Kmcalpin

Great post Al. The new manager will never have a better opportunity to assess his players, warts and all. Its a game which could, realistically, go any way. Jim Goodwin has had our tactics well and truly sussed as recent results against the Buddies prove, but we may just start to see signs of modest changes today, which may just wrong foot him - very early days though. The St Mirren physio has given approval for today's fixture to go ahead as Saints are almost at full strength On a more serious note, the BBC reports that Long and Lamie are unavailable, together with long term absentees. Kelly has been given clearance to play.

The engine room needs a service.

Where did you pick this up? I think he is a decent coach.

Just listened to Graham Alexander's interview. He seems to have a very strong work ethic. Interesting that he referred to underperforming players, as Robbo did and factions and divisions on the playing side. At least that's what I took out of it, maybe wrongly so.

I would hope so.

I think he'll hit the ground running with regards to the squad; possible departures and requirements for new players.

If confirmed, this seems like a fresh start for us. We need a new broom and a change of regime.

I remember watching Jim MacLean's United teams and our own wee Tommy's early sides. Absolutely dire to watch but they worked. United fans loved watching their heroes take a horrendous pummelling for 89 minutes and then stage a last gasp smash and grab act to take 3 points.

I don't know for sure but would assume that the manager would identify positions for which we need to recruit and also inform the recruitment team of the type of player he wants to bring in. They will do the rest. It may well be that Martin Foyle will have a long list of potential recruits to present to our new man.

He's not really kicked a ball for us for some weeks now. We could always do as we've done at times in the past of course in simialr circumstances; give him a cut of the fee/excess fee. He'd have to up his game in return of course.

If true, and if Millwall or any other other club want him now, then we should ask for a fee equivalent to the compensation we'd be due at the end of the season and then some. Otherwise retain his services until our last game.

Maybe he was forth out of the four.

Is that the Babylon Bridge?

Chicken and egg situation. Maybe we resort to hoofball because he's not doing it on the deck - thats my take on it? Although talented, he's not as physical as Turnbull and is a bit lightweight. He needs hard working physical players around him to let him play. Maybe about the midfield mix?

The calm before the storm.....

Announced recently, United players have been asked to take wage cuts.

Now is not the time to appoint Las. Wright is not everyone's Cup of tea but knows Scottish football and is a known quantity and would be a firm but dull manager (friends who are Saints fans have castigated me for saying this). My concern is his views on youth development. I know little of Grayson except that he's experienced and managed at a reasonably high level in England albeit not very successfully. A high risk appointment. I also know little of Alexander but again hasn't been a roaring success down south. Experienced and knows the English lower leagues. Again a risky appointment but not as much as Grayson. I wonder who else applied.

St Johnstone have had a lower top 6 budget for some years. They have and continue to pay more than us. However this difference will not be huge. If pushed, I'd say on average they pay maybe £100/150 per week more than us, but that's just a guess. They push the boat out a bit for supposedly better players.

Yes he was. On paper a good signing. At Livingston though he played behind a huge defence. Should be an upgrade on Chapman and Archer. I can only assume that Carson's latest injury is reasonably serious.

Whoever the successful candidate is he will have to be a strong man manager. I have no inside information but suspect,no more, that there are dressing room/motivational issues. We'll need a fair few new players but can't change the whole squad and so he'll need to ship out or handle under performers.

IF the Rancid article is true, then yes its at odds with what he said elsewhere. As club captain, it would be very easy for him to come out and clarify his position. In fact that's what is required.

So it seems he's not out of contract at all at the end of the season as the extension clause seems to be in our favour. As such his transfer value is higher than we thought.

When quoting win percentages for Wright and Robinson, their results are probably skewed and depressed by losing to Celtic and Sevco 6/8 times a season.

Just paper talk probably and I know little of English football but it seems odd that Alexander has been mentioned as one of the frontrunners A bit of a left field candidate with question marks over him. At first sight doesn't seem to fit the kind of candidate I thought we'd be looking for. On another tack Declan Gallagher's comments are interesting and hints at a kind of split in the dressing room. From the little I know he seems to be one of those who care.

I don't know about 4 months ago, but irrespective of how it was done, certainly Robbo should have departed maybe 4 weeks ago. As you say the timing has made life difficult for the Board and indeed the team. However we are where we are, and this isn't the time for something different or off the wall.