Latest news with #Valakari
The Courier
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland leave St Johnstone with one of the coaches lined up by Raith Rovers
St Johnstone boss, Simo Valakari, has decided to overhaul his backroom team as well his playing squad. Assistant manager, Andy Kirk, and first team coach, Alex Cleland, have both left the Perth club. Courier Sport understands that Cleland was offered a post in the Saints academy but decided the time was right to move on. Valakari wants a clean slate after relegation from the Premiership. He released 16 players at the end of last season, and also believes identifying his own coaches is an important part of the rebuild. Saints return for pre-season training on June 23. Despite the fact that Valakari is a hands-on training ground head coach, both Kirk and Cleland will be replaced. It is expected that one of the new men will come from abroad, with Saints seeking to identify someone who has a coaching and analytics background. The other, Valakari's number two, will have a deeper knowledge of Scottish football. Cleland spent the best part of two decades at McDiarmid Park in various roles. He was brought to the club by Derek McInnes after leaving Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Tommy Wright promoted Cleland to the role of assistant manager in 2018, having previously been in charge of the under-20s. There have also been three short spells as caretaker boss of the first team, the most recent in the wake of Steven MacLean being sacked. Kirk was Craig Levein's right-hand man and was given far greater responsibility than most assistants. He too became an interim boss for Saints, before Valakari decided to keep him in post following Levein's dismissal. It is understood Kirk could be in line for a quick move to fellow Championship side, Raith Rovers.
The Courier
6 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
St Johnstone to-do list: What do Perth club need over the summer?
Simo Valakari has already made three new signings ahead of St Johnstone's 2025/26 season. Also, the Perth boss has been typically honest and open about his team's shortcomings in their relegation from the Premiership, and what he wants to see from his side in their bid to bounce back at the first time of asking. So, a picture of the new-look 2025/26 Championship Saints is already starting to emerge. Courier Sport examines what, and who, Valakari will need to put in place as the summer progresses. Formational and tactical flexibility is all well and good and builds managerial career longevity. But how often do you see a successful team change from one system to another numerous times over a campaign? Looking back to last season, there was the midfield diamond that worked well for Valakari when he took over from Craig Levein and a back three that provided the foundation for a run of six clean-sheets in 10 games as winter turned to spring. However, in general, change was more common than stability. That, of course, spoke to inheriting another manager's squad and trying to do a patch-up repair job in January. This summer, Valakari can start with a formation in mind and build a group of players to suit it. He has spoken in the past about a 4-3-3 being his preferred set-up. That certainly worked well for Livingston in the Championship, while Falkirk pipped them to the title with a slight variation, a 4-2-3-1. Those two formations are near neighbours and 80% of a season with one and 20% with another would feel like a good balance for a promotion-winning campaign. There was symbolism to Jack Baird being the first post-relegation signing. The lack of a 'head it and kick it' centre-half who played to his strengths and knew his limitations undermined Saints' attempt to build some post-split momentum. That Baird possesses those qualities and comes with a reputation of on and off-field leadership made him the personification of the turning of a page. The satisfaction in the Perth fan base at this type of character-led signing spoke volumes. The next sharp contrast between old and new will be when Valakari brings in an experienced goalkeeper. Although Ross Sinclair has played 11 more games than this time last year (all of them in the Premiership) and is improving, he still needs a full season of football for there to be an accurate gauge of his progress and readiness to be a regular number one. In fact, 20-year-old Craig Hepburn could also do with a loan. With Josh Rae transfer-listed, there's a strong case for two goalkeepers to be signed. That the main one is ready to go straight into the team – whether he arrives on loan or as a permanent signing – is a must. For the last couple of seasons, St Johnstone have been exposed on both flanks. That Drey Wright has been the best-performing full-back in that time is a badge of honour for the converted winger and a badge of shame for all the others (with the honourable exception of Taylor Steven, who performed admirably on the left of a makeshift defence in April and May). Memories of David Keltjens switching off and not closing down; Andre Raymond getting caught out positionally and sluggishly tracking back; Sam Curtis being out-muscled by Tony Watt; Barry Douglas looking like an old man; and Wright's susceptibility to getting beaten at the back post cross and hanging out a lazy leg in the penalty box will be ingrained in Valakari's consciousness. Players will be identified because he believes they can be relied upon to showcase full-back fundamentals. Anything else is a bonus. Had Wright accepted the offer of a new contract, Saints fans would have seen him used in midfield next season more often than at full-back. The 30-year-old's ability to travel with the ball at his feet was the facet of his game Valakari most valued. Saints were probably at their peak when the Finn gave Wright licence to roam into central areas from wing-back and commit opponents with quick feet and a change of gear. There's a lack of players able to do that in the middle of the park now that he is Dundee-bound. There's a lack of players able to that out wide as well. Josh McPake has a 'beating his man' string to his bow but, even though he played well when given a chance late in the season, the jury is still out about his consistency and end-product. Most weeks in the Championships, Saints (without Graham Carey's creativity) will be set a task of breaking down stubborn, packed and well-drilled two banks of four. Sideways and backwards to keep possession and tire out an opposition team has its worth and Valakari has players to do that. But he needs line-breakers across the width of the pitch. When it comes to midfield, there are still potentially a few moving parts. To varying degrees and for varying reasons, Jonathan Svedberg, Sven Sprangler, Victor Griffith and Jason Holt left more questions in their manager's mind over the summer than answers. Valakari could end up signing anything between one and three players for that area of the pitch by the time the transfer window toing and froing really kicks into gear. The non-negotiable, even as things stand and even if the players above stay and improve, is a physical, robust, athletic central midfielder who can protect the back four and get the team moving forwards quickly. That's a lot of responsibility to put on one man's shoulders, which is why it's arguably the key signing of the summer. Valakari won't be signing any players on the basis of how far they can propel a ball from the touchline with their two hands. But it would be an added bonus if one of the new recruits has a long throw in his armoury. Andy Considine was the last Saints player who could do it reliably. As the Perth side found to their cost during their last trip to Dens Park, when these throws come into your box at the right height and pick out a powerful centre-half or striker for a flick-on, they are very hard to defend. If ever there's a league that fits the 'but can they do it on a cold Tuesday night at Stoke' theory from the first day of the season to the last, it's the Scottish Championship. There will be times when Saints are chasing a late winner and unsubtle penalty box bombardment will be required. Last season's team had many flaws, but missing penalties wasn't one of them. Six spot-kicks were awarded and six were scored. Nicky Clark got three, Graham Carey two and Benji Kimpioka one. None of those players will be at McDiarmid next season. There's a vacancy to be filled. Jamie Gullan has taken penalties for Raith Rovers and will be a contender. Saints were far too nice last season. The nearest they came to a bit of effective gamesmanship was when the Sky Sports cameras caught a member of staff going from one ball boy to another with a message (presumably 'take your time') as the team tried to hold on to a 1-0 lead against Celtic. The professional foul to stop a quick counter-attack is a key part of the game, which even the best midfielders aren't ashamed to deploy to good effect. In the case of Ballon d'Or winner, Rodri, it's seen as one of his key strengths. Yes, a well-executed tackle would be preferable, but taking a yellow for the team has a time and place. Other than Jack Sanders trying to rip the shirt off the back of St Mirren's Toyosi Olusanya, St Johnstone players did it all too infrequently. Also, perhaps it came from the lack of a regular captain, but you never got the sense that there was anybody who was constantly in the referee's ear to give him a running commentary of what he should be doing. That Liam Gordon-shaped hole still needs to be filled.
The Courier
7 days ago
- General
- The Courier
Bozo Mikulic comeback milestone revealed as St Johnstone defender is driven on by Perth club 'love'
Bozo Mikulic could be just two months away from a major comeback milestone, St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari has revealed. The Croatian defender suffered an ACL injury in February, the second time he has needed knee surgery in his career. His recuperation is progressing well, Valakari reported. The head coach is reluctant to predict a return ahead of schedule. But the current hope and expectation is Mikulic being able to run on the McDiarmid Park training pitches by August. 'Things are going well with Bozo,' said Valakari. 'He was here for five days at the end of the season, so it was great to see the big man back. 'He is now home in Croatia and will stay there until August, working at a clinic over there with his personal trainer every day. 'It is the same clinic where he repaired his injury the last time, which is good because they know him, and he knows them, so they have a plan of exactly what he needs to do. 'It's a very high-profile place, so he is in very good hands. 'If everything goes to plan, he will be running back on the field sometime in August. 'In my mind, I am thinking Christmas with him. 'I know he will say October but even then, you need some football inside you. 'So, it's by then I think we will have the proper Bozo back on the field.' The 'proper Bozo' was a centre-half winning headers, making tackles, scoring winning goals and, all in all, making St Johnstone a far more solid defensive unit. 'How we have missed him,' Valakari admitted. 'When he was back over here, Bozo was crying because of what happened. 'This club gave football back to him. 'He wasn't playing when we signed him, and he loves it here because he's got his career back again. 'We are looking forward to that because I know Bozo – he has the kind of mentality we need in our team. 'He is a leader, he has determination, and he is desperate to help this club.'
The Courier
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari reveals Championship title-winning theory
St Johnstone boss, Simo Valakari, has crunched the numbers of title-winning Championship teams. The Finn's homework on success in the second tier of Scottish football will feed into the strategy he adopts in his attempt to bring the Perth club back to the top-flight at the first time of asking. And the fact that he has already signed three players from that division who are familiar with the demands of the job in front of the McDiarmid Park side is evidence Valakari is already putting theory into practice. 'I've been looking at the statistics for the last five years,' said the head coach. 'The champions have only averaged 1.3 goals per game, but they have conceded just 0.6 goals. 'That's the key – defending well and being hard to beat. 'It means that when you take your chances, you win games. 'You don't abandon your principles. 'I've mentioned 'big club football' before. 'That doesn't mean we will go into this league thinking we are a big team. 'No, we were relegated because we deserved to be relegated, and everybody has the same chance at the start of the season. 'We will adapt to the league and its demands – it will be physical, with not much room to play sometimes. 'And the conditions won't be great in the winter. 'So, what I mean is that we want to dominate games. 'For that to happen, we have to improve our quality. 'I look at our last game against Dundee – we arrived in the final third a lot, but we weren't even close to being good enough after that.' There will be a large dose of pragmatism in Valakari's approach to Saints' football next season. He said: 'What kind of team are we trying to build? A winning team. 'Winning football matches will always be the most important thing, not the tactics or anything else. 'That's the starting point. 'We saw glimpses of how I would like us to play. 'We want to control the ball, move forward rather than backwards and sideways, get as many balls into the penalty box as we can. 'I know what the Championship will be like. 'Since I came back to Scotland I've watched it a lot. 'We needed to be solid and hard to beat in the Premiership and that will be even more important next season.' Valakari has signed defenders Jack Baird and Morgan Boyes from Morton as he seeks to make Saints are more imposing opponent. In football, size does matter. 'We definitely need to be physically stronger than we were last season,' he said. 'But you can be a good player and be physical. 'There are players like that in the league already. 'We were lacking in physicality last season – it was legs to get about the pitch as much as just pure body strength. 'That's something we need to address. 'Especially at the end of the season, when I looked at all our opponents, we were such a small team in comparison – Kilmarnock, Ross County, Dundee, all of them were much bigger than us. 'So that is something we are looking to address this summer.'
The Courier
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Josh McPake back from 'dark place' as St Johnstone boss sets pre-season challenge
St Johnstone winger Josh McPake has dragged himself out of a 'dark place', according to his manager. But the Perth forward, who attracted no January interest when Simo Valakari made him available for a loan exit, needs to realise that the hard work is just beginning now that he has fought his way back into the McDiarmid Park first-team picture. And the 23-year-old has got a potentially career-defining pre-season ahead of him. 'It was encouraging to see Josh in the late part of the season,' said Valakari, who started McPake in every post-split Premiership match. 'He came into the team and did well. 'It wasn't rosy all the time. 'He still has a lot to learn but his performances have given him that chance. 'I have told him that this summer is the biggest of his life. 'He was in a dark place during the winter. 'Josh was a talent for Rangers who went down to League Two in Scotland, got his move here and didn't play for a long time. 'In January, nobody wanted him. 'He stayed, he worked, and he got back into the team here. 'But he can't think that he's arrived and everything is good now. No. 'He needs to remember how easily you can go back down in football. 'That's why he needs to come back fit in pre-season and hit the ground running again. 'He needs to take the things he did well in the last month of the season and become even better at them. 'He did well, but it was only five or six games and that's not a long time. 'When we get back, it's about doing it again week after week and making sure he is in our team. 'I like Josh – he is a good character, and we want to help him learn.' Valakari believes there's a maturity to McPake that comes when a footballer becomes a father. 'He told me before it was just him but now, he has a young family, so he has that extra responsibility,' said the Finn. 'It's not just him. 'He has other people to look after, and they are depending on his career. 'He said himself that the new responsibilities he has have changed things for him, he's aware how much he needs to be successful.'
