When does a start finish?
As a football rule that will never be explained it sits alongside when does an experienced player become a veteran? Or when does next season become this season?
But the first international break seems like as good a point as any. Let’s say that the beginning of the league campaign is now over then.
So how would you describe St Johnstone’s Premiership start?
They’ve had two tough away fixtures, a clash with all-conquering Celtic and an opener against the team who finished second last season.
In that context, four points out of 12 is better than it sounds and probably par.
Nothing has happened in those first four matches that would suggest Saints won’t finish in the top six again.
It could be made even more of a sure-fire thing, though. By bringing in another striker.
In every other department their numbers look right. But, for my money, they are one light in terms of centre forwards.
This time last year they had MacLean, Cummins, Kane and Sutton. At the moment Sutton has gone but hasn’t been replaced.
Going through a season with three goal-getters, one of whom (Kane) has yet to truly establish himself at this level as Saturday in Inverness showed, is a big gamble.
As far as strikers at a leading top flight club are concerned, four is always the magic number.
