We’ve invited fans of the 42 SPFL clubs (well, some of them at least) to give us a preview of their team’s upcoming season. Let’s find out what Donald Larmour from unofficial Partick Thistle podcast The Jagscast thinks is in store for the Firhill club…
Last Season’s Position – 8th
This Season’s Prediction – 10th
Best Signing of the Summer So Far – Sean Welsh
With some solid if unspectacular signings so far in Tomas Cerny, Calum Booth, David Amoo and Gary (father of Ace) Miller; I’m having to roll out the old adage of a player returning from a long injury layoff as being “like a new signing.” That new signing (technically, since he was released and re-signed over the summer) is Sean Welsh. Playing just behind the striker he often has to bridge the gap between midfield and attack with neat passing, strong dribbling and the odd pop at goal he is also surprisingly strong in the air for someone shorter than this writer.
Just a shame he’s made of glass, so play nice.
Key Man – Abdul Osman
This man mountain is integral to the style Thistle play, ensuring that there is cover at the back when our fullbacks are caught up the pitch. Seemingly boundless energy, strong and dominating in the middle of the park, his graft allows our flair players to perform, making him key to any success.
The Manager – Alan Archibald
A club legend, making over 420 appearences as a player for the Jags (despite 4 years at Dundee United) he was promoted to manager when previous incumbent Jaggy McNamara became nothing more than a string of expletives. Archibald managed to guide the club to promotion and hasn’t looked back since. Likes to play an attractive but pragmatic passing game with the full backs getting forward in a 4-2-3-1 he has done well to keep us in the Premiership with one of, if not the, smallest budgets in the league. This season may be the hardest yet.
Expectations
Last season was typical Thistle. Managing to avoid the dreaded ‘Second Season Syndrome’, by the time the split arrived we had earned more points against the top 6 than the bottom though this still had us further down the table then we would have liked. Aiming for the top 6 and finishing 7th was a relatively successful season. However, with key players leaving in Stephen O’Donnell (Luton Town) and Kallum Higginbotham (Killie) along with the usual rabble of released players the team is looking a little light (and no, that’s not a reference to our new mascot).
Archibald does tend to do business later than most, usually January for his best work, some fans are starting to get a little nervous ahead of the new season. We still need a striker, a CB who can cover at LB and another winger wouldn’t hurt. Despite this, it looks likely that most of the squad depth this year will come from our much vaunted Thistle Weir Academy which was upgraded to a 4 Star Academy during the close season (only bettered by Celtic in the league this season according the SFA’s own stats). If these youngsters can make the breakthrough many at Firhill hope they can then the future should be bright.
If not… we can always just re-sign Lyle Taylor in January.
About The Author
The Jagscast is a podcast about all things Thistle run by fans, for fans. Originally set up over 5 years ago with something of a Star Wars theme attached, the cast has undergone several transformations to come to rest at their current home. Along with the usual chat about the games, we discuss items of much greater importance such as away day hi-jinks, time travel and Guardian Arts Correspondents.
With a regularly recurring panel of (usually) able pundits, we’re always on the lookout for fans who want to get involved- be it for one week or every week!
We also want to hear your questions and discussion points that matter to you. Please get in touch by using Twitter and Facebook!
The Jagscast Website | Twitter | Facebook
