El Grew

Just got letter in from el Chairman advising season ticket price frozen at last year's price plus 10% discount if renewed before 31 May. I will not be renewing though. Pay at the gate from now on and choose my games. 'Well fan through and through but I am not paying a small fortune to watch people do what I could do if I got myself fit. Also fed-up getting shafted with all these reduced gate prices.

Eh..........(thinking)............!! No!

Hugely disappointing but hardly surprising. Considering where we were at Christmas I think it was near miraculous that we managed to get back into contention for a top 6 finish. Plenty of graft and effort but absolutely no quality – Stephen Hughes excepted. However having said that, I would like to make the following observations on our manager and players: Manager Wrong team selection from the start. In a home game which we needed to win, against a team well below us in the league why did he: - play our normal right-back at left back (Quinn); - play our normal left-back in midfield (Hammell); - play a 4-3-3 with two defenders (Klimpl and Hammell); - wait until St. Mirren scored before making a substitution; - have his defenders launch long balls to Sutton but have no midfield players getting forward to take advantage of his knockdowns; - vary his tactics occasionally from just launching long balls forward; - have no width to our forward play. This is not the first vitally important game that he has done this – has he not learned anything? Far too indecisive and seems incapable of influencing a game by use of substitutes. Also is he able to motivate the players. Players Poor application and questions must be asked about their mentality and spinal fortitude when the chips are down. This is not the first time they have bottled it. If McGhee stays, then now that the top 6 is over and we are safe from relegation, I believe its now time for him to re-build and bring in some new blood. Of the current lot, I believe the only ones he brought are Hughes, O’Brien and Klimpl. The rest he inherited and lets be brutally frank a lot of them are rank. Keep McLean Reynolds (not a centre back in a million years but move into left back) Hughes (if he'll stay) Klimpl (if he'll stay) Sutton Clarkson Murphy Lasley Move Out G. Smith (wants to play at a higher level – I’d recommend Mexico it’s nearly 7,500 feet above sea level) P. Quinn (one of the worst defenders ever seen at FP. Still making same errors as when he came into the first team) S. Hammell (full backs need to be able to defend first and foremost and he can't) S. Craigan (simply too old and slow now) O’Brien (sand dancer and now back to what he was when he first came) Fitzpatrick (has had a long time to establish himself as first team regular and failed) D Smith (not good enough for SPL) McGarry (still don’t why he was originally signed) I don’t give a monkey’s chuff if this gets on anybody’s tits because facts need to be faced. IMO McGhee first needs to build a defence that is hard to break down and score against and not be fragile like the present lot, and then take it on from there. This needs to be a top priority for him now. He needs to show that he can manage now.

I wonder what the crowds will be like for the remaining games at FP after the split if as seems likely, we don't make the top six. I mean we are safe from relegation so we would really have nada to play for. What do others think? Mind you as I right this St Mirren have just gone 1-0 up on Hibs.

Sorry Kmcalpin I wasn't singling the 'Well out when I said most games are dross. I was speaking generally about Scottish Football in the SPL. I agree that we were bloody good to watch last season and it was one of the best seasons I can remember both in terms of results and the style of our play. I do honestly feel that Scottish football is at at an all time low. We have teams full of players who are undoubtedly very fit and athletic but sadly lacking in craft, guile and skill. The speed at which the modern game is played means that players' first touch is critical whereas in years past this was not the case. Players could get away with not having a great first touch as they and their opponents were not as fit, athletic or quick. We fans are fickle. Do we want to see our team entertain and lose or do we just want to see our team win and to hell with entertainment? We will all have our views. To do both is the ideal but few teams ever manage it. The great Ancell Babes were fantastic to watch and highly entertaining - neutrals came out in droves to see them, but sadly they didn't win anything. Personally, I like to watch entertaining football - to go and see guys doing things that you know you couldn't do yourself. I can remember when guys like Andy Weir, Davie Cooper, Jimmy Johnstone etc. got the ball, you could feel electricity in the air as the crowd suddenly perked-up expectantly, as they knew they were going to see something very special. I can remember seeing Davie Cooper scoring a great solo goal against Dundee Utd at FP and thinking that it was worth the entry money alone just to see that moment of magic. Be honest, if you were young, athletic and fit, you could go out and do what the vast majority of SPL players do and that is truly sad. We have lost our way somewhere because we did previously produce highly skilful players that were sought after and respected throughout the world. Sorry if I've ranted and wandered slightly off topic here but it is something I do feel strongly about. Yes, SPL football is overpriced but I honestly don't think fans would complain as much if what they were seeing was more entertaining with more skill, craft and guile on show. And it might just tempt some more out to see it.

This is an old chestnut. The simple truth is that if you didn't have an intrinsic reason for watching football at FP (i.e. as a born and bred diehard supporter) you wouldn't be near the place. If I didn't support the 'Well then I wouldn't be going to football, period. Despite the tripe spouted by Lex Gold et al, Scottish football is as poor as its ever been. With all too few exceptions most games are utter dross. It is also way over-priced. Is it any wonder gates are so poor. Jeez, its hard to be bothered watching football even when its live on TV. And it will only get worse.

According to report in the Herald today, NLC and Clyde FC are 'in dispute' concerning alleged non-payment of rent etc.

Should've had game wrapped-up in first half and a seccond goal would have finished the game. However, as always when a team is only 1-0 down they are never out of things. Failing to get the second goal was our undoing. The disappointing thing is that we lost two goals at Tynecastle recently from long throws and yet there we were losing another one from the same tactic. Failure to learn lesson = costly. I thought that MM dithered (as usual) too for too long before putting subs on. Clarkson's was inevitable given the amount of work he put in and the kicking he took from their back four - at the end of the game he had an ice pack strapped to his right knee. It was obvious that McGarry (good first 45 minutes) was blowing out of his a*se after an hour and should've been replaced. Also when they went to 10 men we should have taken either a defender or a midfielder off and put another forward on. Poorest Aberdeen team I've seen for years but they still sneaked off with a point. Don't think we can make top six now however one defeat in thirteen games is some record and I think it was our poor start to the season that was too much to recover from.

??????????????????????? Your logic mate not mine. No?

A lot of interesting views and ideas. The biggest problem facing Scottish football is that the product is poor in quality, lacking in real competition, and not giving fans value for money. When you have to start messing around in ways to dress your product up then its your product that's wrong not how its presented. However, by way of contributing to the debate.... 1. Stop showing live Scottish football on TV - if people want to see football then they should attend games. 2. All games to be played on Saturdays with 3.00pm kick off. Midweek (Tuesday and Wednesday to be used solely for Cup replays. 3. Reduce gate prices to affordable levels - say £10. 4. Scrap the League/CIS Cup - attendance figures show fans are not interested in and its likely the clubs aren't either and anyway it no longer qualifies the winners for Europe. 5. Have a league of 16 teams playing each other twice, with a mid-winter break from December to January. This would give players time to rest and recover etc. and anyway crowds are usually at their lowest in these months anyway. Dump the rest - have you seen the attendance figures for these clubs. Sorry but they have not part in a professional set-up. The original thinking behind a Premier League back in 1975 was to make it more competitive as it was felt that by playing the OF more often clubs would become less fearful of them. This did work for a short time when Aberdeen and Dundee Utd mounted good challenges. However the league is now heavily weighted in the OF's favour with every club having to play them 4 times, a total of 8 games. If each club only had to play them twice, a total of 4 games then it might level thing out some. Lets face it how many games do the OF lose in a season? Having to play them less might help make the league more competitive again. 6. Go back to clubs splitting their home gate with the away club - that way everyone would get a chance of revenue from playing the OF away from home. 7. Season Ticket holders should get a programme free upon entry. 8. Upon production of their Season Tickets at any kiosk in the ground, season ticket holders should be allowed one free pie and bovril/tea/coffee. 9. Clubs should set their wage structure for their players based upon the turnover/income which they generate. 10. Clubs should allow each other's Season Ticket holders reduced entry to away games upon production of their Season Tickets. A couple of seasons ago both Kilmarnock and Hearts allowed 'Well Season Ticket holders in at reduced rates. Just a few ideas but as somebody already said - the fans are extremely unlikely to be consulted on their ideas and views.

Nowhere in my post did I say he had a bad game? I said he was not a full back, and he is not. Brian had a good game against Dundee Utd but one swalow doesn't make a summer. He does not have the pace or mobility to play at full back. He was signed as a centre-back, that's his position and that's where he should be played. If that means he can't dislodge either of the current two centre-backs then he will need to bide his time. Alternatively, MM could slot Brian in beside Craigan, and move Reynolds to left-midfield OR move Reynolds to left-back and put Hammell in left-midfield.

Appreciate what everyone has said about yesterday. However the team selection was wrong and IMO set-up to get a point. For me, Only Smith, Craigan, Reynolds and Klimpl came out of the game with any credit. Brian McLean is not a full-back; Stevie Hammell never looked comfortable all game; Paul Quinn is not a midfielder; Stephen Hughes was anonymous - MoM last week to this is hard to fathom; Jim O'Brien gave a performance akin to those when he first came to the club - bowfing; John Sutton, also anonymous and for a big guy is poor in the air and can't hold the ball up; Cillian Sheridan missed the best chance we had and looks lost; The plain fact is that we took the field with 6 defensive players. Our midfield was non-existent resulting in little or no service to the front two, neither of whom is capable of holding the ball up and laying it back. Only when Clarkson came on did the Kilmarnock back four start to get messed around as he 'worked the line' and added much needed energy and urgency. Surely he must start games as opposed to being used as some sort of super-sub and then if he's tired pull him off after an hour. Given that we had so many players out of sorts I feel a point was a good outcome. We've played much better and lost.

We're on a good run but gave ourselves too much to do as a result of our poor showing up until the end of December. After yesterday's result I just can't see it now. Hope I'm wrong but doubt it.

Quinn working on his crossing!!?? He needs to learn how to pass the ball to a team mate first. Yesterday, he gave another Masterclass in how never to find a team mate with a pass! Its so bad and has been going on for so long that I wonder how he keeps getting played - in any position.

Dixie Deans.

I thought our best tow today were Brian McLean and Stephen Hughes. Its great to see big Brian back again and he seems to have picked-up where he left off last season but Stephen just shaded it for me and I thought that was one of the best games he's played for us since coming to the club.

My ratings for today - Smith () Still shoogly under crosses but hsi shot stopping is top rate. One unbelievable save to keep out Swanson. Looked a goal all the way until he somehow managed to paw it away. McLean (9) Picked up where he left off at the end of last season. Reynolds ( Looked more confident and composed than for some time. Craigan (7) Good, solid reliable no frills performance. Hammell (5) Not one of his better days today. Klimpl ( I loved his aggressive in-your-face approach. High energy levels and he covered the back four really well and didn't let anyone boss him in the midfield. Hughes (10) MoM. Showed real class today. Passes for the misses by Sheridan and Sutton were really sweet and his general all round play was top drawer. Quinn (7) Solid enough but midfield is not his position. O'Brien (7) Put in some terrific and nearly impossible to defend crosses - Sutton goal came from one. Tired a bit second half. Sheridan (5) Not his day today. Sutton (7) Scored and put himself about a bit but needs to be more aggressive and not get bossed around by defenders so much. Clarkson ( On as sub but what an impact. Great energy levels and apart from getting the winner he really had the DU back four on toast - they'd had it easy up until he came on.

Well done to MM. When you see that we've now only lost 1 game out of our last 11 in the SPL then that takes some doing and we should've beaten Hibs and gotten draw at Hearts. So all in all a great run. We'd do well to enjoy it because it won't last for ever and MM will eventually move on but its great to have a manager who talks about getting into the top part of the league and is capable of delivering it. Makes a real change from moping around the SPL basement.

Congratulations and well done to Stephen. Been a great servant to the club. Didn't think I'd see him back at FP when wee Gerbil Jaws let him go all those years back. But he kept the faith, didn't quit and worked damn hard to prove it was a mistake letting him go so he deserves all the plaudits coming his way. A gentleman and a real pro.

I thought apart from a 10-15 minute spell at the beginning of the second half we dominated the game. If Sheridan had hit the ball harder (as he should have done) we'd have been 2-0 up and it would have been a long way back for DU then. Poor miss. After DU equalised (deserved) Sutton put clean through by Hughes missed another sitter. Poor miss at vital stage of the game. That would've been 3-1 and game over. As for DU penalty claim I didn't see it (a la Wenger) however any whingeing from their manager and players should be carefully tempered by the fact that they should have finished the game with 9 men. Gomis lifted his hands and slapped Quinn in the face - a straight red AND Wilkie deliberately punched the ball on the stand side later on - another straight red. Sure the refereee was diabolical (Brines always is) but I think DU more than came out on the credit side with him today and Levein would do well to take a balanced look at things.

Some typically sensationalist tripe from a sensationalist tripe comic book. Its common knowledge that Smith is more than likely to want to move at the end of the season. Have we not signed the ICT keeper on a pre-contract deal? This would appear to suggest that MM has already prepared for Smith exiting at the end of the season and destroys their theory that Smith going to Hibs stunning MM and our showing interest in Howard from St Mirren. A non-story if ever there was one. Yawn!!!!!!!!!

Aye well in that case the Duchess Park, Strathclyde Park and my back garden (in particular order) grass are in better nick that FP!!!

Much has been said about the state of the pitch and there have been numerous reasons suggested for it by everyone and their grannie including Pat Nevin. Its clear that the major problem area is from about 20 yards from the halfway line to the goal line at the South Stand end. Personally, I think it began with the installation of USH and was compounded by the building of the South Stand which has undoubtedly caused drainage problems at that end with the obstruction of daylight also being a contributory factor. Like many I've attended FP for yonks, in fact going way back to the middle 1960s but I can honestly say that the pitch was never even close to being in the condition it is now. The only part of the pitch which ever held water, and only if there was torrential rain, was a small area near the corner flag between the South Stand and the POD Stand, but it never caused postponement of games. When games were postponed it was for frozen pitches - but then nobody had USH. As for having to go down 40 feet to resolve the problems, this is quite simply ridiculous and anyone suggesting this kind of thing should start taking water with it. FFS when golf clubs have to lift and replace greens they dont need to go these extremes. St Andrew's is open 365 days/year and has thousands of rounds of golf played, tramped on by thousands of visitors, suffers wind, rain and frost and yet still manages to be kept playable. Having said all of this, I do think we should relocate to a new ground but where and using what for money? Due to the state of the economy FP is perhaps not worth very much. Having said that, it is prime residential land and could be highly desirable to the right people even if they now were to pay much more than its present market value, for future development.

Like everyone else I'm delighted to get a point and keep our unbeaten league run going. Strachan was talking wind and piss when he said if Celtic had taken half their chances they'd have won 5-0. Celtic only had two real clear cut openings - McDonald's shot and Hesselink's header in the first half - admittedly both should have scored. I certainly felt we matched Celtic for effort and commitment for the entire game and for this alone I thought we merited a draw. However, there is no hiding from the fact that we are well short in the midfield area. Not for the first time recently, our midfielders failed to get beyond our strikers and although we drew, for us as being the home side and not to force the away keeper to make a single save is very worrying and unacceptable.

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments behind your suggestions Kmcalpin I really think that to ask supporters to put their hands in their pockets again given the current climate, tcket pricing fiasco and bearing in mind how the chairman has treated them in the past, is simply not on. Anyway I'm not persuaded that the pitch problems are all USH related. I think the standard of groundskeeping leaves a lot to be desired. Witness the different colours of sand used on the pitch - it looks as though they used anything they had lying around. Like thousands of others, I paid for my season ticket in advance and by taking our money and that of everyone who pays at the gate, they enter into a binding contract with us to put on football matches in the SPL and to ensure that in doing so they comply with the rules of the SPL and ant other legislation that is applicable. That contract has been broken. Who says so? The SPL! Hence the suspended fine in relation to the state of the pitch. Its all to do with the club being run by a chairman who is so potless that the club can't even manage to have pitch fit for purpose. I really fear for the club if we don't get a move away from FP because between the pitch and the work required to the Phil O'Donnell Stand its fast becoming a millstone round the club's neck.