joewarkfanclub

Plain black with a claret and amber or claret amber and white hoop would have been smart. Stick with the italian styling and you cant go wrong!

Motherwell dont really do "marquee signings" but I have to say this one is well up there! Delighted to have Liam back and on a 3 year deal! Hopefully he can maintain last seasons form and push himself into the Scotland Squad. With Marshall and Gordon both coming to the end of their careers, there is a big opportunity for a young keeper to make the spot their own. Be great to have another Scottish international in the team, even if it means he will undoubtedly move on to bigger and better things eventually! Well done to everyone involved getting this one over the line!

I dont disagree with anything that you have said here, which is why my post was carefully worded. I certainly havent bought into any media narrative. Patterson will be the future. When that future will be is uncertain. He needs games to prove himself, but he has come thru the all our youth levels and has physical attributes that SOD does not. He also appears to have a belief in himself that will serve him well. Its still SODs jersey, but the heir apparent is obvious.

Didnt know Graeme / Madwullie, but sorry for your loss and best wishes to his family and friends. I can empathise regards your feelings of loss. It gives you a real sense of your own mortality, and hardwires itself into your enotions only to come spilling out at the most unexpected moments. Im sure your own recent experiences have contributed to that. Sad to hear this is your last post as the forum needs its regular posters and "characters" to remain vibrant and worthwhile. I hope after some time out you may change your mind. If not, your last post was an eloquent one and one worthy of your contributions over the years.....

SOD is a very solid SPL level right back who we are lucky to have at the club. Short of bringing thru an emerging talent (Max Johnston?) we will struggle to get a better player than him coming to Fir Park on the money we pay. I do though have mixed feelings about his Euros. Was chuffed to bits for him re his performance against England and his interviews after the game and the next day showed what a genuinely decent guy he is. However, his limitations were exposed against both the Czechs and Croatia where he appeared to be somewhat nervy. The presence of Billy Gilmour and McTominay inside him at Wembley undoubtedly had a stabilising effect on him as they were always available for a pass. But even so, some of his crossfield passing at Wembley was sublime. It makes me wonder if he has self confidence issues particularly playing at Hampden where he is more aware of the criticism he gets from within our own support? For what its worth, I think Nathan Patterson is the future for Scotland at right back as he showed in a 10 minute cameo on Tuesday night the directness and pace to drive forward that is required at international level, however, he will need games, which he wont get at Rangers as long as Tavernier is there and fit. So for now, Im delighted to have Scotlands first pick right back at our club. Whether he plays the full term of his contract or is sold for a decent fee, the club will undoubtedly benefit.

Really sad news. I didnt know Andy personally, but he was without doubt the voice of reason on this forum. His posts were always thoughtful, balanced and insightful. From what others have said, this seems to reflect how he was in person. His contributions to this forum will be sadly missed. Thoughts go out to his nearest and dearest. RIP AndyP.

Id have Jordan Roberts back before Lafferty. His attitude was first class in his time with us. Definitely worth a deal.

Our record up there isnt very good.....

I dont wish Gallagher any ill will as he leaves the club as he is perfectly entitled to the best he can for him and his family. However, the way he and his agent have conducted themselves since January leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. As a result, Id absolutely love it if we could finish above Aberdeen next season.

McGinley had another good game and Foley did very well. However the matxhwinner with a sweet finish and superb assist was Devante Cole, so he was my MOTM.

McGinley has proved in the last few games that he can be a solid left back for us. He is better defensively than Carroll and when allowed to push up by the manager as he was in the latter stages v Hibs he has shown he can be effective going forward as well. Having struggled at left back for so long, I would have no issues going into next season with McGinley and Carroll as our left back options.

Given that this is effectively a free hit, Id like to see us come out and attack from the start, the way we played the last 30 and first half of extra time against Hibs. We look a much better team when we do that than when we sit in and try to defend.

Gallagher had his best game since his return and Watt certainly changed the game when he came on, but I went for O'Donnell. Thought he was solid all game and in a 5 he got forward far more and put in some quality cross balls.

Happy to celebrate that historic day at every opportunity! Although, it would be nice to have another memory like that to look back on now that we are all 30 years older!

I didnt say we were mathematically safe. But I did say it was so unlikely to happen that we were effectively so. But lets not quibble. We are safe!

Yes, but there is only one play off spot. So Ross County would have to win all their games, Kilmarnock would have to win all their games and we would have to lose all our games to end up there on GD. Which was exactly the point I made. Not that it matters now!

So you agree with me! Excellent!

Didnt realise it was a 6pm kick off so missed the first half! 2nd half was pretty brutal. Far too pedestrian against 10 men. Why Alexander didnt make more changes after a tough 120mins on Friday night beggars belief. Some fresh legs up front against 10 men would have given them something to think about. I totally underdtand starting 3-5-2 to match them in midfield and get Long more involved through the middle. But 2nd half was screaming for 4-3-3 with Lawless and Hastie supporting Cole ( taking Long off was the correct decision as he was a red card waiting to happen). That all said, it is a great 3 points. Even if Killie were to win tonight and win their remaining 3 and we lost all 3 it would take Ross County to win their games and goal difference to put us in the play off spot. Thats not gonna happen so we can relax now. Hopefully Roberts will be fit for Saturday. We will need him if we are gonna have any chance of getting past Hibs.

You also have to take into account the nostalgia factor. We all miss our youth, and anything that reminds us of that has a special place in our hearts. Thats why music these days is generally shite!

Sorry for misunderstanding your point. I dont have massive expectations. I havent actually sat down and gone through who is still under contract and who has been offered new deals. However, it feels like we have about a dozen players who are sitting either injured or cooling their heels offering nothing. A number of these are loan players or short term contracts whom I presume will be allowed to leave. It may not be as many as that of course. I just presumed there mighy be a little leeway to bring one or 2 in of slightly higher quality that would improve the first 11 if we were clearing the decks of the deadwood.

Living in Ayrshire and working with a shitload of Killie fans, I will take Rugby Park anyday. Its a great day out (when we win!)

Can we not even afford that?

Hopefully a change in direction from bloated squad of journeymen, to a sleeker more streamlined squad with a sprinkling of quality, supported by our academy graduates!

I dont think its wishful thinking at all. McGinley in particular has had it tough moving up here on his own stuck in a flat outwith his playing/training schedule, having to cope with that and then getting injured on top of it. I think there is a decent player in there and I would hope that as we come out of lockdown he might enjoy being here a bit more and that might help his performances on the field (which I dont think have been anywhere near as bad as some suggest). Lamie has improved dramatically since his early performances, probably due to getting a fair run in the team and an upturn in results. I think he is a decent squad player and can do us a turn. However, I think we should be looking to strengthen in centre defence, it all depends on who becomes available in our price range.

Liam Kelly would be outstanding business.