northstbuddie

The results have been disappointing but perhaps you have forgotten just how bad we really were. We matched Dundee United for most of today's game but just did not enjoy the rub of the green as happens to teams in our position. If we persevere and keep the faith we will achieve the great escape but we will have to pick up the points soon.

Watched the game on a poor internet connection in Lewis but saw enough to confirm that the corner has been turned - what an improvement in performance from Rae's time in charge. Whether we have turned the corner in time is another matter. TC's usual rant against Ross cannot be justified in the real world.

Your comments are a typical example of what my original post was about. If you played football yourself you would not want 'Hendo' as a supporter.

No room in your midfield then for someone like Jim Goodwin, Bobby Holmes, John Grieg, Billy Bremner, Dave McKay or Roy Aitken? But maybe you're too young to remember what a "non-footballer" midfield player looked like.

THAT was the only poor pass by a Saints player this season?

Like so many other players who did not produce their best form or potential at St Mirren - yes you could argue the playing budget was wasted over Hutton. But with a bit of encouragement there is a player in there somewhere.

Maybe what it does say about Jack Ross is that Hutton was so vilified at St Mirren that he possibly considered that he would benefit from a loan spell elsewhere.

I have been saddened recently about the sarcastic and moronic comments made about Kyle Hutton on this forum. In the games I have seen him play for us he was certainly not our worst performer yet most of the flack was directed his way. Granted he is not a silky, skilful midfielder, but with the emergence of the Four Ms in recent weeks, what we are screaming out for now is an industrious, defensive midfielder as we cannot rely on Quinn to avoid injury for any length of time. Hutton always seemed to me to be a willing and committed midfielder who made himself available to help out colleagues but suffered more than most from the air of negativity surrounding the club for a while and experienced an obvious drop-off in confidence as a result. With the current more up-beat atmosphere at Greenhill Road, we could do worse than recall Kyle into the squad for the second half of the season and give him the chance to prove himself. The Four Ms and the Three Kyles between them could provide the midfield we require to get ourselves out of our current mess.

Merry Christmas all Saints fans. 2017 is going to be a momentous year for us - one way or the other!

Everything black or white in your eyes Shull. Is there ever the potential for just a wee shade of grey now and again?

That's the Christmas spirit Shull!

Pleased to hear it. However this thread has been given 4 times as much comment as the one on tomorrow's game which is critical to our survival.

Children, Children! Family squabbles are not uncommon but this thread must take the biscuit! While the patient is seriously ill, this family of so-called St Mirren fans, take their eye off the ball and forget that what they have to unite them is so much greater than what divides them. Merry Christmas everyone and COYS!!!

From day one you were an evangelical atheist!

If this is not St Mirren's darkest hour what is? Nothing short of a miracle will save us from relegation to the third tier of Scottish football, which is third rate in itself. On the bright side, things can only get better. Someone was saying to me earlier what a difficult league the Championship is to get out of - however we have disproven that!

It is sobering to realise that just over 3 years ago we were able to defeat Celtic on merit in a semi final (and win the final) and then, through bad stewardship, disrupt the stability of our player pool by wholesale changes in the interests of seeking a "new direction". Today we can't beat the second worst team in the second tier at home and our journey is now onwards and downwards - not the direction we had anticipated!

If you had been at the game, you would appreciate that the performance today was a vast improvement but the result arose from a combination of a clanger by the goalkeeper and some poor finishing. All of the players involved were not signed by Jack Ross, but he does have the team playing better than under Alex Rae - the defence was solid and the midfield was more influential than previously was the case under Rae. The other plus point is the fact that our own youth players are now being given a chance - and they did not let us down today.

Firstly; we were marginally the better team today - which we can argue for the first time this season in the second division of Scottish football which in general is at an all-time low. Secondly; although he made one fantastic save before his accustomed clanger, Langfield made one mistake too many today and should no longer be first choice keeper. Thirdly; the overall performance was better (than what?) and our young players did produce the only glimmer of hope for better things to come. Fourthly; Jack Ross will have to be given time to turn things round but this will likely not prevent us dropping down to the third division of Scottish football based on our current performances - we are where we belong on merit in this second division.

We can't all be perfect and have all the answers like you Stuart (and even Stephen Kenny). Have some sympathy for the rest of us (especially Jack Ross).

No!

The irony of the situation we find ourselves in will not be lost by many on here. The reign of Stewart Gilmour brought many benefits to the club - but not a basic scouting system! The irony is that Stewart's uncle Jack was one of the most respected chief scouts in Scottish football during his lengthy service with St Mirren in the post war era.

It would certainly be a worthwhile way to spend the money but perhaps the amount would be well short of the total required?

Former manager Alex Rae has wished St Mirren future success but commented that there was no scouting system/strategy in place during his short stay in Paisley. Can our new manager, Jack Ross, survive without one?

I don't really disagree with your comments, but Hutton today was almost a one-man midfield - he got absolutely no support from Quinn who for some reason does not attract the same amount of pelters on here.

Granted Hutton is certainly not one of our more skilful players - but he gives his all and makes himself available to get colleagues out of trouble. I much prefer his attitude to that of Hardie for example who seems to give the impression he is too good for St Mirren and this level of football. In reality he contributed very little to today's team performance. I think Hutton as much as anyone is suffering from loss of confidence and when that returns I think we will see a very different player.