The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

St Johnstone returned to the Premiership with a bang thanks to a dramatic 4-3 win over Kilmarnock. On this episode of the Spoony Chop, Sean Hamilton and Stuart Cosgrove assess the performance, the goals, the thrills, chills and spills of an entertaining opening weekend victory - and what it taught us about Saints' developing side.

It's the week building up to St Johnstone's Premiership return but last season's momentum has been lost following a shock League Cup group exit. Eric Nicolson and Stuart Cosgrove assess the damage done and whether the recruitment picture has changed.

St Johnstone have claimed two wins from their first two competitive games, thanks to impressive Premier Sports Cup showings against Linlithgow Rose and Greenock Morton. What did those performances tell us about Simo Valakari's squad? Who is shining and who needs to do more? And what does the re-signing of Bozo Mikulic mean for Saints' defence?

Saints are set to kick off their competitive campaign after an unbeaten pre-season. So what have we learned from the friendly victories over Forfar, Montrose and Cove Rangers? And why are those playing at full-back looking so good? On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart, Eric and Sean discuss this, what's still needed in the squad and the impending step up in levels in the Premier Sports Cup.

Competitive football is about to return for St Johnstone - and the Spoony Chop is back, just in time. On the first episode of the new series, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton talk about Saints' summer so far, including new signings, friendly performances and what's still needed, along with a look back at the season ticket row that kicked off the close season.

Having won the Championship by 11 points, St Johnstone are Premiership-bound. So which members of Simo Valakari's squad are ready for the step up and which are not? Is the rebuilding job required this summer as big as the one needed last year? Is it bigger? On this week's Spoony Chop - the final episode before our summer break - Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Saints' final win of the season against Ayr United and what comes next for the Perth side.

St Johnstone have sealed their return to the Premiership at the first time of asking by securing the Championship title. Simo Valakari's side got the job done with a comfortable win at Dunfermline in front of a bumper travelling support, then lifted the trophy at home to Raith Rovers. On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton assess those two wins and how they have contributed to Saints finishing the season looking every inch the Champions. 

St Johnstone have two chances to seal the Championship title - away to Dunfermline, then at home to Raith Rovers. On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Saints' chances at East End Park, against a Pars side on a high after reaching the Scottish Cup Final, how Simo Valakari will deal with losing Jack Baird to suspension and the spectrum of possible outcomes, from emphatic to catastrophic.

After a tough first half in wild conditions at Arbroath, St Johnstone turned in a strong performance after the break to win 4-2. The result saw Saints stretch their lead at the top of the Championship to five points, thanks to Partick Thistle dropping points to Ayr United. Josh Fowler's arrival as a half-time substitute at Gayfield helped turn the tide in the Perth side's favour, amid howling wind and driving rain. But what impact will the second half performance influence boss Simo Valakari's thinking ahead of Saturday's clash with Airdrie? Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss the win in Arbroath, Josh Fowler and Sam Stanton's roles in the team and how Saints should counter the Diamonds.

After dropping two points against Queen's Park, St Johnstone's lead at the top of the Championship has been cut to just three points (plus a superior goal difference). What went wrong against the Spiders? How should Simo Valakari fix it - and with which players - ahead of Saturday's crucial clash with Arbroath? On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton try to make sense of an increasingly fraught situation for Saints, with the help of a particularly telling statistic.