Firhill Pie

Whilst keeping my eye on the news for any rumours of players who could be Thistle bound, i cant help but think the current environment gives us the perfect opportunity to use our younger players / youth teams, Without fans and the added pressure of playing in front of them it creates an almost perfect environment to give exposure to first team football for younger players who may add something to the first team. With this in mind im thinking guys like Penrice, Mansell and O’Ware may be able to find some kind of form and consistency over this period. Of course by the time football is back fans may be allowed to attend which would make this collapse on itself but i was wondering if anyone is aware of current younger / youth team players they would like to see given a chance?

Missing the days of Bukta and Matchwinner.

Been monitoring the result over various websites and radio nerves are gone - one thing i always look for from a weekend is that if my coupon doesn’t come up at least a jags win can keep me going! Its been a while - no double dunter today but the jags have finally done their bit at making my Saturday evening! Cant wait to read the reports from jags fans at the game!

Agree with this - the way we set up our wingers should be constantly looking to get at their opposing full back and attack the angles of the box with the main striker and supporting midfield players making their runs into the box in support. This would allow our full backs the space to push on beyond and deliver the ball from the touchline if required. if we set up to play into these areas quickly we automatically push up the park as a unit and squeeze the game in the areas that win you games and also in theory give guys sitting a little deeper more time on the ball to influence the game, im talking guys like banzo, cole, palmer. im sure whoever comes in will have watched us and have their own ideas of how we should play - id imagine avoiding getting beat will be the order of the day but i wont be surprised if this is how we develop into an attacking unit moving forward.

Gerry did his bit as a player He had his chance as manager / co-manager He has a job to do currently and should not be involved in any first team affairs outside the remit of his job description. my opinion.

Long term strategy required to turn this around i believe, i’d genuinely love to see someone from the Dortmund academy come over and revolutionise our team implementing that type of philosophy and managing our first team too. Michael Skibbe i believe the guy is called. I can but dream of us putting the financial package together to achieve this at our club!

What is happening with Mitch Austin? Any news on him?

Right now and with my tongue partially placed in my cheek if we are talking motivators who know / love our club i’d let Chic Charnley come in until January and see what he can get out of this squad! Even if its just until we can get a more experienced head in.

Agreed Palmer can play but need an assured presence beside him to take some pressure off.

My opinion of the manager aside this is a Thistle performance that screams to me that players are having a style of play imposed upon them. Everything looks forced and un-cohesive. Arbroath look like a side with an identity they are playing to their strengths. We have no identity or are unable to play in a manner which matches what the manager thinks it should be. If we lose this game the whole idea of “we are a team who pass it out from the back no matter what” has to be torn up. Personally and perhaps more effectively id rather right now we were a team who play to the wide players quickly and encourage our team who with the best will in the world cannot defend well right now to retain the ball and play in the last 3rd of the opposition half, even driving at players and picking up free kicks would help more (seems simple) as i write this - miller scores 1-1 almost from exactly what i describe above.

Thanks for the update!

I would go with the following (fitness depending) GK - Sneddon RB - Williamson CB - McGinty CB - O’Ware CB - Hall LB - Penrice RM - Cardle CM - Palmer CM - DeVita LM - Zanatta FWD - Jones would hope that 3 CB’s across the back would be solid enough to allow both full backs to push on and free up both LM and RM to play in off the channel and support Jones which i think he needs. would start with the intention of pressing high from the start and going in at half time 2/3 up. Subs wise i’d hope to see Austin for 20mins, Cole for 20 and Kakay for 10/15. If Austin is’nt fit then change to 4,4,2 and bring on Miller and Galasso for last 25 we need a strong result.

Logically speaking - given we are at the end on a transfer window and perhaps still 2 players short of a full squad, asking 2 players to leave who in my opinion want to play and contribute to a successful Thistle team seems short sighted and will leave us unable to replace the quality lost. Resulting in 4 players short. Im not one to bang the “Caldwell out” drum however if this is true and plays out this way it seems “healthier” for the club as a whole to bring someone else in who knows how to work with strong personalities within a dressing room. We have a good squad who seem to fall into losing games from winning positions - in my opinion thats more about tactics and game management than the ability of the players on the park. will be absolutely gutted if this plays out.

posted this in another thread. Throwing some names into the hat that haven't been mentioned - not sure of all their respective availabilities. Genuinely think we would have a shot at some of these guys. Craig Moore (FWD) - Ayr United Jamie Ness (MID) - Free Cameron Burgess (DEF) - Scunthorpe - Possible Loan Chris Porter (FWD) - Crewe Padraig Amond (MID / FWD) - Newport Michael Rose (DEF) - Ayr United Lee Wallace (DEF) - Free

Throwing some names into the hat that haven't been mentioned - not sure of all their respective availabilities. Craig Moore (FWD) - Ayr United Jamie Ness (MID) - Free Cameron Burgess (DEF) - Scunthorpe - Possible Loan Chris Porter (FWD) - Crewe Padraig Amond (MID / FWD) - Newport Michael Rose (DEF) - Ayr United Lee Wallace (DEF) - Free