jim slavin's lunchbox

it's the thing that I love most about this forum: all opinions are respected and posters always take the time to understand the original post before offering intelligent responses. Where is the cup when you need him.

I assume that Mr Lawless and his family are not destitute at present

Yes BBC website with a quote from mixu p saying "we see how it goes"

Given the fact the DUFC have approached Lawless, is it too much to ask for a bit of loyalty back for the support shown last year from the club? Or am I going to have to listen to the poor footballer/ only got a short career/ needs to go where the money is story we all love so much?

Great point.. Lindau, you really need to go and spend a few more days in New York. This forum always benefits when you do.

I think BGM makes a some very good points on this thread and for the record I'm also not sure that any of your expectations are too high (I don't think you are going to get an answer from PT). Sadly, when you want to post some constructive criticism on this forum you are tarnished as a troll/ knicker wetter/ some other childish remark. Frankly there are some who are obsessed with it. So thank you for raising legitimate concerns about our team that I'm sure the honest among us would have been thinking for some time now. It is my opinion (and has been since before the season started) that if we continue for the rest of the season with this team in place ( inc management) that we will be playing championship football next season. AA has been doing a really good job with ltd resource and I'm not so sure that anyone else would make a difference but at some point it may be worth considering.......I hear there is a promising young manager currently in Dundee who may become available soon.

In answer to the question: Yes.

I agree with most on here about the three in midfield. The issue I have is having essentially four midfielders in Welsh, Osman, Bannigan and Fraser who do mostly the same job. Given the fact that our formation should only allow for us to play two at the same time, and we are short in other areas of the pitch, do we really need all of them? Would it be better to release Welsh (given that he will probably miss a significant part of the season through injury) and look to strengthen in another area of the team that needs it ie out wide. This would then see Stevenson take his best position (where he did most damage last season) in a forward thinking midfield position. I understand the sentiment surrounding Welsh and agree that he is a good player but should a club with our budget be taking a risk on a guy that's played a handful of games in 2 years? Or would it be better for us to try and address the lack of attacking threat we currently possess?

Oi! just big boned!

Couldn't agree more. It's interesting that those who are taking the opportunity to criticise David Beattie (for having the audacity to consider different ways to move the club forward) are the same who during this season have been calling out others on this forum for their negative views on our manager. Just so I get it right...... Archie is not allowed to be criticised on this forum but David Beattie is fair game. Ok got it.

What a shout

@ Agree completely with this. I also was a critic last season and this and while he is far from perfect, find him the right partner ie Mair last season and Frans this season and he does a good job. 3 goals conceded in the last 7 games (2 of those at parkhead) suggests the defence as a unit are doing a really good job. That's not just top six form, it's premiership winning form......... Sorry you lost me for a minute there, thought I was Ian Baraclough. Back in the room. In the real world of thistle though it will be interesting to see how many of our full backs we hold onto for next season. On current form I would like to keep both but fear o'donnell has already decided to go.

Haha. Couldn't agree more. He needs one of those tests, you know the one that McMillan got after the Celtic game

Is anyone else of the opinion that this guy is the new Derek Adams?

Nah. 7th.

I think it's fair to say that we won't be able to rely on St mirren to take points from teams around them (except maybe us). They have accepted their fate and are gone. Unfortunately this puts us in a position where we will have to rely on ourselves. I say unfortunately because our record against the rest of the teams in the bottom six is crap both home and away. I also say it because the two teams below us are on fire and have timed their winning streaks very well indeed. I agree with most on this forum who say that it's very possible that we can stay up but whilst a few weeks ago the odds were very much in our favour, I think now they are heading the other way. Win on Saturday and we take a huge step toward safety but at the risk of sounding like a "knickerwetter" our record in games where we have a chance to open a gap is not that great over the last two seasons. On a much brighter note it cheers me no end to see kille struggling and with games against Aberdeen & Celtic to come, let's hope they are the ones to do a hibs!

Interesting to note that after 27 games of last season, Hibs were sitting on 32 points, 8 clear of St mirren in 11th place. They were on a run where there players looked short on confidence and there manager didn't look like he knew how to change it. Sound familiar? They only managed another 3 points all season. When I look at our remaining games before the split I struggle to see where 3 points are coming from. Worrying times indeed. Could this be why the fans are restless and venting their frustrations?

If the manager drops all the players as suggested on here, who exactly is going to wear the jerseys?

After reading Stuart bannigan described as "a great player for us" on another thread today, it got me thinking to some of the players who fall into this category. as much as I like SB, he hasn't made it into my thoughts. The first guy that jumped into my mind was Chic Charnley, for obvious reasons. Then I went through a whole host of maybes until I got to my favourite, Davie Elliott. When he got the ball, (usually after a pass from Chico) the buzz around the JH stand was fantastic. He, for all to brief a period, was a thistle great (imo of course). Any others?

From memory (which admittedly is not that great) the last decent youngster to come through at firhill is currently our manager, and he only got a game because we were skint! Funnily enough as soon as DUFC became interested we lost him. Sound familiar?! With that in mind as thistle fans we look on with envy at the likes of Hamilton and United bringing through talented players and selling them on for big fees. So it's understandable that we look at mcdaid and are desperate for him to turn into a really good player. I really hope that he does and only time will tell. One thing is for sure, if he does become the player we hope he will, we won't see him sign another contract with us.

Fair play, your opinion is as important as everyone else's. Also agree with you about Higgy but hoping that his 'close'relationship with Taylor may kick start some performances.

I have to ask..... Do you want us to win? Craigan, Elliott & mcdaid in the middle of the park will probably mean we won't. Also Doolan instead of taylor. I'm a fan of dools but it's universally excepted that Taylor is a better player. IMO Fraser, higginbotham (despite his poor form), lawless, Stevenson & Taylor have to play as to put it simply, they are our best players. Elliott has been decent this season and really puts in a shift but we need some quality on Saturday as county have the bit between their teeth. Craigan seems a good guy who also puts a shift in but he is just not top league standard. Let's cut out the guessing who our best team is and put some faith in the players we know are our best. Maybe then we can get that consistency we all crave.

I've supported thistle since 2014 and I have to say this is the best team I have seen yet!

I'm not going to shoot you down in flames

Difference this time is there is no Rangers, hearts, or hibs in the league and therefore our expectations should be higher. Difference then was that lambie had the team fighting for their lives, don't see that at the moment. Despite your vast experience as a supporter of thistle, if you think that this season is the "least worried you are about retaining our status" then you are clearly deluded.