Winter of '63

My favourite ever game at Firhill...and the opposition player in the net became well known to Thistle fans.

It's difficult to pick a way through the rumours and speculation but on first sight the Board, Baraclough and Brian Graham haven't come through the process looking impressive but maybe there's more of a story to be told. This may be one of my last posts on this Forum and am pleased to record that I am more positive about Mark Wilson's appointment than I expected - he talks well and has come over as calm and with a plan...and he's not Imrie! Other than central defence, there is work to be done on the entire team. Turner, Chalmers, McKay & Megwa looked good signings last season but we didn't see them at their best...next season's recruitment will be crucial - I'd prefer young players making up the squad and given a chance rather than English lower league journeymen. After a season of quite the dullest games, I just hope to see a really good and entertaining Thistle side again.

I distinctly recall swithering about leaving the house after seeing the team for the Hamilton game - Graham, Dowds, Tiffoney & Lawless all out injured leaving Fitzpatrick & Mullen as our only forward options - I didn't think we would score and we didn't. Unlike some, I have long since got over McCall's sacking. My main take from this season is that the so many games were just plain dull & boring. A distinct change in approach may well be what is needed but I would distinctly prefer Graham as manager to Imrie whose main achievement is apparently not getting his team relegated.

I don't have any recollection of Imrie as a player but Alan Archibald apparently felt the need to head-butt him which is not a good sign. I haven't taken to his managerial personality - I can do without endless "Dougie fumes..." headlines. When I have seen Morton at Firhill, they have been a very poor side with a hack & hoof playing style. On the basis of resources, Morton are a mid to low end Championship side - they should avoid relegation but unlikely to make a play-off spot. I don't see anything impressive far less over-achieving in Imrie's time at Greenock. He would be my least favourite of all the names mentioned for manager.

Disappointing but not really surprising. We fought hard to beat Falkirk & Livy to hold on to the play off spot and then to get through against Ayr but we're a just above average Championship side and we've been a tough watch all season, struggling to retain possession and open up defences. Not enough from our creative players and apart from Banzo who at least tries to get on the ball, there has been nothing much from midfield - linking up play has never been Graham's strength. Two guys in the row in front couldn't wait for their half-time pies and blocked my view of the build up for the first goal but having watched the clip, it looks like Megwa lost his bearings again in defence. I feared a drubbing when McBeth who had been excellent didn't make the second half. He and Ashcroft once again defended well but it looked a step too far tonight for quite a few of our players. Despite all this, if Graham had scored at the end, we might be thinking that going through was still possible!

This is why we sit through all the dreary games...I was jumping about the house screaming and with tears in my eyes! Don't know if we will be able to field a team against Livy but I'm willing to sit on the bench if needed.

This was the season in miniature -lacklustre. No identifiable pattern of play, no slick passing or movement, hardly a chance created and now we're running on empty. How many times did the player in possession show frustration at the lack of options in front of them? Megwa, Turner, Lawless & Stanway looked lightweight, Fitzpatrick out of sorts. and Crawford is a nothing player. Felt sorry for O'Reilly at left back - at fault for the goal and very limited going forward. Banzo again our best player and McBeth at least tried to drive forward. This is far from the worst Thistle side I've seen but so many games this season have just been dull. The thumping by Dunfermline ended any illusion that we would compete at the top end of the table and since then it has been difficult to be optimistic about the play-offs. Ayr were pretty ordinary but we don't really merit going any further.

Two great results without playing any football! Brave & resolute defending from the entire team and very Partick Thistle to beat the top two after failing to win against the bottom three. The limit of my expectations this season is that we would make the play-offs...we haven't been very good, we look drained and might struggle to field a team on Tuesday but we're still standing!

This season has been drudgery but today even my low expectations weren't met. Hamilton weren't very good but didn't have to be to win fairly comfortably - they buried two chances assisted by dopey defending. I can't say I have noted any particular improvement or much change since Graham & Wilson took over but more a continuation of the lack of cohesion by a team with some decent players. I'm not sure why the wingers were switched when Fitzpatrick was looking a threat - nothing came off for Chalmers today but at least he didn't hide. One of the features of last season were the invisible man performances of McInroy & Alston in the attacking midfield role - they have been replaced in this key role by Crawford who has no discernible skill set - a player who doesn't show for the ball and doesn't do anything on the few occasions he comes into contact with it - an utterly abject "pass" out for a goql-kick a low spot in a poor day. Lawless showed what can be done in linking up play in that role. We don't really deserve to be in the play-off and can't see us making progress if we hold on to fourth. Feel a bit sorry for Graham but his audition isn't going well - Barraclough has a tough task ahead.

That was a performance on par with most games this season - no pattern of play, few chances and another really dull match, well meriting a 0-0. We weren't very good but still better than Raith who looked like they were playing for a point- timewasting by the keeper, multiple pointless substitutions in the last few minutes...I think their only attempt at goal in the second half went out for a throw-in. This season has the feel of three years ago - players out injured, an abysmal playing surface and failing lamely at the first play-off tie. Banzo by a distance our best player, good to see Fitzpatrick more like himself , Reid looked knackered...not much else to say beyond that I have watched too many boring and instantly forgettable games at Firhill this season.

A comfortable enough win...we weren't great but better than an unimpressive Ayr...we defended well with Luke McBeth looking like a cross between Scott Paterson & Gordon Rae - he's a powerful guy! Two well taken goals and although we didn't really test their keeper otherwise, Budinaukas hardly had to make a save. Playing Chalmers & latterly Fitzpatrick more centrally is an overdue option...that's a positive in Graham's job application. I'm more optimistic about putting up a show in the play-offs though wouldn't fancy us against the Premier side if we get that far. The pitch is awful.

Genuinely saddened to hear of this site's impending closure. I have valued and appreciated the chance to share opinions and hear news and views about Thistle. Beyond disappointing that a factor in ending this forum has been a noxious post from someone who I doubt has the self-awareness or humility to realise that endlessly repeating his self-important opinions is not a worthwhile exercise. Caring for a loved one is the finest thing you will do.

I thought Gary Caldwell was a positive appointment but had serious doubts after his first game. I was fairly neutral about Graham getting the interim gig until the end of the season but my heart sank when I saw our line-up. It looked an unbalanced side and unsurprisingly Turner's talents were wasted wide left. I had noted previously that Crawford was Graham's go to buddy for chats during breaks in play so not surprised to see him start...I think he is the least effective Thistle player I've ever watched. Chalmers with decent support from Megwa was our only threat. The team lost direction and a goal when Bannigan went off. Reid & Martin looked less than bang-average. No pattern of play other than pump it upfield and hope something happens. I was bored and past caring long before the end. I have arranged something for Friday...I'm not disappointed that the Livy game has been switched and I won't feel obliged to go to Firhill.

When he was appointed, I wasn't sure that Doolan had the "big" personality to be a good manager. An on-form and fully fit squad Thistle were clearly the best side in the Division that season, but the performances in the play-off games were as exciting as I've seen...up until the Sliding Doors moment with Ross Docherty's catastrophic pass straight out of play from the restart at Dingwall. Last Season was good enough but not great. This season's recruitment has been disappointing (Crawford - why?) and the performances have been frankly dull...the thrashing by Dunfermline ended any illusion about the team's capabilities. Robinson's comments on moving to Hamilton were a clear sign that the Board had lost confidence in Doolan's recruitment abilities. I think everyone realised Dolan's time was up. The almost total absence of abuse directed at the manager shows the respect Thistle fans have for the man. The names mentioned as candidates are pretty uninspiring with several in the "please no" category. We really need a good appointment to take the club forward...and I would like an explanation of the reason why throughout the decades Thistle are perennially "cash-strapped" in comparison to apparently similar and smaller clubs.

So apart from our highest League finish in over 30 years and signing Cerny, Paul Gallagher, Dumbuya, Booth, Frans, Barton (first season!), Osman, Erskine , Taylor and Higgy what did Archibald ever do for us? Maybe he should have noted from his drink driving conviction that Ryan Stevenson would be a useless waster. Not sure that Archie would be a candidate but given that our budget has been poorly spent this year, a change in the player signing & development strategy would be welcome - apart from Roberts & Milne, none of the payers who have left will be missed...and Crawford is still here. Looks like this season has been written off and not looking great for next year.