Valakari Faces Challenge to Balance St Johnstone’s Playing Style

BBC Scotland’s chief sportswriter, Tom English, has been addressing questions from readers concerning St Johnstone. A query from Glenshee asked whether St Johnstone’s recently adopted possession-based style has a viable future, or if the club would abandon this risky, more attractive approach in favor of a return to “anti-football.” English responded that the outcome depends on Simo Valakari’s dedication to his tactical principles. He noted that the team is currently scoring a sufficient number of goals, remarking, “when was the last time two St Johnstone players were top of the goalscoring charts?” English also mentioned receiving feedback from many St Johnstone fans who find the team “much more fun to watch these days,” specifically clarifying, “In attack, that is.” However, English highlighted a significant issue: conceding “27 goals in 13 games is hellish,” asserting that “There’s no future in that.” He stressed that even if Benjamin Kimpioka and Nicky Clark continue to score, their efforts would be “to no avail if the team is so vulnerable at the back.” English concluded that Valakari “will definitely know by now the main cause(s) of that vulnerability.” Reflecting on past performances, English acknowledged that St Johnstone had been “a drag to watch for quite a while.” He expressed his hope that Valakari would continue to implement ambitious football but cautioned against naivety. English emphasized that Valakari “has to find the right balance,” adding, “It’ll be interesting to see if he can get there.” He concluded by stating, “Nobody wants anti-football in a grim bid for survival.”