ChewinGumMacaroonBaaaz

Independence NOW! ... Freedom!!!

It's not just call off's though, it having to play on inconsistent surfaces. Heavy, soft, hard, slippery, sandy, what passes as "playable" varies and is open to interpretation by different referees. Injury to players is one of the biggest arguments against artificial pitches.... but at least if you know the surface you can take precautions, suitable footwear, or muscle support, and physios might, over time, become familiar with and develop better ways to treat recurring problems.... I think the bigger question is, do you see football as more of a test of man versus man and the elements, or team versus team/club versus club. Football has evolved in many ways, and probably for the best when aimed at producing a more level playing field. I'm not convinced by artificial surfaces yet. I think there is alot of hype, and strong marketing around them, but there have certainly been vast improvements. This year is particularly bad for call offs. Maybe that will affect our pitch budget for next year? Football is best on decent grass. Too often ours is "shity".

From me it's not a yes/no until a thorough study into all these peripheral questions is undertaken and an informed best option can be chosen. We have a limited budget, we must insure we spend it wisely. With investment comes risk and we have to do our homework on this. I think we have a chairman who understands this now. However, I hope he appreciates the huge influence a decision like this might have on our club and listens to all arguments, opinions, research and projections and considers all outcomes , good and bad, there probability and potential effect on the club. I believe that some clubs who have installed artificial surfaces, with the intention of raising revenue from increased usage (i.e. renting out for community use etc..) have found that after initial costs, the savings on maintenance, and utilisation of the stadium for training rather than renting facilities, have been so great that they have abandoned such plans... If true, savings and efficiencies like this, could have a serious impact on our capability to grow the club. Also.... This is not a decision without the need for long term planning and commitment, however, it is not one we might never reverse. If executed well, the opportunity to return to grass remain and the ability to take good care of it possibly improve. I don't think it's a one size fits all solution. Some clubs have done well with them and others not, and some have not made the most of what they have. We have to think about how Partick Thistle F.C. Ltd will perform with such an asset. I much prefer grass and our ground-staff work miracles ... but our pitch is becoming a burden this year, and does not have a great reputation. We have to admit we are some distance from perfection and think what's the best we can do.

Ach away!!! The SPFL have a great reputation for thinking of the fans... Thistle are a tin pot out fit with nae class. Aiiya!!! ... ma fookin knee!! ... that wiz sair!!!

I agree that artificial surfaces have an impact on the way the game is played.... However, the game has evolved and part of that has been the improvement of grass pitches. One only has to look at clips of winter games in the 70s to see how different the game is now. Maybe, it comes down to a compromised consistency over extremes of snooker table lawns/ tattie fields/ games aff .... Perhaps the former is the best we can achieve?

Gutted.... I prefer grass, but I'd seriously consider the compromise. ... Think we have to have a serious look at all the pros/cons and make a studied decision.

Aye... surprised we could afford Bobby Madden's fee. Really clubs with support the likes of Thistle and Hearts should really be investing more into pitch management. On this issue there can be no discrimination when comparing us to others. There's no excuse or reason for one being less able than the other to sort their pitches. Large bodies of water adjacent to, and above the level of the playing surface and gravity are of no relevance at all. Still. at least this was called off 4hours before kick off, not 1 and 1/2... Didn't have to shell out for a match ticket in advance...and given the reputation of Firhill and the weather forecast might have had some doubt about it beforehand ... anyhoo... at least this gives me a spare night to have a patronising dig at some fellow jags fans .... We are THISTLE!!!!

HMPH! Whatever! Maybe we should move it to the the Algarve or wait till after the Scottish cup final, and we can be sure there'll be no sleet or snow to damage the dainty pitch? I'm still in the huff with the Hearts.

What's Killie's youth system like? From what I can gather they guy might have something about him as a coach. However, his management record maybe suggests he needs cash and quality coaching staff around him. At a glance, it appears Huddersfield thought league one was his peak, struggled to cope with or was naive to how much Birmingham's relegation would affect the job and Blackpool was a basket case. Similar age to Baraclough, and has come in with the same ambitious chat. He maybe has a chance with them, but it's maybe more likely to be a case of who's patience will run out first, board or gaffer. I've said before, as tough as it would be for them, I reckon a year or three in the second tier would see them return stronger. Maybe the only way they will see a regular and sustained boost to attendances. Killie is boring, and although I gladly accept their demise if it makes room for our advance, I kinda miss, what they once were. Wouldn't mind if they won a play-off with Hibs.... would prefer they got another shot at old firm though!

They got a draw at Hamilton and Motherwell beat them playing 3 at the back in a formation which when ask about McGhee answered " ....It'll get football stopped..." . They lost the first from a set piece in the last minute of the 1st half. They hit the bar and had other good chances after going 1 down, motherwell's 2nd and 3rd were in the last 20 minutes of the game. Looks like D.U. are doomed, and that's great. But there is still alot of games to be played. They just knocked us out the cup, and we'll play them again twice. It's a tight league and D.U. are a team capable of doing damage to others. They are 13 points adrift of the pack. However, as it stands, the pack has 8 teams separated by 6 points. Several, have games in hand over others, but I would not be overly surprised to see D.U. taking points off anyone up to fourth place. To emphasise that point. D.U. have only won 3 league games all season. Motherwell, Killie, and current leaders of "the pack" Ross County ( R.C. were 4th at the time) .

Who said D.U. had a crack team?

Fairy nuff..... I'll settle for "best FOOTBALL fan forum on the web"

Best fan forum on the web. No question.

They'd have to do alot more than a late call off at home against us to piss off their over 10,000 season ticket holders, when they are sitting comfortably 3rd in the league in their first season up, with a derby cup tie approaching. They could still win the cup but they are 10 points clear of aberdeen above and county below. League's pretty much done for them. I can chill, but still this appears to me to be a p155 poor effort. -a late flurry of sleet and snow- is blamed on the hearts o/s.... pretty weak excuse. I know this ain't the EPL... but Hearts... I've got a fair bit of respect for them and they way they've sorted themselves out over the last few seasons... but this kinda thing... late call off for what, an hour's sleet? it's this kinda -sorry, thanks for your cash and continued support nowt we could do, suck it up- stuff that fans have to suffer that the so called bigger clubs should be doing everything they can to eliminate. B.t.w. I asked earlier, and again now, other than their inverness game in december when was their last home call off? ... and add when was the call made. Embra's a shitehole I want to go home!!!!

real? You think it's unrealistic to think a team who sell out there stadium every week couldn't have put a little more effort to get this game on? I don't think they were scared of playin us.... I don't think they give a f*ck when they play us..... that's the point.

fact they played county midweek and their city rivals in the cup n tuesday..... aye ... game off "frustrating" ..... ingly convenient? just saying

I admit to being beelin and throwin some wild punches.... but this sucks. firhill has a fookin canal sittin next to it and we spent a fortune gettin the well game played for about 2000 who turned up. Jam tarts made this all ticket, sell out? Nae cash gate? full stadium every week.... nae reputation for dodgy pitch.... and your happy to accept the've done all they can to supply their side of the paid up deal?!?!?!? ..... and have a wee dig at the jags with a "take a look at yersel" "people in glass houses...." comment..... ? Na mate ... not paranoid.... just a very disgruntled customer. can't make every game and had to commit and make plans for this one. the fact it makes our already congested fixture run in even harder is just salt in the wound.

Maybe i'm shooting the innocent messenger having a dig at Madden.... But this stinks. tyncastle is consistantly one of the best surfaces in the country. Hearts to proud to lay a bit of sand? Utter bollox.... fans and thistle effed over again. ... someone ask tommy taylor to get some decent pics of the pitch and see if any of the sprinklers are suspiciously close by.

WTF!!! I know they had a postponement last december, but that was the storm that took us and the game at parkhead out too. before that the only time i can recall a game being called into question at tyncastle in recent years, it had something to do with structural damage to one of the stands. Bobby -likesay, the drinks are own me, ken? -Madden, radge c**t ... ay?

If Thistle Weir can produce players like Stuart Bannigan every couple of seasons then I reckon we'll be ok. It's not just his playing ability, but his attitude too. His apparent affinity and gratitude to the club for the opportunity and appreciation of the coaching staff and his team-mates for their hard work and encouragement in helping him progress as a player, compliments his own work ethic and surely does not go unnoticed by fellow pro's, coaches and fans. He has always appeared to me to be the consummate team player, willing to play where and when requested and give his all. I have previously suggested once he found his best position and was given the chance to concentrate his game on filling that role he could blossom into a player capable of playing at a very high level. I still think he has yet to find it, and at a club like ours it's a bit of a luxury we cannot always afford, however he remains without doubt one of our most consistent and useful performers. Speculatively speaking, I reckon we are probably a good, all things working out and going our way, 5-10 years away of being a realistic and attractive option for players of Stuart's potential to properly test themselves and take their careers up a level. A hard thing to admit, but in frank reflection we can at least console ourselves that we are getting there. It could be an option for him to help us get there, but totally understandable that he might be ready for and want that standard of play now. Would love if he stayed, but would respect his ambition in the game, and would hope he could find a decent move if he chooses to leave us. He certainly could easily find a more affluent club willing to take a punt on him, however finding a club that suits him and can excel with may not be so easy. He's set the foundation to be a Jag we can all be proud of whatever he does next. So, let's hope if he does move on he achieves great things..... so long as they are not to the detriment of his alma mater!

Since we beat them 3-0 at firhill, the only other teams to have beaten them by more than the odd goal are celtic and Aberdeeen. They've added three players with international experience to their already big squad and a promising youngster up from West Ham. The Japanese Keeper may be past his best, but was still getting caps up until last year, has played in Europe before, (at Freddy Frans' Lierse) with 2 world cups under his belt, probably signed for his impressive career experience and a level head. The Finn Riski, sounds like a bit of a wonder kid at a lower level, signed by a top flight club and struggled to break into the first team. Ofere was impressive last year at ICT. And previously with Malmo. His career seems to have suffered a bit from trying to make it in Italy, where it seems to have never really taken off for him. Wish we could have snapped him up, but I doubt we could have met wage demands, and considering it's a deal to finish the season at D.U. I wouldn't be surprised if Mixu's had to do a bit of pleading to his board to bring him in. Hamilton next for the Arabs then Motherwell, having just played us and thumping Killie, they couldn't ask for a better chance to make a start on a fightback and kick start their season. Hearts and the dons are probably a class apart, but they won't face celtic again. They have it all to do... but it's far from unimaginable they can. E.T.A ... I hasten to add I ain't seen much of D.U. either, but they were all over the place at Firhill thanks to c*nto marra -gate, we played well to take advantage and tanned them.... However, other than that on fixtures this year between us two it's eeksi peexie.... 1-0... 0-1 ..... I'm strugglin to get my head round jags fans righting them off!

Yeah, you got me. I was thinking of the semi-final goal from the edge of the box against celtic at hampden. Which, I think, actually makes it 6 in 10 starts, not the 5 I said previously.

Last season Ross County were rooted to the bottom of the league on 12 points after 24 games. Having won only 2 games all season and scoring about 20 goals they started a run which saw them finish 9th winning 10 games on the way with a 3-2 victory at home to, at the time 11th placed, Motherwell. Their second game in what would turn out to be an outstanding recovery was a 3-1 away victory against Partick Thistle. Dundee Utd. are this season on 13 points after 23 games. Last week when they recorded only their 3rd victory of the season scoring 5 goals to 1 against current 11th placed Killie. .... It was a cup tie, and most people like to see their team set up attractively to have a go and attack. I'm not attempting to say history will repeat itself. However, I hope we don't have a gaffer who ignores the facts or what other teams are doing. The theory that D.U. being bottom of the league halfway through the year makes them a right off, or easy cup bait is patronising, ignorant and naive. It was reported in the press that before the killie game they got together and overhauled their tactics. It seemed to work well against Killie. Amongst the additions Mixu made in January, they have just signed Ofere, a striker who scored 5 in 10 for ICT last year including the winning goal in the cup final. I think Archie maybe over estimated the threat and possibly under-estimates ours. But, I can see reason for trying a more defensive set up in a cup tie, when in our last fixture our players showed the commitment and drive to win with a last minute goal. It's not the formation or personnel I would have gone with. However, if I'd been picking the team over the last 3 years we maybe wouldn't have won promotion or survived thus far in the top tier with the players I might have been able to attract or keep at the club. I Archie I trust.

Again, a bit of perspective please. I'm not aware of any case of a post being removed or poster banned for criticising the gaffer on this very well presented and reasonably open forum. If people choose to criticise they should be expectant of a defence being made. As for marketing... Although, no doubt, there is much that would improve and assist, both on and off the field, our commercial practises, I think we have made huge strides in this area. For example, none less so than our top flight survival, which to many in the press and general public came as a bit of a surprise and "Kingsley" which has been a relative success for many reasons, despite a few doubters and those unwilling to put faith or pride in what we do.

Just like it has done for St Mirren 2013 league cup champions? .... Was, "What a shitey home support" really out of order when we put them out the cup weeks ago?