Electric Blues

Yes, there are exceptions, of course there are, but the overall trend is ever downwards. For every diamond there's an awful lot of dross who can't seem to get even the basics right, you know, like passing to a team mate. My worry is that it's ever more of a lottery trying to find those occasional gems (or to develop our own through the youth system before the big boys from League One snaffle them for their reserve team bench) and it's not like we're the only ones out there digging.

Sadly, that’s what supporting Motherwell (or pretty much any Scottish team) has become, and it isn't going to get better any time soon. There’s a vicious circle of poor quality, dwindling attendances, no cash, desperate signings from leagues we’d never heard of a decade ago, managerial sackings, repeat ad infinitum. If it’s not our turn this year, it will be at some point. Nobody’s immune, just ask Hearts, Hibs, or Dundee Utd, or some of the other teams that are maybe never coming back up. I’ve supported Motherwell for over 50 years, and through all the highs and lows at least I always felt that there was hope for the future, that our time would come, and go, and come again. And at least there was something worth watching on the park, most weeks. When players left Scotland they went for decent money to the likes of Liverpool or Man Utd – now it’s to Wigan or Preston, for buttons. All that comes back the other way now are has-beens in the twilight of their career looking for one last wage, or a bunch of shiftless and increasingly-talentless mercenaries that strut their hour upon the stage and then are seen no more. Oh dear, I think I must be seasonally depressed – the weary rant above is what a run like this one does to you. Still, fuck it, eh? You can’t stop being a ‘Well fan just because everything’s total shit. Maybe the next roll of the dice will be different. COYW!

Having read "The Island of Doctor Moreau", it probably wouldn't end well.

I don't feel nearly so bad about this result now.

I'm as upset today as I was when Willie Pettigrew left for Dundee United, and I can't really think of any higher praise for Louis Moult than that.

So far that's 4 points taken from 6 in a run of "impossible" games we were supposed to have no chance in. I would give my left fucking nut to make it 7 from 9 at Parkhead. If any team in this league can do it, it's us. COYW.

No, you'll need to narrow that down for me.

I'm stuck on a beach in Thailand (yeah, bummer, I know) cursing my lack of clairvoyance. Kick off isn't until 10pm here and I'm already chewing the furniture. Come on ye new heroes!!

I guess it's "rushed" to try and leverage Les's double-your-money offer, which is understandable. I also suspect that the chances of selling the full tranche are slim to none, and there are checks and balances in place to prevent large purchases in that event anyway. From my perspective, I can throw £50 in a bucket at the next collection, and it's gone forever (albeit to a good home!) Or I can buy some shares, hang the certificate on the wall, and in theory recoup the £50 at some distant point in the future, by which time it might just be worth enough to pay for a Hampden pie. Of these two options I'd prefer the latter, although if there is no real likelihood of growth or dividends my investment is likely to be closer to £50 than £5000.

No wind up, genuine questions. If they're completely illiquid and will never make anyone a penny then that's fine, just so everyone knows that going in.

I'm thinking of acquiring a goodly number of shares, mainly for myself but also a few for Xmas presents. Can these shares be easily transferred / re-registered for that purpose? Also, while I'm very much aware that these are not an "investment" per se, and I'm not looking to outperform Warren Buffett or anything, are the shares actually listed on any exchange where their price can be tracked? £10 each seems like an awfully round and arbitrary number. Finally, are they ever likely to pay any dividends or have any preference rights? (The FAQ makes no mention of any of these sorts of details.)

The graphic for the opening post for the Cup Final thread on P&B might be referring to that in a post-ironic fashion. If you haven't seen it already, I've linked to it below for your amusement.

Any other day it would be Carson, but for that second from Moult. Time seemed to stop when he hit it, but from that moment you just knew it was going in. And when it did - total scenes! Every time I close my eyes I see it again. The replays just don't do it justice.

That was the first game I've managed to get over for this season (I'd already booked the travel to coincide with the Celtic game on Saturday, so a Hampden semi was some bonus.) As an exile I am always very grateful when folk give their post-match analysis, so I was really looking forward to returning the favour with my own detailed critique. So, here goes: FUCKING MAGIC! GIRFUY PEDRO!

I wondered about this myself as the second half wore on. Every passing minute without that particular substitution made it look more likely that he was being saved for Hampden. After his contribution in the quarter-final it wouldn't surprise me to see him start next week.

That bench could give Accies a good game.

Hopefully we'll spank Accies by 6 or 7 to nil at the weekend, and that'll motivate some more fence sitters.

Optimism would be expecting to beat them 3 times in that week.

We've subbed Tanner, Moult and McHugh, and the team doesn't seem to be any weaker for it. What a time to be alive!

1 point away from a European slot. Glass half full, surely?

Loads, all £22.50. You'll recognise me - I'll be wearing my Well Society pin badge. https://www.paviliontheatre.co.uk/shows/jerry-sadowitz-2/

If it's on the Sunday I'll need to change my travel arrangements to match, but there are worse problems to have! I've already booked tickets for Jerry Sadowitz at the Pavilion on the Saturday night, so it should be some weekend.

I signed up recently with a monthly pledge through PayPal. It took a few weeks, but I did eventually receive a professional looking welcome letter though the post with a certificate, a membership number, and a Well Society lapel pin. Would an earlier email acknowledgement have been nice too? Yes, of course it would, but it certainly isn't a deal breaker. Anyway, now that I have my membership number in my hand I must sign up for the Exiles Club. (I was hoping to get over tonight for an Aberdeen double-header, but business has sadly intervened so it looks like Celtic on 21/10 will be my first game this season.)

Never mind the bollocks - surely it's "Sid"?

Or another £100k on the price tag? Looks like he's about 40 votes behind the Lincoln boy now. We're being outplayed by League 2 here.