frank mc's

I haven't been on here since the final and it's great to read all the comments about the victory. Since the game i have read a lot of papers about it and watched the game again and everybody seems really complimentary about Saints and the game as a whole. A few describing it as a classic. At the time i didn't realise how good the game was as you get caught up in it. I woke up on Sunday and i felt really calm about the game. Normally even for mid table league games i have some nerves but strangely not this time. The first half hour or so Saints couldn't seem to do much right and Hearts were one up and pushing hard for more. But i think because i had really bought into the whole 'believe' thing i thought there must be more to Saints today than this. I looked at the players and i believed in their quality and their character to get back into the game. In fact the game that i was reminded of was rhe crucial relegation game against Motherwell 6 years ago when they came back from 2-0 and playing very poorly to win 3-2. So there remained hope. But it was still a major surprise when the equaliser came. Joy and relief at the same time. It was only when watching the game again that i seen what a great goal from Goncalvez it was with Saints building up with a few passes which wasn't in keeping with how they'd played up until then. The final passes were all so quick and clinical. Football at its best. As we all know now Saints took real advantage and scored in the 1st minute of the 2nd half through Thompson and then got the 3rd through Newton. It was similar to the semi final now,being 3-1 up with just over 20 minutes to go. It looked comfortable for a while until Hearts scored then it was a real test of character as Hearts through everything at Saints for the final few minutes. How would Saints have coped had they equalised with the goal threat of Thompson and Goncalvez now off the pitch? Thankfully we never needed to find out as the whistle went. It's one of the great moments in St Mirrens history. Their 1st League cup and only their 4th national trophy. Hopefully most of this Saints squad can stay together and challenge for more honours but in the meantime it's just good to have won the trophy. To have played a part in such a good game and to have scored 3 of the best goals you might see this season.

Football can be a really emotional game even in low key matches and cup finals obviously take things up a few notches. So i hope Danny and his staff have an idea what they would do in certain circumstances on Sunday whether they seem likely or not. I'm sure they work on all kinds of things but having an idea what you would do beforehand if something strange was to happen could be worthwhile. In the last final it seemed that everybody got caught up in the emotion when Rangers had 2 men sent off. Maybe there were clear instructions and weren't carried out properly but it's possible that the players as well as Gus didn't really have a plan for it as it was so unexpected. So to have plans already in your head if certain things happen rather than to panic on the touchline,losing precious minutes trying to think, could make a big difference. Hopefully nothing as crazy happens this time but if it does then make sure they're ready for it.

Of course it's early days but the way that Esmael has started has been amazing. If he keeps it up you wonder what Saints can achieve this season. He seems to have so many strengths. If the opposition keep the ball away from his right foot he seems really good on his left and if it's in the air he's got great heading ability. Four goals in his first 3 games and thay have all been really different. Stretching out his right leg to deflect it in off the post against Celtic. The chest control before hammering in with his left against Inverness and the towering header and then the great strength and skill for his 2 goals against St. Johnstone. That's just his goals. There seems so much more about him. He links up play really well and is great at running with the ball such as a few times against St. Johnstone when he just ran away from the defenders and was unlucky not to score a couple more. He also seems unlucky not to have won a couple of penalties after his runs at defences. Hopefully he can keep on playing in this form but the great thing is that even if he was to be marked out of games or lose a bit of form there are so many other great attacking options for Saints at the moment. But the last week was a joy to see him ripping apart defences and individual defenders who have usually looked comfortable in the SPL.

Watched through the game a couple of times and with being able to see it a lot calmer than the other day some things really struck me. A lot has been said about Celtic playing badly but i just think they were shocked. Probably expecting to take the ball up to the penalty area every 2 minutes without real challenges. Well this time they were tackled throughout the pitch. The midfield snapped at their heels all game. Right from the first minute McGinn pinched the ball from them to set up an attack and then a few minutes later Newton shrugged off Wanyama as if he wasn't there. It was great to see and this continued throughout the game. I just imagine Celtic thinking 'this isn't supposed to happen'. It was great watching the goals again. Very well built up. The first one was a superb team goal involving a few players after Goodwin won the ball and the third was a great run into space and cross from McAusland for Thompson's brilliant volley. I think McAusland has definitely added something to his game since maybe the end of last season. Not just happy to defend now he seems to have the confidence to put in good passes and crosses and occasionally goes on some Broadfoot-like runs from defence. As others have said Teale had a great game and was involved in some part in each of the goals. I actually think he's having a really good season and has been oneof Saints best throughout. In fact i couldn't believe i had heard Pat Nevin right at the start of the programme when he said something along the lines of Teale has to do a lot more than he has this season. I think he's trying to give the impression he knows about every team and player even if he's just seen them play once or twice.

In recent years i've thought there have been a few games against Celtic that Saints didn't really show much belief and committment. Well they certainly showed enough of it yesterday and took the game to them at every opportunity. They seemed up for it from the first whistle,forcing a couple of early corners that seemed to settle them down. Then getting,rather than conceding an early goal gave everybody even more belief. It was a great performance throughout by everyone and was one of those games where i can't really pick any one player as man of the match as they were all outstanding. It just shows what can happen when they believe in their own abilities rather than in the hype of some of the Celtic players. With this sort of belief,workrate,committment brave team selection as well as some very talented players hopefully this group of players can keep getting better.

I would still have him at the club. I think playing in the current team he would be a great asset. It's strange how he's always the one that people criticize when talking about players that are injured or missing games for whatever reason. Compared to David Barron he was like a regular starter. Out at the start of this season and played just a handful of games in 2 out of the last 3 seasons!