exiledjag

Finishing 3rd or 4th in the play-off places is no great reward under the present system which is heavily loaded in favour of whichever SPL team takes part in the play-off final. We need to finish at worst in second place to have any chance of winning promotion. To do that we need to get closer to RR & DU and stay in touch with them in the hope that they both have poor runs like the one DU are in at the moment! So to make the Championship a 3 horse race all our games fall into the 'must win' category until we are well and truly in the mix!

Prior to reading your post above I suggested on the tonight's game thread that the Arabs fall from form might coincide with Dochertys absence from the team so without knowing the stats I do recognise his importance to Dundee United as a ball winning midfielder and captain. However I don't think its as simple as saying that because of Dochertys contribution to DU we should have him back or I shouldn't has some doubts about him. The point has already been made about Bannigan's role in helping Docherty recycle the ball etc. Also DU have different strengths and weakness from us. In our case I think we need someone in midfield who has Docherty's leadership attributes but who has a greater physical presence. So your points are noted but doubt I will be changing my mind about wanting him back as a Jag. I wish him every success for the future, but just not tonight.

I may well be wrong with this comment but has Dundee United's stuttering run not coincided with Docherty's absence from the team? Is he out due to injury or suspension or both? As far as tonight's game is concerned its really a must win for us. I live in hope that we will win, we certainly have the players who can hurt United, but we must play for 90 mins! When was the last time.within did this? I can't say I an confident about our chances and notwithstanding our much debated need for a defensive midfielder I also think we need a strong central defender. I am not particularly convinced of the Sneddon, Muirhead, Neilson triangle in the centre and see Muirhead in particular as the most vulnerable. If ever anybody is missing Holt it's Muirhead! Let's hope that Dundee Utd's lack of form and our strengths, of which there are many, can outweigh our weaknesses and we can look forward to 90+ mins of a full-on Jags performance. C'mon the Jags.

I raised the question about Tiffoney and Turner bring possible loan acquisitions solely because they were very good players for us under Doolan and are not certain starters at their clubs. I also asked would we want them back not because of anything to do with the manner of their leaving or doubts about their commitment but solely because of the squad we have and whether their return would create and overload of midfield and wide players. I agree a defensive midfielder is a priority but I would have Tiffoney and Turner (and Holt, not sure about Docherty) back in a jiffy!!

Merry Christmas to all Jags Fans and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024. I have the following FEARS: 1. That we lose Doolan to Dundee Utd 2. We replace Doolan with Kettlewell or Archibald 3. We play a great 90 minutes - and I miss it! 4. That Ross County avoid automatic relegation from the SPL. I think that's enough for the moment.

Great news about Graham's contract extension. I particularly like the references to developing his role in coaching and continuing his work with the Ladies team. These references suggest that the decision makers in the Club see a long term role for him at PTFC beyond his playing days. On the wider front Doolan's comment abouts planning being well advanced for the January transfer window is encouraging. I wonder if Turner and/or Tiffoney would be loan targets as neither are setting the heather on fire at Ross County and Dundee. However would we want them back?

Another late goal, yes its amazing! However this goal was for a draw and 1 point.

Stating the obvious but if we can win tomorrow we will be 4 points adrift of Dundee Utd (who will have a game in hand) and 9 points adrift of Raith Rovers. Great results tonight for Queens and especially Ayr who played the second half with 10 men but still managed to score 3 goals. If we can keep McKay (striker) quiet we can win this game. I'd like to see Adeloye getting a run.

The Legand Blows states (extract): "Happy he's staying but gonna be a tighter budget and tougher season in 24/25" Why would our budget be tighter next season? I thought the financial position of the club had improved with new investment, 3000+ season ticket holders and ongoing efforts to bring in further new/increased investment. The above might not put us into the DUFC or RRFC 'league' but should it mean a reduced budget? As far as McMillan and Milne are concerned if any club attempts to buy either It will be on last seasons form. This season, due mainly to injuries, they have made a minimal contribution to the team. I can see Both Raith and the Arabs going up so we will be joined in the Championship by two from Livingston, Motherwell, Ross County or St Johnstone. On what I have seen so far I don't think any of these sides are significantly better than Raith or the Arabs. In conclusion I see next seasons Championship being just as difficult as this season but not more difficult. To be promoted we need to win 4/5 games more than the current two leaders and lose or draw fewer games than them as well. A tall order I would suggest.

Trouble with being 3rd is the same as last season - under the unfair play-off system we still have to beat 3 teams (Championship 4th & 2nd and SPL 11th) and play 6 games within a short time frame). Some astute January signing and a ref other than Nick Walsh and we might have a chance!

What did we change in the second half?

A must win game today. C'MON the Jags

Returning to the player fund. Does anyone know how much has actually been raised for the January transfer window. Also how can fans keep up to date with this - the accruing number and value of donations. For example, are there progress reports anywhere. Apologies if this information is available on the club website but I don't see/can't find any such info.

I admit to being a conspiracy theorist but it seems to me that since our relegation/legal issue with the SPFL we are experiencing more than our fair share of dodgy refereeing decisions. Examples Sunday"s referee was awful and Partick Ladies suffered - a disallowed goal and a red card that was at worst a yellow. Shocking decisions! For the men there is always the play-off game at Dingwall where in my opinion the referee there did everything he possibly could to help the home team. I know we have had bad decisions before - the penalty for Killie (the ref was a certain Nick Walsh) when the ref gave a penalty for an incident he couldn't possibly have seen. I can't believe all the referees are incompetent so there must be more to it such as an anti-Partick Thistle conspiracy!!

Williams as our defensive midfielder - totally agree as I suggested this very role for him a few weeks ago. He is big and strong and quite a few posters on this site have suggested, due to his recent form, he is a footballer! Worth a try at least in training andbpractice games.

Agree with this. We need Solid/safe goalkeeper (Mitchell?) Defensive midfield player, (Docherty) Big trong central defender (Holt) Do we need cover elsewhere. If we had Holt in the centre of our defence with either Neilson or Muirhead we would have won that game. Muirhead is not commanding enough to be the main player in our central defence. As for Sneddon he had a poor game. Not helped by Muirhead he should have saved the header and could have done much better with the 2nd and 3rd goals. He seemed slow getting down to the ball but perhaps that was the TV effect. Think though its time to bring back Mitchell.

For as long as I can remember Kirkcaldy has not been a positive place for us to visit. History and the fact we are playing the best Raith team in years won't make it any easier. Wasn't a recent visit their under Ian McCall a bit of a thrashing. Still we are the Jags and we do the unexpected so I would be happy with a point. Hope big Adeloye plays. C'mon the Jsgs.

Thanks for this. Pity for Toni -a chance missed to show what he can do over 90 mins.,

Any word on why Adeloye wasn't in today's squad?

I didn't think resigning Lawless was a good idea but I have eaten my hat on that one ages ago. I thought some of the football we played after Doolan's appointment and especially in the play-off games was the best I had seen in years and Lawless was ar the centre of most of it. He has turned out to be a great signing and its a brilliant piece of business getting him to agree to a two year extension.

I do as well. Let's hope this tie is played on a level and fair playing field and that we avoid a certain referee.

Will do!

That 3 away wins in a row, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd and now Motherwell. We are truly punching above our weight and in teo of the above victories we have come from behind to clinch the 3 points. What a team. Two big games coming up Hearts at home and Glasgow City away. Big Brian will have his team fired up and ready to ho. We are now 9 points against 7th place Aberdeen so ATM looking good gor a top 6 finish.

I see the Dick Campbell (alias 'The Bunnet') has departed from Arbroath) following today's Cup defeat by Spartans. Any chance we could recruit him as Director of Football given Ian McCall is no longer available.......only joking!!

What personal circumstances?