Firhillista

I thought it was the 27th of July, but given the lack of any comment, maybe it's the 27th August. It's time for those in charge to clarify the club's financial position to the fans. Why is it that our club is being out-performed financially by practically every other club in the league? I believe we had expressed an interest in the boy Baird before he went to Raith, but, inevitably, they could outbid us. How is this possible? It's getting well past a joke, now....

Really? It's doin' my head in! I'm concerned that the overwhelming sound coming from the Jackie Husband stand this season will be grumpy old men mumping 'cos we're not 3-0 up within the first ten minutes...

We obviously weren't watching the same games...

Can we get rid of this nonsense that McCall's successes so far have been down to his assistant managers? If that was the case, wouldn't there be evidence of these self-same people going on to achieve success elsewhere? How did Thistle do when Gerry was in charge, not just the assistant? How well are Queen's Park doing exactly? How is Irons getting on? And what is everyone basing the assumption that Iain Maxwell is a poor assistant manager on? I watched the same games last season as everyone else on here and what I saw was Thistle consistently out-playing the opposition and failing to win because they couldn't score. A problem we're likely to experience again this season. This, doubtless, will be blamed on McCall. But he did his best to bring in a goal scorer last year and I don't see that he can be faulted for getting us Amy MacDonald's boyfried - top scorer in the SPL outwith the Old Firm - even if it didn't work out. Played two, won two. Really, let's keep calm....

With the exception of Lambie - and, let's face it, how exceptional was the great Lambini? - McCall is the best manager Thistle have had in the past twenty years. I defy anyone to name a better Thistle manager over that time frame. And as for there being 'better managers out there' - name one. The belief that we could take an untried manager from the lower divisions and he'd turn out to be the the greatest thing since Alex Ferguson is just nonsense. There are too many precious Jags fans at the moment who're chucking the dummy out the pram because we're not winning promotion. Christ, what makes anyone think that we should sack the manager because he can't guarantee success to a club like Thistle? Who could, particularly given the current economic conditions? Does anyone think the Clyde fans have warm cuddly feelings for the folk in charge of their club? - re-location to the back of beyond and near extinction is all they've been offered in a generation with some crap managers and players along the way. But they managed to support their team last Saturday, while some Thistle fans sat glowering in their seats because we're not better than they think we should be. Get a grip. Get a sense of perspective. Start supporting the team. This is, God help us, meant to be fun, remember. And as for the growing 'McCall out' brigade - not in my name....

Colin McAdam. The miserable thieving scumbags..... Don't get me started.

At last! Rumours! That's what I come on here for. If I wanted to listen to moaning, I could just phone the wife. Probably a reflection of how things are at the moment that I can actually get excited about the prospect of us signing Tom Brighton or Andrius Velicka. (Aw naw, was that a moan?....)

I think the point is they're supposed to put money INTO the club, not take it out. (Noises off of angry Thistle fans grinding axes...)

"Hearts intend to farm several young players out on loan due to the absence of an SPL reserve league. Jefferies is seeking short-term moves for those who are now too old for under-19s. Dylan McGowan and Michael Deland have had loans mooted with East Fife and Cowdenbeath respectively. "I'm hoping to do the same with another four or five," said Jefferies. "Conrad Balatoni and Jonny Stewart need games and there's another couple." " From the Scotsman. looks like a loan deal then?

Any idea of the trialist centre-back's name? Googled various approximations from the THW report, but no success.

Okay, let the fevered speculation begin. "After a disappointing World Cup, Rooney/Reynaldo/Messi (delete as appropriate)announces a startling move to Firhill..." Official website Aye, okay. Who do we really think it is?

Funny how that only works when it's folk agreeing with the negativity. Anyone pointing out that consistently rubbishing everything to do with the club might not be construed as expressing much support for Thistle is instantly attacked with the "we're all entitled to an opinion" crap. Yes, everyone's entitled to an opinion, but not everyone can be right. And my opinion is that some folk on here express views that are offensive to anyone who supports Partick Thistle. A view I think I'm allowed to express. Or does that not conform to the current programme?

What's laughable about it? Or is this just another example of, if someone connected with Partick Thistle says anything, rubbish it 'cos everything to do with Thistle is crap? Just exactly how does your definition of 'supporter' connect with hating everything to do with the club?

Time folk got a grip - again. How much complaining about the Board needs to occur before something changes? Could it be that moaning on a fanzine website won't have any effect whatsoever? The demonising of board members that takes place on here is frankly outrageous - you'd think some folk would be happy to spring Peter Tobin from the jile and put him up as the new chairman just to get rid of the present incumbent. Anyone notice that we're in the worst recession since the thirties? That the vast majority of football clubs have ridiculous amounts of debt and are struggling to put out a half decent team? I for one am fed up reading posters on here saying that the players are crap, the manager's a clown, the Board are all self-interested con-men, the ground's a disgrace and the strip is pathetic. So what's left? Folk who feel that way about Partick Thistle should do us all a favour and take their 'support' somewhere else.

Big season for a lot of folk. McCall obviously feels he's under pressure to deliver. Paton, Cairney, Erskine and Grehan have it all to prove as well - not quite last chance saloon but damn near it. And then there's Liam.... If he wants to move on from us to make significant money somewhere, then he's got to prove he can score goals AND stay fit. Not to mention, of course, the young guys who'll be looking to make this the season they break through into the first team. And our new coaching staff who need to justify their existence to the board... So no pressure around Firhill this season then...

My link

I don't see the contemporary 4-3-3 as being about a lone striker up front with two wingers, more that the front three work flexibly with the lone striker providing a target for the other two to play off. I'm sure McCall tried something like this against Airdrie away last season with Buchanan on the right, Doolan on the left and Donnelly up front. It was pretty effective, I think. (Despite his size, Donnelly holds the ball up really well.) As for Liam being our top goal scorer, aye, well....

I know McCall's got previous for going with three at the back, but every comment I've read from Mcnamara indicates he's going to be playing central midfield. Given that Rowson will be in there as well - and assuming McCall's been watching the World Cup - the most likely formation will be a flat back four with Rowson and McNamara as holding midfielders, Grehan playing the lone central attacker role supported by Buchanan right and Erskine left and the 'Messi-role' being taken on by Donnelly or Cairney or McBeth. I can see this doing okay, actually. I think the more pessimistic views of our chances this season don't take into account the fact that the opposition aren't much better off than ourselves. (Don't forget Falkirk have Pressley as manager...)

Or.... Halliwell Paton Kinninburgh Robertson Boyle Cairney McNamara Rowson Erskine Buchanan Grehan in either a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation with a bench of Hinchcliffe, Donnelly, Doolan, Burns, McBeth and McGeogh. Okay, defence looks a bit dodgy, but not a bad side. And that's assuming we don't bring anyone else into the squad AND we'd still have a fit Archie to bring back. Looking at the competition, I honestly think we'll compete. Dundee and Falkirk might seem like the major contenders, but don't forget they've got Chisholm and Pressley managing them. None of the rest look in any better shape than us. We can do this!

Well, from the perspective of someone who's been watching them since 1969, all I can say is, the 80's were the pits! A desperate decade for the Jags with little or nothing to recommend it. (Thatcher in power wasn't much fun either.) I honestly think McCall is the best manager, aside from Lambie, we've had since Auld left (and, dear God, some of Auld's decisions took your breath away - remember he fell out with Rough and dropped him for Arrol?) Win, lose or draw, I'll be there this season. Got my season ticket and my optimism is riding high, as always. Bring it on!

So we're all die-hard Jags fans then. we'll do anything for the club. Do anything it takes to see them survive and prosper in the worst economic recession in a generation. Except pay an extra quid to get in to see them play....

I'll be there with three others and maybe two more. (My wife had said she might come, but she told me this morning she's changed her mind - hasn't got over some Hibs fan chucking a half brick over the wall into the ground when we were leaving at the end of a game once - mind you, it was 1979...)

Hi everyone. Well, this looks very familiar... wait a minute, there's no-one arguing or abusing each other - where am I? what's going on? what strange alternative reality is this... All it needs is for Thistle to lose to QoS on Saturday, though, and I'm sure it'll all be back to normal. All joking aside, looking great, guys. I was in despair at the thought of not having some kind of forum to keep me up to date with the madness. Well done to everyone involved.