bejazz1

Think the current board will finish the stadium before spending any money on the team.

Aye shame indeed, never ever right mid on the wing. A good solid terrier getting stuck in as a holding midfielder, though Kerr had a howler. Looks as if John Baird could not score in the proverbial... his effort and running today was great tho[emoji3]

[emoji3] sorry!

Yup, that's about the size of it. Last year, let's not spend Rangers are in the league, this year, let's not spend Hibs are huge favorites. Next year, what other excuse? Last season was beyond everyone's expectation at FFC. If our BOD lack vision and understanding, we will never spend any money. Are the club really trying to complete the stadium? My view on this is the stadium we have is already too big for our dwindling support and believe me it is. Considering the hype the team created last season, I think it's a sad reflection on our club that the BOD don't share many of the fans/managers views in terms of top flight football. I've said many times on here. As a club we are at ease in this league, happy to get to the play offs each year with no real aim to actually show we mean business... Maybe the club don't actual trust the manager with the necessary funds that would allow us to appear to challenge? We need a major shake up right through the whole club, the supporters have been taken for mugs far too long. If the club are not going to invest in the team, what is the real purpose of survival? There is a huge difference between having no money to spend, than having plenty of money and choosing not to. We are constantly rummaging in the bargain basements for players, our signings have be underwhelming, low profile and predictable. We seem unable to attract players of any notable quality yet the club expect us to fund this mediocre sham. It's time to stop all this pussyfooting about with community this community that, trucks at the corner flags, hot tubs etc etc. We are beginning to become a bit of a laughing stock, even the BBC are having a chuckle, that shows how bad this has got. The ability to get the right type of athletic players who have a strong physical attribute looks to me has home as we continue to buy small similar type players. Just imagine we did get to the play off final again this year, unlikely I feel tbh... How are we placed to compete after our Rugby Park demise last time? That tells me everything about this club, we were scudded that day's.. men against boys and a hopeless seconds left looking dejected and embarrassed. I'm afraid to say I have seen nothing to suggest that the club are serious about their top flight talk... It's all talk, just bluster Words are cheap!!! Sorry, this post ended up a rant.

Hard to believe the contrast between us this season v. last. Can't believe how bad we could play, these players had hearts of steel last year, this year no heart at all. Many on here have commented about quantity rather than quality and I cannot argue. The showing today was awful finishing the game with 3 strikers who this year don't appear to be able to hit coo's arse with a banjo really, in reality our fullback and central defenders looked more dangerous on the odd occasions when we threatened and what has happened to John Baird, fans go on about Baird and all his running and trying etc... Personally, I felt today he had his own one man vandetta against Queens and that worked to our detriment. It was so obvious that he is hated down there, the more he tried, the more embarrassing it became for him. You really do have to ask how teams have managed to pull out some talented players, even Hibs managed to sign Brian Graham, a player Houstie fu***d up his first season for waiting on him to sign for us only for him to go to another club from under our nose. This will be a long season and confidence is low. Gasporatto, Craigen look to me as if they've already lost their confidence. Rankin is too similar to that we have, Austin will take time, Kidd and Henderson I have not seen enough of, these players are not shaping up well at all and they are all looking ordinary at best. If the board are not prepared to release more cash before the window closes then it seems were are up shit creek without a paddle. This reminds me so much of Houston's first season in charge when he didn't know what is best team was... After 7 competitive games you'd think he'd have an idea, maybe we now have too many options, too many players... One thing is for sure, it's simply not good enough and won't be long until the fans turn against him if this continues, pretty dire stuff all round really.

One more player? Really

Everyone of them, they were so disjointed and lacklustre

Yes true, I say it as I see it. No navy blue tinted spectacles... Well sometimes[emoji3]

Yes, pretty much my sentiments too, if we ever do get to the higher league, it will either be by default or on the cheap somehow. That money is staying in the bank but don't expect it for players, the most important part of a football team. Forget all stadium talk, community talk etc. The talking is done on the park and then everything falls into place. Just my opinion

It wasn't that long ago people on here were concerned that he may be leaving. I remember the happy comments when he signed his new contract. He had a great season last season, yes he struggled at Rugby Park but so did the whole team. He may not be a natural left back but surely that's not his fault if the manager puts him there, he gives a 100% every week. Him and Sibbs were very effective going forward but teams know how to play against Falkirk now so they know what to expect. They will certainly pay much attention to the left hand side moving forward and add others have said exploit the same side defensively. For a small guy I would say he wins 70% of high balls and has a great engine. I would like to see him push up further into left mid and try young Gallacher at LB...i don't see Houstie taking a chance on that at this point in the season but we need to get this team sorted out that's for sure.

I believe Leahy us as good as I can remember in the last 15 years Hagi Lincenel Scobbie Twaddle Kingsley Chalmers Dick There will be more, I think he more than holds his own here... Including Kingsley

Personally I would have kept O'Hara too. McHugh is the only real pace we have up front although Austin is really unknown yet. Baird is slow as is Miller, we are never going to trouble defences with pace. Most of our goals this season will be in and around the box, don't see us being able to play fast free flowing football (try saying that with a few drinks). O'Hara would have gave us that option. Although in saying that he still hasn't proved much at this level yet

Penalties are all about luck unless the player is super confident. How many player strike the ball into the top left or right corner of the goal? The answer is not too many. Player know in their heads what they are planning to do before run up, it just tough luck if the keeper goes the same way as the shot. Saying a player is bad at taking penalties for missing one penalty is pretty poor, however does not detract from the accusation that he is a cheating little shit...because he is and a dirty little f***** to boot

Here we are the start of a new season. If I'm honest, again, like last season I feel underwhelmed by our summer signings but who could have predicted what we achieved last season. My first thought is we seem happy enough to be in the championship and I do not think we are showing much ambition. I thought with Rangers stepping up we'd have shown more intent. I feel the only way we can win the league is if teams like Hibs and Dundee United have an ordinary season and even then I think we'd struggle to actually win the league... Kilmarnock showed us last year reaching the play offs is still miles off where we need to be in terms of depth of squad and physicality. I don't think we are as strong as last season. Can we produce the goods for a second time, time will tell. I know people will call my view defeatist but it's only my opinion and that is based on reality. Hope I'm wrong as I certainly was last year. Fingers crossed...COYB!

Yes Gaz, you are correct. The incident with Baird was a penalty too. Do you honestly think St Johnstone fans or any football fan would say these were never penalties? As I said, if it happened in the opposition box we'd still be screaming the refs a cheat [emoji3] In my book they were all penalties, the 3rd St J penalty was contentious but they could have had another. I listened to some of the experts talking about Leahy pulling for their 3rd. This is where I have an issue... What is the difference between a pull and a push? Both are fouls so how he managed to give a penalty beats me. When you think back to last season, we did get a couple of breaks twice against Hibs in two different games. I'm sure it equals itself out somehow...doesn't it?

Let's not kid ourselves feeling we were hard done by...the ref got 2 out of 3 correct and on another day St Johnstone could have had a 4th penalty. That does not mean that the game will change overnight, ask yourself if the St Johnstone players had manhandled our players on that day, would you not be crying injustice? We just need to get on with it and stop moaning!

I think we should not be mocking any other national football team or any of their players, have you seen the state of our own?[emoji851]

Somebody like Pawlett is exactly what we need. I fear we are too slow in midfield and lack flair. Alston gave us width and pace, from what I've saw from Craigen so far I feel he had bags of ability but I've not seen much pace yet. We need to get someone in who will commit defenders, I think this is missing, Hippo looks as if he could do it but looks more off the boil than he looks on so I'm not sure he will deliver.

Ha ha ha. The only good ginger is Chocolate Gingers... Love them!!!

I think his asset was pace when he burst on to the scene during the Holt era. However his pace has gone now and I feel he is pretty ordinary at best. Should be released as soon as contract allows IMO

Aye lol, I remember it well, then again he did it most weeks. I think the team needs drive and energy, I'm not saying Rankin will not be useful now and again but I can't see him busting a gut from to go from box to box. Vaulks to me epitomised what the modern day footballer is all about, drive, determination, athleticism and a true professional who understood his role not only on the football team but also on a wider scale within the community.

I agree, don't know how anyone can refer to Craigen as journeyman. I think he will be a great signing when he settles in Rankin for me is the worry, 33 years old with nothing to pride and similar to Kerr... Do we need 2 players like that? A wage wasted for me but then again I said the same about Kerr and Miller, what do I know[emoji3]

Remember last year I was getting pelters because I was spouting the same. Last year everyone mentioned about spending money due to Rangers and Hibs being in the championship... What's the club's excuse now? Surely it's not DU, Hibs and the Pars are in this league. If this is the mindset, we'll never spend to get promoted. Where are all the physical players Houstie bleated on about after Kilmarnock... We should have more money than ever yet we still try to get there on the cheap Some things never change!

Agree. This would be bad news. After our spectacular demise at Kilmarnock. Houstie spoke about needing more physical players to compete this season. So far, his signings don't show that and if Vaulks is away right enough, we'll need better than another over the hill player to give us any real chance of competing to win this league or are we just kidding ourselves on? I'm beginning to wonder if we're happy where we are stuck in the second tier with no ambition. Everyone is suggesting we have the money, when do we not show our intent or are we trying to do things on the cheap, no surprise there!

Yes, but how much is a pittance?