Claim OwnershipThe Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast
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The Courier’s sports writers and guests discuss the latest goings-on in Scottish football. But there’s no Celtic and Rangers obsession here — we focus on St Johnstone.
255 Episodes
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St Johnstone picked up a comfortable three points against Airdrie thanks to Adama Sidibeh's best performance for the club. The Gambian striker notched a "perfect" hat trick to cap off a team performance that become more impressive as the game went on. Can he keep it up? Can Jonathan Svedberg further cement his place in the team? And can Saints find a "big brother" performance to see of Dunfermline at the weekend?
After last week's loss at Arbroath - and having taken just two points from the last available nine - St Johnstone needed to get back on track. Partick Thistle's midweek win had seen them go level on points with Saints at the top of the table, but Simo Valakari's side strolled to a well-deserved 4-0 win over Greenock Morton. In doing so, they re-established a three-point cushion at the top of the table and, with Airdrie the next visitors to McDiarmid Park, they have a chance to stretch it.
St Johnstone's first defeat of the league season has been dished out by Arbroath. And the Red Lichties were well worth their victory. So what went wrong for Saints at Gayfield? And how might Simo Valakri react ahead of Saturday's trip to Greenock? By which time Partick Thistle could have wiped out the Perth side's lead at the top of the table. Join Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton as they talk it all over.
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Despite another 0-0 draw, this time with Ross County, St Johnstone's six-point lead at the top of the table remains intact. Ahead of the weekend trip to face Arbroath, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss a dominant display against the Staggies, albeit one that produced no goals, whether Saints have a problem with 'over-playing', Liam Smith's impact at right back and the Jamie Guallan/Adama Sidibeh conundrum.
St Johnstone capped off an unbeaten first quarter of the Championship season with a goalless draw at home to Ayr United. It's a start to the season fans would have bitten their own hand off for ahead of the big kick-off. But did the performance against the Honest Men contain worrying portents? How should Simo Valakari look to freshen things up ahead of Ross County's visit? And who should step in at 'No. 9' off the back of Adama Sidibeh and Uche Ikpeazu's departures on international duty?
After another late Josh McPake goal sealed St Johnstone's third win in seven days, this time over Queen's Park, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton are back to discuss the latest goings on at McDiarmid Park. Saints remain unbeaten in the league and secure at the top of the table, but should a succession of increasingly close matches worry fans? Should Saints be looking to sign a 'No. 9' like Queen's Josh Fowler in January? And can the Perth side close out the first round of Championship fixtures without defeat, with Ayr United their final opponents?
St Johnstone made life difficult for themselves in midweek but now find themselves with an eight-point lead at the top of the table. Eric Nicolson and Stuart Cosgrove assess a game of extremes in Airdrie and ask – who is going to challenge the runaway league leaders?
St Johnstone produced another statement win in their top of the table clash with Raith Rovers - but was Rovers boss Barry Robson right about his side not deserving to lose? In this week's Spoony Chop, Courier Sport Saints writer Eric Nicolson, plus Stuart Cosgrove and Sean Hamilton, discuss the ins-and-outs of a characterful performance and a big three points ahead of ANOTHER test against a team in form, when Dunfermline come to McDiarmid Park on Friday.
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Stuart Cosgrove returns to this week's Spoony Chop to discuss the weekend's HUGE clash with Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy. Will Josh Rae have a worldy for Raith? Will Scott Brown come back to haunt Saints? Or will Simo Valakari's side just keep doing what they've been doing and prove themselves serious title contenders? Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton join Stuart to discuss.
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It proved to be a frustrating deadline day for St Johnstone but has the transfer window been a success as a whole and will there be further squad additions now that it’s closed? Stuart Cosgrove makes his Spoony Chop return to discuss the road ahead with Eric Nicolson.
It was back to Championship action against Arbroath - and back to winning ways. Who caught the eye in Saints' solid, 3-0 win over the Lichties? And how might new signings Kai Fotheringham and Liam Smith fit into Simo Valakari's squad as preparations for Saturday's tricky-looking clash with Greenock Morton ramp up?
On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton chew over St Johnstone's extra-time cup defeat to Motherwell, what the personnel, tactics and performance told us about where the club stands ahead of its return to Championship action against Arbroath, and, with the transfer window starting to creak, when mounting interest in Makenzie Kirk will result in a bid Saints can't say no to.
After that opening day demolition of Partick Thistle, St Johnstone travelled to face pre-season title favourites Ross County and returned with a second "statement" win in as many games. Against Thistle, Saints were swashbuckling. Against County, they were a force to be reckoned with, both physically and with the football. What have these two wins said about Saints to their Championship rivals? Who are the unsung heroes worthy of praise? And with a League Cup clash against Motherwell on the horizon, what might Simo Valakari do to his starting XI?
The Championship season is up and running and Perth supporters have just been treated to a five-star display by Simo Valakari’s men. Eric Nicolson and Colin McCredie do their best to keep a lid on the excitement building at McDiarmid Park (and struggle).
Simo Valakari's summer rebuild has begun at St Johnstone, with Greenock Morton's Jack Baird becoming the club's first signing. On this episode of the Spoony Chop - the final show before our close-season break - Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Baird's arrival, whether he will be joined by Morton team-mate Morgan Boyes and Raith Rovers striker Jamie Gullan, Ross County joining Saints in the Championship and the long-time-coming departure of Benji Kimpioka.
The season is officially over and in this episode of the Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton pore over the last day loss to Dundee, the pitch invasion that followed and the merits - or otherwise - of the players staying and departing. Plus, Saints' history with double-barrelled players - debated. Interested in local sport news, you can save now with The Courier Sport Pack. Keep up with the latest on your local team or sport with the latest news, opinion, match reports and so much more. Subscribe today for only £3 per month.
St Johnstone's relegation from the Premiership is a done deal - and it has been a long time coming. On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson, Stuart Cosgrove and Sean Hamilton dig deep into what has gone wrong at McDiarmid Park, when it began and what was - or was not - done to arrest the decline. And should Saints fans want Dundee at risk of joining them in the Championship via the play-offs?
St Johnstone's season all comes down to Saturday's clash with Ross County. Defeat will see them relegated to the Championship, while a draw will provide a stay of execution. A victory would reduce the Staggies' lead over Saints to just three points, with six left to play for. On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss the hugely disappointing loss to Kilmarnock, Simo Valakari's position as manager and the requirement - as a bare minumum - for a purposeful performance against County.
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St Johnstone’s survival hopes are hanging by a thread after Motherwell exposed their defensive frailties at Fir Park. But the performances of a few players who haven’t been regulars provided a ray of hope. On this week’s Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove and Eric Nicolson assess the possibility of Saints winning back to back home games and unlikely heroes emerging.
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St Johnstone's interest in the Scottish Cup is over after Celtic racked up five goals without reply in the semi-final. All that remains to focus on is the club's fight for safety in the Premiership. On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Saints' Hampden heartache, VAR being dreadful (again), and Simo Valakari's options heading into the crucial final five games of the season.
Interested in local sport news, you can save now with The Courier Sport Pack. Keep up with the latest on your local team or sport with the latest news, opinion, match reports and so much more. Subscribe today for only £3 per month. Available exclusively on The Courier. Pay only for the sports you love with this special offer. Sign up today at https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/?tpcc=spoony
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Disappointed you did not cover the other three Angus Clubs especially after Montrose and Forfar's great Betfred Cup results. Really enjoyed this podcast last season because you did at least chat for a few mins about all the Tayside Clubs but this shortened edition was not nearly as good - the Angus coverage was pretty much just the usual old Dick Campbell cliched comments which are tired and worn out now (and a bit lazy). Also found it odd that most of you said East Fife would win League 1 (presume because they beat United in the BC?!) .. almost as if you had forgotten Falkirk were in that league as you had paid little if any attention to League 1. No interesting chat about Montrose or Forfar's chances of play-off spot or of Brechin's plight in League 2. The coverage of the Dundee Clubs and St J is excellent but last season's podcasts were so much better with an extended chat about the broader Tayside football landscape. Would even suggest some coverage about the Junior and Women's g