exiledjag

Re LenzieJag & DarkPassenger My comment "consider this window successful" I agree with your responses. You are both correct that we won't know if this is the case until results improve. I think the problem is my use of the word 'successful'. When typing the post I was thinking that the signings (and departures) in this transfer window looked 'better' when compared to recent (last 3 years) windows. In this window it looks like someone, presumably IMC, knows what they are doing and are working to a plan for the immediate and longer terms. This gives me some hope for the future. Re Zanetta. (LenzieJag) He has a lot of supporters on this forum and more importantly (for the player) IMC has publicly endorsed him. For me though he has a lot to do before I become one of them. A big step forward (for me) would be for him to lose the 'Amoo attitude' (ethargic, not interested) which he seems to project when playing. Similar to my comments about Cardle - if Zanetta rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck in, in his own way, then I'll be happy.

OK perhaps been harsh with my comments on Cardle re commitment etc. Living where I do I don't get to see as many games as the majority of Jags fans. However I have seen Cardle a number of times now and IMO he hasn't contributed anything to the team being mainly ineffective and anonymous. That's how I formed my opinion. If you see him every week or so then you are in a better position than I am to assess him, however on what I've seen he has not impressed.

OK accept your point about his time at Alloa but he has not impressed this season at struggling Thistle! Who stays/who leaves is just my opinion. If Zanetta stays and shows the right attitude and in his own way gets stuck in I'll be happy!

If things stay as they are with no further signings or departures I think we can assess this window as successful. IMO transfer activity represents a good balance between short term and long term needs with perhaps a bit more emphasis on the short term needed. I expect my sanity will be questioned on this next point but I have no problems with Williamson, Saunders and Mansell still being at Firhill. I feel there is something in each of these players that IMC (and coaches) can develop. On the other hand would not be unhappy if Robson, Cardle and Zanetta were released. The latter two strike me as players who will contribute to a team which is flying, like Dundee Utd, but are not suited to one which is struggling like PTFC! They don't appear to have the attitude, work ethic or commitment to the cause! Austin, haven't seen him but defer to fellow posters who have. Let him go!

Albeit a shortist time as a Jag I still consider him a legend and IMO Sandy and Davie McParland were cheated out of the Scottish Caps they richly deserved by the Scottish FA Mafia/ Establishment. In Sandy's case the SFA sent a Selector to look at him for a place in the Scottish Squad. It was reported selection was between Sandy and Holt of Hearts. The Selector just happened to be a Director of......... Hearts; Holt was selected!

I loved that strip. Best ever. When a kid it was my favourite Christmas Present. Even had my photo taken on Christmas Day by professional photographer. My face was beaming as I was so proud wearing it.

Suspect IMC will, subject to any further signings, hold onto: - Mansell (cover for Graham) - Williamson (IMC has complimented him a couple of times and seems to rate him) - Saunders (cover for O'Ware & Brownie) - Jones (cover for Rudden) - Zanetta (IMC seem to rate him) Suspect Robson & Austin will leave I would also like to see Cardle, Jones & Zanetta go as well. Just an opinion!!

Yes - just key in - Sandy Brown own goal Everton v Liverpool - and it comes up. Fantastic header. Afraid Sandy just didn't get the right connection to get it the ball over the crossbar or beyond the post! Any Centre Forward would be proud of that header

Reading these post makes me think of a number of factors contributing to where we are at the moment. 1. In terms of numbers and quality the sheer number of players coming into and out of the club since the summer of 2017 must be frightening and certainly doesn't suggest or enable stability. 2. The performance of our managers - Archibald and Caldwell (I don't know enough about others Chair, Director and so on but clearly something went wrong around 2017 and I suspect is still not resolved), in terms of recruitment, selection, tactics, perhaps training and coaching. Our current situation is similar to Sunderland. They appoint Jack Ross (their Ian McCall) at a time the club was a total shambles (like PTFC). He gets them organised and looking like a football club/team (just what IMC is doing for Jags). Ross fails (twice) to get promotion and is sacked. However his successor is taking over a well organised football club. The moral - Rome wasn't built in a day. Perhaps IMC'S destiny/role is to get the football side of PTFC back to a well run professional level.

I was actually at that game and remember that the Dundee Centre Half Ian Ure was in the frame for a Scottish Cap until Billy Hainey made mince of him to score a great 3rd goal. Ure's International debut was delayed for a while! I walked home down the road to the Round Toll in a dream! People don't realise how good that Dundee Team was. They hammered Rangers 5-1 at Ibrox, European Cup Semi-Finalists and yet thumped by the Jags at Firhill and very fortunate to beat us by the odd goal at Dens Park. What a team we had then and great crowds but for some reason we never had the money to build on the potential!!

Same hear. Going to Firhill was magic in those day - fantastic atmosphere and really rocked when Cowan and McParland were in full flight! Remember ripping an excellent Kilmarnock team apart 3-2 after which with Neil Duffy said we should have won more convincingly. Killie I think finished above us in 2nd place. I recall Duffy after he retired from football and in a moment of reflection saying, as a general weakness, that Thistle team just couldn't score enough goals!

Showing my age but would you be inspired by this team:: Goal: Niven Full-Backs: Hogan Brown Half-Backs: Harvey McKinnon Cunningham Forward Line: Cowan Whielaw Hainey Duffy McParland Defence, particularly right back was suspect. Wonder if these players realised they were playing in a golden era for Thistle Late 1950s to Mid 1960s - third in league, European qualification!!

My final words on what was a dreadful performance. I was at the match and at the end felt very disappointed, angry and let down by the team performance. It was clear I wasn't alone in this respect as a number of fans booed the team off the park. I think though the comments about Fox are very harsh. Didn't think he was at fault for the goals and yes his kicking strategy was very poor (but was he following instructions). I do recall Fox coming off his line on a number of occasions for some dangerous crosses and holding them thereby taking pressure off his defence. Something he is often criticised for not doing! Apart from the crosses I don't recall Fox having to make save after save as comments on this thread would imply by the level of Arbroath's dominance. I think our frustration with the performance comes from rarely getting out of our own half (first half) and our adject attempts to play any football in the game. One of the poorest performances from a team that these days rarely looks like a football team!

I thought Arbroath were the better footballing team throughout the 90 minutes. Their control of the ball, first touch, passing and running off the ball were streets ahead of us and that's why they won. It could easily have been 3 or 4 at half time. Depressing!

I think it will be a tight game. Arbroath, though unlikely to match their first half of season results, will get back on the rails at some point and suppose Jags are the most likely team to help them do so. Wighton hasn't played that much recently so might not be effective as he usually is against us. Same though could be said for some of our players. Bobby Linn is the danger man. Hold him and I think we will be OK. So being positive 2-1 (possibly 2-0) to Jags.

Good signing in a number of ways. Purely speculation on my part but Graham, who is not a prolific goalscorer, can offer us a number of possibilities: - at last a real centre forward who can receive and hold balls from defence - bring other players into play, Rudden and advancing midfielders, for example" a fit Gordon - in the box, provide an aerial threat - the occasional goal and enable Rudden to play off him - different tactical options - I would love McCall to go to a 433 formation when he feels we can with Graham in the centre and 2 strikers playing off him on either side (have never felt one up front worked for us or that we rarely get enough players into the box when attacking); ramifications for elsewhere like Midfield but worth a try against the likes of Arbroath, Alloa, Morton etc. Welcome to Firhill Brian.

Now looking forward to the Arbroath game due to the transfer news. Almost a home game for me as Gayfield is just 80 odd miles down the road! Will definitely be there. Arbroath are slowly but surely returning to the real world in this division so not in best of form. Think we will win a tough match either 2-0 or 2-1! This team is starting to look really good (and potentially very exciting) but to win I think we we have to do 2 things - Mark Bobby Linn out of the game - establish a good lead by 60th minute.

I would really like Kakay back, notwithstanding the conflicting comments (with his leaving twitter message) about not enjoying being with the Jags/living in Glasgow. There was definitely a player in there. Very good idea (weebaw1) about moving Williamson forward now that we have o'conner - never thought of that but worth a try as it would be playing to his strengths. I generally agree with Lady Isobel - talks a lot of sense, afraid there is a 'but' on this occasion. I would never have used the word 'composure' in the same sentence as the words 'Miles Storey'. I thought he was a quick mover but slow thinker! Can't comment on Austin - haven't seen him but agree with opinions that he should be given a fair chance.

There's a thought! Would certainly baffle the opposition! On a more serious note I see that Ross Co have signed Oli Shaw from Hibs and that RC are saying lots of clubs interested in Brian Graham. Wonder how good our chances are of getting him to sign.

When I pressed submit my formation scattered. It was 443.

Looking to next season and assuming we are at worst still in the championship, so far the team is looking like: (the formation and position of players is just guesswork on my part and will not be accurate as I don't know enough about some of the individuals) Fox (Right Back)? Brownlee O'Ware Penrice Docherty. Gordon. McKinnon. Bannigan Rudden. (Striker)? Bench- Sneddon, Williamson, Saunders, Slater, (another Midfielder), (another striker) Gone: this seasons Loanees (Cole, Barjolos, O'Conner), McGinty, Harkins, Miller, Cardle, Zanetta. Would like to sign Cole on a permanent deal but doubt this will happen. Suspect I have probably missed some names from the current squad and that there will be disagreement about releasing Cardle and Zanetta (and perhaps McGinty). I would expect McCall will address the 'gaps' if not in this window then certainly in the summer window! Any thoughts?

Assume McCall will see all this: - Robson - long balls -big gap between Midfield and strikers and make the necessary changes at half-time! Not at game but C'mon the Jags!!

Thank you very much Dunnikierjag. Have been thinking about this for sometime as he is a very promising keeper. Will now do it! As a young footballer all I ever wanted to do was yo play for the Jags but no luck - not sure I was good enough but a bad knee injury decided the issue anyway. Would be great watching my grandson in the Thistle goal! Thanks again.

Re Fox. I watched my 17yr old grandson recently playing in goal for a junior team. He normally plays at u19 level with an Academy Team. So a big jump for him from his normal and I admit to being a bit worried due to age and physical development differences. In the first 5 minutes he confidently, under pressure, took and held a high dangerous cross on his 6 yard line. Immediately earning the respect of his defence ans spectators. He did this on 3 further occasions during the match. Everytime he took a cross usually from well off his line I thought of how Fox doesn't or rarely does this. Aberdeen and Rangers (heaven forbid) have both looked at him so I might send a letter to Firhill mamagement!

Really can't see any merit in keeping Cardle. On the occasions I have seen him he has made very little impact on the game in general play, even when we won. Also difficult to understand why anyone would want to keep Zanetta - another player who contributes very little and who seems totally disinterested when on the field. His attitude reminds me of Amoo! Anyone remember him? There are players 'inside' all of the players mentioned in this thread, I think that about Mansell, but it appears we need a magician to bring out their ability and commitment not a manager!