exiledjag

Since we are low in the food chain when it comes to signing players I was thinking of a couple of controversial suggestions knowing full well I will be in a minority of 1 and likely to be ridiculed. However given Doolan's performance as a manager - which has been a revelation to me - and his ability to get more from individual players, eg Fitzpatrick, I was wondering about Rudden and Akinola returning to Firhill. The former I suspect isn't wanted at Dundee and if anyone can motivate the latter and get him playing confidently again it must be Doolan. I am sure we would all take a fit and confident Akinola back into the defence. Just a thought.

Agreed. We need two experienced keepers to make sure they keep each other on their respective toes!

I agree with the above which I think reflects the reality of Scottish Football and particularly the Jags. Excepting the Old Firm every club in professional football needs money behind them that's additional to revenue from gate receipts and commercial activities. While we were fortunate to have the support for our Academy from the late Colin Weir we have always been a club without money! Not taking anything away from Clubs like Motherwell, St Mirren, Ross County, Kilmarnock, Dundee Utd and even Hearts and Aberdeen but they all have a history of being able to call on financial resources over and above gate and commercial revenues. That is why they are in the SPL. The problems we have could be easily solved with the backing of a multi-millionaire who is prepared to put money into the stadium and directly into the 'Football Department', ie signing and paying players! What happen to FFP?

Like others on this thread I was never totally convinced about Docherty. So not too bothered about him leaving provided we find another holding midfielder preferably one with more presence. We will though miss Turner, Holt and, not forgetting him, Tiffoney. It's sad to see the breaking up of what was a truly promising team in the making. Nevertheless a big thank you to the 4 players and the best of luck to them for the future.

I thought I would start a new thread on this subject as It wouldn't be fair to try to hide my contrition in another thread. Some WAT contributers will recall I made it very clear that I thought signing Stevie Lawless was a mistake. I mentioned a number of issues I had with the signing including doubts about his commitment. However, I have to admit that I was completely wrong about signing Lawless. He demonstrated in every game he played just how clever a player he is and later when Doolan took over just how perfect his intelligence and playing style was for the way Doolan wanted to play. In fact under Doolan he has been a revelation Above all he impressed me with his commitment to the cause and that he was very clearly playing for the Jersey. In short I misjudged Stevie Lawless and apologise to him for doubting him and to his supporters for not seeing in him the attributes which they saw in abundance. I would like to reassure Stevie and his devotees that he will have my full and unconditional support in the coming season. There I have said it!

Yes this is going to be an interesting transfer window in terms of who has or might leave and who might join the club. One thing is certain and that is the squad that starts the season will be, in the main, Kris Doolan's squad. He has done very well with his management of what was Ian McCall's squad so it will be interesting to see how he does with an almost entirely new squad. I wish him all the best and uf he gets off to a good start we will all need to keep our expectations in check.

I agree. I got the V neck as a Christmas present. A photographer came to the door and my parents agreed that he could take a photo of me in my Jsgs strip. I recall him saying when he first saw me, something like this " Ah, a Thistle Strip! Great I am fed up photographing Rangers and Celtic Strips" I love the 23/24 Strip. Excellent. Well done O'Neil.

I don't believe we blew the opportunity of winning promotion I believe it was taken away from us. The reason we didn't score more goals in the secod half at Firhill was down to a number of factors. Some resolute defending by RC, some poor finishing and bad luck for our strikers and tiredness. Yes tiredness! I could see some of our players were starting to flag as early as midway through the second half and I thought this was evident, for example, the clumsy first touches of Graham and Tiffoney when a goal chance was on! Also on a couple of occasions the ball just did not run for us at the crucial moment. I think in all of this tiredness was a big factor. I looked at the team sheets at around 4.00pm on Sunday and saw who the referee was and thought that's it we have no chance today. I didn't watch or listen to the gamevon TV or radio. I was right as well - a stonewall penalty not given, a red card recinded and a penalty give to RC that was not a penalty. This game was a fix from start to finish and there should be an inquiry. With McLennan and Doncaster at the helm we all know that, even if we had media support, this won't happen. I would like to think that the next time Nick Walsh comes to Firhill we don't forget his performance at Dingwall and give him the treatment he so richly deserves. It won't serve any real purpose but it will be satisfying to at least let him know how we feel. At best he was incompetent but I thing we all know there is more to it than that. I wonder who will be given next seasons Cup Final (s) to referee and other big games, perhaps in Europe.

Forgot to mention Holt possibly returning to Cyprus.

With Tiffoney going to Dundee, Killie talking to Docherty, earlier rumours of Sneddon going to another Championship club and just having read on this thread that Turner is likely to go as well the squad is really starting to break up. God help Doolan. Nevertheless I shall be buying a season ticket on Friday (last bought one 2 years ago) and will be at Firhill for as many games next season as I can physically manage. Wonder how the people who created this financial situation sleep at night.

I totally agree with this and how anyone can not see the sense in the above is beyond me. The fix is not in the number of games Ross County or The Jags were required to play over a season but the timescale over which we were required to play the final two play off games. A week between the two games against Queens and Ayr was fair but why not a week between the two RC games. Two days was just not enough time to recover. Rid skwerr is quite right the whole Premiership play off system is weighted to keep the 'big team' in the SPL. A two leg semi-final and final is all that is required but then that would be fair!!

Thank you JimmyMcD and.Jlsarmy.

What are the rumours about Docherty and Holt?

Just a couple of points. I would like to give a big shout for McMillan. When Milne was injured we all thought we would miss him not just as a player and the best wing back in the league but for the impact on our defence - moving Holt to left back. There is no doubt he has been missed missed In these play off games McMillan has for me been a revelation and together with Lawless, has formed a very effective partnership and really stepped up his performance. I am really looking forward to seeing both wing backs on the park and with them playing the way we know they can play we will be a real force in whater division we are playing. So we'll done McMillan. As "winter of 63" says "as a Jags fan there is always a nagging doubt"! However on this occasion my nagging doubt is a lot less than it would normally have been but yes it's still there. I feel confident we will score at Dingwall. So barring some catastrophic event (poor ref, our legs failing) I think we will go through to the SPL.

I I agree with DD. RC will have to attack and this will leave gaps at the back. With our pace we can score on the counter attack and one further goal will I think be enough! We will have to be on top of our game again and especially in terms of our defensive work.. I would have preferred 3-0 but would have taken 2-0 before the game if offered.

Like most on this thread unless Doolan has some super tactical plan I hope we keep the same team with Bannigan on the bench until needed. If we can use our pace and get lots of crosses into the 6 yard box we will win. The RC defence conceded 60 goals while scoring only 37 so their defence can't be that great and their attack not so clinical. They are however a big, strong side who will pose a threat at set plays. Our players will have to 'keep the heid' in both games as I expect RC will be up to all the tricks some of which I think will be brutal. I for one hope we can hammer them and take a 4 or 5 goal lead to make the second leg a boring dead tie but I don't think RC will fold like our precious opponents. I worried about Ayr's Akinyemi. The only worry I have about RC other than their size is if they play Wright & Murray as a two up front! Is Wright fit to play? I don't feel able to predict a score because I believe this tie could go either way. I do though I hope for a 3 goal lead to take to Dingwall,

I thought the ref who sent off Akinyemi did OK. I also thought he made the correct decision in doing so regardless of what the match commentators and field side pundits thought. A few of points about the Ross County games. Firstly watching the game with Killie it seemed to me that RC were a big strong team who will not be slow to resort to the dark arts. However they also looked slow and ponderous, something we can exploit with the pace of Tiffoney and Fitzpatrick. Secondly, should we be worried that Murray is in the frame to play against us? Will he be considered as RC's Akinyemi? Finally, I think we could be at a disadvantage with VAR as RC will be smart in using it to their advantage. Our players I hope are training this week with a focus on VAR especially related to not extending arms away from the body, pulling opponent's jerseys, being late with the tackle and lunging in with studs showing. All the best to the Jags on Thursday - run RC off their legs.

I agree with the above. Ross County are a big, strong team whom I suspect won't be taking any prisoners. I am sure Tiffoney , Lawless and Fitzpatrick will come in for 'special' treatment. If we can deal with the physical challenge then I dont see why cant win. Again a strong ref required. .

I see the attendance for the game is given as 3426. I watch the game on TV and It looked a lot more. Any comments from Jags fans who were st the game?

If we are in the SPL I would think most of the out of contract players would be keen to stay with us excepting of course if they receive offers from current SPL clubs or clubs in England.

A big well done to Kris Doolan, his staff and the players. Also the travelling support - what a performance by all involved. A fantastic result. One point though. I have watched the Akinyel/Muirhead incident 3 or 4 times now at both real time and slow speeds and I do not understand why the TV pundits are saying the red card was harsh. To my eyes it looks like Akinyemi made a fully fledge punch at Muorhead the force of which forced Muirhead back on his heels for 3 or 4 paces. Akinyemi's action left the ref with no choice but to send him off. I saw no evidence of Muirhead play acting. The initial clash was certainly a foul by Muirhead and possibly a yellow card but Akinyemi's reaction was definitely violent conduct and fully merited the red card. The BBC pundits clearly felt they were robbed of a football spectale and choose to blame Muirhead - this is unforgivable as Akinyemi is the culprit.

Sorry to hear about Hugh Strachan. My condolences to his family and friends. This will be a very sad time for everyone who knew and was associated with Hugh. I also saw him play many times and like our two strikers, Bone and Coulson, Strachan and Capbell forms an equally impressive defensive partnership. I read somewhere recently that when Hugh Strachan's contract ended and wasn't extended this resulted in Davie McParland's resignation. Apparently Davie with the Board's agreement promised when he signed Hugh a job as a coach when he retired from playing. Unfortunately the Board refused to honour this because when the time to do so they said they just couldn't afford it! So we list Hugh as a player and coach and Davie as our manger!

As I have been watching the Jags since 1959/60 I have become a little bit of a worrier. But this team are something different and with improvement in the right places could become something special. The Duffy/McParland, the League Cup Winning and the Doolan/Erskine/O'Donnell teams were special. As far as last night's game was concerned I was confident we were going to score with the move up and around the right side of the park. In fact when Lawless got the recycled ball I was just waiting on McMillan making his run. I like, a few on this thread was disappointed we didn't get a 4th goal which I think even with Akinyemi on the park next Friday, would have sealed the tie. So IMO we are not there yet and still have a difficult time ahead next Friday. We have to recognise though that Ayr caused us a few problems but also the only reasons they dominated the last 10/15 minutes was because we substituted probably our 5 best players and Ayr were a bit desperate! A big well done to the Manager, Staff and all the Players and a special mention for Lawless, Graham, McMillan and Mitchell. All to play for guys. C'mon the Jags

⁷I know Ayr are a good side and finished in second but there was only a point between us so small margins. I feel confident (almost) that we can win this tonight now that Akinyema is injured. He has scored just about a third of Ayr's goals! However, without Akinjema the Ayr players might be forced to play more as a team which might cause us problems. Another performance like the twp 4-0 defeats of Queens Park and we will be fine! Start on front foot stay on front foot! Mon the Jags

Callum Davidson certainly doesn't have a chirpy voice and from what I have read Dundee fans don't want him. In saying that some fans wanted Mcleish..............who is just a taller version of Callum Davidson.