weeyin

Maybe some nerves. Also, despite the pre-season, this was the team's first outing against an SPL team - so a different challenge again for management and players. Good to hear the boss got the tactics and subs right for the second half, though.

Not too disappointed.

Yes. Because that extra pressure affects your confidence. It's no coincidence that any keeper we ever play behind our cross-shy defence has had problems.

He's discovering what Buzz had to endure i.e. when you don't have a defence that can handle a cross you end up having to go for balls that aren't rightfully yours.

I said this was going to be a tough one. It's never easy against the newly promoted's first game.

I heard Fat Bob had to ask one of his mates how to spell "FTP".

Classic stuff - I remember that game well. Back in the days when we were the featured game on Scotsport despite being the First Division. When I was at the match I said that Wullie P took it easy on us with his hat trick chance; and it still looks like he did I always liked Irvine as a player too, but he didn't quite have Wullie P's pace there! Not the best 'Well team ever, but gave me some of my favourite times as a fan. As I recall, Wullie Irvine and Brian McLaughlin battled it out until the last game of the season for top scorer. They went to Tyncastle equal and Irvine's goal let him finish ahead, and stop the Jambos from being promoted. Good times.

It was nothing to do with being illegal. It was just that some sensitive wee souls are not prepared to believe that, regardless of what you thought of McGhee as a person, taking us to 3rd in the league and playing some entertaining football was actually quite an achievement; especially after the Malpas debacle. Too many people are wanting the world to be back and white, when there are plenty of shades of grey to discuss. Then there are the people who just like to take the contrary position to almost everything, often for no other reason than they enjoy a moan.

So you hate when someone like Big Tel applauds the 'Well fans? I wasn't a fan of him as a manager, but I hardly think a 60 year old dying from Parkinson's Disease is a cause for celebration.

I'm just waiting on the "Do these pinstripes make me look fat?" poll.

Post below yours has promoted him from legend to Messiah.

Some people are calling him a legend before the season has kicked off. That sounds over the top to me.

I don't think it was imaginary - I think it was visa problems. In fact, he ended up as a significant investor in the Tampa team and ended up working there before he joined Gorman at Swindon in the EPL.

RIP if it's true. He was one of my favourite players. Came back from a broken leg, as I recall, and was a terrific footballer. Remember one goal against Accies where ran the length of the pitch and beat about 7 players before scoring. Took cracking penalties too. Had a bit of a temper on him as well

Can we ban the "punching above our weight" phrase Seriously, a while back I read one of Bob Rotella's books. Rotella is a sports psychologist who happens to specialise in golf. He talks about how players often get worried when they are playing well, because they expect it to all fall apart at any second. His argument is that you when you are playing exceptionally well, you shouldn't view that as abnormal (or punching above your weight) - it's because you have the talent to play at that level. You shouldn't wait for it to go pear-shaped but rather work on areas to help ensure you play at that high level as often as possible. Punching above your weight doesn't factor in the equation. Okay - rant over. It will be a tough game against the Saints as games against the newly promoted always are. Will be delighted with a one goal victory; not too disappointed with a draw.

From what I have read, it sounds like Gannon is still in the market for a striker and a right back. I guess he has no control over the order in which players sign. Still a couple of weeks before the window closes, so hopefully he will have secured all his targets by then.

I doubt anything we say on here is worse than the insults players take from their team mates.

Welease Andy Woddie.

I'm sure they pick up the general vibe listening to the Fir Park crowd on a Saturday without needing to read it on here too.

You claimed 'many' of you had said Fitzpatrick was crap. I was pointing out that many Motherwell supporters also hated Clarky and many Motherwell supporters also loved Bob Malcolm i.e. just because a lot of people think it, doesn't necessarily make it right. I haven't offered an opinion on Fitzpatrick; only on the irrationality of 'many' fans.

McGhee didn't have to build a team - he had to coach them, but that's a different problem. Big Eck was a good coach too, but useless at rebuilding.

It's not negative, it's experience. It's a well established fact that it takes a new manager about 3 full seasons to build the team he wants. It's also a well established fact that youngsters are inconsistent - Gannon has said that himself. It's nothing to do with being fearless - it's to do with consistency. And when they are 2-0 down at St. Mirren on a wet Wednesday night, getting booed by half the 'Well support, it's not fearlessness that will dig them out. It's the experience of being there before (which they don't have yet). To think that you can build a team in 3 months that is going to finish 3rd in the league is fantasty-land. Of course, it might happen, but it's much more likely to be a progression over a season or two. We need to get the foundation in place first. Nothing wrong with a midtable finish in year one.

Could we not just open them in HOTD? They are the most pointless threads on the site.

That about sums it up for me. With so many enforced changes, 7th or 8th will do me fine in JG's first season. Anything more will be a fine bonus. Let's not forget our record so far is Played 6, Won 2, Lost 4. Of course we can improve on that, but youngsters tend to be inconsistent. I just hope the people predicting 3rd or 4th don't see 7th or 8th as failure.

Is this the same 'many' that knew Clarky wasn't good enough for some time? Or that Bob Malcom was good enough?