Tom Stronach

Another pre-season has passed with very little transfer activity from Thistle and the few signings we have made have been largely uninspiring and none are proven at our level. Yet again, teams that we are undoubtably bigger than such as Morton, Ross County, Livingston and Hamilton are in a much more prosperous position going into the season as they have significantly larger and arguably better squads than us. Why is this? Do they simply have wealthier owners than us, or are the owners of the aforementioned clubs just more willing to part with their cash? Back in the dreaded Dick Campbell era, every season he would pray for one of the Old Firm in the cup as the gate money would allow for significant investment in the playing squad. Needless to say, we have had 3 cup ties against Rangers in recent seasons, two of which we recieved television money for and the other, we recieved half off the gate for a well attended tie at Ibrox, not to mention the fees we recieved for Gary Harkins and Mark Twaddle. These events seem to have made no difference whatsoever to our financial clout as a club, indeed we seem to be much poorer financially than we were three or four seasons ago. I appreciate our crowds have been dreadful recently, but they weren't that much better three or four seasons ago and most SFL clubs with the exception of Dundee, have seen a dramatic reduction in the amount of people attending their games. Where did all the money from the cup games and transfers go? Was/is our debt really that bad? You can't expect people to fork out for season tickets year after year if those in charge are not willing to show any ambition. We are going nowhere as a club and it's becoming increasingly demoralising hearing things like "We arn't in a position to sign established first division players" from the manager and being constantly told we arn't in a position to compete with small teams like Hamilton and Ross County. It's easy to blame falling attendances for the lack of investment, but I believe we have wealthy individuals on our board and if we don't increase our budget soon we are going to be left behind and the floating fans will be lost forever. I apologise for the negative thread but this has been bugging me for some time.

That's another argument. In fact I think I'll start a thread about our lack of money.

I have a horrible feeling about this season. I reckon Dundee, Hamilton, Livingston, Morton, Ross County and possibly Raith Rovers will all finish above us. I think there won't be much between us Falkirk and Q.O.S. Ayr to go down automatically. Dundee Livingston Hamilton Morton Ross County Raith Rovers Thistle Falkirk Q.O.S. Ayr

We have no money. We have no money. We have no money. We have no money. !!!!!!

I wonder if there's a charity out there that would be willing to donate a sense of humour to you?

This is a lot harder than I would have thought! I'll go with: 1 - Nicky Walker - A class act. Exactly the kind of keeper a defender wants behind them. 2 - Stephen Craigan - He was an absolute rock for us in our league winning seasons and in the season we stayed in the SPL. One of the few players over the years who actually looked like he really loved playing for us. 3 - Archie. More so when he played on the left. Scored a few screamers after charging up the left wing, most notably against Hearts at Firhill. Also a natural leader. 4 - Scott Paterson. I've never seen a defender so comfortable with the ball at his feet. Ridiculously skillful. I can only remember him ever scoring two goals for us. Both were screamers, both were in the cup against ICT and both were important. But the thing I'll most remember him for was in his second spell with us. We were playing St Johnstone at Firhill in our last relegation season. A high ball was punted up the wing, towards the city end, Peter McDonald gave chase, Shaggy shaped up as if he was going to volley the ball out of the park, but he let the ball fall almost to the ground, before he skinned McDonald with one slick movement. McDonald ended up on his arse but sadly, the sudden movement aggravated the injury which had plagued his career and he was promptly stretchered off. He never played for us again. 5 - Martin Hardie - I used to love watching him charging past players, chipping in with plenty of goals and getting it right up the opposition players and fans. Scored so many important goals in the first division championship winning season. His double at Inverness and his header against St Mirren at Firhill spring to mind. 6 - Albert Craig - Scored a ridiculous ammount of goals for a midfielder and loved a goal against Killie which is no bad thing. His skill level was on another planet in comparison to the midfielders we have in our squad today. 7 - Danny Lennon - Everything a captain should be. He always led by example and had a cracking right foot on him. It's great to see him getting so much praise for the way his team have been playing so far this season. 8 - Chic Charnley - The most naturally gifted player I've ever seen in a Thistle strip (apart from me at 5's). The only reason he was never capped was purely down to snobbery and who he played for. If you compared him to some of the dross that have turned out for Scotland in recent years it would make you sick. 9 - Mark Roberts - I shudder to think where we would be without his goals. He carried one of the worst Thistle teams I have ever seen with his goals. Utterly prolific. 10 - Alex Burns - What an amazing buy he was. Scored some vital goals to help us win promotion and had an unbelievable season for us in the SPL. The partnership he formed with Gerry Britton was magnificant. 11 - Gerry Britton - Maybe my favourite player ever. He scored so many goals for us over the years including my favourite ever Thistle goal at Dens. He always worked tirelessly and his unorthadox style made him an interesting player to watch. Excellent partner for the likes of Grady, Burns and Shaw with his workrate. He also had a phenominal scoring record against the Old Firm. This still wouldn't stop the grumpy old farts in the shed/Jackie Husband Stand giving him dogs abuse at times though.

Absolute belter of a strip! So much better than any of the other Puma tops that we have in our division.

I've noticed that whenever mad Vlad presses the self-destruct button, that horrible little cretin George Foulkes is always on hand for a quote, forever bumping his gums about how Romanov is killing the club and how bad he is for Scottish football. He was quite happy to kiss his arse during Burley's reign until he was booted out on his erse. I'll always remember his cringeworthy "Irreconcilible differences" speech when they bagged Burley. Embarrassing arse of a man.

I wouldn't have minded a midweek jaunt to Leith, but shit happens. Although, those who are saying that we are missing out on significant gate money are well wide of the mark. Have you not seen how dire Hibs' home attendances have been in recent seasons? Anyway, we've had television money from the two home cup games against Rangers, half of the gate money from a 30 odd thousand crowd at Ibrox, 150k from the Harkins deal and the money from Falkirk for Twaddle in recent seasons, yet we're still in an embarassingly bad financial state, so it would matter not.

I think it was broken ribs and a punctured lung!

If we didn't give Gerry Collins the manager's gig after Lambie left, Craigan, Burns, Hardie and Paterson would have stayed with us and we would be the established 3rd force in Scotland by now

I think it's an excellent result for Scottish football. If either of the Old Firm do well in the "Champions" League, it simply means the gulf between them and the rest will increase. It would also mean that they would be even more likely to spunk all their money on expensive, average foreign players. Also, the more our clubs are embarrassed in Europe, the more pressure there is for radical change in our game which can only be a good thing. But to be honest, apart from a Thistle win, nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing the scum from Govan failing in Europe. McCoist had better make peace with the BBC as soon as possible as I have a feeling he might be needing his old job on a Question Of Sport back.

Nobody expects anyone to travel and watch pre-season friendlies. It was your choice and more fool you. Right, so McNamamra's body language (in a meaningless pre-season kickabout) is a cause for concern according to you. Maybe we should have went for a manager who shows a bit more emotion on the touchline. You know, someone who throws his bunnet onto the turf every so often. Major reality check required.

Fans should be banned from attending pre-season friendlies and the results should be closely guarded secrets. There will be people on this thread who have been watching football for 20, 30, 40 years or whatever, yet some people can not help but get carried away with themselves. After the Celtic game, we had people raving about how good we looked and there was a renewed wave of optimism about the coming season. Depressingly, we now have posters slating the team for last nights defeat to Dumbarton. The team was made up almost entirely from youngsters. Judge the young players after they have had a decent run in forst team, playing alongside and against more experienced professionals.

Yet another positive thread ruined by a few sanctimonious tossers. Some of the threads on here do nothing to dispel the view that Thistle supporters are a bunch of politically correct, west end luvvies. It's nauseating. Only on a Thistle forum could a discussion about positive advertising for the club, turn into a debate about animal cruelty.

On my last visit to Firhill, I thought I would treat myself to a steak and gravy pie. Imagine my horror, when my friend informed me that the strips of meat I was enjoying, were in fact, the remains of a cow. Needless to say, I have no intention of returning.

Great day out despite the best efforts of the world's most over-zealous barman in O'Neil's. The Blyth fans couldn't have been more welcoming to us. I certainly wouldn't mind playing them every year. Anyone who actually cares cares about the result or performance needs their head looked at. Pre-season games mean NOTHING.

I've heard that a few times and I tend to believe it. Appointing Collins was the biggest mistake our board made in my time as fan in my opinion. We have never really recovered from that season. Back on topic, I'll try and make it along to this game. Craigan was one my favourite Thistle players ever. Two of my best memories of him playing for us were: - When he scored in the last minute of the game we recieved the 2nd Division trophy and he ran off like a lunatic towards the stand where all his family were. - Making a fool of an SPL referee who penalised him for jumping for a ball with his arms outstretched. Craigan lept up and down with his arms by his side a few times directly in front of him. He couldn't hide his delight live on radio when we scored a last minute penalty against Livingston to keep our title challenge with St Johnstone going which showed how much the club means to him. I hope he makes a few quid.

Well said.

What a stupid and pointless post. If you don't believe the guy, fine, but the guy probably met Erskine in a supermarket or something. Should he have recorded the conversation for the benefit of fans on here?

Stevie Murray probably bullied him. Some size of a boy, so it's understandable.

I can't see there being any truth in this whatsoever. I could understand us allowing him to train with an English club for a week (as we did with McBeth), but Motherwell? Don't make me laugh. Motherwell are not in the position to pay transfers either now that, that hideous little scrotum Boyle has left. If we were to sell one of our most exciting players to a small SPL side at the first opportunity, then it really would be time to chuck it.

Off the top of my head I can remember the following season openers: 2000/2001 - Arbroath 1-1 Thistle (I think Scott McLean got our goal) 2001/2002 - Thistle 3-3 St Mirren (Alex Burns scored for St Mirren) 2002/2003 - Thistle 0-0 Dundee Utd 2003/2004 - Thistle 1-1 Livingston (Kenny Milne scored a screamer) 2004/2005 - Clyde 2-1 Thistle (Juan Ramon Escales for us, Harty double for them) 2005/2006 - Thistle ?-? Stirling (I'm sure it was a draw) 2006/2007 - Dundee 0-1 Thistle (Mark Roberts) 2007/2008 - Striling 1-1 Thistle (Liam Buchanan) 2008/2009 - Thistle 1-0 Dunfermline (Mckeown near the end) 2009/2010 - Ayr 1-1 Thistle (Roberts for Ayr and Donnelly for us) The games that stick out for me are the St Mirren and Clyde games. The game against St Mirren was a cracker. It was a scorching day and there was a really decent crowd from both teams. We were just promoted as champions and St Mirren had just been relegated. End to end stuff and I'm sure Jose Quitongo and Alex Burns scored for them and Scott McLean scored at least one of ours. The Clyde game was our first game back in the 1st Division after 2 seasons in the SPL. We had a good pre-season and had made quite a few signings including Juan Ramon Escales. We took around 2500-3000 fans through to Broadwood on another scorching day, expecting us to hammer Clyde. We did, as predicted, hammer them. Although Clyde converted what seemed like their only 2 chances that day and we got beat 2-1. That day really was a sign of things to come. What are your memories of our opening day games? Either from the above list or from the 60's, 70's, 80' etc.

Could admin please ban the members who insist on spamming threads with these dreadful puns? I, like most people, use this forum to keep up to speed with what's going on at our club. It's bad enough having little or no coverage in the newspapers without our own fans spoiling interesting discussions with their pathetic attempts at humour.

It's no real surprise to see the forum sweetie wives falling over each other to condemn the actions of a man who hasn't even been found guilty. Why was there no fuss made of Liam Buchannan - a man who was swanning around in top of the range cars as a direct result of his father's drug dealing activities. There was certainly no shortage of bad publicity for the club there. What about cheeky "Celtic daft" Chic Chanley? No one seemed bothered about his off field behaviour when he was with us. Should we just release any player with a criminal conviction? I'd like to hear the moral crusaders thoughts on that. The snobbery on here at times is embarassing.