lady-isobel-barnett

Worth minding that Graham, but for the odd few minutes after subbing, never "managed" the team during match time. For good or bad any substitutions and tactical/formation changes were largely down to Wilson. Besides Graham due to his advanced position upfield wouldn't be able to read too much into the way a game was progressing. One observation I felt was that Mark wasn't slow in changing things about. On the subject of BG I hope our next captain will play in a position where he'll be more influential. That in itself will help the Wilson. Martin possibly would've been the pick given his deep position but I'd have thought Ashcroft would be a good choice. McBeth looks like a future captain but maybe too early for him.

Lay off of my brown suede shoes* * from his Matalan Mancini album

99 and who's counting!

It's a Head Coach that we're appointing. Knowing the league well would be an asset. The transfer market far less so. Previous performance in the league of less importance to training methods, tactical awareness etc and other attributes associated with being a Head Coach. For instance Ian McCall ticks a few boxes as a Manager but virtually zilch as a Head Coach. Personally I thought McCabe might have been in the frame as he appears to have Airdrie well coached. No way of knowing if he even applied for the job. We certainly wouldn't have approached him as he's still got a playing contract.

Often when I attended the Open I'd take along a pair of binoculars. Need to dig them out for Meadowbank.

Ross County Queen of the South Edinburgh City Stranraer

That's a good point but Barraclough will have I assume a major say in the appointment. Fair to also assume that he doesn't necessarily believe he himself is a risky choice.

If it is indeed Graham then we can expect the usual "jobs for the boys" indignation. This time tho' it's kinda different insomuch as BBG will have gone thru an interview process. Unlike Doolan, Archibald and Britton/Whyte other candidates have been interviewed. Plus we've this time got a football fella having a big say in the appointment. That won't quell the dissenters, and in truth it's all very subjective. It is tho' different from the previous in house managerial appointments.

Leaving Celtic no matter where he goes (in Scotland) Bain will take a wage drop. He's at an age where he maybe wants to get regular starts. Perhaps he won't be anyway near guaranteed that in the Premier League. Perhaps with regular appearance money, plus a good few win bonuses, remuneration in our division won't be that far behind that of lower clubs in the top tier if there's a lot of bench warming involved?

I've seen Thistle sides play at Spartans & East Kilbride. I've not even been in Elgin City's ground. The only one remaining of the senior grounds. Maybe one day!

At least next season we'll have six fewer games played on plastic.

I feel you could argue that BG was just being pragmatic. He was only using the tools left in the box. I'm not convinced he's the right guy for the job but I don't think you can judge him totally on his time as temp manager. Saying that he did appear to get the team fired up.

Well done Fawlty Towers! Can't think of a more deserved winner. 👍 Thanks once again to BB. 👍

My plusses for Graham/Wilson were they got the most out of the squad and there's little doubt the players upped their effort. I'd also say that Graham/Wilson (perhaps more the latter) could make proactive decisions during a game. What I'm less sure of is whether that's really the minimum you would expect from a management team. I'd hope our SD will investigate fully Caddis's and Imrie's history re affecting a game in play. A manager getting the most out of players of limited ability is the biggest feather in the cap we can ask for.

I'd imagine we'll be lucky if coffers from visiting attendances aren't down. Doubt St J will bring nearly as many as Falkirk did. Any other league changes on that front will be minimal. On the plus side we seem to carry a fair amount of goodwill amongst the fans. More enthusiasm particularly from the younger element these days. Helps that the team/squad didn't chuck it and at least their efforts were openly appreciated.

4. Tell me is it impossible for you to answer every ******* question without starting with the word "Listen"

Sorry, it was meant rather tongue in cheek.

Partick Thistle? Scot Symon & Davie McParland.

My take on it is if you have a Sporting Director then you have a Head Coach and not a Manager. To confuse things as likely as not the Head Coach may be referred to as Manager by the media, even the fans. A Head Coach is in charge of training and all aspects of matchday. In sole charge of tactics, formation, team selection etc). A manager does all that plus oversees scouting, recruitment and behind the scene football activity. As the SD is having a major say on who'll be Head Coach it stands to reason that he'll be influenced by the way the various candidates want their team to play. So, yes you can say that the SD will have a major influence on the way we'll be playing.

At the time I thought McCabe may have been on the list, and as he's still registered as a player there would be some protocol involved. Additionally Airdrie were in the play offs. Can't see delays if short list accurate. Two downsides to the play offs is not knowing your league status and being behind most of the other clubs in your league in pre season planning. Baraclough can't progress effectively in recruitment plans until he knows who his head coach will be. Perhaps not 100% correct if he's already decided which way he sees us playing and is dovetailing choice of coach accordingly? No idea about Caddis's style of play but I thought Imrie had Morton playing a wee bit more football than a typical Morton team. Not much, tho'. I'd give Graham (and Wilson) plus marks re their pragmatic approach to games but their preferred style of play remains unknown.

Happy enough with Mitchell as back up keeper. Tho' we did miss Roberts I would prefer a keeper with much better distribution. In an ideal situation we would replace Martin with a loanee defensive mid. Failing that, and assuming he's on more than a year contract, it would be preferable if such a player could play in more than the one position. We also need a tidy box to box midfielder, one who is comfortable to move forward with the ball. Only McBeth, but most often from defence, can retain the ball with some effect in that manner. Up front of course depends on whether Graham is still with us. Leaving that aside I'm with Y & R re a smaller nippier striker. What I feel must change is any such signing must believe he's got as much chance as the next player to getting a start. Otherwise we'll not improve on the likes of Ablade or Jakubiak. Saying that, and far down the list of priorities, I wouldn't be averse to retaining Jakubiak as a squad player. Taking a more global view we need to redress the age of the squad and certainly up the pace in certain areas.

One the Sitting Tenant One who wants away from a club One the out of job Usual Suspect One from left-field Probably a typical short list to be fair. No idea who applied for the job but have been rejected.

Re the goals from Midfield (or rather lack of). From a central midfield point of view Stanway (2), MacKenzie & Turner contributed to a mere 4 goals. Robinson produced a more respectable 3 goals. Martin not being a like for like replacement would very unlikely have added to the total, regardless of injury. So it looks like a total of 7 league goals from central mid. I'm far from certain none of those 7 goals didn't come from set plays!

I feel you're being a tad unfair to aliens. I'd say the Cartsdyke Collection are better described as mutants.

Okay. Message understood.