Andy_P

Cup game so while a thumping defeat of the Buds would be sweet, or a last minute controversial winner to set them up for another 30 years of whining, just as nice, any result that gets us in to the Quarters will do me tomorrow.

Sutton's the man in possession at the moment I would say. Pressure's on him to perform to his best to keep his place knowing that Sheridan's about now. A good thing for us I'd say.

Caught a wee snippet of both McGhee and Sheridan on the radio there. Most revealing point for me was that you apparently pronounce his name 'Killie-an' rather 'Silly-an' or indeed 'Sillyname', but both spoke positively about the deal. The Sheridan chat was a short clip from an apparent full length interview on the BBC website. McGhee spoke at length though and said he is determined that Sheridan will go back a better player than when he arrives, that he'll be shielding him from the pressure of being a replacement for Porter, but that he will be pressuring him to improve the team. The German he did admit though was purely from a reccomendation from Roy Aitken but they would see in due course what they could offer.

I have to say its quite weird logging on at tea break time at work for the first time in about three weeks and not have to anxiously look at an Inverurie pitch thread to see the latest. I bet all those weather forecasting sites hits for the North East of Scotland will drop about 200% now the games oot the way.

>>> McGhee confirms Sheridan capture

I think in the past in instances like this they've just encouraged you to get in early to make sure you get your own seat.

Sky Sports News have shown the goals a couple of times since I woke up this morning. Likely be on the BBC news as well tonight I would imagine.

I seem to remember a list of Player of the Year winners in a programme around the mid-1980's. Probably either 84'85 or 85'86 season, the wee A5 issue with shot of Fir Park from behind the south end of the ground. I've no idea why that sticks in my mind but if it helps......

One here of Inverurie itsellf...... >>>> Inverurie webcam clicky

As with every signing I hope he would do well if he does join us. Rightly or wrongly he has this reputation of being shite so I would hope he would get a fair crack of the whip. I think he's done well to get where he did in the game - getting up into the English Premier League with Wigan and to accumulate the caps he did for Scotland. He's obviously got something about him to be recognised and get that far - especially having never played for one of the Old Firm and having the media talk him up. He played the "Marc Fitzpatrick" role for Scotland and I'm wondering if that's perhaps influencing some folks perceptions. We'll see what happens.

Would have been nice to have got the win to move above them but would equally have been happy to take a point if offered it before the game. Perhaps that's a bit of a lack of ambition on my part, particularly with our record up there in recent seasons, but a near decade and a half of almost certain defeat at Easter Road is still very much ingrained in me making me chuffed at returning westwards with anything. I noticed Clarky speak of taking extra responsibility after Porter's departure and that would seem to be evident with him taking the pen. Like Neil said earlier he's not someone you would immediately think of as a penalty taker. I remember him missing at Dens a few seasons back, can't mind if he's taken any more since then but somehow have never associated him with that role. Nice to see him put it away obviously though. Good to keep the run going, to be placed for a push for the top six and a good opportunity to move away from Hamilton in our next league game and avenge that drivel at NDP in December.

It's a good while since I've been in it. These days its only an odd occasion we'll go for a few beers and that'll generally be in Daniels, or the Cooper. Along with scott_mossend_mfc I had a membership for the place in the mid to late nineties and we were in there pretty much every home game. Bar the odd exception we were only ever in on Motherwell match days and while it was generally full of 'Well fans and had some cracking 'Well portraits and stuff on the walls it was hardly the most welcoming of places as I recall, especially if you happened to have a non-member in your company say and were looking to sign them in. What finished us off though was the day we beat Rangers 2-0 on the last day of the season and almost qualified for Europe. We were out for the day after that but one of us had forgotten the membership card. While we were made to feel like outcasts outside refused to be allowed past the door, no signing in, no willingness to check records to confirm membership there was a constant stream in Rangers colours being welcomed in. Never been back in since.

Interesting that you bring this up Church. It's something I've wondered how much an influence it plays also - and not just in terms of Motherwell fans. At one point or another in the last couple of decades we moved from being mere supporters to customers in the eyes of football clubs. But that cuts both ways and in any line of work if you are a customer and aren't happy you are entitled to raise your grievances. So I think there will definetely be a correlation between the increasing amount fans spend and the perceived increasing lack of value for money for that money spent. That said I still firmly believe that it does more harm than good letting rip at the players and is only going to be counter-productive in most respects. Better to bite the tongue or turn that negativity into a positive by yelling a bit of encouragement.

All pretty dispiriting really. Quite sad really that you wait for years for that elusive exciting draw that takes you to somewhere new and to see how sour its all turned in many folks eyes. There's an increasing amount of anger on the boards, but I'm not sure where it should be best directed to be honest. I find it hard to lay any blame at Loco's mind you. They are where they are in the country and as such are subject conditions such as those experienced. You just wonder if the SFA should have something in place where if after 3 attempts or whatever the onus is put on the host to seek an alternative venue but that brings other complications such as where tickets have been sold, costs for renting the other ground etc. so I don't know if even that's an option. Just so frustrating for everyone, Locos and 'Well fans.

According to one site I looked at, it was well after midnight before it got below freezing and didn't get any lower than -1.5c. At the moment its seemingly -0.9c. Hopefuly as Shotts Well Fan says the covers will have worked. Add to that it was apparently playable for much of yesterday and we've sunshine and higher temps. on the way. Fingers crossed once again.

How do we compare? How many of us have sat in the Jungle, Copeland Road, Shed or Beach End or wherever for any great period of time to be able to offer a sound comparison? I expect they'll have the same obsessives, manic depressives, loyal, fickle, abusive, enthusiastic punters that we'll have spread across Fir Park.

Oh well back to anxious glances at a smattering of weather forecasts it is then. BBC's seems positives showing conditions and temperatures that should be fine, assuming its thawed out enough today, with estimates of up to 7c tomorrow. Aberdeenshire Council's however is much less so with estimates of it getting down to -2c overnight and only reaching 3c tomorrow. And then somewhere in the middle is netweather.tv which has temperatures of around 3c during the night with 90% cloud covering and getting up to 5c tomorrow. So really I don't know what one to believe! First things first though, lets hope today's inspection gets us to tomorrow, and then we hope the weather goes our way thereafter.....

Oh don't get me wrong it isn't my preferred route but its not us who write the rules and if we turn out to be beneficiaries then I'm not so proud that I would say no to a UEFA place through Fair Play. Don't really see what the problem is with the club shop mind you though. Clearly there was a large appetite for merchandise to mark the occasion at the time but with many lines, not all of it is going to sell out. Surely better the shop make what they can from the leftover stock rather than fire it in the bin, no?

If my memory serves me right when Billy Davies was in charge we ended up playing a 3rd round replay against Arbroath on the same day as the 4th round games were played. We'd had the abandonment up there and at least one postponement at Fir Park. Our 4th round tie was against Stirling Albion which was played if not the immediate Saturday after the Arbroath game, it was a Saturday in the immediate aftermath. Taking that as a precedent (though no guarantee its still the same) I guess you'd be looking at possibly the Accies game would take the hit - but you'd be looking at a loss of revenue then from a midweek game against them.

This kinda answers some of the points being raised, in summary, Wednesday looks a gonner already, they'll try Monday, Wednesday and then next Saturday (5th round day) and only as a last resort will they look at shifting it. From the BBC.....

Yeah it does look fairly positive. The only concern according to this 48 hour forecast being a dip in temperature on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, albeit it still stays above freezing. Come on this time, surely......please!?!?!?!?!?!

In that wee Inverurie town webcam it looks frosty but obviously you can't tell to what extent. The thing is that with temperatures forecast to get up to around 6C depending on whose forecast you believe and with sunshine also forecast, while its unlikely to be playable at 0900 this morning, that could change as the day goes on. I don't know how much inspections take account of forecasts or anticipated changes in weather but maybe if there's still doubt rather than call it off they should maybe look again at 1100 or 1200 when the sun and temperature rises have had a chance to kick-in. Suppose we'll find out soon enough!

Further update from the Loco's site....

Inverurie Locos Website

Message on the guestbook of the Locos website says "nae frost today just rain". That can be confirmed via a webcam of Inverurie >>>> Inverurie Webcam Clicky Now, given there's no frost, temperatures haven't been too bad in the last day or so, are expected to remain similar for the next day or so, there's sunshine forecast for tomorrow....dare we begin to believe it might just be on?