Partick Thistle

Which is the worst ground to play at?
Stranraer — all you can think about is the horrendous drive home

Which teammate has the strangest pre-game rituals?
Kenny Arthur who has been known to slap himself in the face a few times

Which is the best set of away fans?
Dunfermline — they are always up for a laugh

If money was no object who would you sign for Partick?
George Shaw — my former teammate. He can stand next to me in the team photo and make me look handsome

What was your most memorable moment last season?
Beating Motherwell 3-0 to more or less ensure our Premierleague survival

And the funniest?
Danny Lennon wearing a leopardskin thong in Magaluf

What is your favourite movie to watch on the team bus?
We only get noisy war films like Guns of Navarone, as our masseur Davie Wiseman chooses them and he's deaf

Which Premierleague club provides the worst cup of tea?
Probably us — due to cutbacks it is one teabag per 10 cups

Which musician, alive or dead, would you get to write and perform a new club song?
Bob Marley duetting with Kylie Minogue — just think of that video on a Jamaican beach, Bob in a hammock, Kylie in provocative swimwear with the players harmonising from coconut trees

One rule you would change?
Nobody should be allowed to tackle centre-forwards over 30

One tip for aspiring footballers?
Never eat yellow snow

One word to describe your mood on the eve of the new season?
Effervescent

Describe manager Gerry Collins in three words:
Totally radio rental

3 key questions that will decide this season

1 Can Gerry Collins replace the charismatic John Lambie?
Now that Lambie has finally retired — he will retain a commercial/scouting role at Firhill — it is time for Collins to step into the limelight. Different in manner to Lambie, but no less forthright, it will be intriguing to see how much, if at all, he differs in approach. Having seen five first-team players depart during the summer, Collins has already had his challenges. With a threadbare squad, and the lowest wage ceiling in the League, Collins looks to have an unenviable task, and Thistle seem certain strugglers this season. But then the club, and its new manager, are used to being the underdogs

2 Do Partick have what it takes to avoid relegation?
Shorn of the majority of their better players, Thistle look a shadow of their former selves. Scott Paterson, Alan Archibald, Martin Hardie and Alex Burns have moved on, leaving gaping holes. The question is whether Eddie Forrest, Stephane Bonnes, Stuart Taylor, Grant Murray, James Grady and Andy Thomson will prove adequate replacements. Thistle look like having the weakest squad in the Premierleague: they are attempting to live within their means, but are they the means of a Premierleague side or a First Division one? This season is likely to answer that question

3 Can Derek Whyte marshal Thistle's new-look defence?
Now 34, Whyte is nearing the end of his career but claims to be as excited about this campaign as any other. The former Celtic centre-half spent much of last season on the sidelines, and it was his media career rather than his defending that he worked on. But he still retains his enthusiasm, and Thistle need Whyte's experience. A likely candidate to be appointed captain, his leadership abilities will be heavily relied upon, while he will be looking for protection from the younger legs of Jamie Mitchell, immediately ahead of him in midfield, to make up for his inevitable slowing down

New arrival

A prolific goalscorer in England's lower divisions, throughout his career Andy Thomson has been a signing target for just about all Scotland's leading clubs outwith the Old Firm, most recently Aberdeen. The former Queen of the South striker could have remained in England, but wanted to fulfil his ambition to play in the Premierleague and saw a move to Firhill as his last opportunity. A proven finisher and a robust physical presence in attack, his form this season will have a direct bearing on Thistle's fate

Strongest XI

Arthur
Whyte
Murray
Forrest
Lilley
Taylor
Rowson
Mitchell
Ross
Thomson
Grady

The squad

1 Kevin Budinauckas G
2 David Lilley M
3 Ian Ross M
4 Derek Whyte D
5 Grant Murray D
5 Kenny Milne D
7 Jamie Mitchell M
8 Stephane BonnesF
9 Gerry Britton F
10 David Rowson M
11 Stuart Taylor M
12 Kenny Arthur G
13 Paul Kaczan M
14 John Paul McBride M
15 Eddie Forrest D
16 James Grady F
17 Andy Ross M
18 Derek Fleming D
19 John Gemmell M
20 Emmanuelle Panther F
21 Andy Gibson M
22 Stephen Pinkowski G
23 Ricky Waddell F
24 Willie Howie M
27 Andy Thomson F
Manager: Gerry Collins

Celebrity fan

Johnny Beattie, entertainer
My abiding memory of John Lambie is the end of last season when he was singing My Way in the centre circle. Gerry Collins has a hard act to follow. He's been judicious with signings and we'll stay up

Where are they now?

Ian Cameron: Ended playing career at Airdrie in 2002 and started coaching Rangers' youth team. Hopes to be a manager