Meister Jag

I thought the Muirhead / Balatoni partnership wasn't that bad. Celtic seemed off the pace and their finishing was poor. I honestly couldn't fault our effort and we tried to play football. (I remain hopeful that Craigen will improve.) Substitutions seemed to work out well didn't muck up our shape etc. All in all, always bad to lose to the OF but seen worse. We move on to Saturday. But well done to all!

My earlier comment (above) related to our current and last manager. In the spirit of all things Christmas I thought it only fair to clarify my post. For the record, I'm not on a fishing expedition; just trying to give some credit where it's due. Credit is also due for the December pricing policy! (I'm guessing that would have been a board decision.) Maybe all this festive cheer is getting to me... P.S. Where is Jaggy B? I miss his daily dash of neo-liberal Empire-loyalist nonsense. Maybe Edwina Currie in the jungle is keeping him and Kleenex busy just now.

I think the above is a pretty fair and honest assessment and it's also good to note that most posts have been positive. We lose Archie, who do we get? Probably someone who has been round the clubs until they were found out and who would try to impose their style of play on a team that wouldn't be capable of delivering. The inevitable clear out would follow (say cheerio to many fans favourites); to be followed by old stagers coming in who have links to the new manager and "can do a job for us". To be honest, I think we would be mad to even consider losing Archie and agree that he is learning week-in, week-out. Plus, late goals aside (where would be in the league had we not conceded so many?), we are still a good team to watch (IMO). Do the... whisper it... 'the board' deserve a pat on the back for giving us two young managers and for setting in place a half-decent style of football? But in summary, I think it is refreshing that a young management team is being given the chance to develop and present their style of football; albeit with a restricted budget. It's a pity that the word isn't getting out and more paying punters returning. It seems to me that we are losing more hardcore fans at the start of each season (is this an age thing?). But I also know that times are tough...

Great response bro . I'm not expecting much but who knows... I also agree with sentiments relating to Celtic taking the p*** with the pricing arrangement. But, TBH, one of the reasons I'm going is that my son can't make many weekend games; so this lets us both get to a game together. Will also be interesting to see how many of the greatest fans in the World who don't own season tickets make the effort. I think tomorrow is going to be a cold one.

Is there a SITB sponsored boycott, if so is it a mass refusal to go; and, perhaps more importantly, is Franz injured? Tonight's burning questions... But to return to earth, I'm actually quite looking forward to this one. Any excuse to go to Parkhead and make a noise.

Yea, agree with both responses to my post. Problem is that we can't afford the luxury of dropping any points; but I wonder if Fox might make an appearance tomorrow night? Could be good for his confidence or it could all end in tears. I'm probably being overly optimistic; but when we play the OF it's allowed!

I thought Stevo tried hard (for little reward) against St Mirren and I couldn't fault his effort. Today, and against arguably better opposition, he had a bit of swagger about him and looked like a player. Seriously couldn't fault his shift, he looked like a team player and I got the feeling that the players were delighted for him. (Did he miss the golden opportunity in the first-half? If so, would have been a well-deserved hat-trick.) Overall, very good team performance IMO. Franz handled Jason Scotland who remains a handful.

Agree totally; but do we need Paul Gallacher to be given a first team game every week? Strikes me that he commands his areas in ways that Fox can't. For example, he'll not get bossed about when corners are being taken.

Quite a lot of discussion about the "boycott" on the closed Facebook page: the "we're not going because Celtic are money-grabbing b*******" thread. The discussion has actually been very adult and there is a consensus view that we're being royally ripped off by the footballing-wing of the IRA (something wrong with that last statement but given the peers of the realm that are involved at Parkhead, perhaps it reflects how they've come to prominence as Glasgow's main establishment club. Or maybe I'm just confused). Anyway, a few of us are of the mind that we're going to go to support the team on what will be a difficult night. We've agreed to disagree on this one...

I thank you, I'm here all week; well most days actually.

Shame, he'll miss a great victory. The Great Glasgow Alternative (does nobody print these t-shirts anymore?) needs us there in numbers.

Not sure if this has featured already but I liked it: Jimmy Savile, Stuart Hall and Gary Glitter walk into a Dublin pub and the barman says: "Not Yewtree again!" Sorry, poor taste...

Well haud me back; well maybe not. Undecided. A good run of form could see me making the effort. But does anyone else get the feeling that Celtic would rather that we didn't bother going? At prices like this, maybe they don't want their own fans to go. Yet another reason to hate them.

Agree totally with the above. Lovely report in yesterday's Herald that suggested that the first half was the worst ever in the history of association football! Bit brutal but possibly true. Some of the distribution was rank!! (Love to say that that was also in the article in question; but it wasn't.)

Really looking forward to this one, should be a great night. Saw Sham 69 when they played the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh in September 2013(?) and they were really good. TBH, I wasn't sure what to expect as I've seen them before and they've not always been on form. The rock 'n' roll lifestyle may have had something to do with that; plus a Glasgow crowd can be, erm, challenging. But Pursey is still one of the best front men about IMO. The Edinburgh night was also memorable because I met another forum member and his wife on the train on the way back (stays right beside the ground if memory serves) - really nice couple. Enjoy!!

Don't like to put a damper on things (especially given that I've just dried out!), but yesterday's game was hard, very heard, to watch. First half tactics were like watching a team with no game plan other than to hump the ball up to a lone striker. Thereafter, and if St M kicked the ball out (as they often did) it was all about territory; we try to build from being in their half. Not the Thistle I've been watching all year and, no harm to the guy as he did try yesterday, Stevenson can't chase the types of balls that Doolan will chase week in week out. Doolan coming on made a huge difference and we started to play a bit better - passes being made before the chase ball. Far better to watch IMO and more chances created. But moans aside, a good, well needed, three points. Also thought the defence looked reasonably solid and dealt well with what was thrown at them.

Will make McChuills (all three of us), but after show is way past my bedtime. See you there... for the most expensive tribute band in history!! Given who won't be on stage, they should be handing out tenners or more at the door! I know, I'm a miseable old ...

This thread is Inspiring. Are you like a management consultant or something?

Don't think we can judge him fully as a player as he's not had enough game time to join that long roll of honour. My concern is that we can't play him in the role that Doolan plays - burners on overdrive, run until you drop, lost cause balls must be chased etc. So where exactly do we play him and what vision did Archie have when he thought he'd be a good signing? The funny thing in all of this is that Stevo appears to have been rated at Hearts and fans thought he was a player. Is it all down to systems i.e. he can't fit into ours? Baffled.

Red card aside, I thought he'd won the ball cleanly, but watching it on the train heading home think it was a red, I think the 'moving this player to that formation' comments just serve to highlight how stretched we are. The nature of our squad seems to be that we plug holes and hope that something works out. Giving Ecclestone a start (ran hard, I don't fault his effort) was probably a gamble for Archie. It didn't work out. Would Dools have made a difference? Who knows and if launching high balls at him, probably not. Final score without the sending off? Who knows but the best we could have done was to run them close, taken any chances etc. Didn't happen. Celtic looked fitter and stronger in most areas; just better footballers (and maybe they should be given their wage bill). Also pains me to say it, but Leigh Griffiths has skill (best compliment I can give). The free kicks were sweet and both products of fouls in areas where you could see goals coming. Perfect night for long-range efforts, no apparent wind etc. Contrast this to beach ball Saturday last weekend where every effort flew several feet over the bar. Still in shock, f***ing raging but proud to be a Jags fan.

I know we're moving slightly off topic but the boy has market value which is underpinned by his talent. If we didn't take him then someone else would have offered him some form of second chance / rehabilitation. Look at Joey Barton; or am I now going waaaay off topic!

Can somebody tell or remind them please. I actually thought Seaborne was the best of a bedraggled bunch. Not out of sorts at this level. A good signing.

Apart from holding our own with eleven men and creating one or two chances, when Bannigan was red-carded we fell apart. I felt we lacked leadership and a collective will to get stuck in. Was it a straight red? Probably, and in time honoured fashion, the Celtic players ensured that there was only one decision. Walking down London Road with my son after the game I had the pleasure of meeting up with a Jags fan from Belfast (like me he thought we were in with a chance!). Poor guy had forked out over £300 to come over to watch that capitulation. We really need to get some fight about the team, find a leader (there should be many leaders but who / where are they?) and bounce back on Saturday. Yes, I'm the same walloper who said we were a few players away from being a great team! Sort the above out and who knows... Gutted but still optimistic (must be the drugs)!!

Spot on!

Good point well made Angry G. Given that we run our loan forward until he's fit to drop, who would you partner him with? Surely NOT our highest paid player who I think I could beat in a sprint to the pie stall. Maybe therein lies Archie's problem, if he knackers the legs too early then there's no one else to bring on!