Andy_P

I've seen the sentiments expressed by LankyMac above a couple of times this week but don't quite get this train of thought. I mean people surely can't genuinely be suggesting we call the recruitment process to a grinding halt because we don't have the budget to sign them at this moment in time? We might have not have money today, tomorrow or Monday but what if an unexpected outgoing transfer does provide them with the budget? If it then turned out we'd missed out on targets because we'd sat on our hands and done nothing because we didn't have the budget then, I rather suspect the pitchforks and burning torches would be getting looked out once more. Much as any club won't stop looking at potential recruits when the transfer window is closed and they can't sign players, neither will it surely stop because because the budget isn't there at a particular period in time.

An enjoyable visit to Galabank. Tidy wee ground albeit unless you happened to be right at the front the sightlines of the goal at our end were more than little iffy. Still, did what we had to do in a generally professional manner. The only blemishes were conceding the and the injury to Lucas that could make that short term deal even shorter. Excellent finish from Marvin for the opener and we controlled things completely thereafter without threatening their goal that often. The game kind of just drifted along and I suppose in any game there's always the chance of the opposition sneaking a goal from seemingly nowhere and so it proved. From poor distribution to the goal itself we didn't exactly cover ourselves in glory. I must confess to being a little concerned at the break. What with McDonald and Blyth missing and Louis not looking at his best, understandably so, you did wonder how it might go if we didn't regain our lead quickly and we ran out of ideas and fresh attacking options. But a good start to the second half saw us home. What appeared like about a dozen corners in about 10 minutes was a fair reflection of our dominance at that stage and good to see Louis get off the mark and then double it with a good finish shortly after. I'm sure he'll feel all the better for having opened his account for the season as he goes for his op. And on to East Stirlingshire we go.

Your thoughts and votes please folks..

I suspect as the two Gents below have alluded you must be relatively new to the forum if you consider the current climate on here to be negative! This place is a bastion of positivity these days in comparison to some of the darker and occasionally poisonous posts of the past. I'm biased of course but I think we're in a fairly good place forum wise at the moment and it isn't deserving of the negative tag you've given it. Oh for sure there are many who are glass half empty rather than glass half full types and there are some who tread a fine line between holding more view controversial views and blatant trolling but for the most part we are fortunate to have a good number of regular posters (a number of relative newbies amongst them) who, even if they hold differing views, generally provide us all with a good deal of thought provoking and interesting reading.

What is the criteria for splitting teams on the same points? Goal difference? Head to head? Think Stranraer play Rangers on Monday whilst we have them the Saturday after that. So assuming it did come down to goal difference, even if they beat Rangers you are at least going down there knowing what is required. Not to say that might be enough for one of the four places of course. Just need to win all three healthily and fingers crossed it'll be good enough I suppose.

I must admit that the second goal was my cue to storm to the exit in a huff so whilst I did cast a glance at the group of yellow jaikets and fans the top of the East Stand it was only seeing videos later did it register what was actually happening. sbmfc, a couple of posts above, has already succinctly expressed the daftness of what some have speculated to have been a pre-determined manoeuvre on the part of the police. It would be interesting to know if this was indeed the case. The very fact that they undertook this action as sbmc says when the East Stand was naturally clearing of its own accord lends some weight to the suggestion that it might well have been. It has also been hinted at by one or two that this was at the request or at least had the approval of MFC itself - a suggestion I would like to think would be completely unfounded. By holding a number of Motherwell fans back when the stand was emptying they've actually made it more likely that they would meet Rangers fans outside the ground, which seems almost as stupid as the idea to hold folk back in the first place. For older 'Well fans it will also bring back memories of similar experiences in the past. Former regular posters on here (and fanzine editors) MJ and Steve Diggle both wrote and included pieces in the past in their publications about the battles Motherwell fans had to secure and then grow a section in the old shed; the frustrations that came with being hemmed in with no toilet and catering facilities and then being kept in at the end whilst the visiting Old Firm hordes goaded you as they slowly ambled out. Saturday was a concerning and totally unnecessary return to that practice. Doubtless the club wouldn't have the authority over the police to insist on what they do and don't do in the ground but for the re-assurance of supporters it would be good if there was some form of comment on the matter and a commitment that when we, the home club occupy three stands to the visiting club's one, that it won't be any of our supporters who are held back, if indeed any fans are to be delayed their exit.

I think the one on the right of the second image is the King of Spain Cup so I'm guessing one of the other two may be the Barcelona Cup. A further guess for the final trophy would be the Lanarkshire Cup which Motherwell would have been holders of in successive seasons around 1927. John Sailor Hunter appears in both images.

I'm watching a stream of their game against Rangers currently. Aside from cliche ridden chat about blue pounds I've learned some vital information that apparently all of Croatia support Rangers (because some fair to middling Croatian striker once played for them) and John Brown is now considering going there his holidays so he can be among the Rangers family (aww nice) and Niko Kranjar is a "big unit". Honestly this is the level. And despite the fact that from the superlatives being dished out to all their players you might be forgiven you're watching Real Madrid rather than Rangers, as I type it's only 1-0 and that has come from a pretty impressive strike from outside the box. It remains to be seen if Annan tire but there's more than enough organisation and solidity about them to have limited Rangers to that single goal.

One. One and a half max.

That is the point I suspect Ya Bezzer is getting at though. He needs greater exposure to the first team to help improve attributes like his decision making. First team defenders are a world away from the guys he's been used to facing and often beating in the 20's in the past. It's only through repeatedly testing himself against the older, more physical, more worldly wise will he become more adept at knowing what's on and what's not, and when. The good thing is I that think he's going to get more of an opportunity this season to do it.

I just assumed he was just that bit further down the pecking order to get on the bench as in McDonald>Moult>Blyth>Moore>Mackin, no more than that, particularly when we didn't have two central strikers to start with. Aside from Blyth, Thomas also provided an attacking option from the bench. If Moult is out for for the forseeable I would expect to see him on the bench at least over the next three games especially given he has netted consistently against First Division and Second Division sides whilst on loan.

You can say it. And you do. In about 75% of your posts. Little surprise that your first contribution to the forum in months is to re-emerge to have a pop at Hammell but I will concede that, having yet to see the goals again to see if he's as culpable as you suggest, even before their goals my attention was drawn to how many times he came inside leaving the left hand side of our defence seriously exposed.

Your thoughts and votes please...

What to make of that. Hmm... It was difficult to know what to expect beforehand and I'm still a little perplexed on how to gauge it following the game. I think it was miles better than the worst case scenario some were forecasting which in a way of makes it all the more disappointing that a game we could easily have won we let slip away. If that makes any sense. Didn't particularly like the look of the team beforehand but for the first 20 minutes the tactics appeared first class. Give them the ball to play with, but in areas they were able to do little with it and then hit them with lightening quick attacks. People are going to look at the score and see the possession, which I suspect will be massively in Rangers favour, and think aye, comfortable easy win. Perhaps in the end, but iwe take our chances the game could have been dead and buried by about ten past three far less half-time. I felt the tide turned a little after about 20 minutes or so when they began to create chances and had a couple of good opportunities themselves but we were still creating as many as them despite the lack of possession. I didn't think we really got going at all in the second half. A fine finish for their opener and they went on to dominate for the most part and appeared to have at least one decent shout for a penalty as well the other efforts they were putting in. Still though the odd chance here and there came for us but were once again scorned. Their second was a bit harsh and only served to re-emphasise the importance of putting the chances away when they come your way. Still plenty to take from it. Decent first impressions made by Heneghan, Tait and McHugh for one. I only hope that the loss hasn't ended the chances of progression before we've even started. Without really knowing the make up of the other groups off hand I would hope games against Annan, Stranraer and East Stirling will provide enough scope for us to go to make a fist of securing one of the best runners-up places (I contrast that to someone like Inverness who have Dunfermline and Dundee Utd to contend with. A defeat but arguably the news that apparently Louis Moult will miss three league games at least is the most depressing outcome of the day.

Playing for penalties was my immediate thought. Thereafter almost like we're setting up as the away side looking to hit on the break.

Really? Both the play-off ones were absolute belters. I don't really give a shit if they've taken inspiration from another club it was a topper. I actually combined both of them into the one image and used it as my wallpaper on my laptop for a good couple of months after the play-off game. Brought a smile every time I turned on the laptop!

I think when it comes to McGhee's comments thus far about Saturday I think it would have done us few favours if he'd been cockily telling all and sundry we're going to do this or were going to do that to Rangers. Or even that we're right up for it and ready to go. There's no need for him to help write Rangers team-talk for them and if we're then found wanting he's going to look pretty stupid. I just think there's too many uncertainties going into Saturday to play the build up any other way than cagily. We don't know what team they'll select, how prepared they are, there's no form for either sides to go on etc. I don't really see too much wrong with him taking a very low key approach. Better in my mind to be publicly playing it down. That said behind the scenes I would expect the tack he's taking to be a little different. Whilst he may not be adjusting the pre-season programme I fully expect that what every level of readiness we are at currently he's going to be sending them out well prepared to try to win the game. Financially or otherwise whenever long standing players or staff at Motherwell are asked about Cups you can almost sense the weight upon the club's shoulders that a win has now become long overdue. I'm sure that won't be lost on McGhee. As for the game itself I really don't have a clue how it'll go.

Entirely speculative on my part but is at all possible that the leaden and sluggish performances cited at many at Central Park and Easter Road have been not as a consequence of preparation being light but actually because it's been particularly heavy? I mean for all I know McGhee could be running them into the ground in daily triple sessions and by the time they actually come to play they're goosed. The guy has undertaken or presided over what must something like 35 or 40 pre-season campaigns. I could fully understand he has a programme in mind to get them to their optimum level with a particular game in mind (perhaps not necessarily the game some would like), I could understand that for whatever reason he might be forced take a squad into a new season below the standard he might like, but I would struggle to accept the notion that Mark McGhee would go into a campaign allowing a squad of players under his charge to be physically under prepared or unfit.

I was ofcourse being facetious, your view on the players and Robinson, is no more or less valid than anyone elses, even if put across in an slightly amusingly dry manner. But since you ask about the interaction you can surely see the merits between someone like Ripley who seemed genuinely positive about being out at a club on loan, who sought to make the very most of the opportunity which was helped by establishing a good rapport and relationship with the Motherwell support; as opposed to someone like Calum Elliot who couldn't give a shit and gret like fuck about a 45 minute train journey from Edinburgh.

£15 a pop COF. http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/tickets-travel/next-four-matches/

Wake up with a sore head? Tattie scones get burnt in the frying pan or something?

Rather than Cadds perhaps more significant in the pre-season games thus far, and potentially today, has been the regular inclusion of Alan Campbell in central midfield. There's an argument possibly that he's played as much because we've been so light there in numbers but if not perhaps earmarked as as a first pick I very much get the impression that he'll be given as much time game as possible to bring on his development.

They are all injury prone, rotten, done the dirty on us and will absolutely bomb in your shitty league. And all those all those other lovely things you Oldham fans said about Chris Porter, Motherwell and Scottish fitba when he left you to sign for us .... In seriousness Robinson seems a pretty highly regarded coach. It was perceived as a good bit of business by Ian Barraclough to tempt him to Fir Park when he became our manager eighteen months or so back. It's always hard to gauge how an assistant manager is doing because you don't know to what extent the manager leans upon him but certainly there were few if any dissenting voices about him during his time at Motherwell. He seems have to have growing reputation as a coach. You'll find out soon enough as to how he is as a manager I guess. Ripley, I suspect will do well for you. He came on considerably during his season at Motherwell both in terms of ability, confidence and physique. I liked the fact that he appeared very keen to ingratiate himself into Motherwell FC culture, if you want to call it that. He seemed keen to interact with fans and appeared to take an interest beyond just collecting his wages. To his credit as a loan player. I must admit whilst I fully expected him to go back out on loan but to a Championship side in England rather then League One as a challenge up from the Scottish top flight. Erwin had promise at Fir Park but due to injuries was only really involved seriously for about six months. He wasn't prolific but scored some good, and important, goals. Has good movement and is clearly very confident in his own ability. He really benefited from playing alongside Scott McDonald so if you've an experienced whinging moany striker that he can learn from he's got a chance of doing well for you. Law happened to score two inside 20 minutes on his debut whilst playing out of position and arguably it was the worst thing he could ever have done as it was impossible to live up to it. Suffered for being perceived as a "utility" player and was played (generally poorly) all over the team whilst the "Son of McCall" type bitching grew ever louder. In fairness he would always give his all, never hid despite being in a poor, struggling Motherwell side. Once he settled at right back you knew what you'd get. Rarely outstanding, rarely awful you would generally get an honest hard working competent performance from him without ever convincing you he was going to push on. I'm sure we'll be watching all of their progress with interest in the coming months.

Difficult to read much into in all honesty. We set up initially with Campbell and McHugh slightly deeper with Thomas given licence to roam and support Moult. Lionel was wide on the left, and Ross MacLean right. McHugh was the more creative of the two and against Dumbarton at least looked perfectly capable spraying the ball about to either wing. He was tidy and efficient with his distribution. Both central midfielders were certainly mobile and if possession was lost both attempted to regain the ball quickly and re-distribute the ball. Second half the trialist (Lee - presumably Lucas) continued in much the same vein.

And yet that despite the numerous opportunities that the several different managers have had to cut the likes of McManus, Lasley and Hammell loose the contract offers kept on coming. And yes you can look at a twelve/eighteen month period where it got near the knuckle where those players were involved. Or you can also look at the other finishes and achievements they've contributed to as senior professionals over the three, eight and ten year periods they've had at the club. A succession plan is more desperately required than ever, no argument with that whatsoever, but to have summarily dismissed them all in one feel swoop in the summer would I suspect been have as counter productive for McGhee now as it was for Harri Kampman and his sweeping out of Coyne, Arnott, Martin and Philliben etc all those years ago. The clock is ticking but those senior players are worthy of their new deals and are entitled to continue to demonstrate they merit a place whilst hopefully the next batch of youngsters or signings make the decision making process an easier one next time around.