northstbuddie

Available as PPV - good clear picture + sound - unlike the Cowdenbeath dbacle.

Unlike his grampa.

The Blue Brazil have a cheek to charge £10 for this non-stream.

In line with our dinky little (second tier) stadium - this gives a new slant on the term "Executive BOX". Don't have any problem with the principle - but as with Boris the problem is the delivery.

Shaughnessy, Tanser, Kiltie (despite his deep-lying role), Erhahon, o'Hara and Henderson when he came on, all performed well. We were set up too defensively in the first half and were fortunate not to go in at half time a goal down. We had no natural winger playing wide on the right. In the second half we turned the screw a bit and were unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. Some clown behind me was calling for Erhahon to be substituted after his only bad pass of the afternoon - whereas he was our best performer today by some considerable margin followed by Kiltie. It's obviously too soon in the season to write us off, but what is certain is that we will have to improve on this level of performance to survive in the SPL let alone finish in the top six..

Fraser Taylor reminds me of a young Archie Gemmill despite the fact that, unlike Reid and Campbell, he does not look old enough to be playing with the big boys. Bags of energy and mobility around the park And as for Kieren Offord - he nearly scored goal of the season but for a fantastic save from the Northampton Town keeper. All in all - promising times for the flow of talent from the Academy.

This season's home strip looks better with the white shorts and socks. 62DAFFE1-95B2-497C-B1CB-08D77E6EBD88_1_201_a.heic

I reckon there were 7 Academy players from last season on the pitch when Northampton scored their 2nd and 3rd goals. They all perfrormed reasonably well while they were on. At long last we seem to be giving young players their chance to break into the first team. Northampton's 1st and 2nd goals were the scrambliest you are ever going to see - both resulting from stramashes within the 6 yard box. Overall it was a useful training exercise - nothing more - and there are still a few key players still to get involved.

Danny Finlayson looked good at right fullback for Linfield while he was on. Perhaps a bit pre-mature in lending him out for a further season?

Overall it's an encouraging performance - there is better movement from the team compared to last year (apart from at throw ins). Our new signings look good but for me the standout is young Murray Campbell - he does not look like a fifteen year old - he has good composure on the ball and looks as if he has the build and maturity to compete for a first team place this season (if we can manage to hold on to him).

Maybe Gogic will put one past him - talking of which surely we can afford to sign him if we have any kind of ambition of finishing in the top six. Watch the second half on Premier Sports.

Strangely, I agree with your comments to some extent. However, when we do manage to get to (or near) a final, we do manage to acquire a few thousand extra supporters from somewhere.

On what evidence do you base that assumption?

It's hard to think of another club in Scotland with our population base who have under-achieved to the extent of St Mirren since the 1980s. Despite that, we managed a cup win in !987 and a league cup win in 2013 - an indication of our potential compared to the likes of Ayr United, Airdrie, Raith Rovers, Livingston and Falkirk. However, that IMO was due more to the players and management at the time, rather than the board. On-field success has not been matched behind the scenes to maintain the standing of the club within the Scottish context for a town the size of Paisley and surrounding area. We have consistently fallen considerably short of the likes of Kilmarnock, Motherwell and even St Johnstone (although in the case of the latter, not in attendances). PS: I do acknowledge the success of the board in providing the training facilities at Ralston but consider that St Mirren should be attracting larger crowds than it has done for the past few decades.

Indeed - it was spot on for a club with our ambitions.

Our dinky little purpose-built stadium (according to Wikipedia) is the 21st largest football stadium in Scotland - behind the likes of Ayr United, Airdrie, Raith Rovers, Livingston and Falkirk. Remember Paisley is the largest town in Scotland after the so-called cities. We are on a par with the likes of Inverness Caley, Clyde and Arbroath. That's forward planning for you buddies! This is why we have to allocate 2 stands to the ugly sisters - at the expense and inconvenience of the loyal home fans.

Isn't it a good thing that there is apparently no speculation in the press about who we are about to sign for next season? It doesn't necessarily mean we are having no success - quite the opposite (I hope).

I wonder if Keith Lasley's arrival will change our previous practice of accepting the first offer that comes along for our better players for the grand sum of a tuppence farthing (with add-ons).

What's just as important this close season is who we hold on to - like Erhahon, Flynn and Gogic. Young Ethan is developing into a classy midfielder (when he screws the bobbin); Flynn (if he stays fit) is versatile and he will use his experience to develop and encourage others; and Gogic should be a priority to sign on a permanent basis. Also, JG may be hovering around to lure the likes of Shaughnessy, Dunne and Kiltie to the other team in all-red.

As has already been said, we've got to make the signing of Gogic a priority. If we manage to finish above the Dons, the money gained should be used for that purpose. He's even a standout at centre back.

Shaughnessy?

Jim Clunie was probably the best centre half who has played for St Mirren in my lifetime. He was also the most skilful defender in Scotland in his era but was overlooked for international caps because of the bias within the SFA towards inferior Old Firm players.