LadywellToi

Apparently a Canadian computer works it all out fairly ..... and if you believe that then well done.

One thing I'm certain about with Motherwell fans. If we got a rich benefactor leaving the club £1m in their will, there would be some who would moan if we got it in £100 notes opposed to £20's.

A few factors would have affected this game today out with the remit of NLC and MFC. First is the M8, the route that the vast majority of the visiting team and support would use. Salting roads only works if they are in constant use, otherwise the snow lies on top. I'd ask those wanting the game to go ahead, would you be happy sitting outside in these conditions and getting an announcement saying the KO had been delayed 15-20 minutes for visiting fans? Like it or not, we live in a blame culture now, highlighted by the number of ambulance chaser ads on daytime TV, you trip over a kerb that is sitting proud, then £4,000 in your hippy (not everyone has the morals of Stu). The police, MFC and the council would rather err on the side of caution because if they allow a game to go ahead then they can be considered liable to a degree. Also, shopping venues such as Asda and the Fort were mentioned, I would argue that they will have a stead stream of visitors all day with a odd peak and trough. Problem with a football game is you have 5,000-6,000 all leaving collectively at 4pm rather than staggered. Finally we live in a country where weather is primarily affected by the gulf stream, if you think back over the past 20 years we've generally had very mild winters despite our latitude. As has been pointed out, Norway and Canada have guaranteed snow every year, as a result they are well versed in how to deal with it. We get snow sporadically (if you ignore last winter which was a freak) and therefore our response won't be as well polished. I'm itching to get to a game, however after looking out the window and facing the drive, I'm content the right decision has been reached.

Based on wishaestevie's post on another thread, I've update the first post to show Shaun leaving on loan to Ayr. Couldn't find anything on it on the official site but based on Lasley returning, Hately being pushed back to RB and Saunders as cover for the Craggs/Reynolds (as has tended to happen this season) then it seems to fit and make sense.

I wonder who's Digby's carry out consisted of 6 cans of special brew ...... Answers on a postcard

Ahh a personal jibe, good one. So in addition to being a sycophant you are also a necrophiliac.

What happened to Tartan_Copper? Here you are with the new revamped username Tartan_Copper_2. What happened to him? Didn't drown in his sleep with his mouth open after having a wet dream about Humphrey did he?

Surely all that would do is give elements within their support further cause to cry of conspiracy theories if they alone are being targeted. They'll moan of fixture congestion, 3 games in 8 days costing them the league with the rearranged fixture. Also, their opponent (Inverness) is also being penalised and a mid-week fixture is going to decimate their support, not really fair for them when Butcher hasn't been out of order either. Let's be honest, the behaviour of their manager and chairman have been off the Richter scale and needs punishment. But there are a few clubs who have also strayed above the acceptable threshold of criticism in recent weeks. If anything it could be argued that Craig could have been a bit more vocal but it does give us the moral high ground.

You are to Humphrey what Hammerfist was to Casagolda. Humph's pace is due to him winning the genetic lottery and to be fair we're benefiting. In terms of that element to his game there are only a few things he can work on in training to improve what he already had, for me these are acceleration and stamina. There are many other elements such as positional awareness, anticipation, distribution, decision making and final delivery that have all improved considerably since the start of the season. I would say I'm very happy with the progress so far and I look forward to what he'll be doing in 6 months time if he maintains the current learning curve. However I would add I don't think he is anywhere near Scotland material at present. Secondly he needs to address what he can do when he is being stifled in a game (i.e. Celtic) to make more of an impact and aim to get the majority of his final balls into the box regarded as dangerous opposed to wasteful. If and when he manages that then he will raise himself onto the next tier.

They said clubs such as Motherwell may take legal action against the SFA as a postponement would cost them £40k+. No interview with anyone but that is the kind of statement I can imagine coming out of FP.

To be fair all the contract renewals and new signings in the summer seemed to be taking the longer term view with the clubs biggest assets. Almost everyone was signed up on a 3 year deal or an extension until at least 2012 (I only know because I outlined them in the first post of the In's and Out's thread). I think its safe to say the management at FP have seen players of lesser quality and ability leave clubs such as Hibs for X times more than we've seen our talent go for and so far I think it has been addressed to a degree buy signing them up and looking to punt them with 18 months to a year before their expiry to achieve maximum fees. Based on that I can see someone like Humphrey going in the summer if he maintains his form. Murphy is on the books till summer 2013 therefore I reckon he will go in Jan or the summer of 2012.

Not any longer, he got Gerard Kelly's gig. As for this issue, I'm happy to leave it with "Da Management", I just hope they don't leave their selling as late as their subs, otherwise we'll get hee haw and a strong handshake.

Well I've just received a PM from Tartan Copper 2 asking for me to praise Humphrey after an earlier tet-a-tet regarding his ability and contribution. I think I've been fair in my estimation and comments on him so far, some of the same reservations have been echoed so far on this thread. For me, he has been among the 3 best players this season, but I can only imagine how devastating he would be if the stuff he can work on in training improved. Therefore PC Pedantic will have to wait either until the 10th re-incarnation of his user ID or Humphrey can add a degree of consistency to his final ball in addition to his inherited natural pace.

I would hope that the SFA take into account our Sunday semi against Rangers when the scheduling for this happens. Dundee should on paper be simpler than it would be today as it looks like a number of their squad will be walking in January. However we may show up without Fitzpatrick, Gow and more importantly Blackman.

Away game to a team with terracing, 2 weeks ago I wouldn't have cared who, now I'm hoping for a Junior team or 3rd Division outfit.

Game is made for Sutton, however I'm inclined to opt for him to be a half-time (that's 45 remaining mins on the clock Craig) if the regular up front starters are stymied by their 2nd division stars, kids and journeymen. If we want Europe then games like this should be tucked away. No doubt they've been reminded that 3-1 wasn't a fair result and combined with them being the home team I doubt a rerun of their negative tactics, consequently allowing our counter attack to prevail. 3-1 Well, but we'll deserve it this time.

I'd put my house on it but I doubt he'd have a piece of that action.

Fancy a £20 bet on 5 points or more?

We have the worst record this season of losing points after establishing a lead. Imagine how many points clear in 3rd we'd be if we were clinical and ruthless. Long ball against their apes was being mopped up easily. Seems as if Porteous used the defibrillator on Brown on 89 minutes to get the subs on. Can't believe Hibs have established themselves as our bogie team, they are rank.

1 point from 9 from this shower, woeful result. Double sub about 15-20 minutes too late, and not for the first time this season.

No way offside, bugger it, don't these refs and linesmen know Craigie tends to stand up for them? Time for a bit of payback.

Anyone know how to delay the BBC commentary by 7-8 seconds or so?

Didn't know the chicken dippers started at 3:30 in the golden triangle.

Great news, however premiership reserve team wages still trounce anything we'd offer, and if he keeps on the way he's going he'll be near the 30 goal mark for the season which will always attract plenty of interest. Blackburn would be foolish to at least not get something for him in the New year.

One thing I've taken from this season so far is this, regardless of form or position in the team, some players are better suited in terms of their physical stature and general game than others depending on the opposition. We've now got a run of teams that will press us and allow us to counter attack and not stifle the games (St. Mirren/Accies style). It may mean that until we meet these two teams again I reckon Sutton will spend a little more time on the bench than he's used to and nippy players such as Casagolda will get more exposure as they compliment the pace we have in abundance in our forward line.