First silverware of the Nancy era or a most inauspicious start to his career in Scotland?
No idea what the team selection will be. Nancy said he wants to rotate the squad more but some players haven’t played in weeks.
Iheanacho did well off the bench the other night and allowed us to play through him and work those patterns that he wants us using to get up the pitch. I thought Maeda had done ok at holding it up (but probably influenced by the fact that it’s Maeda so I’m not expecting a great touch). It definitely helped though to get Bernardo and Ihneacho on and get them on the ball.
Hard to see how Nygren could start after the other night. He was really poor and did everything the new system demands you don’t do. So Bernardo for Nygren looks likely. Maeda to the bench looks probable too because he hasn’t been tried at wing back. But I’d rather him there than Tounetki. I guess Tounetki is better at taking a touch and therefore helping us move up the pitch from his half. But he looks hopeless on the ball unfortunately and he doesn’t offer much if any defensive cover.
Not sure what will happen with the back 3. Maybe Donovan comes in there and moves one out. None of those defenders really seem capable of playing wing back so the option could be for Yang to go left and Donovan to play right wingback and leave the three left footed centre backs there.
Equally intriguing selection decisions for St Mirren to make but after weighing it up I expect them to lineup along expected lines.
He took Tierney, Maeda & Nygren off at half time when it was 0-3, & I think it was with an eye to today with the first two but Nygren was just appalling. I’m wondering if he’ll play Tierney LWB & get Donovan in at right of the centre back trio, as they would avoid the three left footer centre back imbalance, while I don’t think the two out & out wingers has worked out wide so far. I think Bernardo should start too & he could consider Maeda as a RWB maybe, if he wants to start Iheanacho. He might just keep Iheanacho as an option from the bench as Thursday was his first appearance in 6-8 weeks, & keep Maeda upfront. Some press reports that after consultation with the players on Friday morning he’s open to slowing down the move to his preferred methods/formation but I’m not sure if that was a definitive response by Nancy or him just saying he’s open to taking player opinion on board if they offer it. All in all, it could be any formation or lineup - hope that’s cleared everything up.
It really is an extraordinarily state of affairs that you change a manager mid season, the new man is already under threat just a week into his tenure but now has a chance to save his job by winning a Cup Final.
Can’t recall anything quite like this since Ryan Mason faced a Cup Final in his first game at the helm at Tottenham Hotspur.
Have the Buddies won any silverware since their shock win in the 1987 Scottish Cup final?
I was at the FA Cup in the Empire Stadium the day St Mirren shocked Dundee United in the 1987 Scottish Cup Final. Can recall seeing some brief highlights of it afterwards on tv in a North London pub thronged with disconsolate Tottenham fans. That was the day we lost our only FA Cup Final from 9 appearances to Coventry City. Richard Gough earned the dubious distinction of playing that season for both clubs who lost the FA Cup and Scottish Cup finals.
I always think of that day and negative connotations when I hear mention of St Mirren.
Ian Ferguson got the St Mirren winner and Paul Lambert at 17, I think became the youngest player to ever play in a Scottish Cup Final.
St. Mirren also knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup in 2009.
The Buddies were about four seconds away from getting a creditable 0-0 against Martin O’Neill’s all conquering Celtic team at Love Street just three weeks ago so I think they’ll present a stern challenge today.
Celtic lost the last Cup final they played at Hampden on a 1-1 scoreline and the neurosis currently afflicting the club is reminiscent of that of November 1994 when Raith Rovers won the Scottish Coca-Cola Cup final 2-2 at Ibrox Park. They were dancing on the streets of Raith that night.
So too do I think they’ll be dancing on the streets of St. Mirren tonight after a 2-2 victory after 120 minutes.
