Kmcalpin

An interesting discussion about the importance of the senior players and I can see both sides of the debate. On one hand we do need to retain a certain level of experience to bring on the youngsters but on the other hand you don't want too many aged 30+ in the side. For a starting line up I would have thought two from McManus, Pearson, Hammell and Lasley. Its a fine balance to strike. Add in maybe a couple of youngsters under 20 and you're left with 7 players aged 20-30. Not an exact science but thats a reasonable balance surely? What we also have to remember is that you're not assessing senior players mainly on the basis of their fitness/performances this season but what they'll be like next season. As for our defence only 4 clubs have shipped more goals than us this season so far. That has to improve. On the basis that Ripley has not cost us a barrowload then you have to examine the 4 outfield defenders and the midfielders. That said I would have no problem in shipping 5 goals a game if we scored 6!

Good to see Pearo notch a brace and us score some from midfield. If he's played in the correct role ie a box to box attacking midfielder then he's an asset to the side.

That win tonight was worth £105,000 to us. A great result.

Yes, I think you're right Captain. McDonald is in a different position.

Agree with most comments about the 5 senior players offered reduced terms. You do have to ask who is going to offer them better money? Aberdeen, Hearts, Dundee United, Hibs, Ross County? I very much doubt it. Of the five, I'd really only be concerned if MacDonald was to leave. That said we do need some experience to help the younger players. Mark McGhee is no fool is will have contingency plans in place.

At the split I was doubtful that we would achieve 4th place but thought that 5th was not beyond us. However Saturday's defeat made even that harder to achieve. Still 6th spot is better than being in a play off.

On what grounds? Financial cutbacks or the fact that some individual members of the squad won't be deemed good enough to be offered new deals. If its the latter then I guess thats life.

OK

Not necessarily. The offers may reflect Mark McGhee's use of his playing budget re offering other players enhanced deals or bringing other players in. In any event its maybe just an attempt to use our money more wisely. Doubt if it has anything to do with Les.

Absolutely. Its not surprising that the other senior players are being asked to take a wage cut as this will probably reflect anticipated decreasing time on the pitch. Bit surprised about Samson though and wouldn't be surprised if he rejects the offer.

Presumably then St Johnstone's goals were higher than ours this season? You could well be right.

Agree 100% Andy. The SFA & SPFL don't do strict liability (when it suits them) and as such their inconsistency is staggering. I simply don't trust them and its not beyond possibility that they won't yet come back to hammer us for not meeting some other recommendation ie the club did not take all possible steps to identify offenders.

It would also be interesting to find out from the SPFL what the minimum acceptable stewarding ratio is; what it was in the play off and most important of all what ratio they proposed in the investigation report.

That was never proved although the media latched onto it. When fans invaded the pitch, the players understandably rushed for the tunnel and there was quite a melee of bodies, with folk falling and tripping. A Celtic player claimed he'd been kicked from behind but there was no way of knowing what took place.

My vote goes to Ripley. He did nothing wrong despite receiving little or no protection.

Word on FPC is that sanctions would have cost us £100k, but I don't know. The game itself was a damp squib riddled by petulance, niggles on the pitch and poor officiating. Fisher in particular was lucky to see half time. It was a game which had been lost by 2.55. The formation was bizarre and ultimately along with poor play cost us the game. In the first part of the first half we looked lively and could have scored 3 goals more had we taken our chances. Johnson especially looked to be in the mood with some great runs but unfortunately looked like a fish out of water playing so deep. For all we looked lively the midfield and defence looked poor and Saints could also have added another couple of goals. We looked very exposed down the flanks and it was no coincidence that both goals lost came from the wings. The midfield sat too deep and found it hard to compete, especially in the second half. Saints looked the better side in the last 45 and comfortably saw the game out despite our fruitless pressure. Saints were impressive in their own way. Not exciting to watch but apart from an error or two looked solid, well organised and played the referee well. They worked far harder than us to close us down. Personnel wise, Johnson was out of position and Ainsworth contributed nothing. The latter should have been replaced at half time. We played without any recognised full backs and it cost us. Couldn't quite fathom out why Leitch was brought on to replace Johnson with 10 minutes to go. I like Cadden but today his first touch let him down. Credit to him though for creating the goal through sheer hard work. Very few pass marks today. I'm a supporter of Mark McGhee but today he got it badly wrong. Poor show from the Saints fans for their treatment of Keith Lasley.

I quite understand the furore over the army of stewards deployed today. Totally OTT. Even quite a few in front of the POD Stand. However the cost of hiring them would have been much less than the fine the SPFL kangaroo court would have imposed for any breach. Last year at the Sevco play off we had double the recommended number of stewards but the SPFL kangaroo court deemed even that to be inadequate. We have not been allowed to see the report of that investigation and I would ask again what the court's recommendation about levels of stewarding was. This has never been made public. Whilst I totally understand the furore over the stewarding today our ire should be directed at the SPFL and not MFC.

I would hope so. Hibs for example are offering their ST holders a 10% reduction.

Yes, he is.

Whilst your example is correct you could also quote the opposite but still valid example of someone who couldn't afford an early bird ticket last year but can do so now. Don't forget either for the 16-18 age group their tickets will be cheaper and for yet others in the POD Stand there is no increase at all.

He did indeed. Of the recently released United players there's none that would interest me. United will finish bottom for a reason.

Lets hope we have reason to celebrate on Saturday and fans enjoy themsleves....but stay off the pitch please.

The club is quite right to appeal. Given what happened beforehand, I think downgrading the punishment to a yellow card would the correct outcome. Shinnie's actions were a bit rich considering what he had done previously.

Pretty much my thoughts too. St Johnstone have a pretty pugnacious and abrasive midfield and so we'll want to mix it with them I'd have thought. Cadden is a bit naive defensively, but yes he does bring more balance and competitiveness to the side than Ainsworth.

Is Watt not a right back?