MarciaBlaine

In brighter news, congratulations to Stuart Bannigan who tonight received his 100th yellow card for the club. Proud to say I was there to witness history in the making.

Seems that the general chat is Turner is out and O'Reilly will return. So with other inuries, the team somewhat picks itself at the moment: Mitchell Megwa, McBeth, Ashcroft, O'Reilly, Low Bannigan, Stanway, Crawford Chalmers (if fit) or Fitzpatrick Graham

Sorry for self-quoting, but this aged pretty well! (it doesn't happen often)

A quick search suggests he plays left back or left midfield. Got to presume the former with a back 4 tonight.

We HAVE to play our best three centre backs as centre backs tonight. We're light-years better when we do. That means finding a left wing back from somewhere, anywhere.

Dan O'Reilly scored for us and against us in the same game when he played for Raith. He'll be at a positive balance now (though not by loads)

The goal came about from a dreadful miscommunication between Ashcroft and O'Reilly, both challenging for the same ball which left O'Reilly miles out of position and then his man had ample time to pick his cross. Injuries have stacked up which is probably going to cost us the tie, but let's be honest, neither of those teams tonight is going up, nor should they. Poor fare, rubbish result, dreadful officiating.

Ref for tonight is David Dickinson. (not that one) Friday is Nick Walsh.

He'll be with a top flight side anyway. Only chance we'd have of getting him on loan next season, in my view, is if we're promoted.

Is Bannigan suspended for the first leg, or was it just 1 game? Wondering if his weighty yellow card count has upped the suspension...

What the hell happened with Drysdale? Was it ever confirmed he was injured?

Looks like 3 at the back, Megwa and Kelly as wing backs, a midfield 3 of Crawford, Stanway and Turner (shudder), plus Fitzy playing the Chalmers-type role rupporting BBG up front. That midfield lacks dig, I fear. But the three centre backs are our strength and ideally placed to deal with Livi's attack.

I totally agree. But that's why I think hitting them all in the pocket by a targeted supporter boycott is the only thing that could realistically drive change.

I've recently wondered if some kind of supporter-led action could or should be used to spur movement on reconstruction. I think there's a reasonably clear consesnsus on the need for a bigger top league where teams only play each other twice - not universal agreement, mind. If fans were to formulate a clear proposal along those lines, and then engage in a nationwide boycott (Scottish Cup weekends are what comes to mind), that might force the blazers to the table. Though in many ways the second part's the easy bit. Getting a proposal together that a wide range of fans can get behind, and building a movement around it, is the tricky part.

Would much rather McBeth moving into midfield with a flat back 4.

Is that 5 at the back, with Banzo and Crawford in midfield, then a front 3? Bit worried if we're continuing with O'Reilly at left wing back.

If nothing else, when this forum closes you'll save a lot of money on salt.

This just highlights something I've felt for years now - an abundance of midfielders, coupled somehow with an underperforming midfield.

It's not a major thing, but it seems obvious to me that a news article trumpeting pretty significant prizes should also contain a clickable link on how to take part. The two most recent posts (about £5k and £5.5k respectively) don't do this, at the precise moment when punters will be reading and wondering how they can get a slice of the action.

As a defensive central midfielder, could McCabe the player be the answer here?

We could have got him a wee cushion if that was the issue

You maybe meant this already, but Roberts is on loan at Bristol Rovers. However, as you say he hasn't even been on the bench since 1st March. Can't see any mention of an injury. They just lost 5-0 though, so a goalkeeper change may be afoot...

Somewhat, aye. But also, a manager is just one person. There's a whole gaggle of folk behind the scenes and if the manager doesn't work well with them for whatever reason it can all go very wrong. So it's maybe about personalities and inter-relationships amongst a wider staff/board cohort, alongside the skills (or lack of) in those other people the gaffer needs to work with. Plus a ton of luck. I'm sure talent comes into it but like you say, it can't be as simple as all that.

Is 7 Simon Donnelly?

One thing that hasn't changed under Graham/Wilson is our inability to put teams to bed after a strong first half. It's been a hallmark of Thistle teams for years and years, at least back to Archie's post-promotion tenure. That in turn gives the opposition something to shoot for in the second half, putting us on the back foot and feeding into some of the assessments of the squad's fitness, in my opinion. The combination of a lack of ideas, a clear territiorial disadvantage and an eager opposing side who have a tangible opportunity to get something out of the game, is contributing to the impression of tiredness. If a new SD or manager can get us more than a vulnerable 1-0 lead after a great first 45, that'll be real progress.