid Clark is another empty jersey since coming back from injury. Add him to Robinson, Gallacher, Smith and probably others in just turn up and run about a bit to look like you’re playing contributions. Really poor goals to lose. Mitov pulling off a worldie 1v1 save then not paying attention when the corner smacks off the crossbar sums up the amateur shit show we are a lot of the time. From our inability to play throw ins, to the opposition easily retaining possession at throw ins against us, to Smith’s inability to strike a dead ball yet still taking many of them…

I love your optimism. We only got a bit over that for our biggest talent in a generation. I think we’d sell him for £250k sadly.

You still doing you tube videos Gordon?

Fucking Minsk. We knocked out Rosenborg which was a huge achievement, then went away to Minsk and won 1-0. We didn’t play well against an absolute rabble of cheats, but in the end they went through after winning the penalty shootout. That was the first time in the history of St Johnstone FC that we lost a home European tie. A record we’d proudly kept in tact against Hamburg, Monaco, Eskisehirspor, Rosenborg amongst others.. then lost it to fucking Minsk.

I would appreciate Dundee using either one of the following to announce whether the game is on or off next midweek:- I think rangers fans would appreciate a bit of light hearted banter over the whole thing..

Rui Costa was magnificent. Magnifico even. Nearly every pass he played was forward. An elegant attacking midfielder who probably didn’t get the credit he deserved.

I think he’s better suited to when we need a goal, which is why he was brought on, but once we went 2-1 up and were less attack minded, he had little impact. Adama sprints about closing down defenders constantly which is probably why he’s burst after an hour. Kimpioka doesn’t look to have the same appetite for the defensive side, so we’re probably better with May.

Hadn’t looked at this thread and posted on the match thread that I think being so weak in wide areas limits us massively. If we stay up and want to progress next season, we have to improve upon Robinson, Gallacher, Keltjens and Kucheriavyi (accepting that Smith played wide in the second half). Hadn’t realised he’s signed til next year. You take that team yesterday and imagine replacing Robinson and Keltjens with peak Brian Easton and Dave Mackay and it’s makes a world of difference.

Yes he’s far from perfect. But as you say is it because he’s restricted by what he’s got to deal with? I find the lack of subs/ changing things frustrating at times; it was a big limitation of Davidson. As long as we were level just stick with it despite it being obvious the opposition was building momentum and a goal looked inevitable, and often came. It could be argued yesterday at 1-1 was the same, but we got away with it.

We still give the ball away carelessly a lot, which I think is on the players more than the manager. I also think being so weak in wide areas limits us massively. If we stay up and want to progress next season, we have to improve upon Robinson, Gallacher, Keltjens and Kucheriavyi (accepting that Smith played wide in the second half). Overall though, we are a better side to watch than we have been over most of the past couple of seasons. There’s been so many matches where we barely created a shot at goal, it was painful, and having that different kind of threat up front has made a big difference.

Great 3 points. Looked like we could cause a problem on the break but by f**k Hibs could play through our midfield at will in that second half and probably could have been out of sight in that spell at 1-1. Great goal by Adama, some boy. And good to see Gallacher pop up with a goal, he’s got himself in some good scoring positions this season so nice to see one go in. At this stage a win is huge, hopefully a boost for the players going into the run in.