weeyin

Given our small squad and our from in the run up to the Festive Fixtures, another victory would be quite an achievement. Too tight to call, but ICT have struggled in the past when we hit them with pace, so hopeful that Ainsworth can drive us to a narrow victory. EDIT: actually, reading the ICT forum, seems like they are struggling for midfielders in this game and are worried they will be resorting to long ball tactics. If that's the case, it could be to our advantage.

Based on his posts, he doesn't actually watch them when he's there though, right?

That was a joke. He repeated it in his MFC TV interview and made it clear it was a joke to put off potential suitors.

Normally, when we sign a player it's based on scouting reports and watching them in a game or two. Given that McCall has known about Ainsworth for some time and we have had him training and playing for half a season now, if our coaching staff can't tell by now if he's worth signing, we need a new coaching staff.

Because the people that awarded it watched the entire game, not just the highlights? Plenty of folk on here thought it was a close call between those 2 for MoTM.

One of McCall's biggest assets for me is he sets teams up in a way that they enjoy playing - most of the time, at least. You can see that on the park, and you can hear it when the players speak. So while it's good to be wary of players who have shuttled from club to club, if a guy turns up and performs at Fir Park and the gaffer thinks he is worth a punt, that works for me. Often, all it takes is the right environment to turn a player around and I imagine that for attacking players in particular, recent Motherwell teams have an ideal philosophy for them. I think we appreciate flair players more than some of the lower league English teams, where power is favoured over skill.

I got a lift over into the Main Stand when I was 5, so didn't have to contend with that until I was older

I can see how people think the season is over with a handful of games to play, but if we lose our next 3 or 4 on the bounce we could be struggling for a top 6 spot. It's that tight in the league right now. However, for me, the main aspect of any season is getting some entertainment - especially for a club like ours. Of course it's disappointing that we are out both cups this season, but I'll happily watch games like we have had over the festive period where results and performances mattered and we came out on top. Even more interesting this season is the rebuilding process. It has not been easy to replace the guys we lost - from arguably the best keeper in recent years to our top goalscorer. To watch McCall bring in the new faces and try and work out the tactics that are going to bring out the best from them has been both frustrating and, recently, rewarding. When I was watching us doss around in the relegation battles (and missing out on going down thanks to Falkirk's stadium), I never thought I'd see the day fans were complaining the season was over because all we had to play for was to see if we could finish 2nd in the league in consecutive seasons.

Gonna gie's a lift over mister? Kia-ora. Chimpmunk crisps. Jumpers for goalposts. Can't beat it at that age.

Aye, in a recent interview McCall said that Ainsworth was only reaching full fitness now (I think he had been struggling with niggling injuries), but was worried that he was hitting form just as his loan was running out, as his club/agent might be looking for more money. Now he's 100%, he certainly fits the bill of the creative & pacey wide player McCall was looking for.

That had been our biggest failing this season for me, but glad to see the midfield has clicked into gear in the past few games. Lifts the pressure from our strikers and our defence.

From the Evening Times today:

Definitely his best position for me. Equally important, he looked much fitter today. A yard quicker than the last time I saw him which made him 10 times more effective.

I hope so, because it had me agreeing with Billy Dodds on Sportscene the other night. Not something I want to repeat - made me feel dirty.

So that beats a losing streak at Firhill from 10 years ago? You should put all these rules in a set of Top Trumps.

See, for me, the league table is a pretty precise indicator of a team. Not a predictor for a specific game, but a good gauge of overall performance. From what I have seen (and heard), Thistle are a decent footballing side who struggle to score and are a bit shaky in the last 10 or 15 minutes of a game. I don't for one second think it will be an easy game, but we tend to perform better against footballing teams than against teams to try to out-muscle us or park the bus. If we maintain our recent intensity and focus from the last couple of games, we have a good chance of coming home with some points.

It's a common problem for newly promoted teams to find goals hard to come by. Defences are better, time to shoot is less and, typically, chances are fewer. If you crack that problem, you have a great chance of staying up in your rookie season. Hopefully, we can keep things tight at the back and give them another bad day at the office. I don't think it will be an easy game, but I think if we play at the same level as our last couple of matches, we can win this one. However, based on the result in the 1929/30 season (when they beat us 6 - 1), I'd be happy with a point. Also, Lawless hasn't scored since August, so based on that fact he is world beater that we should never have let go, he could well get a hat trick in this one.

Hmmm. So applying that same logic, and given that we hadn't lost at Pittodrie in our previous 7 visits, I imagine you predicted at least a draw for us in the Boxing Day game? Damn.

Seems like there are a few Motherwell haters on here some weeks.

You know the roof on the East Stand was there before they put the seats in? Why would you choose to stand in the rain when there was plenty of shelter available?

I think, if he has a decent 2nd half of the season, Ainsworth might end up signing for us. Like you say, Anier is a more complicated situation, but at least we have Moore to take his place if he goes.

Who knows, but given they have been training and playing with the team for half a season it's more likely they will find consistency than any new loan signings. If we do lose either or both of them we need to replace them for the sake of squad depth. Even if we decide to blood a couple of youngsters in their place, we still need players on the bench capable of playing in the first team.

The seats in the East Stand are fairly typical. Quickly installed on exisitng terracing, no leg room and overfriendly with your neighbours. The plastic is also very uncomfortable. I'd definitely prefer standing over that option. It's also easier to keep warm in the winter when you are standing and can move around a bit. If you don't think standing improves atmosphere, go to a concert where everyone is standing and compare it to one where everyone is sitting and see which one is louder.

For all the 'bombscare' talk, how many goals/points has Hollis cost us this season?