The Partick Thistle thread

[SetPieceSpecialist]

Any of you guys know any details of when and where the closed door friendly is being played between yourselves and us?

It'll likely be at Garscube Sports Complex. Not sure when though. I'll ask around.

[forzapars]

It'll likely be at Garscube Sports Complex. Not sure when though. I'll ask around.

Cheers. Dunfermline haven't mentioned it anywhere except from the fact that we have a closed doors friendly against you, no details given. Not sure how loose the term 'closed doors' is for these games.

[jagfox]

Just remember Dools had only scored four goals (3 league +1 league cup) up until the Ross County game in December last year when we were bottom of the league. 

 

[SetPieceSpecialist]

Just remember Dools had only scored four goals (3 league +1 league cup) up until the Ross County game in December last year when we were bottom of the league. 

 

Point taken but we know that Doolan is a player that goes on streaks and there will be periods when he rarely scores so maybe having a decent replacement, instead of an Azeez or Eccleston or German or Pogba, would boost us when he's not scoring.

Obviously, finding a decent striker isn't as easy as I'm making it out to be but surely we can sign a good striker.

We also have to look at the fact that Liam is now gone. He scored a number of important goals that we also need to replace such as the equaliser at Rugby Park, the opener at Dingwall in December or the goal that put the Hearts game to bed.

Now we'd hope that Bannigan coming back in might bring some more goal from midfield when compared to Edwards' goal tally but we can't rely on that considering the fact that he's not played competitive football for over a year.

We can't expect Spittal to be an instant success or instantly prolific either.

Just hope we sign a decent striker because our ratio of Quality:Pish has been about 10:1 and the one good one was a loan.

[jagfox]

We should really be running with four players who can play the central forward role, imo. Three senior and a supplement from the development team. 

At the moment Doolan is the numero uno. Azeez and Nisbet behind him. I feel we definetly need another striker added to the squad. Even if that is someone who can also play wide if required and preferably with a bit of pace who can take the pressure off of the defence when we are on the back foot.

 

[SetPieceSpecialist]

Doolan is a treasure. Would do a job for most teams in the league and we're lucky to have him but he can't score all the goals.

I'm a big advocate for giving players the time they need to develop but Ade isn't good enough to be our second choice if we want to be anywhere near the top six again. Also, the more I see of Nisbet, the less convinced I am that he can make it in the Premiership.

Neil McLaughlin is a player who I want to see get more of a chance. Great finisher, reads the game well and can play striker, centre attacking midfield or out wide if need be. His main problem would be his size. He's pretty short and not very strong but that can be a good thing.

Still reckon Archie wants a big, hold-up lad.

 

[cilitbang]

2 hours ago, SetPieceSpecialist said:

Also, the more is see of Nisbet, the less convinced I am that he can make it in the Premiership.

If he has to fake being injured because he can't hack the championship or be a regular for a piss poor Ayr team, he's never going to be good enough for us

[MARYHILLISWONDERFUL]

2 hours ago, SetPieceSpecialist said:

Still reckon Archie wants a big, hold-up lad.

 

[Cerberus]

Nisbet is shite.

[Fuctifano]

Surely a rumour about someone taking Azeez off our hands is peak close season? If he does go I'd be quite excited, not because I think he's as bad as many others, but it would probably mean we had someone else coming in.

[forameus]

I still think Azeez could do a decent job for a side that he fits into.  Having him as a lone striker and expecting him to score is never going to work, but in a team that can support two forwards where he can use his physicality and not have to show how utterly shite he is at finishing, he'd probably do alright.

But once again we're sitting needing center backs, but forwards are must-haves.  If we can get Keown back, I'd be happy in replacing Lindsay then one other.  Archie's usually pretty good with defensive signings.  But we absolutely have to get it right with forwards and maybe even bring in 2 in case we f**k it up again.

 

[Armand 2]

I think people are too quick to look at the goal return and underestimate what Azeez brings to the team; his strength and pace were valuable assets at times last season particularly when coming off the bench to defend leads. I believe there is interest there but I wouldn't be so quick to get shot of him unless we could replace his qualities. I'd echo the above that Azeez would likely fair a lot better in a two; I think his most consistent spell was when playing alongside Dools in the 3-5-2.

Also to echo a previous sentiment, Archie likes a big presence as an option up front - and I'm unsure whether there's many better at that than Azeez on our budget.

Edited June 26, 2017 by Armand 2

[SetPieceSpecialist]

I'm in no way saying that Azeez has been useless. His chasing down at the end of matches can really help take some of the pressure off the backline like the Hearts 2-0 game when he gave Tziolis a really hard time.
What I'm saying is, if there are offers on the table for Ade, and especially if there's a small fee involved, we should take what Ade had plus the money we already had set aside for a new striker and try to get in someone decent who can be a physical presence and chip in with a decent amount of goals.
For all that Ade does, to have appeared in over 40 games and to have only scored three times is really poor.
Personally, I'd still keep him unless there's a substantial cash offer because I think he will get better and I could see him getting 7 or 8 this year if we continue giving him minutes.
We do need another striker though as if Doolan did pick up a lengthy injury, we'd be f****d.

[Virtual Insanity]

Defending leads is something we've been hopeless at for some time. I'd be interested to know (but too lazy to do the research) how many of those leads have been blown when Azeez has come on. 

[Nizzy]

I've quickly looked at the number of goals scored against us last season in the final 10 minutes of games - 12. Nine of them were scored while Azeez was on the pitch.

[SetPieceSpecialist]

Correlation does not mean causation.

To put our loss of late goals down to Ade is ridiculous. If you look at the goals, most of them are caused by individual mistakes and misjudgements or the team dropping to deep while giving up on trying to keep the ball.

 

[Nizzy]

10 minutes ago, SetPieceSpecialist said:

To put our loss of late goals down to Ade is ridiculous.

I'm not. Someone asked a question and I answered it.

[Armand 2]

1 hour ago, Virtual Insanity said:

Defending leads is something we've been hopeless at for some time. I'd be interested to know (but too lazy to do the research) how many of those leads have been blown when Azeez has come on. 

 

50 minutes ago, Nizzy said:

I've quickly looked at the number of goals scored against us last season in the final 10 minutes of games - 12. Nine of them were scored while Azeez was on the pitch.

"Defending leads" perhaps wasn't the best turn of phrase to use in my first post. Think NIzzy's stat proves that otherwise.

I do recall a few games where Azeez did a great job of relieving pressure only for us still to conspire to concede.

I think it's all a bit trivial in any case - if there's a solid offer from Lincoln or anyone else for that matter, he'll be away.

 

[professor challenger]

18 minutes ago, Armand 2 said:

 

"Defending leads" perhaps wasn't the best turn of phrase to use in my first post. Think NIzzy's stat proves that otherwise.

I do recall a few games where Azeez did a great job of relieving pressure only for us still to conspire to concede.

I think it's all a bit trivial in any case - if there's a solid offer from Lincoln or anyone else for that matter, he'll be away.

 

I'd argue that point.    I think the manager rates the player highly and certainly more than most of the support.

[cilitbang]

It never helps the defence when all they see is chance after chance being squandered. They know Ade couldn't hit a barn door and consequently the defence gets deeper and deeper as the pressure builds.