partickthedog

Cammy Bell, Scott Fox, Paul Gallacher???

Make that odd two out! I think that McBeth is absolutely fantastic at centre back, and that we should play him there. He is also a very reasonable midfielder, but for whatever reason (not his fault, I would say) our performances and results are not so good when he plays there. So I would stick to what works unless and until proved otherwise.

Dunachie certainly deserves great credit for the way he took both goals (regardless of any defensive failings on our part). The Cruyffesque turn and cross for the winner was also impressive. Although disappointed to lose, I am not going to be too hard on the team. From minutes 60-80 (ie the 20 minutes after Graham's equaliser) we attacked constantly and a winner from us seemed inevitable. We were undone by a combination of bad luck, good goalkeeping and poor finishing. For whatever reason, maybe the formation change, we seemed to run out of energy and ideas around minute 80. At that point Clyde came back into the game and timed it just right from their point of view. Since the current League Cup group stage format was introduced, compared to other teams of around our standard, we have definitely over-performed in terms of results and qualifications. I cannot recall any loss to a team in a lower division and the worst results I can think of were a home loss to a same level Ayr United and one point draws with lower level (then) Livingston and Falkirk. So, as other teams have experienced over the years, maybe we were overdue a chastening defeat of this nature. If it dispels any unwarranted optimism and sharpens the focus for the league campaign it may not have been a totally unworthwhile experience (apologies for using too many negatives when I am trying to be positive!).

Good stuff. Does a game like that jolt you into life or leave you weary?

It's not happening for Chalmers yet. A mixture of bad luck and not being on his best form. You can sense his frustration boiling. I am sure that there is a player there and once the ball starts rolling for him and he begins to relax, he will prove to be a very good signing. McKay showed some positive signs tonight, which increases our options. Hopefully at least 2 of our 3 wide players will be firing at any given time. Turner continues to be excellent. I agree that McBeth is so effective at the back that we have to play him there. He is more needed in defence than in midfield. We obviously need a extra goalkeeper. Having said that McCready could not be faulted for either of the goals he conceded, and generally put in a solid performance. By not playing, Milne showed what an essential player he is for us. A very poor showing tonight, especially after such an impressive start. However, I will not be going into panic mode quite yet.

That is some dedication. I salute you! Can you sleep again after the game, or is that you up for the day? Have you ever slept through the alarm and missed a vital Thistle game? Or fallen asleep at work the next day??

I would not regard it as inglorious. They were both desperately keen to score their first goal for Partick Thistle. If I was blessed with the chance to play for Thistle, and saw the ball trundling along the goal line with no defender in sight, I would be equally keen to apply the finishing touch!

Milne and Turner were particularly good. Robinson and Crawford also showed up well, and demonstrated the range of excellent options we now have in the advanced midfield roles.

Mine has arrived too. Looks good and ready to use if like today there is a world technology outage!

Todorov seemed to be the exception to the Airdrie rule as he was quite a tall striker in among a lot of smaller nippier players. As such probably too similar to Graham and Diack to be suitable for us. We would probably be looking for a smaller (not necessarily tiny) nippier striker to provide a contrast. Somebody who could play alongside or instead of Graham (or come on for Graham) depending on the requirements of a particular game.

There is a separate Lights Camera Action thread on this topic. No idea how this is done, but maybe Admin can merge the 2 threads.

Just changed my mind again. Stanway back in the midfield. McBeth to centre back. Muirhead to the bench. My new revised team. Not sure which are stronger feet for McBeth or O'Reilly, so shuffle the two round if necessary: Mitchell Wasiri McBeth O'Reilly Milne Stanway Turner Chalmers Robinson Fitzpatrick Graham

You are quite right. An oversight caused by holiday detachment! I will bring Luke in and somewhat reluctantly put Ben on the bench. On the positive side, it shows the excellent options we now have available. I am not saying that this is necessarily our strongest team. I can see Kris putting out 3 equally strong but differently shuffled variations on the theme in our first 3 games. The Motherwell game may start to reveal the anticipated strongest XI, but then again it may not depending on the qualification position in the group.

On holiday on the Isle of Skye and so will miss my first competitive Thistle fixture home or away since the opening 2 League Cup ties last year. At least the way the schedule has fallen means that I miss only the one game and I will be back in time to go to Edinburgh City next weekend. My live sports watching today will begin with the Waternish Sheepdog Trials followed at 3pm by the Glamaig Hill Run. 2500 plus feet of ascent up an impossibly steep mountain in the Cuillin and back down again. I hope that playing Montrose will be a little less challenging. Let me put a suggested team out there. No doubt others will disagree! 4-2-3-1: Mitchell Williams Muirhead. O’Reilly Milne Stanway Turner Chalmers Robinson Fitzpatrick Graham Tough on Ashworth, Crawford and Mackay, but I expect them all to come on reasonably early along with Lyon and to make significant contributions and no doubt challenge for starting positions. Enjoy the game everybody!

There will be more than just this one example, but Tommy's goal at Morton was a brilliant piece of individual skill topped off by a sublime finish, and certainly in no way a sitter. I would suspect that it would be beyond the capacity of most grannies.