Jags vs Wasps

[Auld Jag]

2 hours ago, partickthedog said:

For those interested in the Alloa perspective, here are their youtube highlights:

If you vaguely recognise the "Michael Max" equivalent of the commentary  team, my son Andrew happens to be in the same running club as Kieran Mooney, the Alloa TV commentator, and was invited to provide a Thistle perspective. His experience from the TV box could be summed up by "outrageously wonderful view" and "outrageously hideous performance". 

Thanks @partickthedog. Watching the highlights we had more chances in the second half before they scored than i remembered, but nowhere good enough. Andrew's comments reflected what all Thistle fans watching the game either at the ground, streaming or listening were. In the end we were well beaten by an Alloa side who are part time and a league below us, which is totally unacceptable. Big improvements required by everyone from management team  to players, if things don't improve decisions will need to be made.

[javeajag]

56 minutes ago, jagfox said:

If we are to get Megwa on loan, I don't think that's the bad thing it's made out to be.

I appreciate that touches on the funding questions but the loans we have don't tend to be the ones that the child club pay a high % of the player's actual wages.

It might also suggest with the size and cost  of our squad we are really really under performing 

[Derby Jag]

2 hours ago, partickthedog said:

For those interested in the Alloa perspective, here are their youtube highlights:

If you vaguely recognise the "Michael Max" equivalent of the commentary  team, my son Andrew happens to be in the same running club as Kieran Mooney, the Alloa TV commentator, and was invited to provide a Thistle perspective. His experience from the TV box could be summed up by "outrageously wonderful view" and "outrageously hideous performance". 

Yet another team producing a high quality package available for free to all whilst we have to pay for the privilege.

[jagfox]

1 hour ago, javeajag said:

It might also suggest with the size and cost  of our squad we are really really under performing 

Well, that would be the main explanation why we are still looking at players.

I don't think anyone can shine too bright a light on our performances so far. Even the good result against a poor QP side.

Not saying one player will change things. Being negative,  I could say we are looking at far too big a squad and more players clicking their heels could lead to disquiet in the squad.

Hopefully, we aren't at that stage, yet. Anyway, only speculation from what I can see and we can all expect the manager to get more from what he has at his disposal.

I'm hoping the players will show more urgency next week otherwise it could be another disappointing afternoon.

[partickthedog]

2 hours ago, Auld Jag said:

Thanks @partickthedog. Watching the highlights we had more chances in the second half before they scored than i remembered, but nowhere good enough. Andrew's comments reflected what all Thistle fans watching the game either at the ground, streaming or listening were. In the end we were well beaten by an Alloa side who are part time and a league below us, which is totally unacceptable. Big improvements required by everyone from management team  to players, if things don't improve decisions will need to be made.

Thanks AJ. I think that there is some sort of family curse over the weekend as my daughter Heather is stand in presenter this week for the Draw Lose or Draw podcast (Matt the usual host is having a week off).

At least you and I only had to watch the game!

[Yellow & Redneck]

Saw this guy scored another double for Ayr United. I'm sure we had him signed a few years ago, but in his infinite wisdom, Doolan had him shipped out. 

[Jordanhill Jag]

3 hours ago, alexander livingstone said:

It might be the various Foundations who decide the managers fate,but if MrMcClymont wants him to be sacked and the rest of the Board don't agree and he stops bailing us out what happens then.

Obviously the Board do as there main funder tells them as we are in trouble without his cash 

however various posters justifying our finances saw no harm on being dependant on a “ Wealthy Thistle Fan “ giving us money 

its the same as people influencing decisions -who will see Brian Graham as the “natural replacement” for Dools as he Coaches the Woman's Team 

[Fawlty Towers]

I am sure we are all hoping that a change of manager won't be required as we turns thing around and move up the table.

[Thistle88]

If we lose against Ayr on Saturday I think Doolan will need to have a think to himself if he should maybe walk away, I’ve said before I’d like to see someone else in as manager and Doolan has managed to prove me wrong and go on a really good run of form. 
 

He has no excuse now and has 2 games to save his job IMO, you live and die with your recruitment Chalmers, Crawford and Ashcroft looked like good signings on paper but so far I don’t think we would have been any worse off if they hadn’t even joined ! Each of them will be on decent wages for this level. 
 

Fingers crossed he can go get 6 points from the 2 games but I just can’t see it.. Need someone to give these boys a reality check and I don’t think Doolan has it in him.

[Dick Dastardly]

53 minutes ago, Yellow & Redneck said:

Saw this guy scored another double for Ayr United. I'm sure we had him signed a few years ago, but in his infinite wisdom, Doolan had him shipped out. 

To be fair, Dowds was pretty poor when given a game with us and he was never going to sign on to get occasional late appearances. At the start of the season I doubt that many would have said to punt Graham to make Dowds the first choice.

Also I don’t think that even Haaland would make much difference. We don’t create the chances for any striker.

[Lenziejag]

1 hour ago, Yellow & Redneck said:

Saw this guy scored another double for Ayr United. I'm sure we had him signed a few years ago, but in his infinite wisdom, Doolan had him shipped out. 

Did you see him play for us - even under McCall. Even if he was still with us he wouldn’t be getting started ahead of Graham yet, who last season was the league’s top scorer. 

[laukat]

The problem for Dowds was he was too similar in style to Graham who is just much better at that style. The problem for every other striker we sign is we only ever play 1 striker.

Bar a few games were we were forced into 3-5-2 we've played 4-2-3-1 for over a year and prior to that McCall also had us playing the same. Last time we weren't was in the playoff a run a couple of years ago where we interchanged from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2.

Some folk have commented to say this feels like the Archibald's last season. The common factor is Archie wouldn't budge from 4-2-3-1 even we he didn't have the players to play it.

Ayr are at this point a rarity because they play 2 strikers with 2 wingers and thats part of the reason why Dowds is scoring for fun. Tactically Ayr are reverting to an old formation but because most coaches haven't had to deal with that in a while they've forgotten how to counter it.  

We should be looking at 4-4-2 with the attacking talent we have or 3-4-3 with the central defenders we have instead we just want someone to do what McMillan and Lawless did but better.

[JAG1970]

3 minutes ago, Fawlty Towers said:

I am sure we are all hoping that a change of manager won't be required as we turns thing around and move up the table.

I see Ayr came back from 2.0 down to win 3.2 today with a certain Mr Dowds scoring two. He’ll be looking forward to making a point on Saturday against Doolan.

A win for us would be a massive shot in the arm, even a point would be a relief, either result would enable a platform to go on a run of some sort. Defeat would really pile the pressure on and a heavy defeat would be the beginning of the end for Doolan. 

One thing that occurred to me watching Doolan’s post match interview. He was asked directly “you’re not one for getting angry after games, today did you get angry?” He avoided answering it and whilst acknowledging we were below standard he then turns the failure on himself for changing the shape late in the game. That ignores the first 70 mins or so. This constant need to protect the players has worn thin. I don’t think the likes of Brown, McGlyn, Martindale would hesitate to blast their players when needed. Or look at the comments made by Kettlewell recently after our game against Motherwell. "Anybody that thinks that is an acceptable performance is going to get a rude awakening. I thought we were slack all day and didn't play with any energy or aggression”. Something that could be said about us more than once already this season. Motherwell then go on a run of winning 3, drawing one and losing narrowly to rangers. Sometimes I think Kris is too nice to be a successful manager. 
 

Last season I think we went on a run of 6 league games and took just 3 points plus we threw away a two goal lead against Livingston in the cup. Doolan managed to turn it around after that. But it’s Hope over expectation right now.
 

[JAG1970]

1 hour ago, Jordanhill Jag said:

its the same as people influencing decisions -who will see Brian Graham as the “natural replacement” for Dools as he Coaches the Woman's Team 

It worked when a previous board threw Archie in. Sometimes you get lucky with an appointment. If Dools was removed it would be worth asking Graham to take the reins short term and see if he could fashion a response. Whatever you or anyone else think of Women’s football Graham has got them punching above their weight. He might be able to do the same with the men’s team if he got the role. Worth a punt for a few weeks at least whilst the board develop a plan B. But a win at Somerset followed by improved performances and points makes that conversation go away. We shall know soon enough. 

[Lenziejag]

11 minutes ago, JAG1970 said:

It worked when a previous board threw Archie in. Sometimes you get lucky with an appointment. If Dools was removed it would be worth asking Graham to take the reins short term and see if he could fashion a response. Whatever you or anyone else think of Women’s football Graham has got them punching above their weight. He might be able to do the same with the men’s team if he got the role. Worth a punt for a few weeks at least whilst the board develop a plan B. But a win at Somerset followed by improved performances and points makes that conversation go away. We shall know soon enough. 

I think having Graham take over would be a disaster unless he gave up the women’s team. I think there are 5 full time teams in the league and they are miles ahead even after just 6 games. We seem to be the best of the rest, at the moment but punching above their weight-I am not so sure.

[javeajag]

The game on Saturday is now huge on a number of levels …. At a minimum we need to see a significant increase in the performance level …. If we don’t and lose Doolans position is going g to be very tenuous.

[lady-isobel-barnett]

19 hours ago, Thistle88 said:

He needs to stop the excuses it’s the same pish he spouts every week. The players must see what he says after the game and think aw we lost but Doolan says we were good so.. Not too much work needed. 😂

Could maybe be the case.

But what happens if Doolan goes? Almost certainly Brian Graham will take temporary charge. Less certain but highly likely after a few results he'll be offered the gig full time. So is Graham one of those players who accepts Doolan's complacency? Or If he doesn't and thinks differently, then perhaps he's failing as team captain on a motivational basis? I doubt that and I'm guessing there's an element of Good Cop/Bad Cop on occasions in training.

I'm increasingly thinking that whatever formation we play is really of secondary concern. The speed we move the ball (or rather the lack of) coupled with lack of movement off the ball are of greater concern. Those failings lead in turn to predictability of play, which is fairly self evident so far this season. A slow and deliberate 4-4-2 will be just as unsuccessful as a 4-2-3-1 or whatever played at yesterday's poor intensity. 

[Albert's Ghost]

48 minutes ago, javeajag said:

The game on Saturday is now huge on a number of levels …. At a minimum we need to see a significant increase in the performance level …. If we don’t and lose Doolans position is going g to be very tenuous.

This was a new low.  All the other defeats came with excuses - this one didn't.  We were simply second best to Alloa.

[Jordanhill Jag]

3 hours ago, JAG1970 said:

It worked when a previous board threw Archie in. Sometimes you get lucky with an appointment. If Dools was removed it would be worth asking Graham to take the reins short term and see if he could fashion a response. Whatever you or anyone else think of Women’s football Graham has got them punching above their weight. He might be able to do the same with the men’s team if he got the role. Worth a punt for a few weeks at least whilst the board develop a plan B. But a win at Somerset followed by improved performances and points makes that conversation go away. We shall know soon enough. 

Graham is already getting the job - as for the Womans Team - you would be better getting someone from the Juniors - there is experience is more relevant 

But there are lots of people at influential positions that equate PTFC and PTFC Women's Club as the same thing - so Graham is getting the job lets not pretend he isn't  

 

[King Kenny]

Never made it this week, was away for the weekend. Caught some of it on the radio and just before Alloa equalised, one of the BBC pundits stated "It's all very predictable from Thistle". 

I think that sums us up nicely so far this season. 

Teams know how to play us and we rarely have an answer. 

Doolan is under pressure, he can't have many more games like this but some of the so called "stars" in our team really need to get the finger out. 

[Whitelees jag]

3 hours ago, laukat said:

The problem for Dowds was he was too similar in style to Graham who is just much better at that style. The problem for every other striker we sign is we only ever play 1 striker.

Bar a few games were we were forced into 3-5-2 we've played 4-2-3-1 for over a year and prior to that McCall also had us playing the same. Last time we weren't was in the playoff a run a couple of years ago where we interchanged from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2.

Some folk have commented to say this feels like the Archibald's last season. The common factor is Archie wouldn't budge from 4-2-3-1 even we he didn't have the players to play it.

Ayr are at this point a rarity because they play 2 strikers with 2 wingers and thats part of the reason why Dowds is scoring for fun. Tactically Ayr are reverting to an old formation but because most coaches haven't had to deal with that in a while they've forgotten how to counter it.  

We should be looking at 4-4-2 with the attacking talent we have or 3-4-3 with the central defenders we have instead we just want someone to do what McMillan and Lawless did but better.

If only we could play with 2 wingers and 2 upfront. Dowds was hounded out of Firhill maybe a certain c centre forward felt threatened.  We were in for Oakley but he didn't want to play 2nd fiddle to Graham.. maybe time for Dools to change from 4-2-3-1.

[Jordanhill Jag]

8 hours ago, alexander livingstone said:

It might be the various Foundations who decide the managers fate,but if MrMcClymont wants him to be sacked and the rest of the Board don't agree and he stops bailing us out what happens then.

In essence TJF call the shots as you correctly point out - Dools Days are numbered 

Brian Graham is getting the job -as he “ has done well with the Woman's Team “ 

Only problem is not many of McCalls Signings are left ( unlike Dools )

when it was suggested that McCall might get a Director of Football role which would include recruitment - it was rejected -as they wanted that role to also cover the Woman's Team - so we paid McCall do to nothing until His contract ran out 

our main weakness is recruitment - but the Committees decide - so we are where we are

 

 

[Tom Hosie]

Two Thistle fans expressing concern and disappointment over a piss poor result and performance, whatever next? Does their involvement with TJF prevent them from expressing an opinion? 

At least they put their own name to their social media output. 

[Norgethistle]

14 minutes ago, Jordanhill Jag said:

In essence TJF call the shots as you correctly point out - Dools Days are numbered 

Brian Graham is getting the job -as he “ has done well with the Woman's Team “ 

Only problem is not many of McCalls Signings are left ( unlike Dools )

when it was suggested that McCall might get a Director of Football role which would include recruitment - it was rejected -as they wanted that role to also cover the Woman's Team - so we paid McCall do to nothing until His contract ran out 

our main weakness is recruitment - but the Committees decide - so we are where we are

 

 

Jim TJF has zero role in the hiring or firing of a manager. Please stop peddling this nonsense 

[Tom Hosie]

17 minutes ago, Jordanhill Jag said:

 

Brian Graham is getting the job -as he “ has done well with the Woman's Team “ 

 

 

 

Would be helpful to know who this quote is from, and the context it was made. 

Brian Graham has done well with PTWFC, that isn't in question but the unattributed quote may well not have been made in context to what is currently a hypothetical vacancy*. 

Or perhaps it isn't a quote at all. 

 

*Very much hoping it remains so