The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

Open the Window

St Johnstone fell to a predictable loss at Celtic Park, but with the January transfer window set to open ahead of the home double header with Hibs and Dundee, how different might Saints look the next time they take the field? On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss transfers, a big moment for Fran Franczak and what this window will tell us about Saints' new owners.

Basement Boys

St Johnstone are bottom of the Premiership at Christmas after defeat to Hearts. On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton pick through the bones of a poor performance at Tynecastle, discuss the prospect of facing Dundee United on Boxing Day and assess the club's requirements from a crucial January transfer window.

Simo, You Can Drive My Car

St Johnstone suffered a season-worst sickener in defeat to St Mirren. In this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton rake over the still-burning coals of Saints' loss, taking in the good and the bad of their performance, some contentious referee decision-making and a pre-match radio chat that reeked of misconceptions.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sven Sprangler?

With Sven Sprangler suspended for the weekend's clash with St Mirren, how will Saints boss Simo Valakari go about replacing him? On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson, Stuart Cosgrove and Sean Hamilton discuss his options, a performance in Aberdeen that showed off a new-found doggedness and how Makenzie Kirk is outshining his strike colleagues.

Jack Sanders' Ceiling

On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss a performance of two halves against Rangers, whether Jack Sanders can be an attacking force in possession, Josh Rae's safe hands, Dimitar Mitov's injured hamstring and who should start up front against Aberdeen.

Napoleon's Thoughts on Tommy Wright

On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton chew on the weekend's heartening win over Kilmarnock, which featured yet another star turn from Sven Sprangler, Bozo Mikulic's first start in defence and a first headed goal of the season, from Mackenzie Kirk.
 
The guys also ponder St Johnstone's place in the geopolitics of the former Yugoslavia, Napoleon's likely view on Tommy Wright and pay tribute to Kenny Aird after the Willie Ormond-era great's death.

Brains or Brawn versus Kilmarnock?

On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson, Stuart Cosgrove and Sean Hamilton tackle Saints' huge weekend clash with Killie. 
 
What is the best attacking approach against Derek McInnes' bulky side? What would signify defensive progress after a fortnight on the training ground? And the old 'Old Firm tickets' chestnut emerges again, only this time under new ownership.

Keeping the Faith, with special guest Ryan McGowan

This week's Spoony Chop sees Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton welcome a special guest in ex-Saints star Ryan McGowan. Off the back of another defeat, this time to Motherwell, the guys discuss Simo Valakari's defence and whether the team will come good. Aussie internationalist McGowan also opens up on his shock departure from McDiarmid Park in the summer, gives quick-fire views on former team-mates and reveals why his two years as a Saintee were so precious to him.

Bring on Božo

On this week's edition of the Spoony Chop - the Courier's new, weekly St Johnstone podcast - things get 'philosophical'. Host Eric Nicolson is joined by Stuart Cosgrove and Sean Hamilton to discuss frustration around a defeat to Hearts that ripped up the in-game script, a young goalkeeping duo's desperate need for support and whether Croatian centre-half Božo Mikulić's work permit will be sorted in time to face Motherwell.

The Simo Valakari effect

'The Spoony Chop' is the Courier's new, weekly St Johnstone podcast - and what better way to kick-off than by getting stuck into the superb, come-from-behind win over Dundee. 
 
In episode one, regular panellists Eric Nicolson, Stuart Cosgrove and Sean Hamilton discuss the new manager's rapid, transformative impact at McDiarmid Park, whether it can be maintained and who looks like playing a key role.