Well, here we go, the start of the league campaign that's going to be interesting.

Hearing stories of abuse aimed at the manager from sections of the support, well, loosely termed, on Sunday.

Glad I made the decision not to attend home games, roasters everywhere.

Falkirk never made it out of their league Cup group, pub teams must be better than I thought.

Fingers crossed we get off to a good start. 🤞

Hard one to call based on both teams in the league cup groups. I would take a point away from home.

1 each

1 minute ago, fmckinn said:

Hard one to call based on both teams in the league cup groups. I would take a point away from home.

1 each

Early season games are, as you suggest, notoriously hard to call.

In my betting days it was always difficult to get any returns. 🙄

I'll leave my prediction till nearer the time.

My last prediction was, erm, miles off it. 😉

Ramos needs to play 10 I'd drop Philips

Might not need to drop Phillips if the MLS rumours are to be believed.

4 minutes ago, StanleySaint said:

Might not need to drop Phillips if the MLS rumours are to be believed.

Up until the League Cup final I have to say he was possibly me favourite player but, like most of the team, he lost the plot pretty soon thereafter.

Plenty of effort but not the same threat he had, strange.

If it's to happen then sooner rather than later.

See the Nsio loan deal has been agreed.

Two questions I suppose - will the deal be completed in time for the Falkirk game and if so will he start or be on the bench?

That might be three questions...🤔

On 7/27/2026 at 3:25 PM, faraway saint said:

Well, here we go, the start of the league campaign that's going to be interesting.

Hearing stories of abuse aimed at the manager from sections of the support, well, loosely termed, on Sunday.

Glad I made the decision not to attend home games, roasters everywhere.

Falkirk never made it out of their league Cup group, pub teams must be better than I thought.

Fingers crossed we get off to a good start. 🤞

That is a section of the support though, hard to please and with expectations well beyond practicality.

Nothing gets decided after game 1 but Falkirk may very well have the equivalent of that tricky follow up album after the excellent debut. The pressure is on them.

McLeish has a plan and if we stay up with a hardcore of younger players then I’m all for the new direction.

Robbo is the best Manager we’ve had but virtually no chance for youth which kept being farmed out then passed on.

We've sold out our allocation for this game.

Nice to see. 👏👏👏

23 minutes ago, Hunterian said:

That is a section of the support though, hard to please and with expectations well beyond practicality.

Nothing gets decided after game 1 but Falkirk may very well have the equivalent of that tricky follow up album after the excellent debut. The pressure is on them.

McLeish has a plan and if we stay up with a hardcore of younger players then I’m all for the new direction.

Robbo is the best Manager we’ve had but virtually no chance for youth which kept being farmed out then passed on.

I think Robbo did give youth a chance but they just didn't make the mark for a team going for top six in the SPL.
Taylor, Penman, Mooney, Jamieson, Henderson and a few others. None of them came into the team and showed anything consistent over a period to merit a start in a side going for top 6. They were farmed out as they weren't good enough and too much of a risk to keep playing them.

Giving youth a pathway is fine but they have to take it. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out. All for it but not at the cost of relegation. Staying in the SPL is priority for the club anything else is a bonus. Don't mind if we are third bottom to get the youngsters through but anything less and its fine margins.

Motherwll seem to have managed it over a sustained period of time so maybe we can learn from that but they have to be good enough.

Edited July 30Jul 30 by lenziebud

1 hour ago, lenziebud said:

They were farmed out as they weren't good enough

I don't get where this comes from, players develop better with game time, time against better teams develops them faster. Pressure to be top 6 meant Robinson had to go with tried and tested and I would never knock him as he gave us a great ride, one of the many ups I have witnessed, sadly more downs over time. I hope the new approach yields 2 bonuses, the first being players we can sell for more but the second is more attractive football as the youngsters we are bringing through have less fear, lots of energy and alot of skill

Mooney was picked up by Arsenal who are a little better than us based on how he was developing, Taylor was one of our better midfielders on Sunday, Sutherland was picked up by Wolves who were EPL at the time. So some make the grade others don't but if we don't play them and give them good experience they have no hope of developing. The youngsters who played on Sunday were no worse than our established players as everyone was making bad passes and they were not the ones that gave away a soft penalty the ref managed that all by himself. We had already won the group and all we lost was the seeding (and unfortunately got us Rangers) so no better match to blood them in v an aggressive and physical Dunfermline.

As for the others Penman still here and developing, Henderson played SPL and Championship (we just got beat by a team from there) for Ross county (plus I liked his direct play and willingness to take on a player more than I did McMenamin). Jamieson I will give you, lots of huff and puff but not as good.

45 minutes ago, Swiss_Saint said:

Mooney was picked up by Arsenal who are a little better than us based on how he was developing, Taylor was one of our better midfielders on Sunday, Sutherland was picked up by Wolves who were EPL at the time. So some make the grade others don't but if we don't play them and give them good experience they have no hope of developing.

Mooney started more than enough to show that he was not a first choice pick ahead of Ayunga, Mandron, Olysanya etc. Robbo was more than willing to give him the chance but he never quite made it. Off to Arsenal to see if they can develop him, bit like Wilson at Hearts going to Spurs. Not good enough to hold down starting position at Hearts but good potential.

Sutherland played one game and was snapped up by Wolves, maybe he would have been good enough to hold down a starting position but we will never know. Wolves hoping to develop potential and paying what are pennies to them for it.

Taylor is a nice little player but for me not physical enough for the SPL and will get swallowed up. Robbo persevered to an extent with him even starting him at Parkhead but the game passed him by. Tends to drift out of matches also. Good for the likes of Arbroath but not making it for me. Didn't get a lot of game time at Thistle not sure of the reason. Time will tell.

McGinn, McLean, Lavety, Lambert, Hamilton etc etc all hit the ground running. They were better than what we had and showed it in abundance. Motherwell youngsters seem to be of the same ilk

Hibs were the same with Miller, Brown, Thomson, O'Connor etc.

The new approach by SMFC is a massive gamble and i really hope it works but at the moment I'm very doubtful. For me I'd be dropping 1 or 2 of the best one's in a season and hoping it sticks. Any more than that and i think we could be in trouble. The squad needed serious overhaul even before thinking of blooding youngsters.

Having said all that I have a feeling that Falkirk and StJ are 2 of the teams we would want to start against to get points and a bit of confidence. 2 defeats and we are already struggling.

Odds for this Saturday's game..... I don't bet so no real interest but generous taking into account the way Falkirk have performed in the league Cup group stages.

Prediction time as I'll be at a wedding down in deepest darkest Seamill on Saturday....

Falkirk 0-1 St Mirren.

44 minutes ago, faraway saint said:

Prediction time as I'll be at a wedding down in deepest darkest Seamill on Saturday....

Falkirk 0-1 St Mirren.

Right next to me if Hydro....Enjoy....

I just hope we win more games than last season ....wouldn't be hard..... going 1-1 and look at 4pts after 2 games.... we still need a player or 2

26 minutes ago, DougJamie said:

Right next to me if Hydro....Enjoy....

It is mate, should I sneak in a half bottle? 😉

0-2 (Lambert & Butler)

LAMBERT & BUTLER; Two kids joined St Mirren on the same day .. one lifted the European Cup on Wednesday, the other lifted his dole money. - Free Online Library

We're bottom of the division so I s'pose the only way is up.

Falkirk have had their own poor start to the season and having lost a few key players over the summer might struggle this season.

The big question for us I guess is how much we'll see of Nail Soup, second half substitute is my opinion.

Mon the Saints - let's put the first nail in their coffin.

Edit - Thula Smoke transfer has been confirmed.

Edited July 31Jul 31 by Bud the Baker

On 7/30/2026 at 10:22 AM, faraway saint said:

We've sold out our allocation for this game.

Nice to see. 👏👏👏

Should be a cracking atmosphere today, away games generally are.

Let's hope we get the win and, for a week or so, the dour dicks can look for other reasons to decry the board, manager and players.

2 hours ago, faraway saint said:

Should be a cracking atmosphere today, away games generally are.

Let's hope we get the win and, for a week or so, the dour dicks can look for other reasons to decry the board, manager and players.

Even if we win same old "fans" will vent....personally I feel they need to go smell some flowers rather than do meth....

Nice day at Falkirk. Let's hope Saints can do something here today.

1-0. 88

Nice worked goal from saints Phillips sticks it away.

Good interception by Ramos to set it off