Andy_P

Presumably changes in the voting structure amongst this proposed package of measures? I could well have missed it if it has been specifically mentioned. Any detail from yesterday as to what these changes would entail and how they might affect future changes. I ask as I note from those who were there yesterday that the club said individual clubs have scuppered individual motions in the past - such as league reconstruction. At the same time it's been mentioned part of these raft of changes are designed to cut the gap between SPL and SFL clubs and to begin the steps to move towards a bigger league. I just wonder how smooth the path is being made for that to happen, however many years down the line that may be.

I don't believe the game is finished. But I do believe that it's going to be a different animal in say 10-15 years time from what it is now. Someone mentioned, in another thread I think, about how the English leagues work. For me the worst possible comparison you can make is with the English leagues. You are simply not comparing like for like. Our top flight, since the establishment of the SPL has been driven trying to follow the same money chasing model of the English Premier League and we've suffered enormously for it. We had Celtic and Rangers, who spent big on a ego trip so that they might continue to feel the equals of English sides and as clubs we all did the same to try to compete with the Old Firm. Throw in expensive and costly rules like having to have 10,000 seats and undersoil heating in place as well as the wages that were required to fund this attempt to keep up the with Joneses idea and we're all financially reaping what we've sown. Hell fucking mend us all! But. I do think over time there will be a shift back to something more akin to days pre-Sounness and pre-SPL where we become less reliant on TV money, and are generally more financially prudent as clubs. I think we'll be pushed even further to the margins as the English game continues to get more and more airtime on the likes of SKY be that through live games, as live or highlights packages and TV deals that do come our way will continue to be scaled back in revenue. Clubs are already seen to scale back on what they are offering players, cutting squad sizes and trying to go with more youngsters too. In time there will be a more realistic balance. There are also some glimmers of hope in talk of relaxing standing regulations, considering things like having a beer at the game etc. that will make attending a game a bit more enjoyable than perhaps it can be at times now. It will require bold thinking, more fan input on boardrooms and the removal of people like Doncaster for whom their whole raison d'être in Scottish football is that fix of TV money. We need to look beyond that. But if we can slowly edge to the point where clubs don't feel they have to overcharge at the gate and can offer realistic admission prices, offer supporters a choice of standing or sitting, the opportunity to have a beer if they wish all whilst watching a team whilst of not perhaps the standing of former years but one made up heavily of aspirational young Scots and I think the game will certainly have a future.

He had a pretty successful time with us. Ten before the turn of the year is generally a healthy return for a Motherwell striker. I wouldn't say he fully endeared himself to Motherwell fans the way Ruddy and Jutkiewicz perhaps did - although ofcourse he was only here for six months - so whilst its interesting watching how his career goes, I don't hold quite the same desire for him to succeed as perhaps the aforementioned duo. But let's take what we can from it. When we go looking at youngsters from England we should point to the examples of Ruddy, Blackman and hopefully Jutkiewicz in due course and scream to all who'll listen about the part we've played in development in these guys and how Fir Park is the place to send your emerging talent to on loan.

Should be relatively easy to sort out now. Plenty of places will do you canvas prints if you can supply them with an image of appropriate quality. I still have it mind to get an image done of the card display at Hampden at the Celtic Cup Final the other year. Got a quote from the print/copy place in the Quadrant in smelly Coatbridge but haven't as yet followed it up. Price will obviously be dependent upon what size you have in mind. EDIT: And if you don't fancy that I'm pretty sure the club shop already stock a couple.

I quite like the break and thought they got the timing of it just about right coming as it did after the first game of the New Year. What I do think they need to look at is how they package it. It perhaps may sound trivial but think the league need to make a clear distinction that it's a mid-season break and not a winter break. Call it a winter break and it gives the impression they are somehow trying to dodge the worst of the winter. All that does is leave themselves open to criticism and mirth of exactly the kind kmmfc has posted. And for that matter its spot on, you simply can't pinpoint when the worst of the weather will be. If however you can sell it to people as being an opportunity for supporters to give their wallet a rest for a couple of weeks after the expensive Christmas period that's just passed, for pitches to be worked on and clubs spared the costs of running undersoil heating for two weeks of the winter, for players to recover from niggly injuries they may be carrying or to re-charge their batteries in preparation for the latter part of the season and give clubs the opportunity if they have the means and the desire to go to warmer climes for training camps, then it might be perceived differently. In terms of tonight, not overly disappointed at the postponement I have to be honest. With a few variables in there like whether Randy would play? How Utd might react post-Houston and pre-MacNamara and the potential for some wind assisted freakery or an early resignation that none of them want to take a chance and they all settle for 0-0 early on (like the 0-0 played out in the midst of another gale force wind last season), then all things considered I can live with the call off tonight. Was also pleased to get wind early enough that I didn't buy a train ticket or board a train to Motherwell from the town and was able to get home with no extra expense incurred.

To me the whole thing seems to be pinned on the hope that there will be "meaningful" games that will prove attractive to TV companies. That's it really. The rest is simply a means to that end.

I've no idea how the Houston departure will impact on things. You could list plenty examples where the departure of a manager has galvanised a squad and they've come up with results out of nowhere - and you couldn't even say United's results have been that bad. And equally there will be many examples of teams who haven't done so well under a caretaker manager. I do agree with the Brazilian though that a fast start is now even more important so that we might capitalise on anyone in their side who is feeling a bit sorry forn themselves or who thinks they might be able to coast through for a game or two until a permanent apppointment is made.

I've read the implication a couple of times that Murphy was "forced out" but I don't believe that was the situation at all. I'm far more of a belief that it was a conclusion reached that was beneficial to and agreed by both player and club. But yeah as much as its a worry at the prospect of players moving on from a financial aspect it is an opportunity for the club with so many out of contract. From a punters point of view clearly there's a balance to be struck between the club being secure and having as good a team as we can possibly afford on the park. It seems likely, as was hinted at last summer with Lasley and Hammell, that offers aren't going to be on par with what players have been on previously. We can only hope that if McCall is keen to keep them that they've built up enough affection for club and that a combination of our offer being good enough and other offers not so good that will want to stay on a bit longer.

I thought he was fairly neat and tidy between the halfway line and the edge of the box. but didn't really have much of an opportunity to impress when closer to goal. There was one attempt in the second where he attempted to turn at pace and get an effort in, but it went high, wide and handsome as they say.

Quite an afternoon with our finishing just giving us the edge of the piece. Thought again it helped that an opposition team came to try to win at Fir Park rather than just stop us and that allowed us to do what we are good at by breaking at them with pace. It also helped that defensively in the first half they were all over the shop and we managed to score just when they seemed like they were building a bit of momentum. Felt they had most of the game in the first half but some good defending and some timely blocks helped us go in those couple of goals to the good at the break Second half was along similar lines initially and when Higgy got his hat-trick I thought like most it was in the bag. Don't know how bad his injury is, hopefully the nine or ten days break will be sufficient for him to recover but it just seemed like the whole atmosphere changed. Odd really that the ground seemed to be engulfed in a cloud of apprehension given Hollis last action in the first team was to earn the win against Ross County, especially at 3-0 up but it was apparent nonetheless. Was it coincidence that Saints made two subbies at exactly the same time as Randy was going off? Good thinking on Lomas part if it was. Unfortunate for Hollis that his first two actions were to pick the ball out of the net. First unsure if he may have been able to put up more of a fist, the second he had no chance. And suddenly it was broon pants stuff thereafter. And what an escape injury time with that chance they skied at the back post. I'd have happily taken a narrow win before the game and still happy to get that after it, just a really nerve wracking way of getting there.

Your thoughts and votes please.....

zzzzz was it you said.....

zzzz nothing!! That was perfectly reasoned post set against your regular playground style - I like him so I'll find a reason to justify his inclusion and I don't like him so I'll find an excuse to leave him out, selections.

I still think there remains a value from a player that isn't always apparent in a transfer fee. I mean Aberdeen got £500k for Fyvie or United £400k for Allan but what exactly did their time with them amount to? How many games did they play for example? What did they achieve in their time with those clubs? What we may have lost out in a transfer fee from Murphy we most certainly gained on the park during his time with us in comparison to some of those listed.

Whoosh?

I don't know enough about KH to say what type of forward he is and where he can be best utilised certainly agree that McHugh should be due more of an extended run in the second part of the season. His occasional contributions from the bench such as against Aberdeen last season and St Johnstone earlier this year have shown he's always had the capacity to offer something but towards the turn of the year he seemed to be delivering on about as much of a consistent basis as you can, coming on from the bench. Certainly seems due a few starts over an extended period to see what can deliver over ninety minutes.

Possibly all that's required is a bit more clarity Denny. If when you state that you've emailed The Well Society I don't think it's unreasonable to have eyebrows raised a little when you then say you've had a reply from MFC's chief-exec. I mean did you email the Well Society but CC in Leeann? That being the case then it would make sense that she would reply. But given the Well Society has for the past few months had it's own board it would seem odd, if as it appears in your posts, that you've emailed the Well Society but had a reply from someone else just because they happened to be referred to in your email. Either way the insight from Leeann via your posts is certainly appreciated.

I thought it was one myself actually but just before I typed the post earlier I'd read the article on the BBC site about Butcher and Barnsley where it stated if ICT finished where they were they'd go into a Champions League Qualifier.

Too early to say with any certainty how it might pan out between now and the end of the campaign I think. For one thing you just don't know what shape the competition or ourselves will be in by the end of January by the time squads - and perhaps dugouts - have been looted by English raiders. And even then, how many times has the pre-season prediction thread been full of stories of impending doom because we've lost such and such or the competition have signed this, that and the other. Every season? When McCall arrived our squad has been able to absorb the loss of Reynolds and Blackman (who I don't think was a boot in the baws off Murphy's tally thus far this season) and went on to make a Cup Final and a top half place. This summer again we've managed to adapt to life without Craigan, Clancy and Jennings all in one go and yet still managed to nestle snuggly a couple of goals off a Champions League place by the turn of the year. It remains a concern as to how many you can lose before things to suffer but I think you have to credit the adaptability and resourcefulness of the squad in being able to keep doing what they've been doing and I'm sure that'll be much the same post-Murph. Enough to finish second? That I can't say, but you simply can't dimiss it at this stage.

It's the first I've heard of any niggles concerning ZFA though in the eighteen months or so he's been with the club, that's not to say there isn't any truth to what you say. But two things spring to mind. How did he pass a medical at Fir Park and the tale of Chris Porter, a player whom Oldham fans had plenty to say about his alleged fitness, or lack of, and we managed to a get a return of something like £400,000 for. Suppose time will tell.

I think its fairly obvious the sentiment Ojamaa was getting at. You can maybe pull him up on his exact choice of words but surely its fairly evident what he means no?

I thought in the opening ten minutes we could have been three or four down easily. Hospitality junket or otherwise it was bloody uncomfortable viewing wherever you happened to be sat. In the remaining eighty odd minutes though we were as comfortable and composed as you could ever hope for at Parkhead. We were well organised. Defended well. Sprayed the ball out nicely and took the game to them when we could. The penalty though was an absolute sickener. Not that it was the worst in the world you'll ever see - seemed like a good save from Roger Ramjet from our vantage point but what it did do was suddenly give an edge to a game that was sleepwalking its way to a nil-nil that would have been most welcome. At a stroke it gave the great unwashed a perceived injustice to latch on to and brought an impetus to their team and fans that had been missing since early in the game. To concede so soon after missing the spot then just rubbed salt into the wounds. It was as painful as it seemed inevitable. Yet it said much that we still had chances to level after that and that those who hadn't scarpered off around us where screaming for Celtic to take the ball into the corners to waste a bit of time. We had them rattled. Just a great pity we couldn't take advantage of the opportunity that was presented to us. I don't know what McCall said pre or post match but he had them pretty well set up today and it wasn't any inferiority complex or negativity or lack of belief that cost us today. Massive strides forward on the Motherwell team that were taken to pieces by Celtic earlier in the season. That penalty. If it had have gone in!, Fifteen minutes left, a goal up? We'll never know sadly. A sore one for the players to reflect over, over the next couple of weeks before they can attempt to get it out of their system.

Your thoughts and votes please folks....

I think the only surprise here is that is that Page was allowed to go with six months still left on his deal. It was fairly apparent that McCall didn't particularly rate him, hence the loan to Accies despite the fact we appeared light at the back. I had head stories that even a year ago the player was desperate to go out on loan just to play football but that McCall was reluctant to let him go so when he bowed to that it seemed sort of inevitable that his time at Motherwell was coming to a close. I think there may be a player there. I think it may well tell take a Craigan like spell in the lower leagues for him to build himself up into a player with sufficient ability and perhaps just as importantly confidence in his own ability to succeed in the SPL. Not sure we've quite had the time and the circumstance to afford him that space to do that in recent times at Fir Park.

Sometimes I think the short-termism that is prevalent amongst many football fans, and not just Motherwell fans, means some won't truly appreciate these times until further down the line. It may be it will take some much rougher seas for some to look back and think, you know those days weren't too bad at all. Obviously I hope the good times we've been enjoying roll on for much longer yet ofcourse!! I occasionally wonder if its having suffered relegation or the experience of following a Motherwell team through back-to-back seasons in the First Division that leads to the exasperation we see now and again from some of the forum's more senior members when they see people screaming for the manager's head, or making claims that they won't be back, when we find ourselves sitting in 3rd place in the SPL but happen to have gone out the Cup to another SPL team. The flip side to that I suppose is that there will be plenty in our support who will only have known Motherwell as established top flight team and who in their relatively tender years in comparison may have grown to consider the Cup Finals, European football and top half finishes as more of a norm and view disappointments and setbacks in that different context. For me 2012 is up there with some of the very best of our club's recent short-medium term history. It's not uncommon for your average SPL team to have a good season - finish up near the top, get to or win a Cup final. But it takes a different gravy to be able to keep that momentum going over a period of years and this is what we've managed to do by and large for the last decade, give or take the odd blip. I think what makes it all the better this year is that with each passing summer we've been taking a deeper and deeper breath waiting for it to all unravel but somehow it has just kept rolling along and arguably got even better despite players moving on and budgets diminishing. I personally thought this year we were going to be on the slide with Craigan, Clancy and Jennings all going in the summer. It's a very finely balanced league and who knows what sort of squad we may be left with at the start of February but I would never have believed we would be sitting a goal or whatever it is off second going into 2013. There have been some awful results sure, but the overall consistency that the team has shown, illustrated by the 2nd highest SPL points total over the year, has been remarkable and a testament to the players and management of MFC.