ThistleBunnet

hear, hear! Time to move on. New, exciting and hopefully successful chapter for the club. And if JL returns to the club in any formal capacity, I'll eat my hat!

The last donation by the Weirs (July 2018) was £600K and was ring fenced to keep the Academy viable for a further 2 years. Oh, and in addition to previously mentioned lower league clubs Inverness and Ayr, both Queens Park and Morton still manage to run Academies. As for Falkirk, they didn't pull out of the Forth Valley Academy (effectively closing it) because they couldn't afford it, but as a gamble to free up further funds to invest in the first team to win promotion...a decision that with hindsight was obviously flawed! Not forgetting that Dundee are now a lower league club lol !

Bravo!

Apparently council want training ground serviced by bus with a stop both sides of road and that therefore pedestrian crossing required.

Re. previous posts above about the training ground. I do believe as per the last update that it will go ahead. Yeah, it may be quite some time in the future but until I see anything but conjecture by some of the members of this forum who appear to just want to find something else to moan about then there is no evidence that the project has been binned! From the Planning site it looks like we did submit a notice of intent and duly received comments back from the Council. My understanding is that the major sticking point is regarding the junction of the access road where it meets the main road. T In my professional experience I would think that the problem is that the current speed limit is 60mph but that the Council will require the 30mph limit to be extended from the edge of the built up area. This is not insurmountable but can take much time as various applications and public consultations have to be made. Personally, I think that the club is probably taking things under advisement and looking for a get a round. In any case, once the dust settles over this hard season I would hope that there will be some sort of up-date from the club advising of revised timescale. Note: if you are familiar with the Hummel Centre (Rangers Training Ground) I would suspect that they might have had same problem with speed limit coming into Milngavie and they managed to get round it.

Had same problem so just going to buy ticket down there on Saturday. (Phoned QofS and was told that this will be possible)

I had same problem with site today! Just phoned QofS...tickets for away fans will be on sale on the day. Think I'll get mine down there....

Anyone know if this is an all ticket in advance game?

Totally agree. Since coming back into team he has been vastly improved. Yesterday he was different class!

Harkins best game since Caldwell signed him. Big McGinty MoM

Training camp in Tenerife apparently!

Training ground at Kirkie not moving forward (yet?) due to coming in over budget. As I hear it the proposed site has the potential but there are problems which require additional funding to remediate. Think it might be down to ground contamination issues. Also heard that there was possibly access problems. No chance it will be complete for this June, either at Kirkie or elsewhere, and probably not next June either! Club should make a statement giving an update.

What's the news on Banzo's injury/expected return?

Poor turn out last night

Agree with this. But debating who is best to replace Harkins depends on what formation is played and what position you are filling if removing Harkins. Harkins has played in front of back four, out wide and sitting behind forwards. All entirely different roles. That said his last 3 performances have been so poor anyone would an improvement!

As far as I am concerned for the 76mins that Harkins was on park we played with 10 men at best. His only contribution was giving the ball away consistently. We were 2-0 up at HT despite him playing. Rest of team had to work harder due to being effectively a man down. Was shocked when he reappeared after break and he was left on to play for another half hour while rest of midfield began to tire from the exertion of forced extra work. Plus think Harkins was directly responsible for third goal...his man he was supposed to be marking and he made no attempt. Why did Caldwell not hook him earlier, possibly instead of Dools when McDonald came on. And last week in Alloa Harkins wasn't much better. Wouldn't have him back in starting line up any time soon.

When Stephen O'Donnell played for us did he not used to launch in effective long throws?

Fitzpatrick didn't contribute much in 1st half. Dont know what was said to him at half time but in 2nd was excellent, a player transformed. But for me man of match was Spittal. He has pretty much been different class for weeks now. Seasons top scorer(?), two assists yesterday and totally bust a gut...went off with nothing left to give. That's what we need this season.

Agree. He just sounds like a frustrated manager, which I'm sure he is

Walking to my car after game listening to a bunch of falkirk fans behind me. Typical quotes from them " feel sorry for thistle they played so well" "You can see so much quality in their team" "Don't understand how they're bottom"

It's a no brainer...a training ground would be absolutely beneficial to the club. The four pitches will be used for coaching as well as stamina and fitness training and not just for the first team but also the multiple academy teams and ladies. Also academy, ladies and reserve home games will all be played there. The gym will be useful for rehabilitation, strengthening, etc. And all this being built at no cost to the club. Yeah, we'll have to stump up the lease cost but as it stands we're paying for rent of facilities city wide at the moment. As I said no brainer!

Budget won't cover it

Heard from a pretty good source that training ground could be getting scrapped!

Obviously that's only the building(s). Access road, drainage, car park, flood lighting and pitches will take months. Modular buildings are prefabricated, brought onto site and put together. Only the foundations and any fitting out require any real time.