Jay

I can't actually put into words how happy I would be if we drew Ajax.

Meltit football fans in being a bit rowdy and breaking some glasses outside shocker.

You have suggested that the claim he can play centre half is no more ridiculous than the claim he can't. That is suggesting that there is an equal chance of both being right. My point is that's obviously incorrect. A big, slow striker will undoubtedly have more chance of failing at centre half than at succeeding. Whether you personally think he might do a job or not is irrelevant to that fact. Stuart McCall has indeed used Higdon for his defensive qualities at set pieces, in that the defensive qualities at set pieces involve nothing more than attempting to win the ball in the air. This can and will still be done on Saturday. However, one thing Stuart McCall - and, to my knowledge, no manager - has done is use Higdon for his defensive qualities for the rest of the game. As far as I'm aware, big out-and-out strikers who's main priority is to score goals do not spend a particularly long amount of time in training practicing zonal and man marking, defensive positioning, maintaining the offside trap, jockeying attackers, and many of the other duties that are expected of centre halves. That is why I find the notion ridiculous. But he's big, so it's all good.

Of course it is. Whether you think he can do a job there or not, he is an old fashioned (and slow) centre forward and therefore the chances of him not being able to play at centre half - with all that entails such as defensive positioning, the offside trap etc - are far bigger than the chances of him being able to slot into a defensive pairing with Jonathan Page. Therefore, it undoubtedly is more ridiculous to suggest he can.

Spot on. Being able to rhyme off a wee list with guys like Chris Sutton on it as proof Higdon can play at centre half is madness - the list of strikers who should be absolutely no near the centre of defence is a million times bigger, and I'd put Higdon in there without a doubt. Putting someone in defence purely because they're big and can head the ball is what you do when you're playing football at lunch-time in primary school. Suggesting doing it in the SPL is absolutely ridiculous.

That's the hilarious part about it, fucking idiots.

Although the 4-4-2 with Ojamaa alongside Higdon has been working, I reckon this is one game we'd be worth reverted back to a 4-5-1 in a bid to pack the midfield and protect the defence. Got to agree with bringing in a youngster, it might not pay off but inexperienced or not, there's just invaluable traits regarding defensive positioning etc that an U19 centre half will have and someone like Higdon won't. With that in mind, I'd be looking at something along the lines of: ----------------------------------------- Randolph ---------------------------------------------- Hateley -------- Page ----------- U19 Centre Half (if Craigan's out) ---- Hammell ------------------------------ Carswell ---------- Jennings ---------------------------------- Humphrey ---------------------------- Ojamaa ---------------------------------------- Law ------------------------------------------- Higdon ------------------------------------------------ Not ideal, but I think protecting a very inexperienced central defensive partnership with both Jennings and Carswell, and relying on the pace of Humphrey, Ojamaa and Law to support Higdon, is the best bet for us. However, with a chance of it being one up front for us and Brown undoubtedly sticking to his defensive tactics, I might check up on the 0-0 odds.

We were absolutely garbage yesterday. Brown's game plan worked to absolute perfection - they got the early goal, sat in, defended well, and left us looking completely void of ideas on how to break them down. The second goal pretty much killed it off before half-time, and obviously Lasley's blatant red card didn't help. Looked a straight red at the time and TV pictures back in the pub confirmed that. We were reduced to Clancy and Page showing what they've learned from 'The Craigan Guide to Distribution', hammering aimless long balls up the park, and even after Law pulled a goal back, we didn't deserve to go on and earn a replay. Anyway, if I had had to pick between winning yesterday or on Saturday, I'd take the league game by a country mile, so hopefully there's a bit of a reaction and we actually turn up this time.

The idea that without the Old Firm there would be no TV deal is a complete myth. Obviously the TV companies would see the SPL as a less attractive competition and would offer less for the rights, but there would still be a TV deal.

Oh aye, I agree about the anticipation v expectation thing, but it works both ways. A lot of the negativity seems to cross that line into expectation. Anyway, up the 'Well, in about this mob.

Oh aye, I do get that. I'm old enough to know from experience that Motherwell are never generally a good bet in pretty much any game. However, that doesn't stop me from tempting fate or making 'rash predictions'. I don't see why that experience has to automatically mean negativity. I'm perfectly happy giving it big licks about how we're going to do Aberdeen today and how we're going to be in the Champions League next year. If neither happen, then so what? I find it far more enjoyable discussing how we'll get to certain countries for Champions League ties and what the plans will be for the Scottish Cup Final, rather than telling everyone about how 'I just don't see us winning this today' for seemingly no apparent reason, other than having seen us lose football matches before.

You're quite right, I constantly find myself at a loss as to why there's always so much negativity leading up to pretty much every Motherwell game. Even the excuse of "we're Motherwell and can easily throw away games" doesn't wash, and doesn't necessarily have to result in folk turning into doom merchants. I'm right up for tomorrow's game - looking forward to it and I reckon we'll win comfortably - the scoreline may be relatively close due to Aberdeen's defensive tactics, but I think the game will be comfortably controlled by us. Then back to the pub for the semi-final draw. Belter.

Right up for this tomorrow, I expect a good cup atmosphere and hopefully a game to match. Broonie will turn up looking for a replay, but our attacking movement and pace will be too far and we'll see it through tomorrow. She wore...

104 votes so far and I've got to say, I'm surprised at the results. I genuinely believed the majority would not consider turning their back on the SPL, and the poll was more an experiment just to see how big a percentage voted for "Yes". The fact that 63.46% have said they would consider juking if a newco was voted in says something quite strongly about the whole situation.

The only surprise is it took until the fourth page for someone to batter in with the horrendous "I'm a better fan than you" shite. Seems to me that you've spectacularly missed the point given any hatred of the Old Firm has absolutely nothing to do with it.

I hope you're right - a Rangers post-administration is going to be far weaker than a Rangers post-liquidation! I'm supposed to be writing essays for uni and I'm basically doing anything I can other than that - you got lucky...

It's looking perhaps unlikely, but it's no where near being impossible yet. Very many journalists who you'd expect to be as 'in the know' as anyone are all still saying liquidation is a very real possibility, therefore I don't think there's any reason to completely dismiss it just yet. And with that in mind, I'd say this thread does mean something. At least as much as threads about the club moving to a new stadium, James McFadden moving to Motherwell, and any other of the many threads that are based on something that may or may not happen in the future, but are still relevant and provide a talking point.

I don't think anyone is blaming them. Too many people seem to be misunderstanding those that will not return to watch SPL football. I can only speak for myself obviously, but I'm sure others are in the same boat - my opinion is simply that all enthusiasm and interest in league football in the top division is drained immediately when the other clubs simply welcome Rangers back into the league despite year upon year of blatant cheating. I completely understand the reasons why they would probably do so and probably wouldn't hold any great grudge against Motherwell or any other club for doing it. It's not a case of refusing to support Motherwell any longer because of feeling betrayed or anything, at least for me personally. But that wouldn't change the fact that my desire to attend SPL football would be dead. I would probably still go along to Scottish & League Cup matches because I could never severe myself from Motherwell completely, but in terms of competitive league football I would be finished.

Maybe I'm completely missing the point, but why are folk even attempting to bring Motherwell being in administration into this? It has absolutely nothing to do with it. No one is saying that they will now stop following Motherwell if Rangers, currently in administration, aren't thrown out of the league, so comparing the two is a complete non-starter. This is quite clearly about a liquidated Rangers 'rising from the ashes' as a newco, and being admitted straight back into the SPL - which still exists a very real possibility. That has nothing to do with our admin days whatsoever.

He's also just hailed Ojamaa as transfer of the season, despite telling Aberdeen fans last month that he had the chance to sign the wee man but chose not to bother as he was confident of bringing in someone even better.

There is absolutely no way Faddy will return to Motherwell until he's at least about 32 or something. Whether he's getting a game at Everton or not, after making quite a big thing about finishing his career at Motherwell, moving to Fir Park is basically him saying "my career at the highest level is over, and I'm now seeing out my career". He is quite clearly not the kind of person to do that at the age of 28.

That's absolutely brilliant.

Fuck me, that was quick. Cheers.

Would one of the admins/mods be able to the change the title of this thread? Originally it was meant for folk to post up their intentions not to return to Fir Park if Motherwell voted in a newco, just to see how many folk were genuine - but obviously that hasn't quite been the case, with folk either debating the subject or moaning about free speech. Now I've added a poll, I think the thread title is a little misleading. There could be people planning on going to Fir Park regardless and they could be put off even opening this thread because of the title. So I'm thinking the vote poll results would probably give a fairer reflection if the thread had a title to match, such as "If a Rangers newco are voted in to the SPL..." or something. Got to say though, when I posted the vote poll I fully expected "No" to win, and I was just looking to see what percentage would vote "Yes". However, the fact that over thirty votes have been cast and those considering not going back is far and away the leader is quite surprising, although understandable.

Right folks, I've added a poll. Toyed with the idea of having a number of choices like "Won't be back" or "Will only be back if serious changes are made" etc, but thought I'd keep it simple with a basic "If a newco was voted into the SPL would you consider turning your back on SPL football?" emphasis on the word 'consider'. As we don't know the ins and outs regarding what would happen, considering it is all we can really do. So I suppose if it would depend on what changes were made, you would be considering not going back. Whereas if you know you'd continue to turn up regardless, then obviously it's not something you'd consider.