pneplusjag

I found the stats very interesting and thanks for directing my attention towards this information. I've always believed that Azeez is a player we need to nurture as he has that raw ability which hasn't been fully realised yet. He is only 22 which bodes well for the future and I would certainly like to have more young players of his ilk in the squad than some teams I could mention who feel that age and experience are the only keys to success. The stats show that he has been involved in 11 one on ones and I can remember most of them, but yet he hasn't scored on any of those occasions and that is a cause for concern. However, he has the speed and the ability to get into those situations and that can only be a positive. I firmly believe that Adebayo will succeed and do us proud - you mark my words.

Only the third post I've made because I thoroughly enjoy what I read on this forum and prefer only to post when I've got something to say. I love the humour (Partickthedog's post of his dream before playing Celtic and the hoped for outcome), the friendliness and camaraderie of the people who post and the sensible comments made about the team and the manager. It's not all calling each other or effing and blinding all the time although I do believe referees are fair game. No, the reason I've posted is because I'd like to sum up how the season has gone so far - a bit of a first term report you could say. The Jags are a good side, much better than probably most people think. I feel that they can hold their own and beat every side in the league apart from maybe Celtic. The team has evolved positively and Archie now has the players performing well with recent results reflecting this. Beating Killie this weekend will be a perfect end to the year and reinforce their position in the league. The upturn in fortunes is down to the players who deserve a great deal of credit for what they've achieved after a poor start. Cerny - An excellent keeper, great to know he is behind you and has made many important saves at important times in matches. Very reliable indeed. 9/10 Scully - played well early on until his unfortunate injury - felt he was a little weak on dealing with crosses but generally solid 7/10 Stuckmann - Did well when he came in but received stick for winning Aberdeen goal (not justified) and for late Rangers winning goal (justified). 6/10 Elliott - hasn't let the team down and played well on the whole although his distribution could be better 7/10 Booth - excellent attacking full back who gives the team plenty of width and is a good crosser of the ball. Superb free kick goal last week 8/10 Barton - Since coming into the team has brought the stability the team needed. A ball player rather than a ball winner and you feel he could be utilised much better in midfield if the defence was strengthened in January. Great to watch when he is on the ball and a good distributor when in possession. 8/10 Devine - Made many errors in early matches but seemed to up his game a great deal when Barton was beside him. Still commits too many fouls in dangerous areas but no one can call him for a lack of effort. 7/10 Edwards - a real worker never stops running and he could have won the game for us against the Glasgow Blues when we were 1-0 up only to be denied by the bar. The last game v Dundee shows what an important player he is in the side. His rise in confidence has seen a great improvement in his distribution 8/10 Osman - Can't forget his winning goal against the Perth side and the superb picture that it set up when they celebrated. I would like to see him more involved at times as he can drift in and out of games but generally he has been reliable. 7/10 Lindsay - has done very well indeed and is joint leading goalscorer - no mean feat for defender/midfield. Hope his injury last week isn't too serious because he is always a threat from set pieces. His defensive side just needs working on as he can wander a little and be out of position 8/10 Welsh - has come in for quite a bit of criticism in the forum mainly because of his poor crossing and weak free kicks but I've found this a little harsh as he is another who never hides himself away. Certainly makes mistakes and some poor corners but always gives 100% and contributes a lot to the team 7.5/10 Erskine - He can be an important player in the side when on song and has scored some excellent goals - good going forward but still needs to remember his defensive duties. There's a lot more to come from him in second half of season 7.5/10 Doolan - Mr Reliable but does need to be supported instead of being a lone front runner. Joint leading goalscorer and once again someone who never lacks effort in his contribution to the team. Every team needs a Doolan but we have have got him and long may it continue 8/10 Azeez - The mystery man - great at being a target and holding up the ball - uses his strength well to shield the ball until other team members are available. The mystery is never knowing what he is going to do with the ball when he is near goal. He scored a great header against Dundee but that is his only goal so far and yet he has had many one on one chances that have gone begging. I'm not going to give up on him because he does contribute a great deal to the team. 7/10 Lawless - Good player to have in your team even though he hasn't figured regularly - wont let you down 7/10 I'm not going to comment about other players but what I know is that there is an excellent squad of players here at Firhill and if Archie adds to them as he has suggested and mentioned in earlier posts then the Jags can only get better. I just hope that new players who may come in don't disrupt what is turning into a very promising season. I'm sure that we will make 6th place the very least position we can finish. I think 4th or 5th is a very reasonable prediction starting with a great victory this weekend against Killie. I'd like to wish everyone a very happy new year or should I say Happy Hogmanay being a Preston North End supporting sassenach but more importantly a Jags supporting sassenach!

Thank you for your responses to my post. I appreciate the welcome. Let's hope I bring good luck to the Jags and their future games especially on Saturday.

I've never posted on here before because I enjoy reading the comments from all the contributors and this is without doubt the best forum website I've come across. I have been a Preston North End supporter all my life with Partick Thistle my team in Scotland because of my great uncle when I were nowt but a lad. I followed the Jags in the 60s and 70s with Roughie and Doug Somner and especially when they beat Celtic in the League cup final. Why am I telling you all this? I've known Adam Barton since he was a small kid in Clitheroe in Lancashire and he was one of the most talented footballers I'd ever seen for his age. He was always in opposition to a certain Joe Garner now residing at a team I don't wish to mention and Adam usually came out on top. I've followed his career from Preston to Coventry to Portsmouth and also to international status with both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Now best of all he is here with the Jags. He is still a player with untapped potential and that was apparent before he broke his leg in his early years at PNE. Moving into the back four is the best move for him because he can read a game and his distribution is usually excellent. His weaknesses are that he can take it too easily and casually at times and you can't afford to do this at this level and that his languid style makes him appear lazy on the field. When he played in midfield, he was good on the ball but poor when he wasn't. Now that he's at the back he can read the game and make challenges when needed and not only that he has quite a shot on him as seen in the last game against Ross. I just hope the Jags go on from this victory and start to move on up that league because they are better that half the sides in that league. I rate quite a number of players in the team especially Edwards, Osman and Devine who looks a much better player with a calming influence beside him. I also think Azeez is an excellent player who always works his socks off but just needs that calmness in front of goal as shown by his superb header last night. As regards the goalkeeping situation, Thorsten Stuckmann is a the most reliable of keepers. He was player of the year at PNE in 2012 and when he left Doncaster earlier this year, the supporters wouldn't let him go without thanking him for everything he'd done - he was a real favourite. I think I've finished my essay but the main thing I want to say is C'mon the Jags, you can do it!!!