The Night Everything Changed
Victory over Jim Weir’s Brechin side saw St Johnstone qualify for their fifth, major cup semi-final since 2007. For a club with only 2100 season ticket holders, one which flirted with relegation to the second division just a few years ago, it’s a remarkable feat. Those old enough to remember the pre-Geoff era could not have dreamed of such success. The man who made me a St Johnstone fan, would have shed a tear of pride. Thing is, the overall reaction was one of express disappointment.
Readers will recall my fury and contempt for the dick heads that booed my team from Glebe Park at the end of each half. My mood has further darkened since and I now wonder aloud if St Johnstone should become the first fanless club. After all, the majority of the audience clearly don’t have the best interests of the club as their priority or reason of attendance. It seems folk think that the club exists merely for the enjoyment of a couple of hundred grumpy faced twats that turn up whenever takes their fancy.
Those that bothered to attend the match at Glebe Park saw a wonderful contest, played on a ghastly surface. The game was end to end, packed with errors and truly riveting for both fan and neutral alike. The same could not be said of Tuesday’s encounter – well perhaps the part about the playing surface...
St Johnstone played a typical McInnes 4-4-2. The shape of the team was better than we endured at Hamilton but still looked a bit messy at times. Enckleman, who on occasion looks unbeatable, had a very quiet night – despite the clamour from Saints fans who want us to sign Rory McAlister. Mind you, Saints fans wanted us to sign Richard Offiong, probably would have signed Tom Elliot after his goal for us and even defended the signing of Nick McKoy despite the East Fife debacle....
Those at Hamilton would have witnessed an unsavoury incident at Hamilton between the management duo and our goalkeeper. For the rest of the game, despite the involvement of Gordon Marshall, his head seemed down, his mojo lost. His only save on Tuesday, hopefully restored his confidence. I am certain that McInnes’ unprompted and overt praise, was issued as a peace offering to our complex shot stopper. Let’s hope it works. Del makes very hard work of signing a worthwhile goalkeeper. Please note that I’m far from convinced by Enckleman, I just don’t fancy our chances of signing anyone better in the near future.
In front of him, Dave Mackay again partnered Steven Anderson in centre defence. The paring worked well all game long. Gerry McLaughlin, who looked half decent at Glebe Park, was properly shown up at McDiarmid, particularly when he twice allowed Sammy to score that goal. I’ll stick to Ando and Dave thanks very much. With Levein stupidly calling up Murray Davidson into the Scotland squad, it’s a travesty that Anderson remains on the sidelines. Gartland and Duberry have played Champions League, yet neither Anderson nor Mackay have ever been at a club to allow them such an honour. Mackay’s lack of pace has arguably prevented him from hitting greater heights. There is no reason for Levein over-looking Anderson. The McInnes fuelled fallacy that Duberry made Anderson look good has been proven wrong and he ought to dominate the Player of the Year Awards. More on that later....
Surrounding the centre-backs, Alan Maybury worked away well on the right flank. In the first half he linked up well with Danny Invincible, but in the second Invincible turned Houdini and Maybury had a tougher shift. I suspect that he’ll he be lucky to get two more games before Duberry is pressed back into service and that’s a shame for a man who, Fir Park aside has done little wrong. I hope he gets another SPL club and is afforded the chance to prove his worth.
His opposite number may also be concerned at where his future lies. One of our biggest earners and a man who’s capture was vocally championed by your author, Danny is likely to be offered a contract on reduced money. He seems to enjoy life in Tayside, but I wonder if Del’s imminent departure might sway him into looking elsewhere. Personally, I hope he stays. When he links with Liam, they are a brilliant double act. His corners and throw-ins are great and, as ever with Saints fans, we won’t fully appreciate how good he is until he’s gone. If you trawl through SPL left backs, you’ll struggle to find many better than Granny Danger. He’s defended my judgement of players most admirably!!
The afore mentioned Liam Craig had a less influential game than at Glebe Park, but still seems to be hitting form at what Del termed the “business end” of the season. A winning goal at Hampden is a dream for many young lads, it is within Liam’s grasp. Perhaps such a scenario will be a double edged sword for Saints. On the one hand, a Craig classic will make him ever more attractive to other clubs, on t’other, it might draw the Borders laddie even closer to his current club and prove to be the catalyst for extending his deal by another 3 years.
One who won’t be here in three years time is Murray Davidson. Irrespective of his love of the Glasgow Rangers, he will surely move to England in summertime. Any money received for him should cancel out the loss anticipated by the club. Of course, there is a distinct possibility that the deal will wait until mid July or early August meaning that the money won’t be accounted for in the Annual Accounts for 2010/11. I suspect it would suit the club if that were the case.
His fee is likely to be around £350,000 plus add-ons. That makes his signing a pretty good bit of business, despite many average performances for us. I remember thinking that he would really come good this season, yet for all but 15 minutes of the season, he’s been as average as last season. Tuesday was much of the same, though it was interesting that the Brechin hard men targeted him for the heavy hits and off the ball niggles. If only Jamie had been fit....
Murray’s partner in crime was Chrissy “badge kisser” Millar. They might be left and right footed in their religious upbringings, but they do have a reasonable understanding on the pitch. I always insist that when Midgie plays well, the team also plays well. Last Tuesday was far from his greatest performance but he was professional and determined throughout the 90. His energy levels are something truly special and I am very grateful to Del for bringing him to the club. For a man who is primarily a central midfielder, I really can’t wait to see him back on the right of midfield.
Up until Hamilton, Danny Invincible has looked a decent player – very much sticking the fingers up to his critics. Hamilton saw him put in a woeful performance, meandering all over the pitch like Paddington in the train station and against Brechin he went from fine to poor to “whaur’s he been for the last 25 minutes?” Admittedly, much of the play came down our left, but he must have went 20-25 minutes with no real involvement in the game.
Stevie Reynolds played wide right for a spell on Thursday and really showed how it should be done. Always looking to take his man on, get on the box or provide a telling cross. His performance further cemented my claim that he should have been given the chance to prove his worth. Pre-season friendlies will be too little and too late.
It will be interesting to see how Invincible, and Del, responds to these last two showings. I suspect that the current injuries will see him continue to play against Killie and Rangers, after that Mooner might well be back in contention for a start.
Up top it was Sammy and Peaso yet again. Peaso had a poor game and Sammy was in true cameo performance. Uncommitted, half asleep yet still able to score and look good on TV! The wee magician is easily the most frustrating player at the club. His fans promised us that a good run of game would see him become a prolific starter, I simply can’t see it. He’s got talent in abundance but he’s simply not reliable enough to play for a club like Saints. He spends too much time on his bum or his heels.
As for Peaso, I continue to rate him highly. I wish he’d get a run with Mayzo because the boys look good together and link well. We know he has goals in him, he’s demonstrated a knack of scoring and you don’t forget how to score. I cannot recall him looking fitter and he remains hungry and willing to succeed. Don’t bet against a Hampden goal for Peaso Mac.
We brought on one of the young lads near the end. Don’t know much about him, heard that his old man wisnae a bad player. I like to make bold predictions so I’ll put my wonderful reputation on the line and state that he’s our best player and the best Scottish midfielder in the SPL. Let’s hope he doesn’t have reason to visit Frank Kenny’s room.
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Two key issues deserve mention here.
Firstly the Player of The Year Awards at The Lovat. The club have faced incessant bitching and moaning about this event for no good reason. If folk can’t afford £50 for a good night out that’s a shame, but it doesn’t make the event poor value for money and doesn’t make the club elitist. The last few player of the year functions have been embarrassingly amateur affairs and players and fans deserve a decent event. The night itself sounds grand is very well priced. I know it’ll be a far cry from a recent event in the Dunkeld Road club where ignorant punters held telephone calls during our manager’s talk when he was already competing against a TV left on by either ineptitude or ignorance.
Amazing how some groups think that a table of 8 is too many whilst others think it’s too small. I guess that means the club have got it spot, on as usual. The lunch with Jody and Del went down very well and with a guy like Paul Smith at the heart of the club, it’s no real surprise.
As for the last home game of the year, I’m sure that certain players will be around long after the game.
The second issue concerns whether or not a Season Ticket is value for money.
I can’t be bothered to find the post, but I remember issuing a stark warning when we were promoted to the SPL. The horrendous decision of SPL member clubs, including St Johnstone, to permit TV coverage of our league games has destroyed the integrity of the Scottish game. When Setanta when flushing down the lavvy pan, we should have seized the day and told the broadcasters where to go. Unfortunately, the whores of clubs will do anything for a shilling and we duly dropped our drawers and invited all and sundry to rape and pillage our game and our dignity.
We are now faced with the grotesque prospect of 1800 kick offs for games against the Old Scum. They should be able to attend, most of their fans are out of bed by 1500 and Tuesday is often GIRO day. But our own fans, many of whom travel from afar, will struggle to be in place for the game. Many others simply won’t make it. As mentioned in the match report, these folks are selfish enough that they are considering giving up their season tickets as a result of this decision.
Now, putting to one side the stupidity of the clubs to allow TV, Saints have no input in this decision. They are seething at this decision. This decision, which affects the biggest travelling support of the year to date, is going to hurt our club in worst place – the pocket. We’ll lose out on gate receipts, we’ll lose massively on corporate hospitality and intangibly we’ll lose on the goodwill of loyal season ticket holders. We lost 300 last year for no reason at all and this season, again for no reason that St Johnstone can control we look set to drop even lower.
We’re living in golden times, we should be encouraging folks to turn out in great numbers and support our local team. Instead, it seems were hellbent on driving them away in droves. Time to get real, enjoy the good times and support our club. It starts with thee and me; its starts when the renewal forms hit our door mats in May. Remember though, an operating loss of £350K plus a new pitch all need paid for irrespective of the sale of Muzz and Del.
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