Mr Heliums

This is how a lot of fans feel. I wanted him months ago to step back, admit things weren't working, that he'd made errors - and then try something different. But he's persisted with the same setup, brought in players who everybody can see aren't good enough, blamed individuals he clearly doesn't like, and only grudgingly accepted responsibility, while still saying players aren't doing what they're told. He's a poor communicator at the best of times, but we deserve some explanation. I think fans would be more understanding if he was honest, open and contrite. And our performances would benefit. But his stubbornness is building up resentment which is now boiling over into toxicity. Almost impossible to unite players and fans after that.

Geoff Brown is still the majority shareholder. And Steve Brown's role as chairman is unpaid.

He's not.

You're ignoring two things: the context of last season and last summer: no immediate prospect of the return of fans, our biggest reported loss for years (and yet through the pandemic our board hadn't panicked like some - eg no 50% wage cuts). I couldn't blame the board if they were being cautious. you don't provide evidence that the board actually limited signings. Instead it's assumed in great big capital letters. We've literally had fans on here today claiming that Steve Brown isn't providing funds, despite incontrovertible evidence otherwise. It seems that some will find any reason to point the finger at our chairman. Looking back, it's easy to say we should have developed the squad last summer. We can all see that. But we benefit from both hindsight and the fantasy that Davidson would have spent the funds wisely.

Maybe. But if it was shouted from the back pages it was to calm those fans complaining that the board hadn't already spent the money we received in the last day of the August transfer window.

How is he reneging, unless you're suggesting we never bid six-figure sums for two Championship players, or repeatedly bid for Forrest? As Random says, we've also wasted a lengthy contract on Crawford, and Cleary and Gallagher didn't come cheap. What other clubs in relegation trouble are trying to spend like we are? It's ludicrous to talk about reneging, but as usual the chairman is a target that's easy to aim at, when that's all you see. Other clubs know we're desperate, which is why we keep getting knocked back. And I suspect players are hesitant too. There is the question of value, which I think is the point Davidson is making. The point he can't make is that having seen the quality available and the price being asked for it, we're reaching the stage where it might be best to keep some money back in case we need it for a promotion bid.

Every team will be able to point to bad decisions going against them. Except maybe Rangers. We should have been battered in that second half by Hearts. We were shamefully unambitious against Celtic - until the disputed goal went in, ironically. Just unhelpful to re-examine matches we deserved nothing from to point out isolated incidents where we were wronged. If you've watched us, you know referees aren't the problem. In any case, my concern isn't what's happened in the past. My concern is that our manager, rather than identifying clear flaws in how we play football, is publicly pinning his expectations of improvement on better luck and more favourable refereeing decisions.

What has Steven MacLean done as a coach that indicates he'd be a good manager? We went down this path with John Connolly.

Not sure it's her popularity or otherwise. It's simply that personal attacks are easier than attacks on policy or arguments about independence for people who have a visceral attachment to the union. They don't want to get involved in political discussion about Scotland's future because they don't want to discuss it, and can't articulate it anyway. But they can justify their sclerotic position in their own mind by claiming personal distrust of Sturgeon. It allows them to evade discussion. They did the same thing when Salmond was in charge, and I promise you it will be the same for whoever comes after Sturgeon.

Well done to the Scottish media for bravely and relentlessly highlighting alleged cases of sectarianism and racism at our clubs over the last few months, without fear or favour. And if you think without fear or favour means ignoring racist or sectarian incidents at Rangers or Celtic, well that's not true. They cover those too.

There have been far poorer players signed for St Johnstone in that time. But I'd struggle to name a more perverse contract offer: Crawford was here effectively on trial and showed little aptitude, little endeavour and zero ability to fit into the system that the manager is persevering with. Yet we sign him on a two-and-a-half-year deal? Don't think fans are angry about it – but entitled to be really worried about the judgement that's being displayed.

It can't be: suspect it will probably be announced at the tail end of a decent signing. In other words, hidden as much as possible.

Don't think we can compare Wright with some of the other excellent players we've lost and who have returned. I'm simplifying, but in my admittedly prejudiced memory, the timeline of Drey Wright at Saints was: Was brilliant for a spell. Got injured; out for a long time Came back from injury. We waited for him to recapture his form. He didn't. Signed a PCA for Hibs; was even more pish the remainder of the season; left. Nobody's missed him since. I say all this while still thinking it doesn't hugely matter who we buy because I'm not sure individual players are to blame. If only we could buy a new system in this transfer window.

4 not including any at the club.

Thought Nicholson's brief judgement on Davidson - he's a 'young manager learning on the job' - was tone-deaf. That's 18 months Callum's been in charge. His coaching experience at the club stretches back to 2013, with stints at two English Championship clubs and the Scotland national team. McPake at Dundee has been coaching since, what, 2018? Davidson's easily got longer and more extensive coaching experience than Goodwin or Martindale.

Defence-wise, thought Dendoncker was honking last night. A young player from an English Premiership club yet seemingly unable to pass the ball to players on his own side.

Quietly contemplating our attacking options for this game

Killie thought that last year. Another concerning Davidson post-match interview when he one the one hand says he takes responsibility, on the other says that tactically we were fine.

Great day for Well though. A fine 2-0 win and flared trousers are back in fashion.

Given the ref was Nick Walsh, I wouldn't have been the least surprised if he had.

You get the feeling that Callum Davidson genuinely believes that it will all be better when Chris Kane returns.

Davidson must surely realise his public criticism was daft. Only way for it to make sense is for him to give Eetu another chance so he can claim he was just playing mind games. It was all done to inspire a reaction. At least that's what my over-reading of the situation tells me. In other words, you're probably right.

Just for context, our league record this season before the loss of McCann and Kerr: P4 W0 D3 L1 Points 3 Also failed to win in any of our European games, and only beat Arbroath in the League Cup on penalties. Or put another way, We'd played nine games and failed to win any in 90 minutes.

I keep reminding folk that we didn't win a game this season before either of those two left, that those players' transfers were inevitable or forced and even if we'd got £20m for them, we'd still be in the same position we are right now. Yet some still insist that their transfer is the reason we're bottom of the league, and not even consider the wider problems that extend to way before they left. How can the board be blamed for the passive, negative, eye-bleeding way we play, which doesn't seem to change no matter who Davidson signs? Would rather not be seen as some sort of Steve Brown fanboy, but the board has been the one thing St Johnstone have got consistently right over the past thirty years. If every other club our size isn't envious of it, they should be.