exiledjag

Hi Bobby, Sorry you are withdrawing from the forum. Like you I have been a Jag for a very long time - almost 60 years. I will die a Jag! Unlike you I have had long periods where for one reason or another, young family, money, geography or all 3 I couldn't attend matches. I was fortunate that these periods of absence tended to coincide with the 'bad' times so that probably insulated me by preventing me becoming too close to the problem that is Partick Thistle. If ever following football was a roller-coaster experience its being a Partick Thistle Supporter! It obvious the Jags mean so much to you and are a big part of your life so keep the faith. Take a breather, reflect and once you feel refreshed come back! I can't wait for the day when I travel from near Peterhead to Firhill for home games. Its a long day but it's worth it especially when we win! I smile all the way home. Cheers, take care and look forward to seeing you back on the forum in a more temperate mood. PS: You might also try changing your cargo to Heiniken!

I welcomed McCall's appointment and have supported him. However recently I have had serious doubts for a number of reasons including the wisdom of the wholesale changes he has been making from game to game. The impact of this strategy on momentum has been previously discussed. I would be very surprised (and disappointed) if the Board has failed to recognise that change is needed. Either way promotion or remaining in League 1 presents an opportunity for change. I agree its unlikely McCall will be sacked and I am OK with this. I believe he still has much to offer but not as Manager. We should take the opportunity to create a more streamlined and accountable management structure which I outlined in previous posts, and I stress, including a new, young manager appointed from outwith the Partick Thistle Family! Getting the Football side of our club sorted out is a huge job, especially all aspects of the Academy, Recruitment, Contracts etc! Even prior to our relegation from the PL much of the above under Archibald was shambolic and appears to be still a problem if performances this season are any indication.

Prior to the jn called for suspension of the lower leagues our defence was rock solid. It was our ineffective midfield and non-existing attack that attracted criticism. Now we are scoring a few goals our defence is weak! So I ask what's changed?

Doubtful when you look at the following! We have 4 must win games - Clyde and Montrose at home and Peterhead and Dumbarton away. The only comfort is that Falkirk Cove and Montrose have a very tricky run of fixtures. Airdrie's fixtures are slightly easier by comparison! Assuming we can at least finish 4th we will face a two legged tie against either Ayr, Arbroath or Morton then a two legged tie against either Cove, Montrose or Airdrie. If we make the play-off stages and that's no certainty I would prefer not to finish 4th!! Alloa are IMO definitely relegated. Given their outstanding fixture it would take a miracle for them to stay up! Can we win 4 consecutive games?

I was actually at the ICT game and thought McLean had an OK but not great game. However I did think that in the second half every 50-50 challenge was given to ICT. I also thought the ICT full back Tremarco got away with a lot. During the first half fans in the JHS were screaming at him for his challenges and off the ball behaviour. McLean did nothing! The fact that Archibald when he was manager felt the need to comment about him says it all. Nevertheless thanks for pointing out we can actually win games with him in the middle.

Agree with all of this. Regarding McLean. I don't think there is any doubt this referee will not be impartial when it comes to the Jags. When I saw he was the appointed referee I just knew things would not go well for us! He does have 'history' to the point that the mild mannered - never criticise a referee - Alan Archibald felt the need to comment about his performance. But then McLean is not the only referee who consistently adjudicates in favour of our opponents! Is he? I only hope the match report we file with the authorities is quite clear on McLean's performance though I don't expect it to make any difference. Perhaps we should within the club have someone designated to keep detailed statistics on every referee so that performance trends can be quoted in our report to the authorities. Does anyone know if we already do this?

Good debate - but don't misunderstand my argument! Whether or not the appointment of a Director of Football finds favour I am actually proposing a restructuring of the Management of the football side of the club not an increase in the number of Management Staff. I have already ageed with the point we are top heavy in this area. What we need is people with the correct experience and personal attributes to fill the roles I am proposing and more importantly clarity and definition in the roles they occupy. This would benefit the individuals themselves but also establish clear lines of responsibility and accountability. For example, does anyone actually know what individual roles and responsibilities Archibald and Scally actually have beyond the generic title of Assistant Manager? I certainly don't see this as a jobs for the boys and I believe Mc Call will resign as a matter of honour if he is appointed DoF and no place is found for his two assistants - whom he brought to the club. I see such a restructuring as an opportunity to bring a breath of fresh air into the club. I also believe we have a new Chair in waiting in Les Gray. A Thistle fan and currently occupying this role at Hamilton Accies. I am not though prepared to suggest we replace the current Chair as looking at her performance objectivly she appears to have handled the non- footballing side of the Club well - we are as one poster said Debt Free and this didn't happen by itself! She does though need to improve on her choice of managers. I await a few upper-cuts to the jaw for the last comment.

I don't disagree with the above given our present position as a League 1 Club. However as a League 1 Club we currently have in Post a CEO, a Manager and 2 Assistant Managers. A hierarchy that could be considered overweight even for a Championship Club and still the Football side of our Club is not working effectively! What I am proposing is I think modern and the way forward. I did not put any timescale on the restructuring of the Football Management Operation so let me clarify or amend my proposal a little by saying that we should work towards having the above in place and that is Director of Football, Head Coach, Assistant Head Coach by the time we get back to the PL. We have proved with disastrous consequences that recruitment cannot be left to the judgement of a single individual. Additionally I have no firm view of who should fill these positions. If fans don't want McCall that's OK by me. All I ask is that incumbents have the necessary skills, judgement and other attributes needed for the roles including in the case of a young manager, the potential to grow with experience!

My thinking about the Director of Football was that it is: 1. a position applicable to a club, albeit currently in League 1, with aspirations to return to and stay in the Premier League; 2. To utilise McCall's contacts within the game and to oversee all football and recruitment activities, especially supporting a young manager whom I would prefer not to come from a Partick Thistle background 3. Releasing Archibald (and Scally) would to some extent mean we would be better off than at the moment by not having two Assistant Managers 4. If 3 above happened then I would anticipate McCall resigning on principle. 5. My intention is that we end up with a Director of Football, a Manager or Head Coach (whatever title is preferred) and an Assistant Manager/Head Coach. I am pleased that most posters agree with most of my comments. I did not expect all the points in my original post to be accepted. However they were made with an eye to the future so that a) we would never again repeat the Archibald recruitment shambles that got us relegated from the PL, and b) as a Club at least on the football side we would be well organised, efficient and properly run, for example, putting a decent team on the field, playing attractive football and able to win a reasonable number of games! Cheers to all.

I am intrigued that the BoD actually read comments on this website if so please read the following: 1. Try not to rubbish comments (no matter if inaccurate) from supporters who love and care deeply about the club 2. The players have had 11 weeks of rest and as FT Professionals should be able, physically and mentally, to cope with a short term surge of fixtures with minimum change to personnel in the starting 11. 3. The BoD, like me (a long time supporter of Ian McCall) and others, need to face the reality of the situation and that is things are not working under the stewardship of Mr McCall, therefore the following action seems appropriate 4. Create a post of Director of Football - Ian McCall; release Alan Archibald (he has taken the Jags to the highest and now (almost) the lowest and the great majority of fans have lost faith in him: re Scally, don't know him, his contribution or his effectiveness - that may say it all! 5. Appoint a new and young manager who can use what's left of the season to prepare for next season in League 1 so that we can look forward to 22/23 in the Championship I think that's enough for now!

Your comment shows your age and my comment shows mine also that I could have been clearer in my comment I was thinking about the days of (my days) of a forward line the equal of any in Scotland, and that was: Cowan/Whitelaw/Hainey/Duffy & McParland! Believe me in those days Firhill was a Fortress but our away record was a abysmal and that was because, with the exception of George Niven (goal) and John Harvey (at centre half), our defence was poor. I know lots will disagree but Hogan, McKinnon & Cunningham, all good players and club servants, but couldn't cope with physically strong opponents. If we could have kept Sandy Brown and avoided George Muir we might have been better.

I remember when Firhill used to be a bit of a fortress and it was our away record that was poor. Things seemed to have flipped.

It's well known on this thread that I have supported the Manager. However tonight he failed to manage the team and substitutes properly. It could be said Erskine getting injured was bad luck but surely its only prudent management to keep a substitute up your slieve. I don't want to be cynical but using all 5 substitutes with 25 or so to go is inviting an injury calculated or otherwise. I hope he learns from this. I also think he should have started with the team he that scored 3 goals in the second half v Airdrie. With many others on this thread my patience with the manager is running thin!

Yeap... a must win game. Looking at tonight"s fixtures Falkirk and Peterhead would be expected to win while the games at Cove and Montrose look a bit tighter! I am assuming Airdrie will try to bounce back after Saturday. A win tonight will make the League Table look very different and a 'shock result'at Falkirk would make the Table look even better. It's important we start on the front foot instead of "waking up' in the second half. Only three things worry me about tonight's game. Firstly, I think Forfar will try to go for it and not be as negative as we think, Secondly we are expected to win and finally we are Partick Thistle! This is a game we should romp so c'mon Jags let's be predictable for a change and get stuck in from the start. A big chance to improve our goal difference, but any win will do for me!

I don't know much about Rudden but when he first arrived at Firhill he didn't look fit and I wondered why he was in the team. He then picked up an injury which required a specialist medical examination and as a consequence he was out of action for some time. All this over and above lock down, individual and league suspensions. Given the amount of time he has been with us he has hardly played at all therefore is it any surprise he needs to be sharper in front of goal? Let's give the guy a chance to get physically and match fit and then judge him. The issue of 'having time' is an artifical mindset! We actually have plenty of time as the Jags and Rudden will (hopefully we will still exist as a football club) continue to play football. The mindset issue applies to whether we will be playing in League 1 or the Championship!

Could be! Or I just assumed the format was the same across all leagues!

Not in any order but outstanding games are: Home: Forfar /Montrose/Clyde Away: East Fife/Peterhead & Dumbarton If we play like we did for the last 60 minutes that's 18 points making 37 in total so either promoted as Champions or 2nd so in the play-off games but playing 2hames less than I'd we finish 3rd or 4th! But which Partick Thistle will turn up! Regarding the subs! Agree the number of subs in such a short space of time is ridiculous. However I don't think McCall would normally do this. He clearly has an eye to the fixture 'congestion' and is going to take every opportunity to rest some players and give others minutes on the park! A 4 - 1 lead enabled him to do that!

Yes but we are better sbige than we were 20 minutes ago!

I agree that this idea should be rejected for all the reasons posters have raised. I would like to think that prior to the vote clubs will be in possession of all the arrangements/rules under which this proposal will operate if approved. I attempted to set out the issued that clubs would need to know and determine but gave up and deleted them when I reached point 6 in favour of the following conclusion. This proposal is just an unworkable farce which would be open to manipulation, diminishes the status of the Lower Leagues and the prestige (albeit limited) of being Champions. Given our recent experience of how the SPFL can ignore their own rules when it suits them I suggest their is insufficient confidence or faith that they can be trusted to implement and run this proposal honourably if it was approved!

We all have hope - it's a core attribute for Jags fans!

I think this game is one of many that will fall into the must win category. With Falkirk at home to Montrose and Airdrie away to Peterhead and the fact that all of these teams could drop points a win against Cove will get us right into the mix! Lose and I think 4th place might be the best we can hope for. As usual goals seem to be the problem. Difficult to see where they are going to come from!

Oh just to add - last night's championship results were excellent. Defeats for both Dundee (Nelms) and Raith (Clark). Very happy about that and the fact ICT were one of the Victor's!

Sorry, just noticed your comment. Yes you are correct Arbroath have also, like QoS, achieved some good if unexpected results. I notice though that although clear of bottom club Alloa they have fallen back a bit in recent weeks. QoS appear to have been a little bit better in sustaining their good results. Football is forever unpredictable. From what I saw last season I thought Arbroath were a decent looking team and expected much the same this year. Who would have predicted for this season the shambles that is Celtic FC or the implosion that is Sheffield Utd. I have sympathy for the latter and consider the former good karma!

Kakay I think had a shaky start with us but I thought he made a very good contribution to the team and got better with every game. By comparison Cole, at least when I saw him play, was largely anonymous in our midfield and had very little impact on the game. I would take Kakay back but would need to be convinced about Cole. Signing for QPR is a good gig for him. Hope it goes well but have my doubts.

I am not so sure this "two club" view of how football in this country is administered applies at the moment. Perhaps in the past I would wholeheartedly agree but at the moment I am not so sure. The SPFL (not so much the SFA) in particular have been running football for the benefit of one club and that club is Celtic! Even though Newall is going this will remain the case as long as McLennan and Doncaster remain in control. The events of the past year were all about getting Celtic their 9th Title and setting them up for the 'historic' 10th Title. To do this the Leagues needed to be 'called' instead of being declared 'null and void'! We were just collateral damage. However, being a believer in Karma I am delighted it has served up to Celtic a shambolic and disastrous season which I hope will take them a few years from which to recover. It's no secret McLennan and Doncaster have had their problems with Rangers FC. There is so much wrong with the administration of Scottish Football at the moment and I agree root and branch change is needed. Removing McLennan and Doncaster for the good of all would be a good start!