Coventry Saint

The shoulder-to-shoulder with Henderson was the best/worst example. I hope Lafferty doesn't calm down at half time, I reckon we could easily get him sent off here. And that would be funny. It's been a weirdly compelling game to watch, mind. I've enjoyed it in a detached sort of a way.

What a p***k Lafferty is. We see you, mate.

It's the opposite of what happened to Hearts. They were - and I'm not sure if you remember this - a bit annoyed at their relegation. Yet they've basically escaped their penance this season.

You'll be fine, man. The main question is which St Mirren side will show up: the one that's gash for the first half and then improves, or the one that's gash for the first half and then doesn't.

I'll actually be a bit pissed off if Flynn has a blinder tonight after we were crying out for his influence on Sunday.

3-5-2 with Henderson being hung out at RWB?

Ehhhh. Are we actually doing this, then? I'm with Lex. 2-0 seems about right to me. 2/10.

I thought it was a Montego. But the Montego was the saloon version of the Maestro. Either way, they were awful cars.

This, 100%. Not presuming we'd have beaten you but that's definitely been our issue this season. I said much the same after our semi-final against Livingston. Marvin Bartley was MOM for me that day and we simply had nobody doing the same job as him. We've ended up in a situation where JDH is the more experienced of our midfielders; he's 22. A 27/28-year old CM with prior experience at this level or no lower than upper level L1 in England has to be absolutely top of our recruitment list for this summer, without a doubt.

I have issue with your first word there, mainly because, in truth, there's no real comparison at the moment. TBF McCann's probably an 'upper level' benchmark for what a player should be looking like at that age and at this level, at clubs of our approx size. You'd hope that, of all positions, DM would be the one that Jim could definitely coach. You've set me off trying to think of players that have improved under his tenure... McGrath and McCarthy, certainly. Though Shaunghnessy is clearly helping McCarthy a lot. Food for thought.

Without wishing to join a pile-on (I took your post as largely constructive, tbh) point 5 on the list would be his aimless headers forward. He concedes possession a LOT by just heading it forward 15 yards regardless of who's there. Given how considered some of his play can be when he's got the ball at his feet, it always surprises me. I'#m happy to chalk that up to inexperience because he can use the ball so well when he calms down a bit. As you said, he has time to become a great player and I very much hope he does. But he won't be getting a big move this summer if scouts have been watching for the past six months. (Something that does give me the fear a bit is a comment that was made around the time we sold one of Mallan or McAllister. It was suggested that clubs in England are wary of buying Scottish players after they reach a certain age as the standard of coaching isn't high enough up here and they often develop bad habits. Is it a coincidence that Erhahon came back from six months with Barnsley looking amazing - a real surprise package - and then deteriorated as the season went on? Just a thought.)

If fans are allowed in the final, I hope the appropriate distancing rules will still be adhered to. Basically...

Yeah, you have to earn the right to trot about like Yaya Toure...

I'll say this much (repeating myself, possibly), but if we can't find bespoke/dedicated wing-backs then the 3-5-2 has got to get in the sea. As much as Durmus will be a massive loss to the squad - he has made far more of an impact than I think any of us could have hoped for when we signed him - we have mis-used him ever since he came back into the squad. Durmus the winger, we'll miss. Durmus the wing-back... I don't blame him for leaving and we need someone more suited to the role. I personally feel like we've potentially won a gold watch with Henderson's emergence - let's hope we're actually playing a system that suits him.

I'll put you down as a maybe.

Genuine question... why not?

Yeah, the sight of Dennis putting in a glorious volleyed first-time cross that we really needed him to be on the end of sums up that situation. TBF, positionally Dennis is usually streets ahead for getting in the right places and, also TBF, Erwin was actually in the right place for that one. Chris Sutton was quite critical of our strikers' positioning, particularly relative to each other, at half time on Sunday. He'd be more expensive than Thommo and might not want to get his hands dirty, but I think he'd be a great shout, especially if we're going to persist with two up front. Can't be many strikers out there, with links to Scottish football, who would know more about partnership play, having been involved in two of the best striking partnerships we've seen on either side of the border. He said before the game he 'would quite like to see St Mirren go through', too.

Assuming he's getting a decent move, I'd like to think his agent might have another player or two up his sleeve that he could send our way. You'd have to say Durmus' spell at Saints has been excellent for both parties so the precedent has been set.

I was pretty critical of Ethan yesterday, admittedly, and happy to admit if I was being unfair. My issue is you can very quickly tell what sort of a game he's going to have, and he looked like a rabbit in the headlights from the off yesterday. He did get better as yesterday went on, but he needs to spend less time gobbing off at referees and focus on what he does well. Perhaps, yes, we just need an older head alongside him to guide him through games. Like Shaughnessy does with McCarthy.

Willie Collum doesn't even get a card from his mum. Edit: also, wasn't until yesterday that I had seen the shape of Quaner's head. HIs forehead is really weird. It's honestly no wonder he missed that header. Genuine 50p heid. You need to see it in profile to understand the true oddness of it.

Ehhhhh, bollocks. Feeling pretty flat this morning. I was never in a million years assuming we'd win yesterday, but I had dared to dream about getting to the final. No exaggeration to say I honestly miss my Gran and Grampa every day - they took me to the game in 1987 and I was picturing how emotional it'd be seeing us feature in another SC final. As they say - and as gets written on this thread very frequently - it's the hope that kills you. Positives? None, really, but I'll try because that's my coping mechanism: We did actually play fairly well, so it doesn't feel like the LC semi. This frustration is more around those missed chances. I guess it's left me feeling more philosophical - relaxed - about which players may or may not be with us next season. Truth is I'd be comfortable with any of them going if we get decent fees for them. If we get offeed 400k+ and a sell-on for McGrath, I think he'll be away too. I thought Brophy looked lively when he came on. Hope he gets some minutes in the remaining games. I hope this is the nail in the coffin of the 3-5-2, but I strongly suspect it won't be. Finding adequate wingbacks at our level is nigh-on impossible. Tait can almost do it, but not quite. Even Rooney for St J looks ok, but equally got turned inside out by Durmus a few times. I hope this has highlighted the need for experience in the middle of the park and an experienced CM (at this level) has to be near the top of our priority list for next season. Feel free to add any others - I need a pick-me-up!

I'm predicting a fair amount of apathy tbh, fans and players alike.

Was gonna say, after today, I think we cash in on Erhahon if a bid comes in. We need more experience through the middle of the park. I still think he's got potential but he needs to screw the nut and needs to mature as a player, quickly. Maybe needs to take himself out his comfort zone to develop. Pretty much agree with the rest of your list, too. I'd love Durmus to stay but if I was him I'd be pretty scunnered about being made to play wingback. It's completely throttling him as an attacking outlet.

I'll bite: we've just marked the fourth anniversary of staying in the Championship by the skin of our teeth. In the interim we've managed to employ Alan Stubbs and still survive. I know you're only at the wind-up but we're firmly heading in the right direction. Very frustrating game, but at least we showed up this time. Progress of a sort, I guess.

St Johnstone the better side over the game, but we created, and missed, the better chances. Still some slightly mystifying managerial decisions. Erhahon was awful today and I called it on this very thread about 15mins into the game. I know he's young but he should've been hooked at half time. Introduction of Middleton was the difference in the end, and not just for the free kick, thought he added a bit of poise and movement that caused us trouble. Obviously the game might be different if we get the (absolutely clear) penalty, but we missed too many other chances to blame that shite decision for the defeat. Congratulations St Johnstone. It was a decent game and they've definitely got an ability to get a job done. Hate to admit it, but if they can add a bit to their team this summer they could be very good next season.