numpty

I'd be amazed if we'd let him go without any add-ons, only real reason to sell him at all at this stage (unless they were offering us *very* silly money up front).

Indeed. Unless we end up getting relegated this year, which I doubt even given our recent performances, in the cold light of day it'll go down as a great bit of business by the club, hopefully with sell-on fees to come.

Why have undisclosed fees become so common

Also confirmed on 'Fishel Twitter: https://twitter.com/MotherwellFC/status/941273872338440192

I remember Craggs saying himself before he was made captain that he didn't really relish the idea as he didn't consider himself that kind of player. I was always a bit surprised he accepted.

What's happened to all that strength-in-depth we supposedly have this year for a change?

You're right if they were all underpaid by the same amount over the course of a full year. More likely different folk were underpaid by different amounts over different periods of time though, I would guess (but I haven't seen the full report to see if it includes those specifics).

If pushed I'd certainly give them the benefit of the doubt, while still being a bit disappointed that a club I part-own was paying anyone the bare minimum they could.

Also a bit weird/sad that none of the 12 noticed and got it sorted at the time... if you're getting paid peanuts, every penny counts. (Unless they did notice, and MFC aren't being entirely truthful about not having done so until HMRC pointed it out.)

Have they built any gates yet?

I dunno why folk even listen. Other than what's reported on here, I have no idea what any managers or players other than ours have said to anyone for years.

Me. I apologise if that makes me a bad person.

Hope he's filming it on his phone rather than just texting folk who can't do anything about it then...

Not one of our better statements, but I understand why we've felt the need to release it. Seems a wee bit whiny on the "debatable penalties" front. Not sure what our attendances being up has to do with anything, just seems to make the statement longer for no good reason. And given our usual honest approach to such things, I'd have preferred us to acknowledge that incidents involving our fans had already been reported and would be investigated, rather than saying we'd do so if there were any.

What'd be the point, we know they'd all just say "if it happened exactly the same, I'd like to think they would", and that'd be that.

https://twitter.com/MotherwellFC/status/936308971232808960

Scott Brown been complaining about that on the BBC today. We really shouldn't be giving them any more opportunities to play the victims here.

Easily avoided by using the NFL or Wimbledon system, where you get a limited number of challenges per match so you have to pick your battles wisely. Or more likely, the system they're currently using in the MLS and Bundesliga, where only four specific situations can be referred to the VAR (goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity).

Indeed, and that's true of all sports with video referees; ultimately a mere human has to make an impartial decision, and sometimes they'll still get it wrong, or the right video angle won't be available to show exactly what happened. But if it means the big decisions get called right more often without massively impacting the flow of the game, that still seems like a step in the right direction.

Corruption is intentional and usually involves money or some other favours changing hands. Bias is subconscious and unpaid.

Would be pretty ridiculous, and likely just land us in more bother for "disrespecting the sport" or whatever they call it these days. As I said before, I'd much rather we take the moral and sporting high ground when given the choice.

With a suspended ban already hanging over him (I think?), Robbo is in no position to accuse another professional of cheating, let alone the SFA, unfortunately.

Of course he won't, but that's not the point. Just another nice measured example of the boss bigging up and protecting his players in public, and a veiled dig at the Celtic fans and media who've been painting Kipre as just a violent thug for his tackle on Dembele.

I'd also have like to see us appeal in on principle, as you know all the Friends of Brendan will now just say "see, even youse thought it was a red card" from now to eternity. Then I read his comment about Cedric probably not serving the ban as he could be playing in the English Premiership by then anyway. Advantage Robbo.

Basically true. FIFA gave them a $5m loan that was used to revamp the Aviva stadium, and the FAI dropped their threatened legal action. It was to be paid back if Ireland qualified for the 2014 finals, but they didn't, so it was written off. The thing that's always annoyed me about the furore is that the goal only took a penalty shoot-out off the cards anyway, which Ireland were hardly guaranteed to win. It didn't change what they had to do to win outright: score in extra time. (And not lose another, of course.) I know that's still an injustice that needed addressing somehow, but the way they still bang on about it you'd think they'd been 3-0 up before Thierry banged in 4 with his hand. Certainly didn't merit a $5m handout.