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Excellent blog Jack, keep up the good work...

So is it gona be top 6, Scottish Cup Winners or League Cup Winners....or all 3? :D

Take it easy and good luck for the rest of the campaign.

Jack,I agree with you that Gus and Andy have done a remarkable job so far given the small budgets they are able to work with compared to other bigger clubs. However, when G & A have gone as far as they can with SMFC Would you put your hat in the ring for the Buddies Gaffer role?

There have been some fantastic managers in the past who have graced the club over the years notably A Ferguson, A Fitzpatrick etc.

I remember going to Love Street and away on the crest of a wave with Fergies Army. He was an inspirational character in so many ways.

Maybe you could bring something different one day as the gaffer of the Buddies.

So if it only takes a new manager to make players perform their best then doesnt that say something about the players lack of effort they put into training and on match days, getting poor results, leading to the sacking of a manager. Players should be made to earn their (mostly) outrageous pay checks, so that when they arent training or playing, they should be helping out in the youth academy or helping the community around the football ground.

New Methods - Linesmen to lose their flags so they can run properly. The linesmen to wear flourescent sleeves instead. (They are miked up.)
Introduce "VIDEO APPEALS"
TWO appeals per team per game.

The manager is not allowed to make a "VIDEO APPEAL" whilst the ball is in his own half. He can only make a "VIDEO APPEAL" in his own half if the ball is DEAD.
LINESMEN would be more PRO-ACTIVE. They would be forced to become more PRO-ACTIVE because they would be very "embarrassed to be exposed for bad decision making" by a video appeal. This would up their game, they would make more decisions and better ones, they would be forced to step up to the plate in a less passive way than that which currently exisits. They would encroach onto the pitch for Penalties.

The "managers" of each team could use their "VIDEO APPEAL" at their own descretion, usually for the big decisions, a goal or penalty appeal. Two appeals would take no more than one minute maybe two. THIS WOULD LEAD TO A CULTURE WHEREBY PLAYERS DON'T CHEAT BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE VERY ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED IF CAUGHT CHEATING AND THE REF COULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Linesmen would become "assistant REFS" in the true sense of the word.

The Platini experiment with the "assistants" behind the goal will not work because potentially the REF will have three assistants shouting down his earpiece at the same time and how will he "play the advantage rule"
Spectators will have maybe two officials in their line of sight, a nightmare.
The two assistants behind the goal doesn't answer the most important dilema in football, the "offside law".
VIDEO APPEALS WILL FORCE THE STANDARDS OF THE REF AND LINESMEN, UP.
The mentality of players will change, the cheat culture will change ?
Adam Kingdon

Putting your argument in caps doesn't make it any less stupid :)

Players get into a comfort zone, like anyone in a job they have been doing well for several years. At times it is unfair that the buck stops at the manager (Jim Jefferies for example) but on the other hand persisting with the same players week in week out who underperform says more about the managers inability to motivate or inability to try fresh ideas rather than blaming the players.

John Hughes for me sounds like the type of gaffer I’d love to work for and I bet his entire squad enjoy training to the max while maintaining a professional attitude. Fingers crossed Jimmy Calderwood can do the same at Killie!!

Jack you’re having a marvellous season and thoroughly deserve the praise you’ve received recently. Best of luck for the rest of your career.

To Adam Kingdom - I have never heard anything so ridiculous as "wear flourescent sleeves instead" and caps, come on, are you 9 yrs old!!
Anyway!!!!!
Jack, excellent blogs keep up the good work! Lets push on this season with the Saints and get up the table.
Whats your thoughts on coaching and management, is this something you have considered after you hang up the boots?
Could you sum up what you have learned from different managers and their styles throughout your career? (From Gus and Andy, John Hughes, Ian Spittal)
All the best for the rest of the season, looking forward to the upcoming matches and get some victories under the belt.

Why do people think that football players must be at 100% at all times, regardless of any circumstances. Most players will be trying hard but surely there are so many things that can limit that in real life e.g. niggling injuries, minor illness, family problems, annoyed with the staff, bored of the club, lack of confidence etc. so it's unrealistic to assume that players will always play at maximum. It's not like anyone performs at 100% in their job (or anything) all the time, why should footballers be superhuman (regardless of their pay level)?

Good blog Jack, I have to say I have enjoyed reading your posts so far its an interesting insight into the life of a footballer, particularly since you have came through the process the "hard way" and have experienced the various levels of football in Scotland.
I would be interested to hear your opinion however on whether you think a good manager has to be a good coach. You mention the impact John Hughes and Brian Rice had on the team via the training field, whilst Brian Clough and even his prodigy Martin O'Neill had great success leaving this to their coaches allowing them to be more hands on in other areas. In the modern game with so many managers needing to undergo coaching courses and achieve certain qualifications before they can take the reigns, do you think it has become more important for a manager to be a good coach to gain the players respect and make improvements to the team or are players not concerned by how involved the manager is on the training field?
Keep up the good work and good luck for the rest of the season.

Thanks for responding, its an interesting point you make about assistant managers making the step up as there have been so many examples over the years of excellent coaches or assistants not cutting it as managers. As a Rangers fan I am interested to see how Ally McCoist progresses in this sense as he has been touted as Walter Smith's replacement and although he has done well in his current role and a similar one with Scotland his skills as a manager have yet to be tested.
All the best for the rest of the season.

Gus McPherson is now the longest serving manager in the SPL. We average crowds of 4000 - 5000 and have been in the SPL for four years. Gus has done a fantastic job but it seems we have hit a glass roof as to progressing into the top six with the chairman wanting out and financial constraints Gus has to work with.

Sometimes if a manager has been at a club too long and the club is treading water is it not a good thing for all parties for the manager to move on and club to freshen things up?

How timely, your blog topic. If one blinked they missed the turn of events at Hearts today.

I was wondering if you could write on what a typical day of training is like. I work at desk job all day and only have to worry about minimal physical problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome or secretary spread. I've often wondered what kind of physical activity it really takes for a professional footballer to stay in top shape, or return to top shape after an injury, which seems frequent.

Also, what did you study at university?

Nice goal today, Jack! Got us off the hook, mate. You must have been gutted. Sincerely, my sympathies.

Interested in your comments about Yogi and BR I think that's what they're trying at Hibs, but I wonder if you'd agree that theyy'd have a better chance if the Easter Road pitch could be sorted out. It seems years since we had a decent playing surface there.

jack please spend more time training than getting paid for media work.your performances this season have been terrible