oneteaminglasgow

Auld Jag, you sound exactly like a Celtic fan chatting about how the establishment has stopped them winning the 60 titles they deserve or whatever nonsense it is the most paranoid of them spout. Or for that matter a Rangers fan getting in a state cause Willie Collum is an R.E. teacher and therefore "wan ae thum" Give the conspiracy stuff a rest.

Aye, but we're about 2 years down the line of having a meaningful youth system. Give it time and I'm sure we'll see a decent monetary return on certain players. In any case, I'm not sure we've had a great deal of 'saleable assets' in recent years, hopefully that'll change with the youth system.

And as I've said, there's a good argument that their service on the pitch and helping to establish the club where they are is recompense enough. It takes time and a lot of careful planning to get to the position that Hamilton are in, and frankly we can't hope to be there in the couple of years that we've had a proper youth system in place. Our best chance of getting there is to continue to give young players a chance in the team, hoping that the best can make a big move, and over time young prospects will begin to see that Thistle is a place where you'll get a chance to shine and we'll begin to reap the benefits. I personally feel that Hendrie was able to command such a price because he was younger than any of the other players mentioned, more highly rated than any of the other players mentioned (whether correctly or not) and coming from a youth academy with a proven track record of producing English Premiership quality players. The Weir's generosity will help us in the initial stage of developing the youth academy, but you're right that it can't last forever. What it does do, however, is give us a chance to develop our youth system without having to cut back on other areas of the club. Once its up and running, I'm confident we'll be able to have a self sufficient youth system. At present, the philosophy is, and should be, producing players for the Partick Thistle first team. Anything over and above that is a bonus.

I'd argue that the fact that Bannigan has consistently been one of the most important players for Thistle over the last 5 years during which time we've gone from being a pretty crap 2nd tier side to winning that division, getting promoted and looking like we belong here and could be a mainstay in the top flight is recompense enough for his development. As ian_mac says, I'd be wary of following the Celtic model too closely. Their team on the park has struggled and I doubt the money made from selling these players would cover the losses from not making the champions league group stage, which they would have found easier if they hadn't sold. Oh and Crawford & O'Halloran are both excellent players, but also both attacking players. Attacking players, for whatever reason, are always able to command a bigger fee than more defensive players of similar ability. And they both have longer on their contracts (I think).

Either of the utterly spineless home losses to St Mirren last season were up there, absolutely shambolic displays both of them. Or the 5-1 v Motherwell first season back was hard to take. I think the cup game v Caley last season takes it though, absolutely dreadful. The 1-0 v Morton was incredible, best atmosphere I've ever experienced at Firhill. 2-0 v Motherwell last season was great too, and the 5-4 v Queens Park was one of the most enjoyable games of football I've watched.

He's complete dross, and also under contract for another 2 seasons since Rangers hilariously gave him a 5 year contract. I can't see us paying money for him, and the fact that McCoist is the only Rangers manager who's ever given him a run in the team is surely indicative that he's shite. I think/hope we can chalk this one up to lazy journalism.

The 200k thing seems to be coming from that Agent Scotland Twitter, which means it's almost certainly pish. A rumour that we're looking at Fraser Aird has come up as well. I wouldn't take him.

Lose, just to be different.

They'd be absolutely mental if they didn't want him. He's going to leave anyway so I wouldn't particularly mind if it's to them, so long as he does the honourable thing and follows Erskine and Patons example of being absolutely shite every time he plays us.

I take your point re the squad being a bit thin, but it's hardly like we've lost anyone of huge significance. We've got plenty of players to come back from injury as well, which will make our bench a hell of a lot more formidable with Fraser, Dumbuya, Elliott and Pogba out injured against St Mirren. If our bench had had them rather than youngsters then this wouldn't even be a talking point. Stevenson will likely be back, and Edwards will be back at the end of the month as well, but the fact is we've lost no one who is actually a first team regular. The rest of your post refers to things which we should be doing, and while I don't know the back room goings on, I'd imagine that we are actively looking at new players and renewing contracts. But the problem is that the power lies mainly with the players themselves, and if someone wants to leave or doesn't want to come in the first place, then there's not much we can do about it. As a point above was made, Dundee have lost McPake for the rest of the season who is one of their most important players, and United's new signings haven't exactly looked great and I've not really noticed anyone else around is bringing in much, so there's really nothing to worry about at this stage.

Please explain exactly how.

Yes, our bench was a bit lightweight on Friday night, but we've got Fraser, Dumbuya, Elliott, Pogba all to return from injury, Stevenson will most likely be coming back at the end of his loan and Edwards will be back at the end of the month. That alone would fill up the bench alongside any signings we may make. With that in mind, I think it's important we put Declan's development as a player first, and he needs some first team action which he's not currently at a level to get with us. If he comes back from this loan spell a better player and more ready to make an impact on the first team then it's well worth the risk that it leaves our bench a bit lightweight for a game or two.

It'll cost them pennies to get it I'd assume, and they'll probably get an alright enough viewership, better than showing "premier league years 2005-06" or whatever they had planned. Plus since we're not playing a fourth round replay it has no effect upon coverage we get. I'll probably watch it tbh.

I would imagine that we'll have players lined up. Add to that the fact that Elliott should be back soon, and Stevenson looks set to return and it's not as bad as it seems. McDaid was hardly likely to feature much anyway, and this is a good chance for him to get some first team experience and improve as a player to hopefully challenge properly for our first team.

Showing Rangers/Celtic v Anyone will bring in more viewers through their masses of arm chair fans than any other game would. Sky will always look for those games since they don't have any interest in promoting our national game, merely making a bit of money off it.

I don't have any problem with Stevenson coming back. If he can get to a decent-ish level of fitness then he should be able to provide something a bit different to our other options, and make an impact from the bench. With our squad so lacking in depth it'd be madness to let him go permanently, unless we can bring in numerous reinforcements.

Amoo played quite well, but I still don't think I've ever seen him kick it with his left foot. If he tried that sometimes he could be excellent.

OK, never mind me, it appears they are doing it via that site but just haven't thought to mention it on their official site...

This'll be my first game since we beat United 3-0 and I'm pretty ******* buzzing. Hopefully it'll be the start of a cup run worth remembering, I've never been to Hampden with Thistle except that 5-4 Challenge Cup game v Queens Park in 2011. Edited to add: Had a look earlier as I wasn't sure if i could make it or not, but it doesn't appear that St Mirren doing video coverage of this from the website. I know someone on here had mentioned it but it says the next game they do is them v Raith. Just a heads up for anyone planning to watch that way.

I'm in. I like the rule change.

Something to do with the city of culture bid I believe.

Feel free to merge with any other topics this is being discussed in but I haven't seen any so far. Looking forward to this, will be my first since the 3-0 v United. I'm going to be in the JHS for the first time since about 2012, so just wondering what the script with tickets is? Do you still get them in the wee portakabin or do you actually pay at the gate? Cheers to anyone who answers. On the game itself, hopefully Fraser is fit enough to come in for Welsh, and the rest of the team picks itself just about bar Amoo/Muirhead. I've no idea on that one but Amoo seems, from what I've seen, to be doing better coming off the bench so that might be a plan.

Lose. This way I'll at least have the consolation of staying in this if we lose..

He works hard, scored quite a few goals and got some good assists last season and is clearly technically a very good player. That said, we haven't really missed him this year and I won't be surprised to see him go. I'll be shocked if he goes to Killie given he's an Ayr United fan and famously hates the Killie, but I won't be surprised to see him away somewhere.

I'll give it a go