St Johnstone fan voice: 'If players can't find motivation, they don't deserve to be here'
The phrase 'must win' has been used quite a bit around McDiarmid Park since January and, unfortunately, those matches haven't gone our way. However, we're not out of the running yet.
This Saturday's game is undeniably critical. Whether you call it a 'must win' or a 'six- pointer', beating Ross County will close the gap to just three points with two matches remaining.
It won't be an easy task. Our performance in last weekend's loss to Kilmarnock, another game framed as 'must win', was concerning.
It looked as though a majority of players lacked fight and already had their minds on the off-season, which is worrying for both the fans and management.
Adding to our challenges, we've had significant changes in defence. The departures of Jack Sanders and Kyle Cameron in January were followed by injuries to their replacements, Bozo Mikulic and Zach Mitchell, who had been performing well above standard. This has left us with a patched-up defence - a large contributor to our downfall.
The situation for Saturday is clear: win, or face relegation. If the players cannot find the motivation for this game, then they are not the type I want around my club for next season.
Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints, external
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Belfast Telegraph
6 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Trai Hume expects in-demand Ronan Hale to shine on the international stage
Former Cliftonville hero Hale can reflect on a strong season with Ross County even though his side lost their Scottish Premiership status. Clubs in England and Scotland are now competing for the 26-year-old's signature after an impressive debut season with the Staggies. The Belfast Telegraph disclosed that League One sides Wigan Athletic, Luton Town and Port Vale are keen on the striker, while he is also a target for Scottish Premiership teams Aberdeen and Dundee. Hale is with the Northern Ireland squad preparing for Saturday's friendly in Denmark and he hopes to make his senior international bow over this June double header. Michael O'Neill's side face Iceland at Windsor Park next Tuesday after taking on the Danes. Dangerman Hale was disappointed not to play in the March friendlies, after going through a protracted Fifa process to complete an international transfer from the Republic of Ireland, however this could be the perfect time to showcase his talent with a potential summer switch on the horizon. Hale hit a hugely impressive 18 goals for Ross County in the 2024/25 campaign following last summer's move from Cliftonville. Despite his heroics, which included netting twice in the end-of-season promotion/relegation Play-Off against Livingston, County still went down. The Staggies will be aware they won't be able to keep their top marksman and will look for a healthy fee for a player who signed a three-year deal in 2024. The Belfast man has proved he can deliver in the Scottish Premiership and Sunderland star Hume believes the former Larne, Crusaders and Derry City striker can fire in this international window. 'Yeah, definitely,' said Hume when asked if this was a perfect opportunity for Hale to show what he can do. 'Ronan has done very well with County. His club were relegated but it was a great season for him personally. 'He has scored a lot of goals and hopefully he can get his debut — that is a call for Michael and his coaching staff. 'I have no doubt that if he does get his chance, he will take it with both hands and do well. Ronan is a great player and goal scorer.' While Hale's immediate future is up in the air, Hume has moved to allay the fears of Sunderland fans that he may be about to jump ship. The former Linfield defender has seen his name linked with Everton and Wolves, and speculation over his future is a familiar tale for the 23-year-old. While interest in the player is to be expected, what hasn't changed is Hume's affection for the Black Cats. That relationship is closer than ever after Hume and his international comrade Daniel Ballard helped Sunderland earn promotion in dramatic fashion. Ballard scored a 122nd-minute winner in the second leg of their Play-Off semi-final against Coventry City before Tommy Watson's stoppage-time goal completed a come-from-behind win over Sheffield United at Wembley. Hume and Ballard spoke during a training camp in Marbella this week, with both men sporting winning smiles. The dynamic duo will join Liverpool's Conor Bradley and Crystal Palace FA Cup winner Justin Devenny in the top flight, while Tottenham's Jamie Donley has returned from his loan at Leyton Orient. O'Neill has spoken of the importance of his players competing at a high level and Hume, who joined Sunderland from Linfield in 2022, is convinced his country will reap the benefits. 'It's not in any doubt that when you are exposing yourself to the best League in the world, it will help you,' said Hume. 'You want to try your best to do well there. You can become a better player because of it. "Myself and Dan are still young. Conor and Justin are still young and hopefully we can have many years in the Premier League and that will benefit ourselves and Northern Ireland going forward. 'I have no doubt there are other players in the squad that can get themselves in the Premier League but it is us four at the minute and hopefully we can push the lads and bring them up to the standard that we will set.' O'Neill's side will face Luxembourg, Germany and Slovakia in their bid to reach a first World Cup since 1986. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement around this young team the former Stoke City boss is building. Hume is the new promotion king — after firing Northern Ireland into League B in the Nations League, he helped to steer Sunderland to the Premier League. Team spirit and togetherness matters at club and international level. 'I think it's obviously a wee bit different to a point because you spend basically every day of your life with each other at Sunderland,' he explained. 'You're with each other every day, when you're training and whenever you're outside of football, most of the time you're spending it with your team-mates as well, unless you've got kids. 'But for me, that's what I do, and you get really close with them. International football is kind of different. You've obviously grown up with a lot of people in the squad, so you kind of get that friendship and that bond very early on. 'So it is similar in a way. Obviously, Sunderland have a great togetherness as everyone's around the same age. 'But we have a great togetherness here too and I think that can take you very far no matter where you're playing. So as long as you have that, you're putting yourself in good stead. 'Whenever we do go through tough times or we are enjoying it, we keep a level head and try and stick to the job at hand and stay together.' In March, Northern Ireland drew 1-1 with Switzerland before crashing to a 5-1 loss to Sweden. The former Ballymena United defender played against Switzerland but not the Swedes. O'Neill's side begin their bid to qualify for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with an away game against Luxembourg in September before travelling to four-time world Champions Germany. A clash in Denmark will shine a light on the team's resilience on the road. Players like Hume and Ballard have developed a big game mentality. 'Yes, I think it will help us deal with the atmosphere a bit better,' continued Hume. 'Obviously, the calibre of players will be a lot different. I think we will try our best to deal with that. 'I think the big games you do play in, you get used to the emotion of it and the challenge of playing in front of the crowd and not getting caught up in the emotion of the game. 'Germany is definitely going to be a lot different than Sheffield United. Like I say, we will just have to try our best to be ready and be focused for it. 'Whenever we were here (Denmark) two years ago, we almost got a point out of it if it wasn't for VAR, so I think we can give Denmark a good challenge here and hopefully we will win the game.'
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
CHRIS SUTTON: People were underwhelmed when Ange arrived in Glasgow, too... and look how that ended up!
The response to Rangers choosing Russell Martin to lead them into their new future has been underwhelming, and I get it in a way. It was between him and Ancelotti. When I first saw the latter linked, I thought, 'Jesus! Carlo?' But, no, it was his son, Davide, who's never managed before. Maybe there was a fantasist element among the Rangers fanbase who worked themselves up into a frenzy over that surname, therefore, and now they're disappointed that they've been left with Martin. But he deserves a fair crack at showing what he can do with this opportunity. There was a similar reaction when Celtic appointed Ange Postecoglou, remember. The jibes started as soon as he was announced. 'They've brought in an Australian bloke who's just been working in Japan,' and all that. But Postecoglou didn't turn out to be too bad, did he? Martin has a similar philosophy to him, too. Rangers might actually try to play football for the first time in goodness knows how many years, and the fans might grow to like his purist style if they give it a chance after the direct approach they witnessed under Philippe Clement. Martin deserves that leeway at the very least. Yes, we all know how badly it went with Southampton in the Premier League last season, but then he got them out of the Championship before that and did it in style. Rangers fans may see his win record in charge of MK Dons and Swansea and reckon they should be aiming for a higher calibre of manager. I say judge him on what he does next, not what he did before. Recruitment will be key for him. Making sure Nicolas Raskin stays would help, too. Last season, Rangers did well in their head-to-heads with Celtic. Yet they still ended up 17 points behind their great rivals in the Premiership. That wasn't where they threw away any chance at the title. It was in their other games. Now Martin needs to find that consistency which will hopefully get the fans on his side. I suspect they would have had an issue with whoever was appointed. That's the nature of football fandom. But let's judge Martin on how he does, not before he's even been shown where his office is at the training ground.
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Scotland 'should be grateful' they have Tierney
Head coach Steve Clarke says Scotland "should be grateful" they have Kieran Tierney as the incoming Celtic defender prepares for his 50th 28-year-old, who returns to Parkhead this summer following his Arsenal exit, is set to reach the milestone when the Scots face Iceland - live on the BBC - on Friday night at suffering injury issues in recent years, Tierney's versatility to play at left-back and on the left of a back three has been vital throughout Clarke's reign."Kieran is a top, top player, we're lucky to have him," said Clarke, whose side will also face Lichtenstein on Monday. "In recent years, he's had one or two little injury issues that have probably restricted his number of caps. "I remember going down to London to meet him when he'd just moved to Arsenal to speak to him about his role within the squad and what we expected from him. "Since then, myself and Kieran have had a really good relationship. So we should be grateful we've got him and hopefully it doesn't stop at 50 and the caps keep coming."There are many players in the squad now who are on over 50 caps and Kieran's just another one to add to that."
