Goggles & Flippers

Well McCall makes light of McManusVigursgate on the BBC website: "They're both in there kissing and cuddling in the shower."

Nah you're right, £1.6m wage budget (or there about's last time I heard), considering most of the youth team will be on buttons, we must have the highest paid chef in the league. I see Maths like strip design wasn't a strongpoint at school, but at least you can pick out a gem of a signing because they get an average of 7.8 in Football Manager 2014.

If he was the all round player he wouldn't be with us. Ainsworth is capable going forward and chips in with goals, he's disinterested in tracking back. Humphrey was rapid as, tracked back more but has no final ball and didn't contribute enough goals. Omar, well .... erm ..... was McCall's mate? We're Motherwell, we can pay a winger around £3k a week, what do we really expect?

I'm sure Leeann will share with TB what our players are on p/w, its be up to them both to identify if anyone is a target. Nice place to be to know what cards your opposite number is holding. I could see McManus head East, Faddy, not so sure.

I suspect our budgeting will require that we lose the equivalent of 2 first team players wages for 2014/15. So Kerr in for Hutch may be the only viable prospect along with replacing players with those we already have. Unfortunately if you want to get more money, you need to beat Albion Rovers.

Hammell has been at fault in a quite a few goals this season, as pointed out, a lot of us expected McManus would bring a little more to the back 4 with his experience which hasn't appeared to happen, Hutch looks like he's off so is Ramsden the natural successor or do we go out and find someone new? Reid has impressed from what I've seen and we have Kerr is potential backup? McManus has indicated he's interested in a renewal so based on the money being right its a shoe in if we can afford/want him. Lawson may start next season showing why McCall opted to bring him to the club last summer and his role offers the back 4 protection. I don't think we have to consider any striking changes next season, Sutton, Arnier, (can't see a bid coming in for Faddy) and Erwin waiting in the wings. Vigurs and Ainsworth need an intense pre-season to prepare them mentally and physically to track back. As for Carswell and Lasley, both have their moments but at times this season there's been no bossing in that critical area of the park. I do think the lack of confidence in the goalkeeper has influenced the composure and decision making at critical points during matches.

This game wasn't a "must win", it was a "woulda been easier" if we had. A lot has been made of Aberdeen spluttering over the line while ignoring our own failings and form. On paper we have a competent defence, experience from Hammell, leadership and history of playing at a higher level in McManus, Hutchinson being the fearless young guy with energy and potential and until his injury Ramsden looked he'd grown comfortable following on from a shaky start in some people's eyes. Of course he's been out for a while but Kerr and Reid have at times been OK. So why have we shipped goals at times like a bunch of amateurs? Simply the defence is not capable in offering a degree of shielding and dominating that area of the park, repeated over this season that area has been found deficient. Two decent midfielders are key. To be honest I think Lawson was brought in to address that to a degree but it hasn't worked out as yet.

My opinion on this has altered throughout the past year. Based on signings made, performances, winning streaks and injuries it has increased in expectation. The only thing we've been consistent in over the past 9 months is performances against the bottom 6 teams in our league (by and large). We've been handed a number of drubbings this season and only handed out a couple. If we were starting from a base datum level then of course SPFL survival is key, we're the 7th/8th biggest team in the country (2 have dropped out the league) so you would think top 6 is what we should achieve. But we're not starting from that datum, its from what's been built over the past few years and you hope we can use that as a catalyst to a slightly higher position (which it would appear we will this year). A lot has been made of how Aberdeen have spluttered recently, lets not overlook throwing away two 2-0 leads (granted one was against the league winners and before the game most would have bitten you hand off for the final result) and yesterday's debacle. Every league place is worth £90k or so, in a pretty poor season for the balance sheet, it would have been key to hit 2nd, annoyingly its been within our ability to achieve it, its not as if Aberdeen or Dundee United have pulled clear. So for me, in the current climate, make enough money to continue, top six and not to be embarrassed by teams around us is what I look for.

Jesus .... an insult? Bit strong. Think what you like, its my opinion based on what I've witnessed. I don't dispute the good work done by the Community Trust but a lot of it is gilding the lily. As for the players, I think too many baulk at the idea of interacting with people, a cattle prod is often required.

Don't dispute that but the issue with Motherwell and probably every other football club in Scotland is, the fans who keep on going are pumped for every penny rather than trying to win new or lapsed business. It would be good if we could replicate what happens in most other European countries, where each area/district has strong civic pride and any emblems/colours are to be found throughout the local area. Thinking of Aalesund and Nancy in particular. Motherwell awash in C&A from basic things like railings, those banner things around the civic centre to even the planting in the middle of Airbles Road could be geared to reinforce local pride which in turn would influence affinity for Motherwell FC. Unfortunately we live within a council area with 4 legacy teams, said council has a predisposition to the unwashed and no doubt a few constituents would take mock outrage/offence that railings weren't red white and blue or green and white, not recognising this isn't the Glasgow. The club should be looking at re-engaging and introducing themselves to new people, simple things like player involvement (even though they'd probably spit the dummy) would go so far. Youth team and current squad members can't bury their heads in the sand or think, I suspect, because they are pro's its beneath them. We are not far from a very shaky peg financially, a lot on here see success on the pitch and assume it translates to success on the balance sheet, which is far from true. However it is a little off topic.

Thanks for clarifying. So the shares are held in trust and so would the WS pot until the exchange takes place?

Approx 60% of the shares, no?

Based on our last accounts, the club isn't worth anything near £1.5m, 800k would be closer and I reckon Boyle would snap the fingers off anyone who offered it. With respect to the council getting involved, the Clyde/Broadwood thing plus the proliferation of fans of a certain East End club a particular non-starter.

I don't know whither to be dismayed at another subsequent 2-0 lead squandered or thrilled with the guts to get the draw. They are the Champions and have a better quality of player so I can accept it, just the smile on my face after 44 minutes was wiped out too soon. Good to have that bounce for the next few matches.

6 points would result in Dundee Utd needing to win every game, quite an ask.

As been pointed out, Aberdeen are spluttering, Dundee Utd are finding form after a run of indifferent results, as for us, I don't have a clue where we are however mindful that our record against top 5 teams was looking shocking until recently.

If we were using 4 I'd expect lineouts opposed to shy's

Neg votes ... deary me. The pitch was woeful a few years back, an empiricle sandpit, no doubt that helped seal the P45 of the existing groundsman. This article resulted in a lot of back slapping on here for the current one. All I was saying was (and it appear it wasn't grasped) if he encountered a winter where snow lay and froze pretty much for 2 months as it did in 2009 and 2010 then the current state of the pitch I suspect would be very different and he would no doubt be facing a little more sniping on here. All I was pointing out it may have been fair to judge his efforts off the back of a cruel winter.

Your use of "I think" means that's an opinion rather than a fact

Mildest winter for quite a while though, interesting to see how things go when things are a bit more tasty.

We'll get points from games we don't expect and drop points, again, at ones we think are sure things. Same thing happens every post split run in.

5, Draw with Dundee Utd beat ICT, Aberdeen draw, St. Johnstone loss, Celtic loss (hopefully not a drubbing)

Twice bitten, thrice shy? Writing was on the wall earlier in the season that you wouldn't get treated right there. I can't understand why we can engineer police free games at FP and then we go away and get treated like this. I'd claim police intelligence was behind things but as OnTheFringes has conveyed previously, these two words don't go hand in hand as often as we assume or like. It would appear the division which handles Paisley has a particularly zealous match commander(s), in future vote with you feet and spend your cash on grounds where the clubs work hand in hand to improve the atmosphere. But remember to let St. Mirren know that's the case, otherwise its fruitless. Back to the game, watched the highlights there, going on that to get out of there with a 2-1 win would have been possibly fortunate? Doesn't take away from a woeful decision from Brines. I will never know why Linesmen aren't consulted more often. Essentially, we've rode our luck on a few occasions and got points we maybe shouldn't have. 2nd is still achievable, we merely share points with a team that is by and large better than ours with a game in hand. 3 points yesterday would have given confidence, its now ensured squeeky bum time and hoping for other results in the run in, part and parcel of being a dosser though isn't it? Another issue is Dundee Utd blow hot and cold, issue is its generally been hot recently.

Jesus, the bird on the left looks like she'd eat Hutchison and shit him out.

I can't think of any time McCall has criticised a ref, even with prompting from a hack, but just read the BBC website there where he cuts Brines in two.