Micky

Much better after the woeful punt and run nonsense at McDiarmid on Wednesday night. Hard to believe it was the same team to honest. Plenty of positives. Small was superb on his wrong side. Solid enough defensively and made driving runs all day. Didn’t look remotely tired so no idea why he was subbed. I thought he’d immediately replace Tanser when he re-signed but Tanser has stepped up and deserves to keep his place on the left at the moment. The front two were tremendous and showed why they should be our first pick strike force. Stav is so quick and makes such clever runs. Ayunga in that form is a handful for anyone. Great physical presence but mobile too. Only downsides for me were the injury to CBM who for me has the makings of an excellent midfielder and the continued poor form of Mark O’Hara. It looks to me like he’s carrying an injury. The driving runs from last season are missing, his passing has been poor and his challenges half hearted. If he’s not injured he needs to give himself a shake. The O’Hara from last season was brilliant.

Thought we dominated the first half without creating much and the second was much scrappier. Taylor was excellent till his injury ..hope it’s not as bad as it looked. Gogic and Taylor remind me of Andy Millen and a young Kirk Broadfoot. The older guy talking the youngster through every game. Gogic has been , generally, superb this season with two shockers (Hibs and Dundee). No surprise to me they were Taylor’s worst displays too. I’d love to see Nahmani get a run in the side. I think there’s going to be goals in him but Robbo likes his big men up front. If Mandron and Jonah stay fit I don’t think we’ll see many changes till late in the game. Needed the win after a couple of v poor displays and still clear in third ahead of a lot of teams with vastly greater resources than ourselves. Strain and Baccus to come back. Mon the Saints.

The one that sticks out in my mind for us was Norrie McWhirter. Broke into the side about the same time as his good pal Paul Lambert and was sensational. Brilliant reader of the game , lightning fast, hard as nails, could pass as well as anyone. Not the tallest but could play centre half, right back, midfield or his best position as a sweeper. Sadly he got back to back brutal injuries and his trademark pace disappeared. He’d been linked with Aberdeen prior to his first serious injury and I honestly believe he’d have been a good successor to Miller and would have played for Scotland. He ended up staying with us his whole career and still looked excellent in various horrific Saints lineups but the lack of pace was always a problem. He was a big Saints fan and a good bloke by all accounts and it saddens me I never got to see him in dark blue after his brilliant start. Also on Jinkys post..I remember seeing JP McBride playing in a Scotland international at Under 16s or maybe 17s. He was so far ahead of everyone on the pitch it was ridiculous. Set up a hatful of goals in that game. Sadly yet another to join the list of utter wasters in Scottish fitba.

Have to say I disagree dj. I thought he was awful. There’s been a couple of games when he’s played well for us. One shortly after he signed and one 2/3 weeks back. (Not the Hamilton league game). Otherwise I’ve thought he’s been seriously pish. Slow as the proverbial week in jail, terrible touch and for a big guy weak as a can of Top Deck. I agree with IrishBhoy and buddie06 that in Obika we have someone who can cause a bit of carnage occasionally. His finishing is pretty much abysmal but on his day he can be a nightmare for defenders. Pretty sure Martin was having cold sweats at half time today about facing big Jon in the second half. Sadly these games are all too rare. I’m seriously frustrated that Jim persevered with the lumbering duo again today. He got away with it because Obika had one of his good games. I’d be horrified if we went into next season with those two up front. Dennis looks like a player. If he’d been fit all season we’d surely have been up there with Livvy. If he can stay fit and get a good preseason in him I’ll be excited. Brophy ‘could’ be a good partner for him too. Let’s see. I’d love us to go for Anderson though if Glass decides he’s surplus at the Dons.

I’m with you on this. It’s not that I think McGrath is pish..he’s a tidy footballer with a decent touch....but he’s overrated by many Saints fans in my opinion. The simple fact is he doesn’t create very much. He’s been perfect from the spot and scored one or two other important goals. However his delivery at set pieces is pretty poor, his final ball rarely opens the defence and his shooting is too often powderpuff. When we are playing well he looks good in our system as he retains possession well. Beyond that I’m not sure there’s much more to offer. Kyle McAllister takes stick from our fans as he gives away the ball too often ..but the fact is he attempts more difficult passes and creates a lot more chances as a result. Sure I read somewhere recently he’s got the 3rd highest number of assists in the league. Not bad for a player who only starts every second or third game and never completes 90 mins.

As soon as I saw the lineup my heart sank. How can anyone who had seen Obika and Erwin play together possibly try it again? Obika was largely poor after a promising start. Erwin was shocking. My particular ‘highlight’ was when he got the ball in acres of space deep in the Hamilton half with 3 players running off him. 5 seconds later Hamilton were missing their best chance of the match. He also got Shaughnessy booked with a dreadful 5 yard pass which put us in trouble. Wtf was wrong with Obika in the middle and Ilkay and Connolly wide? It’s worked well in numerous matches. I’ll not be too harsh on cammy or Ethan who are young and in any case I thought were a mix of good and bad. McAllister largely anonymous which is frustrating as he has the ability to unlock any defence. The lack of JDH and McGrath made a bigger difference in midfield than I expected and our lack of options up front is worrying. Jim has had no luck with injuries in either of his seasons in charge.

Shouldn’t really moan after a 4-1 win but I will anyway. I hoped we’d finally try to play a bit of football tonight ..against a team two divisions below who haven’t played a competitive game yet there really won’t be a better opportunity. With Ethan, Cammy and Jamie McGrath on the park we should at least have been able to string some passes together and dominate the game. Instead at the first opportunity we continue to hoof it up the park hoping the two big guys can hold it in...neither could. I don’t mind Jim trying three at the back in these games..given our lack options in defence we need some flexibility.. however we haven’t yet looked capable of making it work. If Thistle had bagged 3 or 4 in the first half we couldn’t have complained. Great pass from Kyle for goal 2 ..here’s hoping it helps him gain confidence. Hoping for a bit of magic from him in every game though isn’t enough. Last season , even when results were against us early on , I always had faith we’d turn it round as we were regularly dominating games and playing some good stuff. I’ve not got anywhere near the same confidence this season.

Unreal that we’re ahead. Thistle could and probably should be out of sight. Our defence is a shambles...just like every time we try 3 at the back. Midfielders showing no composure as usual and strikers who can’t hold the ball up. Morias ...holy f***. Add in a pernickety ref blowing every time time there’s any contact whatsoever and our abysmal commentary team and it’s been a shite night so far.

I was there. What a live band they are. Carnage at the front / in the pit. I emerged a sweaty shambles two hours later. My old bones are aching today.

Great final in store

Kinda wanted Dorticos to get through it for sheer guts but can’t argue as it was getting v dangerous. Brilliant from gassiev ... his double left combo is so quick and varied.

Oh aye..tough man. Thought the accumulation of shots would have told by now.

Gassiev is a cracking boxer. Lovely quick hands and variety. Classy. Looking like he’s slowing a little here though.

Tickets secured for ACDC in June. Have rarely looked forward to a gig as much. Likely to be the last opportunity to see them on home soil...or perhaps anywhere else....so will make the most of it. Ah to hear 'hells bells' playing again...

I hated Gatting - an arrogant b*****d of a man with a whiney voice that just really got my back up. I was privileged to have watched live when Shane Warne bowled THAT ball. The look of disbelief on the fat w**kers face as he trudged to the pavillion was priceless.