Valentino Bolognese

He's certaintly no Jahmal Hector-Ingram, that's for sure.

I'm not convinced yet. Looks a very good link up player, good technially on the ball and seems to have good vision and agree that he looks a goal threat. There was one sort of half-overhead flick thing that he did in the second half from inside the box that just went a touch over. Would have been a great goal. A bit like Matt Smith, he looks like a player that's played with better players or at least a more attacking setup - sometimes plays a pass that it seems he's expecting a team mate to be getting on to. But to me DJ looks as slow as a week in the jail, not particularly fit (wonder if he's one that CL's been taking aim at in the press) and surprisingly easy to bully off the ball. I think if he can bulk up and gain a bit of speed/pressing, I think he'd be very good but wasn't his application and attitude questioned at other clubs? Glad we played with 2 strikers yesterday bit they seemed awful narrow to me and depite Dan's efforts we didn't manage to break through the midfield often and width won't really be a great option as long as we're playing fullbacks as wingbacks. Chris Kane has never really been a particularly great finisher to be fair.

I think 4 years ago was a better time, tbh. Probably about the level of player we'd be looking at though. He'd get a lot more game time from us I expect. If he could play for us like his brother has against us over the years, would be an outstanding option.

The problem is that honking away strip. I'm hoping that we wear the horse charity strip tomorrow. If we do we'll wiln by at least 3. That's my theory anyway.

Gallacher remind me a bit of Scott Tanser's first season.

So was Max concussion? If so that's a definite nae chanece. Lucky we're not too bad in that area as Dan, Smith and Sven are all machines but Dan looked absolutely gubbed by 70 minutes last night. Don't like typing this as I'd rather keep it in my head but I think Costelloe might well start up front. I suspect Kane's lack of contract clarity is a sign he's away, which to be fair I'm fine with if it frees up a wage for something different. And better. Thinking the club said Considine might be back too? There's also the rumours about Robinson being recalled but not sure if that's just pub talk. Hopefully whatever happens we start to use subs a wee bit earlier. Doesn't make sense to me to admit that players lack fitness then play them for 90 minutes when it's obvious that they've run out of gas. Anyway, quite looking forward to this. Don't mind Motherwell away although it was better before they changed the routing for away fans into the stadium. Well 1-2 Saints (Smith, Phillips - they're both due one)

This would give me hope if (a) Nicky Clark was fit and (b) James Brown wasn't. That way we might get something out of crosses, at least from open play. Interesting to see if Levein rotates any of the players around, given that he reckons they aren't fit enough and a fair few will be on their third game in 6 days. Also, it annoys me more than it should but surely the thread title should reference a race away from rather than to the bottom?

You think we'll drop 3 points? Seems a bit defeatist.

This is 5d chess stuff. Shape could be anything. Im thinking it's a 4-3-3 with Dan in front iof the 4, Carey on the left and Costello on the right of DJ. Or maybe Dara in the middle.

Any info on how the closed doors against St Mirren went yesterday?

Not sure what the allocation is? I'd expect you'd be in with a fair shout of a ticket. You'll know on Friday morning. I've listened on and off for a while and it seems to me that one presenter (Craig Fowler I think) seems have a particularly anti Saints thing. Keeps going on about us having the worst squad in the league (not sure about that) and has a real issue with James Brown (which is sort of understandable). Seems to behave a bit better when Sean Hamilton from the Courier podcast is on though.

I was going to say they do look quite masonic. Or maybe Livi are trying to put some some sort of voodoo curse on the oppostion.

What do these symbols mean?

Looking forward to this, we've been a much better watch last couple of games. Weather looks good. Expect we'll start with the same lineup. Right flank still the main issue but you'd hope Dan Philips is a bit more comfortable in that WB role and that our new coaching team have some confidence to make earlier changes now that they've had more than 24 hours with the players. Wonder if the mystery of the disappearing Jaiyesimi will be solved? One goal wins this. Saints 2 - 1 County. One of them a penalty, we're due one at McDairmid.

Won't Dara still be suspended - straight red?

Is DJ on that list? Wasn't on bench last night. Have I missed something?

Have to say that surprised me. Despite everything he was popular with the fans when he was here. It will be Christmas soon and we'll still be a work in progress, but getting there slowly. Thought Dan Philips looked done half way through the second half and between that and being on a yellow he should have been taken off but we didn't have a great bench tonight. Guess DJ must be injured again? Would like to see Smith's effort late in the second half again, looked like it needed a pretty good save. Thought he was generally very good again tonight.

Came here to say the same. Initially thought Costelloe being out would be a bit of a problem until I remembered DJ plays on the right, and was only on the left at St Mirren as he was in for Carey. Thought he did fairly well in a tough game so will be good to see him on his natural side, assuming that's what we do. Would be very happy with only that change. Got a bit of grief on another thread over Robinson, so I've gone back and watched the full game and have to put my hands up and say I called that wrong, he was pretty good and there's a player there. I think I was suffering from confirmation bias on that one. Saints to win 4-6-0

Not to be pedantic, but isn't that not letting him move on? Sounds like the decision wasn't in his hands? They're essentially saying 'we don't want you to talk to another potential employer'. Fair do's to DM for being loyal, but if he's not happy in his job, not sure what not that acheives. Not that it matters now. Fully on board the er, 'Levein hype train' or whatever it is.

Sure, very admirable qualities on his part but there comes a point where not allowing someone to move on, if they want to, becomes problematic. Wasn't a slight on DM at all, more that I'd not want an unhappy manager hanging on through a sense of duty if they felt it was time for them to move on. From what we've seen on the telly recently it doesn't seem that he is 'absolutely hapy with his life and what he has at Livi'. But then again, that might be due to other factors.

The only name that we know said no was Martindale - and that wasn't him saying no, it was the club owners not allowing him to talk to us which he complies with due to loyalty to them. Which given he clearly looks unhappy in his job right now is a pretty strange management decision and can surely only lead to further resentment. Nobody knows if Martindale wants to move to Saints or anywhere else. I have a feeling that Levein was pretty high up the list and it would be interesting to know who else interviewed, although I doubt we ever will. The negatives around him seem to be style of play (not sure that's a major factor, we need effectivel not stylish right now), time out the game (again, is that a huge issue as he's stayed very close to Scottish football with his other jobs) and some sort of personal animosity (which I don't get). I'm OK with this but do have a bit of a concern over the length of contract, but who knows what the details of that are. Willing to give him a chance for sure.

Good to see the fight in the team last night. Not sure that too much was learned, more things confirmed really. Firstly Ryan McGowan might not be a worldbeater but we're improved when he plays, in whatever position. Wonder why he was frozen out? Next, I've been growing to really like Smith. Some of his passing last night was sublime and he puts in a shift. Next is that both Costelloe and Robinson can, for me at least, be happily launched. Dara is nowhere near good enough except as a backup striker and Robinson, depite people saying he had a decent game, is also miles off. He puts in a good cross but looks lost when he's being run at. Sure he can time a tackle but it's always high risk stuff. As others have said, Kane and Nicky have to stay fit. We could have done with Kane staying on after the red (which was a red) to drag us up the park at least a bit and give some respite. Lastly, Sven Sprangler is a lunatic, in a good way. Breaking away from the team and sprinting around the touchlines, with a massive grin on his pus, coming into the crowd and kissing what I assume was is partner - all exemplary behaviour. Cult hero stuff. Felt like an oldschool Saints performance last night but we're still awfully short of quality in many areas of the pitch. 2 goals for a returning striker, 3 points, a determined home performance and Dara Costelloe suspended. A clean sheet would have been nice but I'll take that.

I'm just back from the west coast and coming into the town I thought it might be off. Can someone please post here if there's anything on pitch inspections / call offs for those of us that refuse to engage in Twitter / X please?

Please show your working.

More likely weight of money shifting the book's exposure. This isn't a market that will attract a lot of action IMO. Would only take a couple of slightly larger bets to move the numbers I reckon. Saying that, I just sow a guy that looks a lot like him tucking into the buffet breakfast at Broxden Farm so who knows.