Livi Friday Away

[Jordanhill Jag]

15 minutes ago, laukat said:

I read it more as he knows he's not getting the job and is now making it public that he can't go back into a dressing room as a player. If he's being blatant or trying to make a power play on anything its about making it clear that he wants to be released from his playing contract.

However surely Barraclough and whoever else was involved in recruiting the new head coach knew that if Graham was passed over we lost him as a player? 

I struggle to think of any profession were a person in temporary charge and pursuing the job fulltime would be comfortable with being passed over and expected to return to normal duties?

But he made it very very clear in an interview that he was focused on the interim and the FT Role was not something he had really considered - now its - if I don't get it I Leave ? 

 

[stolenscone]

32 minutes ago, Jordanhill Jag said:

It was a power play - give me the job or you don't have a Striker for next Season - to be so blatant about it in a Post Match Interview was shocking 

I don't know about shocking. It's about the least surprising thing I can think of. Being charitable, emotions were probably running high, so I'm prepared to give him a pass. Not his finest hour though.

[Jordanhill Jag]

8 minutes ago, stolenscone said:

I don't know about shocking. It's about the least surprising thing I can think of. Being charitable, emotions were probably running high, so I'm prepared to give him a pass. Not his finest hour though.

He has been hawking his position to be Manager all week in PTFC Pravda ( the Herald) tonight post match interview was just a different angle 

[jaggy]

5 hours ago, Dick Dastardly said:

The red yellow and black stripes clash with both Livvy home and away kits.

It’s ridiculous. Wtf has lilac got to do with our club? If Livvy don’t have a third strip we should have worn ours & they could have worn yellow in one of the games. Nothing to do with losing, it just annoyed me.

Did we wear lilac in all 4 games against them? I’m not sure we did

 

 

[jaggy]

1 hour ago, Jaggernaut said:

Let him go if he wants, if it saves us a wage. Great scoring record. Woeful misses time after time.

Yes, just release the league’s top scorer, makes a lot of sense, especially as he’d likely join a rival 😳

[jagfox]

4 hours ago, partickthedog said:

Good to see Stevie Lawless back to something like his old form.

Really? I wish him all the best but what has he contributed in a footballing sense?

Plenty of effort but no end product, imo.

I look forward to your response.

[Jaggernaut]

2 hours ago, jagfox said:

Really? I wish him all the best but what has he contributed in a footballing sense?

Plenty of effort but no end product, imo.

I look forward to your response.

Frankly, Lawless has been totally anonymous in all appearances since his return. I feel it's no more than wishful thinking that he'll be as effective as before.

[Dick Dastardly]

8 hours ago, exiledjag said:

I acknowledge the season long grumbles and the long list of injuries - tonight we had 6 academy youngsters on the bench - that weakened the squad  over the play-off games.

When it comes to clear outs and major surgery my question is do we have the money to do this?

I think we need to find a mid-field.

IIn defence I think Mitchell (despite tonight) McBeth, Ashcroft and O'Reilly are worth retaining. In Jamie Low I think we have a player there.

In mid-field Turner & Lawless. 

In attack I like the pace of Adlabe  Chalmers and Jakubiack.

Perhaps give Graham, Stanway and McKenzie another season  the latter two to prove themselves.

I don't know enough about the academy players to make comment.

The above though still leaves us short of a right full back,  strength and creativity in mid-field and a goal scorer in attack  Graham can't go on forever!

In closing  the players and management should be given a lot of credit not only for making it to the play-offs but reaching the semi-final.

We do though need a significant doze of fresh air throughout the club

 

Turner is the most overrated player in the squad. Does absolutely nothing. Lawless has been very average since his return, but. I guess that he and the club will know how much of that can be recovered with a pre-season. You didn’t mention Scott Martin in midfield who looked to be the midfield player we have been missing.

Like Lawless, McKay has had a long injury, and a decision needs to be made on whether he can contribute for a full season, or if he will always be a “sick note”. There is history.
 

There has got to be better than Ablade or Jakubiak. They remind me of Miles Storey, but without the goal threat.

Edited May 17 by Dick Dastardly

[stolenscone]

15 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

There has got to be better than Ablade or Jakubiak. They remind me of Miles Storey, but without the goal threat.

Edited 11 minutes ago by Dick Dastardly

Miles Storey was a goal threat? 😅

[a f kincaid]

7 hours ago, jaggy said:

It’s ridiculous. Wtf has lilac got to do with our club? If Livvy don’t have a third strip we should have worn ours & they could have worn yellow in one of the games. Nothing to do with losing, it just annoyed me.

Did we wear lilac in all 4 games against them? I’m not sure we did

 

 

I hate the lilac strip as well but just as an aside, I'm surprised the officials don't consider the lack of contrast between the lilac and Mitchell's outfit, or the Livingston keeper's for that matter.

[Dick Dastardly]

1 hour ago, stolenscone said:

Miles Storey was a goal threat? 😅

Exactly my point 

[Yellow & Redneck]

2 hours ago, Dick Dastardly said:

Like Lawless, McKay has had a long injury, and a decision needs to be made on whether he can contribute for a full season, or if he will always be a “sick note”. There is history.
 

During the initial press release in August, it said that Mackay was out for four months. Should have meant a return at the start of the year. Since then, he hasn't even made a matchday squad. Did he have another setback? 

[Tom Hosie]

I think what we saw from Brian last night was real heart on the sleeve stuff. I thought his Jagszone interview in particular was very emotional.

I hated him when he played against us in as much as you can 'hate' someone you don't know. I always wanted to see him play for us though. 

He has been exceptional for us since he signed back in 2020. Look at his scoring record. The division's leading scorer the last two seasons. At the age of 36 and 37. That alone would be near impossible to replace. 

I've got to know him a bit over the years, primarily through my association with PTW. I'm not claiming to be his best pal or anything, popping round for cups of tea and a chat but I have seen what kind of person he is. How he is with other people. How important his family is to him as it with us all. 

He's a top, top person. One of the best I've known kicking about the sidelines at Partick Thistle. 

He's passionate and emotional. 

Sometimes that gets him into trouble on the pitch or in the technical area. 

He's also as honest as they come. 

One of his best traits with PTW is inspiring players to the very best they can be. Sometimes when they didn't believe it themselves. When we stepped up to SWPL1 there were some that didn't believe they could play at that level. One has just retired after doing just that for 4 seasons. 

Hey I don't really know where this word salad is going. It certainly not about last night's game - a shade unlucky to lose on the night but Livi clear and deserved winners of the tie - and might have been better posted in another thread (Admin help - oops). 

There's nothing he said last night that isn't true. There's that heart on the sleeve again. There's that honesty. 

I want him to be our next permanent manager. Iif he isn't I'll be 100% behind who ever is as I've always been but I think we're losing a lot if he isn't. 

 

[exiledjag]

2 hours ago, Dick Dastardly said:

Turner is the most overrated player in the squad. Does absolutely nothing. Lawless has been very average since his return, but. I guess that he and the club will know how much of that can be recovered with a pre-season. You didn’t mention Scott Martin in midfield who looked to be the midfield player we have been missing.

Like Lawless, McKay has had a long injury, and a decision needs to be made on whether he can contribute for a full season, or if he will always be a “sick note”. There is history.
 

There has got to be better than Ablade or Jakubiak. They remind me of Miles Storey, but without the goal threat.

Thanks gor pointing out that I missed Martin and McKay. I take that on the chin. Perhaps keep Martin not sure about McKay.

My comments were made on the basis we can't release everyone, can we? So I suggest we keep the players I have suggested but play them in their bestvpisitions, for example, Turner as a central and advanced midfielder.

With regard to Graham's comments I understand where he is coming from and zi don't think he is trying to blackmail the club to appointing him or he leaves. I think all he is saying is that having tasted management he doesn't feel he can go back to where he was. It's not an uncommon scenario.

I have already said I don't fancy a co-management appointment and of the two Marl Wilson has impressed me more. I would though prefer an appointment ftom outwith the club and someone with no PTFC history.

[Cork Jag]

54 minutes ago, Tom Hosie said:

I think what we saw from Brian last night was real heart on the sleeve stuff. I thought his Jagszone interview in particular was very emotional.

I hated him when he played against us in as much as you can 'hate' someone you don't know. I always wanted to see him play for us though. 

He has been exceptional for us since he signed back in 2020. Look at his scoring record. The division's leading scorer the last two seasons. At the age of 36 and 37. That alone would be near impossible to replace. 

I've got to know him a bit over the years, primarily through my association with PTW. I'm not claiming to be his best pal or anything, popping round for cups of tea and a chat but I have seen what kind of person he is. How he is with other people. How important his family is to him as it with us all. 

He's a top, top person. One of the best I've known kicking about the sidelines at Partick Thistle. 

He's passionate and emotional. 

Sometimes that gets him into trouble on the pitch or in the technical area. 

He's also as honest as they come. 

One of his best traits with PTW is inspiring players to the very best they can be. Sometimes when they didn't believe it themselves. When we stepped up to SWPL1 there were some that didn't believe they could play at that level. One has just retired after doing just that for 4 seasons. 

Hey I don't really know where this word salad is going. It certainly not about last night's game - a shade unlucky to lose on the night but Livi clear and deserved winners of the tie - and might have been better posted in another thread (Admin help - oops). 

There's nothing he said last night that isn't true. There's that heart on the sleeve again. There's that honesty. 

I want him to be our next permanent manager. Iif he isn't I'll be 100% behind who ever is as I've always been but I think we're losing a lot if he isn't. 

 

Great post and thank you.

I will be gutted if he leaves. To me Wilson and Graham have shown enough to be given a chance to drive it on.

Theyd need to look at the overall structure so he’s not doing as much.

Makes no sense to me, how a guy like Imrie, or even Murray or Kettlewell have much if anything more to offer in terms of experience or a record of success. 

Just speculation, as dont know who is getting the job.

Either way, Graham has been phenomenal for our club, Wilson has impressed me. Hard to be enthused or excited if we lose that.

Give him and Wilson the job, get few players in, get few younger ones in team and go again. 

Edited May 17 by Cork Jag

[King Kenny]

1 minute ago, Cork Jag said:

Great post and thank you.

I will be gutted if he leaves. To me Wilson and Graham have shown enough to be given a chance to drive it on.

Theyd need to look at the overall structure so he’s not doing as much.

Makes no sense to me, how a guy like Imrie, or even Murray or Kettlewell have much if anything more to offer experience or record of success wise. 

Just speculation, but Graham has been phenomenal. Hard to be enthused or excited if we lose him.

Give him and Wilson the job, get few players in, get few younger ones in team and go again. 

I’ve actually being struggling to think about who would be a good fit for manager but this post sums it up nicely.

On one hand, we have a clean break. The SD brings in his own man and we start from scratch.

Or

We give it to the two guys who have shown they can have a positive impact. Sure, some of the results have been poor but no manager at our level wins every game. Certainly not one who is starting out. The SD himself stated that Wilson and Graham are driving the ethos of the club at the moment.

I have reservations about co managers, it doesn’t usually tend to work. Perhaps that is some for Wilson and Graham to discuss between them.

The fact that Wilson has such a great input to the 18s and is a major influence on our younger players is a big plus. When was the last time (or ever?) that we had a group of young boys pushing to get in the first team? 
 

With the projected budget cuts and unlikely promotion push next season, it might be a chance to blood some in to the team. Who better than Wilson and Graham to do that?

Obviously for the team to grow, promotion is the holy grail. However, a season or two in the championship building a team mixed with experience and our own youth players might not be the worst thing in the world. 
 

It would certainly be an improvement from filling the team full of old firm loans that bring nothing to the team. 
 

Big few days coming up but I feel Graham and Wilson have probably done enough to show they deserve a shot with their own, fully fit squad. 

[jlsarmy]

7 minutes ago, King Kenny said:

I’ve actually being struggling to think about who would be a good fit for manager but this post sums it up nicely.

On one hand, we have a clean break. The SD brings in his own man and we start from scratch.

Or

We give it to the two guys who have shown they can have a positive impact. Sure, some of the results have been poor but no manager at our level wins every game. Certainly not one who is starting out. The SD himself stated that Wilson and Graham are driving the ethos of the club at the moment.

I have reservations about co managers, it doesn’t usually tend to work. Perhaps that is some for Wilson and Graham to discuss between them.

The fact that Wilson has such a great input to the 18s and is a major influence on our younger players is a big plus. When was the last time (or ever?) that we had a group of young boys pushing to get in the first team? 
 

With the projected budget cuts and unlikely promotion push next season, it might be a chance to blood some in to the team. Who better than Wilson and Graham to do that?

Obviously for the team to grow, promotion is the holy grail. However, a season or two in the championship building a team mixed with experience and our own youth players might not be the worst thing in the world. 
 

It would certainly be an improvement from filling the team full of old firm loans that bring nothing to the team. 
 

Big few days coming up but I feel Graham and Wilson have probably done enough to show they deserve a shot with their own, fully fit squad. 

Have they done enough ? , they’ve won 6 games out of the 15 they’ve been involved in .

[watties wallies]

watching all of the playoff games, I have been impressed with the attitude and physical effort shown by the players. 

there has definitely been a massive improvement in the players approach in these games. 

thistle should appoint graham and wilson 

onwards and upwards  👍

btw I never believed that Kris doolan was given a championship playing budget for this season

Edited May 17 by watties wallies
budget note

[jlsarmy]

7 minutes ago, watties wallies said:

watching all of the playoff games, I have been impressed with the attitude and physical effort shown by the players. 

there has definitely been a massive improvement in the players approach in these games. 

thistle should appoint graham and wilson 

onwards and upwards  👍

btw I never believed that Kris doolan was given a championship playing budget for this season

Maybe we weren’t good enough, but we won 1 out of 4 play off games

 

[King Kenny]

18 minutes ago, jlsarmy said:

Have they done enough ? , they’ve won 6 games out of the 15 they’ve been involved in .

It’s a fair argument. I’d suggest there’s been some mitigating circumstances in some of those losses but undoubtedly the games against Airdrie and Hamilton were nowhere near good enough. 
 

We’ve had results like that under every manager I can remember mind you and no doubt will again.

It’s a big decision. The Sporting Director might want his own manager in, it’ll be his neck on the line if it goes wrong given how sceptical many are to his appointment in the first place. We might have some far superior candidates than Graham and Wilson, I guess time will tell. 

[Jordanhill Jag]

1 hour ago, Tom Hosie said:

I think what we saw from Brian last night was real heart on the sleeve stuff. I thought his Jagszone interview in particular was very emotional.

I hated him when he played against us in as much as you can 'hate' someone you don't know. I always wanted to see him play for us though. 

He has been exceptional for us since he signed back in 2020. Look at his scoring record. The division's leading scorer the last two seasons. At the age of 36 and 37. That alone would be near impossible to replace. 

I've got to know him a bit over the years, primarily through my association with PTW. I'm not claiming to be his best pal or anything, popping round for cups of tea and a chat but I have seen what kind of person he is. How he is with other people. How important his family is to him as it with us all. 

He's a top, top person. One of the best I've known kicking about the sidelines at Partick Thistle. 

He's passionate and emotional. 

Sometimes that gets him into trouble on the pitch or in the technical area. 

He's also as honest as they come. 

One of his best traits with PTW is inspiring players to the very best they can be. Sometimes when they didn't believe it themselves. When we stepped up to SWPL1 there were some that didn't believe they could play at that level. One has just retired after doing just that for 4 seasons. 

Hey I don't really know where this word salad is going. It certainly not about last night's game - a shade unlucky to lose on the night but Livi clear and deserved winners of the tie - and might have been better posted in another thread (Admin help - oops). 

There's nothing he said last night that isn't true. There's that heart on the sleeve again. There's that honesty. 

I want him to be our next permanent manager. Iif he isn't I'll be 100% behind who ever is as I've always been but I think we're losing a lot if he isn't. 

 

Took over 6 points clear - finished 2 points clear by the Skin of our teeth 

playoffs - poor against Ayr at Firhill - Great against them at Somerset - not at the races against Livvy 

But he is a great guy so give him the Job - what he did as a Player - with PTWFC etc etc - his track record as manager is underwhelming 

but he will get the job -mediocrity is the Thistle way 

[Fearchar]

11 hours ago, laukat said:

...I struggle to think of any profession were a person in temporary charge and pursuing the job fulltime would be comfortable with being passed over and expected to return to normal duties?

Been there - done that. Yes, it's inevitable.

[lady-isobel-barnett]

Re the play off format. I fully understand how in fairness they have to make it extremely difficult for the 4th finishing club to progress. It would be daft if a team finishing probably not much higher than mid table could get promoted by winning a couple of games. If we had somehow done the biz this season we'd have done so with a goal difference of a mere +5 to show for 36 games. To me that would make rather a mockery of the point in having leagues in the first place. It's a league not a hybrid league/cup competition.

I feel the play offs would be better suited if they did away with the 4th placed club. Make it 2nd v 3rd over two legs. Meaning the play off final would always be contested by two teams who have both played 38 games. OK, that system would have done away with much of our end of season excitement over most of the last few seasons. But in reality a club finishing a league campaign with a mere +5 goal difference should've best been preparing for life in the same league next season. God knows we've a lot to prepare for.

 

Edited May 17 by lady-isobel-barnett

[Tom Hosie]

Just to expand on my earlier post and clear up some misunderstanding among those that may choose to misinterpret. 

I'm not suggesting that Brian Graham should be appointed manager soley because he is a good guy. That's ludicrous. Clearly. I think most people would realise that. The type of person someone is though will impact on their interpersonal skills which is a factor is assessing how they will man manage, so it's not entirely irrelevant either. 

The growth and development of PTW across the last 5 years is the primary body of work I have to form my personal assessment of Brian Graham as a potential manager of the men's team. I like how he's improved players. I like how the professionalism of the set up has improved, how the preparation has improved. I like how he is tactical aware and adaptable. 

The women's game and the men's game are different environments, the dynamic is different. What works in one environment doesn't necessarily translate to the other. 

There's a three month period though to assess Brian Graham (and Mark Wilson) with the men's squad. 

We were 4th when they took over and we finished 4th. 

They knew what they were getting in to when they took over. They didn't come into post blind, but I do feel they were dealt a difficult hand to play with. 

A reduced squad after January further hit by injury. You don't hire open topped buses for maintaining 4th position but equally I think getting that depleted squad over the line into the play-offs shouldn't be downplayed either. 

We've had players, injured players, putting their bodies on the line when perhaps they shouldn't have been playing. Many of you will have seen the pictures of Fitzpatrick's feet for example. That suggests to me that they are capable of inspiring and getting a squad to play for them. 

I like too Mark Wilson's connections with the Academy. That provides knowledge and trust in the players in that set up. Craig Dargo's role in that should be acknowledged too. 

The Club should, of course, explore all options available. I'm certain they will have done so. 

In my view they are a great number of very compelling arguments as to why Brian Graham should be appointed permanent manager. I hope he is. 

Hopefully that provides a little more substance to my earlier lengthy post. 

But if mEDocRIty iS tHe ThIStLe wAY is the way to interpret that I can't help that, just as I can't help influence who the next Thistle manager is. 

No more lengthy posts to follow. Will wait and see what happens and hopefully whoever is the next Thistle manager is a huge success. 

[jaggy]

2 hours ago, exiledjag said:

Thanks gor pointing out that I missed Martin and McKay. I take that on the chin. Perhaps keep Martin not sure about McKay.

My comments were made on the basis we can't release everyone, can we? So I suggest we keep the players I have suggested but play them in their bestvpisitions, for example, Turner as a central and advanced midfielder.

With regard to Graham's comments I understand where he is coming from and zi don't think he is trying to blackmail the club to appointing him or he leaves. I think all he is saying is that having tasted management he doesn't feel he can go back to where he was. It's not an uncommon scenario.

I have already said I don't fancy a co-management appointment and of the two Marl Wilson has impressed me more. I would though prefer an appointment ftom outwith the club and someone with no PTFC history.

Just wondering in what way Wilson impressed you more? Unless you’re an insider and see how the 2 of them work are you basing your opinion on interviews?