Dibbles old paperboy

Jack Ross had very little intention of managing us in the premiership and was applying for jobs without the board's knowledge. St Mirren gave him permission to talk to Barnsley and Ipswich but only found out that Jack had held talks with Sunderland when the local press were announcing him as their next manager.

Jack Ross had very little intention of managing us in the premiership and was applying for jobs without the board's knowledge. St Mirren gave him permission to talk to Barnsley and Ipswich but only found out that Jack had held talks with Sunderland when the local press were announcing him as their next manager.

Jack Ross got lucky in a season where there was little competition and he had the best player in the league, Lewis Morgan.

Worth remembering that he inherited a squad that contained Morgan, Shankland, Mallan, Magennis, McAllister, Naismith, Mackenzie, Baird & Hardie yet almost got us relegated!

Alan Stubbs gave both Ross Stewarts about as much game time as Jack Ross did whilst being at he club for a shorter period of time. Jack Ross was the one who dropped Reilly after signing Mullen. Gareth Wardlaw once kept us in the premier league with about his only goal of the season... does he count as a good signing because it was an important goal?
McCart I think played 1 game, possibly two, as did Hill, as did Buchanan, as did Donati, almost half of Jack Ross' signings hardly played for him! Hippolyte signed for us after promotion to the premier league was almost certain... money well spent?
Maybe Jack should have signed Mullen on a 5 year deal so that we can get the best out of him in years 3, 4, and 5?

I think you are overly-generous on Jack Ross' "good signing policy" in return for shipping out Lawrence Shankland and selling Jason Naismith, Kyle McAllister, Stevie Mallon and Lewis Morgan Jack Ross signed (and re-signed) over 40 players in 3 transfer windows (i.e. 18 months)
1. Craig Storrie 2. Rory Loy - brought in to replace Shankland 3. Pal Fjelde 4. Josh Todd 5. Billy 'The Fish' O' Brien 6. Stellios (was signed twice by Jack Ross) 7. Cammy Smith (was signed twice by Jack Ross). 8. Stephen McGinn (was signed twice by Jack Ross) 9. Adam Eckersley (signed twice by Jack Ross) 10. Harry Davis (signed twice by Jack Ross) 11. Jack Baird (given 2 contract extensions by Jack Ross) 13. Jamie Langfield (player contract extended and brought on to the coaching team by Jack Ross)  14. Ross Stewart 15 Jordan Kirkpatrick 16 Ross Stewart 17. Gregor Buchanan 18. Gary Irvine (contract extension) 22. Dale Hilson. 23. Ian McShane 24. Darryl Duffy 25. Liam Smith 26. Jamie McCart 27. Danny Mullen (signed twice, 2nd time on a 2 and a half year deal when we were heading from the premiership), 28. Ryan Flynn 29. Mark Hill 30. Myles Hippolyte 31. Gary MacKenzie (2 contract extensions from Jack Ross) 32. Massimo Donati (does any signing better illustrate the extravagant spending spree Jack was allowed to go on during his time with us?) 33. Jim Kellerman 34. Paul McGinn.
Inspired signings by Jack Ross (out of 40): Stephen McGinn; Cammy Smith; Adam Eckersley; Harry Davis; (all signed during his 1st window)
Decent signings by Jack Ross: Stellios (1st season); Rory Loy; Craig Samson; Liam Smith; Paul McGinn
Jack Ross signings who only played about 5 games a season or less under him (or subsequent managers): Craig Storrie; Pal Fjelde; Josh Todd; Jamie Langfield; Ross Stewart; Jordan Kirkpatrick, Ross Stewart, Gary Irvine, Dale Hilson, Darryl Duffy, Jamie McCart, Mark Hill, Massimo Donati, Myles Hippolyte, Jim Kellerman, Gregor Buchanan.
Jack Ross signings who looked decent for 6 months before falling out of favour with Jack Ross: Gavin Reilly (still offered a contract extension when we move up a league after being dropped in favour of hardly-scoring Danny Mullen), Ian McShane. Jack Ross didn't win a game until his 4th month in the job (December - after being appointed in September).
Players who did a job at the time: Billy O'Brien (brought in to replace Jamie Langfield - before Jamie Langfield was given a new contract as a player and coach) , Stellios (2nd season).
0% of Jack Ross' punts / investments for the future worked out during his own time at the club - the 2 Ross Stewarts are now playing regular premiership football elsewhere.
The squad inherited by Oran Kearney in the premiership was significantly poorer than the one inherited by Jack Ross in the Championship (Naismith, MacKenzie, Irvine, McAllister, Morgan, Mallan, Shankland!). After the fiasco of Stubbs, Oran brought in Hammill,  Lyness, Ferdinand, Jackson, Hladky, Muzek, Popescu, Dreyer, Lyons,  McAllister, The Duck. I'd suggest that Oran achieved a similar number of inspired signings in 1 transfer window as Jack Ross achieved in 3 and the only players signed by Kearney who hardly featured were the right back (Paul McGinn kept him out the team) and the Duck. 

I think the issue with Morais is he can't play the lone striker role. He struggled to hold the ball up for runners from midfield, wants to come short all the time leaving no-one up front, resulting in us struggling to break up the park. The difference when Mullen and Obika came on was noticeable.
However, at this point last season, we had scored the same number of goals but lost 13. This got me wondering where the fantastic defensive signings Alan Stubbs made are now.
Josh Heaton is now playing for Bradford Park Avenue in the sixth tier of English football. They are second bottom of the league with a goal difference of minus 29, lost 8-0 today, but to be fair this wasn't his fault, as he was suspended having been sent off the previous week in a 4-2 FA Cup defeat.
Cole Kpekewa has now signed for a Slovakian side. He was sent off after nine minutes of his debut after breaking the leg of an opponent and has now been banned by the Slovakian FA for six months. 
We're on a journey and should be grateful of the progress we have made.

That;s the great thing about early season stats. 
5 games ago we were one win away from 1st place. 
Another way of looking at things. We have less than half the points of Ross County after playing 7 games this season and also trail other potential relegation candidates: Livingston, Hamilton Accies and are 1 defeat away from bottom place.
While I think Goodwin should be a good appointment in the medium term I have a feeling we have gone backwards since the end of last season when we had a bit of momentum and luck and were on a decent run of results for the final 3 months of the season.

That;s the great thing about early season stats. 
5 games ago we were one win away from 1st place. 
Another way of looking at things. We have less than half the points of Ross County after playing 7 games this season and also trail other potential relegation candidates: Livingston, Hamilton Accies and are 1 defeat away from bottom place.
While I think Goodwin should be a good appointment in the medium term I have a feeling we have gone backwards since the end of last season when we had a bit of momentum and luck and were on a decent run of results for the final 3 months of the season.

That;s the great thing about early season stats. 
5 games ago we were one win away from 1st place. 
Another way of looking at things. We have less than half the points of Ross County after playing 7 games this season and also trail other potential relegation candidates: Livingston, Hamilton Accies and are 1 defeat away from bottom place.
While I think Goodwin should be a good appointment in the medium term I have a feeling we have gone backwards since the end of last season when we had a bit of momentum and luck and were on a decent run of results for the final 3 months of the season.

I think the point about Shankland is that we had him on loan twice and Jack Ross punted him to bring in Rory Loy.

Stubbs signings (since you seem to have trouble remembering)
Danny Rodgers (permanently crocked, now at Morton)
Hayden Coulson (loan ended by the autumn)
Josh Heaton (record signing fee in the past 25 years, 2 poor performances against Queens Park and Spartans)
Cole Kpekawa (a first pick under Stubbs and banished and mutually consented by Kearney)
Alfie Jones (loan ended early)
Matty Willock (loan ended early)
Lee Hodson (loan deal honoured until the end of the deal, injured for most of the 2nd half of the season)
Ryan Edwards (loan deal ended early)
Jeff King (mutually consented)
Cody Cooke (3 goals in 1st season)
Nicolai Brock-Madsen (0 goals, loan deal ended early)
 
League results under Stubbs - every game over before half time apart from against relegated Dundee.

Proven goal scorer at League 1 level surely?
From 2012-18 he scored 33 goals (in 5 seasons) in 141 appearances.
He had 10 goals from 33 league appearances when in the Champinship with Livi in 2015-5, and followed that up with 1 league goal from 19 league appearances the following season. When he dropped down to League 1 he scored 14 league goals in 32 games. The following season when he joined us midway through the season he scored 0 league goals when we won the Championship and 4 league goals with Livi before joining us on loan and then signing in January. 
Some season in the Championship Gary MacKenzie will have scored more goals than Danny 'Proven Goalscorer' Mullen.

Shame Ross Stewart wasn’t good enough for the Premiership

Back on topic....
He's not looking happy.

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

So why did Jack Ross hand Baird a contract extension once we were certainties for promotion (other than JR having a record for being frivolous with the St Mirren budget?)

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.

So why did Jack Ross hand Baird a contract extension once we were certainties for promotion (other than JR having a record for being frivolous with the St Mirren budget?)

Jack Baird's league appearances for St Mirren:
2014-5 (The Tommy Craig / Gary Teale relegation season): 8
2015-6 (The Ian Murray / Alex Rae Championship season): 31
2016-7 (The Alex Rae / Jack Ross 'Great Escape I' season): 25
2017-8 (The Jack Ross Promotion Skoosh Season): 31
2018-9 (The Alan Stubbs / Oran Kearney 'Great Escape II' Season): 34
Jack's central defensive partners during the last 5 seasons: Ellis Plummer, Marc McAusland, Viktor Genev, Jim Goodwin, Andy Webster, Gary Irvine, Ben Gordon, Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis, Gregor Buchanan, Jamie McCart, Cole Kpekawa, Josh Heaton, Alfie Jones, Mihai Popescu.
I make that around 15 other central defensive partners over 5 seasons - most of whom weren't good enough for the level required. Jack's appearance record suggests that apart from when Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie were both fit he has been regarded as a starting XI defender for the last 4 seasons. He has played under 9 managers during his time with the 1st team.