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Winter of '63

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  1. More comfortable win than the score suggested - Zander should have played McMillan in for 3-0 and we conceded immediately after. Not sure what to make of the team or this League - we were schooled by Dick Campbell's Arbroath at Firhill and we haven't looked markedly better than any opposition...or inferior to Dundee United or Raith in the last week. For weeks, I have been sure that we will be beaten in the play-offs by the Greenock ruffians but they were abysmal today with nothing to offer but long throws. I will put some of the awful passes, crosses & shots down to the dreadful playing surface with Fitzpatrick looking particularly uncertain. McBeth looked the part in central defence & Robinson showed remarkable energy.
  2. Just when we were starting to dominate the game and I was thinking that Raith were a very ordinary side, we conceded a needless free kick followed by yet another poorly defended goal. At the game, I thought Mitchell should have claimed the cross but having now seen the tv clip, Neilson was more culpable - he is a talented footballer but too soft as a defender. Raith's only other goal threats were from Mitchell misjudgements...worryingly he's probably still our best keeper. Raith had worked on a plan to stifle Lawless/McMillan and Fitzpatrick/Milne and the dreadful playing surface does not help the cause. We had a few close things but didn't really ever open up their defence - Bannigan at least tried to make sensible passes in his few minutes. We should have got a draw but we're now 17 points being a Raith side who haven't looked better than us on their two visits to Firhill....but we're a soft touch. It was a dull game with a surprisingly low and jaded crowd...and I picked up a parking ticket to round off a great night.
  3. Not quite sure what to make of that...it was a quite entertaining game...we did well to come back from 2 goals down and really controlled the game for a spell...but we lost two more goals which didn't involve great football or finishing from the opposition. The end result is it's two months since our last League win and we have no chance of finishing better than third. McBeth & Neilson were a bit ponderous in midfield and we were better when Robinson moved back and got more involved. The two home games against Raith & Morton this week will define our Season - neither two wins or two defeats would be a surprise.
  4. An entertainingly feisty game with a draw a fair enough result -we didn't look like a team that should be 13 points behind United. Mitchell played like a professional goalkeeper - I heard him shouting instructions to the team throughout the first half & his distribution was good. Williams is not as clumsy as he sometimes looks though he seemed to be nudged off balance by Moult a few times...I'm not sure he was trusted to pass out of defence and we launched it from the back more often...McBeth & Neilson are big guys so that was quite effective. Robinson was busy & committed...a better option than McInroy or Alston. It was a much more solid performance than recent weeks but disappointing to lose another goal through not pushing out to challenge and to clear our lines. With a less tolerant ref, Docherty & Moult would have been red-carded...and Graham & Gallagher's rutting stags display didn't even merit a yellow. I was sure there was a clear hand ball in the area by Grimshaw late in the second half.
  5. We are now the top Scorers in the League with 50 goals but have conceded 44 which is 28 more than Dundee United and the reason we are now struggling to make the play-offs. I don't want to jump to conclusions on a game I didn't see but it does seem that again tonight we didn't lose goals because we are playing cavalier attacking football or outstanding play by the opposition but through failures in basic defending.
  6. An utterly absurd take. McCall did credible jobs with basket cases in Clydebank & Morton, pushed Thistle for promotion with Airdrie, set Falkirk on their way to promotion, took Dundee United to a top-6 finish & a League Cup final, saved Queen of the South from relegation and built the best Ayr United side in a generation. Doolan took over McCall's side and had a purple patch in the play-offs before imploding in Dingwall. He is a rookie manager - I really want him to do well but the Jury is still out.
  7. Tonight's game was a strong argument for VAR. In fairness, I was sure Graham was offside but the linesman didn't flag - did the ref convince him he should have? We played well enough in the first half against a poor Dunfermline side but I still had the feeling that we might lose a game we should win comfortably. Without Lawless, we had nothing to offer on the right flank and again we lost soft goals - that's nine in the last 3 games. The substitutions had the look of frantic panic and once more our lack of fitness was an issue. It was worth giving Stewart a start since we already know that Sneddon & Mitchell are no better than ok - I don't think he's an upgrade. Muirhead made a bad misjudgement for their second goal - Neilson looks a classy player at times but he was poor at their third goal to add to his two errors for Livingston goals. Do we need a defensive coach? Last season we had Tiffoney or Turner in the free role behind Graham - they both carried a threat and kept defenders occupied - McInroy doesn't really and Alston even less - I think that's part of the reason our midfield gets over-run and we lose so many goals. When we had a full fit squad last season, we were the best team in the Division and showed that in the play-off games. There have been very few times this season when I've thought we were significantly better than the opposition. I'm not confident we're good enough to get through the play-offs...if we make them.
  8. We didn't really merit a 2 goal lead and there was a Dingwall-like inevitability about the outcome. All season we have lacked bite in midfield and fitness/stamina. We were overpowered by a physically stronger Livi - they were a team of giants who looked like they had recruited from the Harlem Globetrotters. I have just watched the clip of their winner - Nielson looks exhausted and they had a free header. We were being overloaded down the wings in the second half but without Lawless & Fitzpatrick we have little creativity - apart from Adeloye's shot we never threatened to score in the last hour of the game. Banzo had a good game and Milne battled hard against Nouble - Alston is a waste of a jersey. This should have been a great chance to improve our deplorable cup record but Livi looked stronger opposition than anything in the Championship - it doesn't fill me with confidence for the play-offs.
  9. We plodded to lead by a single goal in the first half against a poor Arbroath side. We stepped up a gear and cut through their makeshift defence, playing some good stuff. Neilson, Milne & Fitzpatrick look a class above this level and Banzo was excellent in doing the unglamorous work. Robinson at least showed some energy in the attacking midfield role - I agree with the poster who would like to see Lyon given a chance there in preference to Alston or McEnroy. It would take a horrendous collapse for us not to make the play-offs.
  10. Probably a more comfortable win than the score suggests but Queens were poor and we're still unconvincing. It could have been a different outcome if Neilson hadn't escaped with just a yellow card...he defended very well afterwards and headed a good goal. Some decent performances - Milne was good and both Lawless & Fitzpatrick showed flashes of real skill...surprised that Stanway substituted but not surprised that McEnroy, Alston & Robinson were all anonymous in the attacking midfield role. Graham not currently looking worthy of a 3 year contract. I have never been entirely convinced by Sneddon and we have lost a lot of soft goals recently. We need a better keeper -Mitchell or a new signing. It's not that long ago that there were posts on here that Queens Park would become the third force in Glasgow. The people in charge have made a horrible mess - transferring their top scorer, thrown out the Cup, shambles of a ground redevelopment, and not even announcing if their new manager is a caretaker - no wonder their support is scunnered with less than 200 fans at a New Year Derby.
  11. We look an ordinary side with our third place a reflection on the standard of the other sides. The structure of the side again looked flawed with once more McInroy then Alston offering no threat and no defensive cover. I wasn't surprised that there were gaps in midfield when Stanway went off. Fitzpatrick had a real off night & Neilson wasn't great either. I prefer Diack to Adeloye who I wouldn't be disappointed to see leave at the window- the same applies to Williamson, McGinlay & MacDonald, none of whom even made the bench. Doolan's signings have been almost universally disappointing - it will take really good recruitment at the transfer window to turn us into a credible play-off candidates - I'm not optimistic.
  12. A blustery wind & heavy pitch usually means a poor game but Inverness played more football and had us hemmed in for most of a dreich cold & miserable second half. Neilson defended & brought the ball forward well and although he and Muirhead made too many long diagonal passes to nobody, I'm more inclined to fault the lack of options. Tiffoney & Turner could get on the ball and make things happen - none of our current midfielders can do that nor can they win the ball back or defend their box. Dopey defending for both goals. Lawless fell out the game and apart from some good runs & crosses from Fitzpatrick, we created very little. Robinson was even more effective than Alston in the invisible man role and Adeloye again didn't get involved. We scored 9 goals against Inverness at Firhill last season - this was another game this season when we didn't look better than the opposition but we are comfortably third.
  13. We certainly moved the ball quicker in midfield without Bannigan by giving possession back immediately to Raith at every opportunity. My main concern about the way the team is set up is that we again had an advanced midfielder, Alston, who almost literally did not touch the ball in the first half. McInroy & Robinson have also contributed virtually nothing in games in the same role, failing to link up with Graham or holding up the ball and too far upfield to win the ball back or help out the defence. It leaves us with an undermanned midfield without a ball-winner. We have also looked short of fitness in quite a few games. We're doing ok but there is room for improvement.
  14. A very welcome 3 points...not entirely deserved which made it all the sweeter. We carried a real threat on both wings in the first half and I liked the first look at Ricco - tall & strong and with an eye for goal, similar in style to Sandy Frame who never got the chance to fulfil his potential through injury. Apart from Stanway's breakaway & shot late on, we were hardly in their box in the second half. Airdrie movement & passing was decent and they had a huge amount of possession...maybe it's a credit to our defending & tactics that Airdrie hardly had a clear shot at goal but it felt like we were holding on. Not sure if their guy was offside at the end but it was a bad miss. We don't get enough from the attacking midfield role - Alston did little and neither did McInroy...Robinson, Williamson & Lyon could also fill that position but we don't have a ball-winner or much cover elsewhere...and we don't look a particularly fit side. Still we're comfortably in third place.
  15. We started slowly but fortunately their No.18 made little of two good headed chances and then had a shot from just outside the six yard box which went out for a shy. Queens Park play strictly to the coaching manual about keeping possession but haven't reached the chapter about scoring goals. Once we found our stride, we ran out very comfortable winners. They couldn't cope with Fitzpatrick and there were pretty good performances all round with Stanway doing particularly well. Neilson almost scored what would be the best goal of his entire career and looks a class act...as did Conor McAvoy last season...how come all those Old Firm loanees are never of that standard? Our record in all Cup competitions has been utterly abysmal for the 40 past years - it's long past time for us to make at least some impact.
  16. A welcome 3 points but we were barely better than a grim Morton side...they were the poorest team I saw last season but remarkably we only finished above them on goal difference...this season they look doomed while we are clear in third without being particularly good. Only Lawless & Fitzpatrick create chances...Bannigan & Stanway did all right but don't go past players or make many incisive passes...McInroy scored a good goal and had another well-struck shot but doesn't get involved enough...it was a clever finish from Alston but he failed to score from two other chances and otherwise did little. I didn't get a clear view of the apparent handball immediately before the penalty or the rumpus at the substitution and while the ref was a real source of frustration throughout Graham was really stupid to get red-carded.
  17. Halloween with not much in the way of Tricks or Treats from a very ordinary Thistle side - a draw was a fair result against an Ayr side with not much to offer. Both our goals came from poor defending with their keeper not looking too great...dopey play from Milne to concede the first equaliser...I was too far away to have a clear view of the penalty but I did think that Muirhead had been fouled. Milne's goal seemed to give him a boost as he was excellent in the second half...Neilson looks a class act...most of the rest were ok although I wasn't sure about Stanway's role. The substitutions were baffling - Alston did nothing other than miss our best chance...don't know what his strengths are but doubt they are as auxiliary striker. Quite ludicrous to wait to bring on two subs until 2 minutes to go, though Zander did more than Williamson had done in the rest of the game. I hope Doolan can find something to add fire and zip to this squad but we look miles off being a side challenging for promotion.
  18. This was not the Friday night release of tension I was hoping for...we were pretty fortunate to get a point. It felt like Queens had about 75% possession with a stream of dangerous balls across our 6 yard box whereas we offered little more than long balls behind their defence, In fairness our two coherent passages of play brought goals but we hardly managed 3 successive passes otherwise. Both penalties were in the stonewall category and although the linesman gave offside for their second my instant reaction was it was a valid goal. Two up front seemed like the right selection but Adeloye failed to hold up possession and his slack pass in a great attacking position led directly to their first goal. McEnroy did kick a ball - he had a decent shot in the first half but yet again I can't remember him winning a challenge, beating a player or doing much at all. Unsurprisingly, Alston & Williamson contributed next to nothing as substitutes. On a more positive note, Stanway did quite well, Neilson looks a decent player and Banzo covered a lot of ground and gaps. For most of last season, I thought we were the best side in the division by a distance. So far this season, we have been second best in most games I've seen.
  19. I'll repeat what I posted earlier - Fitzpatrick pointed to the unmarked player and started to move over but Muirhead waved him away...he was then drawn towards the front post and the ball sailed over his head into the space behind him. Muirhead entirely to blame...I had you down as one of the better posters on here until you developed your Bannigan paranoia.
  20. Remember Blair Lyons now - never saw him play! I think we may agree on James Lyon - he looked ok in the brief game-time he got at the start of the season and I would prefer to see someone from our Academy given a chance rather than the failing midfielders currently playing or filling the bench. We have lacked a good defensive midfielder for three seasons.
  21. Are we financially in a mess? I have been reading about the Directors falling out over which £500,000 investment to take up. There are valid criticisms to be made about McCall such as his reluctance to use sports science and match analysis but he didn't set the playing budget.
  22. Mansell was signed by Caldwell. Akinola looked a good defender until whatever happened, Brownlie likewise until he got injured. Not sure who Lyons is but I am perplexed why James Lyon was given a two year extension but is behind Williamson, Alston & McInroy who have been overwhelmingly unimpressive.
  23. An embarrassment - United didn't have to be particularly good to win easily. McInroy's dithering would have cost us a goal but for Sneddon's phenomenal save...from the corner Fitzpatrick pointed to the unmarked player and started to move over only to be waved away by Muirhead who then let the ball float over his head and we were 1-0 down. We had some pressure towards the end of the first half and early second half but still looked an ordinary team. We looked disheartened after the second goal and conceded 3 more soft goals. I thought Doolan had been thrown under the bus last season because of his lack of management experience but he did remarkedly well. However his recruitment hasn't been good - Neilson has been decent & Ngwenya ok playing on his wrong side. Initially I thought McInroy needed games to sharpen up but this was another day when the game passed him by...Robinson almost literally didn't kick a ball...MacDonald is a massive downgrade from Tiff & Fitzpatrick. Not for the first time, our midfield was contributing little in defence or attack but I wasn't yearning for Williamson or Alston to come on to improve things. That's two drubbings at home after the first round of fixtures...third in the League looks a false position.
  24. Much improved today. A goal ahead and Graham & Lawless missed sitters in the first half but Dunfermline has two close things and a massive penalty shout...fortunately they were poor in the second half with a catastrophic goalkeeping blunder...it ended up a comfortable win which could have been even more emphatic. My first look at Robinson - he has a bit of grit & guile. Lawless is playing the best football of his career and Muirhead is doing well with Neilson looking a decent prospect. This is a strange League but it's looking much more positive than last week.
  25. Bannigan was in the touchline waiting to come on when the penalty was given at Dingwall. Docherty then passed the ball out the park from the kick-off leading directly to the second goal so that's an argument entirely without substance. We were also 2-0 up in the first play-off game against Queens Park when Bannigan went off injured. I would like Banzo to be far more positive and influential but your relentless scapegoating of him for every goal we concede over the last few weeks is absurd.
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