Jaggy1967 Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 I for one was totally gobsmacked at the quality of our play today. The team we currently have in my opinion are the best I have witnessed in my 45 years on this earth. I heard a number of people suggesting similar things on the walk down from the back of the JHS. I cannot see any team touching us for the league title if we keep the players we have and the desire to win every ball even when we are taking the piss out of Dunfy ! The depth and quality in our squad is the best I can ever remember. Even including the 2 in a row championships I feel we are at a different level. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jags on tour Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 (edited) aye our strength and depth is unreal, we won today without welshy,banzo, murray,craig,rowson who would, if fit /not out of the team due to suspension normally get in the team. when I seen muirhead start at right back today I thought why the feck is JM playing our player of the season out of position to accomodate Archie and moving SOD into right mid.well it was a masterstroke. Forbes and Paton were Danny Lennon and Jamie Dolan - esque in the middle, Erskine was having one of his untrackable unplayable days and Lawless, while having what I thought one of his quieter days he scored two, its almost because he's a wee guy he gets forgotten about and he is allowed to roam free and finds loads of room unmarked. the subs bench with all of the above mentioned plus Slane, Elliott and Mcguigan (dunno how he was back earlier than expected) but he still gave their defence a bit of a torrid time. Edited November 10, 2012 by jags on tour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kni Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 Best since 1992 and, possibly, 1971. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Earl of Hathaway Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 This is a great Thistle team to watch on any level - defensively, midfield, attacking. No one in that team is in their comfort zone, but at the same time they're all willing to try things that other teams wouldn't. Best bit of the lot? The team spirit- watch how much they enjoy scoring,and how much they work for each other. Different class. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaggy Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 very good, backed up by the scoring threat from all over the pitch. Is it as good as 2001/2, 1971, early 90's? Time will tell, a championship (and double?) will determine that, but the great thing about this team , is like 1971 they are very young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 I can see justifiable comparisons with the '71 squad. So much potential, so little experience. Fair comparison with Jackie and Davie McP. as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read'n'yell Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 (edited) Quality for sure. Depth, not so much. We have a few replacements, that are of quality, but only a few. Last week pretty much every first team player available was either playing or on the bench and that was with only two injuries. Whats promising is we have Welsh Bannigan and Craig all out who should all be in the starting 11 depending on form (Welsh should simply be in it though!). Slane McGuigan and Elliot arent up to this level. Having doubts whether Rowson is anymore, looked terribly slow and miles away from the ball the other week. Archie's on his last legs but still decent, usually. All in all a fully fit team is excellent with a good bench. Drop 2/3 players and we have a strong 11 but a weak bench for title challengers. Lose several players and we are walking on a thin line. Edit to add FYI, I do think we have a class team and I do think we'll win the league Edited November 11, 2012 by read'n'yell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberteeb Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 This team is the best in my lifetime and I ******* love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordie Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Best I've seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeanieD Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 It's nice that people believe that the current side can draw a comparison with the 1971 team (and manager) but, for me, nothing can honestly compare to that side (or manager). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Quality for sure. Depth, not so much. We have a few replacements, that are of quality, but only a few. Last week pretty much every first team player available was either playing or on the bench and that was with only two injuries. Whats promising is we have Welsh Bannigan and Craig all out who should all be in the starting 11 depending on form (Welsh should simply be in it though!). Slane McGuigan and Elliot arent up to this level. Having doubts whether Rowson is anymore, looked terribly slow and miles away from the ball the other week. Archie's on his last legs but still decent, usually. All in all a fully fit team is excellent with a good bench. Drop 2/3 players and we have a strong 11 but a weak bench for title challengers. Lose several players and we are walking on a thin line. Edit to add FYI, I do think we have a class team and I do think we'll win the league And after yesterday, who do you drop to let Welsh in ? Comparisons to 71 are totally justified. Muirhead = Hansen Erskine = McQuade Lawless = Lawrie Welsh/Forbes = Rae Paton = Glavin Doolan = Bone I could go on, but there are comparisons all over the park and McNamara has been the key to knitting all the component parts together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpool Jags Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 This team, imo, is as good as, or at least has the potential to be, up there with the class of '71. I also take on board l-i-b's comparison with D McP and J McN. What's most pleasing is that we seem to have developed a way of playing that looks structural: ie our results aren't just dependent on having a good day or the opposition having a stinker; the game plan and the skill and commitment of this crop of players is fixed at a certain level, one that, barring a horrible spate of injuries or suspensions, is going to get us over the winning line in May. So pleasing on the eye, and so deeply satisfying watching us utterly dismember rivals with, at times, consummate simplicity.I'm enjoying gorging myself on this feast of domination. Monni Jags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p12tfc Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 The only bit concerning me about our team is in goals. Fox is good but Scully is a bombscare. Its almost a guarentee that jackie will try to get the boy smith in during the week but looking at his performances for dunfermline last year im not convinced hes the answer. Just hope Fox isnt out for too long... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindau Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 (edited) The only bit concerning me about our team is in goals. Fox is good but Scully is a bombscare. Its almost a guarentee that jackie will try to get the boy smith in during the week but looking at his performances for dunfermline last year im not convinced hes the answer. Just hope Fox isnt out for too long... Jackie says a minimum 6 weeks out for Foxy which is a massive blow. Scully is too young and inexperienced for a team going for the league and Smith looked awful any time I saw him on telly last season. Cant think of anyone to come on loan unless the club perhaps offer Craig Gordon the chance to prove his fitness until the end of the year on an amateur basis......yes I know its a massive long shot, but if you dont ask, you dont get!! Whats Geri Halliwell up to these days??? Edited to add.....I see Gordon has already been mentioned on the "Just in" thread....must be worth a phone call to his agent. Cant see St Johnstone allowing Tuffers to come on loan, though that would be a good move as well Edited November 11, 2012 by Lindau Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Jackie says a minimum 6 weeks out for Foxy which is a massive blow. Scully is too young and inexperienced for a team going for the league and Smith looked awful any time I saw him on telly last season. Cant think of anyone to come on loan unless the club perhaps offer Craig Gordon the chance to prove his fitness until the end of the year on an amateur basis......yes I know its a massive long shot, but if you dont ask, you dont get!! Whats Geri Halliwell up to these days??? Ha ha; that would certainly spice it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 I almost won't allow myself to seriously compare this team to the 1970-1972 squad, but I just might have to start thinking that way. That team went unbeaten at Firhill all season as they won the old 2nd Div, and lost only three league games all season. I would absolutely love it if this team could replicate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicofan Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Be good to see us against an SPL side right now at firhill i reckon we would beat most of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernsoul Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 I for one was totally gobsmacked at the quality of our play today. The team we currently have in my opinion are the best I have witnessed in my 45 years on this earth. I heard a number of people suggesting similar things on the walk down from the back of the JHS. I cannot see any team touching us for the league title if we keep the players we have and the desire to win every ball even when we are taking the piss out of Dunfy ! The depth and quality in our squad is the best I can ever remember. Even including the 2 in a row championships I feel we are at a different level. Totally agree mate. This is the best Thistle side I've seen in my life time. Only the teams of 00/01 and 01/02 compete but this team has a swagger and mental toughness this season which is so exciting to witness. I'm so, so proud to be a Jag right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read'n'yell Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 (edited) And after yesterday, who do you drop to let Welsh in ? I think Welsh is one of our best players, he can completely boss a midfield. It is no coincidence that the two games he has not featured in before Dunfermline we lost to Morton and drew with Raith. I would drop Archie and put O'Donnell back (although great to know he can also play excellent in midfield). A defense of O'Donnell Muirhead Balatoni Sinclair, midfield of Forbes Paton Welsh, Doolan up front being supported by Lawless and Erskine. By far the best team in this division by a country mile. Especially exciting is the combination of Forbes Paton and Welsh, how would any other team get a millisecond on the ball? That being overlapped by two talented full backs, never mind the damage Lawless and Erskine do. We wouldn't even need a striker on the pitch. Edited November 11, 2012 by read'n'yell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fearchar Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 [T]his team has a swagger and mental toughness this season which is so exciting to witness. That confidence and willingness both to bounce back and to kill off another team are commendable changes that have come since the Ian Maxwell/Jackie McNamara rule started. (I think that IM's responsibility for the organisation often goes unacknowledged: his efforts leave JM and Simon Donnelly free to concentrate on the pure footballing side of what is, after all, a business.) Despite some reservations about defensive cover (and there were some signs of that in the first half, especially - not just in the goal conceded), the flexibility of several utility players does give respite when facing enforced team changes. We are seeing players dropping out for one reason or another, but with others ready to step in and take their place. (E.g. Rowson, Archibald, Murray, Sinclair, Welsh, Bannigan.) Fox is just the latest in a series of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bunny Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 What impresses me about this team is that the management have developed a system (with the right kinds of players to work within it) where we are a very attacking side yet at the same time are very solid defensively. We've scored the most goals and conceded the fewest of any other team in our division. Seen in the past plenty of teams that were great to watch but had to always score a couple to be sure of not getting beat as they'd always concede 1 or 2 a game - as well as plenty of teams that were solid but dull to watch. We score a lot, are great to watch and we make it hard for the opposition to score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottymagoo Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 (edited) It's easy to get carried away after yesterdays performance at Firhill but our away form in the league still needs to improve before we can consider ourselves a shooty in for the title. In 6 games at home we've scored 24 goals. In five games away we've only scored 5, less than everyone except Dumbarton! Dunfermline, Morton and Livi have all picked up more points than us on their travels. Admittedly though we've had a difficult set of away matches so far, playing the teams in 2nd, 3rd 4th and 5th as well as Falkirk. Firhill though has genuinely been an absolute joy to watch, it really is a privelege to be able to walk out of my front door and ten minutes along the road to see great passing attacking football being played by the team I've been watching since I was a boy. The only difference between living on Maryhill Road and living on Las Ramblas these days is the weather and that we'd beat Celtic....................(what was that I said about getting carried away again?) Edited November 11, 2012 by scottymagoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Jag Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 That was the best game I've seen at Firhill as long as I can remember. What a great team to watch. I'm still raving about the game to anyone who'll listen. The team oozes class, I mean when did you last see a left back do that wee thing Sinclair did in the second half? The best thing for me was that I've rolled up to see Thistle in a few big games only to feel disappointed as we've basically shat it. That team pumped Dunfermline, no two ways about it. Legends in the making I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillresigned Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 (edited) Yesterday was the best display I've ever witnessed in 35 years supporting the Jags. The striking thing is that the Pars are likely to be our nearest challengers and we quite frankly blew them away.. In the league quite honestly I've not seen us have a bad game. Even our 3-1 defeat by morton owed more to 2 defensive abhorations, than lack of ability. Football supporters are famous for their lack of perspective, but I genuinelly feel there is more to come from this group of players. that's providing of course we don't loss the entire team come the transfer window. Edited November 11, 2012 by stillresigned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 I think Welsh is one of our best players, he can completely boss a midfield. It is no coincidence that the two games he has not featured in before Dunfermline we lost to Morton and drew with Raith. I would drop Archie and put O'Donnell back (although great to know he can also play excellent in midfield). A defense of O'Donnell Muirhead Balatoni Sinclair, midfield of Forbes Paton Welsh, Doolan up front being supported by Lawless and Erskine. By far the best team in this division by a country mile. Especially exciting is the combination of Forbes Paton and Welsh, how would any other team get a millisecond on the ball? That being overlapped by two talented full backs, never mind the damage Lawless and Erskine do. We wouldn't even need a striker on the pitch. One of the things I love about this team is seeing O'Donnell and Sinclair running at, past, and through opposition defences. Exciting stuff. And yet I also rate Bannigan as a super prospect who can also comfortably step into midfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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