St Johnstone v Motherwell 28/10/2026

[star sail]

6 hours ago, couttsy said:

I’ve rarely felt this misaligned with what the vocal majority on here are saying. Taking last night in isolation, I thought we played pretty well in spells and can definitely see patterns of play from a team that are coached.

I am not sure how misaligned you are with the support as a whole. If you look at the regular 'manager out' posters on this forum it amounts to a total of about 10 people. Yes that can be extrapolated into a percentage of the support but I would be surprised if it is the majority.

It is a very vocal minority and as such gives a sense that they speak as a authoritative majority. 

I always find the desire for managers to lose their job to be a little distasteful. It is part of the modern game but it is a very destructive part of the game that will deeply affect the lives of the managers involved.

AJ has been in the job for 4 (four!! ) months. The posts to get him out started about a month ago. 

There arguments always rely on a few regularly voiced misconceptions 

1. that we have a right to beat St Johnstone/ Kilmarnock/ St Mirren/ Dundee.... etc, etc and if we don't it's a sacking offense.

2. that other teams are not suffering the same woes as us. As a example, look at the two goals St Johnstone lost last night. Defensively they were poor goals to concede. A Valakari coached team loses these goals and we want him as our next manager, an AJ coached team loses these goals and we want him sacked.

3. the supporters of the other teams in our league are watching a better standard of football than we are. Look on the forums of Aberdeen, Falkirk, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Hibs etc at the moment and see how true that actually is. 

4. that we will never win another game again under this current management structure. I have read several times over the last 24 hrs that we have no chance against Dundee United when the reality is that we beat them last time out with the same team and same manager in the dim and distant past of just 6 weeks ago.

Actually Valakari himself last night said that he thought the standard of the football on display last night was more enjoyable than most because both teams were trying to play football.

As a society we have the attention span of a goldfish. The need for change has become as much a part of the spectacle of the game as the football itself. 

As one poster on here often observes, the fans will have the last word and this is true but it does not necessarily mean that the fans are right or that the narrative that eventually forces a manager out is based on any kind of rational thought or objective analysis.

These voices are powerful because it does tend to make us believe that a catastrophic problem exists when it simply does not.

Your inclination to think that what you watched last night was actually ok ( if not what we would ideally like) is probably correct but it is difficult to have the courage of your convictions when you subsequently read the extent of the negativity towards the team the manager and the performance.

Nobody is saying that it is perfect at the moment but I think we have to treat with some caution the naysayers preaching that the end is nigh. 

[bobbybingo]

34 minutes ago, star sail said:

I am not sure how misaligned you are with the support as a whole. If you look at the regular 'manager out' posters on this forum it amounts to a total of about 10 people. Yes that can be extrapolated into a percentage of the support but I would be surprised if it is the majority.

It is a very vocal minority and as such gives a sense that they speak as a authoritative majority. 

I always find the desire for managers to lose their job to be a little distasteful. It is part of the modern game but it is a very destructive part of the game that will deeply affect the lives of the managers involved.

AJ has been in the job for 4 (four!! ) months. The posts to get him out started about a month ago. 

There arguments always rely on a few regularly voiced misconceptions 

1. that we have a right to beat St Johnstone/ Kilmarnock/ St Mirren/ Dundee.... etc, etc and if we don't it's a sacking offense.

2. that other teams are not suffering the same woes as us. As a example, look at the two goals St Johnstone lost last night. Defensively they were poor goals to concede. A Valakari coached team loses these goals and we want him as our next manager, an AJ coached team loses these goals and we want him sacked.

3. the supporters of the other teams in our league are watching a better standard of football than we are. Look on the forums of Aberdeen, Falkirk, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Hibs etc at the moment and see how true that actually is. 

4. that we will never win another game again under this current management structure. I have read several times over the last 24 hrs that we have no chance against Dundee United when the reality is that we beat them last time out with the same team and same manager in the dim and distant past of just 6 weeks ago.

Actually Valakari himself last night said that he thought the standard of the football on display last night was more enjoyable than most because both teams were trying to play football.

As a society we have the attention span of a goldfish. The need for change has become as much a part of the spectacle of the game as the football itself. 

As one poster on here often observes, the fans will have the last word and this is true but it does not necessarily mean that the fans are right or that the narrative that eventually forces a manager out is based on any kind of rational thought or objective analysis.

These voices are powerful because it does tend to make us believe that a catastrophic problem exists when it simply does not.

Your inclination to think that what you watched last night was actually ok ( if not what we would ideally like) is probably correct but it is difficult to have the courage of your convictions when you subsequently read the extent of the negativity towards the team the manager and the performance.

Nobody is saying that it is perfect at the moment but I think we have to treat with some caution the naysayers preaching that the end is nigh. 

👍

[grizzlyg]

Back from majorca today and watched the highlights.  Cracking goal from Said but jeez that 2nd equaliser is criminal.  I know buck stops with AJ but the players aren't helping with basic errors.  I still feel we can click and rosenborg showed plenty patience with AJ so I feel he still needs time, my opinion and I definitely know a few that wont agree.

COYW

[SteelmaninOZ]

 

[Prestwickwell]

1 hour ago, star sail said:

I am not sure how misaligned you are with the support as a whole. If you look at the regular 'manager out' posters on this forum it amounts to a total of about 10 people. Yes that can be extrapolated into a percentage of the support but I would be surprised if it is the majority.

It is a very vocal minority and as such gives a sense that they speak as a authoritative majority. 

I always find the desire for managers to lose their job to be a little distasteful. It is part of the modern game but it is a very destructive part of the game that will deeply affect the lives of the managers involved.

AJ has been in the job for 4 (four!! ) months. The posts to get him out started about a month ago. 

There arguments always rely on a few regularly voiced misconceptions 

1. that we have a right to beat St Johnstone/ Kilmarnock/ St Mirren/ Dundee.... etc, etc and if we don't it's a sacking offense.

2. that other teams are not suffering the same woes as us. As a example, look at the two goals St Johnstone lost last night. Defensively they were poor goals to concede. A Valakari coached team loses these goals and we want him as our next manager, an AJ coached team loses these goals and we want him sacked.

3. the supporters of the other teams in our league are watching a better standard of football than we are. Look on the forums of Aberdeen, Falkirk, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Hibs etc at the moment and see how true that actually is. 

4. that we will never win another game again under this current management structure. I have read several times over the last 24 hrs that we have no chance against Dundee United when the reality is that we beat them last time out with the same team and same manager in the dim and distant past of just 6 weeks ago.

Actually Valakari himself last night said that he thought the standard of the football on display last night was more enjoyable than most because both teams were trying to play football.

As a society we have the attention span of a goldfish. The need for change has become as much a part of the spectacle of the game as the football itself. 

As one poster on here often observes, the fans will have the last word and this is true but it does not necessarily mean that the fans are right or that the narrative that eventually forces a manager out is based on any kind of rational thought or objective analysis.

These voices are powerful because it does tend to make us believe that a catastrophic problem exists when it simply does not.

Your inclination to think that what you watched last night was actually ok ( if not what we would ideally like) is probably correct but it is difficult to have the courage of your convictions when you subsequently read the extent of the negativity towards the team the manager and the performance.

Nobody is saying that it is perfect at the moment but I think we have to treat with some caution the naysayers preaching that the end is nigh. 

It’s a big post that basically says people can have different opinions on the direction the club is going 

if your positive in it…..brilliant

if your not……brilliant

be a boring forum if we all thought the same stuff 😂

[texanwellfan]

6 hours ago, Kmcalpin said:

In effect, what you're suggesting is that AJ changes his preferred style of play.

I’m not sure I know what his preferred style is. I did mention in my post regarding the early season games where the team had a good balance of possession but, compared to JBA style, we were more willing to shoot from around the box or whip in crosses. I thought that was going to be his style but he has moved away from that to Playing more long balls out of defense. As stated, I am not sure what is preferred style is but if you want to summarize my post, I’d say I want him to go back to the style we were playing earlier in the season. 

[well_said]

1 hour ago, grizzlyg said:

Back from majorca today and watched the highlights.  Cracking goal from Said but jeez that 2nd equaliser is criminal.  I know buck stops with AJ but the players aren't helping with basic errors.  I still feel we can click and rosenborg showed plenty patience with AJ so I feel he still needs time, my opinion and I definitely know a few that wont agree.

COYW

I heard that you were caught trying to tell jokes and were deported.

[grizzlyg]

23 minutes ago, well_said said:

I heard that you were caught trying to tell jokes and were deported.

Even worse pal.....it was mrs grizzly that grassed me in 🤣🤣🤣

[SteelmaninOZ]

 

[SteelmaninOZ]

3 hours ago, grizzlyg said:

Even worse pal.....it was mrs grizzly that grassed me in 🤣🤣🤣

Good on her well done mrs g 

[Kmcalpin]

11 hours ago, texanwellfan said:

I’m not sure I know what his preferred style is. I did mention in my post regarding the early season games where the team had a good balance of possession but, compared to JBA style, we were more willing to shoot from around the box or whip in crosses. I thought that was going to be his style but he has moved away from that to Playing more long balls out of defense. As stated, I am not sure what is preferred style is but if you want to summarize my post, I’d say I want him to go back to the style we were playing earlier in the season. 

I've assumed that our early season style was more a continuation of JBA's approach due to necessity. A hectic schedule of European games with little time on the training ground to instill AJ's new approach. The more time he's had with the players at Dalziel Park the more time he's had to alter it.  He has said that that he likes to move the ball forwards quicker. Certainly our current style is less possession based and more direct using the long ball frequently. One bonus, arguably the only one, is that we are getting more shots on goal. Al B covers this in P & B far better than I can. He questions whether we have the players to implement this new style. Certainly its far different to JBA's approach and many, including me, were caught out by the continuity comments.   

[texanwellfan]

5 hours ago, Kmcalpin said:

I've assumed that our early season style was more a continuation of JBA's approach due to necessity. A hectic schedule of European games with little time on the training ground to instill AJ's new approach. The more time he's had with the players at Dalziel Park the more time he's had to alter it.  He has said that that he likes to move the ball forwards quicker. Certainly our current style is less possession based and more direct using the long ball frequently. One bonus, arguably the only one, is that we are getting more shots on goal. Al B covers this in P & B far better than I can. He questions whether we have the players to implement this new style. Certainly it’s far different to JBA's approach and many, including me, were caught out by the continuity comments.   

I hope you’re wrong 😀

 nothing wrong with moving the ball forward quickly but it’s one thing playing balls that are 90% likely for us too get versus 50/50 at best. Interesting stat on the more shots on goal but I’d be interested to see stats on number of saves for our keeper. Ward had many games where he had zero saves or just one save. My impression this season is that Paulson has made a lot of saves although V St Johnstone I think he only had one save. Time will tell what style he favors. I’m hoping it’s the hybrid JBA/AJ style. 

[wellsince75]

18 hours ago, texanwellfan said:

As stated, I am not sure what is preferred style is but if you want to summarize my post, I’d say I want him to go back to the style we were playing earlier in the season. 

I  agree with this - I liked the style of the first few game - probably up to and including Dundee Utd

Main concern is that this was a style the team had without any coaching.    

it may be coincidence that the longer he's had the further we've moved away from it - albeit the last couple of games have some signs of hope offensively.

[joewarkfanclub]

2 hours ago, texanwellfan said:

I hope you’re wrong 😀

 nothing wrong with moving the ball forward quickly but it’s one thing playing balls that are 90% likely for us too get versus 50/50 at best. Interesting stat on the more shots on goal but I’d be interested to see stats on number of saves for our keeper. Ward had many games where he had zero saves or just one save. My impression this season is that Paulson has made a lot of saves although V St Johnstone I think he only had one save. Time will tell what style he favors. I’m hoping it’s the hybrid JBA/AJ style. 

I think this hits the nail on the head.

Last season we controlled games. So we always had safe possession, which in turn didnt leave us as open at the back as we have been this season.

So we faced less shots and therefore conceded less goals.

The trade off for that, was that we always looked like we were trying to score the perfect goal, and for all our nice play and control, we didnt create as many chances as you would imagine. But we weren't open on the transition.

This season, we get the ball forward quicker, we throw more balls in the box and generally create more chances. But the trade off is there for all to see when we lose the ball.

Its a conundrum, and Im not sure which I prefer.

But Alfred clearly favours what we are currently doing, so I guess we just need to get used to it.

 

[FirParkCornerExile]

2 hours ago, joewarkfanclub said:

I think this hits the nail on the head.

Last season we controlled games. So we always had safe possession, which in turn didnt leave us as open at the back as we have been this season.

So we faced less shots and therefore conceded less goals.

The trade off for that, was that we always looked like we were trying to score the perfect goal, and for all our nice play and control, we didnt create as many chances as you would imagine. But we weren't open on the transition.

This season, we get the ball forward quicker, we throw more balls in the box and generally create more chances. But the trade off is there for all to see when we lose the ball.

Its a conundrum, and Im not sure which I prefer.

But Alfred clearly favours what we are currently doing, so I guess we just need to get used to it.

 

I actually don't think we get the ball forward quickly, especially when playing out from the back. Just and Ward were like lightning getting forward exploiting the press. We are so fucking slow and laborious in the build up when playing out from the back that the opposition get time to ensure they have every man behind the ball closing down our options. . We do employ the long ball a bit more but 9 times out of ten we lose possession.