The Thistle Archive

Were one to go solely on the form displayed last Saturday in the final battle for the possession of that handsome trophy, the Glasgow Cup, played at Ibrox Park in presence of six thousand spectators, the only conclusion possible is that the Partick Thistle is a very much overrated team. We all went down to Rangers’ pretty ground expecting to see one of those soul-stirring contests usually associated with final ties, when what was supposed to be the two best clubs meet to fight for the local championship. We were treated instead to a very lame spectacle. The Partick team gave no indications that they were possessed of more than second-class ability, and at no period in the game, bar the first five minutes and for a short while in the middle of the second half, had they ever a look in. Of course no one will assert that the Thistle representatives showed their true form…The Thistle played a hard game, it is true, but their efforts were feeble. In their movements they are, with one or two exceptions, most lethargic, being very slow on the ball. Their tendency to dally with it at critical moments must have been exasperating to their supporters. One great blemish, too, was the disposition to dribble displayed by their half backs, while their forwards were anxiously waiting for the ball to be sent on to them. This dribbling proved an expensive affair, as time after time their halves had the ball taken from them. I have it from an enthusiastic supporter of the Partick club that he never saw the team play worse. His opinion was that they were beaten before they stepped on to the field – that fear, which takes possession of many clubs when facing Queen’s Park, having more to do with their collapse than an inability to play good football. There may be something in this. The Queen’s Park has still a terror for some people. Many of the people who formed the Partick Thistle team had never before stood up against our great leading club and may be excused if they gave way to a nervous fear begotten of the great task before them…Their backs don’t seem to put force into their kick. Their half-backs, save Ward, did little to stop the Queen’s Park forwards, and frequently entered into a dribbling competition, in which they were worsted. McCorkindale their goalkeeper, gave no indication that he is in the possession of the remarkable cleverness claimed for him by supporters of the club. Bennett seems smart, but he clearly wants experience against first class teams. He played too much single-handed. Johnstone worked hard, but for the rest little can be said.

Scottish Sport

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