Andy_P

Credit to you for acknowledging that Dazzer. I've been critical of you for what appears to be an overly negative view of those who are getting a start ahead of Humph so fair's fair. Currently we are looking settled and comfortable all across the side and with some good options for change on the bench too if required.

A discussion for another thread but UEFA's insistence that no games are played on the day of the Champions League is a disgrace. Champions League football is not the be all and end all no matter how much they attempt to condition people to think it is. Getting back on to the Cup I'm hoping we are going to have a level of pricing for the Aberdeen game reflecting the kick-off time and the fact its live on TV. The Hearts v St Mirren (Prices link) prices are pretty horrendous for PATG punters and I hope Motherwell, who to be fair always generally try to be reasonable, and more so Aberdeen don't get any similar ideas.

I thought that turned out to be pretty special today. We were comfortably the better side in the first half but felt that our goals actually came after Hearts best spell of the half. Nice to see Las pop it home, there were two or three similar situations where their keeper made a save or a defender got a block in so it was a relief that one of them went in. The second was significant as it came so quickly after the opener and gave them a mountain to climb. Beautiful cross and just enough of a change of direction from Jamie to loop it over their keeper. Was it at Easter Road he remarked on the rarity of his goals via his napper but that's a few now this season. The opportunity we passed up early in the 2nd half when their keeper saved from Ojamaa and Law put the rebound over had me slightly worried we might come to regret it, particularly when Las got his marching orders but in the end it didn't matter at all. I don't know whether we specifically train for playing with 10 men, or whether the players took confidence from the recent Dunfermline game but it never put us out of our stride at all and we looked as comfortable with 10 as we had done with the full compliment. The third I think will be one of my favourite goals of the season. From the effort and desire to win the ball back when it looked like Elliott was breaking clear, to Ojamaa whirling his way around about six players to Nicky Law's pinpoint finish it was fantastic. Beating Hearts is always great but in the context of the season, that was just outstanding today.

Your thoughts and votes please folks...

Much rests on this one tomorrow and it has something of the feel of a Cup tie for me - it's all about the result. A scintillating performance and result would be sweet. A scrappy undeserved narrow win after a blood and snotters kicking match would be just as welcome. Maybe easier said than done, but I'm hoping that the Champions League situation won't prove a distraction. A bit like having a lower league team at home in the Quarter Finals of the Cup and you're already thinking of your day out at Hampden, it would be all too easy to get caught up thinking about the possibilties that might lie in wait in that competition and lose focus on the matter in hand. First things first secure Europe. Then 3rd place. And then if Rangers don't have their licence sorted by the end of March or we start making sufficient in roads into their lead over us would it be time to think about that. So in that sense it might be no bad thing to have the Jambos tomorrow. A niggly, overly-aggressive, sleekit outfit at the best of times a defeat for them tomorrow puts their hopes of finishing 3rd in some jeopardy so I've no doubt they'll be up for it from the word go. I would expect we will be likewise. I think the team pretty much is picking itself at the moment so I don't foresee many if any changes in personnel. I wouldn't be overly upset at drawing and retaining the six point advantage but with two home games in quick succession and the table sitting as it, the opportunity is there to define the season in the next few days. Mon the 'Well!

You don't get a fee by fee breakdown again remembering the transfers would be running from June 2010 to May 2011 I'd imagine last year's figure would largely be made up of Reynolds sale to Sheffield Wednesday (Jan 11) The previous years figures running from June 2009 to May 2010 and while I can't remember exactly when they went would probably be made up of the likes of Clarkson to Bristol City and Paul Quinn to Cardiff. There's also bits and bobs that get included from transfers that might arise after the time of the sale (incoming and outcoming) which can have a wee impact on the totals as well.

Ahh right. Makes sense now. I hadn't even considered you might have been referring any of the other packages outwith the Steel package. My mistake.

First off I'm a little surprised at just how open the club have been with the results and their analysis of them. I know the profit or loss figure is generally released and one or two other bits and bobs from the accounts get aired but there seems a lot more information than normal. A good thing I think when you are trying to get folk to invest in the Well Society. I suppose its worth remembering that these accounts cover as far as the end of May last year so when Derek Weir cautions about a potential loss this year he's doing so with the knowledge of the first six months of this years financial accounts behind him. What would contribute to a potential loss? While hopefully we'll get some extra prize money through the league and we can replicate or better last year's Scottish Cup run (please, please, please) we'll have missed out on the money we got from the Europa League and the League Cup semi. There's also the decreasing, but still significant remnants of the loan that's outstanding to John Boyle that still has been repaid too. Weir's comments perhaps give a little insight into the thinking behind accepting Blackpool's offer for Jamie Murphy last month. The impression I get is that any sales of players in the immediate future are likely to be put aside along with the proceeds of the Well Society incomings to get the £1.5m reserve point as soon as possible. Great news on the past year and I hope over the last few months of this financial year we'll be successful on and off the park, but I think he is right to highlight that last year is likely to be the exception rather than the norm.

Don't quite follow what you mean by "seat(s)". I might well be interpreting what you are getting at wrongly but you wouldn't be investing in a season ticket or a bond that secures you a seat at Fir Park for period of time. Someone's in New South Wales having a membership would be no different to someone in Newmains. I had actually intended on putting the link to the Well Society in case you hadn't seen that but the 'fishel seems to be down at the moment. You should get the info. you need there, or ofcourse via the link foghorn has posted already.

4-1 I think the scoreline was and Killie generated a fair amount of good press for their gesture of cutting prices in light of our situation. Ofcourse I'm sure they were only too well aware that a with a subtle slashing of the prices they would be looking at around 1000 extra bodies heading to the game that would have ordinarily swerved the meaningless end of season match it should have been, Not so much goodwill a week or two later when they were putting in bids of something like £30k for Kaiser! But aye, that day at Rugby Park will live long in the memory.

Obviously better for you if you can pick up a voucher, but I'm sure they were sticking to the original price and which I think was only a tenner rather than twenty quid.

Your thoughts and votes please folks....

Interesting as that might be to see what kind of crowd it might attract the polis would never buy that one. I'm sure part of the reason you have to get a ticket exchanged for your voucher if you have one is that currently they have no idea how many people will turn up. There's already the potential for additional people getting in free on top of the original gate if season ticket holders, who intend to use their season books for the rescheduled game, who have passed on vouchers they may have got to others. But If you add in the number of season ticket holders we have, the capacity of the South Stand and the number of vouchers they've exchanged for tickets it'll give the authorities a better indication of how what to expect numbers wise so they can authority up accordingly.

Louis Thow I seem to remember was the ref involved that afternoon.

I'd say the David Ferrere or Crawford Baptie comparisons that were mooted as notes of caution have been seen off given the continuation of Henrik's impressive early form. Perhaps John Sutton, who scored had a similar scoring rate in his first half a dozen games is now probably the most recent match in terms of goalscoring returns if you are still seeking a comparison. Whilst they are clearly very very different animals, if Ojamaa can match or better Sutton's goalscoring return (even allowing for his many left-mid outings) that wouldn't be bad at all for someone who has come from nowhere. Obviously though I'm hoping he can exceed that ofcourse!!

His agent posted the stats earlier tonight as it happens.....

I thought we'd win but never did I think that we'd win so easily. Not that I see much of Morton but looking through their squad there's several capable offering much more in an attacking sense than playing negatively - at First Division level at least. So I couldn't really see this park the bus stuff coming naturally to some of them and wonder if that change of philosophy had them beaten before they even set foot on the park. I mean some of their defending was real rabbit caught in the headlights stuff. But that's not to detract in any way from what was a fantastic display from MFC. Morton were completely and totally destroyed in that first half. Not only in terms of the margin of the lead at half-time but by the way they chasing shadows as we swept possession from side to side before carving them open. Would have been nice to have made it even more emphatic than it was in the second half but that also brought its rewards with an assured outing from Carswell and the continuation of the positive impact Hump has been making in recent weeks. The Craigan/Clancy dilemma was also the topic of conversation on our way home. I tend to see it as a win-win situation whoever gets the nod next week. We all know what Craigan brings to the table, Clancy also in the shorter term but arguably less so over an extended period in a single position. But what has been important is the fact that that's been just short of three games that have been won without Craggs influence. I might have been much more concerned about our ability to do that without him in the past. Ofcourse much of that has been down to the attacking verve that we've recently unleashed but looking over those three games you are talking three goals conceded, two of which were pretty sensational strikes and the other a penalty that should never have been. Perhaps that should be a debate for the St Mirren thread or maybe it merits one of its own but getting back on topic what a pleasure to sit and wait for the highlights coming on knowing you are going to be watching a 6-0 'Well win!!

The only two Morton fans I saw after the game were a guy having that difficult chat with his kid many of us will have had where he has to try to fend off the tears and the despair that a 6-0 defeat can bring to you when you are seven or eight years old! Guy did pretty well to be fair! So aye, they probably weren't involved in any post match shenanigans.

Your thoughts and votes please folks....

I don't know if it's in the papers but I've seen a couple of people mention that Morton are supposed to be coming to park the bus? Aye? Interesting, but do we buy that? Bit of psychological stuff on the go from their gaffer? Not so long ago they'd a bit of a slug-fest with St Mirren at Cappielow in the League Cup. If they do I'm not sure that might benefit them as much as it could have possibly three or four weeks ago, assuming we do stick to the two upfront ofcourse.

Oh now that's set a lightbulb or two flashing above my head!!!! At the current moment in time much as I its something I'd love to do, current circumstances mean it would be difficult. However at first thought that does strike me as something that I could feel I contribute to - one (or multiple if the case may be) Steelmen Online memberships anyone, in the same way we used do to the Player Sponsorship? Accepting ofcourse there may be difficulties in terms of different sums being contributed by posters and who would have the say when it came to voting but for the purpose of making it inclusive to those such as myself keen to get involved but just currently don't the £300 quid, assuming its legal, I think you've hit upon a great idea there HanoMaSano. Anything of a similar mind that its worth exploring? I'd be happy to send the necessary email on behalf of the site if there was sufficient interest.

As you say everyone's a winner. Means more moneyin the kitty to offer Michael Higdon an extended contract.....

In the context of the Morton game that's a reasonable if somewhat negative cautionary note against complacency going into the game. One if I were Stuart McCall I'd definetely highlight the potential for danger and pointing out some of the pitfalls that can be expected if the attitude isn't as it should be. But seeing as most weeks you generally manage to concoct an argument that impending doom is but ninety minutes away I'm afraid it just looks like you're crying wolf yet again. It's a potentially tricky one no doubt but, I'd rather have a First Division team at home and have to deal with the "pressure" of being favourites then be going to Ibrox or Parkhead as an underdog. I'm confident if we're up for it we've got more than enough about us to get the job done. If Morton fans are bemoaning a lack of pace in their rearguard then all the better, we've a fair bit of pace and creativity that can be unleashed on a cumbersome and backline. Motherwell by a couple for me.

1991 was a significant year in that it also saw the Shed replaced with the East Stand. At a stroke the focal point for like minded souls in the support to congregrate at was gone. People who used to meet up at the fence suddenly found themselves displaced across a section which now ran the full length of a pitch instead of just half of it. If we could have built on that Cup win in 1991 who knows it might have been different but the more that season went on and the more disappointments that came the more sour the atmosphere and mood became. I don't think its anywhere near as bad now as it was in some of those seasons in the 1990's but for some that characteristic of turning on the team or a player has always bubbled away under the surface. That's why I think its been so refreshing to see the energy that the guys up the top of the East Stand put into these days to foster a positive atmosphere. It's as close to emulating that vibe at the fence as we've had in years.

I think the signing of a longer deal and getting Henrik a more improved package are likely to go hand in hand, so to speak. Since the club have already apparently started negotiations with Ojamaa's agent about a revised deal then it would seem reasonable to think they've already grasped the importance of getting him tied down sharpish on a longer deal to protect the club's position, in the hope he may go on to make a sustained contribution and eventually be financially lucrative for them. But by the same token I don't think for a minute that Henrik won't get a revised package that's fair and reasonable. The fact he has an agent who apparently represents other Motherwell players means even if he perhaps doesn't, his agent will be only too well aware of what his worth is. From what's been said it would be appear both parties and keen to do business so I'm hoping it's just a case of letting the negotiations run their course and that news of a deal that both are happy with will follow.