Football Season Guide

Last season was an extremely productive one for the project Alan Archibald is working on at Partick Thistle. The Jags were significantly more dangerous in the final third and weren't intimidated out of playing their own passing game regardless of the opposition. It was a season which brought them a thoroughly deserved top six place, although they did struggle after the split to get results against the top sides - something which was a recurring theme throughout the season as a whole. Archibald has already knocked back offers from down south which shows the dedication and belief he has in what he is building at Partick. Impressively, he has been able to keep hold of his best players such as Stuart Bannigan, Steven Lawless, and the reliable Kris Doolan up top. However, a huge gap has been left with the departure of Liam Lindsay to Barnsley. The centre-back brought such steel and a commanding presence to Thistle's defence but Niall Keown will look to fill that void after impressing in a loan spell last season and signing permanently over the summer. The addition of Blair Spittal was a shrewd one for Archibald as he'll fit right in with Thistle's high-pressing, passing style. He likes to do his best work on the ball, running at the opposition. Therefore, plenty of goals and assists are expected from him this campaign. What Partick now have to work on is how to trouble the bigger opposition. They failed to win a game against Celtic, Rangers, or Aberdeen last season, and it was mostly down to self-belief. Where they dominated the opposition, they couldn't take their chances and would ultimately fall to defeat. They need to find a way to combat this and find a more ruthless edge in front of goal. There's nothing wrong with Partick from defence to midfield but they need to start being more aggressive in the final third to trouble those fighting at the top end.