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Very clear at halftime that we've secured 3rd place. Given the way last season ended and the players we lost, have to say that's a great effort from the players and the management team. We'll done chaps 👏

The big man looking dapper and speaking well.

I think Brian would swap all these awards for a promotion. He is a determined guy and I hope he gets his wish for him as much as anyone else.

The first time I saw Brian Graham don the red and yellow was the 2020 Challenge Cup semi-final against Raith Rovers. It was the last Thistle game my dad made it to, and we lost with an absolutely horrendous performance. But the one thing I distinctly remember, departing Firhill that evening, was the solid 30 seconds for which Brian Graham was screaming in Mitch Austin's face for being an absolute half-arsed excuse of a footballer. At that moment, I had this nagging feeling that Brian Graham was going to be at the heart of restoring a winning mentality at Firhill. A mentality that Gary Caldwell had crushed and which, at that time, Ian McCall had really struggled to rebuild. What a player. What a captain. And what a manager. First rate Jag. Boing Boing.

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

I still to this day wonder how they fitted them all in. https://i.discogs.com/S5oDJ8R-juM42NywmrKz3CcIn2edrav5KPKilwXbi3Q/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:594/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEyMzI3/NDcxLTE1MzMwMjAy/NDItODE5NC5qcGVn.jpeg

Disappointing to lose a game but it is 1 of 36 and this season in his first full season Doolan has led us to our highest finish since relegation from the Premiership. Given everything that was going on in the summer I think that is a good return. Now on to the playoffs and a full house (home stands anyway) at Firhill on Friday night.

Tuesday 😂

Meaningless game yet it’s on the telly - can’t understand why the Inverness or the QP (or a mix of both) games aren’t being shown.

Well, here we go after another Partick Heartache last season can we go one better this season and win the end of season tournament to take us back up? It is a big ask with games coming thick and fast over the next few weeks. At least the Premiership team hasn't been decided so the candidates there will be playing competitive games going into their match with the championship candidate, hopefully picking up a few knocks and even a suspension on the way. We played some scintillating stuff last season but this year while still playing some good stuff we also seem a bit more pragmatic which could hold us in good stead. The squad is fit apart from long term absentee Adeloye so the manager has a squad to work with. First things first though, a tough looking match on Tuesday away in Airdrie. We have lost and drawn there so hopefully we can take a win into the second leg and get a chance to progress against Raith Rovers. The beauty of the playoffs is you just don't know what is going to happen. Airdrie fans seem quite pessimistic going into our matchup but I'm sure like us their players will have a different outlook. May the fun and games commence.

Play-off games continue be great entertainment if a bit nerve-shredding. We were second-best in the second-half to a decent Airdrie side so I was pleased and a bit relieved to come away with a draw. Our defenders defended quite well - our midfielders less so. I felt a bit sorry for Stanway - he tried to press but they just played into the spaces behind him. For a big guy, Neilson seems a bit of a soft touch and McInroy floats about the fringes of the game. We just hoofed it in the second half as the midfield couldn't get a grip of the game and Fitzpatrick was out of sorts. We missed Lawless to bring a bit of composure on the ball. We also looked tired which doesn't auger well for the second leg and any further games. We need to step up our game at Firhill on Friday but I'll be disappointed if we don't go through. Luke McBeth's goal was worth the trip to Airdrie.

The pitch was awful, even more so given how dry it was. The ball had absolutely zero run. Not a great performance and another game where our players look knackered as the opposition up the tempo. Our lack of midfield is what I ultimately think will cost us, not convinced by 3 at the back either. Can’t be too disheartened at the draw given how we started and finished the game. A really good twenty minute spell but we’ll need that for full 90 on Friday. McBeth was excellent, a real find.

TJF's 20th Thistle Pin is announced today and it's a stormer! We've taken the opportunity to fast-forward some ideas on the player's profile pages, see what you think per below, all critique welcome. 07-May-2024 Telling the Partick Thistle story whilst raising a few quid for the club is a win-win all day, and The Jags Foundation have today announced that Aidan Fitzpatrick (20 direct goal involvements this season) and Brian Graham (20 league goals this season) are the latest co-stars for the 20th Thistle Pin! (Precision engineering, we like that.) The 'Boing Boing Pin' will go on sale on the online TJF shop (accessible by members only) on Wednesday 8th May at 7pm. By purchasing yours, you help TJF to meet their £10kpm pledge to the Football Club and £2kpm pledge to the Youth Academy, while also supporting good causes in the wider Thistle community. 07-May-2024 Aidan Fitzpatrick (New 'Summary Totals' idea implemented; 'Bio Extra' entry expanded; 'Every Game' tab introduced; 'Every Goal' tab now hyperlinked to match hubs; 'Scrapbook' tab introduced; 'Gallery' tab introduced; in-lockdown interview added to 'Video' tab. Aidan is the co-star of the 20th Jags Foundation pin announced today!) 07-May-2024 Brian Graham (New 'Summary Totals' idea implemented; 'Bio Extra' entry updated; 'Every Game' tab introduced; 'Every Goal' tab now hyperlinked to match hubs; extra entries added to 'Scrapbook' tab; 'Gallery' tab greatly expanded. Brian is the co-star of the 20th Jags Foundation pin announced today!)

The memory of last year’s playoff catastrophe/ clusterf*ck /living nightmare still burns vividly, but what is following a team if not the willingness to suspend disbelief? ‘Mon the Jags and safe travels to all supporters. Give a cheer for the exiles who’d love to be there.

Oh I see! No. The closest thing to investments the Club has is its bar stock!

Chris Erskine made the shortlist in 2012-13, which also featured Lyle Taylor, Michael Tidser and Stefan Scougall. Lyle Taylor won.

I think the key point is that running a Premiership football club is essentially a completely different business proposition than running a Championship one. In the event of promotion the budget plans for next season would have to be ripped up and you start again. But it's from a position of significant opportunities to grow revenue that wouldn't materialise in another season in the Championship. It's not just that prize-money is completely different (finishing bottom of the Premiership gets you almost double the prize-money of winning the Championship). That income is also phased differently in the Premiership, which has a major impact on cashflow. Our short-term challenge, following last year's losses, was cashflow. Longer-term, there's a sustainability point on breaking-even. But that's something that essentially none of the full time clubs in this division are doing (except with Old Firm cup fixture cash or benefactors underwriting them). My guess would be that promotion to the Premiership would increase our costs quite a lot (both immediately in terms of bonuses and in the ensuing season in terms of wage bill) but that it would, overall, leave us in a stronger financial position (not least because even if we go straight back down there's parachute payments to soften the blow). Final point is that the Club Trust Agreement and the Investment Agreement both prohibit the Club from taking on debt without the consent of the majority shareholder and the principal investor (respectively). The Club hasn't had an overdraft facility since (I think) 2015.

There is more money in the top league and i don't see the people we have in charge putting the future of the club in danger just to spend a season or two in it. When you have teams like Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Motherwell to name a few, i don't see why we also couldn't compete in the premier league, but we need to get there first.

I have some hope but not in abundance! I agree with your overall assessment of my post. It is very negative but only in parts. I think even you would have to admit much of it reflects reality. For example, the performance of the squad over the season to finish in 3rd place and be in the play-offs has are positives. The quality of the squad compared with last year is just being realistic not negative. It would seem I am not the only one who feels we might not beat Airdrie and a others doubt our ability to beat Raith given we haven't beaten them this season. Agree this is negative. Other posters have quite correctly commented on the financial implication of winning promotion and that we are not yet ready for promotion. Do you consider these comments as negative. I think they represent a realistic assessment. I knew I would be criticised for my views and for expressing them but afraid that's the way I see thing at the moment. A Brian Graham goal on Tuesday and a hatrick on Friday would probably change how I see things and increase my "hope" levels.

I thought Crawford was for us. Always thought he was held back by McCall playing him as right winger (Although when the alternative was Cammy Smith who could blame him?) However I think he was held back even more, as was Turner, by McCall's insistence that it was Crawford or Turner to take the third midfield berth alongside Bannigan and Docherty. I would have liked to see how Crawford, Turner and Docherty got on. Maybe not impossible we see Crawford and Turner next season? Heard a rumour we were in for Oakley at Morton as well. No idea how real that is but I'm sure our pals from Greenock will love the idea that we could take their 2 best players.

Absolutely no reason we can’t beat Airdrie & Raith, we have better players than both of them in most positions. If we play well and avoid injuries & suspensions, we could well get to the final. If we avoid defeat tomorrow, I’ll be relatively content, but I do think we should be looking to win the game.

Agree, but I’m hoping our ability to concede very few goals (ignoring the temporary team at Tannadice) might see us through to the final… How sweet to sink a boring Levein led St Johnstone….. but getting way ahead of myself….

Turner became a different player when moved in to a central role, hopefully the same will happen with Crawford.

Not a term i use a lot, but Graham is a true legend for all the things he has and is doing for Thistle. Age, as i tell myself is just a number.

The previous Thistle winner 23 years ago. Am I right in thinking Scott McLean? Who won in 2012-2013? Was it Lyle Taylor, then of Falkirk? Chris Erskine should at least have been in the conversation.

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/

Congratulations to Brian. A well deserved award.

With Haugheys money maybe a possibility mate

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

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.

I know a few folk in here don't do social media, so posting this here. Davie Mackinnon hosting a book signing / Q&A in the Woodside Inn on Sunday 12th May.

Imo the main objective for this season was to get to the play - offs and take it from there. We managed that and improved on our final league placing from last season. Wasn't at the game and can only comment from what i could see on tv, but for me none of the non regular starters staked a claim to start against Airdrie.

Don't like commenting too much on a game I only saw on the telly but it looked like setting up narrow was doing fine. Things only changed for the worse when D Utd started working the ball thru the middle. I doubt they'd have been anywhere near as successful if we had set up as normal with Neilson as def mid in front of McBeth and Aero/O'Reilly. We knew that was the case. Just about any of our past games up to mid March backs that up. Rightly imo we played a weakened side and maybe, but for individual errors, we could've scraped a draw. But I very much doubt that last night's performance will have any bearing on our nest two games. I sense the bigger picture too obvious to allow for any lack of confidence after a poor result.

Think you're right. Alston gave the ball away, when attempting easy passes, at least 7 times in a row at one point. What is going on.

Queen’s Park as well now they have secured status too and with Haughey throwing more money will no doubt have a big shopping list of players to purchase

Suspect quite a few players scored their first league goal in a defeat. Sure he'll remember it regardless of the scoreline.

We did our "duty," i.e, capitulate to the Tannadice mob (again!). Now, let's see if we can do ourselves really proud in the games ahead, not as gallant also-rans, but overall winners!

Few of the B team will grace the A team … hope never to see Stewart again

Really? Decent save against Dochery aside I thought he’s been an absolute bombscare

Jeez McMillan, just put your boot through it.

Bugger me …. Stanway !!!!!

He's the best in the league, this season. End of story. Hope he has a few more gpals to come in the coming weeks.

By some sections probably. There's been a few on here having a go at the number of chances he's missed after some games. For me rule of thumb is do you want a player playing for you or against you. Id definitelyrather have him in the team. I can't imagine too many defenders look forward to facing him!

I am with allyo in this. The honour is in the promotion, not the finishing position. Staying up via the playoffs isn’t an honour, that would be a relief.

3-2 actually - you must have sneaked out early!

Complete agreement! In fact I just consulted The Head-to- Head section a couple of minutes ago and quickly found what I was looking for (Don't ask why, but it was a truly appalling, incident-less 0-0 draw on a Monday evening at McDairmid Park in 1997). No doubt I'll be delving in again soon.

It is strange but I believe in the current lexicon "100%" simply means "yes"

I think the work you do is absolutely outstanding. Facts, figures, statistics galore and fascinating reminders of our rich history. Many, MANY thanks to everyone who makes the Jags' Archive compulsive reading...

Jeanie D, Real killjoy stuff in both instances, albeit a band of teenagers at least rushed onto the pitch in '71, good on them! As for the presentation in the tea-room in '81, dearie me. Gen X sorted it out eventually, despite the authorities, and all for the better. The post-Forfar memories of May '92 (and indeed April '01) will live forever. ***************************** Michael, Love that! Mind you, we do all live in a red and yellow world, so there's always a wee chance... ***************************** Jagger, David is the foremost authority on Scottish historical attendances; draws from all sorts of mad sources like the Hampden Park gate books and was privvy at one time to the official club submissions to the SFL. He's been going out of his way to compile accurate attendances for decades and wrote a book ('The Roar of the Crowd') on the subject!