Tommy eyes a January tinker of his defence
Some St Johnstone fans are already at panic stations.
But Tommy Wright insists the rattled Perth punters are reacting to a false alarm.
Saints have endured a worrying start to their campaign, with just two wins from their opening 12 fixtures.
Defensive weakness has been at the crux of their problems, with an average of over two goals conceded per game.
Against Aberdeen today, they face a major challenge in red- hot hit-man Sam Cosgrove.
But Tommy Wright, who reckons his side are an experienced centrehalf away from moving up the table, believes his side are capable of causing problems for their opposition.
“Listen, we’re realists. We know we’ve got to be better,” said the Saints boss.
“But I’ve been through every scenario at this club. The one thing I’ll do is remain calm and keep working hard with the players.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve changed our DNA totally, but I see it written all the time: ‘ Not a typical Tommy Wright side’, and things like that.
“Maybe I’ve tried to change too much, too quick. But I still think we’ve got good, exciting attacking players – and we have got good defenders. They’re just that little bit inexperienced.
“I feel for them. It’s the youngest back- four I’ve had to work with, and that wasn’t by design.
“We wanted to keep Joe Shaughnessy, but that didn’t happen. We wanted to get Declan Gallagher in, but we couldn’t compete with Motherwell.
“We looked at other options but then Stevie May became available, so you have to jiggle your budget about a bit.
“It was my decision. I moved money from the defence to try to get Stevie – but that’s what you do. That’s a chairman-manager relationship: ‘If you want Stevie you have to make compromises’, and that’s what we did.
“But the back-four is too young, so that will be my main priority in January.
“I’m convinced that will make a difference.”
On the positive side, Wright has plenty of difference-makers at the attacking end of the pitch.
One such star, Drey Wright, has returned to the Saints side after nine months out injured, and Wright revealed his own experiences as a player informed his managerial approach to Wright’s recovery.
Said Wright: “When I was out injured as a player at Nottingham Forest, the manager, Frank Clark, would come into me and say: ‘I don’t want to see you for a week’.
“He could spot when I needed a wee break and he’d send myself and my wife Anne away. Once he even gave me the club credit card to go book a holiday!
“Drey hasn’t had the credit card, but he’s had a couple of wee holidays to break it up.
“When players are honest and hard-working there is that bit of leeway.
“Drey did everything asked of him and we’re quite happy with the place he’s in at the moment.” Drey’s back on the Wright road