Bose

Bollocks of the highest order

My view, for what it’s worth, is that we won’t sign anyone of known quality. The January window is notoriously difficult to find anyone available or that will want to come to us as their first choice. We might be able to pick up the odd loan here or there but those are always a bit hit or miss as we’ve seen with those we already have. Add in that we have to get rid of players first which looks unlikely with Callachan the only whisper I’ve heard is anyone being interested in. We’ve spent a fair amount of time letting people who know who is available but nothing happening. Vihman is still here from what I can see so that kind of suggests we can’t just punt him back to where he came from. It’s all a sad indictment of the club’s transfer policy that we have plenty players but a load that we don’t want and quite a few that have hardly even played. Someone needs to take responsibility for the signing/scouting policy which is frankly abysmal.

This pleases me. I think we need new blood and fresh thinking. Not that I have anything against Steve Brown, on the whole I think he is doing a decent job, but we need to start thinking outside the box.

Was this game on tv? My memory tells me it was and that’s one of the reasons I didn’t travel up. I don’t object to going. I even used to love going to Parkhead and Ibrox. Nowadays though I’ll admit to not making as much effort if it’s on tv.

You can be happy/unhappy with the decision but also see the other side. I understand it and as I’ve done it before it’s not too hard although I think they should have tried to allocate seats. The timing seems a bit questionable to me. Been a while since we played either of the arse cheeks. As I’ve said previously I’m not sure they have tried enough or should I say the correct things to prevent this. I can see why people are angry. They pay up front and see their season ticket as a commitment to the club and feel that that the club have moved the goal posts. There are reasons why this isn’t realistic but as you yourself are aware realism isn’t always present when fans are passionate about their team.

Have people used the word boycott or just that they won’t renew their season ticket? Boycott suggests that they have an aim, ie get the club to change their mind, while the other just suggests to me that they have had enough. The second is more concerning for the club as it sounds less like a tantrum.

Don’t think we did but that day was better than the final for me. A big day now has to be bigger. Relegation battle might not work but a fight for promotion would. Also think the way we play or have played in the past couple of seasons hasn’t helped. I’m not saying it’s the most important factor but I’ve seen me not travelling up for a game because I’ve thought the entertainment doesn’t outweigh the journey. And I’ve got a season ticket. Once people start to drift away it’s difficult to get them back particularly as you get older. That’s why the attitude to the team and fans after the cup win is so difficult to understand. Easier to keep fans than get them back.

Although obviously a bit tongue in cheek but HeartsOfficialMoaner has a point. In some ways Saints are victims of their own success. I’ve experienced quite a few promotion and relegation battles I’ve seen crowds grow when there is something to play for. Top six battle or even a game with European qualification at stake aren’t that exciting after playing in Europe and winning the cup.

Why are they budgeting like they are? Just to keep the club in the division? The wage bill looks like mismanagement to me. An imbalanced squad with what’s rumoured to be a large outlay on a striker who so far has failed to live up to it. Kind of contradicts the best run club in the country that our fans like to trot out.

I don’t disagree. I think tv is a huge issue for Scottish football. Take the tv money and lose fans seems to be the way. Not just showing the games but moving them from Saturdays. Last year after the winter break I think we had one or two Saturday home games from the winter break to 23 April. That doesn’t make my season ticket viable because of work etc, I renewed it but it’s only slightly better this year.

So you’re saying let’s not bother doing anything? Just accept things? Basically the club has started to head down the shitter, maybe an exaggeration but certainly heading downward on and off the pitch but you’re saying nothing seems to work so we will give up trying?

I’m not a marketing expert however it seems to me that Saints have concentrated all their efforts on pricing. I’m not saying football isn’t expensive but it’s not the be all and end all. I also think that their targeted demographic has been well intended but misguided. Families? Basically based on they are the fans of the future. I would argue that targeting teenagers and making things easier financially for adults is more likely to have a positive impact. Positive fan experience doesn’t have to be American style tailgating. For example safe standing seems to be enhancing people’s enjoyment. Crowds growing? Fans of other teams seem to be saying that their attendances are growing or at least stable. What are Motherwell, Kilmarnock or St Mirren doing? It’s seemed to me for a long time now that football has rested on it’s laurels for too long now. Ach they’ll always support us, they’ll always come to games. Having said all this, at Muirton Saints regularly pulled in about 12-1500, second tier granted, so perhaps we are returning to that.

Can’t beat a structured argument put eloquently to win the day.

Where can I find the evidence for 90% of Scottish clubs have falling crowds?

My main issue in this is longer term. Relegation is still a realistic possibility this season and at the start of any other season if we are honest. IF this does piss some season ticket holders off to the point they don’t renew what will the club do in the championship? Cut cloth accordingly? Couldn’t that be done now?

Everyone gets frustrated at things that happen at football clubs. You’ve had a go at Saints plenty of times but there are two sides to this one. I think that it’s difficult to argue the financial position but again I think they’ve handled it badly. And I don’t see it as a huge sacrifice, I’ve don’t it before, but others will. I think Saints will lose season ticket holders over this.

Part of the point is people on Twitter are having less of a meltdown and being less insulting about World War 3 than you are on here.

I wasn’t saying that it would be. I just didn’t know the exact figures. So there will be 1500 or so for a public sale? Cheers

One for those with the figures. How many available seats are there in the West Stand? How many season tickets do we have and therefore how many tickets will be up for sale to the public?