northstbuddie

Surely if we maintain the present momentum it would not be unrealistic to expect 8,000/10,000 in the SPL if we are doing well. However, I accept that it might be too soon to take that decision to increase the stadium capacity. But considering the population base of the Paisley area.....

Are you Elvis?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the club are considering proposals to fill in the four corners of the ground. Does anyone know if there is any substance to this and how many extra seats we are talking about?

I know these figures are a bit out of date, but there is no way we should be trailing behind the likes of Dunfermline and (especially) Falkirk, considering the successful results we have enjoyed for the first 3 quarters of this season. I too can remember when we were averaging around 12,000 during and shortly after the Ferguson era. Yes, things have changed since then, but it would not be unrealistic to expect Greenhill Road to be full most weeks with home fans, if we could replicate the team of the Ferguson/McFarlane era or at least something approaching that standard. And I accept we are a bit off that at the present time. 2017/18 attendances Ladbrokes Championship No. Club Average Games vs '17 Highest 1 Dundee United FC 5.914 9 -10,2% 6.936 2 Dunfermline Athletic FC 5.336 9 20,2% 7.585 3 Falkirk FC 4.471 9 -11,2% 5.465 4 St. Mirren FC 3.989 9 10,8% 5.496 5 Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC 2.406 8 -39,0% 3.415 6 Greenock Morton FC 2.026 9 -14,2% 4.661 7 Queen of the South FC 1.559 8 -16,0% 2.019 8 Livingston FC 1.465 8 83,8% 2.301 9 Brechin City FC 898 10 109,5% 2.627 10 Dumbarton FC 818 9 -27,6% 1.178 . Total 2.902 -35,4% 7.585

What a great day! Surely this is the point of the season where it is safe (but not arithmetically guaranteed) to start planning for next season in the SPL? Where should we strengthen and who would you (realistically) like to see coming in? And let's not repeat the mistakes made under the old regime and emphasise the "building" as against the "total disruption".

I find it hard to disagree with this. On the other hand, when JR turned things round a year ago and made sweeping changes to personnel, it was a no brainer since the team at that time were sitting uncomfortably at the bottom of the league. In the current circumstances we have a (mostly) winning team and all have contributed to that success to a varying degree. This will be a new challenge for the management team - 'how to improve a winning team by introducing new players without upsetting the applecart'. There again when we have lost the odd game, we have tended to do so in style!

All too often this season we have shelled it to the wee guy up front - especially from Sammy's kick outs. We are also too easily out muscled/jumped in the middle of the park and often struggle to control the midfield. However that does not seem to overly concern JR as he does not place too much priority on possession football going by this interview. I thought he might have tried Mark Hill to bolster up the midfield for the more physical games like last Saturday's.

Over the season so far - but not on today's performance.

Just to elaborate on my previous post, I have attached the following quote from Jack Ross' recent interview in the Daily Record:- “I came here with a drive and a vision to take the club to where I believe it should be and I think we’ve made progress. But it’s still a country mile off where I want us to get to. There’s a lot of work still to be done, even this season, and it feels right to be here doing that work. “I’ve been consumed by this from day one of pre-season when the squad were put under no
illusions about what their target is – to win the Championship. We have worked towards that every single day and I have to lead that. It has been a big driver for me over the last seven or eight months so to just stop and come away from that all of a sudden would be difficult. “I don’t wish to sound too romantic about it but I
 desperately want to achieve and share success with these players. Football is about that love and enjoyment for the game and the rush you get from achieving success." Hopefully we will win the Championship this season but let's not get carried away with just how good we are. However, I believe that the necessary improvement will be achieved with JR at the helm.

After last season's 'Great Escape' - what now awaits us this season? Whilst we have surpassed all expectations to sit top of the Championship at this point in time, this has been achieved through effort and organisation and the players being particularly focussed in most games. The reality is that we are lacking genuine quality in most areas of the team and Jack Ross obviously recognises this fact going by his recent interview. We will need to improve significantly to survive in the SPL next season.

When we lose we lose in style!

At least they're doing better than us!

We can perhaps afford to get promoted but nothing will compare with the past 12 months in terms of enjoyment and watching a winning team on the park. However, IF we get promoted this season, we will likely be struggling next season to keep up with the 'big boys' such as St Johnstone, Kilmarnock and Motherwell (not to mention those outwith our financial sphere) based on our previous experiences in the SPL. Our one big difference this time is that we have a competent manager in Jack Ross to take us up one level.

O happy days! Hopefully Jack will be convinced he has made the right decision before the end of this season and will be enthused by the potential and ambition of the club for the season ahead - and beyond.

Other clubs in similar circumstances have refused permission to speak to their manager while under contract.

If he is going - he will probably work his notice as he did at Alloa.

Wonderful timing - could this situation have been avoided?

'Gigha's Peace' - it's the name of a house in Argyll - but I wish you would go there for a while until you come to your senses!

Competent performance all round. Played some neat creative football in first half. I thought Flynn provided some finesse in midfield and Magennis looked more comfortable playing alongside McGinn in the middle. Is it still too early to count our chickens?

Remember the days when some of us found it more fulfilling to count the planes departing from Glasgow Airport? Personally, I preferred to count the planes landing instead.

Other than what you suggest - very little. We have an uphill battle to draw in more support from Paisley 'Buddies' at home games. I was merely stating a fact about the poor level of support from the Paisley public for their local team.

On the contrary, the time is surely now when St Mirren are on a high. I have previously made this point in darker times and nothing in Paisley has changed since then. I'm proud of what our club has achieved (especially in the past year) and am as evangelical as the next Saints fan - but the Paisley atheists do not want to know. They prefer to live in the dark.

Whilst I agree with what you say, I think you'll be disappointed. Paisley does not deserve St Mirren - we'll probably be lucky to get over 4,000 (although I hope I'm wrong). Even Falkirk and Dumfermline can attract more supporters than Paisley. There again that's not quite true - there will probably be twice as many again from Paisley heading off to foreign parts to cheer on Celtic and Sevco.

You are about to find out!

If we manage to avoid conceding cheap penalties and red cards we have a real chance of getting all three points - although a draw would be acceptable.