joewarkfanclub

Well, now the season is actually over and have a little time for reflection I went for the housewives favourite! Very close between Lasley and Jenno for the most consistent/influential/missed when not playing categories and both picked up a few costly suspensions but I think Las's goals just edge it in his favour. A few of them were crackers too!

Stephen Craigan. Pretty much a cameo of everything we've come to rely on over the last 14 years. Great way to bow out. Enjoy your retirement Craggs youve earned it!

Big thanks to Craggs for 14 years incredible service. Ultimate professional and a great example to any young player on and off the park. Motherwell FC's most capped player ever and great ambassador for the club during some pretty tumultuous / successful times. All the best for the future Craggs. You'll always be welcome at Fir Park.

Mind that time the Well were beating Dynamo Kiev at Fir Park. Whit a night that was.........

Should we start a campaign to get Motherwell out of the SPL and apply to the Bundesliga, it would appear the rest of Scotland is holding us back! Lol!

Well if you are going to buy a cake, you might as well eat it! I actually think its a mixture of all the things mentioned and I dont think you could put them in order of importance. Clearly people want prices to be lower and to watch their football at regular times but most would trade away one or t'other for a winning team and/or one thats good to watch. My circumstances are slightly different cause I stay in Ayrshire so I tend to prioritise the games I attend. Obviously if the team is playing well you are more likely to make the effort.

Was actually quite encouraged listening to Steven Thompson on Radio Scotland. Came across very well and seemed to genuinely understand why fans feel so strongly about this. Given his comments it was crystal clear that all the other chief execs are acutely aware also. However, he made a good point about players existing contracts and clubs legal obligations in that regard and the difficulties clubs would face in the short term should the SPL vote as the fans want. Some clubs could end up in real difficulty if they sever the umbilical chord, even though they know a lot of what they are fed through it is toxic. On the other hand, if newco is voted back in you COULD have the ridiculous situation of Rangers being one of the few debt free clubs in the league with the SPL voting in new rules to prevent any of the other debt ridden clubs following the same route! I get the sense that some clubs NEED to vote Newco in or sign their own death warrant, therefore they will HAVE to come up with sanctions that are palatable to their own fans. I was originally in the no newco at any cost camp, however, if it is going to put half our league out of business, then maybe a compromise could be found, however, the sanctions would have to demonstrate REAL punishment.

How about lower pricing, acceptable k/o times AND attractive passing football? (we will take a suitably punished Newco and fairer voting rights etc as a given! lol!)

Hopefully he can be encouraged to stay at Fir Park for a couple of seasons to develop before gettin a big money move to the EPL. Young players need the experience of regular first team football. Hopefully he is well advised. Regardless he will leave with our best wishes.

Just watching the german footy on ESPN. Dortmund organised a controlled pitch invasion for their fans to allow them on to celebrate winning the title. Players got their medals and trophy in main stand and celebrated in front of supporters. If the germans think its ok.......

Do you think the style of play has had any impact on that though? How many times did we have larger than normal attendances, only to play pish fitba or fall flat on our arses? If we had played well/been more entertaining would any of those extra supporters have been encouraged to come back?

We started the season trying to play football but as the season has gone on we have had an over reliance on the long ball to Higdon to get us up the park. On the whole it has been effective but not pretty. Anyway, the point was, do people think the manager should put more of an emphasis on entertainment to get punters paying at the gate to in turn help him improve the squad?

Taking the whole Rangers argument out of the equation, I think the most disappointing aspect of the season has been the poor attendaces at Fir Park given our lofty league position and Champions League qualification. There are obviously many reasons for this, the recession, unemployment, gate prices, live tv and fixture scheduling all play a part. However, I think our style of play has contributed greatly to this as on the whole we havent been great to watch. Today, however, we proved that we can play attractive passing football AND most importantly be effective and get results. Now I realise over the course of a season a manager has to be able to change personel and tacts for different opponents, but given our 'alleged poverty' I cant help thinking how many more bums on seats we would have had if we had played more passing football and less route 1. Obviously cant guarantee that we would have got the same results, but if Stuart McCall wants to have more money to keep/freshen up the squad, surely this should be a consideration. Thoughts?

Playing down our finances in public is also good business sense as it means players/agents will have lower expectations as to how much money they can worm out of the club. If we come out and say that we have more money now than we had budgeted on the agents would be rubbing their hands in anticipation.

Was going to go for Null vote as I couldnt seperate any of the players for application effort and performance. Great Team effort. However, that seemed a bit negative so I plumped for Law who's possession and distribution was as good as Ive seen it. Honourable mentions to everyone else!

If the wee man is in the huff I hope it continues through the Champions League qualifiers and beyond! Excellent performance today and his partnership with Murphy looked promising. Much as Higgys goals have been vital for us this season, I think this has to be the partnership for Europe as it encouraged us to play some great possession football. Mon the Sheriff!

Good performance. Lots of patient possession football. Just what will be required in the Champions League! Cant help think its a missed opportunity to break the hoodoo given the chances created, however, a massive improvement on recent performances at The Temple of Doom!

My favourite season EVER!

How about if the club asks permission and its done in a controlled manner after the players and officials are 'safe' ? I know this kinda takes away the spontaneity, but would great to be out on the pitch saluting the players in the POD for a job Well done. ....any chance Flow?

Fantastic achievement! Well done Stuart McCall and every single player who has pulled on the Claret and Amber this season. Achievement wise this is right up there with anything we have ever done. Its gonna be a good summer!

Yes. Has been a great addition to the squad. But must learn to pass the ball short and on the ground!

Totally agree. Humphrey has shown a much greater awareness in recent weeks when he loses the ball and last night his discipline and work ethic were incredible. Possibly to the detriment of his attacking game but thats the balance you have to strike sometimes. Couldnt believe it when McCall brought Daley on and was screaming at the TV for him to take it in the corners and then to track back when he lost it. All's 'Well that ends 'Well though and hopefully the coaching staff will keep working away with Omar the way they have with the Humph!

Great Post. But balanced reasonable debate will never catch on in a football forum!

Went for Murph. Thought first half in particular he was the only one showing any composure trying to keep possession and getting us up the field. Good shot and assist for the goal.

Thought the guts and determination the team showed to get the job done tonight was amazing. Far from pretty again, but at the business end of the season its results that count and the last two games have been a great response by the players to questions that were being asked of them. Part of me would quite like United to get a result tomorrow given 2nd is still mathematically possible, however, once that moment of madness has passed I'll settle for a draw and having it all done and dusted tomorrow night! Then we can all relax and enjoy the last 2 games!