FourFourTwo UK – September 2019

LASTSEASON

PREMIERSHIP11thSCOTTISHCUPFifthRound

LEAGUECUPSecondRoundTOPSCORERDannyMullen(7)

LASTSEASON

PREMIERSHIP 7th SCOTTISH CUP Fifth Round

LEAGUE CUP Quarter-Finals TOP SCORER Tony Watt (8)

FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 93

ST JOHnSTOnE ST MIRREn

SEASOn PREVIEW

FFTVERDICT

8

TH FFT VERDICT

10

TH

Unless Tommy Wright can address

their impotence in attack, another

season of mid-table anonymity

could face St Johnstone. Only the

Premiership’s bottom three scored

fewer goals than their 38 last term

and little has been done, as things

stand, to remedy that for 2019-20.

The appointment of 2013 League

Cup-winning captain Jim Goodwin

has assuaged the trauma of Oran

Kearney’s tumultuous exit and,

having worked miracles to keep

part-time Alloa in the second tier

last season, he can now repeat

the feat with his beloved Buddies.

The big talking point among the fans

is the potential return of Stevie May,

who scored 27 goals for us in 2013-14.

I won’t be happy unless we retain our

Premiership status.

Our most underrated player is Scott

Tanser. Keep it quiet!

Look out for Kyle McClean. He could

play a big part this season.

The best away ground is Tynecastle.

The best away fans are Celtic’s. Noisy.

The player I’d happily drive to

another club is Jason Kerr [above,

centre], if we got the fee he’s worth!

The opposition player I secretly

admire is Alfredo Morelos. Destined

for very big things if he sorts out his

questionable behaviour.

The pantomime villain will be Celtic

captain Scott Brown, as always. One

of those that you’d love to have in

your team but hate to play against.

Our best celebrity fans are reporter

Eilidh Barbour and broadcaster Stuart

Cosgrove. They’re diehard Saintees.

The one change I’d make to the club

would be to make all the seats blue.

Multicoloured ones are an eyesore.

Save the date for the opening-day trip

to Celtic, since our local rivals Dundee

and Dundee United are playing in the

Championship now.

The best Saints social media account

is @stjohnstone1884 – in the know.

The signature local dish is the club’s

cracking steak and chorizo pies.

The one recommendation for away

fans is to head to the pub to drown

your sorrows after you’ve been cuffed.

Did you know that we started out as

a cricket club, playing football in the

winter when the ground was hard.

Our key player will be Jason Kerr,

who’s just been made club captain at

22. Absolutely cigars it every week.
    The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
    that Tommy Wright [below] became
    a hero in 2014 by taking us to our first
    major honour, the Scottish Cup. To
    me and to many, he can do no wrong.
    If he left, he should be replaced by
    midfielder Liam Craig – though he still
    has a couple of seasons in him yet.
    We’ll finish 7th or 8th, which would
    be brilliant. The top six is ambitious.

The big talking point among the fans

is the departure of manager Oran

Kearney. Sad news. He will be a hard

act to follow, but struggled with the

commute from Northern Ireland.

I won’t be happy unless we stay up

without nerve-wracking play-offs and

penalties. Not good for the old ticker.

Our most underrated player is Gary

MacKenzie, who’s signed for another

year. A commanding central defender

who can play a bit. Bonkers, too.

The best away ground is Easter Road.

I like a trip to the capital, and it's our

opening game of the season.

The best away fans are Aberdeen’s

and Ross County’s. All that travelling.

The opposition player I secretly

admire is ex-Buddie John McGinn.

His brothers Stephen and Paul still play

for us. When do we play Aston Villa?

The pantomime villain will be Scott

Brown at Celtic or Alfredo Morelos at

Rangers. Only heroes in Paisley.

Look out for Ethan Erhahon [below].

The one change I’d make to the club

would be to stop giving up two stands

to the Old Firm whenever they visit.

Save the date for the Scottish Cup

final. You never know, eh?

The best thing about the matchday

experience at St Mirren Park is the

hardcore North Bank, named after

one of Love Street's former stands.

The signature local dish is a visit to

Burger and Keg in Paisley town centre

for beers, live music and, er, burgers.

The other recommendation for

away fans is check out The Bull Inn,

plus the fish and chip shop across the

street, owned by local superstar Paolo

Nutini's dad. Sadly, not a Saints fan.

Did you know that St Mirren played

in the first official game at Les Corts,

Barcelona's ground before the Camp

Nou, in 1922. We beat Notts County

2-1 and the Barcelona Cup still sits

proudly in our boardroom.

Our key player will be Vaclav Hladky,

the best keeper playing in Scotland.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is

that ex-player Jim Goodwin is a great

appointment. We want stability after

nine managers in 10 years.

We’ll finish an optimistic 7th.

FAn FILE

GORDON RUSSELL

FAn FILE

KERR HALL

@kerr1884