Frazzie

The first game I ever left early was at Tannadice in the cup, 4-0 down and I missed Van Der Gaag scoring a header (I think into big Seib, but that could be the memory playing tricks on me). Our bus then broke down on the way back. Great day.

And none of the other turnstyles are four feet from a road...

Makes for good reading. What's the chances of us still being top at the end of the year? I'd settle for us still being top at the end of March to be honest!

I don't see what the fuss is about. Most organisations have their H&S hoops to jump through, and a football club is no different. The only gripe that I had with it was that it must have been costing the club money, but if the overall aim is to cut down the amount of police present at matches, thus saving money, then there's no harm in it. I certainly didn't feel like I waited any longer than usual. If anything, I was in a bit quicker given that the folk coming from the Taggarts direction weren't able to skip the queue like they normally do.

I got a frisking aswell, but that was only because I was cheeky.

I didn't see much variety in his crossing, unless you mean they varied between being pretty poor to downright pish! However, his pace is frightening so we should definitely persevere with him.

I think you'll need to be a bit more specific...

I literally haven't got a scooby mate! Will still come along for the banter, and bring some other 'Well fans with me. Should be a good night.

OK, that's fine. I'll happily go along with that. I won't be involved anyway - as long as everyone's happy with that then we've got a plan!

Excellent! Well, given that Dougie Arnott is a living legend, I reckon we should work the dates around him. If each team has six folk paying £20, and we have a Steelmenonline team, a FirParkCorner team, a Trust team, a Jack Daniels team, an MFC team and now a wee Thackitt team, then that's £720 of a pot. I reckon Colin would do it for little or nowt if he was involved, and we could spend £20 on a trophy, give each player in the winning team £100 and give £100 to Youth Developement. What do you all think? My only concern with that is if we make the prize money so much, it may get taken a bit too seriously.

Oh aye, forgot that Hearts game was moved. I was thinking we didn't have a home game until April after saturday.

We've got a wee bit of time after the Killie game until our next home fixture anyway so hopefully something will be able to get done inbetween times so we don't have to leave the 'Ark.

I was suggesting the MST team would be made up of Trust members, not just board members. We've only got three folk on the board who have ever played poker before. Gaag - I don't mind saying to him. What day of the week suits folk? Should we make it co-incide with a Champions League game again?

To be fair, the Trust didn't run the last Poker Night for profit (only £60 made!) and if something like what you're suggesting was to take off, it would make more sense Colin running it from the pub, so the Trust would be happy to try to get a team together for it but it doesn't make sense for us to get the profits. Would just be a coming together of Motherwell fans groups in a Motherwell fans' pub! I'll come along for the banter and a few pints as I haven't a clue about poker! With my limitted knowledge, I'd suggest a buy-in of £20 per head, with a fiver of that going to Colin and the rest to the prize pot. Surely that would keep everyone happy? Edit: Or even Colin could take his usual 20%, and another 20% could go towards a wee trophy for the winning team?

Sounds like a plan. Might be able to stick an FPC team in if there's interest.

How do you even know that? I hadn't heard anything?

I'm fairly sure Humphrey signed a three-year deal when he joined. To be honest, if we start next season with the exact same squad as we have now, I'd be delighted. However, I can't see that being the case. If this team does get kept together, it's only going to get better.

I just fell off my chair reading that!

I love a good fitba bevvy session more than most, particularly all-day shots for evening games, but sometimes the couple of hours you spend sobering up at the game is invaluable towards preservation of your post-match boozing.

Think he wins that one by default surely...?

I think that's what will happen. I reckon Boyle might finance it - about £400k - and view it as an investment for himself. Stick him on a three year contract, sell him after two for five or six times what we paid for him. Boyle can get his money back and pocket a bit extra for his trouble, and the club will be left with a wee wedge and three years service from an excellent goalkeeper. Everybody's happy. Sounds dead simple, doesn't it?

True, but they may be better assets. If Forbes, for example, went to Everton, he'd be in the reserves for a bit, become a better player and probably farmed out to a League 1 or Championship team on loan, where he might do well and attract a bigger offer than the £500k they're looking for for Ruddy. There's no way any of our current crop would be anywhere near the Everton first team like Faddy was, but a couple of them could be reasonable investments.

I'd swap Forbes and Reynolds for Ruddy in a heartbeat. I'd carry both of them to Liverpool on my back! Putting to one side my own personal opinions of the players, which I think folk know by now, they both play in positions where we have decent depth so it would be an excellent deal for us.

Is Hutchison fit yet? We could really be doing with him for this one at both ends of the park.

Cliche bingo! In all seriousness, I agree with 'Flow. Ruddy is almost a complete all-round 'keeper at 22 and it will take a better goalie than David James, Robert Green or Ben Foster to keep him out of the England team in five years if he develops as he can.