StAndrew7

You could have Scott Leitch in there; he was youth at Motherwell, was he not?

Being a striker/forward isn't just about goals. He led the league in assists and created numerous chances for the team that season.

Have we? United have been to 4 cup finals in the last 8/9 years and several more quarter/semi-finals and have consistently performed reasonably well in the league on top of that. I'll be honest; I'd take United's 'less' successful period over our own 2nd/3rd place finishes of late any day of the week. If we'd won the cup in 2011 or won something with the Higdon/Law/Ojamma team of a few seasons ago I reckon we'd have bigger crowds now. Add in your last point to my points above regarding the young players and a decent argument for why they have better crowds is complete. Success in the league is all well and good but if we can't follow that up by learning lessons of how to play in europe and kill off cup ties, I'm afraid without us winning a trophy soon, we'll see the crowds decrease more and more. As an aside, I don't have a season ticket (can't afford it, nor am I able to make every game to justify it); I've been to 3 games (Fulham, Stjarnan and St Mirren) so far this season and spent over £50 just to get into the stadium (£10, £25, £19). Pricey.

He's suspended; mentioned in the pre-season friendlies thread.

I don't think we'll see anyone come in on loan until squads down south are finalised for their coming season. I'm happy enough starting with the team we have with a few new additions (a striker, defender and a solid left or right sided midfielder would be my preferences in that order) before the transfer deadline.

Every time I've seen McManus he's looked more assured on the ball than most of our back 4. Why can't HE be the ball player and this lad compliment him in the air? He can pass with both feet and looks comfortable in possession (he certainly did last season, I'm not going to judge him based on the last few games, anyway).

Angol, Carswell, Moore, Leitch, Hutchinson and Cummins are all young players that McCall has given a fair (some of them significant) amount of game time to develop. Why shouldn't I think that the same can be said of those I mentioned earlier? Also, starts aren't necessarily the measuring point for suggesting that we are bringing on younger players. Bringing them off the bench to prove themselves over a good few games is the starting point (see how well Erwin did in the Stjarnan home match), not throwing them in like Gannon did.

Very harsh on a man whose career was in jeopardy because of injury last season.

Pretty much what Weeyin said, with particular emphasis on the last point. This is the year McCall has to show faith in our younger players to deliver for us, rather than using the same 15/16 players consistently as he has done over the last few seasons. I can see Thomas and Erwin becoming regulars, along with Leitch if they get enough game time.

This is what I'm hoping for, too. However, Mr McCall keeps saying that we'll do that time and time again. I've yet to see evidence of it, really. This might finally be it though. Maybe. Perhaps.

;-) I did wonder how long it'd take but most people above actually agree with me. I'd probably withdraw the keeper one. Dan does have some potential. The rest?

Carswell for me; best over 90 minutes. Showed up our experienced pros. If Law hadn't been injured I reckon he'd have caused them more problems in the 2nd half and gotten my vote.

Like I said, that's why I love fitba'. His first half was certainly better than his first; but a couple of his mistakes in the 2nd may well have cost us if Stjarnan had punished us.

This is why I love football; totally different opinion to mine. I thought he was a bombscare at times; all too eager to come charging out for a header particularly in the 2nd half, making up for mistakes in the first, I felt. He missed on 2 or 3 occasions and two of his mistakes ended up with them having very, very decent chances to score. And for the record, there's not much about anyone else's posts that I can fault. Weeyin: I've never been a 'doom merchant'; quite the opposite, in fact. However, after that performance tonight and paying £25 for the 'pleasure' of that? It really, genuinely was that bad. What the hell kind of regime did the players follow in pre-season? The majority were blowing out their arses after 60 minutes.

New back four, please. And a keeper. And a centre mid. And a left winger. And... and... and...

All too reminiscent of Albion Rovers and other European games. They pressed us hard the whole game and we didn't like that one bit; particularly at the back. They looked fitter, more eager and like they wanted to win it. We didn't. Ramsden's distribution was nothing short of chronic, although the rest of the back 4 and Twardzik weren't far behind him. Pass marks to Carswell (who bailed us out on several occasions), Erwin, Sutton and Law. Quite how Vigurs got one of the MOTM awards I won't know. Just as it was announced he tried to beat 6 players and then lost the ball when we had 3 waiting for a pass on the 18 yard line. We could quite easily have lost that by 3 if they could finish; I counted 3 chances inside the 6 yard box they should have scored. We're lucky still to be in this tie. A goal and a clean sheet next week gets us through...

This.

If it does, it shows a lack of ambition on a par with Nicky Law. M'oan back here wee man. M'oan.

I'd probably have said the same regarding Sutton when he signed last year; look how that turned out. If it is Clarkson, I think he'll fit in and find his game again, if not better it based on the team and system we have now.

Fairly sure I read that Jordi Cruyff was his best man.

Yep, she was a few years above me at high school. Met her at The Moorings when she was working there, I believe.

Luminous yellow strip, headline on back page of the Motherwell Times was 'Muddy Marvel'. Remember it well; was sitting in the 'family' section in the Main stand next to the Rangers fans who sat right next to us with a wooden barrier between me and them. One of them reached over my brother and I, grabbed and threatened my uncle after he'd told him to calm down because of the family section being right next to him.

Seem to remember a mid-week game in the season post-admin and we were 2-1 down to Dunfermline and absolutely pumping them, laying seige to their goal etc. and we just couldn't get a goal. Craigan smacked a shot from 30 yards that flew over the bar towards the end and I thought that was it. Up step Kaiser; back post header to make it 2-2. Elation. Also, for the giggles; Tony Vaughan vs Dundee Utd in the Adminstration season? Think it was an equaliser, can't be sure.

We need to remember that Anier had played during last summmer and was no doubt fucked around the New Year. I have no reason to doubt that a good pre-season and training this summer will have him playing to his best for the full season to come.