Winter of '63

I've seen that movie before...and it still gives me nightmares. We played some very good stuff, particularly in the first half with Lawless & McMillan combining brilliantly, In fairness, Raith missed three very good chances in the first 45 minutes and were a decent enough side. All four players who were substituted looked as if they had run their race as did McInroy and our failure to get a grip of the game and conceding late goals gave me Dingwall flashbacks. Williams looked a bit raw but ok in the centre and like an out of position centre back when he moved to right back. I was very disappointed in Alston who I expected to retain possession - I would rather have seen Lyon or Stanway given a chance. Last season we played some excellent football and were also very ordinary...sometimes in the same match. It's frustrating to start this season in the same way

From my viewpoint, it looked like Muirhead made an acrobatic overhead clearance from Sneddon's flap only for the ball to hit McIvor in the face and end up in the net. The initial shot was well-struck and may have been deflected but the keeper should have done better.

Falkirk looked as good as most of the Championship sides we played last season though that's not a high bar....we looked poorer than last season and unsurprisingly missed Turner & Tiffoney. I thought Sneddon should have done better with both goals and Milne had a simply awful game...they didn't help Williams who I thought otherwise did ok. Mackenzie struggled a bit with positioning at right back but lacked cover from midfield; Stanway made little impact but I am happy to see them get game time. Lyon looked lively and scored a good goal I have an inbuilt prejudice against Old Form loanees and he has just arrived at Firhill but I'm not sure I'm going to like Williamson. Our recruitment will have to be good otherwise it will be a worrying season.

I knew before the game that today's result would be the biggest ever emotional gulf between victory and defeat. It was in our grasp - promotion on the back of thrilling football and fan enthusiasm with a nucleus of a good squad to a Premiership which seems to have a few unexceptional sides. I was feeling comfortable at half-time - and it looked a clear foul on Docherty from my viewpoint behind the goal. We hadn't played that well but were still a better football team than County's hoofball. In the second half I had no idea why the play was stopped for the VAR check...but I had a horrible feeling the asteroid was heading our way. To pass the ball out of play from the restart leading to their second goal was criminal. We looked a bit drained but still managed to miss some great chances...Graham, Tiff, Mullen & Banzo in particular. County even obliged by missing two of their penalties...with the missed chances in the first leg and add in that we really should have won a poor standard League by about 15 points it just seems like a dreadful missed opportunity. I'm glad I booked an overnight stay in Inverness tonight - it would have been a long drive home. I'm not feeling optimistic about next season as I suspect our better players will move on and the stalwarts will be past their best. To paraphrase Trainspotting - it's shite being a Thistle fan😒

The play-off games have been fantastic entertainment...far more enjoyable than the prospect of 6 games against the Old Firm next season...maybe we should turn the tables on the SPFL and decline promotion🤔 A great atmosphere and a very impressive performance...a combination of not quite setting up shooting chances and some phenomenal blocks by defenders prevented us from putting the tie beyond County's reach. Turner, Lawless and McMillan were outstanding...I have been a regular critic of Brownlie and Docherty but they were both very good tonight. As a Thistle fan, I always have nagging doubts but I think we are good enough to get promoted.

That was an entertaining night...Ayr & Hamilton were the only sides we haven't handed out drubbings to this season but we looked a class above tonight although the last minute summed up the game...could have gone to 3-1 or 4-0. Good performances all round and we really carry a goal threat...Ayr without Akinyemi looked quite ordinary...but if Milne, McAvoy & Bannigan were available we would have a pretty strong team. Graham often looks clumsy and misses good chances but keeps scoring important goals. Fitzpatrick is frustrating too...but has real talent. The JHS seemed really busy but what happened with the sold-out JLS? I was getting a bit annoyed with the constant stream of latecomers and fans going for a pie and a pee throughout the first half so was not amused with the fud with the flare...hope he didn't get to see the second half.

Bad defending = great entertainment. Both sides provided plenty of that tonight. We could have lost 2 goals through dopey defending in the first 5 minutes with Mitchell, Muirhead & Brownlie being hesitant throughout. We then scored two well-worked goals and for a spell I thought we might hand out a drubbing. Losing the goal and Banzo were real blows - he was running the game but after he went off, we hardly played any football and Queens dominated possession. Boateng looked exactly the sort of midfield player we lack - composed, quick and strong, able to break up play and bring the ball forward...a marked contrast to Docherty. Fortunately Queens couldn't defend either, particularly long punts up the park and I was pleased to see Tiff and Fitzpatrick eventually combine after messing up two great chances. Just when we were looking comfortable we contrived to lose two sloppy goals. Whatever flaws our team has, they don't lack spirit and it was so good to see the late winner. I am hoping more tickets will be made available for the second leg...surely it won't finish 0-0? Banzo will be a real miss if he is not available...it's crossed my mind that there might be a major payment threshold if Cole MacKinnon plays a certain number of games as he hasn't featured at all. We have limited options in our squad and a lot of older players...I fear we will run out of steam and fit players at some stage in the play-offs but it's been an exciting roller-coaster of a season so far.

Today was a reflection of the season. At times we showed real invention and might have scored 4 or 5 but for some good goal-keeping...but were pushed back and conceded a lot of corners though fortunately Arbroath didn't have any cutting edge otherwise we could have squandered points yet again to relegation candidates. If we win next week and Queens don't we will be second but if we lose we could miss the play-offs. Either way it feels like a missed opportunity - Dundee have looked very ordinary this season and we have scored 9 goals at Firhill against Inverness - at our best and with a full squad we are clearly better than any other team in the Division. It's made an interesting end to the season...and it's a challenge to work out how things will pan out for the start of next season.

A wide range of emotions watching the game today...most of them negative. A well-worked opening for an early goal although I thought the keeper should have saved Tiff's shot. Inexplicably, we then ceded possession to Ayr and made no real effort to score. It was a bit embarrassing that we were time-wasting after 20 minutes and had to be told to provide spare balls behind their goals. It was a great opportunity to push on with a bigger than usual support eager to be entertained. Instead I was genuinely bored with the way we played and when Ayr equalised it was a goal we very definitely deserved to lose. Brownlie repeated his stupid error from Inverness - he has been very poor this year - the injuries to McEvoy & Milne have been a real loss. We are all willing Doolan to be a success but that was a serious tactical misjudgement today. Almost as annoying as blowing the chance to be within touching distance of the title is reading the pathetic contributions of this Forum's most irritating poster who never goes to games and never makes a constructive post.

I wasn't quite sure what to make of the first half...Queens were quite slick and as with their previous visit looked the only decent team I have seen at Firhill this season...but we matched them although neither side threatened to score. Second half was an unexpected treat...we stepped up the pace, put their defence under pressure and they couldn't deal with it...the ball seemed to fall kindly for us in the box but we picked out some good passes and finished well. Lawless was outstanding, Banzo is an under-rated player and Turner and Holt came on to very strong games. In the end we won easily and Queens were a burst balloon. I have always been confident that we would at least make the playoffs and second top is now very achievable...just makes it all the more frustrating that Dundee who we have beaten twice at Dens and were very poor both times they came to Firhill will probably finish top.

A dull game with an almost total lack of cohesion, quality and goal threat from both sides - 0-0 was about what they merited...a very good day for Queens Park. Despite barely putting a decent passage of play together we still managed to squander at least four great chances in the second half....Tiff's powderpuff finish, Fitzpatrick failing to put him through, Dowds clumsy touch and Mullen's thrash over the bar, Dundee passed the ball about their defence and midfield for no apparent purpose...we were without inspiration in a game which we really needed to win.

it was a brilliant individual performance from Johnnie Gibson...we lost an early goal but the wee man turned it round with two goals and an assist...he failed to make it out for the second half after being the victim of brutal hacking by John "the Greatest Living Ranger" Greig...I don't think Mathieson could get close enough to Johnnie to kick him. That performance set up the team for the phenomenal achievements over the next 3 months.

Some very selective memory on here...I think I can hear Muttley chortling. It should be obvious to anyone who has actually been to games over the past two seasons that a fit Tiffoney is absolutely crucial - we had that on Saturday for the first time since early in the season...two goals and an assist...he was also involved in all our other near things. I saw Raith fans were lamenting injury absences for their poor performance though, after carrying no threat, they had four good chances once we substituted our best players. When I saw the line-up for the recent Hamilton game, my immediate thought was scraping a 1-0 victory would be a good result as we were relying on Mullen & Fitzpatrick as our strike force. The starting 11 for the Cove game was only marginally stronger. However, the 2 points out of 12 for the home games against Hamilton & Cove are the reason we are not top of the League - we somehow contrived to draw the first game against Cove which we should have won at least 5-0. Injuries could be bad luck or bad management but have undoubtedly affected our performances. From first look, McAvoy looked a class act and a big upgrade on our other central defenders. It's time to look forward but I hope that Dools' contacts are as good.

A slow start but we sparked into life just before half time - all three goals featured outstanding play to set up simple finishes with Tiff's pass to Milne for the second goal a highlight. Some good performances with particular credits to Lawless & Banzo...McAvoy's timing of his headed clearances was impressive...Mitchell had nothing to do then made two superb saves. Raith were on a 14 game unbeaten run...they were rubbish. It confirmed what I've thought for most of the season - with our best players, particularly Tiffoney, fit and on form, we should be top of this League. Next week's game against a horrible Morton team will be a test of where we stand. I wasn't sure it was fair to give Doolan the job but didn't like the other names touted for the role...I really hope he continues to do well.

With respect, these are just standard PR blurbs saying nothing - "Working to ensure the management and playing squad are capable of a sustained push for promotion this season" - that doesn't seem to have gone too well. I trust the further update will indeed be substantive.

I can't say I have much confidence that the Board is taking the Club in the right direction. Their first communication in 2 months was to announce the management team was being relieved of their duties, mentioning in passing financial restraints. The Chair was on the previous Board - didn't he know what was going on? And why is it taking so long to progress the ownership structure? Do they have a plan and are they going to tell the fans about it? Kris Doolan was a great player and ambassador for the Club and is in the "Good Guy" camp...but he has no managerial experience and I haven't heard any particular tactical insight when he's been reporting on games. Unless he is just in for a game or two, I fear he is being thrown under the bus as a shield for the Board...the new manager's mission is promotion this year otherwise there was no point in getting rid of McCall...maybe the Board has already given up on this. Dundee have the biggest budget and Queens Park have a bit of momentum but Ayr & Morton haven't looked very good...I have been more concerned that Inverness might hit a run of form once their injuries cleared up, though we have scored 9 against them at Firhill. With a full strength squad, I was confident of at least a play-off spot. I'm not sure we will achieve that now and wouldn't be surprised if some of our better players are already contacting their agents to look for another club next season. I haven't seen many opposition players I thought would improve our team but even more concerning is the potential managers...most of the names touted give me the fear.

Is he not a chum of the sole surviving member of the Old Board?

I'm a bit perplexed both by the decision and in particular by the timing. I had expected McCall to be given to the end of the season - my view has been that with a full squad and in form we are the best side in the Division ( not a high bar) but we have had several awful performances. I'm assuming there is a story behind the scenes - McCall in his pre-game radio interview made an oblique and unenthusiastic comment about "waiting for things to happen...taking time" - I have also noted posts by high profile TJF members openly not backing the manager. I made this comment back in November about a change of manager:- The choice of manager would be made by the Queen of PR. She doesn't have a track record and her lack of communication with the fans does not auger well for a good appointment. The current Board with Trustees appointed in strange circumstances have not so far been an improvement in communication and have no experience of running a football club. We have heard nothing other than dark suggestions of a financial mess. I will reserve judgement until we hear more from the Club and find out who the new manager is. I don't see many good candidates. We need clear and transparent communication from the Board and TJF and soon.

I went to the game out of habit rather than enthusiasm when I saw the team line-up - so many injuries that I was actually disappointed that Cammy Smith wasn't available...and the bench filled with youngsters fresh from a 5-1 midweek drubbing from Queen of the South. I was pleasantly surprised in the first half - we totally dominated Hamilton who played like the bottom side destined for relegation...lots of balls across the box but only one clear chance The second half was very predictable with our defence posted missing for a simple goal. Our midfield was lacking in ability to take on defenders, make an incisive pass or take a shot. Docherty was dreadful and Milne had another very poor game. Turner was wasted out left but there weren't many options. We never looked like scoring, Our full strength side would probably have won that game easily but without key players we are very ordinary...even then we should have been good enough to beat Hamilton...3 points would have put us in a strong position in a low standard League.

Well at least we were good at penalties. At the beginning of the season, I thought we had a strong squad but have long since realised that we don't...without key players we are quite ordinary. It was clear we would miss Graham, Lawless and Docherty...Tiffoney & Fitzpatrick went off then McMillan & Banzo...Milne has a poor game and Turner wasn't great either. Maybe it wasn't surprising that we never really looked like scoring. Dunfermline did well in denying us space and had more possession but fortunately didn't have a cutting edge. Sneddon was very alert, pulled off an outstanding save in the first half and again in the shoot-out. I guess in a Cup Game all that matters is going through. My biggest concern is that Sylvia by Focus seems to be dropped as the final pre-game tune...even worse it was replaced by some ear-bleeding racket by AC/DC. If that is a permanent switch, I will be turning up late for games.

That was the poorest I have seen us play at Firhill this season which made the late winner all the sweeter. It was a dour game...Morton had improved from their comically bad last visit to Firhill but they are just a team of spoilers...I believe this was their first defeat in 10 games which is surely another sign that a team wouldn't have to be very good to make the play-offs in this League. I would be appalled if ex Jags Crawford, Muirhead & Quitongo were anywhere near our first team. I was quite pleased that we were getting a corner from Fitzpatrick's shot...I was level with Aiden when he hit the shot and wasn't sure there was a deflection...it might have been outside the box...so clearly a stonewaller 😀. I am sure I have seen us lose their goal at least four times previously this season. I didn't realise the winner was a lucky deflection too...tremendous! That wee nyaff Imrie being red carded was a highlight...it was also good to shut up the Morton morons in Hospitality and the result will hopefully sicken the high proportion of Greenock tossers who post on Pie and Bovril...it might even stop the whingers on this Forum from repeating the same "McCall's rubbish" post 20 times in succession at least until the next game.

Archie signed some very good players in his time as Manager - Tomas Cerny, Callum Booth, Freddie Frans, Higgy and Lyle Taylor among others were part of the best Thistle team I have seen since Bertie Auld was manager. Osman, Adam Barton and Dumbuya were excellent too until their final season when they were a real disappointment. I would have thought Data Analysis and Sports Science should be an essential part of modern football but I seem to recall Ian McColl saying he wasn't that interested. However I always thought that Ryan Edwards and Myles Storey would rate highly under data analysis because they ran about a lot...maybe sometimes it's better to rely on judgement of footballing abilities. This season we have looked easily the best team in the Division and also quite awful...sometimes in the same game. After just about every game I have watched in the last season and a half, I have posted that we lack a competent defensive midfielder...I'm happy to give the current management team the chance to improve the team but I'm surprised they haven't addressed this long before now. A decent central defender is also essential...it's not a strong League this season and it's a good chance to go up.

I don't recognise him from that angle Stuthejag...I've seen a few arses playing for Thistle over the years. Thanks to EKJ II for the further details - I was at the friendly match against Rot-Weiss Essen in 1972 so I must have seen Alan Munro play. The game was preparation for our European Campaign😮 He actually scored 71 goals for Clydebank before we signed him...I'm sure the reported fee was £10,000 which was probably a club record at the time - 3 games and 1 goal in a friendly for Thistle. He definitely had injury issues and I am surprised he was still with us if only for the team photo in 1974.

Thanks EKJ II - I don't recognise any of the missing names! Was Munro the striker we bought from Clydebank to replace Jimmy Bone? I think he had injury problems...I am not sure he ever played for the first team and definitely never scored.

I can't add to any of the unknowns which suggests none of them became first-team regulars...though with Andy Anderson, Alan Hansen as well as Bobby Lawrie in reserve colours we clearly had strength in depth! I think the gent in the suit on the front row is Scot Symon rather than Chairman James Aitken. I didn't recognise Jim Holmes who had a good career as a left back in the decent Morton side in the Andy Ritchie era but don't think he played for the first team for Thistle. Ex Celts are Auld, Chalmers & Rooney. Rough, Glavin, Joe Craig and Gibson played for Celtic...but they were all great Jags. Hope someone can come up with the missing names...it's really annoying me!