Andy_P

Your thoughts and votes please...

I know what you mean. I don't mind listening to games that I have no emotional involvement in, or when MFC TV did the reserves on. I've seen many a Sunday where I've stuck on the headphones and listened to any old game when cutting the grass say. But a Motherwell game I can't make? Nah. I'll sit with Twitter, Skybet, this place and Sky Fantasy Football open on various tabs on the laptop with Soccer Saturday on the telly but even if our game was the featured commentary I'd still give it a miss. I only end up getting wound up listening to the commentators and pundits and there's far too much stress involved hearing raised tones, getting all excited only to discover its a throw in to the opposition at the half way line.

There's a slightly different report out there somewhere, perhaps on the SPFL website, where it talks of "in addition to" when going through the arrangements, Interesting then that this weekend there appears to be no delayed transmission of a top flight game on Alba but that there are 2 hour long highlights programmes. Us on Saturday night at late o'clock and Accies on the Sunday seeing as you ask. May be its because they've already got a couple of live broadcasts on Saturday, or perhaps a slightly different tack from Alba this year? Perhaps it's been planned already and just passed me by.

I was sure we'd had this Cummins debate not long ago as I remember posting on it; and having checked back we have, on this very thread around the end of May. Since we've only had a couple of fixtures since then, neither of which he's been involved in, can only really repeat what I said back then in that he seems to me to be a player who really needs a run of games before getting into his stride. Playing games in isolation is generally going to see outcomes such as the horror show he had when we played Celtic a couple of seasons ago where I think he gave away a penalty and was sent off. But when he was involved fairly regularly he certainly wasn't as bad as is being suggested by some. I think he's been a little unlucky. The arrival of McManus blocked his route to any continuing development and when the Dundee move looked ideal within a week or two the manager who had signed him was gone and the new incumbant didn't fancy him. And all the while back at Fir Park we're struggling for bodies, have players out of position in defence and having to turn to Craig Reid. When he would have been looking to build on the 12'13 season, last season was a complete waste for him and has set him right back. It's a bit of a make or break year for him but barring injury I do think he's going to struggle to get the opportunity to prove himself again.

So summing up then. We complain that the manager hasn't spoken but we don't like what we hear when he does. We complain that the manager hasn't looked like signing anyone, but don't like who he's brought in on trial. We complain that the manger won't play youngsters, but don't like it when it looks like he'll have to play youngsters. That about right?

Given how spectacularly John Sutton proved you wrong when you were doing a power of whinging about him around this time last year, is it not perhaps more wise to A. See if Barr actually signs B. See how he actually plays before rolling out the witty put downs and writing him off? And we talk about McCall needing to learn lessons....

Touches on both the Hearts and Raith Rovers situations and also about an offer to manage Kilmarnock that he knocked back after Jim Jefferies left them.

Without wanting to say too much, as a couple of posters, have said they intend to read the book it came down to money. He understood he was on a salary way below the rest of Premier League managers at that time and felt that should be redressed given his achievements. The club wouldn't move on their offer and he felt it was time to go. He says the Hearts gig wasn't pre-arranged and goes on to make a comment or two to make about his successor.

Anybody else read wee Tam's autobiogrpahy? I got the paperback version for the old man at Christmas (he never ever did say whether he enjoyed it come to think of it) but saw it on a special recently and managed to pick it up for the Kindle for something like £1.50. It's actually pretty good. I've read a few books where the player in question has played with one of the Old Firm and Motherwell and whilst obviously they need to appeal to the Old Firm punters to get the sales, it can feel like the non-Old Firm chapters are almost an afterthought and tagged on. I read "Coop" recently where the author, whose name escapes, had Billy Davies - who didn't actually play with Cooper at Fir Park, Rangers fans bemoaning his sale, and some female stalker with a Cooper fascination making up the bulk of the contributions on the chapter of his time at 'Well. But don't be put off by the obligatory Rangers photo on the cover, McLean really does his time at Fir Park justice in this. I think there's a good 10 chapters detailing his time with us and various other references to his time at Motherwell across the book. There were a couple of interesting revelations too that I hadn't known about previously - like him being offered the Aberdeen job whilst at Motherwell and I really liked his comment that "I left Motherwell but Motherwell never left me". I think its back up towards something like full price again (around six quid) but well worth a read if anyone is looking for something Motherwell related to have a gander at.

I like that! Ever so slightly reminiscent of an away kit from the sixties. In fact I might even have bought that retro shirt from fatcalf in the days his retro tops bore a more true reflection than those the club shop were selling.

Not exactly. Hutchinson was on the verge of being papped out on loan to Ayr on just a matter of weeks before Stuart McCall became manager. He was an established first team player for all of about six weeks under Jim Gannon. He was re-introduced by, and made the bulk of his Motherwell appearances, under McCall. Carswell was given his debut as a 17 year old by McCall and had more than 40 appearances in the first team before Paul Lawson arrived at Fir Park. Circumstances may well have opened the door for Moore and Leitch but like Francis-Angol before them once in the squad they've remained in the squad. The likes of Stewart, Lawless, Erwin, Murray and Cadden to name more that spring to mind have also debuted for Motherwell under McCall. Don't get me wrong, I share the frustration that there have been plenty of occasions we could have used our youths rather than shuffle half a dozen players out of position to compensate for the absence of one, but equally its a myth that he never uses young players.

I'm not so sure that would be the case. There's a debate to be had about McCall or the club's willingness to speculate to accumulate when it comes to these European ties - one that arguably may be somewhat skewed after the events of this Euro "campaign" - but McCall has often done business right up to, and indeed after the close of the transfer window. It's just doesn't appear his style to take a gamble on a signing a player with one or two games in mind. There's clearly been an element of familiatiry with a number of his signings - although quite why this seems to rankle as much with some fans I struggle to understand - but you think of Law, he was supposedly up on trial on a few occasions before we commited, Ojamma and Anier likewise had trials before we committed. It's fairly well acknowledged also that he likes to see what availability there is in the English loan market and that availability only really emerges by the time our season is underway. I just don't see it being any different this year and fully expect another one or two to be at the club by the close of the window.

Just a thought but if, as appears to be view of some, the failure to secure these much needed income streams is all down to Stuart McCall, then would he be not also singularly responsible the monies accrued in by reaching a Scottish Cup Final and three consecutive top three finishes? Or does that not suit the argument?

We seem to be crossing over between expectations, predictions and hopes throughout the thread so I'm going to do each individually. Expectations: I expect we'll be along much the same lines as last season, generally doing just enough to scrape past most of our opponents with the continuing capacity to blow teams away and be blown away on the odd occasion. Hopes: Many. Second place and two Cup wins would be nice, however fanciful. Back in the real world I hope first and foremost that we can remain in the top half and beyond that then have high a finish as possible. I also hope for silverware in one Cup competition which isn't beyond us despite the deep-rooted pessimism of some. Other hopes include the youngsters knocking on the door. I have nothing against McHugh and Lawson but it would be nice if the likes of Leitch, Cadden, Thomas, Erwin and when he's fit Moore made a sufficiently good impact over the course of the season that we could afford to re-invest the salaries of those more senior pros without any loss to the squad. I also hope we pump Accies three times without conceding. Predictions: In terms of the league as a whole I'm not so sure just now is the right time to be making predictions how things will pan out (other than Aberdeen assuming their natural place as Champions elect, scrap that Champions League Champions elect) what with the season still a couple of weeks away, and indeed further scope to strengthen squads until the window closes. And we're no different. For us at the moment I see our starting eleven weaker than how we finished. I still believe we'll make additions to bring that back up, though to what level remains to be seen. I get the impression that the board realise that cutting the budget too severely will lead to downward spiral that could cost them more in the long run, so I would expect they will give McCall what was originally earmarked and continue to back him as much as they can. What league position that will all translate into, who knows?

I think those eager for sweeping changes are likely to be disappointed. We'll most likely continue to do as have in the decade or so administration by trying to eek out the very maximum we can with as modest an investment we can. How can we do much else? Let's be honest nobody wants our club. Nobody was interested when the club was "cleaned up" after administration and thus far the fans have shown their isn't sufficient interest in going forward. Yeah there is talk of external investment but the cost of that remains to be seen. So at the moment we have what we have in terms of the board members, the infrastructure and the fanbase, and the constraints which all that brings. Over the piece they've done a bloody grand job of things but things are obviously getting inceasingly more difficult with every passing year until we see the return of Rangers, the Edinburgh clubs and God forbid, the league actually managing to secure a sponsorship deal of some note. Which itself obviously has an impact on the football side of things. It was said that by finishing second it enabled McCall to retain the same budget as last season but I can't really hold it against him for not using it up just yet. The squad obviously needs strengthened both in quality and in depth but with five or six weeks before the window closes I would rather he waited to get the right players to add to the team use it early just to try to see us through an early European tie, or he believes that Erwin, Thomas and Leitch are worth a closer look first. How will we do next season? I've no idea. I thought we'd struggle last year but to better the season before that was incredible, even if it at times it certainly wasn't pretty. The feeling is every summer that our star is on the wane but we've managed to keep things going throughout his reign, in the league at least, and again he deserves a huge amount of credit for that. Whatever happens McCall is in a pretty good position even after results like Albion Rovers and Stjarnan. He can point to consistant success since he arrived with reductions in budget from when he started, even allowing for a few tear-jerkers in the Cups. He has his Scotland role and is well thought of. Unless we have McLean or Malpas like demonstrations the board surely aren't going to sack him. If he goes it will be through a more natural conclusion that his contract runs out or he's tempted away. So all things considered thats a fairly long winded way of saying I doubt anyting is likely to change too dramatically any time soon even if it may leave many Motherwell fans even more apathetic than they are already.

Your thoughts and votes please..... (thread set to open later when some of those there will be back)

Indeed, that one will always rankle. Had Murph put that penalty away you were looking at something 5 minutes plus another 4 or 5 against 9 men to take the game to extra-time, where ofcourse you would had another 30 minutes against 9 men to get the winner. Baws! But today isn't for past negatives. Positivity all the way today. It will be done!!

Perhaps it's a sign of the importance of the game but I've got that nervy/excited feeling when I think about the game already - and I'm stuck in the shire! They obviously have the advantage in several respects with the away goals, the artificial surface, the match sharpness they have and they'll have the majority of the crowd behind them but there are still areas where we can capitalise on. It's only their second European fixture so do they how to see it out? Two-nil at Fir Park and looking like they are going to get a hiding, they've little to lose. If we get a goal what's their mentality like then? Will they be cool enough to handle that or will they shit it and go hell for leather for an equaliser which could leave gaps for us to exploit. They are talking about it being the biggest game in their history. That surely brings it's own pressure when your club officials are saying things like that. It's something new for their support to handle as well. Will the level of expectation create tension for their players. We've shat in the nest on plenty of times, not least a week back, but in our team there should be bags of experience and know how from the likes of Hammell, Sutton, Lasley and McManus to be able to cope mentality with the situation we find ourselves in and get the job done. 2-1 Motherwell on the night.

Toddled along to Cliftonhill last night. A good opportunity for me to see the U20's pretty close to home. 1-0 to Motherwell with Robbie Leitch scoring midway through the first half. We could have been a couple up before that and looked pretty much in control before out of nowhere Max Currie had to make two excellent saves before the break. Rovers missed a decent chance at the start of the half and hit the bar with a minute or two to go. In between Morgyn Neil had an effort well saved on the line by the Rovers keeper. I thought we looked fairly assured throughout. Generally looked to play football and having seen little or nothing of most of the team I was quite impressed by quite a few of ours players. Currie dealt well with everything he had to in goal and really liked the look of our right back (Luke Watt?) who destroyed the Rovers right back almost every time he came forward. Neil looks like he has the stature and presence to make it and there were some nice touches and play from Cadden, Thomas and McCall when he came on too.

From memory, that is indeed the case rinkydink. I also vaguely remember two payments being taken at once because I had just missed the date the first payment was due to come off. A quick phone call to the ticket office would probably clear it up better than my recollections all the same.

Frustrating stuff. I'm still a little taken aback at the turnaround. They gave us a warning early on certainly but once we got ahead I couldn't really have asked for much better start than what we got. Good opportunism for our first and a finely constructed and taken second after capitalising on a mistake. And then it all went tits up. You can't pin it on him ofcourse but that horrible niggling memory of the Carswell chance before they got the third just refuses to go away. Put that away and we were surely home and dry. I remember pointing out that one or two of the Stjarnan players looked deflated at 2-0 but suddenly from nowhere they got the game changing away goal and they never looked back. Again you think if Sutton had put that chance immediately after their goal it might have allowed us to regain the initiative the way we had before, but we never quite did. We had the bulk of the ball certainly, were well on top but they had just as many, if not more clear cut opportunities in the second half. I couldn't honestly say their equaliser wasn't undeserved. Even at 2-1 it looked like it was going to really really tricky over there, but we've got a right task on our hands now. Still do-able but we've made a whole difficult for ourselves than it ever needed to be.

Your thoughts and votes please...

I'm a bit like a broken record on that one rambunctious but I have made that same point a few times. I think we offer some excellent value juvenile tickets (£80 this season) and for those who go to get concession tickets (£170) as students there's at least a gradual step up to he cheapest adult ticket (£310). But if you're a laddie who leaves school at 16, goes straight into work, and has been used to paying £80 or whatever for your season ticket it is a huge leap to go from that to full price. My suggestion would be a "leap year" ticket at a price along the lines of a concession that could be used for one season to help bridge the gap between juvie and adult. Easy for me to chuck uncosted ideas around ofcourse but I just wonder if some of the good work that has been done in attracting youngsters along in the first place might be undone if we lose them at that stage because they can't afford it.

Good luck guys, hoping you get a great turnout both the corteo and down your part of the ground. I enjoyed watching you head off to the ground last season and in conjunction with the Electric Bar decking itself out in claret and amber made for a fine pre-match spectacle. Some may scoff but I know but one example of the positive impact your colour and noise has is that a bloke in work (who usually sit in the Cooper with his 2 urchins) have got East Stand tickets and will be heading down to the Electric so they can be a part of the colour and atmosphere. More power to you!