houston_bud

Gus McPherson was a very good St. Mirren manager. He took us from utter dross to 2nd place, then won the division the following season. I think bringing him in as technical director is a pretty shrewd move, he knows the club and Gordon Scott very well, he'll also have good knowledge of the lower leagues. I don't really see what there is to complain about here.

Surely this 'one man team' patter is a story that has grown arms and legs? I struggle to believe anyone would be as stupid as to hit out with something like that.

His body language after the defeat to Livingston was more akin to a teenager who's parent had just told them they had to turn the X-Box off and tidy their room, rather than a top flight football manager losing to a close rival. at home It was clear he wasn't happy in the job, neither were the players by the looks of it, and the fans certainly weren't.

That him and Darren Jackson don't get on with many people at the club. I also heard that he doesn't speak to his players but gets Rice or Jackson to do it. It's a combination of things, or at least seems to be. Things that are undeniable are that he got rid of players that did us a job, and telling more that they could go, then replacing them with poorer players or not replacing them at all. His man management appears to be awful, he subbed Kpekewa 3 mins into the second half against Livingston (why not just take him off at half time?), he dropped Cammy Smith then gave some mealy mouthed interview about whether Smith was staying or not. His tactics were baffling, and his attitude on the touchline was stinking. Sacked after 4 league games on the face of it seems ridiculous but what we saw was dreadful, and the rumours that he doesn't get on with anyone appear to be true. You can't continue with a manager who doesn't get on with the squad.

Damage could already be done. Signed some amount of shite. It's early days, but the lack of a decent centre half is frightening. Jack Baird is far and away our most competent centre half at the moment and we all know he's prone to the odd blunder. Other than that I think, whilst light in cover, we have some reasonable players. It's a big job for McIntyre or whoever takes over but we're not down yet.

It's the right decision all round to get rid of him. Timed well too with the international break for the new manager to get a bit of time with the squad so fair play to the board for being decisive. Can't help but think the board need to shoulder some blame for an appointment to go so wrong though.

The money paid suggests that Stubbs thought, and probably said, Heaton would go straight into the team. I can't see the board making those funds available for a guy who could be a regular in 6 months or a season's time. I would imagine £75k would have been a season's wage for a decent player at this level. I realise that there's a lot of guess work here but I can understand why the board aren't prepared to give him any more money. Stubbs needs to prove these guys can do a job before the board lets him sign anyone else.

You're right and I really hope he does develop into a player. £75k seems a lot of money for St. Mirren to pay for 'one for the future' though.

Fair point.

What makes him a c**t? I certainly don't know the story but if it's as simple as a club offering him more money then can you blame him? I imagine Falkirk is probably a better location for him as well. He knows as well as anyone how cut throat management can be. Earn a decent salary while you can I say.

Some of those names made me shudder. Although I thought Plummer actually looked ok in this handful of appearances. Issac Osbourne was actually a decent player just riddled with injuries.

Doesn't sound great in that case. I thought he looked ok the few times I've seen him over the last couple of years. I don't think the fact he hasn't played for Hearts so far this season is that relevant to us. Hearts have looked really good so far, he stepped up from Thistle to Hearts and just hasn't been good enough. Edwards has been a Premiership regular for the past two or three seasons.

Edwards would be a decent addition actually. Another central midfielder though.

Getting rid of him now wouldn't help much with bringing new players in. We'd have to rush an appointment and then rush in some last minute signings.

It's not been 'meh', it's been awful. Out of all his signings I don't think any would have got a game last season. Willock looks ok, rest of them look poor at best. I agree with your 4th point to an extent, but the players brought in aren't good enough to shitfest. The defence is so weak, compare it lo Livvy's who could very well shitfest their way to safety this year - although going on Saturday's they have some good players who can do more than that. As for withdrawing Reilly's contract and telling others they can leave, this can only be justified if the players coming in are better than those who have left/been told they can leave. I had a look at Stubbs' early record at Hibs and it actually wasn't great. Took them until about December before they really got up and running. They went on to finish second in the Championship with Hearts and Rangers in the division. Completely different circumstances here but maybe, just maybe all these new signings who haven't played a lot of games might get up to speed and I'll have to eat my words. Here's hoping.

Maybe says more about the quality of players on the bench.

Grim. Our defence is dreadful, bullied at every set piece. Every time a ball has come into our box it's been panic. When we've put a ball into Livingston's box they've dealt with it without any problem. That's the difference. They've got a young fairly inexperienced keeper in goals and we haven't even managed a shot. So, so poor.

We kept 14 clean sheets last year. Admittedly most of them came with Davis in the team, but the defence was strong. I agree that one addition could be all the difference, that's the point I was making. Hopefully the boy from Southampton can be that addition. I'm not totally convinced that MacKenzie is the answer to all our problems, I get the feeling he is becoming a better player in the eyes of some fans with every week he's been out the team.

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve criticism. He had a howler at the first goal at Ibrox and that certainly isn't an isolated error. I do feel that he often gets singled out though when other players have also been making similar mistakes.

Baird's played over 100 games, which is a decent amount for a player of his age. Kpekawa is the same age and played about a quarter of the amount of games Baird has and for about half a dozen clubs. It's an important position and Jack Baird is the more experienced player by quite a distance. He's had to go from the junior partner in a pairing to the leader in the space of a close season. I also think Baird is often made a scapegoat. He cost us the first goal against Rangers, later in the game McGinn made a worse mistake when he got caught in possession on the 18 yard line. Samson saved the resulting shot so it doesn't get mentioned. I think he's got the attributes to be a decent centre half, he's strong, pretty pacy, and good in the air (same with Kpekawa actually) but we need a leader and organiser in there and neither of them are that at the moment.

I also wonder what quality is still available at this stage. I'm expecting some more loan signings.

I must've have got that wrong, apologies. Someone clearly saw something in him. He was probably always a low risk signing that Jack Ross was willing to take a punt on. We've also seen that Ross and Stubbs have different opinions on what players we need.

I think people said that we'd need to see more of him before we could make a judgement, which was fair enough. Stubbs has obviously seen a lot more of him and decided he isn't good enough. I'd be surprised to see him back to be honest.

Kellerman away to AFC Fylde, in the National League, on loan for the season. That's the same division that he came from. Good luck to him.

I think that's a side issue though. Stubbs told our top scorer he wasn't wanted without a replacement lined up. I was trying to explain why I think there has been criticism of Stubbs, moving players on without having replacements for them is a reason why I think he has been criticised.