MJC

In the case of Partick Thistle they are seen in football and Glasgow culture as a cuddly wee alternative to the Old Firm in the city, therefore they get a fair bit more favourable media attention than we do.

The influence does indeed extent to Rangers albeit to a lesser extent than it does to Celtic. Thereafter it extends to Aberdeen(albeit they are second only to Celtic on Radio Scotland) l, Dundee Utd and then the two Edinburgh clubs. Walter Smith when at Rangers definitely did hold a lot of sway with the media but in the last 10-12 years there is no question, imo, that Celtic are the club who are the most powerful and thus hold the most power and influence over the media and the rest of Scottish football. To bring it back to the context of Saturdays game, ideally we and SK call out Dunne and St.Mirren and ‘ask for protection’ from the officials but as been said, we don’t have the clout that bigger clubs do so it would get very little exposure in the media.

Scotland had a goalkeeper playing the other night who has represented England right up to u21 level. It was only when he realised he wasn’t getting a sniff at full international level for them that he decided to be ‘Scottish’. That is but one tiny example of why I think international football is fake. You can’t or shouldn’t be able to just choose your nationality. If you or anyone else enjoys watching Scotland then that’s up to you. I don’t and have little to no interest in it and that’s that. They absolutely do influence the news. Alot of the press in this country know to toe the party line for Celtic otherwise they would be out of a job or their lives made a misery. Therefore whatever Rodgers or anyone connected to Celtic says, no matter how small or irrelevant it will get exposure and won’t be challenged by anyone in the press. One of the best examples I can provide is that of Neil Lennon. No matter what he did, whoever he argued with, squared up to, or whatever set of fans he openly goaded, his stooges in the media always backed him to the hilt and played the sectarian card for him.

Louis Moult scores again for Dundee Utd today. Lower level or not he has certainly had a very good start with them.

That’s obviously why we didn’t sign him. Clearly when he said on Open Goal that he was holding out for a move that gave him a “buzz” he meant he hadn’t found a club at that point that were prepared to pay him handsomely. And now he has.

At 36 he probably has. Though I still think he could have done a job for us in the SPFL. Not to be though unfortunately.

Steven Fletcher signs for Wrexham.

I do speak for myself. I’ve just go no interest in international football and find it boring, fake and a complete pain in the arse that gets in the way of the real stuff. The only positive for me is as you say it gives our injured players the opportunity to recover, hopefully anyway.

Possibly, possibly not but that’s irrelevant. Walter Smith hasn’t been the Rangers manager for over ten years while Brendan Rodgers is the current Celtic manager. Therefore he does hold alot more sway with the media than our manager ever could and that is the point being made here.

Agreed but we wouldn’t get anywhere near half the exposure that Rodgers would get so it wouldn’t have the same effect. The manager of Celtic will always have a huge amount of clout in the media but Brendan Rodgers is on a different level and it seems like every journalist and pundit hangs on his every word like he’s the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Every clubs support has a bad element who can be aggressive and hostile to opposition fans, us included. Indeed we have an element of our support who are aggressive and hostile to other Motherwell fans. I appreciate a lot of Motherwell fans from the generation slightly older than myself report plenty of bad experiences with Hearts fans particularly during the 70s, 80s and into the 90s but I’ve never personally seen anything from them to suggest they are in any way worse than the rest. For me Aberdeen fans are alot more aggressive, angry and downright nastier as a collective than either of the Edinburgh clubs.

Everything about international football is pish. I really don’t see why they don’t play more qualifiers in June of the year that there is no Euros or World Cup instead of having these breaks once a month for the first three months of the season.

He should certainly be getting dogs abuse for his nigh on assault on Biereth the other week. Him, Robinson and the rest of the thunderdomers should all be getting it tight.

Seriously? When have St.Mirren ever filled the South Stand without having to also be given part of the PO’D and end up buying home end tickets? Even the Old Firm aren’t given part of the POD any more.

I think it’s highly unlikely bordering on impossible for any side outwith the two Old Firm clubs to win the league again in Scotland but if any club has a realistic chance of it then it’s Hearts IMO. I don’t see it happening because of the gap in finances but they are the only club with the correct mentality to go on and win the league or “do a Leicester” if you like.

Firstly, yes I am sure I am on the right forum. Secondly, “they are as bigoted as ra gers and pretty hostile and unfriendly bunch in my experiance” well if that’s your experience of them then that’s fine. It’s not mine though. I’ve always found Hearts fans (that I have encountered anyway) to be passionate supporters of their club and are fiercely proud of their own identity as a club and a support. Unlike alot of our support(and some others no doubt) they don’t allow what the Old Firm fans may or may not think of them to dictate what they say/sing/what type of kits they release. They are their own club and embrace that and I for one respect them for that. I don’t ‘like’ Hearts and I love beating them but I envy their support and the way they back their club and team.

It’s the best stadium in Scotland IMO. When it’s full and the fans are vocal and on top of the pitch it provides a loud and quite unique atmosphere. That’s why going there and winning feels like such a big scalp as not many away sides outwith the Old Firm go there and win so that makes Sunday all the more impressive. Their club song is the absolute best there is too, especially the original Hector Nicol version. There is something spine tingling and “hair on the back of your neck stands up” when that accordion intro kicks in.

Frightening memories. FHW and all that!

The manager has everyone playing to their strengths. It’s simple but so effective. The team also look together and work well as a unit. Obviously we will have disappointing results and dips along the way but the early signs are that we will be just fine this season.

Never mind me and what I post, this thread isn’t about me. Discuss the game.

Most definitely. When you see Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen struggling then it will stand to reason that when the pressure starts ramping up on their managers and they are inevitably sacked then they will look in SK’s direction. That said you would think/hope that Robinson would be higher up on those clubs wish lists given he is more experienced and has been around longer.

Well that was as brilliant as it was unexpected. It has to be said that SK’s league record since taking over is absolutely ridiculous. Two defeats and unbeaten away and despite having a threadbare squad here we are going into the international break joint top of the league. Incredible stuff.

You feel it’s coming for Hearts.

Apparently it was a breakfast cereal sized bowl of pasta with half a can of tinned tuna mixed through it. Equalled about 50/60 carbs. Some Boi is our Louis

Moult didn’t score today and he got yellow carded. Heard he also stopped to tie his laces on his left boot at circa 29 minutes.