BANTER Let’s have some faith in Jim
New signing and loan deal divides opinion
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SAINTS...WITH ANDY MCNAIR
St Mirren’s transfer business this week appears to have split the home support straight down the middle.
Defender Jack Baird’s loan move to rivals Greenock Morton and the return of former player Kirk Broadfoot were always going to be contentious moves.
And the Buddies faithful didn’t waste any time in getting stuck into their keyboards and smart phones.
Manager Jim Goodwin said he understood the whole Renfrewshire rivals moans, but that the deal was a win-win for both St Mirren and the young defender who he still believes has a bright future in the game.
Many Saints supporters agreed with him.
Baird will develop better playing competitive matches than reserve ones.
He has also played well over 100 games for the Paisley side and isn’t used to playing second or even third fiddle as would be the case after Broadfoot’s arrival.
The 23- year- old will be having his first experience of a different club and environment with a chance to really show Goodwin what he can do or prove him wrong, so to speak.
The deal is only until January and the Saints gaffer has already said he is happy to reassess all his options at that time.
In the meantime, Baird certainly won’t make the Cappielow outfit’s defence look any worse.
They shipped five to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last Friday and it’s a good opportunity to remind fans and coaches of his talent after a difficult start to this season.
Some supporters, of course, still don’t buy into any of that.
As far as they are concerned it’s Morton, they are rivals, and it shouldn’t be happening.
That’s the passion of sport but on this occasion any logical thinker has to side with the manager.
It would have been different if the two teams were in the same division.
Latest signing Broadfoot and defender Baird have actually had very similar beginnings to their Buddies careers.
They both broke into the team at a young age and made well over 100 appearances in both the top and second flights.
The difference is Broadfoot signed for Rangers and was a Scottish international within two years of leaving Love Street a month before his 23rd birthday.
Baird is pretty much the same age at the moment but his career doesn’t appear to be on the same trajectory.
Hopefully a spell in the Scottish Championship gives him a boost.
Some supporters have also questioned bringing Broadfoot back into the fold, apparently to the detriment of Baird.
Again passion seems to be misting the glasses of some keyboard warriors.
Baird is already out of the team and hasn’t featured in the league this season.
He has been firmly behind veteran Gary MacKenzie and Hull City loanee Sean McLoughlin who are Goodwin’s first choice centre back pairing.
That said, Broadfoot would be ahead of Baird in the pecking order.
At 35- years- old he has proven his fitness at Kilmarnock and was part of a team that finished third in the league last season.
So the only detriment to Baird would be for him to sit idle. This move allows him the opportunity to improve while Broadfoot’s deal IMPROVES the Saints.
It’s as simple as that.