allyo

Fair enough, don't really disagree with that. Consequences though, rather than punishments. Maybe I'm being pedantic. I do think the fact that being a top level football player is a very attractive proposition to most of us, and being a top level referee is not, is significant. If there isn't the same pool there won't be the same level of talent. And the constant trial by TV experts, and whinging managers and fans, doesn't help that situation.

Players shouldn't be allowed to question referees' decisions. They should accept them, that's the game. And to suggest that a referee's mistake is equivalent to a sending off, and should be punished similarly, is ridiculous. A referee's mistake is equivalent to a striker missing a chance or a defender losing his man. It's a misjudgement, a moment of failure. It may be worthy of criticism, but not disciplinary action.

I'm afraid he's lost more than that, but I shouldn't dwell.

Are you Alex Ferguson in disguise?

Okay. Disagree. This thread's turning into a Balatoni bashing session today. I can't see the positive in that, even if he did make a few mistakes. Last season's back four plus Fox, when playing together, have been pretty solid this season. That's a valid argument. Fox has made good saves but he isn't a one man show. A defensive unit builds an understanding. The fact that Gabriel isn't part of that shared experience isn't his fault and doesn't make him a bad player, but it's fair to suggest that our 'regular' back five have a better chance of competing at this stage. That's not bias and it's not necessarily because they're fans' favourites.

Worst at peeing our pants when the team loses a couple of games. Or best. Whatever.

Agree with this. By all means defend Gabriel. As has been said, he's a young guy coming into a new team in a new country. But there's little point in doing this by pointing out the mistakes of others.

If all the referees are terrible, which seems to be the common view among football people around the world, then I'm not sure that we can punish them too severely, as to do so would leave us with no referees and no game. They make mistakes but they're doing a virtually impossible job that I reckon few of us would want to do, so I'm afraid I'm in the tiny minority that thinks we should give them a break, even when a terrible decision goes against our own team. I get really sick of pundits who contribute little to the game and take a lot out of it, constantly getting stuck into the referees while they sit with their instant slow motion replays and multiple camera angles. Having said all that, I was giving him pelters on Saturday because my angle from the front of the JHS was almost as good as his own. By the way, who says the Edinburgh derby is the biggest in the country? Rugby town.

Fair enough. You can argue that. But it's not the plan B that everyone's talking about. Yes, I want us to tighten up at set pieces, and get better delivery into the box. But I don't want us to start believing that thistle's style of football doesn't work, or we can't cut it in this league, on the basis of a couple of bad games. And the players have earned a bit of respect and patience that I'm not seeing from many on here.

Missing chances isn't a tactic. Or a style of football. If you're asking me if I think we should stop missing chances then I'd say yes, we should. But that comes from confidence, not changing our philosophy.

Regarding AV and Norwich, I don't know, to be honest. What I do know is that Thistle have won a league title and picked up 13 premier league points playing attractive football. Our style of football was not to blame for results against Hearts, Hibs, Killie etc. Thistle were genuinely dominant in these games and would have won if we'd taken fair share of chances, of which we made plenty. To try to rewrite it, as if the other teams in these games were happy to let us have the ball, comfortable knowing that we'd never score, is just wrong. We've had two consecutive bad games. Before yesterday we'd had one. So to suggest that we've been endlessly persevering with a formula that clearly isn't working is, in my view, inaccurate. Not saying that we couldn't make a few changes, when the time is right. And I think there were mistakes yesterday. But I think confidence is a far bigger factor than poor tactics or inability, and I hope the team can get it back. Important that the fans are on side.

Anyone watch MOTD last night? Both Norwich and Aston villa been struggling, couldn't score a goal. Confidence rock bottom. Both of them got a goal, came out and immediately scored another, won the game. Confidence is everything. Our has team looked comfortably capable in the premier league in every game up until Monday. And every pundit has said it. And now our OWN FANS on this forum are determined to insist that we're not good enough, we're out of our depth, we're going down. And to BLAME a management team and players who comfortably won the first division and have been a credit in most games since. Sure, it's frustrating, and everyone involved with Thistle will share the frustration. There's work to be done. But if confidence is a key factor, which I think it is, then the attitude of many people on this forum, if shared by the wider support in general, will be the most destructive thing happening to Thistle at the moment.

Just to clarify, as I may have missed something. Did we lose a game or is it the end of the world?

I think we've bean through most of them now. Peas stop.

Are really hope the team don't throw in the towel the way everyone on this forum does. You'd think we'd drawn Real Madrid.

Maybe Celtic. But we'll never beat the club that died again. How many times do I need to remind you? ;-)

They're all tricky games. Thistle have to go out every week and prove that they're good enough. I think we are.

To be fair (and you generally have been) comparing our for and against total in our three heaviest defeats is never going to look good. Other defeats have all been to one goal. That shows that we're competing consistently and not out of our depth by any means. A work in progress, yes, but there's plenty of room for optimism.

Are you on an I-pad?

Guys on the radio are fairer than the people on this forum. Bad game maybe, fair enough, but it's not time to start picking on players.

The season's just started. Don't see why we have to be going on about him leaving for now. None of our players will be here forever but for the moment he's a major part of the team.

The new club won. The defunct club will never play again.

Aye, berry good!

If only they'd said, we'd all have understood!

There have been hints on this thread. Is it too early to say...? McNamara put some team together