Jay

Jesus Christ. It has absolutely nothing to do "opinions that go against mine" or "not allowing free speech" - quite clearly in fact. There is a full scale debate on the Rangers thread about this that anyone can post up there views and participate. However, as it was quite blatantly made clear, this was a thread set up to see if there really were a large number of 'Well fans considering chucking it should a newco be voted in. It is actually possible to have such threads without folk starting to greet that it doesn't allow free speech. It's like someone posting a thread up with the sole purpose of gauging how many folk are intending on travelling to our first European away game next season, and others whinging that it denies them the right to discuss the away game on that particular thread, when there's a match thread already on the go. To suggest it's some sort of attempt to deny folk posting opposite opinions or set a dangerous precedent regarding the denial of free speech is absolutely laughable. It seems some folk are just too busy foaming at the mouth at perceived free speech injustices to actually think about it. I've added a bit extra to the original post in the hope it clears up any difficulties with understanding what this thread is actually about. I'll just add a poll though to save the hassle.

Belter. Mon the Hayes & Yeating!

I don't think anyone has suggested that they expect Motherwell not to vote Rangers back into the league, just that they will personally have no interest in continuing to be involved in SPL football. I have no doubt Motherwell would have their reasons, but that makes absolutely no difference to the fact I would have absolutely no enthusiasm for the SPL if it occured and would therefore have no interest in going back.

Right, thought this was worth a thread of its own. If the powers at be are floating about the forum or if folk bring it up with the club, it would be good to have a thread full of folk speaking their mind, rather than opinions about this very real issue being lost on the Rangers thread. We all know liquidation is far from being a certainty. However, if it does occur, there is absolutely no chance of knowing just how quick this new company will pop up and the media start stirring up the campaign to have them invited straight back in. Rather than being caught out at the last minute, I thought it might be worth speaking our minds whilst there's still time - I'm not saying the club will listen, but at least they'll be able to weigh up the differences between pandering to Rangers and losing a number of lifelong supporters. So aye, batter in any thoughts, messages to the club, or just register your intention to have nothing to do with the SPL if a newco simply stoats straight back into the SPL after years of cheating. I'll start by being a lazy bastard and copying and pasting my message from the Rangers thread: Incidentally, if folk are perfectly happy to let Rangers straight back in without question then fair enough, but there's really no need to post about it here. For those of you who think this is some sort of denial of free speech, get a grip. It's quite clearly a thread set up merely to have a proper gauge regarding how many 'Well fans would chuck going to Fir Park if a newco was voted in. Perfectly single and easily understandable. If you want to debate the subject, join the debate on the Rangers thread.

I would be bitterly disappointed if this wasn't the case.

Fir Park tannoy announcer guy, All will be forgiven if you belt out the Champions League theme after we beat Rangers on the 31st.* Cheers, Jay * - Assuming we're still looking alright for 2nd, and Rangers exist, and 'belting it out' won't cause the already shite sound system to explode. Disclaimer: Before folk start greeting, I am aware that in reality it would be a bit of a bad move given we could then spectacularly fail to finish 2nd or 3rd, but it would still be fucking hilarious at the time.

Of course sitting down hinders atmosphere. But that just ties into what I said about the singing section. For the semi-final, everyone knew that the singing section would revolve around the lads who create the atmosphere home and away, standing while they do so. The vast majority buying tickets for those two sections at Hampden did so knowing they'd likely be standing. The result? A cracking atmosphere, at least in those sections (obviously getting a great atmosphere throughout the 'Well end at the same time is difficult when you have big stupid gaps). However, in the final the singing section was five (I think) sections. This meant that there were plenty of people either buying tickets for a singing section knowing folk would want to stand but not having any intention of doing so themselves, or buying tickets for a singing section not knowing folk would want to stand. Either way, it completely ruined the atmosphere. Given our section was the only one that stood throughout the match, and every time I looked around there were small groups of people in other sections trying to get an atmosphere going but just being told to sit down and shut up, it's not hard to imagine that, had the singing section been reduced and involved the people actually interested in making an effort, the overall atmosphere would have been infinitely better. That said, the needless decision to make the singing section so big doesn't excuse a complete apathy in the 'Well end that day to actually create an atmosphere, sitting or standing. Easily the least enjoyable day of the entire cup run.

Agreed. It was obviously really disappointing that the players didn't really turn up. It was more disappointing IMO that the support barely bothered its arse either. That said, part of the problem was allocating five sections or something as the 'singing section'. If we do actually get to the final for a second year running, two sections (just like the semi-final) will suffice for the 'Well fans interested in singing, chanting and backing the team, and the rest of the 'Well support can sit down in silence without it completely destroying any flicker of an atmosphere.

2-1 Motherwell.

Agreed. I don't actually envisage any problems, though could be wrong. Pretty sure we were told the same thing earlier in the season, then it turned out it was just the home fans in that wee shed stand (where the racists live) that they were clamping down.

Another good Away Day in prospect, 10.16am train for us for potentially the last trip to East End Park for a few years. I also don't buy this shite that because we're Motherwell we should all be cautious and nervous as we're always handing out points to those who need them. Just because it's memorable the few times it happens and largely forgetable when we actually beat a shite mob, doesn't make it true. I fully expect a fairly straight forward victory tomorrow.

4-0. Higdon x2, Ojamaa, Murphy.

He'll be lucky if it was just a booking he got. I'd hope McCall booted his arse after the game for an embarrassing dive.

While I remember, if you're reading this and you were the older gentleman in his 50s/60s in the middle of the 'Well support, going absolutely tonto, foaming at the mouth and punching fuck out of your chair every time the referee made any decision (correct or incorrect) or every time a 'Well player misplaced a pass, you are an arsepiece.

It must be fucking boring when your team is sitting clear in 3rd and looking good for Champions League football, and yet you still don't dream or talk about it in case it doesn't actually happen. It's pretty much all we talked about before and after the game yesterday and even if it all goes tits up and we don't make it, I'd still rather have the excitable chats about how to get to deepest, darkest Russia for a Champions League match than reminding everyone else that it might not happen.

Dutch mob please.

He was.

Indeed, both McCall and Conroy were laughing at the time, it was nothing more than a joke. Anyway, pretty content with that overall. I've not seen the stats yet but I assume we had just as much of the ball as they did, we just missed that spark in terms of creating anything really of note. On another day we might have nicked a point, but generally I'm just happy we turned up, went 4-4-2, left both Higdon and Ojamaa up front for the majority of the game, and only really lost due to a momentary defensive lapse in concentration. Someone really needs to tell Ojamaa that if he's going to risk a booking by taking an absolutely awful dive, Celtic Park isn't the place to do it.

Went with Jenno, though I thought Law, Lasley and Hateley were all half decent.

Leaving shortly for a few beers in the Merchant City then the walk to Celtic Park. Sneaking a point today. 1-1.

Fair enough. I genuinely thought all that shite had gone as I can't remember the last time I saw a Union flag against Celtic. But if there's still wee arsepieces that go in for it, I stand corrected.

Why would there be Union Jacks?

In the spirit of those 'what I actually do' memes doing the rounds...

The thing is, it's one thing to sit and think "I think I'll play this absolutely ganting mash-up of the Proclaimers", but to sit and think "I think I'll this absolutely ganting mash-up of the Proclaimers against Hibernian" is another. I looked forward to the inevitable mash-ups of Tina Turner and Wolfe Tones for the Rangers and Celtic games respectively.

I think we can all agree now that anyone who still continues to give Higdon grief undoubtedly does so for reasons outwith football (or because they know the square root of fuck all about football).