Coventry Saint

I remember there was a point when West Ham had an absolutely phenomenal former players XI (who were still playing, at a higher level). Tevez, Mascherano, Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Lampard, Carrick, among others. I'm not saying we're at that level, but a lot of our former players are currently doing very well for themselves, and it seems a few current players (JM, CM, EE) have their eyes on moves. Obviously that's our place in the hierarchy - that's fine, and it's good that talented players can progress - but we have got to start to monetise this shit. The announcements made about JDH last Xmas(ish) were fairly embarrassing, too.

It's beyond parody at this stage, tbh.

It's a stupid rule. Gets broken in every shootout and is applied so haphazardly. They should bin it.

Someone needs to mention this to their crowd vs Galatasaray. The 'Saintees' chants were coming through loud and clear.

@Grangemouth Bairn there, posting with all the bravado that only seven points from nine in *checks notes* League One can grant you.

Our first trip back to Parkhead after we forcefully applied one of the nails to Neil Lennon's coffin last time round. That game was a genuine Jim Goodwin tactical masterclass, showing slight tweaks to our approach to make the most of the opposition's weaknesses, and we capitalised quite magnificently. I'm not quite sure where that tactical mastery disappears to the rest of the time, but here we are. I wasn't optimistic about our trip to Livingston at the weekend, so of course I'm not optimistic about this. I think Hearts have done the 'catching Celtic cold' thing already and I doubt that's about to be repeated. The demolition of Dundee was concerning for us, to say the least. We are without Kristian Dennis after red against Hearts. I'm assuming/hoping Alan Power is back after sitting out vs Livi. I could tell you our precise line-up right now, but not in a good way. We are currently very one-dimensional, overly direct, incredibly predictable and lack pace.

I dunno, I think for promotions/cup wins/the playoff win, it feels ok. Celebratory rather than antagonistic. But yeah, for individual goals it's not for me.

This was discussed in the most recent OldFirmFacts podcast (ironically under the header 'It's Only Livingston'), and the panel broadly took a very sympathetic view towards the pitch invaders, defending their right to get a bit excited about goals after a year and half of shite. I can understand clubs getting twitchy if there's a chance they could get in trouble for failing to control, etc, or if there are Covid-related implications, but I'm hoping this will all be handled in a very light-touch way at this stage. I'm inclined to think the novelty will wear off pretty quickly* now the crowds are back in properly. * That's reliant on us scoring goals on a semi-frequent basis, admittedly.

Interesting to see this play out. Relationship between club and fans currently quite fraught.

Spot on. There's nothing wrong with the players we've signed, I think our business has been decent. The issue is that we've stopped signing players, when in fact as many others have pointed out, the squad was still slightly lacking.

Fair enough.

We've tried to stay in control of the McGrath situation but it's fucking us now. We need him to move on so we can reinvest/replace, and Jim has given it the big talk about not letting him go late in the window. But you can absolutely fucking guarantee that he's going to go late in the window for an undisclosed/disappointing fee. I also think there's the personnel there to play a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, pushing Tanser up further and playing Tait or Dunne at LB. Would be tempted to push Brophy wide as a forward rather than an out and out striker.

Because the team remains uncreative, the issues from last season persist, there is no apparent plan B, our defence has apparently become worse, the tactics are predictable, our weaknesses are relatively easy to identify and expose, we have identified a system and are sticking to it yet have at least two square pegs in round holes (whoever's at RWB and Kiltie). I guess we might scrape through here (CH goal from a set piece) and I might look daft. Obviously I'm also not at the game today so perhaps I'll be corrected in terms of our performance, but I suspect I won't be. I'm typically a fairly upbeat poster here, and I pretty much idolise Jim Goodwin, but something's not quite right here.

Jim will be under pressure before August is out, I reckon.

And the season before...

It's almost as if...

1-0. Forrest.

Tait at LB, Tanser pushed forward would also work, but I think the 3-5-2 is the simplest explanation here.

FFS. Kiltie and McGrath don't. Work. Together.

I'd go Flynn + Erhahon. MGrath in front, Kiltie dropped to bench. Erhahon and McPherson hasn't worked in the past (specifically against Livi in the semi) and I can't see him going for the young team here either. I'll be a bit annoyed if Kiltie and McGrath start together (unless the system changes) because we can all see it doesn't work.

Yeah, this. Who's not staying to the end to give the team a clap? Disgrace. Bit of a gulf in the end, but St Johnstone did themselves a lot of credit. Thought Babel may have been offside for the fourth, but it's moot.

The effect a 5-0 can have on your goal difference is sometimes worth an extra point, I've heard. Not sure if that's ever been significant in the league.

He was very popular, albeit slightly over-romanticised because of his role in the Great escape, and because of his quality relative to the absolute jobbers that had preceded him. That said, I'm surprised Hearts are letting him go. The majority of Saints fans would be happy to take him back, probably as a squad player.

Here's hoping. I promised not to whinge about tactics ever again after the Parkhead win, but I don't think I'll ever be convinced by the 3-5-2. The only advantage is the fact it lets us play with two strikers, and lets us play McGrath in his preferred position, but both Hearts and Dundee have exposed its weaknesses.

They've said you can. No... Wait... They've said you can't.