Football Season Guide

It was a season of two distinct halves last year for St Johnstone who set the league alight with their free scoring ways in the first part of the season but ultimately fell away after Christmas and ended up finishing in a slightly disappointing fifth place when they should have been able to challenge for the top three. The loss of key player Michael O'Halloran to Rangers in January didn't help with that and it remains to be seen if they'll be able to replace his drive and attacking intent this year, although Blair Alston from Falkirk will no doubt be tasked with that job. Another solid midfield signing this summer is Paul Paton from relegated Dundee United, while Keith Watson from St Mirren and Michael Coulson from York have plenty of experience and will slot straight into the squad. A few first team players from last season have left including John Sutton and Simon Lapppin, with the latter being the first choice left midfielder of the last campaign but manager Tommy Wright wished to free up some space on the wage bill and at 33 Lappin isn't getting any younger. Key players like Danny Swanson and Murray Davidson are still at the club which will be an important factor in how well their season goes but they'll still be looking to make more signings before the end of the window. They look on course to make it through their League Cup group and into the last 16, with a good cup run always something the Saints are on the lookout for.