Bart Simpson

Did they not televise the post postponement snowball fight?

Somebody may be able to point you in the direction of a video discussing that point from when the museum was running an exhibition on Saints...sadly I can't but was a reasonable watch...

Next to the boiler for the undersoil heating?

FYI for all those who couldn't make it. Taken at ~1500...

How far we have fallen seems to have been used to describe last night - that is my objection. A 4-1 home defeat against Livingston would have been a better example. Perhaps it's just me being pedantic. I simply don't see last night as all doom and gloom - perhaps that's where I'm coming from.New manager needs time. It is clear that we not only lost two bright young prospects, but also two established better first team regulars in McLean and McGinn and unfortunately losing both Naismith and Goodwin has hit us hard this season. Thistle have been on a good run. We have been on a shocking run. Hardly unexpected to lose given they are in the league above on current form? Added to that all the angst about the Friday night game etc... We need wins, especially at home and hopefully some happiness will return. It is however good to be talking about a game and opinions on it rather than the cliquegate debacle...

That's a fair shout but the only issue is that it adds to the plethora of players that we have in the middle of the park and exacerbates the lack of wide midfielders in the squad.

Good points. Here's hoping.

You can sit almost wherever you want. I don't think I've sat in the seat that my ticket/season ticket has shown for about 4 years. I appreciate that says more about the lack of attendance in the South Stand than anything else but at least unless you get some stickler who comes in and after staring at the sways of empty seats and then at their ticket and then at you before asking to get into their allocated seat as you move two spaces along you can sit almost anywhere you want. I think the atmosphere is more down to shocking home form. There was an acceptable atmosphere for the last 6minutes of the game last night...

AR was a bit critical in the radio interview. Like listening to Jim Goodwin's comments in a way it was refreshing to hear a different side to things. Whilst you could interpret the comments about the poor defending of corners as passing on the buck if taken on face value it seems that we have a guy in charge who knows how he wants to play, has spent some time establishing how to combat a stronger opposition's strengths and was not afraid to hook those not performing to his standard or to show his disappointment at the lapses in concentration at crucial moments. That said brushing over the lack of support from midfield to Shankland was perhaps to not destroy confidence... We are crying out for Jim getting back into the side. We are quite simply lost without him in the middle. AR tried to play Mallan off Shankland in the first half and then second half switched Mallan for Howieson in this role. Sadly with the fact that Thistle were in control of this area of the park especially highlighted when Carswell went off, this small tinkering change was ineffective. For all some dislike him I would have Carswell in beside Goodwin with Mallan more advanced if we are playing 3 in the middle for the rest of the season.

McMullan is a very frustrating player to watch. There are flashes of a good player there but ultimately it comes down to him adding something significantly positive to the side otherwise why are we trying to further develop a Celtic player at the expense of one of our own young players? I think he can be very good going forward but he quite simply switches off and doesn't track back. He cost us two goals in the first game of the season at Ibrox and since doesn't seem to have fully learned the need to do the hard part of the job when we are in our current position. I think that is the crux though, the assessment of whether he can start doing that or not and contributing more often with his all round play. We are unfortunately in a dog fight and haven't the luxury of having a player not contributing all round. That said Dan I agree with your point he does seem to have that ability he just needs to track back and show a bit more confidence going forward...

I think that depends upon how big a turnaround you are talking about. I think with both Goodwin and Naismith back establishing ourselves mid-table should hopefully be completely obtainable. Sadly for whatever reason the players couldn't play for IM. AR has come in and albeit the Livingston game was appalling, there has been shape and a purpose to the team's play. Yes it took 76mins for a shot towards goal last night but defending like we did was part of the plan save the abysmal defending at the corners. Sticking to a game plan and actually frustrating a high flying team from the league above can only be a good sign (regardless of how boring it may have been at times). To then come out and almost get a draw may change AR's opinion on being a bit more positive earlier on in such games but its all about small steps...

I think that your first sentence sums up our issue at the moment. We are at a particularly low ebb after some significant and incompletely fully appreciated success over the past few seasons. Unfortunately that means a period of reassessment, rebuilding and likely a fair few seasons in the league we find ourselves in barring league reconstruction of some description.As disheartening as that may be to some that is the reality of the situation. I disagree with those holding up last night as an example of how far we have fallen. I think that is quite frankly disingenuous. We at least competed with severe limitations but had that game been earlier in the season it could have been a cricket score. Thistle are riding high, apparently their best run in 40 years, we on the other hand have had a shocking season and are at one of our lowest points in the same timeframe. Whilst I may be one of the last happy clappers standing and I completely understand the doom and gloom feelings at times, last night was frustrating but you cannot argue with the fact we nearly snatched a draw and that save the Livingston game there have been positive changes in the last few weeks since Alex Rae took over...

Not at all I just wasn't sure if you were at your satirical best or not in that post. See mine above for my summary (as long winded as it may be). Agree with Jim's comments thistle had most of the play. We were rubbish at defending corners and support for Shankland was non existent tonight until Thommo came on.ETA: Jim is always good to listen too. Perhaps at times too honest for his own good, but if that's who is as a man you have to respect him for it.

It's always easy to be critical, but we were up against a Thistle side on their best run since the mid 70's according to Radio Scotland and we have been miserable most of this season...a 1-2 defeat against a Premier League side isn't a disgrace by any manner. Langfield - kicking better tonight. One interesting moment in the first half where he refused to pick the ball up with defender bearing down on him...but a good save in the first half. Difficult to tell if he could have done more at corners from other end of the pitch. Back 4 - didn't do much wrong. Kept thistle in front of them. In open play only really exposed once in the first half and not at all in second other than defending corners. Watson took his goal really well. Midfield - not the best games for any of the 6 that played in the middle. Jordan Stewart slotted in well for a young player and held his own on the left. Gallagher was alright when he came on. Great shot at the end well saved. Missed Carswell as TC says when he went off. Think he caught studs in the ground when tracking back and as a result missed the ball leading to their one break of the back 4 in first half as above. Front 2 - shankland far too isolated. Did his best with what was on offer. More difficult this week to hold things up against a better team. Can't really criticise him at all although we need to start scoring when ball drops in 6 yard box regardless of heroic blocks/saves. Thommo for all the one moment of comedy gold summersaulting over himself after a mistimed shoulder tackle he made a difference when he came on. Whether it was with physical presence, the mere fact there were two up top or something else we had our only good attacking spell when he came on. Won the near post knock on for our goal. I completely disagree with all who say he is done. Use him well like tonight and he still has a lot to offer. Perhaps needs more than 15mins to prove it though. Therefore Alec's comments were technically true - we kept thistle playing in front of us. Apart from their goals from the corners they offered very little incisive attacking threat but that said they were the better team. We frustrated them, but stuck to the task very well until their first goal. Sadly we didn't offer enough going forward and left it far too late but we did honestly nearly somehow snatch a draw. As balanced a post as I can make it. Some steps in the right direction, but need more bite in the middle of the park with more driving forward and as a result more support for Shankland up top...

Were you at the match poster?In fairness what was said wasn't far off the mark, but in all honesty until the 85th or 86th minute we had one shot off target. So whilst technically they were right until that point we were simply defending and lacking any attacking threat...

we're at home though...nothing different at all...

We must be the best team in the world at turning attack in to defence...

Which ones are we?

Blue and orange zorbs?

Billy Mehmet penalty...SCENES!!!

4-4-1-1 Langfield Kelly Webster Baird Watson Howieson Agnew Carswell McMullan (Gallagher) Mallan Shankland Positives: The result. The effort. The team's celebrations at full time and after the goal. We were clearing from a corner at our end when full time whistle went... Much more organised defensively. It didn't rain very much at all. Negatives: Only sporadic good football. Still lacking directness. Kick outs aimed at anyone other than Shankland...for all Langfield gets a lot of criticism nobody can win the ball or hold it up other than Shankland. Specifics: Webster had a great game. A bit physical with the Morton front pair at times with a booking as a result but out with one cross (silly defending of set pieces like last week ?zonal marking rather than man-to-man) never put a foot wrong. His reactions at the end said a lot about comments made last week. Carswell - not his best game on the ball this week but for all his slight frame he is the most physical player we have in the middle. That may say a lot for our current predicament but he was very good at breaking up their play and putting the boot in when needed. Again harsh criticism answered this week. Shankland - took his goal well. Very composed bringing the ball down and linking play. Even with the lack of support at time he was very strong on the ball and was quite often our only outlet. 3 points in the bag from a derby away win. 6 from 9 for Rae...still a long way to go but you never know...

As Drew says this is case and point for me. Unfortunately he may not be what we need but to slate him entirely on the basis of what has been said by others above belies the difference in opinion as to what makes a good player. Put simply he like Howieson is very good technically and tidy on the ball. Unfortunately neither are work horses driving the team forward like Goodwin. The imbalance in the side regarding this particular issue is telling...without Goodwin we are currently lost in the middle and whilst we can play nice football at times the drive and guile is missing. The Livi game highlighted this in the extreme...out competed completely as a team.

Don't let facts or a balanced opinion get in the way of an agenda though...As a team we were mince. We got humped. Singling out individuals for OTT and inappropriate criticism seems to be a poor coping mechanism this time of year... We've got a new manager, he needs time. Give him a chance to sort the team out. I happen to agree re: square peg and round hole for Carswell. He is a technically good footballer but needs a bit of support around him. As stated many times before Goodwin is who we need back fit to lift the team out of this mess. Love him or loathe him we are by far a poorer team without him. Something about water carriers...

The worst bit is that Livi are not a good side. They have simply competed better today and taken their chances.

One unhappy camper in the family stand pushing the no swearing policy to the limit. Unhappy with Gilmour and Langfield in particular. Langfield will enjoy the second half with nobody shouting at him from behind... First was a great cross making it hard for defence and keeper (corridor of uncertainty material). Second was hopeless. Kelly left marking two at the back. Webster never tracked back and Kelly picked the wrong one to follow. Floated ball with a tap in volley from 6 yards...Langfield let down by defence but could have come and claimed it. Two let offs earlier in game with last ditch tackle from Mallan in the box and him taking a yellow for the team with Livi on counter. Poor game with nice intricate passing in our own half with a lack of directness going forward out with a lovely goal. Must improve second half. Livi are as poor as we have been. 3-2 is not off the cards if they come out and lift it. Lacking balance going forward with Agnew on the left and the defence need to lift it.