Can’t bear to watch? You’re not alone...
How do you solve a problem like St Mirren? Or is there even a problem at all?
Well that all depends on who you ask.
In a week that St Mirren were booed off the park twice in the space of four days, it would be fair to say that tensions are already rising.
There is frustration in the stands, frustration in the dug-out and frustration on the field as things appear to be making little progress.
But then again, St Mirren are unbeaten in the Betfred Cup... albeit they also haven’t won either.
Without sugar-coating it things haven’t clicked for the Buddies so far
Many feared the worst heading into the Kilmarnock game as an untested and inexperienced line-up came up against the country’s fifth best side last season. In classic St Mirren fashion they surprised us all, going toe-to-toe with Steve Clarke’s side and pushing them all the way to penalties.
But all their worth over the rest of the field, the Buddies were toothless up front as they struggled to turn their dominance into goals over an otherwise promising 90 minutes.
However, so far that is as good as it has got.
The near embarrassment of defeat to Spartans was too close for comfort, while the friendly defeat, although just that – a friendly – to Sunderland was a tepid and turgid display from a St Mirren side that appeared to give up the ghost in the second half.
Add into that one of the worst trialist performances you’ll ever see from Amine Lingazi, then the fears are there signing wise.
Another poor display against Queen’s Park on Tuesday hasn’t silenced the critics. Instead they appear to be growing in numbers already.
The frustrations aren’t lost on new manager Alan Stubbs after the gaffer branded the need for new playerss as “paramount” to any potential success.
“We’ve obviously still got a lot of work to do and we need to strengthen the squad,” he said. “It’s not for a lack of trying. A lot of clubs are finding it difficult to get the right type of players in – it’s not easy.
“The squad is threadbare so we need to bring in more players in the wide areas and a striker is paramount.”
The fact of the matter is St Mirren need new players. But part of the problem is some of the new signings have already failed to set the heather alight.
The new season is now just eight days away when Dundee come to town. New players between now and then is vital – if anything just to raise spirits among the disenchanted. There hasn’t been a lot to cheer for St Mirren fans so far but one shining light has been the performances of young Cammy MacPherson in the Saints midfield.
The 19-year-old was a surprise starter against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park but produced a stand-out performance that
If it is up to Stubbs then there will be at least three or four before then. That may mean that some have to leave then so be it. It is a race against time for the club to be ready to shape up as they test themselves against the nation’s best sides. was only just eclipsed by Hayden Coulson.
For a player that was shipped out on loan to Stranraer last season, not many would have tipped MacPherson to be this year’s breakout star. But he has shown maturity beyond years and his drive and dig has been a bright spark for St Mirren. Future Cammy MacPherson . There will be a few familiar faces returning to Paisley tomorrow afternoon – not least Rory Loy in the Dumbarton attack.
Loy, a summer signing for the Sons, will always be remembered for being the man that kept the Buddies from slipping into the oblivion of League One.
His loan signing from Dundee in January 2017 was the catalyst for the turnaround that followed as he struck at Easter Road to keep the club’s Championship status intact.
Without his goals who knows where St Mirren would be now.
But the Saints could arguably do with someone with his instincts in front of goal at the moment.