Andy Harrow

Have you ever been to a Motherwell Away Euro tie Decorator? I want to see some visual proof! Maybe a photo or two would satisfy my disbelief.

Well that's another issue itself, the greed of agents and the greed/stupidity of the players (well maybe fool hardy chairmen agreeing such terms is ruining things!). Again I'd point to Germany where every club is a selling club and don't really hide the fact. We are in throws of quite possibly will be looked back upon the worst financial crisis the world has ever known, but associations, chairmen, players, agents and at times the fans don't see this. I'd always expect a player to earn double what a laymen makes, purely because of the short career. Depending how good he is, he can earn more. But when average players walk away with the weekly wage that some are getting, football is fucked. We're quick to criticise the bank execs, but seem to not bother that a person like Sutton earns the money he does (no offence to Sutton, I'd do exactly the same as him. Anyway, I also believe the problem to be cultural, hence why I do not stay in The UK or indeed what we perseve as a 'developed country' fuck that!

I would say another consideration is to look at football in context of the current state of the country/global recession. I am in no way qualified to talk about the day to day living as I haven't stayed in Scotland for many years. But I would assume its like everywhere else. If that's the case, it's about survival and planning for the future. One thing I would be inclined to do would be to have someone like John Boyle involved in the SFA. Sure the guy created a lot of problem for Motherwell at the start (I would hope to think a lot of they was through, bad advice), but since then he has build a very good an sound structure, talked sense (as well as give us a laugh when possibly pissed), but most of all, in the managerial front, has made some fantastic appointments. but all in all a lot of our problems are cultural and not just football related.

By Crazy initiatives, I mean in general that seem to tag onto North American culture, across all sports and in many cases all walks of life. It’s just a different culture, which in some ways has seeped into European and other countries, but is just not accepted broadly. But that itself is a different discussion completely. The idea of the points system being a general case in point. I would ask, why change a points system, when countries like Germany can prosper without changing any of the game rules. And not just prosper, but be very successful. Changing the rules of the game like that is just window dressing. You can paint a shit any colour you want, but its still a shit. The changes have to come much deeper to make a difference. Anyway, understanding the demographics of our country, understanding what is deemed to be a successful outcome and building a model both in business and coaching terms to lead to that outcome, making the supporter feel that he is wanted (standing/better policing) and stopping the Old Firm’s bleeding of our sport would be a fine start. In fact, I haven’t looked at your new points system, but if you are rewarding on goals, you would actually make the league a hell of a lot worse. All Rangers and Celtic need to then, is add (or remove from other clubs) good strikers and the league wouldn’t be over by Christmas, it would be over by September! If you want to be radical and take a business approach. In business you will always invest to improve your weaknesses. So this should be applied in Scottish Football. The next TV deal, the vast amount of money should go to the non-OF clubs and Rangers and Celtic to take less, which would be a start to balancing the playing field. Now that would be good but never happen. By the way, I see a lot of high scoring games out here and they are shocking, to the point they are just about unwatchable, goals are not the be all and end all of our game.

Weeyin, your right enough about the TV and sponsorship that they have. Its not the money they have, its how they manage it that interests me. Thats why we have to know and accept our place' and build accordingly. And I'd never heard Seiferts comment, and that in intself ins the nail on the head to increase crowds and maintain interest!

Still trying to get my head round all this need to change things so radically, when in fact we can't change the audience (Scotland’s Demographics), the competition (other sports/TV/Gaming) nor our national fascination for the Old Firm which is bleeding the game dry. The idea of radically changing the points system, is ridiculous indeed, especially in one that is so flawed. Yabbas Turd is spot on about meaningful games (without the Old Firm there is an argument there would be more meaningful games). If you look at the Bundesliga, if not the best league in the world right now, its certainly one of the best. It does not have the financial backing like the EPL or La Liga. The clubs are mostly financially stable and the league isn’t overly weighed with foreign players. There are few high scoring games but the games are usually entertaining, and the league is also pretty well balanced. German football has went through the mill in recent years but has built a realistic and sustainable model. By doing little more than living within their means, sensible pricing, sensible wages. All clubs are ‘selling clubs’. The clubs also give the fans what they want both on the park and on the terraces (standing is not an issue, having a drink is no issue, and there not treated like shit, its about having fun. Stewards and police have to be mindful of that and the clubs force that point to them). We don’t need any of the glam and crazy initiatives that are applied in the US, we just need to accept what level our local football is at and create a model that is realistic and can compete against the alternatives. Motherwell are well on the way in achieving that. I’d confidently say if we ripped out the seats in the East Stand and reduced the admission, we would see a small increase in attendance (which would probably only offset the cost reduction, but its a start). However we need the SPL to drive the changes. We need to have a realistic expectation of what a success is? Its not football Manager, its not the EPL or La Liga and thank fuck its not America!

Jesus, you've lived in the US too long! So two teams can play 5 games, One undefeated with 0-0's and two 1-0 wins but still end up level on points with a team who gets scudded week in week out but get a fluke 7-0 win. Goals are the biggest part of the game, but there is a lot more to football. The biggest problem is that football is no longer the national past-time it once was. There are now so many cheaper, easier and sometimes more enjoyable activities for people to partake in. Add to that the exposure of football on TV where you can now watch a better quality (well not always better, but sold as better) of football from the comfort of your own home. Cheaper entrance, safe standing and an understanding of the cost/value weighed against the product on the park (you get what you pay for) and we might get somewhere.

Now, now Dave! Don't be leading people astray and into a life of debauchery, alcoholism and promiscuity! You've got the devil in you! Seriously, Dave is right, love Scotland and proud to be Scottish, but not many people who leave come back. That must say something!

Born in Lanark, stayed in Blackwood > Whitby, Canada, > Blackwood > Larkhall > Budapest, Hungary > Oshawa, Canada > Budapest, Hungary > Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam > .........tbc

Definately Harrow scored, the leg end he was. And yes, kicking outside. Fucking trackie tops and dearstalkers, bad night for Motherwell all in all.

I'm sure he did, at Fir Park. Smashing player for his age. The game Junior Burns Scored at Ibrox was the 2-1 game that got John Greig sacked and Wallace left us to go back to Rangers. Junior Burns tapped in a cross from six yards and Ritchie scored a free kick if I recall correctly.

Works great for me Grimmy. cheers for the heads up!

As long as that? Brown wouldn't come near Stevens, he'd stay arms length! Great News on Hutchison, massive prospect and good value potential.

There is another, don't think he posts here and I think he stays in Cambridge. Not sure though

I'm glad you know me that well. Lived two spells in Canada and spent a lot of time working throughout the GTA and spent a lot of time in Toronto. Sorry, I've been lucky enough to have travelled a great deal and as cities go, Toronto is pretty close to bottom off my list of favourite cities. But mind thats my opinion and in fairness I've never been west and its meant to pretty good. The funny thing is the culture of 'everyone loves Canada' and you can't say a bad word against it. I'm sure its provided many people with a great life, but jings, theres a hell of a lot more to life. It always reminds me of a place to hang around until you die

Home Depot, Applebees, Taco bell, Best Buy, Home Depot, Applebees, Taco bell, Best Buy, Home Depot, Applebees, Taco bell, Best Buy, Home Depot, Applebees, Taco bell, Best Buy, Home Depot, Applebees, Taco bell, Best Buy, Home Depot, Applebees, Taco bell, Best Buy, Home Depot, Applebees, Taco bell, Best Buy. Variety is not the spice of life. Stayed in Oshawa, could have been any town on the 401 or elsewhere in the East, mundane, bland, monotonous all words designed to describe the place and Rogers, what a company that is! Can you tell I hate the place?

Used to stay there, about 5 years ago. Sorry, but in my opinion probably the most boring and pointless country ever

They cannae go to Cyprus, they'd get all their club badges stolen in some heinous crime perpetrated by a gang of master criminals high on Interpols most wanted list.

I think a tour of South East Asia would be out the question But instead of Austria, Hungary would be a good place for a training camp, certainly cheaper

Is there anything happening with this. Was advised it would appear in the Cup final section, but nothing so far?

Not so sure about that. I'm sure a lot of people will want to remember a piece of (hopefuly memorable) history. I could be a long time round again.

Stop procrastinating now, plenty of flights out of Pudong to HCMC, get your arse over here. no excuses!!! Oh Aye, plan for the day god knows, but at a 9pm kick off, should be wrecked by the time of the kick off.

The proxies isn't the porblem out here, I've got one and I'm sure Kenny has as well. Its the government restrictions in Communist countries. Right now I cannot access anything to do with the BBC in Vietnam, but can access nearly every other news website. And via my proxy I can access anything (for now). However in China they are even more strict and proxies are usually blocked apart from in 'special' places usually connected to business. And in China they are more random in their blocking, they've blocked Skype, Linkedin, Google, BBC, dropbox and many other services on a whim for them to retrun a few days earlier. Usually sparked by a news article they don't like, or some freedom of speech issues. Living and working in Vietnam/China does make following Motherwell an interesting challenge.

Now that would be do-able. Prospekt Mira for a few jars