Johnboy1877

This window at least, having a "Director of Football to ensure stability even if there is a management change" has been a complete failure. This isn't up for debate, the reason for bringing the role in couldn't have been clearer & having lost to a Championship team, failed to beat a non league team and be about to start the season almost without any full backs or wingers it is fairly obvious something has gone wrong.
And before anyone says "wait until the last day of the window"; the season has started and we are heading out a cup which is financially very important to us. Even if we do bring in new players now we are looking at week 4 or 5 before they will have properly formed in to a team.
I understand the thinking behind creating the position and fully supported it, and agreed at the time that Gus seemed to be the man for the job.
Why has it failed then? I would be interested to know how much thought and research went in to creating the role. I found the "Moneyball" talk at the time to be rather cringeworthy, and I do hope there was more research than one trip to the cinema for entertainment. Comparing ourselves to clubs like Southampton, which I saw at the time, is pointless as they work on an entirely different level from us.
What clubs the size of St Mirren have such a structure and how does it work for them? Are there any successful models out there of a one man team being able to make much of a difference in recruitment structure? How much should we be expecting from Gus in this role?
Do we have a proper network of scouts that are being coordinated by Gus? If we do, then what exactly have they been doing?
I saw it mentioned Gus was over in Spain in his tracksuit helping at training? Is this true? Surely that is complete madness when the squad is incomplete.
Are we chasing after players that are out of our price range? It seems we have once again been naive to say the least in getting played by the big Dutch strikers agent. We were talking in the press about a guy who never had any intention of getting on the plane. I'm surprised someone as experienced as Gus got taken in.
This isn't intended to be a thread for the usual rabble to slag off Gordon, Tony and Gus. I would be interested to hear some genuine answers to the above. There is clearly something wrong with the management structure of the club for a relatively simple idea (one full time person recruiting players well in advance) to be executed so poorly.

There will be no shortage of applications for the job.
This "trigger happy board" has never yet sacked a single manager.
 

Fandan? 

The guy has come on to our forum to offer an insight and ur giving him grief you really are an an oddball faraway ! How was Arbroath brechin  u tcheuter creep !

And yet, the thread starter still spouting pish!

‘same old happenings this season’

And back in the real world the Boo Boys wont ask any of these questions, they'll just sit in front of their device and seethe that we are through, undefeated to the next round!

Would much rather he brings in a few decent signings than give a flying f**k if he gives me a wee clap at the end of a game.

I don't read the press. I haven't swallowed a thing tooth and nail. And haven't seen anything Stevie Clarke or anyone else has said. Dunno what you're trying to insinuate but my opinion is my own, not a regurgitated one from other people. 
As for 'writting' utter crap, thanks for the feedback. I'll take it on board and consider it.  I'll also consider that you thought Ally McCoist should be our manager because he stopped and spoke to you that one time. 
As I clearly said. If we get through the group, then I'll start taking the league Cup seriously. Until then, it is a series of glorified friendlies. The timing of these matches (ie, bang in the middle of pre season) should be evidence enough of this. 

Yeah, my question was more about when we raise the full £615K to buy all of the shares. It's not going to take us till 2026 at the current rate.
Personally speaking I'd be more than happy for Gordon to see out the whole 10 years, and possibly even staying on after the transaction as someone with over a decade of experience of being in the boardroom and running a football club is going to be someone you want to keep hold of IMO!

Celtic being silly. Stuart Armstrong moved on with a year left for £7m.
I get Hibs are a smaller club and the name of the game is shafting smaller clubs but you'd think at least £2.5m will be the minimum.

It won't be. It'll be finished (3.30pm KO apparently).
ETA - FT 4-0.  Stokes hattrick and a 40 yard screamer from Kenny Miller.

This. 

Hello chaps, Darlington fan here. Have just been having a read of your thread and thought I might chip in as I can see there’s differing thoughts on his signing.
He has the potential to be a very good player, very young for a centre back but he is 6’5 so dominant in the air, is still fairly quick, reads the game very well and is pretty comfortable on the ball as well. 
I’m joking of course but unless you have 6’7 strikers in the Scottish Premiership he ain’t going to lose anything much in the air and is going to cause havoc going forward for set pieces.
As for the comments on the fee - I’m afraid you wouldn’t have got him for any less and I think you’ve done rather well. Supply and demand on that one and he was very much in demand. I can tell you first hand that he’s been watched by Fulham, Middlesbrough and Everton and apparently was one of the stand out players at the V9 academy. We didn’t especially need to sell him. As much as you guys think it’s a risk to pay for a non league player I can tell you I was (no offence intended) pretty surprised he chose to come to St Mirren, although in hindsight I think it’s a very good move for both parties.
Anyway, the intent of coming in here was to tell you that I’ve watched him play probably about 30 games now and after 3 I could have told you he’ll be a very good player. Stick with him, remember he’s still young for a centre back and take care of him as we need the money from the sell on clauses!
All the best!
 
 

Whatched Jeff King being interviewed on Buddievision. He came across very well. It is important that these lads see St Mirren as a big step up, and a chance to prove themselves. They all seem genuinely buzzing to have signed for us, and that ticks a big box for me.
I would much rather that than seasoned journeymen whose best days are behind them looking for a club to coast towards their retirement with, or bampots happy to accept any port in a storm.
These lads know that there is a lot at stake for them. They won't just be phoning it in, and I wish them all the best. I'm really looking forward to seeing them play for us.

Ach well, you can't please all the people all the time.
Some folks will always look for something to whine about.
Racism is totally unacceptable, however, and if this lad is racist in any way, shape, or form whilst at our club, then he should be unceremoniously booted out on his arse.
He is still young, though, and whilst that is no excuse, it is to be hoped that he has learned from the rebuke and awareness input he received.
As for the general attitude on the part of some on here who seem keen to write off our latest acquisitions before they have even featured, it is pretty typical of a section of our support. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do. I hope they are ambitious and committed, and would rather see them getting a chance with us than the likes of Stokes and Miller.

If you can’t be happy in the close season, with a title in the bag from the season gone by then you’ll never be happy.
Give every player a chance, you might be pleasantly surprised.

This is it. 
Supporters have been clamouring for years for us to step away from signing the same old names and faces from the same clubs and actually scout the English Lower Leagues seeing the success its previously brought clubs like Motherwell and Inverness to name just a couple. 
 
We finally do so and I understand why some are panicking, but let's be honest, every signing at our level is a risk. Even seemingly established guys like Harkins and Imrie turned out to be dogshit so why not try our arm with a couple of these lads? 

Nothing noteworthy ? At Aston Villa, managed a Premiership club in England for 3 seasons with an abysmal American owner in Lerner and you think that's nothing noteworthy ?
He went to Blackburn and stabalised the mess Coyle had left. Asked Venky's for money to mount a push in the Championship the for the following season and left due to the response. They got relegated the next season.
He took over a Wolves team fighting relegation and go them safe that season, getting the team playing to the extent that they beat Liverpool at Anfield. He left as the club ownership changed to a signing process where Jorge Mendes would provide the players. Lambert wanted involvement. So again he left. In highsight with the players they signed probably the wrong move ?
He went to Stoke who were a basket case. Weeded out all the trouble makers, got all the players playing for him and wasn't a million miles away from succeeding. Again premiership club. Ever though why Stoke board appointed the guy. Go and ask Jack Butland and Charlie Adam about Lambert's time at Stoke.
At Wycombe, Colchester and Norwich he was outstanding.
Also played at the highest level and won the Champions League
I didn't think we'd be in the running for Lambert but if we get him he will be a superb appointment.
Utterly amazes me the total junk that's thrown the way of coaches like Billy Davies and Paul Lambert. 
 
 
 

Call me cynical, but I wonder if this is perhaps a tactic on JR's part to force Ipswich's hand as they seem to be stalling on taking forward their interest in him. You have to assume that he would regard ITFC as the better option?
Meanwhile, we can't remain passive observers while this plays out. The BoD cannot afford to keep granting permission for our manager to talk to other clubs. They must know that.
I also think it might now be time for the club to break cover and offer some kind if position statement (as long as they don't ask Jim Traynor to write the f**king thing!).

If this is true, it is now getting a bit silly.
Most of us anticipated it, but there has to be a point at which the BoD have to sit down with Jack and ask him directly whether he has the appetite and commitment  to remain at the club or not.
It was always going to be a delicate balancing act, but it is now tipping away from the option of the club remaining a hostage to fortune while Jack throws his hat into a different ring every week. He is entitled to do just that, but the interests of the club are paramount and must be safeguarded.
Pretty frustrating, truth be told.

I don't think clubs should be providing a running commentary on the negotiations. When something concrete happens - they'll say.
Club official channels should be reserved for facts rather than opinions and speculation. 

Think you're barking up the wrong tree with Jack. He's hopeless and only inherited a fantastic squad from Tommy Craig, Ian Murray and Alex Rae. 
Any one of those three are the sort of forward thinking mavericks you as a club should be going for. Not hopeless Jack. 

Robbie Neilson I could live with but any of McCall, Hopkin not for me.
It's too soon for Jim in my opinion.

Fecking joyous