They came, they saw, they conquered… initially. The self belief that Thistle had in their abilities to play an attacking, passing brand of football was a breath of fresh air to the top flight. Unfortunately the harsh realities soon set in and last season’s Division One champions had to adapt. There were some low moments and plenty of struggles, but in the end they prevailed and survived to fight another year, with a number of key contributors maturing along the way. Vinny Ferguson writes.
Goalkeeper
Scott Fox – Foxy got off to a solid but unspectacular start to his season, somehow earning a call up to the Scotland squad in the autumn. After that, his form dipped and his weaknesses, mainly his inability to deal with crosses, were being exposed on a weekly basis. He was replaced by Paul Gallacher midway through the season, returning for the final game against Ross County when he suffered a toe curling ankle injury which may impact on his pre season training. He “dislocated and relocated” a joint in the same fall. Ouch.
Paul Gallacher – It seems silly now that Gal didn’t start the season. Although he is in the autumn of his footballing career, his agility and presence is unquestionable. His save from a Stanton volley at Easter Road in April is one of the best I have ever seen. He is an angry, angry man and Thistle were missing that bastard in their team. I’d start him in August.
Defence
Stephen O’Donnell – Again, inexperience of playing at the top level of Scottish football was a player’s downfall. Naivety and carelessness caused him to lose confidence and Thistle to concede some crucial, late goals. The big positive is that when on form and further up the pitch, O’Donnell looked quite at home against some decent opposition. I’m looking forward to seeing him overcome his injuries and having a consistent run in the team with the experience of this season behind him. Also a covering player. He needs a covering player…
Jordan McMillan – The former Dunfermline skipper more than held his own in the right back position when O’Donnell was either off form or injured. He brought a calmness and solidity to the back four, but lacked O’Donnell’s willingness to get forward. A decent enough, influential player who will continue to fill in along the back four or in the centre of midfield.
Aaron Muirhead – Injury problems meant that Aero never really got going this season. Like many of the squad, the jump up to the top league looked a little too big for him at times but he has plenty of time to adjust. He’s much more of a “footballer” than Balatoni and less prone to bombscare moments so it will be good to see a fully fit Muirhead try again next term.
Conrad Balatoni – Like Muirhead, Balatoni looked hopelessly out of his depth at times. His lack of mobility and pace got him into some difficulty, but he grew into the challenge as the season went on. He seemed to benefit hugely from the presence of Lee Mair.
Gabriel Piccolo – He is almost too good looking. I actually think Gabby is a very decent player. The “goals against” stats when he played in defence make this a difficult view to stand by. At one point he had played five games and in those games the team had conceded 16 goals. He was very much prone to some comical defending, particularly in the 3-0 defeat to Aberdeen at Firhill. He also developed his game throughout the season, realising he had much less time on the ball than he thought, and is fast becoming a student of The Alan Archibald School of the Way Yer Facin Son, specialising in If In Doubt, Boot It Out. I’m very interested to see how he gets on in his second year in Scotland.
Lee Mair – How they laughed at us. “Night”, as he is often called, saved our season. We were leaking goals from all over the pitch. Lee Mair gave the back four the solidity it had needed and helped steer us to our first home league win of the season as well as leading the team through some impressive away results. I can’t speak highly enough of the man and how he helped the younger players find their feet once he arrived in January. I was surprised to see him released at the end of the season and one can only presume that Archie has a similar character in mind to bring some much needed experience to the dressing room next year. Cheers Lee.
Aaron Taylor Sinclair – “You have to work harder to earn that double barrelled name son” was one of my favourite shouts from this campaign. Sinky duly delivered. Like O’Donnell, his naivety put his defensive colleagues under significant strain at times. The difference in his all round performance after the 5-1 drubbing against Motherwell was incredible. He has also been very open about his intentions to play elsewhere next season and this honesty has been welcomed by fans. Good luck to him, wherever he ends up. Reports are suggesting Wigan, Aberdeen and Celtic are poised to sign him up. His late winner at Rugby Park will remain long in the memory.
Midfield
Stuart Bannigan – I’m gobsmacked that this boy has signed a contract extension. One of the best midfielders I have ever seen at Firhill and still only 21. I think he will go far in the game. At his best, he has single handedly (footedly?) dominated midfields, particularly in the 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park. Even at his worst, he doesn’t hide and wants the ball. A superb work ethic. His downfall is his gub and his discipline, serving a few suspensions this term. I’m by excited about seeing he and Gary Fraser developing their partnership.
Isaac Osbourne – They did warn us about his fitness. Sharon provided the team with some much needed grit in the midfield. His performances against St. Mirren and Kilmarnock early in the season were outstanding. Injury cut his time in the starting eleven short and I’ll be surprised if he appears in a Thistle shirt again as he’ll be on some big wages. It’s interesting to see that his run in the team coincided with a terrible slump in results… Make of that what you will.
Gary Fraser – Archie’s Masterplan – Get promising youngster on trial. Lose promising youngster to English Championship side. Get promising youngster on loan. Use promising youngster as scapegoat for poor form. Banish promising youngster to under 20 squad. Frustrate promising youngster so that he viciously attacks an opposition player and gets a huge ban from the SFA. Tell parent club that promising youngster is unstable and a nutter, but offer to take him off their hands. Wait until ban is over and play promising youngster in the first team. Laugh as promising youngster scores goals and “bosses” games. Guffaw as promising youngster scores goal of the season in the game that guarantees top flight football next season. Make promising youngster sign a massive contract. Archie: genius.
Jimmy Craigen – The boy is fit, I’ll give him that. His lack of pace was painfully obvious at times but Jimmy, like so many of the league winning team, grew and learned his trade over the season and started to look the part. He has a knack of creating chances for his teammates and his industry helped to see out games which we would have lost earlier in the campaign. A decent learning curve this year, he’ll only improve after gaining some experience.
Kallum Higginbotham – What. A. Man. He seemed like a poor man’s Chris Erskine at first, flashy at times but capable of utter uselessness too. He screwed the nut in the second half of the season and scored some spectacular goals and finished as the Premiership’s top goal assistant. He may walk like he has rickets but this boy can play.
Steven Lawless – Despite looking like he wasn’t cut out for the top league for much of the year, Lawless still chipped in with five goals and some decent performances. He never really got an extended run in the team and was mostly used as a substitute. We have apparently offered him a contract for next year. Meh.
Christie Elliot – Haway the lad! Sorry. Christie was one of these players who I thought would never cut it in the top tier. He’s still to convince me but he did, at times, look at home. His industrious performance in the second 1-1 draw at McDiarmid Park was vintage Elliot. He harassed defences when they had possession and was able to bring players out of position and win set pieces when he had the ball. Another player who has been offered a deal for next year, I’m actually more enthusiastic about him than I am about the talented Lawless.
Chris Erskine – I nearly cried when he came home. However, Dundee has destroyed this man. He showed glimpses of what we expected from him but it wasn’t enough. If we got him back permanently, we may have the technology to rebuild him. I’m sorry. I’m too upset to dwell on him.
Prince Buaben – Wanted to take too many touches too often but did help to bring some experience to the youthful midfield despite only being in his mid twenties! Useful squad player if we offer him a contract.
Attack
Kris Doolan – A genuine legend in the making. Mr Professional. Hardworking, superb attitude, adaptable, not on twitter, not mouthy, goalscorer. He lost his place to Lyle Taylor midway through the season, much to the surprise of many fans. There is a fantastic photo of him enthusiastically applauding Taylor’s first Thistle goal at Tynecastle as he warms up behind the goal. He loves the club and respects everyone, including those who (perhaps harshly) replaced him. He responded to this by reclaiming the striker’s role and chipping in with some vital goals in the run in. His beauty against Hibs in December sums up his overall work ethic and attitude.
Lyle Taylor – Doolan needed a break I suppose. Lyle Taylor, brought in on loan from Sheffield United, made an immediate impact by scoring some goals! He is a great contrast to Doolan. He is moany, mouthy, aggressive and stubborn. I’d love to see him back next year on a permanent deal but reports suggest he’ll be heading elsewhere. Thanks for the goals Lyle.
Notable mentions
John Baird cost me a fiver. I bet my dad he wouldn’t score a league goal all season. He did. For Raith Rovers. Mark Kerr continues to win Champions League medals for my Crewe Alexandra team in Champ 01/02, but will forever be remembered as a waste of a wage at Firhill. Someone who was not a waste of a wage is Henoc Mukendi, because he didn’t cost us a thing, apart from our dignity.
Vinny Ferguson (a.k.a. Vinny Black Lightning) is a former member of the Jagscast: Partick Thistle’s unofficial online fanzine and is available to follow on twitter by clicking here.
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