northstbuddie

You have a better chance of scoring in your opponents' half than you do from your own 18 yard line. Playing higher up the park does not necessarily leave your defence more vulnerable than staying in your own penalty box.

No they're not. Other small nations play with more self-belief than Scotland (population 5.3M) - e.g.. Denmark (5.6M), Sweden (9.7M), Norway (5.1M), Iceland (0.3M), Eire (4.8M), Wales (3M), Holland (17M) & Portugal (10.5M). Self belief is all about the confidence that you can actually win a game as against not lose a game. Yes, Germany are miles better than us at present, but the disappointment for me last night was that we were not trying to play possession football let alone have a try at goal. There has been plenty of criticism on here in recent weeks about Saints' "holding" tactics which I think have contributed to our poor start to the season.

Being Scottish and a St Mirren supporter all my life (and until my dying day), does anyone else on here share my disappointment at the tactics the national team sometimes deploys when up against so-called superior opposition? Last night's game against Germany was depressing in the way we approached the match. Right from the kick-off we were standing off and letting them come at us up to our own 18 yard box. It's not that we are particularly gifted at defending and if you invite someone to stick one on your chin, that's exactly what they are going to do. What was surprising last night was that we managed to score 2 goals with these tactics. It was a reminder of the Craig Levein days in charge. One of the refreshing aspects of the Danny Lennon era was that we tried to play football and often without sacrificing competent defending. I was not always one of Danny's greatest supporters, but at least I appreciated the way he was trying to get us play. You will recall that into Danny's second year at St Mirren we were attracting a lot of favourable comments from neutrals and the media. We are currently on the cusp of a new era at St Mirren with a vastly different player pool from last season and a new management team . Already this season, we have seen games where we have deployed 'holding tactics', and invariably been left with a disappointing result. In others we have been more adventurous and we, the fans, were not too disappointed because at least we had a go. Whilst it can be argued that the best means of defence is attack - the opposite tactic is not rational - ie. 'the best means of attack is defence'. If you do not try to score goals you will rarely get the right result - without a huge slice of luck. We want to see our team brighten our day not shutting up shop, and with the present management and playing pool, the future is bright if we get our approach and tactics right.

That's the boil pierced. Where have Lord Pity Me, Elvis and Notsefaru etc. got to?

But apart from that.......?

Not surprising that Elvis supports Presley. Whilst I like to look on the positive side of things, the trend of resuts so far does not bode well for the rest of this season. However it is worth reminding ourselves that not even the Man Us and Barcelonas of this world are guaranteed continual success. And not even the best of coaches (eg. Wegner, Mourinho and Ferguson) always enjoy the results and performances they seek. Neither do the richest clubs see overnight results for their investment. We the supporters should remain positive and supportive without being accused of being 'happy clappers' by the Elvises of this world. As soon as the supporters turn against the team, the writing is on the wall.

The board of directors tend to paper over the cracks. Unfortunately the scoreboard tells it as it is!

My suggestion was directed at Lord Look at Me because of his special insight on how to run a cash-strapped club like St Mirren. We badly need someone with his positive and constructive approach to things in our present dire circumstances.

But you do - what are you waiting for?

With your unrivaled qualifications and deep practical knowledge of how to manage a senior football club in St Mirren's situation, why don't you offer your services to the club you support? You would be an overnight success in the mould of Sir Alec - especially with your constructive and positive attitude.

The sun is shining today on Aaron. Answered prayer. What else could there be to celebrate?

Many on here regularly contribute sensible and constructive posts - and long may they continue to do so. Others come out in a rash of drivel and negativity and are unwilling to talk sense and encourage the team they claim to support. Judge for yourself which posters need to have their rash seen to!

Cheers Luther - have a good day.

Cheers Luther - have a good day.

Grow up guys!

Do all the other football clubs in Scotland need the OF more than they need us? If so that is a sad state of affairs in Scotland and it is way beyond time that that changed. It is time that the other clubs and their supporters unite to effect reform in how this cancer is fueled through the media. Preferential and biased treatment by the media has to be ended otherwise this dark side of Scottish society will be nourished and nurtured by the media for generations to come. If you question this biased coverage by the media just have a look at your morning papers tomorrow and compare the amount of column inches given up to the OF or be subjected to the TV pundits almost without exception with an OF background. Unlike Easter Road we need a level playing field. Perhaps the only solution is to let the OF play in a league of their own - even then, would they take the press with them? For all their so-called pulling power even the FA won't touch them with a barge pole - in this commercially driven league that must tell us something.

Probably over 95% + of Saints fans would like to see Thommo turn the corner and return to his form of previous seasons - but how realistic is that? Possibly for the time being it might be for the best if he stepped back from a starting role and provided support and guidance from the sidelines for the younger attacking players (including Shankland if he comes on loan to Saints). No body questions Thompson's pedigree but age catches up with us all sooner or later. He still has a lot to offer St Mirren - but not as a starting lone striker. Last season was blighted by injury and now that he is striving to regain match fitness he is also apparently struggling to restore his confidence to where it was a couple of seasons ago.

Graham Speirs on Radio Scotland at the moment praising the Rangers fans for their standard of behavior last night!

I was not at the game last night but by all accounts the sectarian bile at Ibrox, while par for the course, was totally unacceptable in a civilised society. Yet this cancer is pro-actively fed by the vast majority of the media (including the BBC) and there is certainly never any hint of criticism of such behavior. On the contrary, endless bias towards both members of the Old Firm is reflected in the disproportionate coverage they receive based on the so-called reality of their large customer base. For example BT's coverage last night had Boyd, Miller and McCall involved as against who from St Mirren? Thus this cancer in our society is fueled and maintained and nourished in a healthy state by the media. Look at the amount of column inches given to the OF compared to everyone else. The general quality of football in Scotland has suffered as a result. Provincial clubs, like St Mirren, do not get the encouragement they deserve and it is no surprise that the likes of Aberdeen, Inverness Caley and St Johnstone struggle against European minnows. Could the various supporter clubs in Scotland not unite in a campaign to receive fairer media coverage for themselves, instead of being subjected, year-in year-out, to the small-minded and financially-driven mentality of the media? Scotland deserves better.

And these are the positives?

Agree - but our goal was a flash in the pan at that stage.

Season started tonight (not next Saturday) and we lost 3-1. The game started at 7.45pm but we did not get going until 9pm .... and tomorrow never comes!

At least we looked a bit fitter than last season. Need more punch up front - hope the Shankland transfer happens.

Thommo is in danger of losing his knighthood!

We handed Rangers the initiative from the kick-off. Sitting back and allowing them to come at us and to look flatteringly good. We will have to be a bit more positive in the second half otherwise .....