lady-isobel-barnett

Fair point tho'. How can we ever compete against those leagues awash with money like those of Slovenia & Switzerland?

That's very valid. We should mind that many of the present or potential inductees may not have hung around at Firhill had there been freedom of contract. Others may of course had stayed with us if the Club hadn't punted them for transfer money when they had no intentions of leaving. Looking at it from another way I could make a case for Rowson once he's chucked it to be included in the H o F. He's played to a consistently high standard for us, always gets tore in, an excellent example to younger players and in today's climate has been loyal to the Club. He's everything I would want in character to be inducted but I fear he'll be well down the pecking order as he's played at a time when we've been at best mediocre. I doubt many folk will look back on the era when he first joined us to when he hangs up his boots with nostalgic fondness.

Fox Paton Balatoni Archibald Sinclair Flannigan Cairney Rowson Erskine Stewart Doolan Subs: Scully Robertson/O'Donnell Lindsay Campbell/Bannigan Elliot Rather uncertain whether we can play a rigid 4-4-2 with Erskine. At his best he needs an undefined role and at his worst we're very exposed down our left side. The guy Carmichael could give us problems as he's got a lot of pace. Not sure but I think he's likely to come in from their left. With Paton, Balatoni and Cairney none to speedy to say the least he might cause us damage. Maybe O'Donnell is quick? If Robertson is preferred on the bench I'd have Campbell as a sub. If it's the new lad I'd have Bannigan instead of Campbell.

Our record against non Scottish opposition is indeed poor. Defeats to Blyth & Berwick plus only a less than creditable draw against Fleetwood. What confuses me is the OF will be bleating on about the lack of money they have to enable them to compete in Europe yet, tho' I admit I know hee haw about Swiss or Slovenian football, they get beaten by clubs I imagine have considerably less resources.

Agree but perhaps there is a case in delaying their induction seeing they've a wee share already. With that in mind I'd prefer to see Donnie McK and George Niven go in ahead of Jackie & Alan.

Here's hoping that's the case. In that period there's a couple of free Saturdays so that reduces the number of games he'll miss. And I don't think we'll have to worry about the fish suppers. Lack of fitness and poor attitude to training are certainly not Willie's weaknesses.

Does anyone know if Robertson & Sinclair are fit?

but not just now

Not that I care that much but Tuffey's contracted to ICT. They in turn will always need a deputy keeper of a decent standard just like all clubs playing at ICT's level. I'm not sure where Tuffey moves to where he'd be first choice keeper and still earn in the region of what I imagine he'll be on up there. If he doesn't want to take a wage cut he's probably destined to play second fiddle wherever he goes. With no SPL reserve league I don't know how a second string goalie retains match sharpness.

Sorry, HJ, but when you draw a correlation between all this propco stuff and the current team/squad/management situation you're heading in the wrong direction. If you believe McNamara/Donnelly are a cheap option it's fair to assume we could've afforded a more established and thus more expensive management team (a dearer option). So paying out more for our management should logically leave us with even less of a player budget and thus less equipped to sign and staff our playing squad with anything other than what you categorise as nonentities. I too hold rather sceptical opinions on the intentions of propco but those opinions would be even more cynical if those in power were seen to be not addressing the dire state of our football finances.

You might just be missing the point. It's a Jags fan's duty, well on here at least, to turn any positive thread the other way. Imo Elliot should be severely censured but then again McNamara & Donnelly are way too soft to act on this outrage. Just think what could happen if this stupid laddie is allowed to continue kissing his badge every time he scores a goal. Once was bad enough but what happens if he scores a hat-trick?Plus everyone else will feel they can get away with it and before you know it we'll have Robertson kissin' the badge if he finds another Jags player with a pass or Paton slobbering all over that wee black thistle just cause he's kicked the ball with his left foot. Thin edge of the wedge I tell you. Get it sorted, Beattie!

Never put a foot wrong and a most inspiring club captain

Can I be excused, please? It's my grandmother's funeral today.

Why can't Flannigan go direct more often? That was excellent wing play setting up the goal.

More positive stuff HERE

Overheard a fellow on Saturday saying that his all time Jags favourites were Scott Paterson, Somner and Simon. Not sure if he was just having me on. It did sound like a shaggy doug storey.

Junior might see it different but my view is Paton is in a bit of a comfort zone. He'd have to be playing fairly rank to be replaced at right back by either Campbell or Willie K. Paul P is playing alright just now but not as well as I've seen him play. He's improved on the onefootedness slightly more than marginally but it's still a hindrance. Prior to this signing every other player in the first team squad could be directly replaced apart from Paton. That's now been corrected and so in that regard signing O'Donnell has more than a bit of logic to it. Like others I kinda question the priority here with regard to McManus. McNamara may be viewing things over a longer timescale whereas others might say that every possible penny should be used in the short term in securing a deal for Tam McM.

I suppose replacing Balatoni come January might be necessary but I don't really think the versatility side of things too important. Robertson looks OK in the back row. Used to hate hearing from the Bunnett, and to a lesser extent McCall, that Mr X is comfortable playing anywhere across the back four. Usually meant they couldn't hold down any position. Somehow when McNamara says the same sort of thing I can believe him. Of all positions I don't think Jackie will make many mistakes signing a right back so O’Donnell should be a good addition to the squad.

Always thought Tuffey was a shade under 6ft

Nobby Clark, Andy Roxburgh, Davie Holt (too old by the time we got him but a class player), Billy Hainey.

courtesy Harry Wraggs (Sun)

I don't think Boyle will be bothered with not getting a game. He went to Dunfermline with the full knowledge that he was an understudy to the club captain. He's in effect a utility player, a full back that can also play centreback. In fact he's probably more chance replacing Keddie than getting a regular game at left back. Dunfermline don't seem to bother too much with finance. Any other club in their circumstances would have Clarke & Buchanan out on loan.

I know at one time it was illegal to show pictures of Pat Keogh to minors or people of a nervous disposition.

I imagine McNamara like McCall would rather have a points cushion before playing Bannigan rather than he doesn't rate him. It's easy saying in hindsight that Bannigan would've brought more to the team if he had started in place of Robertson but when we kicked off the game we had no points out of six. Jackie probably feels that's the wrong time to introduce the youngster. Hopefully that'll change soon. Besides Bannigan has picked up a fair amount of experience at Ayr last season especially playing against SPL opposition.

If you're looking for anything positive I'd say we've been not carrying much luck in the three league games. Suspect penalty, missed penalty and goalie error means we could've collected four more points. That's not to say we would have deserved to be sitting on 5 points just now. The other side of the coin is we've only scored one goal in two games at home and in our last two games have ridden our luck (very early in the game at Falkirk and in the first half yesterday). Regardless of the perceived quality, or lack of quality if you wish, of our forwards the midfield have been creating too few scoring chances. Big game on Saturday methinks. No less than a convincing win against Queens will do. If that happens then I feel we can start thinking a bit more positively as from what I've witnessed so far we're that much behind the more fancied sides.