Kmcalpin

Pre match I thought our line up looked very risky in defence. Either a managerial masterstroke or an own goal. Anyway onto the game. We started reasonably positively an a slight improvement on last week. Sparrow looked fine going forward but totally lost defensively and St Johnstone soon picked up on this. That pattern persisted until Sparrow retired. We scored from the penalty after a blatant hand ball that everyone except the referee saw. After that things went downhill. We sat deeper and deeper and our forays upfield became rarer and more half hearted. Like last week St Johnstone were far better when off the ball they harried, chased and got in our faces. In contrast we sat off them, gave them space and looked passive. After the break things continued in the same vein but got worse. Our midfield simply disappeared and a raft of changes didn’t help, especially bringing on so many new boys. Paton’s energy was missed when he tired and went off. Watt ploughed a lone furrow up front and suffered from lack of support. I thought that at about the 55 minute mark we needed to bolster the defence, probably by taking off O’Donnell and bringing on Casey for his height and aerial ability. The final 35 minutes comprised a siege on our goal with countless corners and crosses and the huge surprise was that St Johnstone didn’t score more and sooner. A very slight improvement on last week for the opening spell but thereafter the same flat turgid and half hearted performance. Although the cast of actors was different the performance was just the same. All talk and no action. At full time the fans certainly let the players and management know what they thought in no uncertain terms. I can't speak for all fans but my impression is that SK has lost the support of over 50% of them.

He's 6-2, played in the Premiership before and at 25 is no spring chicken. So no excuses for looking very unsure in the air. That will only affect the confidence of an already poor central defence. St Mirren fans said exactly the same about him. A good shot stopper but poor in the air.

He also said that our league position is at odds with how we play and are now getting found out or words to that effect.

It's even harder when we don't have possession and can't win it back.

It looked like a 5-3-1-1 to me for the vast majority of the game.

A problem for the entire 95 minutes. Sparrow was OK going forward but he couldn't defend to save himself. Not the lads fault as he was played out of position and hung out to dry.

I didn't know about that but Balcombe gave me the fear. He doesn't like high balls and was glued to his line today.

Yes, spot on.

Having sat through another 95 minutes of a turgid, flat and passive performance today, I've come off the fence and now believe it's time to part company with SK. Wasn't impressed with his post match comments blaming the players. He really needs to take responsibility. It's time to go Stuart.

"It was the players' fault:.

If we wrest Jordan McGhee from Dundee this month, and land Dom Thompson then that's our problem positions addressed, at least on paper. However we will then have a huge squad albeit with a substantial injured component. Surely some need for trimming around the edges.

If his comments were simply clumsily phrased and he wasn't referring to the fans then all he has to do is to clarify what he meant. Hopefully someone at the club has had a tactful word in his ear. No manager can afford to alienate fans unnecessarily.

I don't know the details of these deals obviously, but that implies that we now have no control over the length of the loans. As such, serious questions need to be asked as to why we agreed to these deals in the first place.

I think we also need another LWB as Wilson seems burn out and Seddon is out of action for a good month or two.

Thats exactly it for me. We badly need someone up front to compete physically with the Jack Sanders of the world, hold the ball up and bring others like Vale, Stama or Manwhanise (if he's played close enough) into play. Thats what we've missed and a physical target man was a must last summer. I have no idea why one wasn't signed.

There are options to trim the squad. The likes of Callachan could be mutualled surely? The loans for Tavares or even Watt could be terminated presumably? Could Ebiye and Koutroumbis be loaned out? If Jordan McGhee signs this month could Davor be loaned out or mutualled? Not all of these options would be feasible of course but there are possibilities. SK did hint at one or two moving out.

According to Met Office forecasts, by mid afternoon the conditions shouldn't be too bad, although not great. However the pitch is notoriously poor and some time ago, St Johnstone decided not to invest in it as they had other spending priorities.

Luke Armstrong incoming? https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/24881049.reports-carlisle-uniteds-luke-armstrong-set-motherwell/

I'd agree with that. A small point about Tony Watt's chalked off goal. Just before the ball comes in the keeper pushes Watt away; not violently but a push nonetheless. Presumably its ok for a player to do that in the box?

To put things in perspective, I was talking to Joewarkthelegend earlier in the week. We've both been going to Fir Park for decades and we agreed that last Saturday's cup performance was the worst we'd witnessed for many many years. That's how poor it was. We're hoping for changes this Saturday, but above all, a change in attitude both on and off the pitch.

In the great scheme of things, the referee's poor performance on Saturday wasn't a huge issue. We had other more pressing issues with which to contend. However, John Beaton was very inconsistent. Yes, I recall that very incident which had many fans on their feet in protest. I can't, in all honesty, blame SK for complaining about those decisions. I'm one of those sad fans who dislike stealing yards at free kicks and throw ins and so take an interest in such decisions. Beaton constantly pulled up our players for stealing yardage at throw ins but blatantly failed to do so with St Johnstone who were equally as guilty.

Possibly Paton?

I suspect we'll receive something like £3.5 - 4m for young Miller. Time will tell.

I suspect when he goes and how much we receive for him, will be largely outwith our control. Whilst we'll have a modicum of control, I think the lad himself and his agent are in the driving seat. There will be clauses in his contract to cover exactly this type of situation.

I wonder where this information came from. Reported by Sky but nothing on the Club's Official site nor on its Fb page.