LambieIsGod

Think we are all on the same hymn sheet here. I read the article earlier today and was really disappointed in McMillan's apparent need to blame everyone but himself. I was a big fan of his but now I can't stand the boy. To direct responsibility towards the club for his own problems when they clearly did everything they could, was a disgrace. His credibility and respect have been shot. Not because of his demeanour, but because of his conduct afterwards. Getting to the basics, here's food for thought. 1. Why is McMillan drinking a pint in the 1st place? Thought he was a professional athlete? 2. As has been previously said, you don't put cocaine in a drink to ingest it. Doesn't make sense. 3. Why did McMillan not notice his pint was 'cloudy' before drinking it? Doesn't make sense. But most strange (or damning of all?)..... 4. If you took cocaine, you would (I imagine) clearly feel totally different. You would know. I am assuming for a moment (as it seems to fit McMillan's story) that his mate told him that night what he had done. So why did McMillan not approach the Club the day after this episode to report that he had accidentally taken cocaine and why did he leave it until a failed drugs test to come out with it. Prior to the urine test he would have completed a questionnaire confirming that he had not taken any illegal substances and he answered no. So he waited till he was caught before coming out with this very dubious defence. All doesn't add up. And yet it was all the Clubs fault! He let himself down and he let his family down but he doesn't have the balls to take the responsibility. He needs to stay clean, but he also needs to man up! Total loser who deserves what he got.

Totally agree Lindau, that smell of manure when you walk through the NS turnstiles is totally rank. Like a bloody sewer. Thankfully you don't smell it from the stands or it would be intolerable. Hopefully it's not a long term thing, otherwise a gas mask will be needed.

I hope you're right Lindau, I really do. Clearly as a Jags fan, I want the boy to succeed and for the team to benefit from an improved player. But for me, I think he hasn't improved enough to merit an automatic place in the starting 11. I appreciate he scored our equaliser today but for me he still makes too many basic errors under pressure and that could cost us badly throughout a full season. ATS was a quicker learner and you could see him learning from his mistakes game to game. Lindsay is still a good prospect but his improvement from last season is negligible for me. Mistakes will happen to all players, even the best ones, but for me Lindsay needs to improve his decision making, ball control and his passing ability to improve overall as a player this season. Fingers crossed he will but my gut feeling is we need a more experienced centre half for this season and allow Lindsay another year as a squad player.

Without question, Collum has been one of the worst referees Scottish football fans have had the misfortune to clap their eyes on, me included. His whistle happy approach, terroble decision making and school teacher attitude towards the players has driven me to despair at times, and even ruined games I have paid good money to watch. But.... I thought today he was excellent. One of the best ref displays I've seen in a long time. He played advantage whenever he could, he wasn't conned by the players, most of his decisions were fair, and he even put his arm around Lawless at the end of the game when explaining his decision around Hearts' winner, showing some interpersonal skills that I never thought he even possessed. He's either undergone extensive re-training behind the scenes, or that was a look-a-like today. On the basis that that was the real Wullie Collum, I wonder if today was a one off, or is he a changed man?

Can't agree that the small team mentality played any part today. To my mind, that was one of the best games of football I have seen at Firhill for a while, with two teams looking well matched and some nice skill and passing ability on display. It was unfortunate for us that we lost but we could just as easily have won the game. That's what happens when the game is so open and chances are being made by both teams. It's all down to the finishing and it's a shame that Dools didn't have his shooting boots on today otherwise it might have been different. I've always said that as long as we compete, I'll walk away happy and we definitely did today. Deserved at least a point. It was the same scoreline as last week yet both games were different stories. We didn't look on the same level last week but today we certainly looked as good as Hearts. Frustrating as it was today, we were entertained and Thistle were unlucky to lose. The only questionables for me are Lindsay and Pogba. Lindsay looks shakey at the back and I'd rather he was a squad player for another year rather than an automatic first team pick. He needs protection as he's such a young lad and I think he'll cost us too many goals over the season if we continue with him. Pogba didn't show enough energy when he came on and when we had our chance at the end from Erskine's cross (when it was 1-1) I was looking at him and he was labouring into the penalty box for the cross. Not good enough from him.

What a dire dire performance that was today. Absolutely abysmal from almost everyone. Probably as bad as the performance against Dundee Utd in the Scottish Cup a few weeks ago. Almost to a man, we were out fought, out thought and out played. How a player the size of McDonald can appear to bully Frans so easily is beyond me. At least push him about a bit. And stop letting him spin away from you FFS. I can understand getting beat by a better team, you get used to that as a Thistle fan, but there was no excuse for some of the performances today which were caused by a lack of effort. Players not running into space to receive the ball, not closing down the ball when out of possession and not getting closer to the man. These problems are indicative of a lack of effort, not just a bad day at the office. Miller looked like he was 60 years old compared to the pace of the Well players who were clearly more interested and far more hungry. The supporters made the effort to support the team and the players have to do better. Fingers crossed for an improvement, and a big improvement at that. Men v Boys today. Utter shite.

Where you at the game clarencegarter? I suspect you were watching from your leather settee. Wilson looked lost all day? He was my man of the match. Miller slow? He was fast and looks like a right good replacement for O'Donnell. Lawless had to be pulled, he was useless. Think you need to go to Specsavers young man!

Hi DD. I probably didn't put my question as clearly as I could have. I've followed Thistle since I was a kid because I disliked everything about the old firm and wanted an alternative. However first and foremost I am a football fan and, for example, I stopped going to watch Thistle in the DC days because the quality of football was dire and not worth watching. I want to pay to see good football, although I appreciate that can never be a guarantee before the game. The promotion campaign a couple of years ago was great. Not only because we won the league, but also because the quality of football was fantastic at times. So, on the back of some dreadful recent performances from us in the SPL, and after seeing some posts on here indicating that SPL status is a must at ALL costs, I thought of a totally hypothetical (and meant for fun) question. Namely, given the choice, if you were GUARANTEED SPL status but told that the quality of football would be dire throughout, would you take it over watching quality football in the 1st division?

Geezo, still resigned....you must have too much time on your hands to bother commenting whilst not wishing to actually participate in the thread. It's a hypothetical question, meant to encourage discussion. I meant to assume nothing, and works certainly not 'voluntarily' wish to see my side demoted. I was merely asking a question to engage with fellow Jags fans. I'll try not to be so silly next time. This forum is quickly becoming similar to a classroom, full of naughty schoolboys (me) and strict teachers (you). Try and answer the question in the spirit it was meant. It's more fun!

We are going through a torrid time at the moment. Not enjoyable at all. Crap football, questionable commitment from some of the players and no win in sight, I have followed the Jags for many years and seen some poor performances, but today was up there. Ross County looked so poor at times, yet we couldn't come close to competing with them. There are some interesting posts on this forum where fans have expressed their fear of being relegated and want to stay in the SPL at all costs. This begs the question, what would you take.....guaranteed SPL status by playing kick and hope football, or relegation with the guarantee of quality carpet football again? For me, it's an entertainment business and too many games recently have failed to deliver value for money. Regardless of the results, and our SPL status, we need good football back at Firhill, quickly.

Dick, Higgy did not limp off the pitch. He did not appear injured and did not acknowledge the bench/management. If he was injured, it certainly wasn't anything that would have stopped him watching the rest of the game. Put yourself in his position and tell me what you would do? I would always sit with my team mates and see the game out. You can use the bad service all day long for Dools, and you are right, but it doesn't take away the fact that he has to challenge better for balls, both in the air and on the ground. He is brushed off the ball to easily and needs to show more strength. What's wrong with recognising that? Hopefully he will get some more gym work in that improve that part of his game. I think you're a bit too focused on the docking wages thing. The point being, if I performed as badly at work. I wouldn't be paid. I brought a family friend to the game, his first Jags game. He paid his £22 to get in and said it was the worst game of football he has ever seen. Bad timing on his part, and a bad performance from the team.

Fair enough DP, you've made your point well and we'll agree to disagree on the game analysis. Nothing wrong with differing opinions.

You're right Dick, they do have a mortgage to pay. And so do I. They get paid more than me and I decide to balance my household income to allow me to afford following my team. An unrealistic proposition granted, but that's how bad I feel the team were last night. The worst performance for a long time and one I hope will never be repeated. Hoof football from both teams and a total waste of time and money. As for shouting insults etc, not my cup of tea. I don't do it.

Higgy's been poor all season, at least since he came back from injury. And where is his commitment to the team, when he refuses to acknowledge the bench when subbed and simply trots off to the changing room? Is that commitment? We were clearly watching two different games if you believe we were as committed as St Mirren last night. When they didn't have the ball, they were chasing us down to get it back. When we didn't have it, we were standing off them, for the most part anyway. Wee allowed St Mirren time on ball they shouldn't have had. Our appetite to win the ball back wasn't there and that's what's not good enough, for even one game. Yes, I don't expect every player to play out of his skin in every game, but there's no excuse for lack of commitment. As for us being on the ascendancy at half time, we had no shots on goal and looks like we were struggling to score. Higgy was terrrible and I would have subbed him for McDade at half time.

The above quote sums up what I see as wrong with some Thistle fans. But then all teams have them. Total lack of ambition and desire to progress, both off and on the park. That's our place in life eh? No it's not. Our place in life, is either the top half of the SPL, or the bottom half of the 3rd Division, or indeed anywhere in between. If every team simply had a place in life, why are Hibs in the 1st Division and why are Ross County in the SPL? You have to EARN everything in this game and quite simply last night we looked like we couldn't be bothered. Fans pay good money to watch our team, and even though they aren't on superstar wages, the players earn a decent living playing professional football. I have been to every home game this season, and the majority of away games. Similar to previous seasons. I have stood in the freezing rain and sat in the biting cold (recent Motherwell game comes to mind) and paid a lot of money (to me anyway) for the privilege. I have done this because I want to support the team and I want us to be as successful as we can be. I don't mean winning trophies, I mean by playing good football. if trophies come along, then even better. I remember in the Intertoto cup against Metz. What a trip. I will always support the club. However, I have every right to criticise anybody who takes a wage from Thistle and doesn't perform. I have to perform at my work, so why are footballers different? It would appear that those that criticise are seen by some as being falsely optimistic, or worse, disloyal to the team and management. Bollocks. Criticism, as long as it's constructive, can be merited and useful. Are we all expected to sit back and just put last night performance aside instantly. How is that positive? Instead we should be discussing how last nights performance happened and what should be done to stop it happening again. Some of the players played WELL below their capability and some even looked like they couldn't be bothered. Higgy's terrible pass lost us possession which led to the corner and the goal. Higgy needs dropped instantly and if he isn't prepared to put in a shift, he can go elsewhere. I don't want him at my club if playing for us is not important enough to him. Doolan needs to get in the gym and muscle up. He was bullied all night last night and has been by most teams this season. And he needs to jump more than 2 inches from the ground when going for the ball. Conrad needs to cut out the mistakes and Banzo needs to be more positive in his distribution. We were playing at a snails pace last night and just about the whole team was responsible for a miserable performance. Now the question for me is, did the team play this total hoof football because of St Mirren's counter tactics? Or instead because they were instructed to do so by Archie? It looked to me like our game plan and Archie's instructions. And that being the case, he deserves all the criticism he gets for last night. His subs were too late and too meaningless and that has been a pattern for Archie. When will he make half time changes when things are clearly going wrong? And when will he change to team shape instead of constantly subbing like for like. Every other team that I have seen, seem change their shape if necessary. Why are we different? In summary, I think the players need criticised for last nights inept performance. They need to hear the fans won't tolerate it, roll up their sleeves and get their arses in gear. If I were Archie, I would asking the players to surrender a large part of their wages and donate them to charity. They didn't turn up last night. And as long as I support my team, that will never be good enough. Sorry La Scimmia Rosa, for stamping my feet.

Home or Away, our tactics have remained constant, i.e. One attacker up front and when trying to chase the game, replacing one forward for another. This, to my mind, has never led to a change in the score line late in the game for us. If anything, it has been us who have conceded late on. So I've a cunning plan to counter this. Why don't we confuse the hell out of the opposition who have been briefed on our formation, and stick on Doolan and Ecclestone to play alongside Stevenson and get the ball into the box as early as possible? Would it work? Not sure, but we won't know till we try.

I assume you are referring to my post LSR. Thanks for getting personal. Not sure where the confusion lies. I went to my 1st jags game as a teenager and have been a supporter ever since. I'm now in my mid 40's. Why does that prove I know feck all? Strange reply.

In 30 years of supporting the jags, I don't recall ever being so peeved off. How much of this rubbish do we have to endure? I have been to every home game this season (as I did last season) and, along with 1200+ Jags fans, froze my ass off to support the team today. Total cost of day, inc, travel/ticket/food etc was about £50. And what did I get in return? Very little. Not good enough. Craigen started again. We are continually starting with 10 men when Craigen is selected. Not his fault. Archie's fault. The boy is NOT an SPL footballer. Anyone that thinks so is either a member of his family or someone with low expectations. Archie has no ambition, even when 1-0 done. I have followed Thistle since the 80's and Archie is easily one of the most predictable, boring managers we have had since then. No risk taking, no forward thinking, no ability to change our attacking style. Even I could scout for the opposition and work us out. I never thought I would say this under Archie after our promotion winning season 2 years ago, but we have become BORING to watch. Same formation, same subs, same one up front, same Archie tactics. I don't mind getting beat (or relegated if it comes to it), but it's the manner in which we do so that is the infuriating bit. I'm getting bored. Not felt this way since DC was in charge! Better managers would get more out of this squad. My patience with Archie is growing VERY thin! Get your act together Archie.

Agreed, the ref was terrible today. And when are these linesmen going to start becoming more involved in making decisions instead of taking the easy option and just waiting for the ref to make a decision and then agreeing with it. Got to disagree regarding Craigen. I've been to most games this season and at times, I have focused my attention at games specifically on Craigen, watching his off the ball movement and positioning, as well as the stuff we all see on the ball. I have not joined in any Craigen scrapegoating but I have to say, the boy is lost at this level. His passing is poor, his first touch is terrible, and his tackling is anonymous. He has started almost every game this season, so there are no excuses such as injury/time out etc. When you compare the effort and good effect that the likes of Bannigan/Fraser/Osman often have on a game, when have we ever said the same about Craigen? And all this talk about him being a fit player with a good engine and therefore a decent footballer is just nonsense. It's like saying if you're fat, you'll be a good darts player. He lacks the guile, the composure and the decision making for this level and we need to replace him with a better alternative. I don't get a kick out of being negative about one of our players, but anybody that sees Craigen being effective in this current team, is not paying attention to what he's doing, in my opinion. Good luck to the boy, but he needs to find his league, which is probably the mid table of the Championship.

Surely, Richard, you are the Dick?

Summed up very well. This one striker business (bearing in mind it's not even Stevo's natural position) is doing my freaking head in. Lyle Taylor showed last year the speed, muscle, endeavour and good positional sense, that a striker should have. Stevo was playing so much out of the middle today, there was no natural attacker of the ball in the last third. How many times do we need to see SOD or Higgy crossing a ball into an empty penalty box (or worse, to Craigen) before we start changing our tactics? Archie needs to start playing Ryan behind Doolan, immediately. If he wants to play one up front at away games and rely on a counter attack, fill your boots. I understand that. But we should be trying to win these type of home games like today and we couldn't shoot fish in a barrel. The players can only take so much responsibility when the manager plays a totally out of his depth Craigen, AGAIN!, instead of a more creative player like Lawless or Doolan. Archie needs to start playing the best 11 players we have and stop being scared of losing. With a bit more ambition up front, I'm certain we would have beaten Killie today. Our top scorers are on 2 goals. For the whole season. That tells it's own tale. C'mon Archie. Let's get 2 up front at home games at least. Please..

Well done JC. An enlightening post that tells me....that anybody that doesn't share your opinion is a ***** or a c*nt. And then you talk about someone having an unreadable rant. You for real? How about you try and educate us all with some reasoning behind your opinion to convince us you are right, instead of calling fellow supporters fannies and c*nts. Grow up!

The point I'm making on that specific point LIB, is that due to Archie's poor tactical use of subs for some time (IMO) I'm not convinced that today's subs were the best ploy, at any given time, to get us back in the game. I appreciate it worked out that way initially, but on the other hand, why wasn't a 3rd sub used to soak the defence up in the final minutes which would have got us the win? We cant praise his use of subs on one hand in getting us back in the game, but on the other hand, ignore the fact he should have used the last sub to waste time and assist in securing 3 points. They are both the same thing, I.e. Best use of substitutes. Both Craigen and Elliott's goals were well put away and I was obviously delighted for both the boys as they have struggled at times. But anyone who has watched them over the past few years knows neither are proven goalscorers and therefore Archie couldn't have banked on them scoring as part of his game plan to get back in the game. I want Archie to succeed. All Jags fan do. But I remain unconvinced by his ability (not in a one off game) to turns things around when we need changing. His consistent use of straight replacements such as Taylor/Dooly last season and this season Ecclestone/Dooly are an obvious example. Same formation, but just with a different player who remains isolated up front. I sincerely hope I get proved wrong and Archie's tactical use of subs is shown to be a success from now on. Because then Thistle will be better and have a greater chance of winning games. And that's what we all want.

Couldn't agree more BGM. Just because you don't agree with someone's opinion, it doesn't mean they shouldn't offer it. That's what debate is all about but it appears some of the ignorant on this forum can't see that, and think we should just agree or alternatively GTF. Anyway, for the record I have been to most games this season and was at the game today. I've been a Thistle fan all my life. I stay to the end of all games I go to, including Wedneday night when it seemed to me that half our 'great' support decided they had had enough at 3-0 down. There are some on this thread who have talked about today's game being a great team performance etc to come back from 2-0 down, conveniently ignoring the fact that it was a lack of team performance that got us to 2-0 in the first place. No point in evaluating a segment of the game, you have to look at the whole 90 mins. I have NEVER previously called for Archie to go etc and have always hoped he would develop in the role and go on to become one of our best ever managers. He was brilliant in getting us promoted after McNamara left and well deserved to manage us last season, regardless of results. He deserved that. Sadly, my faith in him is now starting to wain. I'll explain why. Firstly, he continues to pick players off form when there are other options available, even with the squad restrictions we have. This is not only bad for overall team confidence, but can actually affect the long term development of a player if he doesn't get a rest when needed, The best example is Foxy. He's a Jag player and I'll support him when he's playing. But he needs dropped. Gallagher is a better keeper than Foxy, Gallagher's positional play is better. He's better at collecting the ball at crosses. He's more vocal and commands his area better. He organises his defence and instructs players on their positional play, better than Foxy. He can save a penalty, but Foxy can't. Yet Archie keeps picking Foxy ahead of Gallagher. It is so obvious this change needs to be made, if Archie can't see it, I have to question his judgement. Why is he persisting with Foxy? And why did he drop Gallagher in the first place? Secondly, Archie appears bereft of ideas to change our style of play when things need changing. Now I know that the instant retort to this will be the 'successful' substitution he made today with Higgy for Dooly. I don't see it that way. Having attended the vast majority of games since Archie was appointed, I have seen the substitutions he has made and to be called a good tactician, there has to be consistency in success in making them. i.e the teams performance improves when we are behind, or alternatively we nullify a teams pressure to secure a win in the last part of the game etc. Archie hasn't shown that. Today's substitution was particularly bizarre and a stroke of luck more than a stroke of genius. If Ecclestone was on the bench, was it not more likely Archie would have put him on for Dooly, as he has done all this season? And to add weight to this point, what successful manager (or team for that matter) plays without any out and out striker? That's what got Levein sacked from the Scotland job. IMO, today's result was freaky and wasn't down to any tactical master ploy. If it was a tactical master ploy, I need to see more of it from Archie. And as an aside, what the heck was the point of Frans getting ready to come on, then not? Nothing had changed in the time he took his top off, to him putting it back on 5 mins later. So why did Archie not use him? To counter the argument of the Dools/Higgy sub being a great stroke from Archie, if Frans came on liked he looked to, then the chances are we wouldn't have conceded the equaliser. Thirdly, the team have appeared naive compared to our opposition and Archie has to take a lot of the responsibility for that. For example, why did Archie not use a substitution to soak up some the injury time (Frans or whoever). Most of the support were shouting for it. All top managers tend to use this tactic, but not us? Why was Foxy kicking the ball straight back up the park during injury time instead of retaining possession when there wasn't an Accies player around him? At one point, Craigen appeared to be still injured when trying to take his position in the wall at an Accies free kick, to the extent that he wasn't really listening to Foxy. Why didn't he go down injured to allow himself some treatment and for the wall to be property formed? I recall at a game against Celtic at Firhill last year, Izaguirre was standing up but hobbling and Lennon shouted on him to go to ground to get treatment, which he did. Result? The ref stopped play and Izaguiire got treatment and time to get over his injury. Craigen decided it was best to try and play on injured without treatment. Why? It's so naive. Lastly, Archie needs to be more adventurous and consider, in certain games, playing 2 up front. Dooly has no chance on his own. I agree in some, or even most away games, we want to try and soak up the midfield area and stop the home team passing to their forward line. I get that. But to continue playing a totally isolated Dooly at Firhill is now getting on my wick. I could understand last season was a learning curve, and if we managed to hold on to Lyle Taylor, who knows what would have happened. We need to try and be more ambitious in our forward line now, in our 2nd year in this league. You only need to look at who our most recent goal scorers have been. Banzo, SOD, McMillan, Elliott, Craigen. We can't rely on our defenders/midfielders to score throughout the whole season. Anyway, that's my opinion, from someone who was at the game today. And I'm not a whinge. I just want Thistle to be the best they can be, and IMO we can be better than what we are. It's the small differences that can make a huge difference. Nothing wrong with trying to improve. Let's try and stop throwing verbal bricks at our fellow supporters who are airing their views on this forum, just because we disagree with them. Everyone's a jag and we all love our club. The end. (Thank f##k)

I was at the game last night and have only just had the chance to post. I'm fairly philosophical about what I expect as a Thistle supporter. I've been a Jags fan all my life. I don't expect us to win the league or even necessary win a cup. But I do expect anyone who plays/manages Thistle to be good enough to take us forward. Just like any other supporter. I think there has been a lot of fair comments and observations made in this thread regarding the teams performance and how it could be improved. (It would nice if this 'disloyalty' tag was not attached (by some) to everyone who criticises Archie, or the players). Anyway, I stayed for the full game last night because I am a loyal Thistle supporter and from what I saw there is clearly some improvements that could be made that will improve us a team. Good Points 1. Seaborne looks a cracking signing and SOD looks back to being hungry. 2. We competed well for 40 mins and played some good football. Bad Points 1. Foxy has to be benched. I was hoping for some improvement in his vocals, organising and encouraging the back four. But I've accepted he won't change. He remains far too quiet, almost defeatist. He needs to grow a set and get annoyed, not only with himself, but with his team mates when they need instruction. He doesn't command his area and his positional sense is woeful at times. Did anyone see him dancing 'side to side' at the 2nd free kick? Embarrasing. Gallagher is far more reliable and experienced and needs urgently to be our 1st choice keeper. 2. Lawless needs to stop getting subbed. He is having a good season and is more likely to make an opportunity during the 90 mins than Craigen who sees out the full game. 3. Thistle fans leaving early, even when we were getting pumped. Disappointing to see. The more fans there, the more vocal we are and the more we can get behind the team. Can't get behind them if we are standing on London Road. 4. Banzo. My favourite player but cost the team dearly last night. Doesn't matter if it's a definite red, it was rash challenge and it was unnecessary. Needs to keep a cooler head at times. 5. Tactics. We are struggling to score goals this season not by misfortune, but because Archie insists on this one up front formation. we can't rely on a Higgy wonder goal or a Banzo/SOD run to get our goals. Don't get me wrong, I thought one up front last night was correct, but particularly at home we need to be more adventurous. St Johnstone were there for the taking last week and I think we would have scored with more support for Doolan. Anyway, just my opinion! C'mon the jags.