ThickAsThieves

I’d only keep Cardle if he was a squad player, wouldn’t want him getting as many starts as he has this season. Zanatta is still under contract until 2021. He’s also done well at this level before and now that we’ve got a capable manager hopefully he’ll be able to get more out of him. Maybe harsh on Austin but I thought he’s been fit for ages now and is hardly getting a sniff? See how he does until the end of the season but I don’t have high hopes.

Quite happy with all of the names linked, particularly Rudden and Graham - think they’d make a decent partnership. McCart has been great for Inverness CT by all accounts, so I’m hoping we get that one done for the summer. Not hopeful of getting Forrest, given other teams (including a Premiership side) are in the hunt. But impressed by what McCall’s trying to do. Of those out of contract/on loan, I’d look to... Keep: O’Ware and Cole. Bin: Robson, McGinty, Saunders, Harkins, Austin, Miller, Jones. Undecided: Slater, Cardle, MacKinnon. Of those with a contract, if we could also get rid of Mansell then I would.

Cardle, Cole, Miller and Penrice (first half) were good. Montrose were shit.

1. Dundee United 2. Inverness CT 3. Dundee 4. Thistle 5. Ayr United 6. Dunfermline 7. Morton 8. Queen of the South 9. Arbroath 10. Alloa

Don’t see him changing the formation today. So I’d go with: Sneddon Williamson Saunders O’Ware McGinty Robson Penrice Bannigan Cardle Miller Jones Subs: Fox, Sena, Palmer, Slater, Gordon, De Vita, Mansell.

Looking forward to it. Wonder if Archie will play?

How did Gordon (and Palmer) do tonight? Couldn’t make it but was there on Saturday and thought Bannigan was very good while Gordon was average.

What’s the formation?

Great to start the season with a win. I felt we controlled large portions of the match and our back 3 looked solid. Their goalkeeper stopped it being 2 or 3-0 and their number 7 was lively. Cardle stood out as being very positive on the ball, looking to make things happen, while everyone else was either okay (Gordon, Penrice, Mansell) or good (the rest). Need to see more of him to be sure but reckon Palmer could be a great signing.

Would prefer to sign Fox, who is a good goalkeeper, than sign a lesser goalkeeper just to keep Sneddon happy as the undisputed number one. Now we’ve got two goalkeepers who are good enough to start - let’s see who earns the gloves.

Ideally 1 goalkeeper, 1 central defender, 1 defensive midfielder, and 3-4 attacking players.

Graeme McGarry of the Evening Times on Twitter: "Cammy Bell departs Partick Thistle by mutual consent in the least surprising news of the summer. May be movement soon in regards to a striker coming into Firhill too." About Mansell: "He's certainly one that is a real possibility. "

Think this is the first and only time I’ve ever been even slightly ITK. It’s not particularly juicy but: Boyd is 100% not joining Ayr United, and has already been offered new terms at Kilmarnock but wants to see who the new manager will be and whether the new man wants him. We are an option.

Steve Marsella - now chief scout at Kilmarnock apparently.

See someone on P&B is saying Queen’s Park are playing their games at Airdrie’s ground, so not a trip to Hampden for us then.

I was right! Saturday 13 July: Airdrieonians (H) Tuesday 16 July: Queen’s Park (A) Saturday 20 July: Hamilton (A) Wednesday 24 July: Clyde (H)

Her statement is full of apologies for last season so let’s hope she’s learnt from her mistakes and next season will be more successful. Good luck to her. Think she’s had an unconvincing start to her tenure as chairman to say the least.

I’m pretty certain that’s not the case. You’re right that we do play the top seed away. However, the three unseeded teams are just that - unseeded. So as far as I’m aware it’s always the order they are drawn out that determines your home/away schedule. So Airdrieonians came out first, we play them at home, then Queen’s Park came out so we’ll play them away, then finally Clyde who we will play at home. That’s how it worked last season. As top seeds we played second seeds Morton at home, then of the unseeded teams Albion Rovers came out first so we played them away, then Ayr United came out so we had them at home, then finally Stenhousemuir, who we played away. To clarify, I believe we should have: Hamilton (A) Airdrieonians (H) Queen’s Park (A) Clyde (H) Not sure on the order and which matchday will be free for us. Will find out next week.

As we’ll be away to the top seed, it means only one trip to a lower league side (or Queens if we’re unlucky). In order of preference, I’d like that to be against: Annan Athletic, Berwick Rangers, East Kilbride, or Edinburgh City. Clyde at home please.

Cheers, appreciate the updates. Keep them coming!

Ryan Williamson was well thought of at Dunfermline but his form seemed to have dipped this season. Could take a chance on him. Anthony Ralston another option as he doesn’t seem to be able to get a look in at Celtic.

That’s a fantastic trophy!

Of course. Doolan is a Thistle legend but no one’s bigger than the club. He’s had a poor season. I still think he’s worth keeping but if Caldwell doesn’t think so he should be able to make that decision.

Goalkeepers: Need a solid back-up to Sneddon, who should have a chance to start the season as number one for the first time. Get Bell and Lennox out and see who’s available. Defenders: I’d look to get Jordan McGhee in from Falkirk as our versatile defender (ie. replacement for McMillan) as he’s a decent first choice right-back to compete with Elliott but can play across the backline. Turns 23 in July so no compensation would be due. Retain Anderson or go for O’Dea as our experienced head and run with Anderson/O’Dea, O’Ware, Saunders and McGinty as our CB options. So long Keown. Midfielders: Wouldn’t be against trying to sign up Gordon but expect McCarthy and Spittal to leave so need defensive and attacking replacements. Does Ian McShane have a relegation clause? Michael Tidser? Not sure who else is available. Forwards: Would also think McDonald will be gone, sadly, and with Roy and Coulibaly going and Mansell looking a bit too raw in my opinion, we should look be looking at two strikers minimum coming in - with Doolan retained as back-up - the first time he’d enter a season thought of as such, I believe. Rudden would be a good option. Tony Watt? Connor Sammon? Winger required with Storey surely leaving - Keillor-Dunn at Ross County? Dom Thomas? Or try for a season loan of Mikey Johnston or Glenn Middleton? Not sure how realistic that would be. Would try to keep Cardle but if he leaves then again that’s another body to replace. All names thrown out are lazy suggestions to be fair so to summarise: goalkeeper, 2 defenders (assuming we keep Elliott), 2-3 midfielders, 1-2 wingers, 2 strikers. If you were to keep McMillan, Anderson, Gordon and Cardle that’s just 4-6 new bodies I reckon.

It’s a Scottish Cup quarter final, I couldn’t give a shit about pay days. Just desperate to reach the semis! So anyone outside the Old Firm at home would do, preferably Inverness CT/Dundee Utd.