Radford

Bit worried it might be loans only now. Really need to try and do as much permanent business as we can in this window to attempt to undo 2 years of Davidson. January is notoriously hard and you are already looking ahead to another half-dozen plus likely departures next summer. If you are trying to replace them PLUS three or four loan players then that's a big recruitment job and we are still on that downward spiral.

Mitov and Jephcott put me more at ease. There are a lot of guys in England still without clubs and, like the manager said, players that were saying no a month ago are now wanting to talk. My hope is we can get what MacLean wants (CB, CM, CF and WM) before the league season starts, then there might be something left to look at the full back positions, especially if we can move one or two out.

Immediate gut reaction to Mitov and Jephcott has been positive. This one, not so much, although appreciate Ipswich are in the Championship now. Loans have a place but our starting centre back is 36 so we can't just keep kicking the can down the road.

Probably something as simple as them waiting for the clearance for Jephcott before announcing it.

Liam Gordon brings so much on himself by trying to be Franz Beckenbauer. Same applies to the relatively recent approach he's taken that involves getting into wrestling matches. If he just went back to doing some basic defending and organising he's actually very good at that. He's also gonna have to accept massively reduced terms if he wants to stay at Saints beyond next summer.

Before the Rangers game mentioned by @PauloPerth above, this was our cup record against lower league sides over the previous 7 years: Played 23, Won 22, Drawn 1, Lost 0, For 67, Against 9.

Well done, Stenny. Saints maintain their horrific record in the group stages of this competition. We've now failed to beat Brechin, East Fife, Montrose, Forfar, Annan, Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir in the group stages.

The manager hasn't really put a foot wrong in his media dealings since getting the job but I'm not sure why he came out and said about missing out on a player. Especially when there has largely been an acceptance of his approach, despite the fact it might mean we are starting Ali Crawford tomorrow and will have a subs bench with only one experienced player on it.

What a line, by the way. @PSJ.84 If this season goes wrong and we need a banter years thread, shushed by a mullet has to feature prominently.

All that effort on Transfermarkt wasted when I should have just checked Twitter. Effort being searching free agent Bulgarian keepers that played in England...

Dimitar Mitov?

Given what the first team budget was under Lomas and early Wright, I really struggle to get my head around this £4 million figure. Did MacLean say if 4-3-3 was his preferred formation? Thanks to all those that have shared from the evening.

Would folk say they were more or less positive after hearing the manager speak? Which of course shows the power of engagement...

Given we lost £1 million when we were relegated in 2002, these figures are going to be horrendous.

Without ever reading too much into friendlies, some thoughts on players: Everything would suggest Carey is best suited to the wide left role but noticeable how Steven managed to keep Comrie pinned back far more. Carey runs around a lot but he was nowhere to be seen when Comrie was getting the freedom the park down the right. And I don't like him in central midfield. Definitely a potential problem. Ryan McGowan breaks up play well and that holding role is probably the one I prefer him in but it was also noticeable how much more of a grip we got of possession even with Ballantyne in that deeper role. I think McGowan will obviously bring his versatility this season but in terms of starting games he has be used more sparingly or selected for the right matches. Could that wide left role be the fit for Stevie May? He works hard and likes to link and it takes him away from needing to be the hold up man? Would also then help accommodate two of May and Clark/Kane. Ben McCrystal can be really pleased with that debut. A few too many silly fouls and obviously the ball use does need to be better but looked comfortable which is always the first thing you want to see.

Was a better workout than I feared it might be after 20 minutes. Wouldn't say there was enough in it to be optimistic but it at least served a purpose. In that opening quarter, I was worried it wasn't even going to do that. We are unfortunately going to have to treat the League Cup as friendlies again but hopefully this time next year we have a far more settled look and are back to being St Johnstone.

You wouldn't reach double figures counting our fit senior outfield players with any modicum of experience, so mixed I'd guess...

Now he's stopped talking about transitions, I do like the way Steven MacLean talks. Upfront and honest about our struggles to sign players, much like our last but one manager. Seems to know what he wants though, much like our last but one manager. I certainly don't expect him to end up signing a dozen players when he's said he only wants four or five... We need to get back to being a club that isn't easy prey for vultures. A club where players and their representatives don't see it as an easy pay day. We always managed to attract decent players without being big payers. We need that identity back after allowing it to be eroded over the past couple of years. Ideally we'll be able to move Crawford and Bair on in some sort of arrangement and can boost another couple of areas as well as those identified by the manager.

I guess what is important is they don't panic if deals aren't happening and end up signing dross. Guessing there is a closed doors game tomorrow against Falkirk or Thistle?

As @perthsaint1977 said yesterday, that group looks no bigger than about 18 and it's not all senior players, in fact it's far from it. Can at least spot McGowan and, I think, Crawford, who have been absent from training photos but no Brown, Phillips, Bair, Clark or Kane? Is Bair even back? Wouldn't need many toes once you ran out of counting senior players on your fingers.

Agree completely with @Kyle regarding Crawford. We haven't heard great detail from MacLean but from what we have, it's abundantly clear that Crawford doesn't fit. If we have to end up using him then it's a complete failure in squad building and the fact he's earning £x,xxx/week doesn't change a thing. You don't *just* play him because he earns a lot of money if he is going to, not just, not enhance the team, but actively harm it if there is meant to be high-energy pressing. Especially when I guess that was a major factor in letting Wotherspoon go? No one is going to walk away from a six-figure contract though, so we just have to hope someone will pay a quarter or a third of his wages and we'll just have to suck up the rest. Davidson probably wasted over half the Kerr fee on this guy.

The Celtic fans must be taking a day off from telling Rangers fans we've won the same number of trophies then.

Liam Craig promoted to role with first team? Do him and Cleland have titles? Is he still doing analysis? We still seem a man light. Full-time appointment needed for U18s and development group?

His offer should be off the table now we are back training. I get if it was reduced terms that he'd want to scout around but time is up. MacLean seems keen to keep him though. "Hi, I'm Barry Scott. Bang! And the dirt is gone!" - Neil Burgess.