MMCF

The conspiracy theorists would point out (wait a minute does that make me one too?) that the person involved in the penalty incident was also involved in something similar on Wednesday night. Perhaps, rightly or wrongly, a word is going round about his reputation for having his own personal gravity field.

Having originally stirred this pot ("That's Entertainment") I still feel that you have not quite appreciated the point. This was not simply about St Johnstone winning a football game. Let's say for example that you paid good money to attend a music concert. And the artist concerned applied minimal effort to display their skills, refusing to acknowledge the expectations of the audience while taking vast amounts of time between songs with the aim of playing as few numbers as possible. Would you not quite rightly feel that you were not getting your moneys worth? That you were in fact being cheated. And would you furthermore think twice about shelling out to see the same performance again? Perhaps something else needs to be thought about. The tactic of repeatedly taking the ball into the corner flag area can, and does, lead to flash points in the game. And, if I understand things correctly, the game is about scoring goals to defeat the opposition, then such a tactic is against the spirit of the game. It could be, and perhaps should be, viewed as unsportsmanlike conduct and appropriate sanctions (free kick against you awarded and maybe even a caution?).

I wrote the above before listening to the comments of the manager of the team in blue. I believe it re-enforces my view when this person states "We just keep doing what's right" in his post match interview. So the display of, at times, petulant, total non-entertainment constitutes something that is, in his view, "what's right"?

For some time now people have been asking a question which is a concern to many. Why are the numbers attending games (at Firhill) declining? If you attended tonight's game you had your answer. I remarked to my neighbours at half time that the team in blue would come out in the second half and waste as much time as was humanly possible. Sadly they lived down to my every expectation. And then some. While others discuss the merits of inabilities to break down defences and worst performances, let us spare a moment to point the finger at what this really was. This was the spectacle of people paying good money and being cheated. Cheated of any sort of entertainment whatsoever. The players from the team from Perth played to the instructions of their manager which were without a doubt kill this game. In this they were aided and abetted by a team of officials who were barely competent, led by a Referee who managed to squander the time "added on" by taking up to at least two minutes from that time to run his own little sideshow in the aftermath of the Elliot sending off. And now there will be the bare-faced temerity of many involved to demand twenty quid and more (bus fare not included) to watch a re-hash. Frankly enough is enough. A message had to be sent. And perhaps that message is to say I will not fill up your undeserving coffers. Instead I will take the twenty quid and stick it in an envelope to Firhill Street or to Bowen Boys Ltd, where only one organisation will benefit (and it wont be St Johnstone, Anti-Entertainment Inc nor will it be the the putrid employers of Mr Allan and co.) By all means support your team in the way you see fit. After all we still have freedom in this nation. But following on cynical displays such as this, an empty stadium is not a punishment nor is it a protest. Its a view of the future should we condone the tactics that were displayed this evening.

Requesting one of the remaining Doolan 100 scarves. Money on way to you via P/P

Said this earlier but it seems to need repeating. Gordon moves his leg into Azeez's path. In doing so there is clear intent to commit foul play. We really dont need to defend the wrong doing of others. Indeed lets be a little artful about things, as others frequently do, and defend our own to the hilt

What seems to be missed in this is the way that Gordon moves his right leg quite deliberately into Ade's path and attempts to pull it away. Even the slightest contact in this case (and I believe that there was) makes it a no brainer. Furthermore, if you take a swing and miss at an opponent (with your fist or foot) then there is intent to commit foul play. For that you get penalised. Gordon moves his leg to block Aziz, when the ball is already past him, as a consequence there is intent. He should have been scanctioned.

Just in case anyone needs it: Sinne Fianna Fáil A tá fé gheall ag Éirinn, buion dár slua Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn, Fé mhóid bheith saor. Sean tír ár sinsir feasta Ní fhagfar fé'n tiorán ná fé'n tráil Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil, Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil Le guna screach fé lámhach na bpiléar Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann. Not that my Hoops supporting colleague (nor my similarly affilicted brother) recognised it when it was sung to him this morning. Then again, most of them (F.O.D. see below) haven't a clue where Athenry is and when it comes to attendance at Mass well, that's just for extremists (like me...) If our friends from Govan are the Forces of Darkness then these guys are the Forces of Delusion. Tog go bog e

Convoluted but : Brian is the starter at my golf course Brian has a fellow shift worker David (the Killie fan). David used to work in the same EAC Leisure office as Jackie. Jackie's granddaughter is called Darcy. Darcy's mum is called Claire. And Claire is married to the guy who will soon (very soon please) pass the one hundred goals scored for PTFC. Trivia about KD. He has two Higher Geography passes. (And yes I cheated, a lot, since I taught him from age 14)

Living in a much less affluent part of Ayrshire (in Kilmarnock they speak less that one language, but I only live here because the wife makes m ) window cleaning in Troon might prove to be a nice little earner.

This could be a problem. Those of you who know your sporting history should be versed in "The Curse of the Cubs". Woe betide any organisation who turns away four legged friends from the gate of a sporting event! PS Throwing the dog is not recognised by the IOC but is by the RSPA and you get the jail.

Given the bad publicity around this football club, and given that I have a person stake in awareness raising here, I post this link for general consideration. Good for them I say. Now who wants to match their vision? (You have to copy and paste because I'm not as tech proficient as my seventeen year old autistic web wizard) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35491555 Edited to say : Even the laptop is smarter than me (groan)

I am deeply saddened to report the passing of our friend Irvine on Saturday night 26 December. Irvine was the long term Season Ticket holder of CC96 in the Jackie Husband Stand. He was also a familiar figure in the post-match bus queue on the Maryhill Road and a valued member of the Thistle Corner of the Horseshoe Bar. An engaging and oft-times entertaining blend of his native Yorkshire practicality and common sense positivity born of many years following the Jags, Irvine's loss will be keenly felt. Let there be no mawkish sentimentality, however, for that was not his way. Rather raise a glass of Highland Park (or your own refreshment of choice) and wish to all a heart-felt "good luck".

When all is said and done... Thought 1 We lose...as a team Thought 2 We win .... as a team Thought 3 And that team, today, was 2,7000+ strong. (Yes the pedants can say, oh what about the 3 men and a dug from Dingwall. To which I will raise you 10 Ball boys, nine serving girls, eight security guards and - yes it does end with a partridge in a pear tree...) Thought 4 Happy Christmas team . Thought 5 See you on Boxing day And finally You know, I don't think I want 2015 to end. Unless it means we can have a huge cup run in 2016 Starting with the vaulted Mr Rae on Jan 9th.

After fifteen games last season St Mirren had eight points. As had Ross County. A win against Inverness in a fortnight will give us fourteen points, two less than the same point in the previous season. Just to put a positive spin on things.

Ah Yes. Sportscene. That's the programme where one Michael Stewart opined that the Rooney handball was not illegal and even suggested that it was within the rules. The rest of tonight is spent attempting to get said stue-mmer to admit that he talks a load of mince.

I have looked through a wide range of comments regarding today's game. I have read reports which include the word "fortuitous" I have even read the comments of our manager, perhaps bound by code and fear of sanctions form the very body who will protect the guilty party/parties. So, right here, let's pin the lie. The first goal comes from a hand ball. Two hands in fact. An illegal act. None of your ball-plays-man crap please. The referee today made an incompetent decision which changed the course of the game. Period. This needs to be challenged. If not, then its not worth turning up for games which seem to be predetermined. So Mr Beattie, Mr Maxwell. If you don't have the gumshen to tell the SFA that the officiating team from today are not welcome at Firhill unless they are seriously sanctioned over this matter then you can have my season ticket for it is not worth the anguish of showing up for a game that has, in the mind of certain individuals, already been decided. Too often these guys over the years have been getting away with this sort of rubbish. Time to make a real stand. Or perhaps "No more cuddly..." is just a load of hot air.

Let us not forget to give a dishonorable mention to Killie Captain Manuel Pascuali. Watch the penalty award again and note how he appears in the picture having run from his position in his own half to implore Mr Beaton about "something". More than likely this wonderful excuse for a human was seeking to have a fellow professional sent off for what he considered to be the denial of a goal scoring opportunity. It must now be a badge of honor thing to take more than the two points (preferably twelve) that we did this season from this manky mob when hostilities resume.

We perhaps need to press pause here while others are selling my seat out from underneath me. I have had a Season Ticket since 1995, making next season my twentieth consecutive year. For the majority of those years I have sat in the same seat, Row S Seat 96. I went from there to buy the ticket for the return leg for That-Night-At Tannadice. I went from that seat to buy the ticket for that Day-At-Peterhead. I sat there through the Bunnet Years and visits from the mighty Queens Park and Cowdenbeath. I sit there with Jim and Derek and Chic and the rest of the guys whom I see on average once a fortnight because this is where we meet. Emotional attachment barely scratches at the surface. Yes there is a problem. It’s probably more sophisticated than the one being described by the Chairman. According to official attendances the average this year is a shade over 3530. Lasts season it was just over 5003. Hidden in there are a few interesting side stories such as two games against Aberdeen lasts season yielded a total of 10747 (average 5373). This season one visit yielded 4145, a significant decrease and a loss of more than 6000 in terms o f overall crowd. The visits of Dundee Utd similarly produced a total crowd of 11570 (average 5785) over two games in season 13/14. This season brought only one game with a crowd of 3761, a loss of more than 7000 gate receipts. I wont bore you with comparisons between the visits of Hearts and HIbs last season compared with Hamilton and Dundee. These figures are in the public domain and you can look them up. They tell their own story. The solution is it seems to advantage the followers of Glasgow Celtic and to disadvantage the season ticket holders of the Jackie Husband Stand (JHS). Perhaps we need to be careful about this. In season 2013/14 Glasgow Celtic games at Firhill attracted 15527 (average7763). The one game this season where Glasgow Celtic were the visiting team saw a crowd on only 5776. It’s unbelievable that all 2000 of these missing fans were season ticket holders of the JHS. Yet the Chairman, perhaps unwisely, quotes “only 62% of season ticket holders came to the game and only 46% of the JHS capacity was in use”. The conjunction of these two stats is quite clear but I’ll highlite them just so you get the message. I can, however, ramble on but it will make no immediate difference. Partick Thistle are not “now asking our Jackie Husband season holders to relocate”. It is a “not a decision that we have taken lightly”. It is a decision that has been taken. Period. No consultation. You’re gone. So what’s in it for me? Do I get a guarantee that I will be offered some sort of compromise Season ticket arrangement (buy one without the Celtic / Rangers option built in). There is no offer currently on the table. Given what was said about consultation in the previous paragraph I am not holding my breathe on that either. Perhaps some sort of reduction in cost of season tickets for my inconvenience? Still breathing. Given the signs already in the public domain vis-a-vis the preseason friendlies (“Ticket details for the match will be announced as soon as they have been confirmed = we will tell you how much you are paying when we’ve worked out what we can skin you for.) How about I get my pick of the seats in the North Stand as the price of my willingness to support the cause. I can probably hear my fellow Jags fans revving up their chorus of NIMBY. What about a guarantee that Jim and Derek and Chic and me and all the rest of the regulars in Row S can be seated automatically together in the Main Stand on these occasions? How difficult can that be? The answer I already anticipate is "too difficult". So what’s in it for me? Apparently, as of tomorrow, a lot of discount opportunities. Except that I don’t stay in Kirkcaldy or Crieff . I don’t need windows or an alarm and I can already get 25% off my pizza with my half time draw ticket. So apparently for me it’s a clacker. I am well prepared for the boo-boys and girls who will hurl the “for the good of the club” stuff at me. To them I simply ask what will you be contributing? (North Stand fans please see above) And if the fates should be kind there is a scenario that would see JHS Season Ticket holders relocated for as many as four games next season. That’s more than 20% of the number of home games. For one-fifth of the season we would effectively be the away support in our own stadium. Pause for thought indeed as the Season Ticket renewals fall through our letterboxes over the next few weeks.

Regarding the "problem" with crowds the following stats may point you in a direction of thought. First three home SPFL games this season. 1 Ross County 3261 3261 2 Hamilton 3419 6839 3 Inverness 2917 9756 First three home SPFL games last season 1 Dundee Utd 7822 7822 2 Hearts 6540 14362 3 Aberdeen 6193 20555 We appear to have "lost" 10,000 in terms of crowds over just these three games. Ross County not a big support and it was a Wednesday. Hamilton not a big support (home or away) Inverness. Enough said. Thanks to our fifty or so regular viewers from the Highland capital. Furthermore only one Celtic home game so c5000 this season as opposed to 15000 the previous season. Only one visit from Aberdeen so c4000 as opposed to 11000 the previous season. Part of the issue has to be the way in which the fixtures fell this season.

Last 16 games : Thistle 19 points, Kilmarnock 17 points, Motherwell 18 points So let's not play the underestimation game

Games 1- 5 seven points Games 6 - 10 four points Games 11 - 15 five points Games 16-20 five points Games 21 - 24 four points Fact(s)!

The trend is the point, If you take the time to examine the global picture for the season then the trend is about average. That's if you're prepared to take the time. And if you're not then just enjoy a good whinge.

Firstly commiserations to Nathan Eccleston. Sometimes things just don't turn out as we would want. Best wishes to him. Let's be happy that a proven Jag is back. Let's be happy All of us Just for a wee while. Plenty of time to fight on Saturday.

Daniel Taylor in The Guardian today writes an interesting column on this situation. Perhaps worth a read?