StAndrew7

I think you're spot on with your middle point. The rest I think might be passing judgement a little too soon/making some presumptions (which we all are at this point, it's a forum for discussion after all). We've seen SK mutual players he felt were useless (Danzaki etc.) and given he's not really needed by us currently, this makes most sense for his development and integration into the Scottish game. Like you say, he's got a 2-year deal; hopefully this helps him settle down and apply himself to be a part of the squad next year, or before if we recall him. I do wonder if this points to us extending Maswanhise? Kettlewell has a good record of developing strikers/getting the best out of them; however, that's been whilst playing them consistently and also giving them coaching. Stup was never going to get the former this season, given Robinson, Moses and Stama are in front of him in the pecking order. I'm not going to give up on him yet, but I can see some warning signs much like you.

Aye, I think it's probably best for him. He's behind Maswanhise, Tavares, Stama, Robinson, Moses and Watt in the pecking order. He'd basically just be training and not playing unless we have another mental run of injuries.

Been charged with assaulting a woman in a takeaway and one other count of breach of the peace. Chat is he allegedly used a homophobic slur. I can't see him playing, or having a contract beyond the weekend tbh. Although the usual innocent until proven guilty caveats apply, clearly. Robbo hasn't painted himself in glory, either. The phrase "These things happen." was used in a response to a question about him being unavailable.

You'd be leaving him out permanently, then. 😉

Did we not decide (along with United) to not have VAR in place? Saved us £16k or something I thought. Aberdeen did the same.

Fitness update from Ketts saying that SOD's injury isn't as bad as feared but he's not trained this week. He's to be assessed before the game. Johnny K is back in full contact, as is Blaney. Paton a few weeks away from full contact, Callachan (mind him?) has his brace off and both Nicholson and Slatts are making good progress. I doubt we'll see any of them other than SODs at the weekend, right enough. Maybe a spot on the bench for JK but I doubt it if we've got cover that's fitter.

Aye, I experienced that at one of the league cup finals. Fucking horrendous behaviour.

It'll definitely be interesting to see who Ketts starts. I'm not convinced Watt is a starter just yet, same with Stama and Tavares. Robinson just scored his first goal, so you can't really drop him from the starting 11. Maswanhise wasn't as effective against United but he didn't have a lot of space or time on the ball because they realised he was a main threat of ours. I can't see him dropping either Davor or Halliday; they're starting to form a solid partnership which is giving Miller freedom to be creative. It's really a question of if SODs is fit enough; I can see the same team from Friday starting with Kaleta in if SODs is struggling. He wasn't listed as doubtful, so he might be OK.

Mate of mine has heard it has been looked at and nothing seems to be "up" (someone has said the same over on P&B). Like even discussing methods and drills with other teams and experts and there's nothing there other than bad luck. Kettlewell has been on the record several times saying that we investigated all the training injuries last season and made adjustments as a result of them, too. It's perhaps bad luck, it's perhaps our medical team missing things. Vale trained with us for half a season last year and didn't get crocked like this. Thankfully we're pretty stacked up top even with injuries right now so I'm not too concerned.

Casey for me, he was absolutely brilliant. Can totally see why Balmer isn't getting a look in right now. Miller was class but it's now at the stage where it's just expected. What a fucking talent.

That strike had all kinds of FUCK YOU levels of power written all over it. 🤣

A quick check (correct me if I'm wrong @David), 4,500/32,000 (census population of Motherwell) = 14%. We absolutely should be targeting areas further afield, like the Society (and the Club) have proposed; e.g. outlying towns and villages like Lanark, Law, Hamilton, Strathaven etc. Campaigns like the one for tonight, I imagine, are only the beginning. I think it's fair to say that these efforts should absolutely be applauded and if this is the kind of work we're going to be seeing moving forward, it's an indicator of how seriously things are being taken to increase ticket sales. Especially when you consider that an increase in crowds doesn't provide an increase in revenue from pie stalls, merchandise etc. as the terms of those deals aren't in favour of the Club right now. Others can correct me, but I think the Club have made money on shirt sales on maybe one occasion in the last 10-15 years? Pie stalls are a flat fee per game/season and then the rest goes to the franchise who runs them. As others have said, time will tell, but this is a promising start.

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I think there'll be a fair few people buying on Friday; it's pay day for quite a few folks so they might have to wait. If I get along it'll be a game time (probably within an hour of kick off) decision for a variety of reasons, so hopefully there's more folk in that boat, too.

It's not directed at you, the Club have put in place "safeguards" specifically around games involving Rangers and Celtic to prevent their fans entering the home end. No one here is disputing you being real Motherwell fans.

I've had a quick look and the tickets aren't on sale yet on the online portal from what I can see. I think if you check back in a few weeks when they are, someone should be able to help out.

I believe so. But also, the above from the Club isn't a good look, either imho.

Got you, so it's in the plan from July rather than directly quoted in the email, apologies. I would caution, (similarly to @David above) timescales for these types of negotiations, investments etc. aren't always set in stone. There's potentially a lot happened since July that could impact on those timescales, I guess. A lot of which we won't have any idea about. For example, we still don't know the new Exec Board members from the WS/others etc. I'd suggest that's more important to sort out for the overall governance of the Club. That in place would give the solid base to start looking at strategic investments. Hopefully there'll be some kind of update, but not sure I'd be expecting the first strategic partner to be announced.

*Puts on pedantry hat* That email mentions an update regarding the Board co-option, not the investment: The investment bit does mention there'll be further updates but doesn't give a month/timescale.

Aye, the articles I've seen say it'll be a minority stake Bloom receives, so you'd guess it won't be any more than 25% to make sure FoH has 50.1% remaining, although like you say it might be more. The terms might be under NDA etc. until it goes to a vote? I would imagine he'll have his shit in a pile better than Barmarck did, alongside our terrifically astute Executive Board...

Only information I've seen on that is the investment figure of £10m. It's following the same strategic investment model the WS have proposed; albeit for slightly more cash than we'd be after (understandably, Hearts are a bigger team etc.) although if someone offered it... 😅

There's been a couple of mentions in the WS update e-mails about the work that's been going on; engaging the different workstreams with fans and members to shape them a bit more (like investment/growth etc.) But like @David says, this will take time - delivering a plan like this takes time and it's being done part time by the Board and the other members who are on the workstreams.

He hinted at some issues between him and the new owners on the radio at the weekend, I believe. Seems like the rest of the coaching staff are staying so might be a personality thing. Mainly that he doesn't have one.

My only question there is why drop Ox? He's not done anything spectacularly wrong to deserve it (granted, I've not seen anything from Saturday). Unless it's rotational/give Heygi a shot in the cups? I'd also prefer Davor over Halliday, but I love the wee man.

Agreed; I think the best course of action here is to get in touch with the Club directly or perhaps the Society; wonder if @Speedie85 / @Dee could help out?