The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

It’s now or never for St Johnstone and Dundee while United target Europe

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss a potentially season-defining week ahead for relegation rivals Dundee and St Johnstone.
Will Callum Davidson's faith in his preferred system be vindicated by new arrivals? Should Mark McGhee have to win fans over at Dundee?
Meanwhile, at Tannadice, the race is well and truly on for a European spot as Tam Courts targets a stunning first season in top flight management.

McPake’s loss, McGhee’s gain and a season-defining roll of the dice by Dundee

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson is joined by Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Sean Hamilton to discuss the sacking of James McPake and the appointment of Mark McGhee by Dundee.
Was the timing right? Was McPake hard done by? What was Gordon Strachan's role? And will it save the Dark Blues' season?
Also up for discussion: St Johnstone under pressure, Dundee United's upturn and Raith Rovers' post-Goodwillie manoeuvres.

David Goodwillie, Raith Rovers & a ’monumental act of self harm’

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Sean Hamilton discuss the motives, misjudgements and monumental fallout from Raith Rovers' signing of David Goodwillie.
What were the Stark's Park club thinking, will heads roll and can the damage done be healed, both on and off the park?
The lads also round up the transfer deadline day action at Dundee United, Dundee and St Johnstone and preview the weekend's fixtures.
 

Nicky Clark is Dundee United’s answer to Stephen Dobbie and is getting better with age

It’s a month when transfer ins and outs make the headlines.
But at Dundee United it was a man who has been a Tannadice for a few years grabbing the glory in midweek.
In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss a player who, like Stephen Dobbie, is maturing into an all-round forward with several good years left in him.
Also on the agenda are the baby steps St Johnstone and Dundee are taking towards potential Premiership safety, their new recruits and the next Dundee derby.

Winless streaks at Dundee United, Dundee and St Johnstone have managers feeling the pressure

This week, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss the nine consecutive defeats that have sent St Johnstone to the bottom of the Premiership, the six-in-a-row that have Dundee hovering just above them - and the six losses on the spin that have seen United fall out of the top six.
Callum Davidson, James McPake and Tam Courts are feeling the pressure - but what can they do to ease it?

’Ballsy’ Dundee United signings, Nadir Ciftci’s ’hunger’ & ’Handsome Sean’ (w/ Sean Dillon & Ally Heather)

With Jim Spence busy studying for his motorbike driving test, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton are joined by special guests - and arguably the best Dundee United double act since Narey and Hegarty - Sean Dillon and Ally Heather.
The guys discuss United's 'ballsy' approach to the January transfer window, St Johnstone's capture of ex-Dillon Tannadice teammate Nadir Ciftci and the ongoing Leigh Griffiths saga at Dundee.
 

Dundee United, St Johnstone and Dundee January transfer deals and dilemmas

St Johnstone have hit the ground running in the January transfer window, as have Dundee United.
In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss the business both clubs have concluded and the possible transformative effect strikers Nadir Ciftci and Tony Watt may have.
Possible high profile departures, Leigh Griffiths and Jason Cummings, dominate the Dundee agenda.
Have Kilmarnock effectively ended the Championship title race with the appointment of Derek McInnes?
And who is Dick Campbell trying to kid?

Might Jeando Fuchs ‘switch off’ at Dundee United as transfer speculation builds?

Jeando Fuchs is one of Dundee United’s key men but is there a danger of the midfielder “switching off” as speculation about his departure from Tannadice builds?
In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Eric Nicolson discuss his situation and the problem Calum Butcher has caused manager Tam Courts.
Dundee righting the wrong of their disastrous last game against Ross County, the merits of St Johnstone signing Jamie Walker and Raith Rovers’ title credentials are among the other topics on the agenda.

Dundee and St Johnstone provide sharp Dens Park contrast

The mood in the Dundee and St Johnstone camps couldn’t be more different after Wednesday night’s triumph for the Dark Blues and depressing defeat for the Perth men.
In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss whether the home side should be raising their sights and if the visitors can get to the January transfer window without serious damage being done.
Also on the agenda is Dundee United’s squad depth, or rather, the lack of it, and Tony Asghar’s statement.

Dundee United‘s new captain and some off-field politics at Tannadice

There has been the appointment of a new captain and a bit of off-field politics at Dundee United this week.
On the pitch, the Tangerines are now faced with a trip to play Ross County and manager Tam Courts is expecting a “frosty reception” in Dingwall.
Jim Spence and Eric Nicolson cover all the Tannadice talking points and assess a crossroads week for the other two Tayside Premiership clubs, St Johnstone and Dundee.
Also on the agenda are Arbroath’s promotion credentials and a feel good factor returning to Dunfermline just in time.