northstbuddie

Has the much maligned (and respected) TF had much to do with facilitating the whole process I wonder - along with the encouragement of GLS?

Even although the vast majority of Uk residents will be considerably worse off financially? "Brexit" was not mentioned in the referendum voting paper (check for yourself) - this was a 'Little Britain' slogan devised by the English right wing press. "Brexit means Brexit" was in turn, a catch phrase penned by the Tory propaganda machine and mouthed by Theresa Maybe, who was a remainer. But what does "Brexit means Brexit" mean? However if it means it will hit us severely in our pockets - what then, UK Brexiters?

This situation sums up nicely just why so many Scots are dissatisfied with the so-called Union in its present form. We are told that we are equal partners with a neighbouring country which has 10 times the population of Scotland's and surprise surprise we get outvoted on important issues like Brexit but are assured that the 'Government' will listen to the views of the Scottish people but then in practice nonchalantly ignore them completely. If you are happy with the current voting system and the way the Little Britain mentality functions you will be quite happy to continue supporting Brexit which will involve cutting ties with our closest and largest trading partners (by some considerable margin) and suffering all the financial implications that will involve - makes a lot of sense? However, the SNP should be careful not to jeopardise Scotland's future by pursuing half-baked policies of its own, just like the UK Parliament has on Europe. It seems likely (to me at least) that another Scottish referendum will end up with another 'NO' vote. What is likely to attract greater support is the introduction of a federal set up within the UK which would keep most people happy for most of the time.

Well done guys - a glimmer of light at long last. However, as Saints supporters, we have been here before, but are never the less hoping that this level of performance can be maintained in the league.

Apologies accepted St Ricky. This is one of the more interesting days for team selection in view of the influx of players during the transfer window. Should JR introduce the new players gradually or take this chance in the cup to be more adventurous and try out a basically new formation with a view to achieving the great escape? Taking account of yours and other comments on the team selection, I would therefore go for the following:- O'Brien Irvine, McKenzie, Fjelde, Demetriou McAllister(if fit), Magennis, Storrie, Morgan Sutton, McLear Subs: Langfield, Baird, Quinn, Clarkson, Mallan, Webster This starting formation would allow as many new players as possible to settle in but also allow for subs with experience but perhaps on the way out during this transfer window. If McAllister is not fit I would move Fjelde to midfield and bring in Baird in central defence.

At the risk of sounding a bit of a Jonah (we already have plenty on here and who can blame them), we are not unused to the influx of new faces at this time of the year and during the close season, but some of us are now a bit too long in the tooth to throw caution to the wind and be filled with unbridled enthusiasm for the remainder of this season. Having said that, I would like nothing better than for all of JR's signings to be successes on the field but recent past experiences have shown that things don't always work out as we would hope for. Probably like most on here, I have no personal knowledge of the players who have just joined us, but they sound as if they could do a job for us. We can only hope that JR can succeed where recent managers have blatantly failed - in getting the best out of his new signings and in so doing, getting the team to play to its full potential for a change. We the supporters also have a crucial role to play in backing the team and manager for the remainder of the season. I still think we could see the best ever end to a season in living memory.

This will be an ideal opportunity for JR to try out his many new signings in a competitive match without fear of dropping any much-needed points in the Championship. A victory could see a significant uplift in team confidence which would not go wrong at this particular time! Any guesses at a team selection with so many relative unknowns in the new-look squad?

He can't stay away from Paisley!

From the super duper Shull - the expert in SOOPER DOOPERS.

I'll have to play that again - I blinked and missed the St Mirren highlights!

We can all agree/agree to disagree on who is to blame for our current plight and, like the majority of Saints fans, I am far from happy with particular aspects of our performances this season. But how can persistent and unrelenting negativity contribute to a recovery in our fortunes this season? For instance, I agree that shoring up our defence is the remaining priority during this transfer window but slagging off individuals in our current squad is not the best way of achieving that. We should be encouraging improved performances from those we perceive are falling short at present instead of cutting them to ribbons. That's the opposition's objective after all!

The first 'cheer' from you for quite a while! Hopefully there will be more to come!

No my point is positive encouragement is more likely to benefit the team and the manager than unrelenting negativity. Many on here see the same things as you do but refrain from stating the obvious when it is likely to have a detrimental effect on the team's confidence. Constructive criticism is one thing but unceasing negativity from day one is unlikely to have any beneficial impact on the team you support - so why pursue it?

So should we, as supporters, stop supporting our team (and manager) and offering encouragement? TC has been negative about JR from day one. What good does that do other than make TC feel good?

Stay as positive as ever TC - you are our only little ray of sunshine Where would we be without your encouragement?

No way would the current team match the 2013 team but IF we avoid relegation this season that would be greater reason to rejoice than the League cup win. That you may remember was followed by an alcoholic bender which we never quite recovered from. This might also explain some of the boardroom decisions taken shortly after!

We have literally been all over the place in recent seasons with new managers and so-called promising new signings - only for our hopes to be cruelly dashed time after time. Will the run up to the end of the 2016/17 season see us achieve the greatest escape ever? Personally I think the Jack Ross and James Fowler management team can pull it off, even although results so far would not appear to back up that opinion. Many professionals in the game speak highly of JR and his potential to be a first rate football manager. His excursion into the January transfer window so far, appears to be addressing the obvious weaknesses in the imbalanced squad he inherited. If we avoid the drop to the 3rd level of Scottish football it would truly be the greatest feat in recent times even surpassing the League Cup win of 2013. We, the fans, have an important part to play in turning up in larger numbers and giving the team our positive support and encouragement. However, this will only happen in response to better results on the park - a chicken & egg situation perhaps. Even if we do not succeed in staying in the Championship this season, the indications are that JR (quite rightly) will stay in post and that where there previously was only despair, there is now at least hope of better things to come in the not too distant future.

Just imagine - a St Mirren team with a functioning midfield - now there's a novelty! I hope that JR's signings help us to turn the corner at last. However, can we watch this space to find out what is done to improve our defence during the transfer window? - This is Jack's biggest challenge in my view.

I admire your indefatigability TC - but gies a break even just for a day. Whether or not these 4 elderly gentlemen would be interested is totally irrelevant - they're not going to be asked in the first place.

St Mirren legend now substituted.

Just as well that the BoD don't share your much valued opinion TC.

You can watch Connor Newton live on Bt Sport 2 playing (well) for Cambridge United v Leeds United in the FA Cup.

Agree with everything you say except unlike you I do not hope we stay in "this league" - I want us to be competing with the Hamilton Accies and Ross Counties of this world!

If third or fourth in the second tier is where you believe we rightfully belong (in the medium to longterm?) and where we will bounce back to, I admire your loyalty in these circumstances IOBS. I am old enough to remember when Love Street was regularly packed to the gunnels - when we had a successful team (in comparative terms) and were run more competently. The BoD over the past few years is collectively responsible for our current plight and Hibs are proving that when you do turn things round on the park the fans come flocking back. The difference is that our BoD have not been effective in planning for success on the park.

During the Murray, Rae and Ross reigns, most (but not all) on here thought that they were not bad appointments (initially at least) and were willing to give them a chance. As time passed and our deterioration continued at a pace not witnessed on the playing field, opinions changed with the benefit of hindsight and like all managers of St Mirren in recent times they were then written off as abject failures and 'bad appointments'. It could be argued that only Hendrie and MacPherson have achieved any semblance of success in the past 20 years or so, and in the previous 20 or so years to that a certain Alex Ferguson, Ricky McFarlane and Jim Clunie, could claim likewise. In fact since 1970 (when Wilson Humphries was manager) we have had 22 managers over a period of 46 years - an average time in charge of 2 years per manager. Gus McPherson enjoyed nearly 7 years in charge and kept St Mirren at a level we can only dream about now. In the 6 and a half years since then we have had 7 managers (if you include Allan McManus) - with an average time in charge of less than a year over that period. Also during that time we moved to a dinky wee stadium appropriate for junior football (or 3rd tier senior football) and we have ended up playing that grade of football. We now have a situation where (in 2 months time) the likes of Ross County, Hamilton Accies, Patrick Thistle and Kilmarnock, could be 2 leagues ahead of St Mirren - the club from the largest town in Scotland outside the city clubs. We all have our opinion as to who is to blame for our current predicament but one thing is for certain IT IS NOT JACK ROSS! Yes he can shoulder the blame (along with the senior players in the squad) for the current run of poor results but he must be given time to turn things around and I personally believe he has the potential/ability to do that along with James Fowler. Unfortunately we may have to drop down to the third level before things start to improve.