Kmcalpin

Or as we've done before with others, give him a cut of the transfer fee.

At the AGM it was said that season ticket details will be released in the next 4-6 weeks. The Covid 19 pandemic has brought widespread misery and really affected us all and almost entirely not in a good way. Financially its been a mixed bag. Millions in the travel, hospitality, retailing and other industries have lost their jobs and their income has been slashed. Hotels, pubs, restaurants and airlines have gone into cold storage. But for others, especially those in the public sector and in some large companies it has been better. They have been working from home, cut travel costs and have been unable to spend their income to the usual extent. Retirees are in the same boat. Income largely unaffected with little to spend it on. So, for others they've built up cash reserves. As for season ticket renewal, I hope the club gives us choices. At an individual level, there's no right and no wrong. For some, paying again for a new ticket simply isn't on, and they will take advantage of the club's generosity and will renew at no cost. For others, they will wish to pay in full for their renewal, and for yet others they may wish to take advantage of the club's no charge renewal, but only pay for the benefits of TV coverage this season. Each to their own. The bottom line is that the club will generate income from some renewals next season; but may not see fans in FP again until the autumn or year end.

The idea of a 4-5-1 formation also ocurred to me. A lot will depend on which players are available of course. To add to our woes I think Watt and Gallagher must be nearing the suspension stage. I hope that Saints don't intimidate us and if that isn't enough of a threat, they'll be streetwise as ever and we'll do well to remind ourselves of the penalties they've "earned" against us in recent years. It certainly won't be a classic and as you say, a 0-0 borefest would be a very good outcome indeed.

Selection wise, defence is is going to be an issue. As things stand, the back 4 could comprise some combination of O'Hara, Lamie, Magloire and Carroll and Maguire. I'm not for throwing in youngsters like Max Johnston, Dean Cornelius, or Yusuf Hussain, unless we really are in dire straits. Without knowing any details, I hope that one or more of Gallagher, McGinley and Foley are fit enough and that we don't pick up any more injuries this week. We need to resort to a 4-4-2 and that could mean a return for Crawford, if fit. I'd be wary about promoting Polworth as this doesn't seem like his kind of game. As usual St Johnstone will be physical, hard working, organised and last but by no means least, streetwise. It might also mean promoting a winger. Maybe some creative thinking required like playing Long in a central midfield role. Hopefully Smith will be fit as we sure as hell will need some height on Saturday. GA will also need to drum into his team the need for hard work. St Johnstone are beatable, but we don't need our lads virtually applauding them as they zip by them. A bit of guts and fight would be a start.

Excellent post Bobby. I just don't get the "retreat into our own box and let the opposition fire in crosses" approach. In fairness we've done this for quite some time. That might, and I stress might, be ok if you have an outstanding goalie with very few weaknesses, and 2 excellent giant central defenders and 2 decent full backs......but we don't. This is the reason why we have conceded so many penalties this season. If you allow the opposition free entry to your box any manner of things can go wrong including individual mistakes, brilliant finishing, deflections, bad luck and refereeing errors. Why leave this to chance? Defence? McGinley may have recovered in time; O'Hara to right back where he's played before. Midfield? Crawford to come back in and maybe one from Hastie, Polworth and Roberts. Its a case of least bad options. Apart from individual ability, the midfield mix just isn't right. The St Johnsone game is not one to blood youngsters. We have to revert to a 4-4-2 to try to compete better in midfield, protect a vulnerable defence and support 2 hard working, but isolated, strikers. The January signings? Lawless, Smith and Foley injured; Magloire doesn't impress; and and where is Eddie Nolan? Where is the point in signing players in January if they are unfit and will take months to get up to speed?

Tony Watt for me. Never gave up. Devante Cole a close second.

Absolutely Yorky I like Allan Campbell but with one or two exceptions he's hardly kicked a ball for us in the past 2/3 months and its not down to burnout.

You're right but I was thinking more about when we're not in possession. There were several instances in the second half when Accies were passing the ball about at will on the edge of our box. Our midfield 3 just stood bemused as they spectated. No energy, no movement, no aggression. No effort was made to close attackers down. That made life very hard for an admittedly poor defence.

Yes,thats correct. If fans take advantage of this offer it means that they will be able to attend all league games in person next year, Covid permitting, and watch home games this season on TV for the cost of one season ticket . The club will clarify season tickets in the next 4-6 weeks.

In that case he'll be disappointed. Certainly we played better after the break but quite a few players, Watt and Cole excepted , were still poor. Our midfield was far too static before and after the break and failed to compete. It also helped that Accies took their foot off the gas.

Yes, 4-3-3 is causing us problems. Our midfield plays too deep and our strikers are forced to play deeper to compensate for them.

Problem is that Polworth needs hard working, physical players around him to allow him to play and right now we don't have them.

One of those days. One of those cases where we were beaten before kick off. A learning experience for GA. Only Watt and Cole and get pass marks for me. When we invite teams onto us and defend deeply, all manner of things can go wrong in our box as we saw today.

They might be defensively minded players but the problem is they can't defend.

Why was Magloire yellow carded and Callachan wasn't ?

Our set pieces today have been shocking.

No, we've seen similar fouls in the game so far but they didn't attract any red cards.

Players have been poor; but many of our problems stem from the 4-3-3 set up, lack of squad rotation since Wednesday, and the tactic of inviting Accies on to us.

You certainly can't blame the strikers; they've been on a hiding to nothing.

No more red cards please.

They looked as if they'd downed tools at 3.00pm

Very often when a team goes down to 10 men they show fight and grit , but not us today. We've collapsed.

Yes, a tactical blunder.

Game over.

Midfield and strikers sitting far too deep. Can't match Accies energy and work rate so far.