Radford

Believe it is Dare, like Barry, rather than Dare, like Bair.

We still need more creative options. Not clear yet how much Kucheriavyi will be involved so only Wright and Carey can definitely operate wide. Ballantyne being asked to play (and create) every week is a big onus as well. And depending on Clark and Kane, we currently only have two strikers. I'm pleased with McClelland, hopeful Smith just needs a change and comfortable with Olufunwa being a gamble, although worry about proven quality at right back.

Finished this off now. Endings are always hard and there is a lot of focus on them but certainly the first 8 or 9 episodes were outstanding again. The progression in some fhe actors over the series has been phenomenal as well. Is this the best show that nobody has heard of?

The manager touched on it earlier this week but the outside view is certainly that we are doomed this season and, within our own ranks, there are a lot who are resigned to a miserable campaign. Clearly on everything we've seen so far I wouldn't back us to have a good season but I'm going to try and reserve judgement until the window shuts. Expectations can lead to pressure and disappointment and we certainly don't have those to deal with.

The back three or back four question remains fascinating, especially now he has options but maybe even more so is who is left out. Liam Gordon could have absolutely no complaints if it is him and it would put down a huge marker from the manager. I hope he does it if he goes with the back four.

I suppose the question will be if he turns out to be good (which is obviously what everyone hopes) is it because of great scouting and research, or has he got lucky with a panic signing? You get away with signings like Mitov and Jephcott if they don't work out because they make so much sense on paper. If too many Olufunwas don't work out, you have a problem in terms of trusting your recruitment. As I said before, I don't like loans but a bad loan is better than a bad two-yearer. I've stuck up for MacLean and the process this summer but if he panics this week, I'll be so disappointed.

I think talking about any young academy player making his debut in these sort of terms is pretty cruel. The lad had the sort of first day that I'm sure many people have. He'll bounce back I'm sure with the right support from everyone.

I don't like loans but at least you can return to sender after 6 months. If this lad proves to be a player then fair play but in terms of strategy, I'm disappointed. Is the manager convinced Olofunwa is better than what we have, which has been his line all summer? Surely he should have been in on trial first? And then we have the lingering stench of Biscuits. If we have held firm all summer then panic this week, I'll feel really let down.

To achieve anything, you need to first and foremost be hard to beat. Would playing a back three help us in that regard? We'd have had an extra man in the box for the Stirling opener and, surely, wouldn't have parted like the Red Sea for the second. So there is a case there, especially regards the first goal. The second was just so bad that it's hard to even analyse. But we didn't give much away against Ayr or Stenhousemuir despite the defeats and it doesn't matter what system you play if you can't defend set pieces or do the basics like closing down and passing the ball. The Stenhousemuir goal and the first two on Saturday, despite what was said above, come from just giving the ball away in terrible areas. Whatever shape we play, it's not going to make a blind bit of difference if we don't get the fundamentals right. We know from Davidson's time in charge that having that extra defender blunts you going forward if none of the centre backs are prepared to step out but Hearts are a good team and we won't be expected to have a lot of possession anyway. Can we transition quickly when we do win the ball with the players we have? Possibly I guess. So, despite being sick of the sight of a back three, I'd relent and accept it could be our best option for this weekend, although worry where Carey fits in. Because even if the prospect of a back three isn't terrifying, that fucking 5-2-3 abomination is. Mitov McClelland - Gordon - Considine Wright - McGowan - Phillips - Gallacher Carey Jephcott - May

Football never loses the ability to surprise you. Absolutely staggering. If this guy turns out to be a player then I'm done with this sport. 30 years of watching it and I clearly know nothing.

There is no doubt the process has been slow but half-a-dozen short-term fixes would have just been another nail in the coffin for St Johnstone. Whether we've stopped the bleeding in time will obviously become the pertinent question but, make absolutely no mistake, this was a playing squad living on borrowed time. I said at the time that giving Steven MacLean three years was both good and necessary as any new manager needed to feel they were in an environment where they could attempt to rebuild. He will always ultimately be judged upon whether these signings are good but it was absolutely imperative that we brought in players at peak age or lower on permanent deals this summer and I've been impressed by the fact he's remained true to that when undoubtedly there would have been moments where he could have panicked. If he can add the other two he wants and they are in the same mould and on the same terms as the first three then he can really pleased with his summer's work and we can explore (good) loan options towards the end of the window.

The family resemblance is clear.

Hopefully a more successful spell in Perth than his father.

Two separate points. Jephcott saying he plays best with partner, and one who will stretch the game. He looks a hard enough worker so with two players who will graft, two strikers doesn't need to be out of the question. If doesn't always need to be an orthodox 4-4-2 as the midfield shape can change (and you could use Wright at full back for example) but I think we need to play with two strikers this season. Also, a little lesson for the media team yesterday in parroting claims made on social media about Ben McCrystal. Appreciate they aren't Saints fans - and many who are don't have a huge interest in the history - but straight away that fact about him being second youngest scorer looked wrong to me when you considered Jimmy Benson in addition to Stevie May. As it turns out there was Vic Robertson as well. Brian Doyle is an absolute encyclopedia of Saints knowledge and should have been the first port of call.

There was nothing positive about last Saturday and too much of concern to really know where to even start. But today was much more encouraging. Three of the goals came from the sort of thing I envisage the manager wanting, namely, moving the ball quickly. Thought Jephcott showed that he'll suit that. Still a fair bit to work on but to win 4-0 as a work in progress, you'll take that every day of the week.

Bit worried it might be loans only now. Really need to try and do as much permanent business as we can in this window to attempt to undo 2 years of Davidson. January is notoriously hard and you are already looking ahead to another half-dozen plus likely departures next summer. If you are trying to replace them PLUS three or four loan players then that's a big recruitment job and we are still on that downward spiral.

Mitov and Jephcott put me more at ease. There are a lot of guys in England still without clubs and, like the manager said, players that were saying no a month ago are now wanting to talk. My hope is we can get what MacLean wants (CB, CM, CF and WM) before the league season starts, then there might be something left to look at the full back positions, especially if we can move one or two out.

Immediate gut reaction to Mitov and Jephcott has been positive. This one, not so much, although appreciate Ipswich are in the Championship now. Loans have a place but our starting centre back is 36 so we can't just keep kicking the can down the road.

Probably something as simple as them waiting for the clearance for Jephcott before announcing it.

Liam Gordon brings so much on himself by trying to be Franz Beckenbauer. Same applies to the relatively recent approach he's taken that involves getting into wrestling matches. If he just went back to doing some basic defending and organising he's actually very good at that. He's also gonna have to accept massively reduced terms if he wants to stay at Saints beyond next summer.

Before the Rangers game mentioned by @PauloPerth above, this was our cup record against lower league sides over the previous 7 years: Played 23, Won 22, Drawn 1, Lost 0, For 67, Against 9.

Well done, Stenny. Saints maintain their horrific record in the group stages of this competition. We've now failed to beat Brechin, East Fife, Montrose, Forfar, Annan, Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir in the group stages.

The manager hasn't really put a foot wrong in his media dealings since getting the job but I'm not sure why he came out and said about missing out on a player. Especially when there has largely been an acceptance of his approach, despite the fact it might mean we are starting Ali Crawford tomorrow and will have a subs bench with only one experienced player on it.

What a line, by the way. @PSJ.84 If this season goes wrong and we need a banter years thread, shushed by a mullet has to feature prominently.