Partick Thistle: The View From the Opposition

Partick's season has seen them go without a win in nine matches and after defeat to Kilmarnock last weekend, sitting bottom of the table.

We spoke to Alan Fraser from The Jagscast Podcast to ask what has been going on at Firhill this season!

We've asked everyone this question about their team but how did you become a supporter of Partick Thistle?

I'm from Partick and I started going to Firhill in 1970/71 when Thistle got promoted from the old second division. The following season I was at Hampden on the 23rd October to see The Jags murder Jock Stein's Celtic 4-1. I thought this was the beginning of a golden era. It wasn't.

How did the Jagcast idea happen and how long has this be on the go for?

There has been a few versions of The Jagscast over the last five or six years and some dispute about who started it.

In its present format with regular host and panel, we have been going since July 2015.

Last season seen Thistle reach the top six, your highest finish since 1981, how unexpected was this and when you were close to clinching the spot, did you think you could do it?

After our now traditional poor start to the season since being back in the top league, last season it was something of an achievement to get a top six spot.

Unfortunately, we haven't won a league game since. Kind of takes the shine off doesn't it?

How would you rate your transfer activity this summer? Has any of the new payers impressed you and what players, if any, were you sad to see go?

We signed Blair Spitall from Dundee Utd and Niall Keown who was previously on loan from Reading. Both excellent signings in my opinion.

Miles Storey signed and Conor Sammon came in on loan in August. Both of those still to settle into the team.

Big loss being the transfer of Liam Lindsay to Barnsley, but you can't hold back the future Scotland captain from developing his career.

The club announced back in April that they would be building a £4 million state-of-the-art training facility. Last time I checked, the location had yet to be decided on, has there been any movement on this?

The club have announced the team in place to take this project forward and have a shortlist of sites they are looking at. See PTFC website for further information.

It’s an exciting venture for the cub. To have your own training facility will only benefit Thistle for years to come. How excited are the fans about this?

I am excited about this development as are my friends. I can't speak for the rest of the support but would guess that our present form occupies their thoughts more at the moment.

This season has seen the club sitting bottom with no wins in nine matches. What’s going on?

Yes. What is going on? Early form was good without getting results in a run of difficult fixtures. Like in recent seasons we don't get the goals when on top in matches. The last two fixtures against Motherwell and Kilmarnock were abject performances and we have to change things quickly or we'll find ourselves detached. Injury list is lengthy and unfortunate but the players we have available should be capable of getting better results in this league.

I’ve read a few comments from fans who are happy with Alan Archibald as the manager and even one that said he would rather be relegated with him at the helm out of the loyalty he has shown then club. What’s your thoughts?

Personally I'm an Archibald supporter for what he's given to the club as a player and for taking us to the top league and keeping us there for the last three seasons. I hope he gets through this difficult period but results don't lie and we are for some reason struggling right now. I don't really want to think of the worst-case scenario. 

If you could pick out a player from each side that the other should be weary of, who would they be?

In the League Cup earlier in the season we absolutely murdered St Mirren with Blair Spittal and Stevie Lawless outstanding. We need to see that again to ignite our season.

Kris Doolan is due back on the scoresheet so beware Dools.

El Bakhatoui is obviously a talented player though inconsistent. Should be playing for us.

Prediction time. Partick need to pick up points and soon. Dundee will be looking to create a gap between us and some of the teams at the bottom. Can Partick get their first win or will Dundee leave Firhill with the points?

Every time we predict the Thistle score on @TheJagscast I go for 4-1 in tribute to our League Cup winning side of 1971. This week is no different. And I do mean to Thistle and not Dundee!