Al B

" No no Hakan.. this is amber and claret, that's more of a yellowy-gol *STAB*.................."

I think that's a great side and has to be an option for the season. I'm a big fan of Higdon and generally i'd have him starting, but we have to be able to use the above side (or that general idea) as well, as there's going to be times over the course of the season where it will be more appropriate and reap rewards. The less one-dimensional and predictable we can be over a season the better, as long as everyone knows what their role is in each system and can pull it off.

I can see the general point, for example I still have a pic of the scoreboard Vs Man United purely because it says Motherwell/Man United. It would only be a keepsake for me if we get to the level of playing Inter Milan or someone like that though. Under the circumstances I think getting the tickets on sale ASAP overshadows anything.

Of course mate, I have no doubt whatsoever that the club always had the correct intention at heart, and I commend you all for the way it was approached (which was taken completely wrongly in various quarters), in that the clubs stance was essentially "we are happy to allow you to make the decision, but we have a duty to inform you of the worst case scenario. Here are the facts, we will listen to you". To my mind there's no other way to do it without being negligent or belittling the decision which, lets not forget is the biggest decision this or any club will probably ever have to make in terms of risk. I do think a bit of flag-flying has it's place though, if done in the right way, and other clubs are seeing benefits from this on this occasion and in the past. Diplomacy and discretion are vital business models, but the ability to put out a strong stance and a strong message is equally vital. Congratulations and thanks to all at the club though, for their ultimate decisions and their initiatives going forward.

Attention Mr McCall! Man continually comes across like we were relegated last season. He is an absolute hero, and in general humility is a fantastic and vital quality, but it has a time and a place. There's a definite line where it becomes counter-productive and I'm not sure he knows where that is. I always end up really depressed and downbeat listening to/reading his comments. Im not saying he has to be Rickoza, but he doesn't have to be MJC either! Fucking come ON Motherwell...Champions League, one less ugly sister to have to contend with next season, ST sales are up again, let's get stuck in!!

Firstly just want to make it clear that I think everything done by the club has been great, from the handing of the vote to the fans groups, to the faith in their decision to run with it and do the right thing in the face of what will undoubtedly be a tough time. However that being said, I think there's scope for the club as a whole to nail their colours to the mast in a more emphatic way in certain areas. Just one example being the fact that there are a fair few fans of SPL clubs who have bought a Raith Rovers season ticket for next season, as well as making donations to the Kirkaldy side, purely as a show of solidarity and thanks for the balls to the wind stance taken by Turnbull Hutton. Contrast that to the amount of SPL fans who, even with the announcements made by the club, had us down as a yes even right up to the day of the vote. Even now there's a large cross-section who believe the club wanted to vote yes but had themselves over a barrel because of the 'Well Society. Obviously there's the rightful view of "why should we care what other fans think", but with this announcement the club are using the angle of all fans sticking together to support each other, and there are ways of encouraging that. A bit more of a "fuck you" stance (not in so many words obviously), could have seen some of the extra money on its way to Raith Rovers from donations, ST purchases and pre-season attendance by way of thanks to Mr Hutton for having the courage to speak out, coming to Fir Park instead. Again, not a criticism at all as im very pleased with the direction of the club, but I do feel that a stronger, more hard-nosed stance with conviction, would always be of benefit in many different ways.

Yeah that's fair enough, of course. Although i'm not really referring to the possibility of the Well Society voting yes...there's no possibility of that at all. We're a stick-on "no" vote, thank goodness.

I think you can add United (1200 ST sales, down from over 4000 at a similar stage) and Aberdeen to the no's. And St.Johnstone have reportedly only shifted approx 200 season tickets.

Very proud that the club has turned their individual decision over to the fans, however for me personally the issue is the end result rather than any individual votes. My continued attendance or otherwise at Scottish Football depends on the presence of a Newco in the SPL or not. Nothing else. If the end result is the rules being overlooked to keep them in just because of who they are, then the game's a bogey and im not willing to put thousands of pounds into it that could be better spent on something with a point to it. Thankfully, it's looking increasingly like the right thing will be done.

If that was our kit then we'd have to give the Captaincy to Jean-Luc Picard.

Im no gettin it cos it clashes with my scatter cushions.

Div from Pie & Bovril (the guy that owns it), saying he's been informed that Sky have privately given comfort to the SPL that they have no intention of deserting the league. There will be a re-negotiation of terms (understandable), but they will be broadcasting Scottish Football with or without Rangers.

The league, as far as our club is concerned, is 83% competitive. Take Rangers out of the league and replace them with another club from the 1st Division, and it becomes 92% competitive. In the interests of Motherwell Football Club, that's a more competitive league Stuart, not less. Unless you're not speaking in the interests of Motherwell obviously......? I mean, surely when you talk about the "competitiveness" of the league you're not referring to winning it, as you're continually at pains to point out to anyone who'll listen, that we're no match for those 2 clubs?

I'll tell you one thing, when McFadden left Motherwell Football Club, which one did you think would go on to play in the Champions League one day?

For us, i'd say Juke's obvious goal. Mentions also to Faddy against Livi, Clarky against United, and Ross McCormack had a couple of pearlers that I can't remember the opponent. Against us, one that sticks out was Naismith in last seasons 5-0 game where he rattled one in from near the by-line. I remember thinking at the time that we didn't have a single player who would even have hit that from there, let alone be able to pull it off.

Because they don't lube up at the sight of a wallet, but more importantly they make sure their players and club are talked up at every possible opportunity, where as for years every aspect of our club seems to be playing everything down in a "if we manage it that will be great but if not we're quite happy with what we've managed", type way.

Not meaning to imply it doesn't need done, was more a comment on.... This guy talking shite. (the old groundsman, not the poster )

Were we not also told at the time that we could expect it to possibly be a bit dodgy for the first winter after it was seeded, as it takes a while to properly establish, and it wouldn't be until the second winter (the one just past), where we'd really see the benefit of a well established pitch?

Good seeing that again. That was my first ever Motherwell top, which at the time was far too big as they had no kids sizes left so my mum just bought me an adult one anyway. Fits perfectly now!

If you told me the time i'd double check it.

And as long as he averages a goal in over half of them, that's fine by me.

What? I was referring to exactly what you were talking about....which was giving game time to some of the guys who have been let go, to give them a chance and see if they would have been worth keeping on. You're the one who's all of a sudden changed to talking about young players who are staying. As for your Ross Forbes point, is that serious? I'm sure you can see the difference between allowing him to take his bow at Fir Park, and bringing on someone like Lawless.

Plenty meaningless matches at the end of the season? Are you seriously suggesting that we should have given young players a chance after the decision to let them go had already been made? These decisions will have been made weeks, if not many months ago.

Hang on, McCall not giving them a chance because they aren't good enough? McCall not giving them a chance because he's too cautious? It's neither of those things! They didn't get a chance this season for the same reason Hollis didn't get a chance this season. Can you imagine a season where we spend half of it fighting for 2nd, and the trying to secure third and Champions League football, and McCall thinks "hmmm...I think i'll leave Darren on the bench and see what Tom Bradley can do". The fans would have gone apoplectic! He played the young boys when it was required, and if we'd been relatively mid-table I'm sure we'd have seen a fair bit more of them and maybe a few would have secured longer contracts, but this isn't the kinda season where kids were going to get a chance, and rightly so. A club such as ours can't have it both ways...seasons where we're not doing as well, we'll bring kids through because we can afford to. Seasons where we're managing relative success, we won't because the risk isn't required.

I'd agree with that, Lawless to me looked a player and I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of him, but I think he'd get battered in the SPL. You'd have to have a special kind of (dare I say it, Nevin-esque) talent to overcome that kind of physical limitation.