Andy_P

I agree. Whilst obviously wishing McCall well when chosen I was quite non-commital about whether I thought it a good or bad appointment. Whilst results have been a bit up and down since he arrived one of the reasons I've found myself warming to him has been how he comes across in his communication be it through his email or interviews in the media. He appears to have quite quickly and easily developed a pretty good grasp of the Motherwell mindset. I may well be niaeve and its down to some good coaching from the people behind the scenes at Fir Park but it comes across as quite natural. And that in itself is part of the Motherwell mindset I know and love. The way guys like Terry Butcher with all that he achieved in the game took really got wrapped up in the club and still hold it dear. I hope McCall can go the same way. And before going too far off topic, hopefully Jeffers can do us a turn. I hope that as well as what he can hopefully offer on the park that he's able to enlighten some of the youngsters off it with regard to the different leagues he's played in and styles of football he's played.

It's a winnable tie certainly but its going to be very difficult indeed. It would be nice for the game to sneak under the radar of the tv companies and for us to somehow get away with it being on the Saturday afternoon to for making the maximum of the occasion, but with Dundee being at home, United being holders, only one of the Old Firm going to be left in that seems unlikely. I think we're back in tandem with the FA Cup games down south on Quarter Final weekend and while Sky and the BBC don't have it, I hope the SFA don't think they need to push a televised game to the Monday night as they've sometimes down. A Monday night in Dundee would really just burst my Scottish Cup bubble I think.

Don't have the winning numbers but the winners were posted on the official a few days after the Inverness game. Maybe a wee search on there will turn them up for you?

It's all about attempting to find the right balance. I've no doubt that the Pollock's, Smith's and Meechan's of the squad will get an opportunity before the end of the season, the dearth of bodies in the squad will see to that itself, but their usage does I believe have to be structured and planned where at all possible. You not only risk burning a young player out too much, you leave them susceptible to completely losing their confidence if they suddenly find that they are miles off the pace, given what they've been used to, and don't appear to have the confidence of the support in the stands. There also has to be management of the senior players as well, some of whom due to the European runs over the last two seasons will I suspect becoming a bit leg weary. The usage of Casagolda the other against Killie was a sensible one by McCall I felt, giving him game time against a half-decent team - the sort he'd likely be facing week in, week out, rather than against a Third Division team yesterday, whilst giving a player a break in John Sutton. The arrival of Jeffers if it comes off, will only add to those options of saving Murphy and Sutton for games where its a bit more necessary. If McCall replicates that where he can then I think we are already doing what lots want in giving time to fringe player to help them come on, but still not giving up on finishing as high as we can either.

Questionable perhaps his call up to the full squad might have been I don't think there's any debate required about his inclusion in the U21 squad. When some of the squad in recent times have barely made first team appearances for teams such as the Old Firm or English Premier league sides Saunders must be close to 50 appearances over the last couple of seasons, has just played in a semi-final at Hampden, has had two seasons European experience with us I think he was more than justified his inclusion. That and the fact he's a right promising player ofcourse.

Open for voting from half-seven.....

I suspect they weren't being cynical, more looking for confirmation or clarification perhaps before chucking in an opinion on the specific point. When you used 'function' first time around I didn't know what you were referring to either. Jim Frame for example is the only name I can put to a face on the list of folk. Could have put two and two together come up with five and believed it to be a Supporters Association function you were referring to. By elaborating that Leeann Dempster took and answered a questions that makes it a bit more likely to conclude it was the open meeting a couple of Monday's back or the Trust one before Christmas. Either way it will be disappointing if the committee hold a critical rather than supportive view of the 'Wellboys aims of boosting atmosphere at our games.

Thoughts and votes please once you've dried out a bit....

Pretty much aye Console yourself with the knowledge that had you left them in the bin, you can pretty much guarantee the vouchers required tonight would be number 9

Special Voucher K I think the official has it.

There's a minimum amount of posts you need to send before you send/receive PM's. Might even be just five so give it another go.

Kind of getting that way myself. Clearly there's a will to still discuss him in depth given the frequency these threads pop up. Personally I think most have pretty entrenched views on the guy that aren't going to be changed now and I don't think there's that much to be gained continually going over the same ground time and time again.

NO NEW THREAD EITHER.....until confirmed

Talk on the bus to Hampden yesterday was that he was training with Stirling Albion.

John Bryce, who ran one of the two buses from the Joker is planning on doing a bus to Stranraer from there on Saturday if costs/numbers are favourable. You can get him on 07922440242 or see him and Tony on Wednesday night when they'll be selling programmes at the wedding shop.

A typo on my part bigcol. The Lip69 has been a big critic of Leeann Dempster and Canterbury in the past and seems like McCall is viewed in much the same bracket.

You seem to be in a minority of one with the abysmal chat. Many doubters certainly but none so set that we're doomed just hours into his reign. Not the first time you've come away with abysmal track record though. Fair enough you clearly hold McCall in much the same esteem as Canterbury and Leeann Dempster - not sure if there any other apparent irrational dislikes going on, but I'm curious to see you expand in a little depth as to how you've formed that conclusion. Granted he didn't get Bradford promoted in his time there, but no relegations or no Alex Smith Stirling Albion style fourteen games without a game etc. Just curious to see what your first hand experience is of McCall and what constitutes abysmal in your eyes.

Jenno got the sponsors award but who got yours? Thoughts and votes please....

Yeah, March 1994 Davies arrived, from Dunfermline if I remember rightly. Think McLean had, had a couple of goes at getting him before we managed to get him that time.

Indeed! Since the welltrust days I think I've seen you explain just about every way possible why we wouldn't beat them How good is it going to be on Sunday night when you finally get to discuss that win.....

Admit it. You just cut and paste that same line every time a Rangers game comes along don't you?

That's exactly what we did. I ordered them last Friday with my card, they took all my details but my mate Scott picked them up yesterday no problem.

I think that is just part of the Hampden experience is it not? Its exactly the same with a Scotland game. The number times our lot have been full of pessimism prior to meeting up only by the time you leave for the game a few hours later several jars to the good you are utterly convinced its going to go our way after all and we're going to witness something special. I'm fairly relaxed about it at the moment. Don't think we stand much of a chance if I'm being honest but that low expectation level is perhaps no bad thing. I think I would feel much more apprehensive if we were playing a St Johstone or Kilmarnock in a Semi-Final. At worst I'm viewing it just now as a semi-rare opportunity of seeing us play at Hampden in a Semi, where the club will make a few bob out of and that's a bad point to start off your aspirations for the game. By Sunday morning I'm fairly certain I'll be shattered because I've been too excited to sleep and absolutely buzzing, convinced after what seems like about 27 years without a win against them - today will be the day!

Again leave this one closed for a bit until the travelling Dossers get closer to home.....

This rollercoaster chat really gets on my tits sometimes. Seems like never a defeat passes without someone trotting it out as if we can all just laugh, put it all behind us, doesn't really matter because its all just part of the rollercoaster ride isn't it? I find it strange that some folk used to get really quite uppity about the use of the term "punching above our weight" yet this seems to have become the accepted line for writing off any kind of shitty defeat without any passing comment whatsoever.