🆕The Spoony Chop - Episode 8: Simo, You Can Drive My Car This week's @thecouriersport.bsky.social St Johnstone podcast, with Stuart Cosgrove, @ericnicolson.bsky.social and myself is now live at the usual places. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the… Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6gjDydFL1 

St Johnstone unveil new Taylor Swift-inspired charity third kit

🆕The Spoony Chop - Episode 7: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sven Sprangler? This week's @thecouriersport.bsky.social St Johnstone podcast, with @ericnicolson.bsky.social, Stuart Cosgrove and myself is live. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6gjDydF...

🆕Blow for St Johnstone as Sven Sprangler suspended for weekend clash with St Mirren. All the details courtesy of @ericnicolson.bsky.social

🆕St Johnstone talking points from Pittodrie - and a performance that illustrated how much progress has been made in less than 10 weeks under Simo Valakari.

🆕Kyle Cameron is optimistic about St Johnstone’s prospects this season. He’s also an open book on losing the captaincy to Nicky Clark, who he’s backing as the ideal skipper.

🆕St Johnstone talking points from Pittodrie - and a performance that illustrated how much progress has been made in less than 10 weeks under Simo Valakari.

Just parked up at Pittodrie for Aberdeen v St Johnstone. Conditions best described as “macabre”.

‘Grateful’ St Johnstone star Sven Sprangler hails Simo Valakari effect

St Johnstone to face Aberdeen without recognised left-back as manager ponders ‘options’

Friday re-up for this week's Spoony Chop. @thecouriersport.bsky.social's St Johnstone FC podcast. Episode 6: Jack Sanders' Ceiling. Dive in. Luxuriate. Then remember you support St Johnstone and start stressing tf out about who should start up front in Aberdeen. lnk.to/CfrG0b

St Johnstone will move players out in January to facilitate new signings – but manager insists no decisions made

One to keep an eye on between now and the end of the week…

🆕Matt Smith sought a conversation with Simo Valakari after two matches as an unused sub. The St Johnstone manager’s message to the midfielder was clear.

🆕The Spoony Chop - Episode 6: Jack Sanders' Ceiling Latest @thecouriersport St Johnstone podcast is live @ usual places, w/ @C_ENicolson and myself. ☑️THAT first 20 mins against Rangers ☑️Jack Sanders' sexy football ☑️Who starts up-top v Aberdeen? lnk.to/CfrG0b

Yeah, I’d say that’s an appropriately wary reaction, Jim. Also… how does this man, who is nine years older than I am, somehow look nine years younger than I do? Witchcraft.

This week’s Spoony Chop has had to be pushed back 24 hours, but fear not, it will be recorded tomorrow morning and go live ASAP after that. Keep your eyes/ears peeled Wednesday lunchtime-ish. Until then, apologies for the inconvenience.

🆕 The Colonel discusses St Johnstone’s progress under Simo Valakari, his partnership with Bozo Mikulic and being a footballing centre half.

Jack Sanders is looking ever more comfortable in St Johnstone’s developing defence. Two games next to Bozo Mikulic, one own-goal conceded. And those forward runs… there’s more to this guy than meets the eye.

Simo Valakari praised St Johnstone’s effort and desire in defeat to Rangers. Suspect Saints’ very good performance in the first 20/25 mins suggests the kind of identity the manager wants to create. Work to do in January to get the squad where it needs to be. As we already knew.

Simo no stranger to upsetting Rangers. Here he is offering memories from his playing days of two big wins over the Gers, plus an explanation of what Saints must do against them on Sunday.

🆕Bozo Mikulic impressed on his St Johnstone debut - and his manager knows there's even better to come. Simo Valakari speaks well here about the Croatian defender's top traits, plus one element of his game to be improved. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

🆕 St Johnstone target new right-back in January, Simo Valakari full of praise for stand-in Drey Wright, but his stint in defence looks to be coming to an end. Good news for Drey himself, who has had to curtail his attacking instincts, and the team. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

🆕 St Johnstone target new right-back in January, Simo Valakari full of praise for stand-in Drey Wright, but his stint in defence looks to be coming to an end. Good news for Drey himself, who has had to curtail his attacking instincts, and the team. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

𝙄 𝘾 𝙔 𝙈 𝙄 // Some brilliant Raith Rovers Coca-Cola Cup 30 year anniversary content from @iaincollin.bsky.social and Graeme Strachan The Inside Story www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo... The homecoming www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo... The penalty hero www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

🆕The Spoony Chop - Episode 5: Napoleon's Thoughts on Tommy Wright Latest @thecourier.co.uk St Johnstone podcast is live, featuring Stuart Cosgrove, @ericnicolson.bsky.social and myself. ☑️Win over Killie ☑️Military history ☑️Saints' place in geopolitics of former Yugoslavia Dive in lnk.to/CfrG0b

Sven Sprangler’s attitude is as impressive as his contributions on the park, according to Simo Valakari. And the St Johnstone boss has a simple message to fringe players who aren’t happy with the position they find themselves in. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

Simo Valakari gives some detail here on the training ground work done that led to Mackenzie Kirk’s winner against Killie. Was the first time I’ve had the chance to sit in his company. Came away feeling like he’s absolutely all over his job. Impressive. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

🆕The Spoony Chop - Episode 5: Napoleon's Thoughts on Tommy Wright Latest @thecourier.co.uk St Johnstone podcast is live, featuring Stuart Cosgrove, @ericnicolson.bsky.social and myself. ☑️Win over Killie ☑️Military history ☑️Saints' place in geopolitics of former Yugoslavia Dive in lnk.to/CfrG0b

Can’t argue with any of @ericnicolson.bsky.social’s St Johnstone talking points from the win over Kilmarnock. Bang-on assessment of a performance that ought to give everyone a big lift.

Huge three points for St Johnstone after a spirited second half performance. Kilmarnock won plenty of corners but Saints dealt with them = sorely needed defensive progress. Sprangler great again. Raymond’s cross and Kirk’s headed finish both perfect. Bozo strong. 🍻

Dunfermline over on the other place advising fans not to travel. Supporters of other clubs told to stay at home to shelter from the storm. Who are these games being played for today if not the fans?

Clubs opting for radio silence on conditions/forecast are doing supporters a disservice today. Some have found the necessary gumption to update fans and offer advice amid frankly dangerous conditions. Others offering nowt, for whatever reason. Would love to know why.

If Simo is looking for an ex player who lives in Scandinavia to help, I know someone

Adama Sidibeh really needs a goal for St Johnstone. And also to not get sent off again. If today vs Kilmarnock goes ahead, he’s backing himself on both fronts. Story: @ericnicolson.bsky.social www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

St Johnstone rebrand - and city centre presence - incoming as new owners settle in. This is all really positive stuff and the messaging from CEO Fran Smith is straight down the line. Story by @ericnicolson.bsky.social www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo...

NEW: A starter pack of 42 journalists, editors and media outlets covering Scottish football -will add to it as and when new accounts appear 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (Please repost and tag anyone I've missed!) go.bsky.app/9uZXASe

Simo Valakari has shown himself to be a top communicator since taking charge at St Johnstone. Here are 10 of his best quotes from his first 50 days as manager, courtesy of @thecourier.co.uk's Saints writer, @ericnicolson.bsky.social.

Behind the scenes look at today's Spoony Chop podcast in Audition. Latest episode featuring @seanhamsport.bsky.social available now lnk.to/CfrG0b

You can follow all @thecourier.co.uk journalists on Bluesky here go.bsky.app/3mSXG8i

🆕The Spoony Chop - Episode 4: Brains or Brawn Versus Kilmarnock? Stuart Cosgrove is back for the Courier's latest St Johnstone podcast, along with @ericnicolson.bsky.social and myself. Listen now at all the usual podcast haunts. lnk.to/CfrG0b

A quick pre-Scotland game shout to follow @ericnicolson.bsky.social for everything St Johnstone, @iaincollin.bsky.social for Fifey fitba & @seanhamsport.bsky.social to blame for anything about @thecourier.co.uk's sports coverage you don't like... Mr Dundee George Cran, the diva, fashionably late 💅

ICYMI: Fife post office staff were praised for their bravery during an armed robbery. This shocking video shows Robert Danskin from Dunfermline bursting into the post office with a realistic looking gun.

Introduce yourself with four footballers...

*Sits up straight; looks busy* 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐘 is now on Bluesky. Do give the The Courier a follow for all your local news across Dundee, Fife, Perth, Angus and more, if that's your thing 🗞️

St Johnstone miss out on Finland centre-half target, according to reports www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/foo... via @ericnicolson.bsky.social

Manchester bound to see Jimmy Eat World tonight. Started off a beautiful day up the road. Ever since crossing the border it has been massively grim. I expected the Lake District to be a little lakier than this… That William Wordsworth’s full of shit, man.

There are melt-related issues here (there isn’t enough of it happening) but good lord if you put this in front of me right now things would get undignified FAST.

I’ve ended up partially on ‘Book Bluesky’ (which is more than fine with me), where people seem to be posting their book shelves. So in the spirit of adding some content, here are my landing shelves. Find myself reading more non-fiction as middle age tightens its sick grip. Curious.