partickthedog

By way of light relief, we ended the game with 3 forward players known as Fitz, Spitz and Quitz. Having said that, you could read some dark undertones into the third of these names.

I thought Dools came across really well. Was in there alongside some experienced media geezers like Tom English, Steven Thompson and Willie Millar, but was very relaxed and humorous in that company. Made it all sound funny and surreal, but not totally ridiculous. The BBC also played some memorable commentary clips of Dools scoring, the only downside being Chic Young pretending familiarity by calling him "Krissie". As Dools said, no one, not even his mother, has ever called him that.

I can remember a terrible run turning many years ago with a win at Palmerston. Isaac English and a very young Derek Lyle were the scorers.

AJ, AJ, swing on the bar!

The lads should have plenty in the tank. Palmerston will be our El Alamein. Not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.

Why compromise with "great" when you can use "outstanding"? Having said that, I am somewhat more optimistic. I think we should shut up shop and hold out for the draw/replay. If Caldwell has studied our history, he will know that we have had a pretty decent record in our last 4 games at Stair Park.

It's bad enough folk complaining about the hammerings we have been taking without them also complaining about the hammerings we haven't been taking! I am even more relieved that we did not quite manage to qualify for the Champions League. Just imagine the absolute horsings that would have been administered to us by the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG.

Yes it was a Peach Melbourne

Would be quite appropriate if we could replace a player called Melbourne with a player called Sydney.

Early in his Thistle career Miles Storey scored a tremendous solo goal against St Johnstone (who generally have a reputation for being mean and effective defenders). He outpaced the wide defenders and ran into the penalty box, at the angle, homing in on the goal and produced a perfectly directed finish, keeping his shot low and hard. He has never come remotely near doing the same again in the past year. Admittedly he can beat one or two defenders, sometimes using some neat tricks to accomplish this, but then either he goes wide and is crowded out or is forced to pass the ball back or attempts an ineffectual cross, hitting the first defender or curling out of play, or he crabs across the pitch, resulting in a shot from distance, almost invariably high and wide or at best a pass to a holding midfielder or opposite wing player generally in a static position. He hardly ever attacks the box. Even if he cannot shoot and score, he might at least win a penalty. Could some sort of hypnosis using film of that goal v St Johnstone be employed to re-educate his deep memory system and somehow embed the ability to reproduce this on a regular basis? JagZone highlights could be put to good use!

Radio comment of the day from Derek Ferguson. When asked what he thought about Gary Caldwell describing the team as outstanding, he said that he almost choked on his Toffee Crisp!

Erskine and Fitzpatrick on surely. Storey has been embarrassing. Total lack of threat from the sides and we have rarely tried to go through the middle and just shoot.

Only bright spot of a poor half has been Sneddon’s composed performance. Very good with his feet. As regards general play, all that can be said is that Falkirk have been worse than us. Shot shyness turned into an art form.

We could play Falkirk every week in the canal side league. Barging is allowed.

Chris Erskine and Kris Doolan have both scored a good number of goals at Falkirk's ground. Indeed they have both scored a good number of goals against Falkirk at Firhill too. They both just love scoring against Falkirk. Time for Squiddy to reprise the Championship clincher of 6 seasons ago.

In terms of "in play" penalties (ie not in shoot outs), I think our record over the past few seasons had been pretty good until we missed our last 3 in a row. Sammon/Storey/Spittal. The answer may be not to nominate a penalty taker whose surname starts with S. No doubt Slater or Storer will take the next one. Before that Sammon had I think scored all his, as had Welsh. Even Stevie Lawless scored one against St Johnstone on NisbetNight. Aaron Muirhead missed only in the Challenge Cup Final, and had a good few to his name. The only other miss I recall over the last few seasons was one by Doolan against Inverness which did not matter as it was late on and we were already well ahead.

McLean & Lindau Tosh & Dunn??

Spittal more effective than usual. McGinty has improved hugely on last week. However defence has had to rely on an alert Slater to bail them out at least twice. Game could still go in any direction. Identity and timing of subs may be crucial.

Agreed. Disappointed by omission of Sneddon, McCarthy and Fitzpatrick.

I am hoping that it will be caught on the JagZone highlights and we might even get a slowed down action replay.

So many forward players out or doubtful. Surely Fitzpatrick has to start.

Not to mention the sad demise of Spangles.

We have become so accustomed to weeks of dismal defeat and the dreary trudge homeward that our victory on Saturday will be a huge shock to the system. I am not sure if we forumites (or even big forumites) will be able to adjust our mentality to this altered state of reality. I expect an outbreak of unusual and bizarre behaviour: Lady Isobel Barnett will go into a shop and actually buy something Auld Jag will leap out of his front row seat, send a steward flying, invade the pitch and swing on the bar Javeajag will smile BowenBoys will take money out of the club's coffers Garscube Road End will head home down Maryhill Road Sabbath will start a collection for a statue to honour Alan Archibald Norge will sing the Swedish national anthem Eljaggo will predict a score correctly Barney Rubble will dance the tango with Fred Flintstone partickthe dog will make a sensible post without any aggravating word plays No one will blame anybody for anything

Right backs are available!

Slater slated.