Buddist Monk

I definitely think that there is a player in Stewart, but just now he looks a bit gangly and a little awkward at this level. I think a lot of that rawness would have been smoothed off with more regular football but with Reilly, Sutton and several others ahead of him there just hasn't been the opportunity. Now perhaps the argument is that he should show more in training in order to get Ross to play him more - but that's a little unfair considering I have no idea how well he does at training. As for McGinn, after watching him in some recent games he's really stepped up a level. I think £3m would be an absolute steal and wouldn't be surprised to see figures almost double that. I realise as a St Mirren fan I'll be a wee bit biased but he is a genuine talent and on that, if he continues his progression, will be a permanent fixture in the Scotland team within a few years.

He won't be wasted in the reserves, he'll be loaned back to us - either for 6 months or 18 months. In a similar way Christie has been loaned out. Now I see similarities in those two players, both are quick, both are talented and both have an eye for the spectacular. Allan is a different case, he didn't just go from lower league to Celtic, he did it via several clubs. He also arrived at a Deila Celtic, so there is that element too. No, if I had to give a comparison I'd say Christie. In terms of his potential and where it could take him, he comes from the same stock as Kenny McLean and John McGinn, two players who moved from St Mirren to bigger clubs and are now one of the first names on their teamsheet. The "problem" with Celtic is that they have so much cover in that area, from the usual wingers like Roberts, Sinclair, Forrest, Hayes (for all he plays) and that's before you factor in other players who can cover that position. He's one for the future, and if he can develop more while out on loan and at some point Roberts returning to Man City and the likely shipping of Hayes (possibly back to Aberdeen?) in about 12-18 months there should be a place for him to fight for. Ultimately if you spend a pittance in your terms (roughly a £300k tag) then it's a decent gamble considering what his potential just now suggests. Whether that potential will be fulfilled who knows? That said you could buy a £30m player and still worry about them fulfilling their potential.

And you sound like a fucking idiot. I have in no way said a negative about St Johnsone, if anything I have reflected on their staggering level of success. Tell you what, I'll chalk this down to a pre-coffee morning reply rather than an inability to read. Edit: Wait? You upvoted that comment? I really don't understand, you slam it then upvote it. Weird.

I understand why any St Johnstone fan would defend their club, as you are at an absolute zenith in terms of your club's history. There is realistically no possible way the club can move forward though. Perhaps the same could be said of St Mirren if we had had such a staggering level of success in relation to the resources available. imo, anyone taking over after Wright will be managing over a decline though - with the already proffered caveat that people have been predicting the demise of the Perth club for nigh on a decade now.

Both very salient points.

I really don't think so. If he wanted to move to a team in the top flight he could have taken on Dundee - and apparently that's the team he supports. With the caveat that we have all been wrong predicting the premature demise of St Johnstone, they are in no way a step up from us. Even the most charitable would consider it a sideways move.

The problem is, and we've seen this with McInnes, the media will just tap him up for Aberdeen.

Couple of hundred thousand pounds, a loan back and a nice large chunk of sell on money would be, imo, the best outcome for all parties.

Ta. I thought it might. Now, let's hope John McGinn stays in contract and gets a double figure million pound move!

Out of interest and seeing as this thread has been bumped, allow me to ask a stupid question. I believe we were due a sell on percentage with McLean, if he moves to Rangers under a PCA does that kill any money off?

Soccerbase being helpful as usual... http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=84677

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaEawcOXkW8

I believe this belongs here...

I worry about too much expectation being put on Davis. He was clearly more than capable of playing at this level, and yes our defence is hardly the most solid just now, but I do worry if he gets off to a slow start the crowd might start to turn. It seems so many are pinning on Davis solving all our defensive problems, when (imo) those are created more by Stellios at fullback or the McGinn/McShane partnership not quite gelling.

Houston is on Sportsound just now... http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_scotland_mw

Lennon was pushed on a figure in his post match comments, can't remember if he said it was "exactly" or "round about", but 750 was the figure. It was Richard Gordon (or whoever is Radio Scotland anchor today) that quoted the 225.

They surely won't get that for him, not that I don't think he is either worth that (in the English inflated market - probably more!) or will be worth that at some point, I can't see Warburton going higher than a couple of million as he knows the level the Scottish market is at. Not sure what a couple of million would give us but at Championship level a few tens of thousands can make a big difference. Edit: Just listened to the radio, the bid was £750k of which we would get £225. So, what.. 33% then?

Just the classic feast and famine with St Mirren. We are either winning and the greatest team in the world or losing and the worst, there is never a middle ground. I don't think Jack has recruited badly, but I do think he's trying to fit players into a system that worked at the end of last season, and it's not quite a proper fit. Personally I am a little more level headed here and think that the team is easily capable of maintaining a middle table finish, closer to the promotion playoffs than the relegation ones, and for all the chat about us being favourites (thankfully now dismissed by most) I don't think many, if they actually sat down and weighed everything up, would disagree that would be progress from last season. The lack of an out and out striker is slightly worrying, but I'm sure he'll get something sorted. IMO, Sutton could provide the goals, but only if played up as a part of two. Now a Reilly and Sutton partnership might work, after all a Mehmet and Sutton partnership worked and there's no way Mehmet is a better player than Reilly (not saying he's worse mind!), but I don't see Jack shifting to a 442 or 532 combo to get that to work. The defence is creaking just now but I don't see that as an issue. McKenzie for all he didn't show it against Partick, is more than capable of putting in regular top quality performances. How partners him I'm not sure, I'd be keen for Baird to get a continued run but then he was in the defence the other day and it won't have done his confidence much good. I can understand the unrest amongst the support and for me the team looks really lacking in match fitness, they were off the pace in all the 3 Bet Fred games so far, but that is more about getting more games than bringing in more players.

You're an excitable young chap, aren't you? If you are dining out on a few years of success and your rivals losing one more goal than you, then you'll be eating very thin gruel indeed. Oh, never, of course. On days like this though, it does seem a little empty.

I'm certainly not spinning our result here, btw, it's like two bald men arguing over a comb. If we got hounded and you lot got a decent result I'd get it.

I'm happy to see a bit of banter, but don't the Morton fans realise the irony of posting on here about our defeat when their own team got horsed?

So... Stewart in goals and a back line of McKenzie and Baird and we're getting humped 30 minutes in. Classic armchair punditry!

For me the loan looks like Ross might have worries about Irvine. He was great the end of last season, looked a little lacking in the games so far in this one. I'm sure he'll come good (again) but happy to have cover. Would Ross have worked with him at Hearts? Striker is still one I'd like to see added. Reilly I guess will add goals, how many I have no idea. Sutton, either the way he's been played or just time taking it's toll, I don't see contributing much this season. Stewart looks like he could be good if given game time but he does look raw. Not seen Hilson yet, thought I had but I believe it was O'Keefe. Not sure what O'Keefe's preferred position is. Looked bright though. Davis might be brought in, not sure if it's a "done deal" yet, but you'd imagine you'd be waiting until the end of September before he gets up to speed. I've got my doubts about Buchanan just now but, like Irvine, it might just take him a few games to get up to speed, but I'd definitely be tempted to play a combo of McKenzie and Baird. Samson looks pretty much the player that left us, and in many ways that's good, but I'd also like to see (the other) Stewart getting a run - perhaps in the game against Airdrie as I hate to say it but I feel that might be a "dead rubber" (I hope not).

Thing with Samson is you know what you're getting, which is both bad and good. He is a decent shot stopper, but (certainly imo) his distribution was poor. Will definitely do a job for us in this league, and with Stewart wide on the right (not his natural position) it seems that is the preferred out ball now. Not sure if they did this during the Livi game. Long term you'd be hoping the other Stewart would be aimed to steal #1 though..