ChewinGumMacaroonBaaaz

I've sure i've still got ma kajagoogoo and banarama 7" singles somewhere .... wonder if you can still get those tartan dyed denims or the ones with the cartoon turn-ups? .... they were uber cool!

We ain't been overly blessed with truly great strikers since MoJo, but we've had a few who could maybe meet or beat Dools with the odd stat... Gerry McCoy scored 20 goals in the first division, Gerry Britton's top flight goals still to be broken? Always felt a little sorry for Colin "dibble" McGlashan that his 18 goals that got us promotion in '92 saw him kinda elbowed out by the king of spain and Geordi, Geordie "great wee engine on him" Shaw, for the top flight charge, ... and a "joker" card I toss in to the game, for the sake of an argument about the rules and making it worthwhile playing , is Colin West ... Loan signing from Chelsea back in the glorious 80's... 10 goals in about half a season... as far as I know did nothing much back south.... oh if only he had a Doolan brain at the time.... what might have been..... Even if there is a serious contender to another "best". If ever there was a player that made the "give a 110%" thing make sense it's Doolan. 100% on the park and no doubt at training, the extra 10% would be his apparent loyalty to the club. Maybe the offer from Barca' is just a rumour, but there is no question Kris could if he wanted, tout himself about for more cash or a "better" club and get a few tugs on the line. Y'getting where I'm coming from now? ... nope? .... right-oh! .....

I wrote it off the cuff, but the fundamental point I'm making is maybe best made by expanding a little on the analogy I make with the "weans in the motor". As fans and players we're all in the same car, and trying to get to the same destination. Archie would perhaps be the designated driver. The car represents the club. It's old, and it was recommended as a write off by some experts only 20 or so years ago. It was saved from being crushed at the scrappy not only with sentimental love but with a realisation that some modifications over the years had been more vanity than necessity. Basically it's a kit-car. It wasn't bought from a Ferarri showroom. While roadworthy, taxed and M.O.T.'d, the guys "riding shot-gun" are really looking at third party rather than fully comp. While a modest boast, it is admirable it is still in the rally, never mind the leading pack or keeping up with the leaders. It would be a tragedy if the driver got frustrated, floored it and burnt out the engine or distracted and put in the wrong fuel. We've managed to fix the ol' jalopy up quite well. Picking up pretty decent parts by mostly asking around rather than shopping. Thankfully, not so much scavenging from the scrappy, but we maybe have a few perfectly good factory rejects that aren't quite what we're looking for but might do us a job. This has led to the need to experiment and innovate, maybe having to fix an off-side wing mirror to the near-side, for example, or relying on perfectly good regular tyres when our specialised ones wear oot. I'm pretty sure that with a bit of hard driving, Archie could go for a stage win to try and impress some of his passengers, but it could damage our chances in the race. So... while "are we there yet" is a valid question. I appreciate the frustration. However, if you wanna be part of the team and not simply a passenger, if the answer comes back "no, you'll need to get out and push", then I wouldn't throw scorn on the odd grumble, but a bit of pride in the effort would help. ... ... ... I'm not getting at any one person here. And I apologise if it comes across as patronising or an "I'm a better jag than you" rant. That is not my belief or intention. In meeting a couple of part-time jagoes recently, it has come across that their attitude is "if we ain't winning it ain't worth it". I get that, and I'm not advocating mediocrity here. But I think we as fans have to promote the club as much as the current team. Hard sell the full script rather than the present cast. I don't go to every game, but I have been there. I do know how you can overdose on frustration, and with the very best of intentions get too close, obsess about very real and pertinent problems and drive yourself nuts because they never seem to be dealt with. But, --- cliche alert--- There is a bigger picture. My concern is of a "chicken and egg nature" ... What comes first great team or decent crowds? I guess I might be accused of reviving the rallying "Great Glasgow Alternative" shout here. Last time it was really marketed it was an almost last ditch attempt for the city to keep one. Now however, we're a fair distance from that and should be beaming with pride at our achievements, not shamed by our failures or bemoaning our undeniable misgivings, and luring people back to Firhill to be a part of it. Doolan is a centre forward. Even the best probably miss more than they score. Many of the best miss out on silverware. George Best never got play in the World Cup, Gerrard never one the league. Dools ain't the best on the planet and he's missed some sitters. What makes him great and why we love him is because he seems knows this, accepts it, deals with it practically, just keeps plugging away best he can, trying to improve, not always succeeding, but at the very least keeping himself in the frame and giving himself the chance of glory. Could say the embodiment of Partick Thistle over the past 10 years or so. .... I ain't gay or owt .... but if he was a car.... I'd ride him!

JAGS FAN CHINS THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON THE PLANET GERRINTAERUM!!!

If only we'd got a result at Ross county, the progress and achievement of the team would be so much easier to define. We lost out on the early safety of a top 6 place by a couple of goals. Conceding early and failing to capitalise on our superior possession to get a vital score. God knows Archie's tactics for the game have been discussed plenty already. My conclusion... ... you can shuffle the pack all y'want, but if you aint got a full deck yer game's gonnae suffer. We were a baw hair away from clearly and tangibly establishing ourselves as a progressing top flight club. And so, of course, sensible folks like you and me recognise - out of the bottom 6 teams, Dundee are the only ones we've really struggled with all season. The only ones we have not beaten or to have actually beaten us, and only once have they done that by more than the odd goal. The importance of now scrapping for every point and prize penny so that we might have a chance next season to repeat and improve on such a noteable record, should have even the most sluvenly saturday-afternoon-oven-pizza-and-tescos-lager-watchin-sky-sports-results-sound-down-and-joining-in-the-banter-on-the-radio-armchair...... "fan" , summon up the last string vestages of his cholestorol choked pride, look out his scarf and down the side of the sofa for pie money, get his arse to Firhill, practicaly support the club, and sacrifice a little easy comfort or cheap luxury in appreciation of their quite remarkable achievment of having a chance to make the 4th season up better than the 3rd. I'm not so sure "it could have been so much better this season". A different route to the same result, possibly, but it is all speculation, theory and granted, makes for some interesting discussion. Archie has walked the walk, and thus far delivered us to a point where hope remains and some light is visible on the horizon. I can understand some moaning and groaning when he might make the odd bad turning, but we're still heading in the right direction. I dunno... sometime the grumbles on here are like listening to the weans in the back seat of the motor..... "are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?are we there yet?" ............ NAW!!! ... Just shut it and eat yer wotsits!!! ... No ... sorry ... no you Yoda ... your awright ... gonnae tell them wan ay your mad stories about spaceships and fighting 6' talking insects wi' glow sticks or something till we get there.... String it oot a bit... we've still a good bit to go. Know what ah mean?

Again... I generally agree with what is said... Dools is best. But I think Pogba gets a bad rap. There is the need to defend and support him (hard as that can be sometimes, i admit) if it is the case he's triggered the clause and is here for next year. We should not be writing off our own players. I'm far from convinced by him, but I'm not willing to buy into a "he's just not a player" culture after 13 starts. The stats comparison is unarguable, Dool's is clearly, by far and a way, the more prolific. However, I just get the feeling there is an unfair assumption growing as Pogba has featured more as a starter towards the pressured end of a season, that he is #1 in Archie's eyes. I doubt that, I think it's more likely "horses for courses". How astute his choice of starter is arguable, but over the season Dools still has 7 more starts, 7 more appearances, the same 12 off the bench and that is consistent with previous seasons. I don't know Pogba's assists stats but according to the BBC ( dodgy, 'ken) Dools only has 1. Criticism of specific games/performances is expected and should be welcomed, I agree with much of it, but I think the jury has to remain out on Pogs as a player till after he has a pre-season with us. I think Archie is more or less of like mind in the style you promote. However, delivering that ethos ain't easy. He can't simply use the force ( ) or lay down commands to "make it so" (star trek... sorry wee man! ), but i don't think you and he are light years apart on philosophy. ... Pacy wingbacks don't come much more pacy than Muzzy, but he's had his problems with fitness. Amoo is no slouch, but similar to Pogs taken his time fitting in and the best is hopefully to come. Attacking Mids, can be another expensive luxury where Archie's done no bad with his budget. Lawless has been regular and reliable this season if not dazzling, but then he has been asked to play left , right and centre. Our latest big hope for a place, Edwards, would maybe have come on quicker had he not been off round the planet with the Ozzieroos, or whatever they call themselves. Fraser, attacking mid? still young, I think he's still to decide and he's maybe more suited to a holding role. And then of course there are those who we have had to let go and look back on with romantic idealism. O'donnel and ATS, brilliant for us, no doubt, but crossing? Never totally convinced me. Higgy, at times unplayable, but his first year was his best, missed but no disaster. Bust a gut. Goes without saying. But even you must have days when you feel yer knockin yer pan in with no one noticing and mediocre results. Was that big prick Vader not one of your charges once?

I generally agree. Archie is still struggling to make it all click. However, while I think Doolan would score more goals I gotta be honest and question if he would score enough. And it has to be some sort of mitigation that Archie has again had tough time signing players, getting them fit and having them all available. As frustrating and unattractive as it is at times, we are a team, picked from a small and comparatively budget squad, that needs to defend from the front. I'm not at all saying Dools doesn't put a shift in. But, for example, and it in no way compares the respective talents of the two, my personal observation is Pogba draws more players towards him even when standing still. It's strange, the reason must be his physique, but i've convinced myself over the last few games i've seen him it's true. ... I would welcome the evidence to convince me otherwise... I'm a big Doolan fan! While I agree we have been caught on the counter and were losing late goals rather than scoring them, we do still have the 4th best goals against record in the league. I wouldn't say Archie is oblivious to or neglectful of the need to reform our attacking prowess. It's maybe not just a simple "easier said than done", more a case of easy done but we have to balance that with the consequences and consider if more goals right now would mean more league success. I make a harsh observation, but on saturday It was dools on the park, he scored and Pogba might have failed, but we still got beat by the likes of dundee. I'd love to see us go for it more often, but.... It's a fine balance. Fail to prepare prepare to fail. Hopefully we can navigate our safety sooner rather than later this year( the toss bounty defeat was huge for this reason if nothing else[.. and of course there are other factors in that disappointment]) and then perhaps Archie will be in better shape to improve on previous pre-seasons and get the playing staff fully organised, settled in and ready to hit the ground running next year.

Been an advocate of such for a while. Often wonder if Junior Mendes' imput could be or would be worthwhile growing to more than his apparently decent service as sports scientist. Is he full time? Perhaps his current role already fills his time? I dunno... maybe he already does share more coaching duties than I'm aware of? Maybe it's the financial barrier that stops us adding more specialised coaching staff? Different but similar, we do have a goalie coach in Galls in place. Fairly new innovation and generally considered as essential now. I know it's perhaps seen as a more specialised position than any other, that a manager might feel is not encroaching on his control of things. But it is an example of delegation of work to experience and specialist talent that can be harmonious and seen as a positive addition and not a negative intrusion, if indeed that was a concern about too many cooks. I speculate, but reckon Archie would appreciate the assistance, but you've gotta find the right guy. And I think his attitude towards a temporary appointment might be, thanks but we'll maybe wait, save the expense till we can get someone in more long term. Short term deals for player is one thing but I think you maybe want to try at least to build a little more stability, clear and definite structure with your coaching staff.

100% agree . You are being contrary and attempting to start the proverbial fight in a telephone box. Read my post again, and with reference to my evaluation of Dool's footballing brain think what I might be trying to convey with the line "...for Dool's part, I gotta say, it's maybe him that sees the better channels to run, than our youthful midfield..." Making comment on his time in junior football I clearly say there is no shame in it. To be clear, "classical" does not mean traditional, and makes limited inference to value. Literally it is a comparison to the ancient greek and roman advances in the refinement of civilisation. Have you ever been to a Maryhill juniors game or an Ayrshire derby with Auchinleck Talbot? ... crackin day oot... civilised and refined?.. debateable.

Kinda agree with LIB here. Dools has always come across to me as the consummate team player for effort. A natural instinct player with the talent to excel. Cut his teeth in the juniors and no shame in that, but hardly a classical education in the game. Maybe if he was to engage brain more than heart he'd most likely have been poached long ago. Unselfish almost to the fault that it perhaps over effects his predatory duties. An always confident and comforting option to have, his apparent unassuming nature maybe restricts his game more than most would demand. In recalling his greatest moments, his goals against Hibs and St. Perth, away in our first season up, where he took the ball on the halfway line and in the absence of support from( or arguably interference and distration of) his team mates. just did the necessary himself, took the ball at his feet ran towards the goal and stuck it away, are always near tops for me in a long list of highlights. Telepathy between players would be a great signing if you could make it. And in running the channels, you need a bit of that to make those runs at the right times and be effective. In defence of Archie, I'd say Dools is one of our more senior players now and it can be tough teaching an old dog ( sorry Kriss! ) new tricks, and I think that is maybe why he makes the comment. But for Dool's part, I gotta say, it's maybe him that sees the better channels to run, than our youthful midfield doing what they're told rather than playing the game, sometimes. We are very fortunate to have them both on board!

"That'll be the same Kane Hemmings we took on a pre season training camp and Archie deemed he wasn't good enough for us !!" ...What were you trying to convey, if not some blame on the person you name with reference to us missing out on a signing? Yeah ... I agree one "reason we didn't sign him was possibly we thought the step up to the SPFL at that time was too much for Hemmings". I suggested a possible other. My posts regarding 3 year deals and wages convey the budgetary limitations and difficulties we have in competing and negotiating for the signatures of players with either proven or promising ability. Deals are a 2 way street. The good lady IB has put it above, as is usual more eloquently and politely than I, to say perhaps Hemmings was viewed by our management as a potentially a great player but a bit a *****, needing to mature before he could be trusted with our payment, and the risk he'd have f**ked with our team's mojo too great. Maybe it was he that was not impressed with the barracks more than the sergeants being unimpressed with the recruit?

As I said , I had a bath run, so forgive me on not checking the detail 100% for fear of letting the water get cold. Going by the time frame you set out, for Hemmings it wasn't a move away from Cowden he was trying to secure while at the barracks with our boys. He was only a their player for one year on a one year contract, season 13/14. It was his next contract after being let go by rangers as a player with a handful of first team appearances (mostly in the third division) and a promising couple of months with the Blue Brazil. Maybe the "one that got away". We had a chance and didn't take it. Still say it's pretty harsh having a dig at the gaffer for how it probably went down. Archie, would only have been about 6months into the job and finding his feet, preparing for our first season up. He must've seen potential or wouldn't have had him in. Ex ranger touting himself for the top flight, I wonder if his wage demands to us exceed what he might have in the end had to settle for at Cowdenbeath. He didn't shine, 18 goals for relegation bait team, until after we'd looked at him. He was picked up by an english league one side on a free transfer one year deal, at the same time we were to lose out on Lyle Taylor to an english league one side on wages, and returned after scoring 3 goals in 23 appearances to a 3 year deal with dungdee. Archie deemed him not good enough? I doubt that gives the full picture.

I bloody knew it! ... i was just about to go for a bath ... but i cannae let that one slip... So you are sure Archie thought he was shite, based on 18 goals for cowdenbeath and 3 for Barnsley, and told him to jog on, and it was nothing to do with us being flat broke that we couldn't match the punt taken by Dundee in offering better wages and a 3 year deal? Fairy nuff.... After losing out on a player it's always best to say ... aye... he's brilliant, we're just a diddy club who can't compete for the best , rather than play it down and say , we might be able to do better.

I've already made my point really ... and should probably know when to shut my mouth... because I know i'm only going to open the Pogba/Doolan can of worms .... but ..... Just learnt ( bbc stats) Hemmings is the second top scorer in the league, with more assists than anyone else in the charts till you scroll down to... oh!... whadeya know.... Greg Stewart!!! Maybe kinda makes you wonder which team is actually underachieving? Crippled squad? .... oh my heart bleeds for ya Paul .... It's a tough and cruel game right enough when you only have the second top scorer in the league and your own team's second top scorer, the SPL's second top goal assist provider left to pick.... Wonder what wages they're on......?

Hartley got his excuses in pre match about a "crippled" squad. But 6 of his starting 11 have had 29 starts this season. Only 3 of the thistle team could claim that at kick-off. Dundee are where they are this season because they have a couple of decent goal scorers, Hemmings -21, Stewart - 9. Their defence is ok and granted there was maybe a couple of unfamiliar faces in yeasterday, but over the season the goals they score match those they concede. We on the other hand, in the absence of a regular source of goals, rely heavily on strong defence. It has been changed about all season and it is a credit to our players they have maintained the meanest record on shipping goals outside the top 3. Yesterday, we had a guy we signed as a striker, who in about 5 appearances this year has also been asked to play left wing, playing at right back. The two guys we really signed to cover the right back berth playing at both centre half and left back and with our most experience central defender out we had to ask our youngest to come back in after more than a month on the sidelines. We were also missing probably our greatest home grown talent since Mo-Jo, Bannigan in the midfield , arguably our most consistent in factually our most used palyer in Booth, and probably the guy we have relied on most to save our bacon this season Cerny. It wasn't our best performance, and there are still way to many needless, thoughtless, and TEAM mistakes. But generally we weren't outplayed. We aint Real Partick and they ain't Bayern Dundee. On stats we lost by the odd goal, quick glance at the BBC stats confirms my suspicion we matched them for possession, shots, corners etc... I don't like picking out individuals for blame. However, as it seems that sometimes that is what we do on here.... Long and short of it for me is ... Doolan 1 - Hemmings 2 .... but i aint gonna hold that against him. Out of the bottom 6 teams, Dundee are the ones we've struggled with all season, the only ones we have not beaten or to have actually beaten us, and only once have they done that by more than the odd goal. Given our form against the rest, "Onwards and upwards", is not simply the rallying call of a helpless optimist. Next up ICT at home. They couldn't score against us up north in 180 mins of trying this year and last time out we beat them at firhill... well .... granted, maybe a little bit of romance here hoping for history repeating ... but ... it came off the back of a disappointing result v the dees, and started a nice we run of 4 straight wins. beating them at home then killie and DU away consecutively.... GAME ON. Chin High CHEST OOT!!!!!

Bye your daughter and her man a romantic weekend away on cup final day 2021... The rest is up to you!

Yeah ... I had more admiration for the h*ns that burned their season tickets when MoJo signed for them than the lightweights who cheered when he scored a goal. ..... "No submission?" .... catchy .... reminds me of sumthin..... .... no ..... no .... no somethin.... ? ... come on my peepell help me out here?

In being irresponsible, then it follows one most likely is unprepared for the consequences. The consequences of his actions cannot be avoided. It is what those consequences might amount to which has generally being discussed, quite fairly, openly, and as far as I'm aware without censure here. The unavoidable consequences of simply being an old firm supporter and a professional footballer plying their trade and living in Scotland might arguably include increasing the possibility that some random nugget might stab you in the boz when you least expect and losing favour with large sections of supporters of the team who pays you. One who might be prone to express his allegiance in a crude or ill-considered manner, in whatever public form probably puts himself at even greater risk. Some posters on this thread, appear to favour additional authoritarian, puritanical and punitive measures from our club who, as his employer, could enact in order to influence the resolution of this matter. The unavoidable consequences of enacting such measures by the club i.e. losing a players dedication, motivation or ultimately his labour altogether, have been variously dismissed as insignificant or a necessary loss. Punishment for a guy that may not have given much consideration to his statements, and perhaps considered his actions as maybe pushing the limits but not overstepping the line, is unhelpful, unnecessary and arguably cruel and self destructive. What is unarguable is that in continuing to debate the issue in public we keep it alive, prolong and broaden the scope for further potential, unwanted consequences outwith our control that we all might not actually be prepared for. I'm just hoping the guy that wrote that sun article does read this forum and is laughing at us all and thinking "what a non-story..... bunch of fan-eeez ".

Scottish red top rag publishes an article about a first team regular in the top flight and the old firm don't even get a mention?!?!?!? Just as well we have this type of social media, open to scrutiny by any reader with internet access but unable to access Stevie's personal twitter account, and fans with standards and beliefs that indeed we must spread the word if a player reveals himself to be an old firm fan and talk more about that than anything he contributes to our club.

Ma daughter thinks he's a d1ck..... Ma son cannae wait to shake his hand.

Yeah .... and fans who sing "... we're by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen..." .... don't have a leg to stand on. If Stevie surprises us all by scoring one of his very rare goals in the run in, polite applause will be acceptable, but anyone caught singing "one stevie lawless, there's only one stevie lawless" is factually a liar and a suspect closet H*n.

For me it's all "must wins" till the finish... We're 9 points off killie with 15 to play for. 6 clear and 12 and bums start getting squeaky! Mon eh Jags!....

I trust your sadness is due to an understanding a ban would be an extreme measure with more potential consequences than the desired effect. I have it on anecdotal evidence that the loudest chant at the weekend's Nugget Pride event was again "the billy boys". Who'd have thought it with the ban on such rantings being adopted some years ago now? Maybe the thought of getting away with something adds to their excitement and feeling of achievement? Furthermore it would be unfair to effectively rob some players of a platform they use for good and productive things. Promoting charities, for example and showing appreciation and willingness to interact fans. There's cause for cliche here.... baby and bath water? Pinhead makes a very pertinent point too. Why trust the Scottish football authorities with our values? Their record ain't impeccable. And in giving them the support as the sovereign authority on morality are we not, to put it in a topical context, simply saying " No. You are not the people.... these guys here with the fake tans and blazers are the people". It might be a more accurate reflection of how we see it, but it's practically not going to stop an argument with tens of thousands of screwballs screaming "no surrender" in defiance.... Individual clubs need to make there own judgements. I'd suggest they take each case on it's own merits. All professional clubs must consider the impact on their business, and that some may feel pressured to show more leniency in dealing with player behaviour is understandable. An affluent club may not suffer quite as much in losing their star man than a less well off one. I think we should show a little more understanding for the smaller club than simply insisting that "them's the RULES!!!" . The concept that there is a line in the sand on standards of beliefs, commitments and opinions is one of the fundamental problems with the old firm - If you don't think and act just like us there may be a problem. A controversial tweet from a player does not immediately bring a club into disrepute. How they respond to it, if indeed asked for a response, might. In this instance our club have made no response yet. I for one would not waste their time asking for one. I'm content with the way the club have dealt with such things previously and trust them to act responsibly again. However, in this specific case an employee "off duty", on his personal account, has tweeted something which might cause a public interest. Clearly his comments were not made with permission of, or encouraged by, the club. I suggest the tweets bring more actual danger to the individual than to the club from those who in taking offence at his comments might respond in outrage or retort with threatening behaviour. I suggest perhaps the best course of action for a responsible employer is to make that clear to him and continue to work with and assist him in a professional way to improve, rather than to cut him adrift for statements made in a public forum, without advice or apparently a great deal of consideration.

My point in naming Amoo was not relly intent on comparing the two of them. I was more trying to illustrate that in the goal scoring charts Lawless is the second best we have, it's more a comparison with the whole current squad. However, if I was going to compare the two, I'd maybe consider more than current form, games played and goals scored this season. Both players are of similar age, both can be excellent or have off days. I'd also say while David seems to be played mostly an out and out right winger, Lawless seems to be asked to do more inside as well as play on the wing. While similarly both are attacking midfielders with clear ability, proven contributions, and still young enough to say room for potential improvement, they each could arguably claim trumps over the other in specific talents. Off the top of my head, Amoo - pace, Lawless - long shots and industry..... Whatever, in my original post, I was not attempting to say either was better than the other and make a compliment out of that. My point regarding Erskine is incorrect in that I said "first season" rather than second with reference to his DU form. Like I say, I like Chris and think he's a great addition for us, and don't wanna talk the guy down. However, OK, he won POY with DU last year, but then top scorer Cifti had signed a pre contract with celtic. They finished 5th in the league last year, but their form dropped dramatically at the turn of the year when Mackay-Steven and Armstrong left for celtic. As did Squddy's goal scoring, 5 before christmas, 3 after the new year. ... In his time with us on loan he scored 2 in 14 games, Stevie this year has 4 in 31, not all that dissimilar and it can be argued for both that they contribute more to the team than goals. And let's not forget Chris is now what? 29... pushing 30? The Dutch bid for Lawless came halfway through his first, 2 year, deal. I don't know the circumstance that club were in, It wasn't a big money bid, maybe they got relegated , went bust, changed their manager, perhaps they were looking to take a punt on his second tier form with us, thinking he could repeat it at a higher level and his premiership form turned them off? Maybe Stevie decided it was then or never, he didn't want to uproot his family a year on from the bid? In truth, I'm more inclined to take this years bids from ICT and DU with a pinch of salt, could be they are just trying to unsettle our team with rumours. However, there is no doubt, Lawless is the type of player that is talked about as a potentially good signing for bottom half Premiership sides. If we are the only side putting down a firm offer, or simply the best he can attract, I'd say the one year thing is a win/win. The age he's at if no firm offers are coming in it's unlikely we are going to make mega bucks on him if he signs a longer deal unless his form improves. If his from drops we ain't stuck with him, improves and we get a very decent player for a year on the cheap. .... Yeah we gotta try and make a busniess out of this , but personally for a club in a financial position like ours our best hope is Thistle Weir producing a gem. Yeah he cause needless and silly problems off the field but on it , it is hard to argue he's not at least providing decent competition for a place. I think your flipside opinion totally neglects to consider Stevie's total contribution at the club, and is unreasonable. I absolutely agree we must have standards of etiquette and discipline, I repeat my opinion stevie's out of order and a bit of a bam, but we are a football club, not a finishing school for dignified young gentlemen. ETA .... your point regarding Lawless and Amoo scoring 2 goals is incorrect ... they have both scored 4 ..... EETA In the league!!! ... Amoo + 1 in the cup .....

Perhaps it is more a case that some people recognise the difference in quality between the divisions, accept that many players do not achieve their full potential until aged between 25 and 30, and going by the stats alone it might be worth noting our only player to break into double figures of league goals since promotion is Dools in season 1 with 11, and this year Stevie is tied for 2nd spot with Amoo. I'd say there is maybe more romance in any rumours we be able to be signing a 25/26 year old attacking midfielder with close on 100 Scottish Premiership games. Off the top of my head, Cerny, Stevenson, Gallagher, Miller with St Johnstone maybe? ..The return of The Bridge has he notched up a ton at DU? ... There's been a few maybe but hardly a habit we are in. I'd also remind folks that Erskine scored less goals in our promotion season than Stevie and scored 3 in the prem before he ****** off. He had a decent first year at DU scoring a few goals but, that was in Jackie le cunto's halcyon days with the arabs and i'm aware of the circumstances, but he has fallen out the team a bit.... I love Chris, warmly welcome his return home and believe he can flourish again... but if any jag is viewed with romantic notions by the fans (other than offers of spouses to the gaffer) it's Squiddy. Again, off the top of my head, how many people would be glad to see us signing Leigh Griffiths on a one year deal on Lawless's wages? He's a bit of a tit too... but I'd take a punt, and carry his baggage for his goals. Stevie is a young father. Y'really can't blame him if the "one year contracts spur me own" stuff is guff and he's hoping for more cash. But be fair, This year ICT and DU have been rumoured to want him, and in the promotion season we turned down cash on the table from Holland for him... Jimmy Caderwood's old club..i.. anyhoo... he has and continues to court interest from elsewhere. He's signed up for a year, when he see's out his deal, y'cannae really ipmly he's done the dirty on us with contracts.... How many transfer fees have we received in the past 5 seasons. Hendry? ..... Stevie has his ups and downs on and off the field, but he remains a very useful player to have in a squad still fighting for a decent season, and will remain so for any team who finish in the the bottom six this year and are hoping to build competitiveness for 2016/17. Unlike some on here, I've got faith Archie could source us a decent replacement if/when he goes, (perhaps Erskine is the plan) but he ain't a throw away... he will need replacing. Let's not get over complacent about our league campaign just yet ... there's still 5 games to go, money for places to play for, and we ain't totally clear of the play-offs just yet. We've got important fixtures still to play... Stevie's latest wee episode ain't helpful.... suggesting any of our squad are disposable ain't gonna be the best for team spirit, either.