Andy_P

Might Daley's selection on Saturday ahead of Higginbotham simply be down to him being more suited to the right-hand side of the park? I haven't seen enough of KH to say whether he's comfortable there or not but he has generally been played on the left in his time so far. As for Daley's time at Motherwell. It has evidently been largely unfulfilling. Far from the speedster that could tan Usain Bolt's arse for me he has often done little to dissuade the notion that he couldn't give a toss as he casually floats through games. That he got just shy of a two year deal to do that is certainly one of the few black marks that could be levied against McCall and I do wonder if perhaps Steven Lawless, who I really liked the look of, might still be at Fir Park if he'd been the beneficiary of the game time Daley received last season. In fairness though I do think its perhaps recollecting that at the time he came he fitted the bill on several counts in that he seemingly was able to offer cover on both flanks and centrally up front if required also. To an extent you could argue that's exactly what he's done, though to what effect is a different matter. He's never really started a run of games and has always been down the pecking order. Perhaps that's reflected in his performances. Either way he's surely going to be on his way in the summer and I doubt too many tears will be shed.

I'll be honest, as long as we're there I'm not overly fussed. There are obviously teams against whom we have better records than others but I'm happy enough that we take care of ourselves, get our top six place sorted and see what we have to deal with after that. I think the league is so tight and unpredictable that its something of a tall order trying to predict the outcomes the remaining SPL fixtures. Just take care of our business and leave the rest to worry about it.

I shall make it my mission for the week!

Your thoughts and votes please...

If we're doing the lookalike thing I'm definitely seeing more Barry McGuigan rather than Gary McAllister myself.

Cheers for posting. I'm particularly pleased to see the reference in there to Craig Levein as it was one of the things that came to mind last night after the dust settled. Given how McFadden's game had clearly changed from the free attacking role he had with us in his youth to a more rounded role down in England his remarks after that Scotland game seemed out of place from Levein. Looked even more stupid on last night's evidence. I think we got pretty much along the lines what he hoped for in an attacking sense from Faddy - though I await his first goal back in C&A with relish. But it was some of the other elements of his game - the leadership and ability to organise and cajole, the experience to identify weaknesses and opportunities and the tracking back that really pleased, particularly when he isn't fully fit yet. Very impressed with what I saw I last night indeed.

Indeed! I let out a hearty stream of abuse towards the telly when I saw that wee snippet. I haven't really paid too much attention to him recently but that carry on after they lost to Juventus and those comments illustrate that little has changed down Parkhead and being magnanimous in defeat is clearly a quality they continue to lack. Fuck him!

Enough

Your thoughts and votes please....

No danger would I start with the same team as Saturday if all are fit!!! Hateley at right-back and Hammell in at left-back for starters. It was 2-0 going on 10-0 in the first game of the season with ZFA at left-back, Cummins in central defence and Ramsden floating about in some nether world between defence and midfield. Thereafter McCall has some decisions to make. After a seriously iffy first 10 minutes at Parkhead as the team bedded into a slightly unfamiliar formation we did pretty well. We don't have Murphy this time but would he willing to sacrifice Higdon again for Higginbotham or perhaps McFadden? Will he continue with Carswell in the side or revert back to the Lasley-Law midfield duo? In terms of McFadden I might well be tempted to chuck him in. Expectation levels are likely to be as low as they possibly could be and if it does goes as many will fear, well at least he'll have 45/60/90 minutes behind him as he looks to gain match sharpness. And you never know his involvement might invoke the spirit of that joyous September evening in 2002!

Poor choice of wording indeed. A cards on the table - this is what it could potentially cost us - style statement similar to the type they put out to attempt dissuade folk from the end of season pitch invasion might I suspect have generated more understanding. Instead I suspect such terms will remain locked in the memories of some of the people the club will be looking to fork out annual subs for Well Society memberships in a few weeks times. I'm sure the irony also won't be lost in talking about off the field incidents being embarassing after a 3-0 defeat on it.

Finding some of the attempts to place culpability on the shoulders of McFadden for the previous two losses to be highly speculative of at best. Some fearful of losing their places? I could suggest that privately some of the squad might have been utterly delighted that he signed considering there may be some extra win bonuses he might help them to before the end of the season. Some will down tools and think its 2002 again because he'll single handedly save the day? Again I could suggest that some will be delighted he's here given the additional exposure the club will receive knowing how he's playing to win a deal elsewhere - and if they can turn it on themselves in front of those watching eyes then that's not going to do their chances of a move any harm. They are ofcourse as equally speculative but as equally feasible. The facts is that at this stage in neither of the two games he has featured in have we played anything like we can do and in both cases have been behind before he has even set foot on the park. No more, no less.

As much as I know Graham was a contributor to the GLF fanzine before eventually becoming editor for a period. In common with many of the same, that saw him appear occasionally on the likes of Off the Ball and take on more official duties by getting involved with the programme which he would again later be editor. From memory I might have recalled him mentioning covering games for papers in his articles though in what capacity and to what extent I''ve no idea. Certainly as Finlay says he's contributed heavily to Motherwell written media for a number of years. Does that qualify as sufficient for the commentary gig on MFC TV? I suppose that's for the listener to decide. Personally I hate listening to first team games on the radio for many of the reasons listed. Heart attack inducing shrieks from commentators and the likes leading you to fear you've conceded only to discover it's a free-kick at the halfway line etc. Much prefer the combination of Twitter and Jeff if I can't be there so have never ventured near MFC TV on match day. I must admit I have enjoyed the occasional reserve broadcast with the generally easygoing chat taking place but then that ofcourse is a different animal from a vital first team encounter.

Your thoughts and votes please....

I'm anticipating a tricky one but we certainly have it within us to get the three points. I don't know if I'd be too upset if we came back down the road with a point but with the league as tight as it is, even if it is away from home three has to the be target to keep our noses in front in second, and ease away from as many of the pack as possible.

Your thoughts and votes please....

Not the worst Motherwell performance I've seen by long chalk but seriously lacking in cutting edge tonight. Quite a strange game. I would think we must have had upwards of 60% possession throughout the game but we've had about one effort that's come off the bar to show for it, whereas United were defending in their half for the bulk of it, but have scored, seen Randolph make three sensational saves and have had three cleared off the line. I don't think we did enough to win, but I'd say we would have been worthy of a point had we managed to force one home. Thought we had started really brightly too. Lots of creativity, hemming them in their own box and forcing them into mistakes. But as soon they had their first break away they quickly cottoned on we were there for the taking and they cut through us several times thereafter. Great to see Faddy back. I don't know much of that was down to adrenalin tonight but on the brief appearance there's more than enough to suggest he's going to be a real asset to us when he fully gets going. But that apart a really disappointing night, with an excellent opportunity passed up and further compounded by St Johnstone taking an unexpected point against Celtic. Wee bit more pressure on us now to try to get something in Dingwall I think.

A cracking three points. Was slightly apprehensive before the game but it turned out to be surprisingly comfortable in the end. And a clean sheet!!!!!! Quite an even first half for most of it, but thought we'd just about done enough to merit being ahead at the break. Interesting to see the first goal on Alba. From the East Stand it looked like Ojamaa had made a complete arse of his shot and that fortunately Higdon had followed it through. Seeing it again it actually looks like he's deliberately set him up. Not convinced but what the hell, it gave us the lead!! I thought the second half display was excellent. We had a couple of wee things that went our way, Ross firing over early after the re-start and they seemed to think they had a shout for a penalty but for the most part it was a really professional performance from us during the second forty-five. I did wonder at points during the second half how much our experiences of recent seasons will benefit us in the run-in. Obviously Inverness have hit a bit of a sticky spell but you looked at them and us and today and there was an assuredness, a know-how and confidence about us that just wasn't there in the Caley side. Vital week but we couldn't have started it any better.

Your thoughts and votes please......

It gives his critics an easy stick to beat McCall with if results don't happen to go our way around one of the spells he might be away, that's for sure. I'd say the people best placed to make the decision are those who employ him and know what the extent of his involvement is, alongside that of his coaching staff, on a daily basis on the training ground. And since they've given him their full backing - as they have with the likes of Black and Malpas for example in the past with Scotland, then I've no reason to doubt their decision. You could argue that having Randolph and Ojamaa away on international duty may have more impact on our ability to prepare for the next fixture than McCall.

I suppose its one of these each to their own things isn't it? And that's only going to be clouded further by other variables like the timing of the sending off, the scoreline, was it justified, has the ref been conned etc. I mean I can understand why some fellow fans feel Lasley let the team down with his sending off being club captain, senior pro at the club and all didn't applaud. But by the same token, I can understand why some fellow fans, given Lasley was up there for candidate for man of the match, before his indiscretion would want to have marked that endeavour up until that point. But not really an issue worth getting too hot up about I suppose. Right or wrong, just shout at the bastard in the black who sent them off

Had it been away from home you might argue that would have been an almost perfect away game display from Killie. Sneak an early goal, get hemmed in your own box for next three quarters of an hour, break up the park and pop in a second completely against the run of play then sit back and smirk as your opponents spontaneously combust! It was as slow start as might be expected with the lay-off and whilst Killie had strongly there was obviously a huge amount of fortune in their goal. Good response though and we went on to completely dominate. Only some backs-to-the-wall defending, poor finishing and further misfortune prevented us going in at least level. Not so fluent in the second half. Wrong choices made in the final third of the park in particular blunted our effectiveness but still a kick in the baws to go 2-0 down. Fair play to Killie with the second though, a perfectly constructed and executed counter. McCall went for it but you just never felt a Hibs or Killie style comeback was ever going to happen. Liked the look of Higginbotham when he got on the ball but at times it almost felt like there were too many options up front and nobody quite knew what was the best method of using them to take the game to Killie. The Kerr sending off killed it completely. Miles late and no complaints with it. Lasley's I'll need to see again. First reaction was that it should have been a yellow - and I began bemoaning the fact that his earlier booking was unfortunate - so it was a little surprising to see a straight red produced. McCall seemed to suggest it was fully merited after the game though so there's every chance I'm off the mark. So a frustrating one all in all. Certainly felt we deserved better and an opportunity lost perhaps with ICT losing. Next week is going to be a big one and won't made any easier with the loss of Lasley.

Your thoughts and votes please.....

And this is something which doesn't appear to have been considered, or at least mentioned with regard to the 8/8/8 team split - particularly the middle relegation/promotion fighting eight. It was a regularly made claim of the era that you and Lip69 refer that youth development was seriously stunted because of that fear factor, where managers would go almost always go with experience over youth. What you will gain competitively to get your TV money I think will surely have a negative impact on young players coming through where there is no safe middle ground to throw in a couple of laddies. What chance are young players going to have to dip their toes in the water when 4 out of 8 teams for example are fighting against life in "Division One" (Championship my fucking arse!) the next season?

Cheers Sir. That would *appear* to be a move in the right direction, although ofcourse it remains to be seen what will be viewed as protected.