lady-isobel-barnett

We deserved to win as regardless of the possession we ceded we still saw them out. My point being conceding possession and deep defending is ridiculously risky but it worked on Saturday. I saw the QP highlights and tho' good quality it was naturally biased. For instance I think they missed out a very contentious tackle on Fitzpatrick. There's maybe an argument to suggest there wasn't that much between the teams but I don't think saying QP were ahead of us is valid.

This is what I've been going on. Again I state my arithmetic ain't so good these days

Too true. Gotta mind tho' , Morton don't give a toss about away fans.

My arithmetic isn't too reliable these days but I think BG had a slightly better scoring rate before he joined us. Completely natural given his age. By my reckoning (I'll make it 92 rather than 91 in this instance) Graham has scored 92 goals in 173 games. That's one goal every 1.88 games. Prior to joining us his record appears to be Played 236 Scored 136. That's one goal every 1.74 games. The exceptional Thistle Archive is the place to go for accuracy but to repeat the point I'd like to make is that for striker to even approach his goal per game rate well into his thirties is remarkable. And like Duke G and many others at the time I wasn't that warm to Brian signing for us.

You could also add into the equation our inability to get a result on plastic. I'm hoping that could be put down more to our poor start rather than to an ongoing problem.

You may well have a good point. We don't have midfielders equipped to break up play, so the next best thing is to back off and crowd out the penalty box. But that still doesn't excuse the poor retention of the ball when we do get hold of it especially in forward areas. Been trying to avoid the cliché but we don't do our defending in the opposition half.

Firstly we deserved the win. We were the better team. And like others I'm full of praise for our last line defending. However I doubt I was alone in worrying just how much we allowed that last line to be tested. There's no way the rest of the team should put that much pressure on them. Backing off, little if any ball retention in the opposition half, waiving possession all leading to such ridiculously deep defending. In short we tend to make winning kinda difficult.

On reflection I think you're right. 👍

Craig Slater & Bambi Williamson but can't figure out the opposition.

I'm sure Scott Robinson and Wee Stevie are indeed charming.🙂 My guess is above team apart from Fitzpatrick starting instead of Lawless. Doesn't look like Stevie is ready to start. Plus thought Aiden was rather good v Airdrie. Playing a freer role and swapping wings on occasion with Chalmers.

Merry Xmas, everyone.

Perhaps this may not be the reason but could be. Returning from my wee jaunt behind enemy lines (gate crashing the pre match rally in their Hofbrauhaus), I couldn't help but notice a rather OTT police contingent encamped outside the corner of our stand. The corner where our singing section were. Out of sight but literally only a few yards away. I guess if there had been any flares let off etc, the polis would've been in and about things pronto.

I thought our only real failing in the second half was a combination of poor distribution out of defence and not holding/controlling the ball upfield often/long enough. And the very guy you want to do the latter was on the pitch but Wee Stevie didn't really get started today. Going to three at the back was I feel the right move but it does lead to deeper defending. Even so I'm chuffed with the result. Overall played some decent football given the windy conditions, and on an artificial surface as well.

Fair excuse for any scrappiness with wind and bouncy pitch. Fitzpatrick appears to have a free role and also swapped wing with Chalmers on occasion. Two goals have come thru pressuring them.

Now you mention it I am a bit thick. The subtleties of your posts often go way over my head.

Aye entry into Petersburn Rd closed. You can exit ok. Also Stadium Bar now appears home fans only. I'm in it jacket zipped up.!

Nah, you'd fall flat on your face.

I cannot say that I don't disagree with you. Groucho Marx

Feel as we'll have to not just win battles in midfield but also get our goals thru that area. Enough said about Fitzpatrick but the left flank is further hampered with no Milne. On the other side Turner has been doing a decent job as stand in but naturally isn't too effective there. And if Airdrie defenders show Chalmers onto his right foot he too can be ineffective. So we need to be using the ball more positively thru midfield rather than that default ball to the wide areas. Without Turner in centre mid much depends on how Robinson plays. We know he'll give a lot of effort and track back when needed. But that's at a cost, as it's in advanced midfield where he's needed most. Be happy with a scrappy three points, even if it's a game promotion aspirants should really be winning in style and comfortably at that.

I know Shaw got a hattrick the other week but he has a tendency to score mostly against weaker teams. Given his other qualities Graham may well have kept Shaw out the starting XI even if we could afford his wages.

The astro pitches themselves differ so much from ground to ground. So I should imagine that negates us training on plastic to a degree. That tho' doesn't answer why we've got the worst record on artificial surface out of the five "grassy" teams.

How do you know they're "going on the piss"? I happen to know that Aero Muirhead's first stop will be to see the George Bernard Shaw bust in the National Gallery. Wee Scott Robinson's certain to be on the trail of anything to do with WB Yeats. And I'll be shocked if Young Ben Stanway isn't first in the queue to see the Book of Kells.

Since his major injury Bannigan has played on average over 37 games a season. Would probably be averaging nearer 40 but for the covid season.

Much as I agree with you Bannigan has been doing very well the job where he's usually found wanting. He's been ball winning and directing the team from deep. Just as Turner has filled in well at right back it's not a role that is likely to be sustainable. Bit of papering over the cracks re the long term

Wondered how the other grassy teams have performed on plastic so far Ayr P4-W2-D0-L2 - 6pts QP P4-W1-D2-L1 - 5pts Morton P4-W1-D1-L2 - 4pts* Pars P4-W0-D1-L3 - 1pt Jags P4-W0-D0-L4- 0pts *Didn't include Morton's loss at Lesser Hampden as I think that's a hybrid pitch.