All Activity

What you say about non-bouncebackability certainly applies to those who have dropped into the Lowland League, and of course Stranraer fit that category (if such comes to pass). Brechin City have made a decent fist of trying to bounce back from the Highland League and have come close two years in a row. Ironic that they were trying to bend/flex the rules to be put into the Lowland League rather than the Highland League!

Agree with your post although not sure about Raith Rovers. They have the second largest budget I’m sure. Look at the quality of player they were able to sign Jack Hamilton on a 3 year deal for instance. Even bringing in guys like Byrne, Turner, Ashcroft etc plus lots more. They have had exceptional investment this season so I think if they had finished less than second it would have been less than expected. Of course big budget’s don’t always count - Queens Park backed by Willie Haughey and comfortably able to outbid us for Don Thomas, Ruaridh Paton etc I would estimate had third highest budget but finished third bottom and only a point ahead of second bottom

Agree. Stop the clocks sometime in mid June last year and I'd have been chuffed enough if we ended in 8th place. A month or so later I think I'd upped my expectations to maybe scraping into the play offs to represent a decent return. It's been a funny season in a way as both Airdrie and Raith have also exceeded their expectations. Even more so than us I would imagine.

Best of luck to Stranraer but I fear for them. I'm all for opening the leagues up thru a pyramid structure. Far too long the Senior Leagues (circa 40 clubs) operated a closed shop. But what I find sad in a way is that long established clubs like Albion Rovers, East Stirlingshire, Berwick & Cowdenbeath don't appear to be able to bounce back. In fact they tend to find their level in the bottom half of the 5th tier. I don't know if that's just coincidence or a flaw in the system. If it's the latter it's worrying, as that means one bad season in League Two could effectively spell the end of the unfortune club's "senior" existence. If it's the monetary side of things that's too crippling to a club dropping out of League Two, then perhaps a parachute payment would give that club a chance to operate on a level playing field so to speak. If such a payment exists then maybe it needs increasing.

United 4 Thistle 1 → MIXED EMOTIONS ● Ben Stanway scores his first league goal for Thistle. Next target: to score in a match when Thistle don't get beat. ● Ross Stewart has now played 3, lost 3, with 11 goals conceded, and remains rooted to the bottom of the player's stats table for the season (see 'Full' tab). Ironically, his last clean-sheet came in March 2020 for Queen of the South at Firhill. A Thistle win that night would have meant no relegation! ● Ceiran Loney (16y, 1m, 20d) becomes the youngest Jag in history to make a league appearance. He takes over from Jamie McKenzie (16y, 4m, 21d) who set his record on 19th April 1997 in a 2-0 defeat away to Stirling Albion. ● Jags go three league games without a booking for the first time since February 2012. ● It's a third embarrassing defeat by (at least) a 3-goal margin versus Dundee United this season, an unwanted first in the H2H. ● 20-goal Brian Graham becomes the first Jag since Kris Doolan (2010-11) to finish as the Division's top goalscorer. He even wins when he's not playing! ongoing sequences: ● 30 games in 3rd place (30th Sep 2023 to date), an extension of the club-record for a position outwith outright top or bottom. Overall, it's the longest run since the club-record of 33 games in bottom pace (12th), set between 20th Sep 2003 and 15th May 2004. ● 35 consecutive competitive appearances for Lewis Neilson, 15th Sep 2023 to date, a new personal best. (Longest run since: Steven Lawless - 60 games, 18th Feb 2023 to 6th Apr 2024. Club-record: Johnny Jackson - 313 games, 28th Aug 1926 to 25th Mar 1933.)

Assuming Hamilton win the Championship Play-off at the expense of ICT (which I frankly doubt) - then the Championship next season will be a very geographically compact division (assuming we are still in it of course, which I suspect we will). Furthest away trip could be the Raith Rovers (again assuming they don't go up) and the longest distance between any 2 places will be between Ayr and Kirkcaldy. Truly the "Lowland League" or given that that title is taken perhaps the League could be renamed the "Central Belt Championship".

I think this a significant drawback of getting in to the playoffs. Once again we'll be playing player recruitment catch-up. Not just because of the uncertainty but also because the management team will rightly be focused on other things. As for Tomi - he's a great option to have around. I'd be happy see him sign.

From what I'm told, EK are pretty good - they skooshed the Lowland League at any rate. So poor old Stranny right enough.

Spare a thought for fellow Covid scandal victims Stranraer, who finished bottom of League 2 today. Thistle and Hearts were able to regain their former status in the season following the disgraceful decision to end the season early four years ago. Not so Stranraer, whose relegation to League 2 meant they were likely to be at risk of losing their league status. Clyde looked like finishing bottom for much of the season, but they were able to find the money to employ Ian McCall, who knows a thing or two about Covid victims, and to make some important signings in January. Not an option for Stranraer, who now face a play-off against East Kilbride, fresh from avoiding a bruising play-off with Highland League champions Buckie Thistle, as a result of another controversial decision.

With Haugheys money maybe a possibility mate

If Inverness do not survive the play offs will they be the first team to be relegated with a positive goal difference?

Congratulations to Ian McCall on a remarkable turnaround at Clyde. If only it wasn’t Clyde 😫

Messi, Ronaldo & M’Bappe ?

Next year will be the true test. I think the benchmark will be higher and really test Dools’ ability to put together a squad that can win promotion (or, fingers crossed, can stay in the premiership)

Our Club budgeted for 5th place. We achieved 3rd. Whatever happens in the playoffs, Doolan has done well.

The two Partick Thistle Her Game Too representatives (Kirsten & Heather) were on Off the Ball on BBC Radio Scotland earlier in the season, and their fellow guest that day was Davie McKinnon. The report back was that Davie could not have been more pleasant and encouraging, and was totally positive in all his memories of and comments on Partick Thistle.

https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-fixture/airdrieonians-v-partick-thistle-7th-may-2024/ https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-fixture/partick-thistle-v-airdrieonians-10th-may-2024/

Dave MacKinnon was an excellent signing and gave us sterling service in the top division. He deserved to be playing at the level he attained with the now defunct Glasgow Rangers and was perhaps unfairly treated by them when the big time Charlies pitched up due to English clubs being banned from Europe post Heysel. He also overcame health issues whilst at Firhill but thankfully returned stronger than ever. I’m sure Dundee and Airdrie fans also remember him as a fine player.

No problem. My brain was operating as slowly as the Thistle defence in the second half at Tannadice last night.

Sorry partickthedog, should've given the link

Good post AJ- with the players lost I thought we would struggle to make playoffs possibly but we have moved up a league placing so it’s been a success so far for me. there have been disappointments of course such as our capitulation to Livingston in the cup which lost us a wad of money- but Doolan is getting us there

Where? Not seeing this on PTFC website. Just occurred to me that may be on Airdrie website. Will go and look there! PS Successfully purchased via Airdrie website. Here is the link: https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/airdrieonians/

I think that Stewart is a poor goalkeeper, and his whole body language does nothing to inspire confidence in me. I suspect that the same may be true for the defenders who have to work with him! Last might he dumped too many kick outs straight into touch. He also did one short kick out straight to an opposition player which might have resulted in a goal. Having said all that, he managed a penalty save and a few other decent stops as well. He seemed to be blameless for the 1st, 3rd and 4th goals: 1-defenders concede possession. Strong and well-placed shot from Sibbald. 3-shot looked to go through him but replay shows 2 deflections which totally wrongfooted him. 4-Moult good penalty high in the corner. 2nd goal may be the one where he could be questioned, as the striker put the shot under him. However it was a one on one, and a keeper cannot cover every possibility. In summary, not someone I want to see in goals again for Thistle, but I would not blame him hugely for the goals conceded last night.

I agree with this and my post wasn’t to be overly critical of Stewart for last nights game, more that I don’t think he’s anywhere near good enough to be kept on. Our midfield has been the biggest drop off this season since losing Docherty and Turner. Stanway really needs to improve on his ball retention if he wants to keep progressing his career. Bannigan has the ability but it’s clear against opposition of United’s level, he struggles to keep up with the pace. It’ll be interesting to see if Docherty makes it in the league above. I’m a fan of his but always felt his pace of play might be a little slow to play at a higher level.

From his page @The Thistle Archive, Davie played 143 times for Thistle, between 19th August 1978 and 15th May 1982.