billko

I don't think you fall into the stupid excuse category but only just.

Thistle fans should all be making an effort to go to this game and not be making up stupid excuses for not doing so.

I think they do prefer grass Will but the pitch at Firhill has deterioated pretty bad recently after being in great condition just a couple of months back. The artificial pitch is worth looking at though especially that latest version at Palmerston if it's financially beneficial.

Yes and it didn't look like they struggled to play good football on it. The latest generation pitches are pretty good and although a long way to go to match a top quality grass pitch, at this time of year these top quality grass pitches are quite rare. I believe it's the way forward for alot of teams here unless we play Summer football which isn't going to happen anytime soon.

I agree especially if you have a pitch that gets in such a bad state so easily. Add in the factor it's a footballing side which likes to play on the deck and it's a no brainer.

It could be that the first quote is due to how close the game was to being called off. The pitch was hard and bumpy mainly through the middle and wasn't the best surface to play a passing game.

Great to be back after all the bad weather (although not having to go to Elgin last week was a huge bonus) This is the first game since the winter break for the 15's and is being played at Toryglen with Stirling Albion the opposition. Good luck to all the young Jags this weekend.

Far too much sense for this thread.

No you carry on, you are much better at it.

Do you hate him now? Be honest now

An honest hater? Good for you

Your hatred is utterly breathtaking!

You talk some amount of shite for being an adult

Both clubs in question have developed good players but with both clubs competing against one another and always looking over their shoulders for one another they are never brave enough to play these boys. With the facilities and money at their disposal over the years they should have a much better record of youth development. Players can slip the net at all clubs and development is different for each individual player. It's more than just the coaching and other factors need to be right for a player to come through The lad McLean from St Mirren who went to Aberdeen was with Aberdeen's youth system before Rangers bought him with Celtic also desperate for his signature. He then is played out of position when he makes the move and isn't enjoying his football He eventually is allowed to leave but he is not to sign for the rivals (Celtic or Aberdeen) and ends up at St Mirren where his career kicks on again. It doesn't always work out even if it's where the boy and his parents want him to be and pro youth is a bit of a lottery. Both old firm clubs are scared they miss someone and cast their nets far and wide to try and get the best out there and always usually after the same players. A player will develop best when he is enjoying his football and in an enviroment that allows him to do this and even better when he has a chance of progressing through to the first team. This is when you rule out the old firm for me.

They will always attract the best and also have the draw of parents who want their child playing for one or the other. Other clubs and i include Thistle have excellent youth academies in place that can compete to a certain extent with Rangers and Celtic in attracting talent but it's still a hard job to convince a parent / parents this. Sometimes it's the "he will never get the chance again" thinking of parents if any of these 2 clubs come calling. The other thing is the cheque book comes out with Celtic especially picking up youth players from other clubs who are doing well Rangers and Celtic can go through quite a number of players and this fallout when boys are released are mostly picked up by other clubs who then carry on the development these boys Thoughts are changing a bit especially when folk realise so few break through to Rangers and Celtic first teams and the option of the other academies we have can be the best option these days

To be fair Will at U15's Rangers and Celtic are the best sides and probably the most talented age groups at both clubs Academies It always gets debates going though when squads are picked. We have great talent at all our clubs and alot of them are good enough to get recognition for being picked for Scotland squads. The important thing for me though is what boys will still be playing at a high level and coming through their clubs system in a few years time and pushing for first team places. Also with the football performance schools now up and running a few years now, i have no doubt any squads picked will have at least 50% of those picked coming from these schools. They have to show the system is working and at U15's (player born 2000) this was the first intake of these boys to the schools. Thistle have a talented player going through the trials for the 2001 Scotland squad which will be a great experience for him. http://thistleweir.c..._academy_player

That's all been done to death Will. Time to turn on each other now. Will we ever find out who's da is the biggest?

Hopefully alot more to come. I think over the next few years you will see a few more come through. The club might need to wait a bit to see the best though as the lads at the younger age groups just now will reap the most benefits from the Weir's investment in the Academy and also by playing in the Elite level which should happen soon. The extra years these boys have playing at this higher level while moving through the age groups and also the Academy attracting a higher standard of player to it, will hopefully see the club producing top homegrown players who can be top performers in the first team rather than just fringe players.

And back to back wins too. Great result.

The word H*n is used quite alot on here. It probably would still be used even when highlighted it being sectarian. It doesn't offend me and the folk who are offended are the ones who go looking to be offended. A few hypocrites on here and quite a few who are always looking to be offended.

Best player by a mile at St Mirren and has had a few good options to leave in the past but decided to stay put. A bit suprised he went this window and a big blow for St Mirren.who will miss him. Good luck to Kenny and hope he kicks on with his career again.

I don't think anybody is saying Thistle were unlucky as they were poor on the night. The apologists are just realists and i have no idea where you expect this team to be at this stage With the budget at his disposal it's very difficult to change anything and results will continue to be up and down. You can see from games this season they can play good football and get good results and still a long way to go before we judge them on if it was a good season or not. I have no doubt they will win back to back games but i also have no doubt it won't cut them any slack from you if they lost the next one after that. I would really like to know the plan you have in mind of how things could be better. What manager will come in to make it better and what kind of budget will he get to do this? Maybe whoever it is has a magic wand

After a result like Friday's you get the same over reactions and the usual stuff on what is wrong at Thistle with the manager getting most of the blame for it Bottom line is you will always get results like that at any club and nothing can be done to prevent it happening again in the future. Thistle lack some quality and with that lack of quality you will never have consistency, especially when the quality you do have is misfiring. They have a side who will give their all in games and will try to play an attractive style of football when they can, but without that little bit extra quality you will find it hard to breakdown teams who set themselves up like St Mirren did. Results will be up and down for the rest of the season and fans will need to take these bad results as they take the great results like the hammering dished out to Hamilton. Maybe having some decent money made available could make the managers job easier getting that better player in but it's not going to happen, so as frustrating as it is it's difficult for him to find some consistency with this side. A couple of injuries, suspensions.and players off form can make this team look a poor side, but when they get it right they can look a really good side and this is what will see them safe come the end of the season.

Poor poor game and Thistle played right into their hands with resorting to the long ball. Lawless was the only one who looked to have any creativity but it just wasn't happening.for him either. This was a huge game but they just seemed off the pace tonight Thistle need their top players to be performing but it just isn't happening for Higgy especially who looks a shadow of the player he was. I watched it with my old man and i was making excuses as to how they were playing but the standard from both teams was poor. St Mirren got the job done even if it was ugly, but Thistle could still be playing just now and they still wouldn't score. The pitch was pretty bumpy which wasn't suited to the passing game but i don't think Thistle are suited the long ball game they resorted to at times but even when they tried this, the delivery of the long ball was poor and easily dealt with by the Saints defence. Thistle need to hope guys like Higgy finds his form soon so they have players who can open up stubborn teams as where they are now sitting in the league it will be stubborn teams they will find themselves up against. One last thing, Summer football all day long for me.

Not seen him play but from what i have read he was developed at Accies until Rangers signed him last year He didn't play many games though and not many who watched his few outings rating the lad to be Scottish Premiership material,but development under the Rangers Head of Youth is always a bit hit and miss but he did like the athletic type of player in his teams which is apparently what Ryan is. At Thistle though he will get the chance to develop further and if good enough will get the chance of first team football which is something he wouldn't get at Ibrox. Good luck to him and a few commenting Thistle is a good move for the lad.