MJC_MKI

It was always going to be one of those games where we simply had to get in front if we were to stand any chance. As it was we were second best in the first half where we created nothing and never looked like scoring whilst Randolph kept us in it with two outstanding saves. As soon as they got their noses in front that was the game over and they knew it, as that is how they had set up from the off, to nullify us and nick one at the other end, which they duly did thanks to some more predicable and shoddy defending. Right from the off tonight it was clear that we had no idea how to break them down and we produced our usual aimless fannying about around the box whilst going nowhere, whilst always looking likely to concede at the other end which we inevitably did. We are so predicable and ineffective it's unreal and we make the same basic mistakes time and time again under Mr McCall's watch. I will not be sorry to see him and several of our current 'stars' leave Fir Park as the only way we are going with them is backwards.

Season over as far as I'm concerned. Couldn't care less if we qualify for Europe or not, as that is a level way beyond our reach and with this current crop and manager there is no point even playing 'big' games.

And we also have one shite manager who is tactically inept and can't motivate the team when it matters most.

Half time 0-0 and we've got Randolph to thank for keeping us alive. Two superb saves so far. Afraid we just don't look like scoring tonight.

Cos I'm a supporter.

Absolutely dreading this tonight. If we are to have any chance then we simply must score the first goal because if we have to chase the game they will shut us down and we will have no answer to it. Our midfield and defence will also have to be at the very top of their game if we are to avoid trudging out of the ground with the muffled tones of Chumbawumba ringing in our ears.

They are no more or no less relevant or interesting, but I've as much right to bring them up as anyone who brings up stats which are more positive in our favour. At the end of the day though neither form of statistics will make one jot of difference to tomorrow nights game.

Well let's hope so because I desperately want us to progress in the Cup and it will be absolutely gutting if we don't. The Scottish Cup is a great competition and always adds that extra bit of excitement every year as you hope that this will be our year and dream of reaching Hampden and seeing us lifting the Cup. Once you're knocked out then all that excitement disappears and a bit of apathy sets in. I know some others disagree but winning the cup would, for me at least, be the greatest achievement for us and it would piss all over playing a European qualifier which we have little to no chance of getting through. I think this year, with the potential for Celtic to be distracted by their Champions League campaign and with Rangers unlikely to get anywhere near the latter stages, provides perhaps a very good chance for the other clubs of winning it, so it's vital that we can stay in the mix as long as possible.

All statistics are essentially useless in determining how a particular game will pan out, but they are still there and daresay it, still interesting to many folk. Like it or not, these particular 'stats' are relevant to this thread, which is of course about a Motherwell v. Aberdeen cup game tomorrow. They might not have a material effect on tomorrow's game, but they are still interesting to note.

Aberdeen have been masters of late goals, particularly in cup games since Brown went there and they usually go on and win the tie in the replay/extra time once they've snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat, the recent St.Mirren game in the league cup being the exception. Another worrying trend for us ahead of tomorrow. Edit to add; They have actually scored game changing last minute goals in cup games on an incredible SEVEN occasions during Craig Brown's time there.

Was looking on soccerbase there and apparently we haven't beaten Aberdeen at Fir Park in the Scottish Cup since 1958. Obviously we've won at Pittodrie a couple of times, '91 being the most recent but we've got to buck that trend of home defeats against then in this competition if we are to be at Easter Road in February.

The very thought of us in a penalty shoot out does 't bear thinking about. Our penalty conversion rate over the past three or so years is abysmal.

This is our biggest game of the season so far, because lose this and the second half of the season will be filled with increased apathy with us out of the domestic Cups and before the festive season has even set in. Unfortunately, I can't see us do anything other than losing this game. Aberdeen have, with the exception of a few recent matches, played some very good stuff away from home whilst we, with the exception of Saturday, have struggled badly in home games. Also, they will know how to nullify us and will set up to stop us playing whilst using their physical advantage on the break, which will work a treat for them. Also, our record against SPL sides in Cup competitions is poor and our last minute concession last weekend will give them far more confidence than it will us and for the second season in a row, Aberdeen will come to Fir Park and dump us out of the Cup. It might well take extra time, but we are going out of the Cup this Tuesday (barring a postponement or abandonement) 1-0 Aberdeen, possibly after extra time.

Graeme Smith had his good games for us, to say otherwise would be wrong. However over the piece he was a poor goalkeeper who made the same type of errors on a regular basis and that resulted in many goals being lost. Yes you can rightly raise the saves he pulled off against Nancy away, especially his penalty save and some good saves in some important games in the season before. However, he was always prone to costing us a few goals due to his inability to deal with cross balls and indeed did so on more than a few occasions. You always had the fear whenever the opposition put a cross into our box when he was in goal because he could rarely, if ever, deal with it properly.

Fair do's, I missed that one. But my point about Buzz, the goalkeeper, I stand by completely.

Graeme Smith was a liability as a goalkeeper for us. He occasionally pulled off some good point black saves but his ability to deal with crosses was abysmal and we lost countless goals due to him completely shitting it from crossballs with attackers challenging him in the air. I'd only put him behind Stevie Woods in the category of 'Worst Motherwell goalkeeper in the last two decades" due to the fact that he wasn't with us half as long as Woods was.

Great result and badly needed. Hopefully we can take a bit of confidence from that into Tuesday night.

3-1 to us. Can see Murphy getting a couple with HIgdon or Ojamaa getting the other.

In fairness to him it was four going on ten that day. He did extremely well to limit them to four goals.

Both. There is a difference between 'struggling' against certain opposition and never beating them, as you seem to be implying that I say on here. We do struggle against SPL opposition in the Cup, as Aberdeen last season, Kilmarnock, St.Mirren, Celtic, Dundee Utd over the years have shown, we also struggle against lower league opposition aswell, St.Mirren, St.Johnstone, Dumbarton Inverness (twice), & Dundee when they were in the first division. At no point did I say that we never win any of these games. Anyway, that's all I'm going to say on the matter in this thread because I don't want to take it off topic.

I'm sorry I don't see what stats I used actually back up a Motherwell win. Anyway you're right in saying there is no need to use stats, because at the end of the day stats don't win or lose games for you. I think we'll go out in this round, most likely with a defeat tomorrow but even if we got a replay at Fir Park, I still think they'd beat us because I just don't see us progressing through this tie. So there you have it.

I didn't say I think we're going to lose every game, I don't think that. I was talking about tomorrow's game in isolation. I would agree with us being about 50/50 in these types of games on paper at least, but I just don't fancy us tomorrow because as I've said, we tend to struggle in these types of games against SPL sides, particularly in the early rounds of the Cups, and also Aberdeen are a good, solid side and I just fancy them to get the better of us tomorrow. It's a guess I'm making, same as anyone else making predictions on this thread but my guess is no more or less valid than anyone who predicts us to go up there and win. And yes, we got to the final two years ago, beating SPL sides on the way, but that was the exception, rather than the rule and history fully supports that view.

The positive stats pointed to a Motherwell win in last season's Quarter Final with Aberdeen aswell and look how that turned out. Maybe it's just the pessimist in me but whenever we draw an SPL side in the Cup, particularly at this round and particularly one that has been playing well this season then I just can't see past a defeat. Hopefully we'll get through this one because I love the Cup competitions and want to see us going all the way and winning it more than anything, but this draw is an absolute stinker for us and I reckon we'll be going into the second half of the season already out of four cups and with the excitement of the Scottish Cup already gone.

Oh no Stiples, you can never keep a good man down, or so they say.