Partick Thistle 🔴 🟡 Vs Hamilton Academical ⚪️🔴

[Duke Gekantawa]

6 minutes ago, Albert's Ghost said:

Just had another look at that.  We were well up the park, with players in good positions.  Instead of making a pass or moving forward, Kyle & Banzo started passing the ball backwards.  Eventually Dan chose to pass back to Myles, who was about the last in the stadium to realise the pass was well underhit, and completely mismanaged his clearance.

I actually blame Kyle & Banzo more than Dan & Myles.  The ball should never even been in our half.

Eh? Really? There is nothing particularly wrong in going backwards and keeping the ball when you’re 2-0 up approaching half time. Much better teams than us do it all the time. Kyle and Banzo’s passes were fine. Dan’s was slightly underhit but should still have been dealt with. Myles made a pig’s ear of dealing with it, being far too casual. Myles is of course predominantly to blame, with some blame for Dan in underhitting the pass.

[Lenziejag]

3 hours ago, Jag said:

At last we had a convincing victory to enjoy. Good performance, great result and could have been more. Dominant display, out with the last ten minutes of first half. 19 shots on goal, which far exceeds any 90 minutes this season by far. Good to go home happy.

Thankfully the shambolic goal we lost didn't cost us. Roberts was again great throughout the game, but didn't cover himself in glory here. However, it was a poor pass by O'Reilly and, in turn, he should never have been receiving the ball from the attacking position we were in.

We looked a danger from just about every set piece, deliveries from Turner and Chalmers much improved. Our pressing was fantastic as well, intensity was a lot higher than it has been in recent weeks. We recovered the ball well all game.

All goals, especially Graham's two, were well taken and Logan Chalmers deserved his for the effort he put in. Difficult not to give MOTM to a forward player - given there were two doubles - but Lee Ashcroft was absolutely outstanding. A flawless performance that deserves more credit. Banzo and Robbie Crawford were strong and Kyle Turner was more of a threat going forward at RB than anything we've seen since Jack McMillan left.

I would have preferred getting subs on earlier. If you're not going to give guys a decent run out when you're 5-1 up and cruising, when are you going to? 

Two assists from Fitzpatrick but the less said about the rest of his performance - especially off the ball - the better.

 

He also had the cut back early on that should have resulted in another goal. I just don’t get why folk are so down on Fitzpatrick. Graham did nothing yesterday apart from his goals - the assists are just as important.

[Albert's Ghost]

22 minutes ago, Duke Gekantawa said:

Eh? Really? There is nothing particularly wrong in going backwards and keeping the ball when you’re 2-0 up approaching half time.

We do it too often.  One reason we don't score many goals (yesterday apart).

But yes, the goal we lost was mostly Myles' fault.

[Lenziejag]

Our stats with and without Luke McBeth this season are played 9 points 10. Not played 5 points 13. Why people think he should play ahead of the current starters is beyond me. He came on yesterday when the game was already won. 

[Duke Gekantawa]

14 minutes ago, Albert's Ghost said:

We do it too often.  One reason we don't score many goals (yesterday apart).

But yes, the goal we lost was mostly Myles' fault.

I would say the main reasons we haven’t been scoring enough is the (lack of) speed and predictability of our passing when going forward, coupled with an inability to hold on to possession. I have no problem with passing backwards to retain possession so long as we are sharper and faster when we do mount an attack.

[a f kincaid]

I sometimes wonder what Thistle fans expect to see on a Saturday. Overheard conversation after the game...

"I know we scored 5 but we're not playing well".

[partickthedog]

18 minutes ago, a f kincaid said:

I sometimes wonder what Thistle fans expect to see on a Saturday. Overheard conversation after the game...

"I know we scored 5 but we're not playing well".

The team's only significant mistake has been analysed in minute detail and blame duly apportioned.

As Dan O'Reilly is one of those maligned, let us also congratulate him on another excellent defensive performance, including at least one vital block on a goal-bound shot, and also highlight his blossoming attacking partnership with Scott Robinson. Two and counting, and perhaps Scott will be able to avoid touching the next one, so that Dan at last gets one for his own tally! 

[Albert's Ghost]

38 minutes ago, partickthedog said:

The team's only significant mistake has been analysed in minute detail and blame duly apportioned.

As Dan O'Reilly is one of those maligned, let us also congratulate him on another excellent defensive performance, including at least one vital block on a goal-bound shot, and also highlight his blossoming attacking partnership with Scott Robinson. Two and counting, and perhaps Scott will be able to avoid touching the next one, so that Dan at last gets one for his own tally! 

Yes - Robbo needed to knock that on in yesterday, but the one at EEP was heading in, so he'd better not have been offside!

[jagfox]

SPFL Championship
Form Guide
Points Last Six

Partick Thistle 14
Falkirk 13
Livingston 13
Raith Rovers 8
Queen's Park 8
Dunfermline Athletic 7
Ayr Utd 7
Hamilton Accies 6
Morton 5
Airdrie 0

 

[MarciaBlaine]

Did anyone else notice someone on the entrance to the Lambie stand loudly canvassing for Reform UK, handing out leaflets for forthcoming Council by-elections?

Or that's what he seemed to be doing, but then as I walked away (after registering my disinterest with two fingers) he seemed to be shouting that Reform is a party for billionaires, which is hardly a selling point to most.

[Duke Gekantawa]

2 minutes ago, MarciaBlaine said:

Did anyone else notice someone on the entrance to the Lambie stand loudly canvassing for Reform UK, handing out leaflets for forthcoming Council by-elections?

Or that's what he seemed to be doing, but then as I walked away (after registering my disinterest with two fingers) he seemed to be shouting that Reform is a party for billionaires, which is hardly a selling point to most.

The flyers were anti-Reform 

[MarciaBlaine]

4 minutes ago, Duke Gekantawa said:

The flyers were anti-Reform 

Oh damn. In that case I retract (sadly only metaphorically) my double-digit salute.

[Duke Gekantawa]

12 minutes ago, MarciaBlaine said:

Oh damn. In that case I retract (sadly only metaphorically) my double-digit salute.

Funnily enough, on the way out my pal saw a pile of the flyers on a table and, thinking the same as you, chucked them in the bin. I had to point out that they said “Reform is a racist party”, and therefore anti- Reform (that said, maybe they were playing to their key demographic!)

[Jag]

22 hours ago, jagfox said:

Chalmers has done well since coming back into the starting line-up against Airdrieonians.

I think playing in front of Megwa and Kyle Turner yesterday has suited his style. There maybe other factors. Even being dropped can give a player a wake up call or as you say a challenger for their place on the training ground. Whatever the combination I'm glad we're seeing the player we hoped for emerging. 

Fitzy as usual was double or even triple marked yesterday in the first-half but that switched to Chalmers second-half. 

I noticed BBG give Aiden a gee up at the kick-off following the 4th goal. He then goes and tees up Brian for his second goal shortly after.

If they all keep upping their game we might end up playing a 2-3-5 😆

Agree with this. He's definitely had a wake up call. I think most of us knew his capabilities and were excited by his signing, he just didn't hit the ground running.

[Jag]

20 hours ago, Lenziejag said:

He also had the cut back early on that should have resulted in another goal. I just don’t get why folk are so down on Fitzpatrick. Graham did nothing yesterday apart from his goals - the assists are just as important.

Yes, assists are important - and that pass for Robinson on Saturday was his first of the season.

I'm probably down on the manager more than the player for constantly playing him, when his form hasn't been good enough.  Probably not Fitzy's faulty because he gets away with it, as he continues to play most minutes of most games. The same can be said for last season when being taken out the team for a spell would have probably done him a lot of good. However, we didn't really have an alternative. As Jagfox rightly pointed out when talking about Logan Chalmers, sometimes a player needs a wake up call. Jagfox also mentioned that BG had to have a word with Fitzy after the 4th goal on Saturday to gee him up. Clearly he recognised the player wasn't pulling his weight.

Three times in a ten minute period in the first half on Saturday he had his hand up, apologising to his team mates for not tracking back. Nobody notices though, as nothing came of it. He has an abundance of pace and skill, but has a really poor attitude and lacks effort. Anybody that says Fitzpatrick is trying his best is delusional. That starts away from the pitch and he looks unfit and overweight - and that leads to laziness.

On his day, he is a fantastic player and is a real threat to the opposition but do we see it often enough? Others have mentioned that defenders often double up on him, as they see him as the danger - and I get that - but I still think we don't get enough from him, for the ability he has.

I think if Fitzy really applied himself, he could be playing at a higher level. But he doesn't. That is the reason he failed at Norwich and that's the reason he is playing in the Scottish Championship.

However, as I say, it's Doolan that keeps picking him. I'd like to see him get more out of the player and give him the kick up the arse I think he needs.

Fair point about Brian Graham and one I was making earlier this season. Out with scoring goals, BG rarely does too much of note (with the ball) in a match. When he is scoring goals everything is fine but, when the goals dry up - as they did earlier this season, his overall play gets scrutinised.. I'm not his biggest fan but I know what else he can bring to the team, even when not scoring goals. One thing Brian Graham can never be accused of is lack of effort.

Before the happy clappers come out to reply, I was delighted with our performance on Saturday - it was easily the best of the campaign and it was great to go home happy. We are going in the right direction and recent results mean we are not too far adrift to mount a challenge. I believe we have the best squad in the league, but it's up to the manager to get the best out of them for the rest of the season. I'm still not convinced he can, but will be more than happy to be proved wrong.

 

[laukat]

I was probably one of those that thought we didn't play particularly well. We were nowhere near as good as say the first half against Raith however we didn't need to be. Hamilton were very very poor.

At 2-1 at halftime I thought we were at risk of throwing away 2 points because we started well, scored a couple but then took our foot of the gas. The 3rd goal kills any hopes Hamilton had and from then it was just a question of how many did we want.

All 6 goals score on Saturday were really poor ones to concede and we'll probably never get 5 gifts like that again. First one the Hamilton keeper makes a mistake, second one Hamilton leave Robinson unmarked 1 yard from goal, 3rd goal Hamilton let a ball bounce in their box with goalkeeper and centrehalfs looking at each other, 4th goal is a repeat of the goal we lost were both keepers make a gaffe. 5th goal the Hamilton defence don't do a lot to stop Fitzpatrick and none of them get in Graham's way.

That being said winning 5-1 without having to get our of 2nd gear is positive. Turner did well in an unfamiliar position. Chalmers look a threat whenever he got the ball in attack, Robinson must be one of the most intelligent players I've seen and Graham bullied their central defenders for 90 minutes. Ashcroft has been superb for weeks and I don't think he broke sweat on Saturday. O'Reilly bar a bad passback was solid 

Milne is a bit off his best but can't question his commitment. Fitpaztrick was poor and I would have preferred to see Lawless on for him as he needs to feel that his place is under threat.

Going forward and assuming Megwa is fit we do need to find a way of getting Turner back in midfield as he's the only one capable of controlling a game. Bannigan and Crawford were fine on Saturday and good and doing all the hard work but not sure they have ability to dictate play.

Getting Lawless back is great as he can do things none of the other can see. 

[exiledjag]

17 hours ago, jagfox said:

SPFL Championship
Form Guide
Points Last Six

Partick Thistle 14
Falkirk 13
Livingston 13
Raith Rovers 8
Queen's Park 8
Dunfermline Athletic 7
Ayr Utd 7
Hamilton Accies 6
Morton 5
Airdrie 0

 

This is impressive in terms of accumulating points.

At the risk of repeating some parts of an earlier post our performance could be analysed as follows:

First Phase of Games 

Played 9 Points 10

Second Phase of Games

Played 5 Points 13.

I estimate we are going to need 23 Points from Phase 2 - so at least 9 Points from the remaining 4 games.

To win the League we will need 23 Points from each of Phases 3 & 4 giving 79 points in total (10 + 3 x 23).

Have we ever reached the levels of consistency required to achieve the above?

What Jagfox's analysis does demonstrate is that Falkirk and Livingston are very capable of dropping points which is encouraging.

What it doesn't demonstrate is that we are going to have to demonstrate that we can take points from them and by that I mean beating, rather than drawing with them.

Keeping my fingers crossed we can do all of the above and win automatic promotion.

[lady-isobel-barnett]

Another analysis, perhaps. So far our away record stands at .......Played 3 on plastic 0/9 pts. Played 3 on grass 7/9 pts.

Too early I know as hardly enough input as yet to make too much out of that. Tho' the Accies reversal strongly backs up what is our preferred surface. 

Grass pitch this coming Saturday. So we're definitely not getting beat. 🙂

[javeajag]

1 hour ago, laukat said:

was probably one of those that thought we didn't play particularly well. We were nowhere near as good as say the first half against Raith however we didn't need to be. Hamilton were very very poor.

I can understand this viewpoint…..Hamilton were awful but it was probably our best overall performance of the season and in general performances are slowly improving.

the key will be whether we can maintain results against better opposition.

[laukat]

19 minutes ago, javeajag said:

I can understand this viewpoint…..Hamilton were awful but it was probably our best overall performance of the season and in general performances are slowly improving.

the key will be whether we can maintain results against better opposition.

Agree, I'm hoping that goals bring confidence which bring more goals. 

Hamilton were that bad on Saturday that it felt a bit like playing a pre-season game against lower league opposition just to give your strikers some shooting practice. 

[Jaggernaut]

Excellent coverage and alternative views of the goals on the "Partick Thistle Gameday" channel:

 

Edited November 18 by Jaggernaut

[thornwoodjag]

21 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said:

Excellent coverage and alternative views of the goals on the "Partick Thistle Gameday" channel:

 

First goal is a really good goal. Break up their attack, couple of good passes then a great through ball from Aidan. Keeper obv helps us. 

[elevenone]

Chance to bid for jersey’s worn on Sat (inc grass stains) here

https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/match-worn-shirts-from-hamilton-victory-up-for-auction/

[BowenBoys]

My main observation from Saturday's game is that the roof of the new South Stand seems incredibly low.

[allyo]

9 hours ago, Jag said:

Selective quoting...

I think if Fitzy really applied himself, he could be playing at a higher level. But he doesn't. That is the reason he failed at Norwich and that's the reason he is playing in the Scottish Championship.

Maybe he's only ever wanted to play for Thistle