Stu

See, that is what really annoys me. By the way, I'm not having a go at you as I think the point you make in the next paragraph is bang on. No one, not a single person on here, has tried to even suggest that we should be happy with the run of results we had or with the cup exits that we've seen this season. The likes of Diggle and Andy_P (who I think posts a lot of quality stuff) and others have simply tried to point out reasons for things or to ask for a modicum of respect for what McCall and his staff and players have achieved in previous months/years. No-one has been saying life is great and being "happy clappy". Well In Europe is another poster who I enjoy reading comments from and, from what I've read, is usually more positive than not but some of his posts last month showed how upset and frustrated he was with what he was witnessing. Andy_P did the same. They listed many of the things that were exasperating to them and I was more than happy to read it. We're all here to communicate and if things aren't going well then they need to be said. However, this attitude that some have that posters who don't call McCall a cunt are blind and "happy clappy" is baffling. Which brings me to the abuse, and it was abuse, that McCall and the players suffered on here in recent weeks. I bit my tongue a couple of weeks ago when MJC suggested that hardly any of the comments on here were over the top. What shite. Far more pish than any of the "look at me" posts that he can be guilty of posting on here (by the way, do you notice there's always got to be one? It used to be MJC when he went full-blown caricature, then steelboy stepped up to take the crown but when he toned it down a little, MJC stepped it right back up again). McCall (or McCunt as he's been referred to) took no ends of abuse as did players like Lawson and Vigurs. Is that really the way we want to treat our own? Again, criticise them all you want for poor performances because it's deserved but McCall wasn't even given a chance to turn things around - despite everything he's achieved with our club on our tiny budget. Some on here would have had "that Ross County dud" Vigurs never wearing a Motherwell shirt again but I believe he was challenging for MotM in the last game. That doesn't mean he won't turn out to be a poor signing, but how about we at least wait until his first season before we make that decision, eh? If I could be bothered to look in the Ins and Outs thread, I'm sure I'd find the same people praising the signings of Lawson and Vigurs are the ones being most vociferous now. The likes of Ainsworth wasn't being given much of a chance and look how he's doing now. Diggle goes about it the wrong way, in my opinion, but I totally see why he acts like he does because it truly is baffling to see how so many on here react to a poor (yes, a terribly poor) spell. Call it like it is. If we play badly, say we play badly. Point at the culprits who didn't perform. But at least try to be articulate about it and at least give people, especially McCall after all he's done for us FFS, a chance to rectify mistakes. Oh, and don't insult people who are hurting like hell after a Motherwell defeat by calling them "happy clappy" simply because they try to hold on to some positivity and don't simply want to run to their nearest device to type "McCall's a cunt".

Really?!

Treating this season as a transitional period and using it to blood youngsters in preparation for the years ahead sounds like a good idea. Relegation isn't a realistic threat, after all... However, do we have the fans to allow that to happen? I'd fear for the young lads because we have a contingent of our fans who have no patience and will crucify any player deemed not good enough...

I'd put money on one of them being steelboy...

Do some of you hear yourselves? Players who are a waste of a wage, players who don't contribute anything, don't know the best team by now, etc? McCall should have known better? Go back and look at all the people crying out for Neilsen to be the number one goalkeeper. Go back and look at all the people lauding the signing of a quality player like Vigurs. Go back and look at all the people praising a properly defensive-minded signing of Lawson. Go back and look at all the people suggesting we should play 4-5-1, 3-5-2, 4-1-4-1, 4-4-2, and so on and so on. Let's not even begin to pretend that we as fans know any better because there's fucking hundreds of comments on here that prove that we don't know any better. Yes, in hindsight, folk can get as sanctimonious as they like but it's pretty bloody easy to point out mistakes after they've happened. As for folk threatening not to go back after the last few seasons we've had...

"Former Site Admin"? Since when?

I completely agree. If that's not what my post that you quoted suggests then I apologise. Never in a million years would I assume our name is on the cup. All I meant was that of all the teams left in the competition, if we play our absolute best against them, we could beat them. In previous years, even playing to our best, there's no guarantee that that would be enough to beat an in-form Celtic or Rangers. On current form, we aren't the favourites. However, over the last two or three years, we have performed better than the likes of Aberdeen and Dundee United. That's what I meant by being arguably the best team - and I did say arguably. I agree we have no right to be expectant or complacent. I kind of fear the worst for Wednesday. A lot of Aberdeen fans are already crowing. Here's hoping yesterday's game was last season's Ross County match where McCall tore into the players and they then went on a great run of form...

And yet there have been a number of people on here all going on about how they don't care about finishing second this year, the cups are far more important. He can't win sometimes.

This really is our best chance to win a cup in a long, long time. Arguably, we are the best team left in the competition but there are still a handful of teams who could deemed as the favourite. Losses to Aberdeen hurt me more than against any other team. A loss in this game, under these circumstances, would be devastating.

Whether it's trolling or not, steelboy has yet again hijacked a thread and made it all about him. I'm nowhere near Motherwell. I wasn't at the game, didn't hear the radio or see Final Score so I was looking forward to reading all about our great comeback on here from fellow fans who witnessed it. Instead, I'm stuck reading this turgid tripe. I don't know if his mummy never hugged him as a child but this constant craving of attention is pathetically childish. Is it time to put him on the naughty step? (Ban him for a while?)

If he plays all season that means he's played well enough not to be dropped so how does that possibly equate to a grim thought?

If, and I stress if, it's like in many examples on here in the past, it's based on the notion that someone else available MUST be better than the current option. Otherwise known as Willie Kinniburgh Syndrome.

:lol: :lol: Love you too! Do you honestly think McCall signed Lawson knowing he'd be on the bench most weeks? You honestly think McCall would gamble our miniscule budget on an established SPL player who he had no intention of being more than a bench-warmer? No, he was signed to be part of the first-team squad. You've still not explained to me how we can go through a whole season without Lasley and Carswell going all season without injury, suspension or loss of form. If that's even remotely possible, only then would Lawson be a waste of a wage. Tell me, who is this young midfielder who would easily be an effective substitute or easily replace Lasley or Carswell in central midfield? Do you know we have one? I can read fine, thank you very much. You need to chill, man. Did you not disappear in a strop from here for a few months last year when people disagreed with some of your posts?

Are we really going to sacrifice a balanced team and formation just to play the highest XI earners? I know a way to fit Lawson in to the team: drop Carswell. Then it's not a bad signing. Oh, but it does ruin a young player's development and tell the squad form is irrelevant, you'll play depending on the size of your salary.

FFS! Waste of a wage? Having players on the bench is a waste of a wage? Motherwell are immune to injuries over a season, aye?

Exactly this.

Totally agree with Weeyin's thoughts on expectations for this season. I'm not even close to being concerned yet. However, a comfortable win for Partick would probably be enough to make me reconsider...

Someone's in a good mood! Actually, I do help the discussion when I don't mention the team at all - because I wasn't at the game and therefore can't possibly comment on how they performed today. You know fine why I said what I said and what it was in response to. Behave yourself.

Totally agree. However, Special compared a fans' forum to a pub. People come in and discuss their views on the team, the game, etc. If there's a group of them at a table being obscenely positive and crowing about how Motherwell are going to win the Europa League, you'd just laugh at their naivety. Ultimately, they might be a bit annoying but they're not doing any harm and you could easily carry on enjoying your time and your pint. However, if the pub is full of spiteful, vitriolic, depressing people who cannot wait to express their angst and only stop abusing the players and manager to briefly start arguing amongst themselves, well, that's a pretty shitty place to be sat in.

But that's exactly the problem. Literally dozens of posts from people who weren't even at the game just spewing abuse and condemnation towards certain players and the manager. There's hardly any critical discussion on here. We've had a bad start to the season and that cannot be ignored. I'd be pissed off if people did keep posting ridiculously optimistic trite cliches and blindly preaching that things are bound to improve soon. However, the chat in this thread and almost every other thread on these forums these days are spiteful, abusive, exaggerated, pathetic and sad. We, as a collective group, sound like the Old Firm fans who cannot accept anything other than perfection. It's embarrassing. Eddie's spot on. There are far too many fuds and scudbooks on here. Problem is, if you call them on it, you get accused of being a happy clapper.

The abuse and condemnation of our own players never ceases to amaze. So many bitch on here about McCall's negativity but have already decided that a number of our squad are shit and we're bound to lose to ICT. Beyond mental.

The last thing we need is ANOTHER central midfield player...

Scandinavian countries along with the Benelux countries and the Irish and Welsh would be ideal. Plenty different teams to face that would keep things interesting. A fair chance of a decent tie between two evenly matched teams. Relatively easy to travel to for away fans.

And who had full view to give the shout that there was no one behind and to leave it? The keeper. Who cares? It's over and done with. A new centre-back pairing and a new keeper being bedded in means there'll be more mistakes to come probably. Let's give them a chance.