CotterJag

All has a very familiar feel to it, including being harshly treated / cheated by refs.

Not disagreeing with what you say but it kind of shows how difficult it is to build a team by buying a few good players and expecting they will perform well together. The fact that other teams wanted them, shows they were well thought of and yet we're still not top of the league. Are they underperforming as individuals, were they not as good as anyone thought, are they not good in the same team as each other, or is it the Manager that's not getting the best out of them? Difficult to answer with any degree of certainty and I suspect it's all of the above but I've seen how we can play under Dools when we have the right mix, so I'm sticking with him. He may have picked a couple of players that aren't suitable for the team but that's football and that happens in every team. I doubt we have any 'paid' full time scouts to help Doold and if we did there'd be murder, as that would be a complete waste of money......... to some We might not get it completely right this season, it seems, but we're under the right Manager for the time being in my eyes.

That's one more than me. Can't believe how difficult it is for me to name any player.

I also think we have to accept that continuity isn't really an option for clubs of our size. If Dools and our players were doing better than they currently are, they'd probably end up somewhere else. That isn't of course a reason for failure but it does make it difficult to be successful. I admire Managers and players that are loyal, even when they are doing well and have the chance of a move to somewhere shite like RC or D Utd. Dools has been incredibly loyal to Thistle, is most likely still learning his trade and has lost a few very good players to other teams and to injury. I'm inclined to give him time and in no hurry to replace him with an unknown quantity. Despite having a reasonable budget (as has been claimed), I wouldn't say it could have been a budget to guarantee promotion. A budget of that size could exist at our level but I don't see any evidence in our signings that support that notion. It's also not easy to replace good players that leave, as other teams also find out when they replace their good players with some of ours. You'd be lucky if 2 in 5 signings made a difference and it doesn't feel likely that many signings will be better than the player that left for their dream location.

The sooner they admit the draw is rigged, the less annoying it will be.

How you project yourself as a person, also has a lot to do with it, unless you're so far ahead that it doesn't matter. Played with and against players that played in the English Premier. Knew of others rated far more highly than them but didn't quite make it. Walking the walk has a lot to do with being given a chance.

What a photo that is. Wasn't born but feel like I was there. In fact, I feel like I'm taking the photo. Can almost hear, feel and smell Firhill.

Could be wrong but I thought you could choose either end of the ground for the Ayr game. Remember at half-time a good few Jags fans trying to run along the side of the pitch to get to the opposite end that Thistle would be shooting into. We were stopped by the police. Again memory not the best but were there not circa. 13,000 at the game? Would 13k fit in only the JHS, Main Stand and the North terrace?

Thought the same, after initially thinking it was offside. Could easily be on and a great decision from the linesman.

Lithuania v Scotland in 2003 - U21 game in Vilnius. -17 degrees. Too cold to even clap but somehow no-one seemed to leave before the final whistle.

BMMMH?

Good to hear. Couldn't stand the thought of him going to RC. Maybe the favourable experience could lead to Watford sending us another player or two on loan.

Happy New Year. All the best for 2025.

BBG just loves scoring goals. Long may it continue.

3 points, a big crowd, other results go our way and not having to read about sacking the manager. I'll enjoy a few beers tonight.

Have a great day, all. Happy Christmas.

What a kit that was and Alex O'Hara was my favourite player of that era.

I'll post this here, as don't want to jinx the upcoming 'new' match thread but this league isn't over for us by a long shot. Anyone who thinks it is, can't understand the stats and doesn't know Thistle. I said a while back that if we get to within 7 points of top by the new year and I think we might, then it's game on. There can be no debate about how plastic pitches ruin any game and are a massive advantage to the individual clodhoppers that play on them day in day out. They are not suitable for football teams and should be banned at all bar the non-league levels. I recorded the Livi game and watched it on x3, as couldn't stand watching it. The colour alone was shocking to my brain. GTTF.

These things are never certain and we could have gotten any team in the draw apart from Rangers or Fraserburgh.

This is my favourite thread by a long way. I'm always amazed by the many great photo's and by how few players I can remember.

Cheers robphil. There's just something magical about walking towards Firhill in the cold and when the team play like that, it's even better. Special mention as well to the pitch itself, which looks in great shape this season.

Really enjoyed the game on Saturday. Couple of pints in the Woodside, a slow walk up to Firhill and a magnificent performance from the team on the park. Great crowd too, bolstered no doubt by some Scotland and Croatia fans, some of which were close to me in the JH. I had three mates with me in the end. A Motherwell a Celtic and an Aberdeen fan. The Celtic fan hadn't been to Firhill since Bertie Auld was in charge. They all loved watching a game where there was no pressure on their team to win. Two other people I met from Corby on the train up, were in hospitality. One a Celtic and the other a Rangers fan. Ah well, it's all money to Thistle in the end. Each and every one of them said they had a great day out. Up The Jags.

Got me thinking when I said I was bringing two mates to the game on Saturday. One is an Aberdeen fan and the other a Motherwell fan. Both have been to Firhill more than 5 times. I wonder how many different teams are represented at an average Thistle game other than the two playing. I then thought about a team like Barcelona and wondered the same. Of course, no-one will know the exact answer to any of those questions but I wish there was a way of knowing.

1st game of the season for me. Bringing a couple of mates. Can you still get a ticket from the annex behind the JH Stand? Thinking of buying from there and going for a pint at the ground before kick-off. Can't wait to walk towards Firhill again. It's been too long.

Good to hear. I'll be at the Hamilton game in two weeks and not so long ago was beginning to think it would be a dead rubber. I'm now thinking we could get ourselves right back into contention for the league title. It's Falkirk's to lose but if we can get to within 7 points by Xmas, it's game on.