Thistle v 'Well - 8th April 2017

[Griff Sheridan]

Jags need a win to secure top 6, Motherwell need a win to drag themselves away from the playoff place.

Both teams with something to play for (unless Killie are getting horsed at Parkhead and we chuck it), so should be a shitfest.

If the players get wind that Celtic are 5-0 up at halftime, expect Motherwell to score three in the second half.

[Gianfranco]

Partick have improved since we last played them so that fact we're unbeaten in the previous games means diddly-squat.

We seem to be better away from home and we may see the return of Moult and Tait. I think the jags being favourites will suit us and I think it will be a 1-1 draw again.

[thisGRAEME]

Struggling. Would presume Moult will be out again, so that'll leave out impotent strike force up top again. If we continue to shell balls at Bowman and Blyth, we'll get absolutely nothing.

We're currently 13 points from safety, and I'd bet we'll remain 13 points from safety at quarter to five on Saturday.

[Nightmare]

The home team has won the majority of games in this fixture since our return to the top flight, so hopefully we can continue that trend. Louis Moult missing out would certainly help in this regard.

If Osman is still out, I'd guess we'll stick with a similar structure as the 5-3-2 from last night at CP, but with it playing more like a 3-5-2. Doolan in for Amoo and Erskine in for McCarthy. No idea what we'll do if all 3 FBs are fit, as Elliott was excellent last night by all accounts, so he might remain in ahead of Dumbuya.

---------------- Cerny

---- Keown - Devine - Lindsay

Elliott ------------------------- Booth

---- Edwards - Barton - Erskine

---------- Doolan - Azeez

ETA - forgot Lawless, he should probably start as well, but I have no idea who ahead of. Would be harsh to drop either Doolan or Azeez, really.

[Fuctifano]

I don't think we'll see Osman this side of the split and possibly not again this season- he was seeing a specialist yesterday re: his shoulder

Presuming Lawless is better I think he'd probably play instead of Azeez and it'll be more of a 3-4-3 which has worked quite well since we were forced into it in the cup game at Perth.

Good to hear McCarthy played well last night and if this is going our way or Celtic are humping Killie then I think a couple of other young players, most likely Nisbet or McLaughlin will get a run out.

[Al B]

Think Moult will be available. Robinson said earlier in the week it was touch-and-go for the Hamilton game, and if he wasn't ready for that then he would be for Saturday.

[SetPieceSpecialist]

No idea what we'll do if all 3 FBs are fit, as Elliott was excellent last night by all accounts, so he might remain in ahead of Dumbuya.

To be honest, based on recent performance, Elliott (on the left) and Dumbuya should start with Booth on the bench.
The game has draw written all over it, unfortunately.

[thisGRAEME]

Just now, Al B said:

Think Moult will be available. Robinson said earlier in the week it was touch-and-go for the Hamilton game, and if he wasn't ready for that then he would be for Saturday.

He didn't seem particularly positive about it in the post match interview. Tait back in training today. McManus posted missing.

[Al B]

Ah really? Haven't had a chance to listen to the post-match shenanigans yet. It's annoying that one player can make such a difference, but it is what it is...hopefully he makes it.

[SetPieceSpecialist]

Good to hear McCarthy played well last night and if this is going our way or Celtic are humping Killie then I think a couple of other young players, most likely Nisbet or McLaughlin will get a run out.

This ^^^

Would quite like to see Nisbet get a decent chunk of time against a tried 'Well defence in the second half as he's never really had a great chance for the senior team. Would be nice to see McLaughlin get a look in as he's been impressive for the Dev side and has improved tenfold since his debut in 2015.
Although the two above situations would be nice, I'd rather Azeez gets a chance to build on his goal at Parkhead as it'd be good to see him score a couple and build believe in himself. I reckon if he gets a chance to play alongside Erskine and Lawless when they're on form he'd do well.

[Slacker]

Killie won't beat Celtic so we won't need to get anything from this one in terms of securing top six, but it would be brilliant to catch Hearts.

I'd go 3-5-2; Azeez & Amoo out with Doolan and Lawless in. Keep McCarthy starting.

 

[Griff Sheridan]

I actually can't wait for this game. If and when the news comes through that Celtic are out in front, it's going to be bedlam in Firhill.

[capt_oats]

With the run Thistle are on and our pretty mediocre record at Firhill in recent years I'm not really holding out much hope here.

Clutching at straws somewhat but if Tait is back then I suppose there's a chance that the quality of delivery from wide areas might be a bit better. He bloody loves that clipped diagonal to the back post. Hopefully Moult makes it as the difference he makes to our attack is stark.

Are there any suspensions for this one? We seem to have been fairly racking up the yellow cards in recent weeks, Pearson in particular.

Assuiming everyone's available (apart from the obvious long term injuries):

Samson

Heneghan McHugh Hammell

Tait Cadden Pearson Frear

McDonald

Moult Herbalife

[Cerberus]

Who's Herbalife?

The players should be well up for it.

Killie won't beat Celtic anyway.

[Desp]

Fair play to Thistle, they've been on some run of late and thoroughly deserve the Top 6 spot.

I'd bite yer hand off for a point, but Thistle will go into this one as heavy favourites.

[YassinMoutaouakil]

I'm cautiously optimistic of at least a point from this game. Other than the St Johnstone game we've been conceding 1 or less goals a game, and while Thistle have been fantastic this year and fully deserve top six they don't tend to score too many, seem to like a draw as well. Hopefully we can nick one at the other end.

 

1-1

 

--LIONEL FANBOY ALERT--

I'd start Ainsworth at right wing on Saturday. Cadden still puts in a power of work but has been massively off the boil as an attacking threat for a while now. He'd maybe be more useful deputising for Tait than being relied upon as a goal threat.

 

[Ya Bezzer!]

18 minutes ago, YassinMoutaouakil said:

--LIONEL FANBOY ALERT--

I'd start Ainsworth at right wing on Saturday. Cadden still puts in a power of work but has been massively off the boil as an attacking threat for a while now. He'd maybe be more useful deputising for Tait than being relied upon as a goal threat.

 

I agree Cadden has been off form for a while now but even the other night he showed that he at least gives you work rate.  Ainsworth came on and really had little impact on the game.

He's a hugely frustrating player and given the managers comments after the match I doubt he'll be getting a starting berth.  He used to be a 1 in 3 player but the last couple of season's its been more like a 1 in 8/9/10.

If I was starting him I'd play him in place of Blyth as part of the three up front.

[cilitbang]

20 minutes ago, YassinMoutaouakil said:

I'm cautiously optimistic of at least a point from this game. Other than the St Johnstone game we've been conceding 1 or less goals a game, and while Thistle have been fantastic this year and fully deserve top six they don't tend to score too many, seem to like a draw as well. Hopefully we can nick one at the other end.

 

5-0 Thistle 

[SetPieceSpecialist]

5-0 Thistle 

Ade Azeez with the lot of them.

[Reid]

Cerny

Keown Devine Lindsay

Dumbuya Barton Edwards Elliott

Erskine Lawless

Doolan

 

 

Could be Booth in for Dumbuya/Elliott and/or Azeez for Lawless. Neither would particularly weaken us.

 

Away win.