There is growing concern among the online Saints community that the new signings are nowhere near good enough for the SPL and that there is a huge drop in quality in the squad. But is that really the case?
For the purposes of this, we've listed the players who have left since January and looked at how the ones coming in compare. For the purposes of this, Graham Carey is listed as a defender as he originally filled the slot vacated by Mo Camara.
GOALKEEPERS
Out: Mark Howard, Chris Smith
In: Craig Samson
We had three goalkeepers on the books and needed one to leave. Chris Smith was the obvious choice as he didn't play for us last season, and he duly left. However, Mark Howard also going was a bit of a surprise. Craig Samson is nowhere near as good and a bit of a bombscare, so there is certainly a drop in quality there.
DEFENDERS
OUT: Jack Ross, Chris Innes, Mo Camara/Graham Carey
IN: David van Zanten, Marc McAusland, Jure Travner, Darren McGregor, Peter Bradley
David van Zanten will replace Jack Ross and should do at least as well as he did last season. Marc McAusland is a direct replacement for Chris Innes, with Jure Travner finally answering the leftback issue that has gone unresolved since Franco Miranda got injured. Darren McGregor and Peter Bradley (who is set to use this season as a learning year) provide much needed back-up as we were fairly short in reserve. The defence is about as good as last year and could prove better if Travner does the business.
MIDFIELDERS
OUT: Andy Dorman, Allan Johnston, Stephen O'Donnell, Stephen McGinn
IN: Er...
A huge cause for concern. There has been a definite drop in quality purely because four players have left since January (five if you include Graham Carey) yet not one midfield player has come in to replace them. This area of the park requires much attention in the next month or so, and the main issue has to be a good replacement for Andy Dorman. All the midfielders that have left are attacking ones and we need to bring some of them in - Darren McGregor might be able to play in the middle of the park but he's a defensive player. Stephen Glass is not the answer. The youngest of our central midfielders is 31, which is worrying, and Glass will only make the situation worse. We have other midfielders on trial, but I remain unconvinced.
STRIKERS
OUT: Billy Mehmet, Tom Brighton, Dennis Wyness/Rory Loy
IN: Paul McQuade, Gareth Wardlaw
Despite my reservations about him signing, Gareth Wardlaw should be able to do at least as well as Dennis Wyness and Rory Loy as they hardly played. Similarly, if Paul McQuade stays fit he'll be better than Tom Brighton. However, that's no guarantee that they're any good. The main cause for concern is no replacement for Billy Mehmet, our main striker in the past three years. Worryingly, Lennon doesn't want to look at Irish striker Anton Flood, suggesting he's happy with the striking options.
So, in three out of the four areas there is a definite drop in quality, and there could prove to be a drop in defence as well. However, there's still four weeks to the start of the season and plenty of time to get players in. Even if you include Bradley in the squad, we still have four slots left to fill - two midfielders and another striker have to be the very minimum.