Tom Hosie

A rehash of the STV news article including repeating the factual error that was contained within that article.

He was still a registered Partick Thistle player at the time of his appearance against the USA though it was common knowledge that he was off to Aberdeen.

Due to family connections in the area, Hereford FC (and Hereford United that went before them) are my English team and I keep a close eye on how they are getting on . I've wondered for a while if Caddis could be a potential future Thistle manager. Or just in general be in line for a gig back in Scotland. I'm neither for or against his appointment but he is highly regarded. Took a part-time Hereford to within one game of the end of season play-offs in a largely full-time league. I can see how he could fit and why he could be a short-list.

Again, for the hard of understanding, nobody is suggesting that Brian Graham should be appointed manager on the basis of being a "legend". Why one poster in particular tries to constantly misrepresent what people have said is a mystery. Is it deliberate or just poor comprehension skills?

Just to expand on my earlier post and clear up some misunderstanding among those that may choose to misinterpret. I'm not suggesting that Brian Graham should be appointed manager soley because he is a good guy. That's ludicrous. Clearly. I think most people would realise that. The type of person someone is though will impact on their interpersonal skills which is a factor is assessing how they will man manage, so it's not entirely irrelevant either. The growth and development of PTW across the last 5 years is the primary body of work I have to form my personal assessment of Brian Graham as a potential manager of the men's team. I like how he's improved players. I like how the professionalism of the set up has improved, how the preparation has improved. I like how he is tactical aware and adaptable. The women's game and the men's game are different environments, the dynamic is different. What works in one environment doesn't necessarily translate to the other. There's a three month period though to assess Brian Graham (and Mark Wilson) with the men's squad. We were 4th when they took over and we finished 4th. They knew what they were getting in to when they took over. They didn't come into post blind, but I do feel they were dealt a difficult hand to play with. A reduced squad after January further hit by injury. You don't hire open topped buses for maintaining 4th position but equally I think getting that depleted squad over the line into the play-offs shouldn't be downplayed either. We've had players, injured players, putting their bodies on the line when perhaps they shouldn't have been playing. Many of you will have seen the pictures of Fitzpatrick's feet for example. That suggests to me that they are capable of inspiring and getting a squad to play for them. I like too Mark Wilson's connections with the Academy. That provides knowledge and trust in the players in that set up. Craig Dargo's role in that should be acknowledged too. The Club should, of course, explore all options available. I'm certain they will have done so. In my view they are a great number of very compelling arguments as to why Brian Graham should be appointed permanent manager. I hope he is. Hopefully that provides a little more substance to my earlier lengthy post. But if mEDocRIty iS tHe ThIStLe wAY is the way to interpret that I can't help that, just as I can't help influence who the next Thistle manager is. No more lengthy posts to follow. Will wait and see what happens and hopefully whoever is the next Thistle manager is a huge success.

The programme will be back in season 2025-26.

I think what we saw from Brian last night was real heart on the sleeve stuff. I thought his Jagszone interview in particular was very emotional. I hated him when he played against us in as much as you can 'hate' someone you don't know. I always wanted to see him play for us though. He has been exceptional for us since he signed back in 2020. Look at his scoring record. The division's leading scorer the last two seasons. At the age of 36 and 37. That alone would be near impossible to replace. I've got to know him a bit over the years, primarily through my association with PTW. I'm not claiming to be his best pal or anything, popping round for cups of tea and a chat but I have seen what kind of person he is. How he is with other people. How important his family is to him as it with us all. He's a top, top person. One of the best I've known kicking about the sidelines at Partick Thistle. He's passionate and emotional. Sometimes that gets him into trouble on the pitch or in the technical area. He's also as honest as they come. One of his best traits with PTW is inspiring players to the very best they can be. Sometimes when they didn't believe it themselves. When we stepped up to SWPL1 there were some that didn't believe they could play at that level. One has just retired after doing just that for 4 seasons. Hey I don't really know where this word salad is going. It certainly not about last night's game - a shade unlucky to lose on the night but Livi clear and deserved winners of the tie - and might have been better posted in another thread (Admin help - oops). There's nothing he said last night that isn't true. There's that heart on the sleeve again. There's that honesty. I want him to be our next permanent manager. Iif he isn't I'll be 100% behind who ever is as I've always been but I think we're losing a lot if he isn't.

I've often though that Brian would be an option as an emergency centre back. He offers a lot defensively already Friday to me doesn't seem the time to test that out though We need two goals from somewhere. Not having Brian to win flick ons, even if they don't lead to anything, and challenge for the ball up front just means surrendering possession and play almost always coming towards our goal. My hope re Ashcroft is that he was taken off quickly to ensure no further damage can be done. If he and McBeth are out then I don't see any other option than 4 at the back with Zander right back, Low left back and the two centre backs being Megwa and O'Reilly. Unless you do stick Dolan in there. I know he is highly rated, but he has just turned 16. It would be a big ask of him in any circumstance but alongside a makeshift centre back in Megwa would make it extra difficult. That's a big weight on O'Reilly's shoulders having to essentially carry them through. I fancy we might just go 4 even if Ashcroft and/or McBeth do play. Extra man up alongside Brian, or just off. There's real risks to that but as things stand we are out. We'll need to do something to change the dynamic of the tie. Personally I wouldn't go all guns blazing right from the off but try and bed ourselves into the game and try and nick the first goal. Take it from there.

If McBeth and Ashcroft are out, and that is an if, we've one recognised centre half. If Megwa covers centre back we don't have a right back available whose started a single game there all season. If we drop Low who plays left back? Can't be O'Reilly if he is our one recognised centre back. We were sbort of numbers last night. We're potentially even shorter for Friday. I never said the players were exhausted.

I can't fault the effort that's been shown over the last few demanding weeks. I don't think that Livi are miles better than us, the league results bare that out, but they are better. Add to that the number of injuries, players playing when clearly short of 100% and it makes it all really difficult. That said I thought first 40 minutes was the best we've played in recent weeks. Or to qualify that, the best we've looked as an attacking force in recent weeks. The margins are relatively fine. Take one of the chances at 0-0 and it is a different game but you can't argue that Livi didn't deserve that or that they aren't just that bit better than us. Full squad that's less noticeable but even then they are that bit stronger than we are. Quite what team we'll be capable of putting out on Friday is a mystery. It won't make an already really tough task any easier. Football is weird though. The play-offs are weird. Do I expect us to turn it around? No. But I'm not running up the white flag either. Give it our best shot. See if circumstances contrive to make the unlikely possible.

Noticed that too. It was a shitty goal too and a horrible journey home in the snow.

Just to provide a little more detail to Brian Graham reaching the 100 competitive goal mark on Friday, it's correct that OPTA are the data source for a large number of outlets for their stats. I've attached one such example below. Others are available. It's confirmation that OPTA credited Brian with a hat-trick against Inverness. That's OPTA, the referee from the game and, you would imagine the final arbriter of Thistle records, the Club itself that credit Brian with a hat-trick. It's 100 competitive Partick Thistle goals for Brian Graham. It's a fantastic achievement, the landmark reached in dramatic and wonderful circumstances. Let's celebrate that. Incidentally a similar issue may arise in the future. It was Dan O'Reilly and not Wasiri Williams that the referee credited with the goal against Edinburgh City. Best to get that cleared up prior to Dan getting into the 90s of Thistle goals!

John Donnelly scored an own goal against Dunfermline while a Thistle player. Later that season he scored an own goal against Thistle while playing for Dunfermline.

I do wonder if an unexpected benefit of having an Academy presence in the interim management is a knowledge and trust in these young boys that others may not have had.

The only thing for me that has him behind Doolan in terms of achievement is that over half Doolan's goals came in a top flight Thistle side. I think he was on 51 when we went up. Things to remember about Graham's achievement. They came in a season that was halted (19/20) and a much shortened one (20/21). It's an outstanding achievement. Despite how he may approach the game on the pitch I rate him as one of the top guys, for a number of reasons , I've known in my time in and around Thistle. I can't speak highly enough of him. I thought he sounded quite emotional in his Jagszone interview after last night's game.