MJC_MKI

. Or maybe Panathinaikos already knew that they were as good as through and didn't play at 100% in the second leg, while Dynamo Moscow knew they were in a game and so moved up a few gears and really went for it? I'm sorry but anybody who can't see that Dundee Utd's performance against Dynamo Moscow was better than our's against PAO is looking at this through Claret & Amber tinted spectacles. They DREW 2-2 with them last week, came to within seconds of beating them which would have been a superb result against what was clearly a better and stronger side, as last night's result proved. As I said last night, had we played Dynamo Moscow, we wouldn't have drawn with them at home, infact I doubt we'd even have scored.

I don't discount the 2nd leg, overall Dundee Utd were well beaten over the two games just like we were, but that only tells half the story. They went into their 2nd leg still in with a chance of going through, albeit a slim one given the two away goals they conceded. We on the other hand were dead and buried going into our second leg and at no point looked like giving Panathinaikos a run for their money. That suggests to me that Dundee Utd gave a better account of themselves than we did. And Panathinaikos were not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination. They were good and probably would get past most SPL sides outwith Celtic but as I've said, had they come up against someone like Utd then they would have been run closer than they were against us. All just my opinion of course but I've seen Dundee Utd and others give the likes of Rangers a fair game of it and even beating them on a good few occasions in recent years all while we've meekly rolled over and made them look a far better side than they actually were. As I said above, I predict that Panathinaikos won't qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.

Ssshhh that won't sit well with some folk on here....

That smacks of clutching at straws. The fact is that in European competition, which both ourselves and Dundee Utd were involved, Dundee Utd gave a far better account of themselves than we did. Panathinaikos were not brilliant, but they didn't have to be and I'd wager that they won't get past the next round of qualifiers...

Oh aye sorry, I must just have completely imagined that Dundee Utd drew 2-2 last week and came within seconds of beating Dynamo Moscow. I stand chastened and rebuked.

First and foremost, I didn't say that they WOULD beat PAO, just that I thought that they would have given them a better game of it than we did. They lost heavily tonight, yes, but may I remind you that they drew 2-2 with them last week and would, but for a last minute goal have beaten them on the night. That suggests to me that they gave a better account against their Euro opponents than we did against our's. Had we played Dynamo Moscow we wouldn't have even scored against them, never mind come to within seconds of beating them in the 1st leg.

In a testimonial match that meant nothing yes. Do you seriously think that Everton were playing at anywhere near the level they would have done had it been a competitive match? If you think that you can draw comparisons between a meaningless pre season match and a competitive game to fuel your arguement then you are clutching st straws for dear life.

Not a chance you say? Oh well by that logic then surely there was not a chance that either of those sides - and a good few more in the SPL - would have got any sort of result against Celtic and Rangers in recent times when we meekly rolled over against them? No???? Panathinaikos were better than we were, of that there was no doubt, but we didn't at any times look as though we believed we could give them, just like we did in any recent game against any 'better' side. I stand by what I said completely where I said that I think other clubs such as Dundee Utd or Hearts etc would have given Panathinaikos a much better game than we did. They would have done, as their recent record against Celtic & Rangers compared with our's completely supports.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with that. Whilst Panathinaikos are clearly a better side than us, it was disappointing that we never really ran them close over the two legs and at no point did we look like we believed we could beat them. The same could be said for just about every game we've played against Celtic or Rangers in the last two years. Whenever we come up against a side who are technically better than us, we just fold. Firstly we don't appear to believe in ourselves that we can get a result against them and we then proceed to make the same basic mistakes to gift them the game. Maybe we just aren't streetwise enough to give 'better' teams a serious run for their money but it's extremely frustrating watching sides who aren't by any stretch of the imagination world beaters take care of us with relative ease. Panathinaikos were not any better than any Celtic or Rangers side we've faced in recent times and yet while other SPL sides have been able to get results against those two and at the very least give them a game of it, we've never been able to. Dare I say it, had that been Dundee Utd or Hearts playing Panathinaikos, I think they would have ran them a whole lot closer than we did and might even have beaten them.

At the end of the day, we've been beaten by a far better side in the Champions League. For a club the size of ours there is no shame in that, it was always likely. We gave a decent account of ourselves against them last week at Fir Park and although the tie was over, did likewise in the first 45 last night before they managed to overpower us. Our priority is and always has been how we fair on the domestic front and we have to hope that we can get back into our stride on Saturday against St.Johnstone. Onwards and upwards...and we've even got another European tie to look forward to.

1-0 St.Johnstone.... our shortcomings up front to be all too evident again.

Well if that's the case then I catch loads when I go 'fishing'. I should do it professionally.

I like Hugh Keevins. He may have a very negative outlook on the Scottish game but he says what he thinks and doesn't hide behind cliches and I very often find myself in total agreement with him, as I do right now with his belief that Scottish football is in dire straights. Hugh Keevins is only interested in two clubs though, but he does not and never has tried to pretend otherwise unlike some other hacks and while his points of view often have something of a sensationalist element to them they are usually more or less on the mark. That's why I have a lot of respect for him and love listening to the Clyde 1 phone in when he's on because it's amusing hearing all the nuggets moaning at him for not trying to make out all is rosy in the gardens

2-2 Murphy & Hateley scoring.

The coverage our club has received from the broadcasters in this country has always been pitiful but even for the Scottish media this is a new low. Motherwell playing qualifying fixture for the premier European competition for the first time in it's history and they blank it. Shouldn't really come as a surprise though and nor should it be a surprise that they've covered Dundee Utd in the Europa League two nights later because unfortunately, we are an unfashionable club in the eyes of the media whilst Dundee Utd are seen as part of the fabric of Scottish Football, so it's a no brainer in their eyes. It really is disgraceful, especially considering we're entering a potentially difficult season for Scottish Football. You'd think they'd afford some level of coverage to all it's European representatives, but apparantely not. Shocking.

Talk like this infuriates me. I assume you're referring to 'One Step Beyond' aye? The name of a popular Motherwell FC fanzine for many a year? So had we to avoid playing such tunes over the tannoy because Rangers also used them thus making us look like h**s without the busfare in they eyes of the Celtic fans, who's opinions of us many Motherwell fans seem to value so highly going by some of the talk on here? I remember folk greetin about us playing OSB after we'd scored in the Queen's Park cup tie last season because it was, to quote them 'Rangers shite'. Well, why was it 'Rangers shite'???? It wasn't and isn't a Rangers song and they certainly had no claim to it, it's just they also happened to use it for their goal celebrations at Hampden a couple of seasons back against us, so because of that, some of our fans automatically assosciate it with them and we must steer well clear of it. I really wish Motherwell fans would grow a pair and forget Rangers and Celtic and what their fans may or may not think of us. We are our own club, so can we not just stand up and be ourselves and not let other clubs influence us? One Step Beyond would actually be a very good choice to be played over the tannoys at Fir Park, for obvious reasons and if our DJ refused to or stopped playing it because it was seen as 'a Rangers song' then fucking shame on him/her. What happened to 'We are Motherwell, everyone else is a c4nt?' I really wish some of our fans would listen to their own advice. Fuck Celtic, fuck Rangers and fuck what anyone else thinks about us.

Whilst we're on the subject of what gets aired over the tannoy, we should bring back the bugle we used to play when we got corners, that was brilliant and the crowd loved it.

Stevie Woods.

I wish they would play that Scooter song 'Maria I like it loud' before every game as it always got the crowd going whenever they played a few seasons ago. Always reminds me of Gannon's early days. The current 'playlist' is truly woeful and even more cringeworthy than when we used to play 'Your Home Town' before kick off during John Boyle's first season in charge of the club.

While we're moaning, the tannoys are still largely inaudible as well, and for the love of Christ will someone at the club have a word with the DJ about those fucking mash ups! Cringeworthy stuff.

Fair point.

Disappointing to hear, especially as it will cost the club a fair bit to repair them. As for folk sitting in other's seats last night, there seemed to be a fair bit of that at the bottom of the East Stand from what I could see. Saw a few heated debates going on early in the game and a lot of folk ended up just standing in the aisles or up the back.

He was excellent aswell, as was Higdon who put in a superb shift.

Keith Lasley was the best player in C&A tonight, a superb display.