The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

Hello Jack, Bye Bye Benji

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.

Both Barrels

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. 

The Rebuild Begins

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?

Meat and Two Veg

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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Fringe men to the rescue?

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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Roll the Dice

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.
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Hampden Here We Come

St Johnstone are heading for Hampden to face Celtic in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final. They are doing so having just beaten the Hoops in the league (followed by a loss to Dundee United). Can they do the unthinkable and make it two wins on the spin against Brendan Rodgers' side? Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss these issues, plus the post-split fixture list and Saints' mounting defensive fitness worries.
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Easter Road horror show a one-off? w/ guest Colin McCredie

St Johnstone produced their worst performance since the January window closed and were well beaten by Hibs as a result. Where do Saints need to improve when Celtic visit McDiarmid Park on Saturday and is Simo Valakari getting his tactics and substitutions right? Join Eric Nicolson, Stuart Cosgrove and special guest, actor Colin McCredie, as the Spoony Chop tackles the big St Johnstone talking points.
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Statement Time

The final international break of the season is coming to an end and St Johnstone need points from their three pre-split games to give themselves a solid chance of escaping relegation. On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss St Johnstone's chances of claiming a "statement win" against either Hibs, Celtic or Dundee United before the split, how Simo Valakari might utilise his strikers at Easter Road and whether Uche Ikpeazu can do what once seemed unthinkable and play a part in how the campaign concludes.
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Thanks For Nothing, Dundee United

An unexpected Dundee victory over city rivals United saw the Dark Blues stretch their lead over St Johnstone to five points (plus five goals). The Perth side's Premiership safety hopes are still alive, but how far adrift is too far adrift? This week, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton ponder Saints' draw with Aberdeen, Zach Mitchell's emergence as a defensive 'Rolls-Royce' and whether any of the strikers on the books fancy making themselves a hero.
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